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ASHION THE TAKEOVER OF ONLINE SHOPPING
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LOUNGEWEAR: HERE TO STAY?
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THE EFFECTS OF GREENWASHING
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EAUTY MAKEUP ARTISTS THRIVING ON TIK TOK 13-14 REMAINING BODY POSITIVE AFTER GAINING "THE COVID-19"
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ABOVE-THE-MASK BEAUTY
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IFESTYLE SIX STEPS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT
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THE ONLINE INTELLECT- MODERNIZATION OVERTAKES IN TIMES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC 25-26 THE IMPACT OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG'S PASSING 27-28
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MASKS: FASHION’S NEWEST SECRET WEAPON
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HAVING A BEARD IN A PANDEMIC: IS IT POSSIBLE? 33-34
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THE TAKEOVER OF ONLINE SHOPPING LOUNGEWEAR: HERE TO STAY THE EFFECTS OF GREENWASHING
THE TAKEOVER OF ONLINE SHOPPING BY JILLIAN GABBY Quarantine and the forced isolation that comes with it, has become a big component of pandemic life in 2020. However, staying in has not stopped the presence of fashion within our daily lives. When we are lounging in bed, phones in hands, we are bombarded with inadvertent fashion media. This content, viewable on social media platforms from Tik Tok to Instagram, highlights people expressing themselves through what they wear in new and different ways, inspiring as well as spreading the itch to shop. Even a pandemic cannot stop the creation of fashion trends. Rather, the pandemic has drastically altered the way in which we can shop for our new fashion obsessions. In the beginning phases of the COVID-19 pandemic, most stores in the apparel industry were closed. However, now that stores are beginning to re-open, the act of shopping looks a lot different. Dressing rooms are now a thing of the past and many people choose not to shop in stores out of precaution. “The pandemic has absolutely changed the way I shop now,” said Caitlin Allen, sophomore majoring in performing arts. “Since I am unable to try on clothes in-store, there’s really no difference in shopping online and online is just so much easier. I will still browse in stores, but I definitely frequent online stores much more now.” This comes as no surprise since many department stores are now closed, while online shopping companies like Amazon have increased in popularity. This preference for online shopping has brought with it a wave of new uses of technology, such as data collection on what consumers like.
Many fashion companies are using algorithms to create designs based on the user’s interests. Amazon is in the works of using machine learning to determine whether an item is “stylish” or not, a concept that will revolutionize fashion trends. “All of the sites I shop from have apps that I use on my phone that make purchases much quicker and easier,” said Allen. Even social media apps that aren’t designed specifically for shopping now allow for in-app purchases, like Instagram and Pinterest. Virtual Try-On is one technological advancement that is beneficial to the shopping climate of today. People enjoy shopping in-person because it allows them to try clothes on, which is how many determine if they want to buy the products or not. When purchasing pieces online it is often a gamble if the item will actually look good on you. With virtual try-on, one can, as the name suggests, try on a multitude of things from the comfort of their home. It ensures that the item fits not only their aesthetic but their body as well. The screen acts as a virtual mirror. “I used Zenni virtual try-on to shop for different glasses,” said Grace Coleman, a senior in Nursing. “The virtual try-on worked way better than I expected and helped me see which frames would look the best on my face shape.” She highly recommends virtual try-on because it is not only a quick and easy process but is also immensely useful. This safe alternative is becoming the best new way to shop. With millennials now preferring online over in-store shopping, technology within fashion is here to stay.
Top: Byshawn Davis Hat: Byshawn Davis Pants: Byshawn Davis Shoes: Model owned Earrings: Model owned
LOUNGEWEAR: HERE TO STAY? BY LAUREN GABBY
Jacket: Committee owned Shorts: Committee owned Shoes: Committee owned Bralette: Committee owned
COVID-19 has had a large impact on the world and how people function. With virtually everything being moved online, loungewear has become the new norm. It is now acceptable to wear a blazer and sweatpants when on a Zoom call with your boss. For students, loungewear has always been popular. Walking around Iowa State’s campus, you are sure to see students clad in their sweatshirts and sweatpants, sporting the same attire they would wear for their 8:00 a.m. Zoom meeting in bed. “Lounge is a brand that I love to shop,” said Emily Allen, junior majoring in biology. “It is a bit expensive, but very comfortable.” Lounge Underwear is a UK brand that was started in 2015. Like many other brands, Lounge Underwear was rapidly growing before the coronavirus began. People like to dress comfy and many companies have taken wind of this, amounting to huge success. On the other end of things, many people have used their time indoors during quarantine to experiment with how they dress. From Tiktok trends to influencers and TV shows, there are many different ways to find inspiration. Rishima Varma, a sophomore majoring in graphic design, started watching the Netflix show “Next in Fashion” during quarantine, which inspired her to get more into streetwear fashion and revamp her looks.
Varma also explained that like many people, she has worn more loungewear since the pandemic began. Instead of dressing up as much as she used to, Varma elects some days for loungewear and some for dressing up. This way she can be comfortable and continue to experiment and make new looks. “I’m still in the process of putting together outfits and experimenting and such, but that’s the direction I want to head in,” Varma said. “I honestly feel like my style is always changing and I love so many different types of fashion that I want to wear them all, so you may see me in one look one day and in a completely different one the next.” A question that many people have is how people will dress when the pandemic winds down. Although it may seem like COVID-19 will last forever, eventually it will come to an end and people will either continue to wear loungewear or welcome the change and dress up. Loungewear will likely remain popular, but both Allen and Varma agree that they will have the urge to dress up more once the pandemic is over and commemorate the end of what has seemed like a lengthy, bad dream. “I think by the time COVID is over I will want to dress up more often, just because I’ll have more places to go and I absolutely love dressing up,” Varma said. “I feel that it sets a beautiful tone for the day ahead.”
THE EFFECTS OF GREENWASHING
BY MARIA EPPERLY Top: Byshawn Davis Vest: Byshawn Davis Pants: Model owned Shoes: Model owned
As scientists are becoming more aware of the lasting effects of humans on the environment, shopping in alternative, eco-friendly ways is becoming increasingly popular.
environmentally friendly but in reality, they’re spending the same amount of money on something that’s actually not good for the environment at all,” said Montara. .
Generation Z has shown peak interest in wishing to shop sustainably. Because of this, many brands are beginning to make the switch to sustainable fashion by choosing natural or recycled materials and using recycled packaging. However, as shopping sustainably becomes more popular, many brands aren’t being completely honest about their environmental intentions.
Montara and Malique have done research into sustainable fashion and shopping in eco-friendly ways is something that is important to them.
Greenwashing is a term used to describe brands that convey a false impression of sustainability. Greenwashing deceives consumers into thinking a brand is more environmentally friendly than it actually is. Because sustainability within a brand is appealing to consumers, brands will then use the greenwashing tactic in order to make their brand appear good for the environment. The problem with greenwashing is that many consumers don’t recognize the difference between an authentic sustainable brand and one that is falsely advertising in order to make themselves look better. Most of the brands that tend to greenwash in their marketing towards consumers are fast fashion brands. Brands that have been known to greenwash include H&M and Lululemon. . Because these brands tend to market toward a younger audience, it’s easier for them to get away with greenwashing their products and production process. Montara Drees, a college student deeply invested and interested in fashion and environmental change and her brother Malique, discussed their knowledge of greenwashing. “It’s kind of a way to deceive people into buying their products with the idea that they’re paying for something
Montara takes many steps to try and be as environmentally friendly as she possibly can. Montara says she believes doing research before you shop is the best way to learn which brands are sustainable and which aren’t. She uses an app called “Good on You” that allows users to see how ethical and eco-friendly brands are. They have a rating system that ranges from “We Avoid (1)” to “Great (5).” This app is helpful for people who wish to do further research on a brand before they buy from them or continue to buy from them. Malique says that shopping at small businesses is also a good way to get authentic and eco-friendly products. Though it can be hard for college students to shop sustainably, there are still options for students who wish to shop for environmentally friendly fashion. Some of these brands include Pact, Threads 4 Thought, Patagonia, Groceries Apparel and many more. Because no brand can become sustainable overnight, there are many brands going through the process of becoming more eco-friendly and hoping to be completely sustainable in the future.
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MAKEUP ARTISTS THRIVING ON TIK TOK REMAINING BODY POSITIVE AFTER GAINING "THE COVID-19" ABOVE-THE-MASK BEAUTY
MAKEUP ARTISTS THRIVING ON TIK TOK BY EMILY UITERMARKT The coronavirus pandemic has brought millions of viewers to the TikTok app. It has also kept the world in quarantine, leaving many stuck in their homes in order to stay safe.. Staying home all day, every day quickly becomes boring, so finding things to do to occupy large amounts of free time is a must. TikTok is a great app to have during quarantine, as people can spend time scrolling through a variety of videos. There are over 800 million users on the app, including very creative makeup artists.
The video has 522k views and 68.2k likes. Her follower count has increased to 10.8k. Koehler follows trends on TikTok and gets inspiration from other creators, but her own creation is what got her noticed.
TikTok has brought attention to a wide range of beauty influencers. It has allowed makeup artists to gain lots of exposure. The app allows users to create 60-second videos that are easy to keep an audience’s attention. According to Sensor Tower’s data, TikTok is the second most downloaded app. It is one of the best platforms to grow an artist’s audience and get their work noticed.
She said it takes about an hour and a half to create an eye look but three to four hours to create a full face look. Her success on TikTok has gotten her brand deals with Boxycharm, Makeup Revolution, Jade Cosmetics and others. Koehler plans to continue creating content and hopefully gain more followers.
Makeup artists on the app create unique looks, and TikTok shows growing beauty trends that many artists like to follow and replicate.. Some trends include makeup looks that allude to cartoon characters, to makeup challenges, a variety of tutorials and iconic Euphoria looks, to name a few. A popular trend on TikTok right now is creating awe-inspiring Halloween looks. Creators go above and beyond with their skills by showing tips and tricks ranging from everyday looks to exotic and idiosyncratic looks. Sam Koehler, a 2020 marketing graduate from Iowa State University, is a TikTok makeup artist. She joined the app in 2019 and began creating videos at the start of COVID-19 in April 2020. After two months of being on the app, one of her videos went viral. She created an eyelook with angel wings.
“I like seeing other makeup artists on TikTok and seeing what they’re doing,” Koehler said. I take a lot of inspiration from them, but the one look I came up with myself was the one that went viral, which I think was pretty cool.”
TikTok lets anyone sign up and become a creator. Molly Sage, freshman studying business, explains why she enjoys the app. “It’s a fun pastime if I’m bored and it’s something to do when I don’t want to watch Netflix,” said Sage. “I get to learn new dances.” She also enjoys watching makeup videos and says it inspires her to try new looks. Sage does not run a makeup account, but she noticed her follower count growing during quarantine. She posts try on hauls, dance trends and videos with her friends. The pandemic brought more people to the app and more exposure to frequent creators and TikTok has become a huge platform to show unique talent. Makeup artists and creators of all types are growing their platforms just by creating videos on TikTok.
REMAINING BODY POSITIVE AFTER GAINING "THE COVID-19” BY JESSICA MOUW When the ball dropped on Jan. 1st, millions worldwide looked towards the new year with optimistic eyes and the intention to pursue new goals. In the wake of the gleaming novelty of a new decade, many set out with an ambition to create the best, healthiest and strongest version of themselves. But when tragedy struck, maintaining healthy habits and cultivating confidence by means of fitness and nutrition became less attainable as the world shifted into a reality no one had experienced before.
“It was like, I went from working out consistently and knowing I always had the resources to get healthy and feel my best to feeling doubtful about everything,”Krohn said. “My body confidence was just another thing that felt like it was in the hands of the world, rather than myself. However, whenever I felt myself slipping into such negative emotions I found it important to consistently remind myself that there were much bigger things going on in the world and I was lucky, above all, to have a healthy body.”
As the world shut down and news grew bleeker by the minute, stress set in and boredom took hold. Many college students found that maintaining a positive body image was difficult. Three ISU students touch on their experience with quarantine weight gain and body positivity.
So how do we regain control of our confidence after all we have gone through? While everyone’s path to self love looks different, moving forward and reestablishing routines are important for many as things begin to creep indeterminately back to “normal”. For Bailey Kollasch, a freshman majoring in business management, working out has been crucial to regaining a sense of normalcy and confidence.
“I feel like inconsistency was the main thing,” Taylor Heuthorst, a freshman in english said. “It was like my sleep schedule was ruined because of COVID and finding the consistency in routines was difficult for me. I found myself baking and eating without thinking about it. There was nothing better to do.” In many ways, the tragedy of COVID-19 provided society with the most overt, hard-hitting set of evidence that there are simply more important things in life than a few extra pounds. When we were separated from the world and left with little company but ourselves, overthinking and insecurity set in. This was only made harder by a large internet influence that caters glorified beauty standards to millions of people with endless amounts of time to internalize them. “Remaining positive was definitely my biggest struggle” Kayla Krohn, a freshman majoring in psychology said.
“As quarantine boredom and just a general lack of things to do set in, I started to work out again,” Kollasch said. “Doing at-home workouts helped me move forward and keep the negative thoughts away.” Kollasch said. If 2020 has taught our society anything, it is that big new realities require big adjustments. Just as we must remain patient in the bumpy, uncertain pursuit of transitioning safely back to school and socialization, fostering peace with our own imperfections is crucial. Even minuscule amounts of forgiveness and understanding go a long way. The sooner we realize that the bodies that carried us, healthily and courageously, through a pandemic need not feel worthless simply because they contain a few extra slices of boredom-induced banana bread, the better.
ABOVE-THE-MASK BEAUTY
BY EMERSON LATHAM
Makeup users are ditching the heavy foundation and lip colors to focus on above-the-mask looks with eye-catching brows, lashes or eyeshadow. It has been deemed a hard task for makeup users to express their individuality and creativity while wearing a mask to stay safe from the COVID-19 pandemic. Social media influencers and makeup artists are taking to their platforms to create tutorials and videos on eye makeup looks that help individuals express themselves without showing the bottom half of their face. Sydney Rebelsky, junior in advertising and event management, is the creator of the Instagram account, @sydrebel.makeup, where she posts makeup looks and takes appointments to do clients’ makeup. Rebelsky said when she was younger, her dad took away her and her sister’s makeup after the youngest of the three smeared it all over the floor. Years later when she finally got the makeup back, she could not stop watching tutorials and creating makeup looks. Wearing a mask gives you more time to focus on your eye makeup. “You don’t have to worry about putting heavy foundation where your mask goes because number one, no one is going to see it, number two, it’s no fun to sweat through makeup in your mask,” said Rebelsky. Rebelsky had to compensate for not being able to see the bold red lipstick the Iowa State cheerleaders would normally wear for football game days.
For Rebelsky’s day-to-day look, she likes to mix a lightweight foundation with a moisturizer and add translucent powder which helps the makeup stay on her face and not come off on her mask. Additionally, she adds bronzer, blush, brows and mascara to complete her look. Hannah Sand, sophomore in marketing, said she prefers to wear disposable masks when she wears face makeup. “Although I tend to stick to just mascara for my everyday look, when I do decide to put foundation on, I always wear a disposable mask because it gets obnoxious having to wash my reusable masks after every time I wear makeup,” said Sand. Sand said she was not a huge eye makeup wearer until mask-wearing became a normal, everyday thing. “I have definitely started expanding my eyeshadow collection and watching more tutorials on YouTube since the pandemic hit,” said Sand. “I feel like a bold eye look is an easy way to make up for half of my face being hidden under my mask.” Kailee Jeffrey, operations manager at Sephora, a personal care and beauty product store, is in charge of putting out new products. Jeffrey said she has seen an explosion in the “natural look.” Makeup wearers have abandoned the full-coverage appearance for a more unrefined, natural look.
“For game day when I was wearing a mask, I put on more dramatic eyelashes than I normally would if I had my red lip,” said Rebelsky.
“Not a lot of people are focusing on the bright colors. We’ve seen people sprucing up the brows or lashes. A lot of people are coming in for new mascaras, lash serum or fake lashes,” said Jeffery.
Rebelsky said she normally does not do an eye-look for her day-to-day makeup routine but since wearing a mask every day has become the new normal, her everyday look has changed
While it may seem like COVID-19 has put a damper on a lot of things, expressing your individuality with makeup does not have to be one of them.
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SIX STEPS TO COMBAT CLIMATE CHANGE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT THE ONLINE INTELLECTMODERNIZATION OVERTAKES IN TIMES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC THE IMPACT OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG'S PASSING
SIX STEPS TO COMABT CLIMATE CHANGE AS A COLLEGE STUDENT
Dress: Amazon Earrings: Committee owned
BY KAYLEI FEAR
From the pandemic to the brutal acts of racial injustice, the fires in Australia at the beginning of the year to the West Coast fires more recently, this year has been a whirlwind. As college students, we have the unique opportunity to impact the effect climate change has. Climate change is an issue that demands our attention. “What climate change does is it amplifies things,” said William Gutowski, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences. “It makes things worse, and it exposes even more strong practices that haven’t been dealt with the wisest. It amplifies the consequences.”
“As we have seen with the pandemic, the communities that are the most vulnerable are the ones who don’t have the same power or the access to power and at times they are not as wealthy, and that comes into factor with climate change,” said Gutowski. Advocate for these communities and educate yourself on environmental injustice. Pay attention to your own lifestyle and how you burn fossil fuels. Make conscious decisions in your daily life, like walking or biking to school or work instead of driving.
Climate change amplifies natural disasters such as fires and storms similar to the derecho that passed through Iowa in August.
Pay attention to credible science. Do not get caught up in social media and follow accounts that are not valid. Be sure to follow real, credible sources.
“With the derecho, we saw that while we do not experience fires or some of the immediate rising sea levels, Iowa is definitely going to deal with climate impacts,’’ said Paige Penningroth, a clean energy field organizer with the Iowa Environmental Council. “Climate change does not only impact those living close to an ocean or near a dense forest; it is affecting us as well.”
Shop from companies and brands that are environmentally conscious.
Natural disasters like the derecho in Iowa are going to happen more frequently as the world warms.
Get involved in groups on campus.
“If we effectively continue on the same path we are now, it is very likely that we will have increased fire activity, increased floods, stronger hurricanes, you name it,” said Alan Wanamaker, professor of geological and atmospheric sciences. “Natural disasters are essentially being set up by a warming world.” So what can we do? Pay attention to those who are disproportionately affected by climate change.
“Demand that companies that you’re putting your money down to buy their products are environmentally conscious and only shop with people who take climate change seriously,” said Wanamaker.
“Telling everyone to get involved in a specific area they care about, you don’t have to tackle all climate issues, that’s hard, but finding one group or one issue that matters to you and trying to raise awareness for it,” said Penningroth. Find an issue you’re passionate about and join a group that advocates for that cause. Vote. Vote for politicians that are supporters of the environment and are concerned for the future of our world. “If you want to be heard, and you want things to change, you need to go to the ballot box,” said Wanamaker.
THE ONLINE INTELLECT-
MODERNIZTION OVERTAKES IN TIMES OF THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC BY LORETTA MCGRAW
After the many turmoils of 2020, students and teachers alike are wondering what the future of education is to come. When the first confirmed coronavirus cases hit the United States, it took a matter of months for its impact to be felt throughout institutions nationwide. As schools transitioned to an online format for the remainder of the spring semester and many schools similarly have done so this fall or transitioned to hybrid-style learning, it opened a discussion as to whether or not the future holds a larger interface of online courses post-coronavirus. The adaptation to online learning taught many universities that there was a large quantity of courses previously taught in-person that could easily be completed online just as effectively via Canvas, Webex,Zoom and similar interfaces. In parallel, many courses which were forced to switch digitally were proven to not be as productive as when taught in the flesh. Associate Provost for Academic Programs at Iowa State University Dr. Ann Marie VanDerZanden is responsible for communicating with community colleges, university efforts related to accreditation, academic program quality improvement, distance education and international programs. VanDerZanden held an essential role alongside her team planning for the partial reopening of campus this fall alongside her team. Some of the initiatives included were laptop accessibility, mobile hotspots, academic and instructional support and access to learning services such as the Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching. “Iowa state is a residential institution that’s why students come to Iowa State,” said VanDerZanden. “We’re not institutions like Southern New Hampshire University or Arizona State where that online footprint is really their goal. Our goal is accessibility to Iowans as a public land grant institution.”
Additional aid made accessible included information technology support to assist instructors and students struggling with Canvas, testing accessibility and a number of other complications. Kristen Constant vice president and chief information officer of the Information Technology Services Office partook in the Executive Committee for Fall Planning to help draft plans to safely reinstate teaching and research programs on campus. “Whether its students, faculty or staff we have certainly built a lot of resilience,” said Constant. “We’ve upped our game in developing our resources to be able to handle something like this. From a technology point of view I think we will be making sure that we have a broader range of delivery formats just to be able to reach more people and help them manage the complex lives we are all trying to [navigate] right now. I don’t think that we’re ever going to go back to being exactly like we used to be, we’re forever changed and that being the case I think that online delivery will be more prevalent.” VanDerZanden said if post-pandemic it makes sense to offer online courses so students may have more flexibility to take courses during the summer, during internships, studying abroad or other exceptions, additional courses offered will be selective with great expertise and great faculty. Where Iowa State University stands to innovate is yet unbeknownst to all, as students, faculty and staff continue to traverse these complicated and constantly developing circumstances. The one thing known for sure about the changing interface of learning communities is that only time will tell.
THE IMPACT OF RUTH BADER GINSBURG'S PASSING
cancer many times then, we were in a very fragile place to begin with,’”said Winfrey. “I think if we learn something from losing her it is that we all need to step up and take responsibility to do that work.”
BY CLARISSA MERSCHMAN Ruther Bader Ginsburg was a feminist icon and a Supreme Court Justice until her death on Sept. 18 due to complications with metastatic pancreas cancer. She lived to the age of 87 and had previous battles with colon and lung cancer for the past 20 years. Ruth Bader Ginsburg is best known for her examples of overcoming oppression, fighting misogyny, patriarchal structures and standing up to everyday sexism. Part of her journey included attending law school as a mother, a student and the wife of a husband with cancer. This journey spoke to many student and working mothers. Rachel Junck, an Iowa State junior majoring in chemical engineering, a member of Ames City Council and the youngest woman elected to any office in state history identifies as a feminist and has been inspired by Bader Ginsburg’s journey. “Ruth Bader Ginsburg was definitely an icon of gender equality, she always was fighting for women’s rights and human rights in general and was just a really strong figure in making those decisions that made people’s lives better,” said Junck. Her passing will impact not only the Supreme Court, but the causes she had been fighting for. Kelly Winfrey, assistant professor in the Greenlee school of Journalism and Communications examines impacts that Bader Ginsburg’s passing will have. “One of the things I saw on social media when she first passed was ‘if all of these rights were hanging by a thread by this one very old woman that had beat
Now that Bader Ginsburg is no longer a member of the Supreme Court, her potential replacement, Amy Coney Barrett, who has a more conservative standpoint, will ultimately change the dynamic of the court. This could cause matters like a woman’s right to an abortion and same-sex marriage to be reexamined by the court. Adrienne Lyles, associate Director of Equal Opportunity and associate teaching professor in the department of Philosophy and Religious Studies, believes that Bader Ginsburg’s passing will impact structures in the United States. “[I feel] terrible sadness because we have lost a genuine national treasure and voice for justice, fairness, and equity,” Lyles said. “Hope that people will carry what she represents into the future and as a beacon for what fairness can look like. Anger because of the way her death has been politicized. Disgust at the way Amy Barrett, with whom I worked at Notre Dame Law School, has been falsely compared to this remarkable scholar, Justice, woman, human being. Unlike Barrett, RBG argued for the equal protection of all sexes/genders. Those who compare Barrett to RBG simply do not know the jurisprudence or lived experience of both of these women.” Even with the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court, the ratio of men to women that serve still leaves women in the minority. “I do think that there is a political element to say ‘well, we’re replacing a woman with a woman, so we’re not sexist,’ that’s the way it feels to me,” said Winfrey. “I think feminism isn’t just about supporting women, it is about supporting women’s choices. Feminist values are not necesarily tied to anyone’s sex or gender and I don’t know any feminists that would call Amy Barrett a feminist.”
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MASKS: FASHION'S NEWEST SECRET WEAPON HAVING A BEARD IN A PANDEMIC: IS IT POSSIBLE?
MASKS: FASHION'S NEWEST SECRET WEAPON BY AUDREY MCMILLAN
Trends come and go. One year it’s fringe, the next it’s neon, or maybe even tie-dye. Masks - whether people like it or not - are here to stay and are quickly becoming important garments within the fashion industry. Since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, designers and manufacturers have been busy creating various designs of masks from dressy, silk masks to breathable masks suitable for working out. Masks are the influential trend of 2020. Period. Masks are a quintessential element of streetwear in the modern era. They have been a popular trend in many Asian streetwear markets within the past several years and were popularized on a global scale through music festivals. But solely for fashion purposes, not necessity. Streetwear brands are now making these masks available worldwide and are producing them on a much larger scale. Brands such as “Anti Social Social Club” and “OffWhite” and designers such as Gucci and Louis Vuitton have released masks that have been spotted on countless celebrities and influencers. Streetwear website, “Grailed”, has seen its number of daily searches double in the past months and is flooded with Generation Z fashion enthusiasts searching for the newest, coolest masks. However, masks have surpassed simply the streetwear lifestyle; masks of all kinds are worn on a daily basis and are a key component in planning one’s wardrobe. While masks haven’t always been a wardrobe consideration, they are now and there are many ways they can be styled effectively and with little effort. Neutral colors are key when purchasing masks and choosing an outfit. Monochromatic is always sophisticated - even with a mask. More understated, a neutral mask still reflects a sense of effortlessness (even if a lot of thought was put in).
All black, all white and, even, all beige are easy to pull off and work both with business, everyday, or workout clothing. This monochromatic style is often the chosen mask style for Iowa State student, Nicholas Yowell, a junior studying mechanical engineering. He feels that masks do not need to be “the focal point of an outfit” and prefers masks that are more “low profile.” Wearing a printed mask with a simple outfit, or vice versa, is a foolproof way of developing a cohesive, sophisticated look. It is possible to still look put together and feel comfortable while wearing masks - it might just take a bit of extra effort. According to Steven Nguyen, junior majoring in apparel merchandising, masks influence his outfits depending on the “colors and prints.” Though Nguyen initially wore medical masks, he now prefers masks with “neutral colors that have a breathable fabric, like nylon.” Comfort is especially important for men while purchasing masks as they often are worn all day, especially when working or going to classes in-person. Materials like nylon and silk-blends are lightweight, yet still appear polished. Let’s face it, masks are a fashion fact of life today. In fact, they have some chance of becoming an essential facet of our wardrobes for some time to come. Right now is the perfect time to experiment with this newfound accessory to find exactly what works best for you.
HAVING A BEARD IN A PANDEMIC: IS IT POSSIBLE? BY ZACK BROWN
When the pandemic hit, a lot of things changed within our normal routines. Some of us started school fully online, others started to work from home and some of us decided to grow out a beard. Quarantine was the perfect opportunity for people to experiment with their facial hair and a lot of people have kept their beards since returning back to school and work. This was a new adventure for some beard-growers, and for others, this was nothing new. Daniel Hayes, a junior studying political science at Iowa State, has not been clean shaven since 2018, but he has been growing his facial hair out for the past month. Wearing masks has been difficult for a lot of people, but it certainly has been even more of an issue for people with beards. “Wearing masks annoys me so much because it makes my beard itchy,” Hayes said. “It’s not terrible, but it’s still bothersome.” The styling of beards has also changed for some people.With beards getting bunched up in a mask, or poofing out of it, people have had to adapt to make sure that their beard is in tip-top shape. “Honestly, styling it hasn’t been too different,” said Hayes. “I think it’s more important to look good for the times I have my mask off than when I have it on, so I still style it to look good without a mask on. I will say that wearing a mask messes up the flow of my beard, and it looks messy when I take it off, so I try to keep my beard comb with me so I can brush it and make all the hairs go the same way.” People have adapted to the way that they style their beard, but some have been able to keep it the exact same way without any worries. To further assist people with keeping their beards well maintained, beard masks have been a new emerging product for those wanting to cover their beard entirely. Markina Smith, who runs Kya Kya by Markina on Etsy, has been custom-making masks on her Etsy since COVID-19 hit, including beard masks. Markina started selling on Etsy when she moved from Los Angeles, where she worked as a production pattern maker, to Houston. To make ends meet when the pandemic hit, she started selling and giving away masks. When masks became mandatory in most states back in July, she was producing hundreds of masks a week, including beard masks. Beard masks have been a custom option that has been a popular request ever since she started producing them. When asked if she will continue to make beard masks after COVID-19 is over, she says that, “Post-pandemic I may target motorcyclists and trail riders and be open to ideas from my customers.” Is it possible to still look good with a beard during the COVID-19 pandemic? The answer is, yes! As long as you find what style works for you, practice proper hygiene and find the perfect mask, the world is your beard’s oyster. Beard masks from Kya Kya by Markina can be found on Etsy @ https://www. etsy.com/shop/KyakyabyMarkina
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REMOTE WORKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT AROSE DURING THE PANDEMIC MAKING THE BEST OF QUARANTINE
REMOTE WORKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT AROSE DURING A PANDEMIC BY ALEX SCHMIDTKE
It almost seems as if COVID-19 came out of nowhere when the decision was made for Iowa State University students to not resume in-person classes after spring break for the duration of the Spring 2020 semester. Many students had previously made arrangements for an internship for the summer. . However, with the emergence of a pandemic, the typical summer internship did not look quite the same anymore and many students were unsure as to what would happen next. There are many students who, unfortunately, had their internships cancelled all together as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. On the other hand, many companies decided to take their typical summer internship and make it virtual or make some tweaks to allow in-person work. For example, Kohl’s decided to adapt an online platform for their internship this past summer instead of opting to cancel the internship positions, like many other organizations had done. As for the virtual work itself, it can take some time to get adjusted. . Constantly dealing with glitches, connection issues, miscommunication and distractions are a few of the issues that plague remote working every day. Despite this, many employers found ways to adapt and do their best to keep their workplaces and internships up and running.
“I feel like they handled the virtual experience amazingly,” said Caitlyn Norris, a senior at Georgia Southern and a buying office intern at Kohl’s this part summer. “They executed the internship so well despite it being their first time.” said Norris. Despite the pandemic, some companies were still able to provide their interns with an in-person experience after making adjustments. Spencer King, a senior at University of Wisconsin Eau Claire, worked as a warehouse intern this past summer for Exact Sciences. “In that role, I worked mainly with Excel and other management systems as well as daily operations within the warehouse,” said King. “I also helped streamline some new processes that arose because of Covid.” According to King, Exact Sciences was able to make this possible due to their regulations such as requiring masks be worn unless at your desk, as well as requiring employees be tested for COVID periodically. It will be important moving forward to be able to adapt to working in a virtual environment, or at least a post-COVID environment. Even once we have moved past COVID-19, it appears that more and more workplaces will be willing to offer remote work or will set up tighter regulations on everyday life at their companies. This could certainly become a trend in the near future and as students, it will be vital that we are open and willing to lead the ever-changing landscape of our post-grad careers.
MAKING THE BEST OF QUARANTINE BY MADISON BAUMGARTNER
The year 2020 has brought with it one shock after another and the United States being put under quarantine was the first of many. On March 13, 2020, President Donald Trump declared a national emergency due to coronavirus and soon after the United States was forced to “at-home quarantine.” Americans were advised to stay in their homes for two weeks, businesses were closed, jobs were lost and the U.S. began adapting to a new lifestyle. The coronavirus pandemic wreaked havoc across the world as many lives were lost, but for those unaffected and at home, everyday life took a 180-degree turn. Weeks without social contact with the outside world was an experience unlike any other, but on the bright side, isolation gave many people the opportunity to take a break from life, focus on themselves and create a newfound love for hundreds of different hobbies. Although it sounds relaxing, being stuck at home surrounded by family, friends and even oneself can drive a person to the point where you have no choice but to find something to occupy your time. Quarantine was like this for Chris Theros, current business student at The University of Illinois. “In the beginning there was nothing to do and time was moving too slow, so I eventually picked up running as a new hobby” said Theros. Theros describes his newfound love for running as “a great stress reliever and escape” from the pandemic drama around the world. Aside from his fitness endeavors, Theros also dove headfirst into the world of online shopping, “Since everything was closed and I wasn’t spending money on anything else, I figured why not?,” said Theros. Online shopping provided Theros with something to look forward to, as the days seemed to loom on. Nick Conger, a student at Illinois State University decided to better himself and a prolonged break served as the perfect opportunity to do so. “I was sick of my lifestyle, unhealthy diet and what it was making me look like,” Conger said. “I figured it was time for me to change that.” He went on to describe how being in quarantine without a gym forced him to find new ways to work out and challenge himself. “I switched everything to mainly body weight, so I never actually used any weights,” Conger said. “Calisthenics is different ways to control your body so you can gain strength without having to actually lift any weights.” Conger eventually brought his love for fitness to social media by creating an Instagram account to aid those who have the same passion as him.
EDITOR IN CHIEF HANNAH MAUSER MEGHAN SHOUSE
ONLINE DIRECTORS ELLA BREAM: STYLIST HANNAH IVERSON-JONES: STYLIST GRANT TETMEYER: PHOTOGRAPHY GENNA CRISTOFORO: GRAPHIC DESIGN
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