Skirt and Top set: Thrifted Uggs: Director Owned White Nylons: Director Owned
Belt-chain: Candied_Necklaces
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Shirt: Lonely_Ghost
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Impact of Online Fashion Shows By Phoebe Legg ue to the pandemic, online fashion shows have quickly gained popularity out of the need to release the seasons looks while also adhering to COVID-19 guidelines. Some of the first online fashion shows began at the start of the pandemic in late February.
success rates of industry professionals. “Online fashion makes everyone involved have to be more creative and innovative with their approach to pull users to watch the show. Additionally, online fashion shows bring a whole new perspective Virtual shows debuted at to fashion, and reach a Milan Fashion Week due lot more people around to the first major outbreak the country and globe,” of COVID-19 that occurred said Lydiah Kennedy, outside of Asia. They sophomore majoring in ensured that people could apparel merchandising remain safe from the virus and design and the while still showcasing their treasurer and fundraising material. director of The Iowa State Fashion Show. The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted not just Kennedy is happy that her people’s personal lives, siblings in California can but the fashion industry livestream The Fashion as well. Online fashion Showthis year and see shows have impacted her work remotely. The overall user experience, Fashion Show being virtual the environment and opens up opportunities
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that were not previously in place pre-pandemic. In an article by Emily Chan, Sustainability Editor at Vogue, Chan discusses the environmental impacts that have changed due to online fashion shows. “Fashion buyers and designers alone contribute 241,000 tons of C02 emissions a year by attending fashion weeks in New York, London, Paris, and Milan,” said Chan. It is still not yet known how much of an environmental impact online fashion shows will have. “The information and technology communications technology sector is responsible for two per cent of the global
greenhouse gas emissions- making it just as harmful as the aviation industry,” said Chan. Thus, while online fashion shows may appear to be better for the environment at face value, they could potentially prove to be less sustainable than in-person, traditional fashion shows. Spring 2020 was the first time The Fashion Show at Iowa State University held an online fashion show. “Online fashion shows could be better for the success of buyers, because it enables them to see more collections and designer’s works without the cost of having to go to different parts of the country. It is hard to say about designers, because while it is easier to get their names/ brands out there online, it is a different experience to see a designer’s clothing in person than online.” said Nicole Ernst, fashion merchandising major and philanthropy
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director of The Fashion Show.
fashion shows, but fashion on the internet overall.
Ernst’s view of online versus in-person shows is mixed. There are advantages and disadvantages to both. Ernst believes that online fashion is drastically changing the fashion industry.
Online fashion shows present both a positive and negative influence upon the fashion industry. The virtual shows encourage more creativity and opportunity across the globe, however, the fashion industry still looks forward to the day when in person fashion shows return.
“America used to be a full season behind Europe in fashion trends, and now that gap is starting to close over time,” said Ernst. This gap would not have begun to close without the help of not only virtual
Daisy Sweater: Leah_Says_Gah!
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F orecasting A S H I O T N with the Help of Technology
By Emerson Latham
echnology has helped turn the novice into experts when forecasting the future direction the fashion industry will turn in upcoming seasons. Thanks to social media, live streams and much more, people are able to predict the latest styles with a click of a button. Marissa Steenhoek, a senior studying communication studies, opened her online boutique, “Beloved”, in September of 2020. The
motto for her store is, “Classic and timeless styles.” Her goal for her customers is to steer away from trends and focus more on garments that they can keep in their closet forever.
“What fashion forecasting [committee] does is pulling from what we think is going to be in the upcoming season and trying to predict the future trends,” said Rock.
and that is something they have made sure their committee is aware of.
COVID-19 has really changed the game when it comes to forecasting. A lot of fashion shows have Peller said they have really either been canceled or Steenhoek said she uses a been focusing on fashion put completely online. lot of different platforms shows, influencers and This gives people from for forecasting what keeping up with what all around the world upcoming styles she is new products brands the opportunity to have going to introduce to her are putting out on the access. A person can tune online inventory. She uses market. However, those are in wherever they want or Pinterest, small business not the only places they catch up later if they were Instagram pages and large get inspiration for their not free during the time of corporation’s websites. forecasts. The two said the show. they have been incredibly Even though Steenhoek influenced by students on Forecasting is especially has her own style and campus, within their major important for buyers and vision for her brand, she and members of TREND people in the industry now still checks up on fashion magazine. because the economy is shows to see how she still down. can incorporate what she “I think technology and observes into “Beloved”. social media has definitely “Really tuning into looking sped up how fast trends at those future trends “I think [luxury designer’s come and go,” said Peller. and researching that to fashion shows] set the get your buying plans are tone for the season,” said Rock, Peller and additional going to be super crucial Steenhoek. “When silk and fashion forecasting cofor the upkeep of your satin came back into style, director, Olivia Makeever, business,” said Rock. that’s what I took from junior in apparel, those fashion shows but merchandising and design, Rock and Peller are I didn’t take exactly the have a collaborative group predicting that coming pieces they were wearing.” chat with their committee out of the pandemic, members. They often people are going to want Elli Peller and Natalie Rock, send screenshots from to express themselves sophomores in apparel, Instagram or Pinterest more than they ever have merchandising and design, in the group chat as fashion-wise. are the directors for inspiration for their TREND Magazine’s fashion photoshoot. Outside page 8 forecasting committee. influence is everywhere
Motion Pictures’ Influence on Personal Style By Lauren Humphreys
ilms have reflected an adjusted perspective on reality, a romanticized vision that resonates uniquely with different types of viewers based on values and perspectives. Movies that portray a certain time period or feeling that is relatable to its audience, often inspire and influence trends within fashion, pop culture and society. Some movies have been so influential in fashion that many don’t recognize or remember where these trends originated because they become associated with an aesthetic or time period, rather than the film. Movies such as Saturday Night Fever, Boyz n the Hood, The Matrix and Fight Club were all based in a time period where fashion made a statement. Clothing was used to communicate the cultural climate, feelings of characters and mood that influenced personal style. Although these films share few commonalities plot wise, they all have and continue to influence men’s fashion. They have served as a catalyst for trends of the time period to become fashion classics.
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From flare pants in every color hue to sharp, crisp collared shirts, the fashion in “Saturday Night Fever” was centered around 70s trends, but has stood the test of time. Periodically going in and out of fashion, this look reminiscent of the disco days has greatly impacted men’s suit trends. Loser silhouettes for jackets and pants paired with a tieless collared shirt has become the blueprint for casual, yet sophisticated suiting. As flared pants become a defining trend for men’s fashion in spring/summer 2021, this late 70s style can be incorporated in any wardrobe by styling them with modern pieces such as sneakers or graphic t-shirts.
For streetwear style inspiration, look no further than Ice Cube and Cuba Gooding Jr. in “Boyz n the Hood.” Taking influence from the street style scene that already existed in South Central Los Angeles, the film features all of the iconic 90s trends that are still seen in current men’s fashion. The film communicated aspects of real life in southern California and the fashion choices that fit this lifestyle.It did so through careful color blocking, oversized chambray shirts and high waisted chinos. “Boyz n the Hood” features
designers such as Tommy Hilfiger, FUBU and ECKO to accurately depict the wardrobes of real people during the early 90s. The rise in snapback and sneaker culture after the release of “Boyz n the Hood,” has contributed to the market for rare sneaker and designer collabs we see today. The looks in this film have become recognizable aesthetics for this time period, inspiring and influencing the personal style and culture around the world. page 10
The first rule of Fight Club may be not to talk about Fight Club, but it’s impossible not to speak about this movie when analyzing men’s fashion in film. The chaotic, eccentric style that the movie exudes is carried over to the fashion within the film through mixed prints and tight fits, which were key trends of the time period . Although this movie was made in the late 90s, the style in the movie portrays the 00s aesthetic that was on the brink of invading culture and society. These adventurous Y2K pieces are portrayed through crop tops, fur coats and printed pants paired with 90s staples such as leather blazers and chinos. This is an eclectic, yet modernized look Tyler Durdan would approve of.
“The Matrix” has become a defining influence in alternative, cyberpunk fashion through its dark, moody aesthetics and styles. Through functional, utilitarian pieces the movie illustrates a dystopian society where this wardrobe is essential. The film melds late 90s trends with futuristic function using trailing trench coats, patent leather pieces and combat boots. The film created a style that was an underground aesthetic, but has become mainstream due to its influence on societal trends. Many designers have experimented with the Matrix style, creating form fitting power suits styled with small, structured shades.
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Men’s Online Fashion Inspiration By Callie Schaefer n the middle of a pandemic, there is no better place to find fashion inspiration than online. School, work and social gatherings all became virtual towards the beginning of 2020. Finding fashion inspiration can seem daunting and difficult. How does one find examples of their personal style on social media and then discover those pieces in real life? With social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest, finding your style inspiration has never been easier. TikTok has increased in popularity since the start of the pandemic, due to its ease of allowing many people to express themselves through short videos and the role it has played in today’s current fashion. TikTok has created
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a space for people to be creative and has a huge outreach. Kobe Knettel, senior at Sauk RapidsRice in Minnesota, is very active on the app. He said he finds the majority of his fashion inspiration on TikTok. He thinks the app has had a large influence on current fashion trends. “I think fashion trends are extremely influenced by social media, especially with the rise of TikTok,” said Knettel. “I feel like a lot of fashion trends have been shared through it, especially when they become popular.” Knettel described his process for putting together outfits after pulling inspiration from social media. After seeing a piece online he likes, he will try to find it to
purchase. He often found after finding the exact item that spiked interest on social media it would be sold out. He has made a habit of heading to thrift stores to find similar items for a good price. Looking at how influencers may have styled their pieces, Knettel will replicate it with some twists of his own. Yahsiah Scott, a resident of the Des Moines area, also looks to TikTok for fashion inspiration. He, like Knettel, looks in thrift stores to find pieces similar to what he saw on social media platforms. Scott sometimes even takes a second look at what he already has in his closet. While TikTok does a good job of reaching many people, spreading trends and giving many people inspiration- Pinterest
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is also a great platform to gain inspiration. Pinterest allows you to explore many different posts customized to your interests, pin the images you like onto categorized boards and organize inspiration in a personalized way. Scott personally uses Pinterest. He appreciates how he can search for specific things and also let Pinterest find similar items for him. Knettel and Scott both spoke on pressures for men on social media. There is an unspoken pressure for men to be plain. in the sense that there is a fear to be unoriginal. It appears that for men there is a block to really expressing themselves. There is a pressure to not stand out due to fear of what others might say. This happens specifically when it comes to displaying yourself as being masculine versus feminine. Showing a feminine side as a male can be reacted to negatively. Often when men express their feminie side their sexuality is invalidated and they are heavily judged. Scott commented on his personal experience with
this after he shot with TREND. “I’m comfortable with my sexuality enough to wear makeup or hair clips for a photoshoot. [My family] believed this was “making me gay” which is just ridiculous,” Scott said. Knettel voiced how TikTok has allowed him to explore his femininity. “I am more confident with wearing things that are inherently considered feminine,” Knettel said. He believes social media like TikTok gives people a space to challenge gender norms. However, it can also be a platform for people to do the opposite. Knettel personally recommends ignoring the bad that may be said and embrace your inner-self/fashion sense. After coming out as bisexual and embracing what he wanted to wear and how he wanted to act, Knettel gained confidence. He said,“that’s really what makes the difference”. Social media platforms like TikTok, Instagram and Pinterest have not only become great places to find fashion inspiration, but also places
for people to express themselves. While issues like toxic masculinity and expressing femininity still exist, these platforms have become great places for many and allow men to find their own style.
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Virtual Styling By Kelly Snawerdt echnology is affecting and changing every aspect of our lives not only impacting work life and social life, but also the way we make decisions about our appearances. When it comes to hair and makeup, apps and filters on our devices are increasing in popularity. There are numerous filters on Snapchat and Instagram that allow a user to see themselves with hair dyed a completely different color or with makeup such
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as eyeliner, eyeshadow, lipsticks and foundations. Not only are these apps and filters convenient for consumers, but brands and large companies are catching on fast. Sephora and CoverGirl are just two examples of brands that have included a virtual try-on experience for their customers on their apps using technology that scans the app user’s face to identify features like undertone colors and skin tone to best match them
with a product. For college students, apps and filters that allow them to see themselves with a new hairstyle or makeup product without even leaving their room can be enticing. Kaylinh Luong, a junior at Iowa State University majoring in child, adult, and family services said before choosing to dye her hair blue, she used an app to get a general idea of what she would look like
with the new style, which influenced her decision to go through with dying her hair. Luong mentioned that filters on apps like Snapchat and Instagram are a starting point for brands to test this new technology before investing in app creation.
users, she thinks this will bring in even more business. Wearmouth said that the filters on TikTok and Snapchat have influenced some of her clients’ choices at times.
“Sometimes someone will show me themselves with the filter on and I will “Snapchat is already usually bring swatches very popular and can out to show be an easier option for them consumers than using a how separate app, and many close I people including me prefer can an easier option,” Luong get said. In the actual hair salon, it isn’t extremely common yet for clients to come in to dye or cut their hair because of an app’s influence. Kelsie Wearmouth, stylist and manager at Heroic Hair in Ames, said that if app technology advances to provide a more realistic visualization of hairstyles on
to matching what they want,” Wearmouth said. One of the hurdles with technology showing clients what they will look like with a certain style is that a lot of times apps don’t give an accurate enough portrayal. Unless the technology is augmented reality, it is difficult to see what someone will look like when they actually dye their hair. Especially in today’s world where trends are ever-changing and self expression is appreciated, beauty-based technology opens the door for endless creative opportunities. “In society right now with so many popular hairstyles, haircuts and hair colors, I feel like a lot of college students are wanting to make a spontaneous change. I think using these apps and filters is so effective because it pushes people to do something new,” Luong said.
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Skincare Future By Jess Mouw he world of skincare is going digital– both literally and figuratively. From lasers to LED lights, the popularity of cuttingedge procedures in the pursuit of healthy looking and feeling skin is indubitably on the rise. Not only are these new practices being created faster than ever, but social media is generating a market that is excited to experiment with their skin.
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chooses to utilize this sophisticated technology because she is able to produce better results for her clients than traditional facial techniques can provide. “The technology basically enhances client results,” Christy said. “I will either use technology to stimulate collagen production, push layers deeper, or provide greater exfoliation.”
LED light therapy facials are one tech-savvy trend that has received attention recently. This procedure, which involves using a wand to shine LED lights onto the skin, claims to provide a variety of benefits.
Christy prioritizes providing the latest and greatest in skincare technology for her clients because she has a passion for providing them with the best, most modern experience possible.
Catherine Christy, owner of Advanced Massage and Skincare Specialists in Ames, provides a spa menu filled with innovative and exciting procedures for her clients, notably including LED light therapy. Christy
“I wanted to get the best outcome for my clients as soon as I became aware of this technology,” Christy said.“When you understand the technology and the science behind it all,
you understand how to do what is best for your clients.” Not only does technology play a large physical role in the increasing popularity of this new practice, but the demand for this new practice is a by-product of a different aspect of the technological world– social media. Christy believes social media has an influence on her clientele and the degree to which they are inspired to try new technologies like LED light therapy. “As they read about science and technology and see before and after images, they become educated,” Christy said. Education drives demand.” Another technology in the skincare world that has gained traction in recent years is laser hair removal. According to Susan Cross, a nurse practitioner from
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Urban Effects Med Spa in Urbandale, lasering is actually no new methodology. However, as word has spread of how lasers have the power to painlessly remove hair and stunt hair growth, many have recently become eager to give it a go to forgo tedious methods like shaving and waxing. “Hair lasers have actually been around for a long time,” Cross said. “The changes have just been a lot about spreading education and deciding which lasers to use and what are the correct procedures to use.” On the benefits lasering has over alternatives, Cross said, “While shaving simply cuts the hair and waxing pulls the hair out of the follicle, hair lasers are actually able to go in and destroy the growth. There are some big differences there.” Cross is aware of the contributions social media has made to the popularity of hair lasering. “Everything today is being affected by social media,” Cross said. “People have become more techsavvy, especially during
the pandemic, and that encourages them to try new things.” We live in a world where technology is on the rise in all aspects of life, and the rise of tech-savvy skincare procedures represents a culmination of advancements in both science and communication. As new, exciting technologies become available faster than ever before, so does our ability to find them and try them. Our digitized world makes it easy and fun to turn self-care into a science experiment, as exploring nuances in skincare technology allows us to look and feel our best. Additionally, Christy welcomes new clients who are eager to experience the
benefits of this innovative technology themselves and encourages TREND readers to visit her website, www. amesspecialists.com if they are interested in trying something new.
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Maggie Atcheson: From YouTube to Bachelor’s Degree By Loretta McGraw It’s not uncommon for Iowa Staters to make an infamous impression but how many can say they began long before their college career? Maggie Atcheson is a junior majoring in advertising at Iowa State University, in addition to being a famous YouTuber alongside her cousins Megan Stitz and Ciera Stitz on their joint channel TheCheernastics2 (TC2). Atcheson also creates content on her independent YouTube channel entitled Maggie
and remained in the public school system all throughout high school in Johnston, Iowa where she graduated in 2018. Posthigh school, Atcheson ended up following in her father’s footsteps Despite getting her introduction to social and attending Iowa State media between the ages of although both of her seven and eight, according cousins are attending The University of Iowa. to her father Jerry Atcheson, her career didn’t kick off until being actively The distance between the involved with the Stitz trio has made keeping up with their channel cousins streaming acts complicated. Since they as an 11-year-old. Even with her significant rise in are all adults now and popularity she maintained focused on their studies and less so on gymnastics a pretty average lifestyle Atcheson in addition to her TikTok account but hopes to pursue a career as a creative director or social media manager postgraduation.
it has become increasingly difficult for them to locate a niche still of relevance to their day-to-day lives. The Stitz twins branched off and focused on their podcast According 2, while Atcheson has expanded her brand further into outerwear with the creation of A Mood. A Mood is a clothing curation in which Atcheson is responsible for designing. It is inspired by the commentary of fans calling the girls “a mood” otherwise used to express that something is relatable. The site currently consists of multi-color hoodies but will be having a drop of crewnecks in the coming months. Despite a seemingly normal childhood, most individuals do not get the opportunity to partake in fan meet and greets, sponsorships and special events in which they are a primary selling point. “One of my favorite memories is VIDCON because it was kind of our first big YouTube thing that we did,” Atcheson said. “We went for two [consecutive] years for
AwesomenessTV. We had access to a VIP room with Josh Peck, Jacob Sartorius and honestly any YouTuber you can probably think of was in the room.” Atcheson notes that it was a “weird” experience, being surrounded by YouTubers she had watched and was now standing beside. Receiving security at an event was “the most shocking moment” to Atcheson, as it solidified the prominence, fame and impact YouTube had made on her life. Being in the spotlight doesn’t always prove harmless at least not in her cousin’s experience. Fortunately, Atcheson herself has never experienced any threats or harassment from fans but Jerry Atcheson did notice on multiple occasions, young girls, in their fan-bases age group driving by their home to take pictures proving they did have an enormous following. When at the Iowa State Fair one year, the three girls decided to post info about a potential
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meet and greet, skeptical to see if their followers would even show. “So we walk up there and within five minutes there’s a football field length line of young girls waiting to take pictures and that’s just a moment where you realize this is bigger than you thought it was or ever would be,” Jerry Atcheson said. Even with support and encouragement from family, friends and loved ones, life can still take a toll as Atcheson has discovered in her physical and mental health journey. Starting as a shy young child and then transitioning into an internet sensation proved troublesome for her. “When I was 11 I would get my validation from the YouTube comments and I never really learned how to just validate myself instead of looking at the comments and being like ‘Oh they said I’m doing a great job so I’m doing a great job’ and then once you don’t see those comments anymore you’re like ‘Well, I guess I’m not doing a good job anymore,” said Atcheson.
Atcheson is very open with her mental and physical health circumstances and goes in-depth on her personal YouTube channel so that others can understand despite her social media success she’s just like anybody else. This relatability and vulnerability are what she feels make her successful, well-liked and the reason their joint channel has thrived for such a long time. Atcheson will continue to create content for TC2 alongside the Stitz’s while trying to maintain a healthy balance between being a Youtube sensation and a student for years to come.
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The Ugly Truths B By Kaylei Fear o truly understand technology’s potential and looming approach, we must come to terms with our entanglement with our devices. As college students, we are on our laptops and cellphones constantly. Whether it is for homework, talking to friends or mindlessly scrolling through Instagram, life for many would come to a screeching halt without our trusty sidekicks.
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Documentaries like “The Social Dilemma” and others bring attention to the benefits and pitfalls of technology being all-consuming. These documentaries uncover society’s ugly truths and our faults with technology,
but are we willing to face them head-on? Dr. Susan Stewart, sociology professor at Iowa State University, focuses on our intimate relationships within our human lives. A massive disrupter to our intricate relationships is the technology itself and, more so, social media. While social media allows us to be connected to those far away, it keeps us miles and miles apart from those sitting right next to us. “It’s a whole new world. It’s different from the automobile. It’s different from the telephone, and I guess that’s what is the downside. These
social platforms have been created to keep us addicted and on there as long as possible and it’s hurting intimacy. It’s hurting friendships, romantic relationships or even just between colleagues. You no longer get the full threedimensional experience,” said Stewart. This lack of intimacy and newfound infatuation with social media and technology is harming us. Evolutionarily, we as humans were meant to interact and depend on each other. Technology and social media were never a part of that evolutionary code. These documentaries call attention to how
Behind Technology technology has changed our lives permanently. “Technology has fundamentally changed relationships forever. You can’t put the genie back into the bottle, right? There are really positive things but also really negative things, and it’s now how we teach children about what they are participating in and how to regulate that,” said Stewart. There is no going back, only trudging forward, focusing on eradicating technology’s negatives and embracing the positives. Documentaries like “The Social Dilemma” being accessible to the general public through
platforms such as Netflix allow us to learn about important issues that, before technology, weren’t possible. A world of knowledge is quite literally at our fingertips, but we need to be the ones to take the extra step to hit play. Vanessa Chally, a sophomore in pre-business conveys that watching these documentaries opened her eyes to topics she would never have been aware of otherwise. “After watching ‘The Social Dilemma,’ I realized I needed to take a step back and think about how dependent I am on my phone. School tells you, you’re addicted to your phone, but they don’t tell
you anything to actually convince you to give your phone a break,” said Chally. After a long year, reliant on technology and social media to keep us connected with our friends and the world, right now is the best time to consider your relationship with technology. Our real connections with people we see with our own two eyes are the most important. Technology can always be turned back on or refreshed, but people and life itself during our short time on Earth cannot be paused. Remember that. page 32
How Influencers are Encouraging Followers to Ditch Diet Culture By Halee Miller croll, scroll and more scrolling; it’s what most of us do all day, everyday. Whether it be going through Instagram and TikTok for hours on end or cramming a 10page essay for a class, we’re all guilty of looking at screens for way too long. While these endless hours typically lead to comparison, unnecessary feelings of poor body image and for many- a direct pathway to the influences of diet culture; some social media influencers are taking it into their own hands to help young women end the cycle of trying to constantly shrink themselves and start properly caring for and
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loving the body that they are in. A current Iowa State Grad Student and future Registered Dietitian, Jen Pilut, started her Instagram account, “@ Jenfiter”, about seven years ago. Pilut says she uses her platform to prevent others from going through what she went through as a young woman. As she has matured through college, she has now been able to pinpoint exactly what she wants to tell her audienceand that’s informing them on how to be anti-diet culture. “Dietitians now are speaking up. Dietitians
have the platform now to say this isn’t okay,” says Pilut regarding this societal norm of extreme dieting and guilt-inducing tactics. The future R.D. says diet culture is often a marketing strategy used by companies or influencers to make profit off of people feeling guilty about their food and exercise choices. For example, Chipotle releasing their new cauliflower “rice” as an alternative to real rice is taking advantage of people’s body insecurities. The marketing makes them feel guilty enough to buy the new cauliflower option, page 34
whether they enjoy the taste or not. Young women especially, then find themselves in a vicious binge and restrict cycle due to wanting to look like what society and social media makes them think they “should” look like. These thoughts can then spiral into other mental health conditions including anxiety and depression. To combat these effects of modern-day diet culture, Pilut says intuitive eating plays a large factor. Intuitive eating means to have true food freedom, being able to honor your cravings, and eating when you’re hungry and stopping when you are full. “Intuitive eating is eating how we ate when we were two-years old, when you didn’t think about how much or how little you should eat,” Pilut explained. In addition to intuitive eating, she says practicing 30 minutes of joyful movement (moving in a way that makes you happy and feel good) each day is another great way to stay active
while protecting your mental health. She said everyone should also have the correct “why” behind wanting to pursue improving their healthyou should truly want to do the things you are doing, not feel like you have to.
but to be inspired by,” said Seliger. “Don’t compare your meal portions to others, don’t compare any of that stuff because everyone’s bodies require different things and prioritizing balance is what should be most important.”
Another influencer and owner of the “@ natsneateats” Instagram account, Natalia Seliger, suffered from the effects of diet culture herself and is also using her platform to help others that are struggling.
Pilut’s and Seliger’s Instagram accounts both share much more than just nutrition education, recipe inspiration and workout routines. They share what else wellness means to them- getting enough sleep, practicing gratitude, being mindful, having healthy relationships and social connections, dancing, attending therapy and learning the art of saying “no.” Their accounts have given their followers a community to be a part of and learn from. Their followers no longer have to feel alone in their struggle because of the influencers’ relatable and vulnerable content pertaining to mental health and their relationship with food and exercise.
“Listening to my body has been the biggest game changer for my mental health,” says Seliger. For her, intuitive eating is eating whatever she wants and listening to her cravings. She said that there should be more focus on adding in more foods, like fruits and vegetables, rather than restricting any food. For exercise, some days she does strength workouts and dancing, other days she goes on a long walk. “Someone’s ‘What I Eat in a Day’ video is not something to compare,
These two accounts have given the bad reputation of social media a new light. The two women
behind them are changing and perhaps, even saving lives. Instead of posting highly-edited selfies and excessively-posed swimsuit pictures, they are addressing difficult subjects like diet culture, disordered eating and mental health. Men and women alike can all take something away from their content--- and it might just change their life for good.
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Isaac White: TikTok Fame Via Thrifted Blankets By Kaitlyn Arnold o you have a smartphone? If you do it’s likely you have some form of social media app downloaded. These apps are entertaining and allow creators to provide a small look into their lives for anyone to see. TikTok specifically is unique in the way its algorithm is extremely personalized for each user. It’s easier to find people whose content you enjoy watching, and realizing creators are normal people rather than celebrities.
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Isaac White, a sophomore studying animal science at Iowa State, has been on TikTok since 2018. Throughout his time on the platform he has amassed a large following at almost one million followers. “I think over this break specifically just because I
was home and didn’t have school for two months, I had nothing to do so I would just post whatever,” White said about how he made time to post content often enough to gain a following. One of his first videos to blow up was a video of his rabbits set to the song “Boys’’ by Lizzo. That video is nearing one million likes and though many of his videos had gotten a few thousand likes before that, this one was the first video to receive attention. Things have only gone up since the Lizzo video for White. A popular video of White’s that gained traction quickly was of him crafting DIY pants made from thrifted blankets. “I actually saw a TikTok about it first semester and
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then over break I went it through a little bit and thrifting and I was like ‘I then just did everything.” think I could do this’ so I picked up a blanket,” White Since making the said. “Then I looked first pair, he up a video of has made how to both a make pants, watched
sweater and another pair of pants from thrifted blankets. White’s content is relatable, funny and often centered around his DIY’s, hauls or rants he goes on about various topics, oftentimes regarding to his daily life. “I would say it’s more comedy based, also I do a lot of thrift hauls,” White said. Along with the enjoyable parts of making content for such a large platform comes the pressure of
the spotlight. Though White has received very little hate, he has felt the pressures of his platform. “I used to be really self conscious over likes and stuff...now I just kinda don’t care and post whatever,” White said. Now most of the pressure White feels comes from posting enough content to keep his following interested and continue his growth on the app. A friend of White’s, Evelyn Perl, a freshman at Iowa State majoring in animal ecology, expressed her admiration for the way he handles the negative aspect of his following. “I think it’s overwhelming sometimes,” Perl said. “But I think he handles it pretty well. I know that if I had that many followers I’d be like freaking out all the time.” He also does a good job at not letting his amount of followers get to this head.”
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How to Plan the Perfect Virtual Date
By Alex Schmidtke s we all know, meeting someone new during a pandemic can be hard. Whether it be a friend or a significant other, it
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is hard to become close with someone that you cannot meet within an intimate setting. Despite these difficulties, there are plenty of ways to still interact and really get to
know somebody, thanks to technology. Now, you may be wondering, how do you meet someone during a pandemic in the first place? Luckily, there are
plenty of options. While you may not be able to meet someone new in class, at a party, or maybe even at work at the moment, there are plenty of dating apps that can help with this. Perhaps the two biggest dating apps that everyone knows about are Tinder and Bumble. Both of these apps are great options and have a large number of users with the ability to change your preferences. Bumble is especially great for women, because they get to send the first message (this means no creepy pick-up lines or spamming messages for attention). As for creating plans with the person you met, this can be tricky. It is important not to pressure them into making plans for a virtual date immediately. Bennett, a freshman studying aerospace engineering at Iowa State, met his girlfriend online and has been going on virtual dates with her for the last three months. “For my dates, I mainly use Zoom and we typically watch movies using the Disney+ group feature,” Bennett said.
Next up is deciding on what you and your potential love interest will do during your date. While it may seem limited, there are plenty of options. Both of you could cook or order something to eat together over your call. “Being able to FaceTime everyday over quarantine helped us stay together and strengthen our bond,” said David, a fellow college student about how virtual dates with his girlfriend of nearly three years have gone throughout quarantine. “The fact that we can do everyday activities while seeing each other’s faces makes things much easier.” At the end of the day, the pandemic has made the dating scene much harder than it used to be. page 42
By Caleb Coronado t is no secret the pandemic hurt many financially. Employment rose to 14% despite just having a record low of 3.5% in February.
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then, a vaccine has inspired many to believe that the world is on the verge of returning to a familiar “normal.” This has led investors who bought at the time of the dip to make significant margins on their investments. Noah Floden, a 21-yearold junior majoring in finance at Iowa State, started buying stocks this summer “I learned [stocks] with my grandpa and this summerI finally had the right amount of money to throw it in,” Floden said. Since then, Floden has shifted his investments into cryptocurrency. A single Bitcoin reached a price of $57,128 on Feb. 21 compared to its lows of $1 just a decade ago. These kinds of return margins are what attract investors to start putting funds into crypto.
Lincoln Gillotti, a senior majoring in finance at Iowa State, has invested in cryptocurrencies since the end of 2019. The rule of thumb on investments has been that they should double in six months, but for Gillotti, his have quadrupled in that time. Gillotti is an example of a success story. The right picks at the right time have worked in his favor. As more people are retail trading and achieving financial success doing so, those who lack the knowledge feel like they’re missing out and want to join in on the profits. Hopping on hype trains such as the recent February Gamestop stock surge, which was sparked by users on Reddit banding together, is something that Floden suggests avoiding. The best route to him is instead doing methodical and thorough research “Don’t go in blind,” Floden said. “If you go in blind, you’re just shooting fish in a barrel.” Gillotti also advises that retail traders should avoid surges entirely and instead suggest taking a
more patient approach to their investmentsWhile you can make money in crypto during a bull run like 90% of the time, you’re better off holding it,” Gillotti said. The days of Jordan Belfort and Wall Street middlemen scrapping insane fees on investments are over. Take a trip to the app store on your smartphone and there you will find a wide amount of brokerage apps that offer fee-free transactions that allow users to monitor their investments at all times of the day closely. The stock is open five days a week while the crypto exchange is open 24/7. While investing sounds intimidating, there are ways to get some money in the market and diversify your assets and increase your wealth. “Acorns” is a new broker app that makes micro investment for you by rounding purchase price, making investing not feel like such a heavy and financial commitment.
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Credits Editors in Chief Ella Bream Izacc Quisling Olivia Fuegen Trend Online Directors Aashray Mehta <Photography> Gabriella Saholt <Graphic Design> Gabrielle Brainard <Styling> Kaelyn Wright <Styling> Editorial Directors Sierra Hoeger <Online Monthly Editor> Julia Meehan <Copy Editor> Clarissa Merschman <Fashion Editor> Kendra Esau <Fashion Editor> Averi Baudler <Beauty Editor> Hannah Scott <Lifestyle Editor> Zack Brown <Lifestyle Editor> Online Committee Ashley Boun Avery Staker Will Donaghy Riyan Clement Rylee VanCleave
Editorial Committee Callie Schaefer Lauren Humphreys Emerson Latham Phoebe Legg Jess Mouw Kelly Snawerdt Caleb Coronado Kaitlyn Arnold Alex Schmidtke Loretta McGraw Kaylei Fear Halee Miller
Models Daniel Shaw D’Essence Morris Isaac White Maddie Haug Maddy Spikes ***All Clothing and accesories Director and committee owned if not specified otherwise.
