Gracie Pearlman
Edito
CREATIVE Director BELLA BOUTET Committee Members: CALLI STAVOLA CHELSEA PRESTON SPENCER FRANCUS
PHOTOGRAPHY Director MIGUEL SALCEDO Committee Members: PALEY SWEET ALYSHA SAID ABIGAIL KULEWICZ CHRISTINA FRANK JENNIFER YUAN
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Executive Ed Comm RAC WES EV
FA
Director
BEAUTY BLOG Blog Master EMMA KAMMERER Monday BROOKE SAFFERMAN Tuesday SOPHIE DIETZ Wednesday MELISSA MANGUM Thursday EMMA AUGUSTINE Friday ARIANA TAYLOR Saturday WESLEY CONNER AND ALYSSA KLEIN Sunday LEAH ROSOFSKY
Director E Comm JOD EV COLLE MADE SAMAN ALY JIL ELIZAB SUM
n and Ellie Nan Storck
ors-in-Chief
EDITING
ditor HANNAH FEENEY mittee Members: CHEL MATSON SLEY CONNER VA CZAPSKI
ASHION
r CLARA GROSS
MARKETING AND FINANCE Finance Director PATCH LONSDORF Marketing Director ALHELI GARZA Committee Members: AMY LEVENSON, ALEX BREAKSTONE, BROOKE SAFFERMAN, KELLEY BARNES, DEVON MCCARTHY, LILY CANNON, MADELINE HARRIS
CONTRIBUTORS LEISE TRUEBLOOD ARI FLESSAS SELENA SOBANSKI RACHEL MATSON ARI FLESSAS MADDY HARRIS
AND STYLING
EMMA AUGUSTINE mittee Members: DIE SHEARER VA CZAPSKI EEN STAUDER ELINE HARRIS NTHA BUTLER YSHA SAID LLIAN YAUN BETH DEL RIO MMER IRVING
MODELS JASON ELIAS CELIA ALVAREZ BROOKE ROSS LUCA POWELL LEAH ROSOFSKY
As classes come to an end, and finals week
begins, here is one more distraction from doing your work. Because it’s December and we can’t get the holiday season off of our minds, we have some seasonal how-to’s that will get you in the wintery spirit! From learning how to make peppermint bark, to good music and books for break, we also interviewed some fellow camels about what they like to do in their respective cities! And for those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas, one of our writers has provided you with a few alternatives for the day. But before you head off campus, make sure to check out the article about one of our fellow student’s artwork, her brave work is going to do big things. We also want to take the time to thank everyone who has a hand in theLOOK— we are so grateful to have such dedicated contributors. We’re proud of how far we’ve come, and look forward to working hard for next semester’s issues. Good luck with finals, and in between the mountains of reading and writing, take a minute to flip through this issue.
By Rachel Matson ‘16
When Kerry Washington hosted Saturday Night Live on November 2nd, she was diving into a pool of racial tension.
After long-standing member of SNL Kenan Thompson called attention to the show’s lack of diversity, telling reporters at TV Guide that neither he nor his cast-mate Jay Pharaoh was interested in playing the role of black women any longer, the show was quickly thrown under media scrutiny. It doesn’t take much digging to realize the validity of his point. Since SNL has been on the air there have only been four black female cast members, and the show has been without a single black female member for over six years. Whenever black females are featured in an episode, they are often cast as racial caricatures. One of Danita Vance’s recurring roles was of a 17 year old welfare mother who gave advice about pregnancy, and Ellen Cleghorne was often cast as sassy Afrocentric social critic Queen Shenequa. Although SNL is a forum to poke fun at every stereotype, it appears as though that is the only avenue granted to black women; they are rarely given the opportunity to just play themselves. Washington’s hosting performance was no exception, as the show took full ownership of and poked fun at the cast’s lack of diversity. During her first skit, Washington began as the Michelle Obama to Fred Armisen’s Barack, only to be forced to change into costumes of Oprah and Beyonce because, as the producers explained in a comedic voiceover, the show “does not currently have a black woman in the cast”. They went on to explain that they agreed that this was “not an ideal situation and look forward to rectifying it in the near future...unless, of course, we fall in love with another white guy first”. The skit concluded with the insurgence of six Matthew McConaugheys; making use of all the white men that SNL has a plethora of. The rest of Washington’s skits, although not nearly as dramatic, all hinted at either her race or her gender. She starred as a jealous girlfriend, an angry Ugandan beauty queen, an en-
thusiastic black voter, and a sassy assistant. These representations coincide with a recent study released by ESSENCE this October about the role of black women in the media, which concluded that black women are overwhelmingly featured in a negative light. These archetypes include roles such as Gold Diggers, Baba Mamas, Uneducated Sisters, and Angry Black Women. It appears that the only way a black woman can have screen time is to be featured negatively; a Catch 22 that is unsettling and frightening. The flip side of this is simple: if a black woman doesn’t want to be featured negatively, she simply won’t be featured at all. Of the models at New York’s February Fashion Week, only 6% were black. During a calendar year, Vogue will typically feature just one to two black women on the cover. There has been a recent uproar by black models calling attention to the lack of colored women in the fashion industry, whether on the catwalk or in print. Model Beverly Johnson, who appeared as the first black woman on the cover of Vogue in 1974, published an op-ed in the Daily Beast this September entitled “Where Are All the Black Models” in which she recalls her horror when she attended a show during Fashion Week in 2010 and realized that not a single black model had walked the runway. She goes on to explain that the days of the 70s and 80s, when black models were popular on the runway and in print, h a v e been ushered out by a high-
er demand for celebrities and models with no body fat, both of which “set the stage for fewer and fewer women of color to get a shot at true stardom in the world of haute couture”. Beverly Johnson isn’t the only one calling attention to this issue. Supermodels Naomi Campbell and Iman, joined by former model agent Bethann Hardison, have started the Diversity Coalition to end racist runways. The trio have identified fashion houses such as Marc Jacobs, Victoria Beckham, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, and Rodarte, all of whom consistently use only one or no models of color, and have personally written to them as a call to end the racism. As of yet, none of the fashion houses have commented on the issue, but the Diversity Coalition is gaining media attention. With such respected and well-known figures at the head of the issue, the coalition is bound to be successful. London model agent Carole White adds that the reason for her lack of diversity in the models she represents-she only has 13 black models on her books- is because the beauty standard is much higher for black models. She explains that to get booked, black models have to look stunningly beautiful, and that they “have to actually be perfect”. White girls, in contrast, can get away with being more quirky or unique. British model Cara Delevingne, for instance, has made her dark, bushy, eyebrows, a trait that might be viewed as too “unorthodox” for models of color, her sellable trademark. The issue is more than just a beauty standard, however. The treatment of black women in fashion is similar to how the industry regards pixie cuts and smoky eyes: a fad, a statement, not a pillar of substance. The idea that black models have the ability to fade in or out or style is alarming. As Beverly Johnson notes, there has never been a trend of runway shows that exclude white models. Iman and Campbell note that designers often excuse their lack of diversity as aesthetics, only wanting a uniform look to be presented on the runway. As the flip side of this, designer Philipp Plein has announced that he has intentionally cast only black models in his spring 2014 show. No matter the scenario, the pattern is clear. Society has presented two options for black women: they will be featured as racial stereotypes, or they will be treated as a passé trend. Photo credit: http://kerry-washingtonfan.us/2013/11/snl-with-kerry-washington-and-eminem-delivers-its-highest-rating-since-october/
Room of Her Own By: Clara Gross ‘16
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he Plex has been called many names, but not flattering. However, Nina Frank has managed to transform her stark Lambdin room into a cozy oasis. In her own words, the room is “eclectic and cozy yet breezy and light.” Nina’s talent and love for interior decorating is evident in every corner of her room. A room this complete takes time to construct--Nina started planning with her Mom over the summer. The two share a love of interior design, and watch HGTV together. Nina cites her mom and designer Sarah Richardson as her main sources of inspiration. Going for “eclectic and cozy”, Nina sourced items from IKEA, Target, Society6, and Urban Outfitters. Nina’s room is rich in detail and creates a cohesive experience. “My room features a lot of different types of patterns but they all have a sort of a grainy and organic quality that ties them together.” Nina’s favorite pieces are also the boldest ones in the room. She loves the two teal, ombre curtains that frame her bed. “They texture the wall to make it feel homier in the place where I need that feeling most.”
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nother intriguing feature are the purple tissue paper pom poms that hang from the ceiling. They add a pop of color to what would otherwise be blank space. These items add color and texture to the room, but it is really the lights that make the atmosphere. Nina has surrounded her space in stringed lights and lanterns of all sizes and colors. “My lighting is absolutely essential because I refuse to use the harsh fluorescents at night.” The absence of institutional lighting makes the place feel like a home.
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s a girl who loves to decorate, Nina goes all out for holidays. When asked about her favorite to decorate for, Nina called it a tie between Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Christmas is complete with multicolored lights, paper snowflakes, skier knickknacks, and of course, a mini Christmas tree. For Valentine’s Day it’s all about pink and purple! Nina decorated her shared room last year with more stringed lights, paper hearts, and a pink wreath for the front door. It is really these, and many more, personal touches that make Nina’s room entirely her own.
DIY: HAIR 4 Styles FOR
4 Nights
The weekends at college can start to feel repetitive, but that doesn’t mean your hair has to be the same! Here are four simple and cute ways to deal with your hair when you just don’t know how to on the weekend.
By Maddy Harris ‘16 and Ari Flessas ‘16
A Headband:
Regardless of your hair texture, a pretty headband is always an easy way to change up your hairstyle. Find any headband you love, and put it on. Once it’s on, you can flip your hair to your favorite side and adjust it to your comfort. You will be Saturday-night-ready in no time! Likely sold at: Anthropologie, Forever 21, H&M, and Urban Outfitters.
Side braid:
Start by parting your hair on the side you want. Take a medium-sized section from the side with more hair, and separate it into equal thirds. Start braiding backwards along the side of your head, adding hair from the bottom side of the braid with each crossover. Continue until you have reached your desired stopping point, and pin the braid with bobbi pins until secure. Your trendy side braid will appear intricate while it really only took a minute!
Wraparound Ponytail:
The Messy Bun: For those Saturdays you plan to spend dancing away in Cro, a messy bun is a funky way to keep your hair out of your face. Start with an elastic already on your wrist, and gather all of your hair as if you were about to make a high ponytail, leaving some volume in the front. With the hand that is not holding the hair, grab your elastic and pull the hair through completely. Twist the elastic to prepare to make another loop, and begin looping your hair through until reaching half way. While balling up your hair continue twisting your elastic and loop it halfway through. This carefree hairstyle is a great go-to!
If you are tired of wearing your hair down every Saturday night, this ponytail is the perfect solution for you. Start by securing your hair in a ponytail, height of your choice (it often looks best when it is not perfectly smooth). Next, select a small section from the underside of the ponytail and wrap it around the elastic until it reaches the underside. Using a Bobbi pin, secure the section underneath the elastic and your ponytail to create the illusion of no hair tie. Your friends will be jealous of your simple and innovative up-do!
Art, Inside Out
By Selena Sobanski ‘16
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n the eyes of Kaitlin Fung, a Studio Art and Psychology double major, the socially constructed distinction between Self and Other has led to an unhealthy dissociative habit. When we think about our bodies, we often believe them to be something apart from ourselves, something in constant need of alteration, something we must dislike and feel self conscious about. Our bodies are what move us through life, not only physically, but psychologically. The metaphysical characterization of our bodies as external structures allows for a skewed sense of self that manifests in our attitudes towards our biology.
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uch of Fung’s work uses the body as life’s medium, portraying life as a “work of art in progress.” She explores the way we perceive our bodies and their residues, how we define what is unpleasant about them, and why we feel the need to discard what was once a part of us. The separation between Self and Other harbors fear and aversion, allowing us to become disengaged with ourselves and what goes on inside our bodies. Fung has opened an important dialogue regarding Self, Other, and the societal distinction between the two by integrating psychosocial concepts into her artwork. As a part of her senior thesis, Fung included an abstract interpretation of menstruation, and how it is not some inconvenient event that women must suffer through, but rather a healthy embodiment of our genetics.
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enarche brings forth rapid psychological and physical transitions, which for some of us, were quite memorable. It isn’t unusual to see a woman in line at the grocery store, tucking a box of maxi-pads beneath her arm in prayer that the person in front of her doesn’t notice the nature of her next purchase. Even the aluminum boxes present in the co-ed bathroom stalls invite the polite discard of our feminine hygiene products, reinforcing the societal recommendation that us ladies keep secret what occurs between our thighs. This isn’t to say that a liberation of our vaginas signifies the public display of our lady fluids, but why should we shy away from just talking about this crimson phenomenon? As liberal as Conn claims to be, the use of menstrual fluid, especially in an artistic context, is not something that most of us are familiar with. By utilizing autobiographical materials, Fung has narrowed the gap between Self and Other by directly interacting with her body and its products, in addition to inviting others to talk about her work and what it stands for.
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er sophomore year, Fung began exploring the functionality of menstrual blood in a Construction and Installation course. For one of the projects, the art students were told to create a piece around defining a battery. Fung developed a uniquely compelling design of her own:
I thought of my body as a battery... like my body giving energy to another life source...I ended up creating a piece around fertilizing a flower bed with menstrual blood...I built the piece to resemble the molecular structure of chlorophyll and blood, two life molecules.
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hile some of her peers found the botanic masterpiece bewildering, the majority of her feedback was positively encouraging: “I knew I had a lot of support, but we also live in a society where most people were disgusted and uncomfortable with menstrual blood,” Fung adds. The perpetual reconstruction of self and other-ing of events like menstruation explain many of the students’ first reactions to Fung’s conceptual aesthetic using period blood.
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aturally, the first of my many questions towards her more recent menstrual art regarded the collection and application processes, not to mention whether or not the paintings actually smelled. Fung uses a diva cup, which is a silicone reusable cup inserted into the vagina, where it collects the menstrual fluid in a more cost-effective and environmentally friendly manner than traditional feminine hygiene products. She assured me that upon oxidation, not only did the blood turn a rust color, but the bacteria within the paint dried eliminating any bodily odors. Fung used different techniques for the paintings, some of which she classifies as “drip paintings,” while a few were splashed heavily with deep hues of maroon and brown in one general location. While pointing at the more liquid-dense splatter pieces, Fung explained her meticulous planning, and how she made sure she was in her room when it was time to transfer the cup’s contents directly onto the canvas. In preparation for the drip paintings, Fung performed several trial runs to refine her procedure:
“...this is what I’m doing, and this is what I want to do.”
This is my second cycle using the diva cup, so now it’s taken me 3 cycles of blood to complete all the work I have. Over the summer when I first did [the drip paintings] I just stood over the linen instead of emptying [out the cup]. Since I was at home I didn’t have to plan around it. I would move my body, kind of like a performance piece, without an audience, so I would run, dance and squat over my canvas.
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hen I asked Fung about her technique, she professed her lack of interest in using paint brushes or an acrylic mediator. Fung asserts that she did indeed experiment with ink pen, but she prefers her own natural and raw methodology. She says that since working with the diva cup she has become a lot more comfortable with her body, feeling the gap between Self and Other start to close.
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s we exited Cummings and began our walk back across Tempel Green, I asked her one last question about the approval of others, to which she responded marvelously: “I can’t worry about [anyone else] because this is what I’m doing, and this is what I want to do. I can’t have the fear of other peoples’ responses cloud my art and my unique sense of expression.”
By Alhelí Garza ‘16
After sharing a room his
whole life, Evan Gaudio finally has a room to himself, and to him, it’s kind of a big deal. Gaudio makes the most out of his 9x14 foot dorm room by personalizing every inch of it with meaningful eye-catching decorations. From a small sailor’s hat to a large Pyrat rum banner, almost every object in Gaudio’s room has a story behind it -- creating a homey atmosphere where people feel welcome to relax and hangout.
Q: If you had to describe your room in one word what would it be? A: Homey. All my friends have told me that as well.
Q: Where did the posters, images, and objects hanging from the wall come from? A: My little sister picked that (KungFu Panda poster) out, that (Sam the Eagle poster) was a Christmas gift from one of my brothers, and that (Pyrat Rum banner) was a “gift” from a Zac Brown Band Concert.
Q: Where did you get that moose? Does it have a name? A: It was on Amazon, and I thought it was pretty funny. And the hat on top is from my Halloween costume. But no, it doesn’t have a name.
Q: What is your favorite thing about your room? A: My bed. This is the first time I’ve ever had my own room in my entire life. I shared a room with my brother my entire life, then I went to prep school and had a triple, and last year I had a roommate. I’m 20 years old and this is the first single I’ve ever had.
Q: Would you describe your room as your sanctuary or a place where you like having friends over? A: Kind of both. Half of the time I’ll be in here by myself hanging out and then the other half a bunch of my friends will be hanging out in here.
Q: Why did you choose to live in freeman? A: My friends and I all agreed to live together - Bobby (Bleistein) is living down the hall, Morrill (Tim) lives upstairs, and Sully (Connor Sullivan) lives down in the basement.
Q: If your room would have a theme song what would it be? A: I’m gonna go with Party In the USA by Miley Cyrus.
Q: What kind of look were you going for when you were setting up your room? A: I just wanted a relaxing place where I could hangout and have a couple of people over.
Photography by Miguel Salcedo ‘14
Cross-Continent Camels by Ari Flessas ‘16
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he Connecticut College community is a diverse group of Camels from all over the world. During the holiday season, Camels return home to various parts of the United States and other countries, uniting with their families. These family reunions are filled with laughter, joy, and holiday traditions that have developed throughout the years. The activities that Camels participate in are special and unique to their own family’s traditions and their homelands.
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any New Englanders spend their winter holidays outside enjoying the snow. They spend their days taking part in winter sports such as skiing, skating, playing hockey, ice fishing, and building forts. For many, the frigid temperatures makes it that much better to bake Christmas cookies with family and cozy up with a cup of hot chocolate. In the New England city of Boston, people go to the Boston Commons to view the festive lights and holiday decorations or skate on Frog Pond with friends and family.
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est Coast native Bella Hall enjoys spending the day at Disneyland during the holiday season. According to Hall “Disneyland has fake snow and Christmas decorations everywhere! It’s truly a winter wonderland in California.”
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amie Balkin, a Chicago native, explains “I love heading down to Marshall Fields on State Street and walking around the unbelievably ornate and beautiful Christmas window displays. They are filled with extravagant decorations and awesome animated scenes. It is the first store ever to put on a window display and every year it’s different and even more incredible. When you get too cold staring at the windows you can go inside and see the 45 ft. Christmas tree!”
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aitlin Cunningham, an international Camel, said “I am a lover of Paris in the winter. Every tree on the Champs-Élysées is illuminated and a dusting of snow rests on the sidewalks. It never snows too much in Paris, just enough for everything around you to look magical. I love to light the fireplace on a snowy day and watch the flakes fall through my enormous Parisian window. Sometimes I’ll walk to the patisserie on the corner for a coffee and pastry and then to the Trocadero to watch the Eiffel Tower sparkle. On a cold day, there is nothing better than tea and a warm crêpe with Nutella.”
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lheli Garza of Texas said, “my favorite thing about winter time in Texas is eating the delicious Shipley Donuts while enjoying a warm mug of peppermint hot chocolate.” Alheli also enjoys her time in Texas hunting at a ranch with her family.
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or Geneva resident Christophe Desorbay, he said, “my personal favorite wintertime experience in Switzerland is to go up to a skiing village. Being there in good company, we eat raclette and drink white wine with hot tea. After, at 11pm, we luge all the way down the mountain. It is such a unique Swiss experience--especially luging.”
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he holiday season is a time of family and tradition. As Camels return home, they engage and participate in traditions unique to their home. If you find yourself traveling or searching for new traditions, look to your Connecticut College community for inspiration.
how tP: Make Peppermint Bark g
By: Alheli Garza ‘16 and Hannah Feeney ‘16
ift giving can be a troublesome thing. Not only are Christmas gifts for family and friends costly and time-consuming, but it can feel sort of empty to get someone something they may never use. Baked goods make great gifts for the Holidays because they solve a lot of these problems; they are inexpensive, easy to whip up, made with love, and guaranteed to please. Peppermint bark is a great seasonal treat to make for the people on your Christmas list, or simply for yourself. Here are a few steps to get you started.
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What You’ll Need:
Crush peppermint. You can buy peppermint pre-crushed at craft stores or other stores with baking specialty sections, but it is way cheaper to just get some peppermint candies or candy canes, unwrap them, and stick them in a plastic bag, and do the crushing yourself!
-Dark chocolate chips and white chocolate chips -Crushed peppermint, candy canes or peppermint candies -Microwave -Freezer -Baking sheet
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Melt chocolate in microwave on high. Melt in 30-second intervals, stirring each time. This process will temper chocolate and help prevent it from melting once hardened.
Spread the melted chocolate on a cookie sheet. Aim for the most even layer possible: the thicker and more uneven the pieces are, the harder they will be to break later on.
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Repeat steps 2 and 3 with white chocolate chips.
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Use a fork or another utensil to create swirls and designs with the two chocolates. Be creative!
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Sprinkle crushed peppermint in the chocolates. Make sure to do all of this at a relatively fast pace so the chocolates do not begin to harden too much before you have a chance to set peppermint pieces.
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Freeze for about an hour.
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Take tray out of freezer, and break hardened chocolate into pieces.
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Enjoy your peppermint bark!
In case all of the malls and storefronts around you aren’t dripping in evergreen branches or
strings of white lights, Christmas is still coming. For many people, Christmas is a special day to celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ and a time to be with family. But what if you don’t celebrate Christmas? Here is a list of 10 fun things to do on December 25th if waiting around for Santa is not on your agenda.
1 Go see a movie!
Movie theaters are always open at Christmas time, and many big blockbuster movies come out on Christmas day. Here are a few movies coming out around Christmas this year – just make sure you get there early to get a seat! • The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (Nov. 22) • Anchorman: The Legend Continues (Dec. 20) • The Wolf of Wall Street (Dec. 25) Don’t feel like waiting in lines? Grab some friends and catch up on all your favorite shows at home on Netflix!
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Get organized Have you been avoiding that stack of old papers in the corner of your room? Did you realize that you have four half-used bottles of shampoo in your bathroom? Get cleaning! Throw out old stuff, gather up clothes to donate or sell to thrift stores, and make room for the new.
3 3Plan a road trip
Look up a city you haven’t been to, and hit the road first thing Christmas morning. Bring some friends to jam with in the car, or go solo and clear your head.
4 Cook a big meal
Look up interesting recipes with a winter theme and learn how to make them (see previous article)! Cook dinner for your whole family – you’ll be so proud that you did it yourself!
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Sleep!
There’s no better time to catch up on your Z’s. Turn off all your alarms and sleep till your heart’s content!
By Leise Trueblood ‘16
6 Casino Night
Grab that jar of loose change and turn it in at the bank for some extra money. Take it straight to the blackjack tables and gamble the night away!
7 Get a hotel room
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Got some extra cash on hand from work or relatives? Rent a room at a nearby hotel for the night. Find one with an indoor pool or local attractions around it, and soak up those big comfy beds!
Let it snow! Is there snow outside? Find a big hill with a group of friends and go sledding! No snow? Drive to the closest ski mountain and go skiing or snowboarding! Most mountains are open on Christmas day, and some even have lower rates. Not a winter athlete? Go tubing!
see a play or 9 Go comedy show Many productions have shows on Christmas day for tourists. Go see an old classic you’ve never seen before, or maybe the local show everyone’s been buzzing about.
10 Scope out online deals Many stores have sales that begin on December 26th. Do some serious online window-shopping and figure out what you want, then hit the mall the next day to reap the cheap!
It’s a known fact that when 11:59 PM on the 31st rolls around,
most want to be dressed in their best for their respective or perspective New Years countdown kiss. We assume that all you camels will be getting festive and fashionable when welcoming 2014. This year I’ve taken it upon myself to offer the men on campus a little advice to keep their style classy, even when their behavior, come New Years Eve, will likely be the opposite.
For starters, when deciding what to wear we should
account for the climate, and for our sake we’re assuming it’s going to be a cold one. Therefore, make sure to layer up--who knows how long you might be stranded outside looking for a cab, or put in a position where your significant other requests your jacket while he/she dodges pot holes and ice. Considering the various situations, you can always rely to look dapper in a slim fit black cashmere sweater to keep you cozy, but not overheated throughout the night. Acne has a vast selection of sweater options that look awesome in their recently released winter collection. Also, Uniqlo is an affordable but just as stylish option for sweaters. Underneath the sweater, I’d recommend a button down. Make sure the collar holds well or else it starts to look a little sloppy. Depending on the party, a tie under the sweater could do a lot to spruce up the outfit and it looks great to keep the top collar button undone. If your feeling extra festive make it a bow tie night, but remember to tie it yourself so at the end of the night you can do the “I went so hard my bow tie came undone” pose. Don’t forget to tuck in the button down!
Men’s fashion usually provides a broad
range of options for possible pants. For bringing in the New Year, we feel that grey slacks that fit tightly but comfortably would by far go best. If you are in the market for a nice pair of slacks, I personally believe Theory is the best. For the night, please refrain from putting on sneakers, even if you have to raid Dad’s closet and find an acceptable pair of black lace ups or loafers! For outerwear, a wool blazer to stay warm or a pea coat would go well with this outfit and make it a bit more casual. Finally, to complete this perfect New Years Eve head-to-toe look, put on a pair of funky dress socks and capitalize on the jovial vibe.
Feel free to improvise as much as you want to create
something that is ideal for popping champagne and having a good start to the New Year. If you’re trying to play it safe, a suit with no tie always radiates a dapper and semi-casual look. If you are lucky enough to get the invite to a black tie event, don’t be afraid to mock-model James Bond poses in the Tux (everyone does it at one point or another).
Lets not forget accessories, which in some cases make
the party. We all know that sound makers are lame and outdated. However, a glittered top hat or neon 2014 glasses are bound to garner some attention at the party. Glow sticks are a must for any New Years count down for the first moments of 2014. Bundle up, stay safe, and from all of us at theLook have a fantastic and “debaucherious” New Years.
O u r Dec e m b er Pl a y l i st By Gracie Pearlman ‘14
1. Dreamers by Savoir Adore 2. Waves by Blondefire
3. Ruby, Don’t Take Your Love to Town
by The Killers
4. Hey Mami by Sylvan Elesso 5. Jubel by Klingande 6. Swingin’ Party by Kindness 7. Walking With Giants by Blondefire
8. Don’t Wait by Mapei
9. At Home by The Crystal Fighters 10. DVNO by Justice
Fro m O u r S h e l f t o Yo u r s By Hannah Feeney ‘16
1. Lets Explore Diabetes With Owls, David Sedaris
Not that one ever needs an excuse to read Sedaris, but his recent visit to Conn makes this book an even more relevant choice for winter break The book is a collection of essays, which makes it easy to pick up and put down between various holiday festivities and other things that might be keeping you busy, and Sedaris’ pithy anecdotes and sharp humor never fail to amuse.
2. Dear Life, Alice Munro
Dear Life won this year’s Nobel Prize for literature, and one of our professors, Julie Rivkin, is teaching a senior English Seminar this semester on the author. The book is broken up into short stories that deal with a range of universally relatable topics such as family, aging and learning, making it extremely accessible.
3. & Sons, David Gilbert
This novel was highly recommended to me by a trusted family friend. Although I haven’t read it, it has been reviewed as a clever and fast-paced story about the reconciliation of three brothers with a lot of Salinger-esque nods. I’m always up for contemporary work that succeeds at incorporating themes from Salinger, so this novel is going to be at the top of my to do list for break.
4. The Goldfinch, Donna Tartt
My mom has been after me to read Tartt’s The Secret History for years, and I have never gotten around to it. Although I haven’t read The Goldfinch either, this recently published novel (it came out in October) looks like an equally compelling project to embark on one day. Consider yourself warned, though—the novel is 784 pages long. While on the downside it may take you all break to get through, I guess you only have to invest in one actual book for the month? The story, according to the reviews I read, is nuanced enough to make the length well worth the read.
5. Doctor Sleep: A Novel, Stephen King
Here’s Johnny--or at least the sequel. In the much-anticipated follow-up novel to The Shining, Stephen King’s new thriller follows Danny Torrance, now middle-aged, and his supernatural abilities of easing the suffering of those who are dying. Although he survived his youth, this novel reveals that some demons are inescapable.
Holiday Gift Wrapping Tutorial By Hannah Feeney ‘16 With Christmas, Hannukah and [most importantly] my sister’s birthday right around the corner, there are gifts that have to be wrapped. Looking at intricately wrapped gifts is a total guilty pleasure of mine-- I have a Pinterest board full of beautiful wrapping ideas. Although I would love to have the hours to spend on meticulously wrapping each and every gift for my family and friends, this idea seems like a more manageable and personal way to tackle gift presentation this holiday season.
What you’ll need: white paper (you could also use other colors for f Any more eccentric snowflakes! I used the backs of pages I had already printed on.)
k Paper grocery bags or newspaper for wrapping o Twine (available for a few dollars at any craft store) c Scissors f Tape 1. Cut open the paper bag so it lays flat. I found it helpful to
3.
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cut along the seam of the bag, so the part I eventually used as wrapping paper was seamless.
Wrap the gift in paper.
Make your paper snowflakes! Obviously this can be as creative as you want (cue cheesy “no two snowflakes are alike” joke here). If you’re like me and thrive on directions, there are lots of super easy six pointed snowflake tutorials on the interweb.
Special Thanks A big thank you to Sabrina Notarfrancisco and the Theater Department for letting us use their clothing from the Costume Closet for our photo shoot. Sabrina is theLOOK Magazine’s advisor and an Assistant Professor of Theater. She specializes in costume design, costume construction, costume history and costume shop management. She, with the help of some students, creates many of the garments in Conn’s theater productions, and has an impressive resume.