V Magazine UVA Fall 2010 by V Magazine UVA

FALL 2010

magazine

fashion Sargeant Nomad Editor in Chief: Laura Kost

Production Manager: Kelly Malacarne Section Editors: Nabilah Jiwani, Kelly Malacarne, & Chanel Parks Copy Editors: Janelle Clayton & Ellen Haick

layout artists Laura Kost Kelly Malacarne Elizabeth Quinn Madeleine Reeve

fashion

Fashion Editors: Anthony Manzanares & Glynnis Maynard Photographer: Mary-Louise Enright Kelsey Field Hannah Weiss Anna Xie

Model: Aneesha Rao Metal Bomber Hat from Ike’s Black Opened Strap Boots- Stylist’s own Hawaiian Shirt from Ike’s- $12 Body Shape Wear Skirt from Ike’s- $25 Army Jacket- Stylist’s own

Model: Yoon-ah Jo Suede Long Boots- Stylist’s own Gypsy Skirt from Ike’s- $25 Flowy Silk White Shirt- Stylist’s own Navy Vest from Ike’s- $34 Metal Bomber Hat from Ike’s Shimmer Belt from Ike’s- $10

Living in a Technology World

Street Fashion

photography Amanda Henry Anne Sun

Our Opportunity for Reinvention

An Englishman in 7 New York Books to the Big Screen

Making Summer Count

The Era of Lady Gaga

Fashionable Football Players

Faux Is En Vogue, Fur Real

staff writers Dalia Bolotnikov Mary Beth Brown Rachel Couch Piper Gustafson Anna Hafsteinsson Maniecsha Holmes Michelle Ross Kelsey Sundby

Model: Taiwo Odusanya Brown Slouch Boot Heels- Stylist’s own Metal Bomber Hat from Ike’s Fur Vest from Antic’s- $55 Army Green Long John’s from Ike’s- $36 Aero descent Silk Top from Ike’s- $18

Gen Y: living in a Even an activity as basic as walking to class has become an acrobatic juggling act between changing songs on an iPod, checking the cell phone for new messages, and frantically rehearsing facts in our head for the next class. Or glance at a lecture hall at the University of Virginia and you will see a sea of screens jumping between Gmail chat, Facebook, and other websites that cannot go longer than a class period without a checkup. We have become a generation of multi-taskers, convinced that our polished technological skills

technology world by: Kelsey Sundby

made things easier or just more chaotic. A recent documentary, Frontline Digital Nation, highlighted the increasing interference of technology on our daily activities. The documentary shows several experiments proving that our ability to simultaneously divide our attention among a collage of tasks is not nearly as successful as we think. In one segment, MIT students said that professors often comment on disconnects in their papers. Most of the students blamed this on distractions while writing papers.

obtain important or simply interesting knowledge. A UVa graduate student, Laura Goldblatt, has actually made it a requirement for her students to attend office hours at least once. Goldblatt got the idea from another grad student and she decided to adopt it in her classroom thinking, “It’s easier for me as a teacher to understand the way my students think and the things that they find challenging--in

STREET

fashion photographs by Anne Sun and Amanda Henry

Model: Sarah-Louise Dechow Trend: Nerd glasses Year: 2nd

Model: Barbara Porada Favorite Places to shop: J. Crew, H&M, Forever 21 Year: 1st

“We have become a generation of multi-taskers, convinced that our polished technological skills allow us to successfully navigate through our daily activities with the help of a multitude of gadgets.” allow us to successfully navigate through our daily activities with the help of a multitude of gadgets. Lately, though, some have started to question whether dividing our attention between the collection of devices and gizmos has in fact

The core culprits? Facebook and email. One UVa student admitted to checking Facebook or email “probably once per class, but not in every class because I don’t always bring my computer.” The student explained that the urge to check Facebook during a lecture usually only comes when she is bored or if she is expecting an email. The fact that students can disengage so readily during a lecture makes it even more imperative for professors to produce lectures that will hold students’ interests. Technology has presented professors with a huge challenge when it comes to designing lectures that will keep students away from Facebook chats. The increasing presence of technology throughout our daily routines, however, has not only affected our ability to concentrate on tasks; it also has greatly impacted our relationships. It is no secret that many people fail to attend professor’s office hours. Instead, in the name of time management and because the technology is readily available, many students use email as their chief means of communication with professors. Only four out of ten UVa students asked what they would do if given the choice between attending office hours or writing an email replied that they would go to office hours. It is true that a well-written email will often suffice to get a basic question answered, but have we forgotten the value of faceto-face communication? Can a text or email really be trusted with the complex task of reflecting our personality and expressing our emotions? By avoiding personal interactions with professors we are denying ourselves perhaps the greatest tool available to us. An email limits the extent of an answer and therefore diminishes the opportunity to

other words, to be a more effective teacher--when I have the chance to talk with them one-on-one and to get to know them a little better.” Although she finds e-mail useful in many ways Goldblatt explains that, “ Unfortunately, though, e-mail can be so cold, and so if that’s the only way that you communicate with someone, then I think it’s harder to have meaningful exchanges. And aren’t meaningful exchanges what education, and college especially, is supposed to be all about?” Most people cringe at the idea of a long distance relationship, but in many ways our society has so integrated technology into our communication habits that almost every relationship now has long distance aspects to it Technology is, of course, appropriate in many situations for communication. The problem arises when people begin to use it as a substitute for true-life interactions that need the sound of a voice, the touch of a hand and the warmth of one’s presence to be nurtured. It is undeniable that technology has made huge improvements in society. Communication has become fast, easy, and unbounded by distance. People can now access information without lugging around five textbooks. However, technology is becoming a gateway into a virtual world and by constantly engaging in this superficial world we have began to deviate from the path to greatest personal satisfaction. We miss details, forget the value of face-to-face interaction, and adopt a schizophrenic lifestyle. If we continue to allow ourselves to rely so heavily on technology, “undivided attention” will be as anachronistic a term as “horse and buggy”. Perhaps it is time to realize that the song on the iPod we’re listening to as we walk down the sidewalk may make us miss interactions with those passing by us, the wealth of activity around us, and what all that makes life really special.

Model: Beth Olberding Trend: Black and brown Year: 2nd

Model: Christine Ngo Trend: Masculine and Feminine Year: 2nd Model: Saori Okada Favorite Place to shop: Zara Year: 1st

Model: Maraih Elly Trend: Mixed Prints Year: 2nd

Model: Hannah Ehrlinspiel Wearing: knit knee socks, high waisted skirt, v-tee, cardigan, and booties (mostly used clothing) Year: 4th

Model: Melody Wearing: boyfriend pants, flats, scarf, blazer Year: 2nd

books to the

big screen

by: Dalia Bolotnikov

aking Summer Count

by: Michelle Ross

A collection of popular books that are being adapted into movies. One Day by David Nicholls: The story follows a boy and girl after they spend one night together and visit each other on July 15 for the next 20 years. Cast: Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess

Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin: This soon to be rom-com will be about a woman who hooks up with her best friend’s soon to be husband. Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Kate Hudson, John Krasinski

The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson: A computer hacker and a journalist join together to solve a woman’s disappearance. Cast: Rooney Mara, Daniel Craig, and Stellan Skarsgard

Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathon Swift: Lemuel Gulliver is a traveling writer who I sent to Bermuda but never makes it. Instead he land on an island called Liliput where the townspeople are miniature. Cast: Jack Black, Jason Segel, and Emily Blunt

20 Times a Lady by Karyn Bosnak: A girl is determined to find a soul mate among the numerous men she has slept with. Cast: Anna Faris, Dave Annable, Andy Samberg, Zachary Quinto, Joel McHale, and Chris Evans.

The Adjustment Bureau by Philip Dick: The short story, actually called the Adjustment Team, is about a politician whose life begins to unravel when a mysterious ballerina becomes involved in his life. Cast: Emily Blunt and Matt Damon

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: A circus boy falls in love with one of the circus animal trainers during the 1930’s. Cast: Robert Pattinson and Reese Witherspoon

I’m With the Band by Pamela Des Barres: Des Barres self written memoirs describing her journey as a rock and roll groupie. Cast: Zoey Deschanel

The Emperor’s Children by Claire Messud: The story follows three Brown Graduates as their lives progress in the 1990’s and September 11, 2001 Cast: Keira Knightley, Michelle Williams, and Eric Bana

Important Artifacts by Leanne Shapton: This book is actually a catalogue from a fictional auction of a broken up couple’s belongings. Each object reveals parts of their relationship. Cast: Brad Pitt and Natalie Portman

The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath: It chronicles the sad life of the protagonist and her fall into mental illness. Cast: Julia Stiles

On the Road by Jack Kerouac: Autobiographical work describing his road trips with friends across the beat generation America. Cast: Kristen Stewart, Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortenson, and Garrett Hedlund

An Ex to Grind by Jane Heller: This story follows a wife who is trying to trick her husband to cheat on her so she can divorce him without paying alimony. Cast: Cameron Diaz and Benicio Del Toro Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith: This is closely followed version of Jane Austen’s original...the only difference is zombies have taken over the countryside. Cast: Natalie Portman For more information visit the used sources imdb and buzzsugar.com

“W

e make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” These famous words by Winston Churchill appropriately describe a driving force in the culture of the UVa student body. For most UVa students, volunteering to help others is more than just an option; it is an accepted norm, assumed to be an unquestionable aspect of college life. There are numerous opportunities to volunteer on grounds, but some groups also organize trips over breaks that send students abroad to help people in need. Thirteen members of UVa’s Global Business Brigades (GBB), for example, went to Panama over the summer to help a small farm co-op become more profitable and self-sufficient. GBB is a sustainable development organization; its approach differs from many other organizations because rather than just donating money, the volunteers first assess the microenterprise’s financial situation, and then they educate the workers and advise them on how to better conduct their business. GBB promotes long-term change rather than short-term relief. Allie Cooper, the Fundraising Chair of GBB, strongly supports this method of aid. “It’s like that saying,” said Cooper, “‘Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.’ Education results in sustainability. We help the workers help themselves.” GBB taught the farmers basic business skills using three workshops, two about accounting and one about conducting cost-benefit analysis. The students made these workshops relevant for this particular farm by using the farmers’ own records in the discussions. Using the results from the workshops, the students and the farmers worked together to decide on strategies that would increase the farm’s profitability. While half of the volunteers taught the workshops, the other half provided physical labor and planted crops to

ensure that the time the farmers spent learning would not lead to any loss of profit. After the workshops, GBB provided the farm with a donation to be invested in something that would implement the sustainable development plans. Usually, brigades choose in what to because the donation comes from a Community Investment Fund (CIF) to which every volunteer contributes $100, but UVa’s GBB made the unique decision to let the farmers ultimately choose toward what they wanted the money to go. Initially, the farmers told the students that they needed a corn shucking and dekerneling machine because it would save them about seven days of labor per year.However, there was not enough money in the CIF to fully cover the cost of the machine, and moreover, financial analyses showed that chickens bring in the bulk of the profit for the farm, so the students suggested that the farmers should instead consider investing in a chicken coop with one hundred chickens. Given that the fund had more than enough money to cover the coop, the students would also have been able to purchase additional tools and materials for the farm. Although the students felt that the chicken coop was the most beneficial choice, they understood that it was important to let the farmers choose their own fate, so the students went over the pros and cons of each choice with the farmers and left them to meet in private and discuss the choices among themselves. “It was really cool to give them the choice,” Cooper said. “We’re not professionals in our fields, we’re just college students coming in with our American background. Who are we to toy with their lives? It’s not just a little game we put on our resumes.” Cooper admitted that this experience really showed her that “while student

engagement is important and great, it’s also precarious.” One miscalculation or mistake, whether in making the investment choice or in planting the crops for the farmers, could seriously detriment the farmers in the future, but this lurking threat just made the students concentrate and work even harder on their tasks. The choice was ultimately the chicken coop, but not simply because the students suggested it. The translator, who stayed with the farmers during their discussion, revealed to the volunteers that not only were the farmers unanimous on their decision, but that they made the decision based on the numbers the students gave them and the methods of strategic decision -making the students taught them. For Cooper, the most extraordinary part of her Panama experience was watching the difference the GBB workshops made on the farmers in just over one week. “The first day we met the farmers,” Cooper said, “they were really timid with us and didn’t know what to say, but by the end, even the shiest were participating. It was really gratifying to see that we were really teaching them something.” The trip also led Cooper to become more grateful for her current living conditions. “I really take plumbing for granted,” Cooper admitted. “We were going to bathrooms in holes in the ground and taking showers with hoses. It made me really, really thankful for toilets. It really puts things in perspective. People in the U.S. really take what we have for granted.” After the trip, the organization’s aid does not simply end with the goodbyes and good luck’s to the farmers. After each project, GBB maintains continuous contact with the business to follow up on its progress, see if the skills and the investment are bringing about the impact desired, and provide further assistance if necessary. Currently, GBB is planning for its next trip, scheduled to take place in January 2011. Global Business Brigades is just one out of the nine sectors of Global Brigades; the others are Global Architecture Brigades, Global Dental Brigades, Global Environmental Brigades, Global Law Brigades, Global Medical Brigades, Microfinance Brigades, Public Health Brigades, and Global Water Brigades, so students have a wide variety of choices if they decide to become involved. To learn more information about each program, visit globalbrigades.org.

by Rachel Couch

Before I boarded the plane for my semester in Florence, life back at UVa had come to a crossroads. Friendships were hanging by a thread, my particular niche was eluding me, and college wasn’t shaping up to be “the best four years” of my life – quite the contrary. Of course the decision to study abroad was not, at the time, a decision driven by some deep, existential need to escape. I had never been to Europe, only having ventured out of the Charlottesville area for the occasional vacation to Canada or the West Coast.The very idea of braving Frankfurt airport by myself was terrifying -- only slightly less so than the idea that UVa would go on without me while I was striking out on my own.

“I began to see myself in a

new light – independent, curious, extraordinary.”

My friends would make new friends, some people would make an effort to keep in touch, and others would not. Five thousand miles later I was in a state of suspended gravity. Somewhere between spending hours after class in my favorite café writing in my journal and going to Ponte Vecchio to watch the sun go down, I realized that I was not living real life. Nor was I having a typical study abroad experience. While the rest of the students in my program were going off to France and Amsterdam on the weekends, my roommate, Elizabeth Carretto (Col ’10), and I were exploring Florence. We spent four months in Italy and never once made it to Rome or Venice. I could be accused of not taking advantage of living in Italy, and at times I

might agree. But when we did travel, returning to Florence felt like coming home.We would lug our bags off the bus, deliriously tired, drag ourselves up the 84 steps to our apartment and collapse in absolute bliss with the glow of the Medici Chapel just outside our window. When I think back to those times, I realize that Florence and my studying abroad was a defining life experience. Traveling alone and becoming fluent in another language made me feel like I could conquer the world. I began to see myself in a new light – independent, curious, extraordinary. The most common sentiment against studying abroad is that you will miss too much while you’re gone. That is true. You will miss a lot. If you are fortunate enough to have great friends and a settled place at the University, then people will miss you and make an inspiring effort to keep you in their daily lives while you’re away. But if college isn’t going quite as you thought it would, leaving for a semester allows you the opportunity to reinvent. Several lifelong friends, beautiful letters, delicious dinners, one wedding, a return trip to Florence, and countless emails later, I now live the life at UVa that eluded me before studying abroad. Don’t be afraid of missing out on life at UVa. If the University to which we give our loyalty and faith encourages us to leave our bubble, rediscover ourselves, and return with new eyes, then why shouldn’t we listen?

by Anna Hafsteinsson

Our Opportunity for Reinvention

An Englishman in New York

Ok, so I am not a man, nor do I currently reside in New York, but the song is a classic and good old Sting certainly makes a valid point. For a Brit to suddenly find himself in the big wide world of America is daunting and sometimes alienating. Whilst I, being female, will take the artistic liberty of substituting ‘man’ for ‘woman’ and ‘New York’ for ‘Charlottesville, Virginia’ (Catchy, right?), I can definitely relate to these feelings. If someone this time last year told me that in a year’s time, I would find myself half way across the world, enrolled at an American University founded by Thomas Jefferson, I would no doubt have thought they were barking mad. So, as I sit here and type this in my new little room at, yes, Mr. Jefferson’s University of Virginia, I find myself wondering, am I the one who is perhaps a little insane? It all began around November of 2009. When I’m

My arrival on grounds was somewhat surreal. Wandering around and seeing these grand, classical buildings, standing on the Lawn and staring at the imposing Rotunda, it didn’t quite sink in that this would be my home for the next year. However, after meeting my roommate and settling into our room, things started to feel a little more normal. In search of my perfect club, I took the chance on my pale British skin surviving the sweltering heat activities fair and signed up for one too many mailing lists that my inbox is still bearing the brunt of today. I’m going to admit that before I came here, my perceptions of American college culture was essentially based on an array of cheesy teen movies and I’ve got to say, UVA does somehow manage to live up to quite a lot of them. My friends at home were desperate for me to find out if the elusive ‘red cup’ that seems stuck to every hand in college party movie scenes actually

“If someone this time last year told me that in a year’s time, I would find myself half way across the world... I would no doubt have thought they were barking mad.” not on this side of the pond, I study at the University of Edinburgh in bonnie Scotland. When the International Exchange Program Talk came around, I casually went along to see what all the fuss was about. At this point I really had no intention of departing from my cosy Scottish set up so I went about my usual business and forgot all about the whole business until the night before the deadline…naturally. In a flash of sheer panic that I was letting an incredible opportunity slide through my fingers, a spur of the moment surge of decisiveness hit me. I wrote a hasty application and selected five potential Universities through the very reliable and useful sources that are Wikipedia and Google Images. To my surprise, just after Christmas, an email landed in my inbox informing me of my acceptance to the University of Virginia as an exchange student. After much very dramatic soul searching I decided to bite the bullet and accept the offer.You only live once right? So, almost one year later, those Google images of UVA grounds on a beautiful autumn day have become my reality. Well, almost. This is the whistle-stop account of my time so far at this fine establishment of learning: meeting the people, exploring the places, and generally finding my way in the metropolis of American culture that is UVA.

does exist and whether sorority girls really are like Elle from Legally Blonde. There have been many American ‘firsts’ since I’ve been here. I roasted ‘smores’ with my roommate, I attended my first frat party where I, of course, bagged myself a solo cup souvenir, and I attended my first game of American Football. Ok, so I had no idea what was going on in the actual game but I clapped and chanted enthusiastically, following the knowledgeable crowd. I also braved a very large hot dog. On my first day of classes, I felt like I was beginning high school all over again, attempting to navigate my way through corridors that apparently all look the same. They sure do know how to dish out those essays here and I am quickly coming to learn that the motto ‘work hard, play hard’ is what it’s all about. In my predictable touristy attempt to ‘see America’ I have made a conscious effort to venture outside of the UVA bubble; A trip to Blue Hole with friends from my halls and an excursion to the Saturday morning farmer’s market downtown fitted the bill perfectly and were both more than delightful. I have also realised, as a new student at UVA, that the novelty of the Rotunda lasts a while and the desire to take its photograph multiple times remains strong. One can never have too many Rotunda snapshots I’m sure?

I’m beginning to tick off items from my ‘Things to do at UVA’ list such as my delicious trip to Little Johns and one too many late night stops for some greasy cuisine at the White Spot. I have so far witnessed the streaking that so often occurs on the lawn but have not, as of yet, been brave enough to partake myself. Time will tell whether I can release the American wild-child within me and bare all for Mr. Jefferson. Many things have been lost in translation and my roommate and I have experienced some hilarious misunderstandings when I, as she calls it ‘bust out the British’ and use English words of which she has no idea of the meaning. Take the word ‘snog’ for example. If you don’t know what it means, just Google it. We decided it would be a wise idea to start creating an English to American translation sheet for future reference. The British accent, in general, seems to be a hit. One girl asked me quite politely to say ‘Harry Potter’ and I obliged in my best British accent. She was pleased to say the least. There is simply too much to tell so I will wrap it up here. Who knows what the rest of the year at UVA holds but I sure am excited to find out.You can follow my adventures at http://savingonstamps.blogspot. com and perhaps by the end of the year you’ll read about some unclothed British babe running for her life on the lawn.

The Era of W

by: Piper Gustafson

e know her as a skinny blonde with pale skin, an aversion to pants, and an undeniable talent. She flaunts dresses made of meat, is an advocate for gay rights, and has, unquestionably, become the pop icon of our day. It doesn’t matter if you’re one of her “little monsters” or not—you have heard of Lady Gaga. We, the consumers and the adoring fans, have placed Lady Gaga on the throne of Pop Culture. Even competing pop stars like Miley Cyrus, have succumbed to her influence; just look at Cyrus’s music video for “Can’t Be Tamed”. Gaga’s music and image have gone global. But, we must ask ourselves: are there broader implications of growing up in Lady Gaga’s era of avant-guarde fashion and asexual back-up dancers? Place her side-by-side with the icon of our generation, Britney Spears, and you realize that the current youth generation is learning a whole new definition of pop culture. In our day, Britney liked to dance in little more than a bra; today, Gaga likes to set her bra on fire. Britney was known for dressing up in a scandalized schoolgirl outfit; Gaga performs in a piece of plastic resembling a nun’s habit. Britney stumbled into fame from her beginnings in the Mouseketeers; Gaga fought tooth and nail for everything she has now. By contrasting the nature of these two pop stars, we find far more consequential influences on our culture than school-girl outfits and flaming lingerie. Britney Spears told us, without words, exactly how to be mainstream. Our generation learned that if you had blonde hair and sixpack abs, fame and fortune would follow. We saw this girl-next-door grow, heard the sexual undertones become more pronounced, watched her turn into a “slave 4 u” while dating Justin Timberlake, and we listened to her confess, “I’m not a girl, [not yet a woman].” In the 2002 issue of Cosmopolitan, her covershoot team described her by saying, “The Pop Princess couldn’t be nicer or more normal”. And she was our Pop Princess. In fact, her

“The thing I love most about Lady Gaga is how she is free from inhibition.”

Lady Gaga

“Where Britney’s blonde, bubble gum pop image and legend begged us to conform, Gaga’s avant-guarde individuality demands that we be nothing but ourselves.”

influence on the youth disturbed parents. She set a standard of self-image, and as Hilary. com states, “millions of very young, easilyinfluenced girls [are] buying her albums…. These girls are growing up idolizing superstar Britney Spears and they assume that they should look, act and dress every bit as Britney’s image.” She was the demigod of our generation, simultaneously defining “normalcy” and “perfection.”

ady Gaga has been described as neither “normal” nor “perfect,” yet she has claimed the Pop Princess tiara from the sinking Britney Spears. Granted, when she arrived on the scene with her first single “Just Dance,” she didn’t seem too unusual. Only those who watched the music video, which featured Gaga with a lightning bolt across her face and discoball bra, might have had any predilection to what the rest of us would eventually learn—Lady Gaga was a whole new ballgame. Gaga, like Britney, alarms parents— she has made statements that she achieves her body via starvation, dyed her hair blonde as she rose to fame, is covered in tattoos, and the sexual messages of her songs make Britney’s “If You Seek Amy” sound PG-rated. But Lady Gaga doesn’t pretend to be ignorant—she embraces her sexuality, and more importantly, she encourages us to all embrace the “monster” within us. In fact, Lady Gaga refers to all her fans as “little monsters” and describes her tour, The Monster Ball, as a place where no one is an outcast and everyone can be free. In Tiffany Harmon’s online article, “How Pop Icon Lady Gaga Inspires and Empowers Women”, she states, “The thing I love most about Lady Gaga is how she is free from inhibition. She

is symbolic of empowerment because she is brave enough to live her life the way she wants to… Lady Gaga is truly an icon of female strength.” Gaga also donates up to $25,000 of every concert’s proceeds to RE*Generation, a group of organizations dedicated to helping homeless youth, 1 in 5 of which have been thrown out by their parents because of their sexual orientation. Lady Gaga doesn’t want us to adhere to the standard definition of “normal”; she wants us to redefine normal, and she wants that definition to include everybody. The effect pop stars have on young girls’ self-image can be devastating. The bottom line, however, is that our younger generation is growing up with a message of hard work, acceptance, and tolerance. Where Britney’s blonde, bubble-gum pop image and legend begged us to conform, Gaga’s avantguarde individuality demands that we be nothing but ourselves. “I don’t want you to leave here loving me more,” Lady Gaga tells her audience. “I want you to leave here loving yourself more.”

faux

is en vogue,

This Chanel coat demonstrates the versatility of faux fur by mixing tweed with fur details.

fur real

In her youth, my grandmother considered faux fur cheap, tacky, and frankly, hideous. Mink, rabbit, fox, and chinchilla were symbols of luxury. Sporting a fake version seemed to defeat the essential extravagance of fur. For most of the 20th century, the ethical issues of skinning an animal for its fur were not a concern, and textile technologies were simply not developed enough to provide a legitimate replacement for real animal fur. But as the world has become more eco-friendly and advances in textiles have made “luxurious” clothingreadily available at all price ranges, the era of real furs has finally fallen. Faux fur has taken over. Synthetic furs have been making a steady comeback

Football is back... In Fashion:

by Mary Beth Brown

in the past few years, but as seen on the ready-to-wear runways for Fall 2010, fake fur has made its monumental debut. Fashion houses and designers who in the past had considered themselves above environmental and economic considerations featured countless faux fur pieces in their collections for this year. DKNY, Michael Kors, Gucci, and other top lines were not too prideful to feature synthetic fur on their models. Chanel in particular shocked many with its fur shoes, bags, coats, vests, pants, skirts, and even full body suits—none of which were real animal hair. Many big designers and celebrities have halted their use of real fur, opting for its manufactured counterpart,

to become more environmentally friendly. While the production of synthetic fur neither hurts animals nor consumes as much energy in production, it does have one downside—most of the materials are not biodegradable. Faux fur is, in fact, typically made with nonrenewable resources such as petroleum and coal; however, there are some “green” brands. Used by top name brands Chanel, Juicy Couture, and Armani, Tissavel is a high-quality brand of faux fur that has been dubbed environmentally friendly. In addition to being eco-centric, faux fur has innumerable options for design. This season, designers have taken full advantage of its versatility in color, texture, pattern, and length of fiber by putting it on, in, and around everything imaginable.Wearing faux fur does not have to be an extreme fashion leap for anyone. Many people are hesitant to wear fur in fear of looking like a fuzzy monster, but you do not need to be covered in fur to work the look. First of all, fur does not only come in the form of a coat or vest. There are faux fur details on almost every kind of clothing imaginable, from collars and muffs to purses and shoes. Also, you do not have to wear something that is totally faux fur. Many popular pieces just feature fur trim or other detail, which ensure that you will not look like Chewbacca. Even though the coldest months have not yet arrived, you can still sneak some fur into your wardrobe. Ladies, during the day, don a fur collar with a sweater, a purse with furdetail, or boots with fur popping

by Maniecsha Holmes

5 Best Dressed Football Players on the UVA campus.

What do Lebron James, David Beckam, Dwayne Wade, Terrell Owens, and Tom Brady all have in common? Yes, you have stated the obvious that they are all great athletes, but they have made numerous lists of having a great sense of style. It’s hard to walk around campus without seeing someone with a navy blue tracksuit carrying a big back pack with a number tag. Those are none other than our UVA Division I athletes. Don’t get me wrong, I’m down for being comfortable, but while I’m in class I need to wear something that I wouldn’t want to sleep in. I’m not generalizing all of you athletes out there because there are some who stray from the pack and are much less recognizable. Those chosen are ahead of the fashion game are ahead of the fashion game. So I ask these boys, “Why on earth would you try and dress up for class, when the university already provides clothes given to you?” Sorry if you didn’t make the cut. Gone are the days of wearing Virginia gear every day. More and more athletes are stepping their style up. There’s always next year…I’ll be watching.

Kevin Royal

Favorite Brand Name: Tie between Ralph Lauren and Nike Favorite Stores: Saks, Neiman Marcus, Flight Club NYC, Urban Outfitters Why he’s wearing clothes to school instead of the traditional warm-up UVA suit: The traditional track suit is ok but I’m a fashion head so I have to express that every once in a while. How long it takes to get dressed: 45 minutes Style Icon: Pharell Williams; Wale

Jay Mathis

Favorite Brand Name: Polo Ralph Lauren Favorite Stores: Polo Ralph Lauren; Up Against The Wall Why he’s wearing clothes to school instead of the traditional warm-up UVA suit: “Because I don’t like being like everyone else.” How long it takes to get dressed: 10 minutes Style Icon: Fabolous

LoVante Battle

Favorite Brand Name: Polo Ralph Lauren; Levi Jeans; Jordan Favorite Stores: Levi; Nike; Lids; Ralph Lauren Polo Outlet Why he’s wearing clothes to school instead of the traditional warm-up UVA suit: “Cause I got swag.” How long it takes to get dressed: 25 minutes Style Icon: The Game

Roy Reynolds

Favorite Brand Name: Ralph Lauren; Jordan Favorite Stores: Ralph Lauren Polo Outlet; Urban Outfitters Why he’s wearing clothes to school instead of the traditional warm-up UVA suit: “It allows me to express myself…and girls.” How long it takes to get dressed: 7-8 minutes Style Icon: Fabolous

Rodney McLeod

Favorite Brand Name: Polo Ralph Lauren; Prada Favorite Stores: Gap; Urban Outfitters; Polo Ralph Lauren; Nordstrom Why he’s wearing clothes to school instead of the traditional warm-up UVA suit: “I don’t know it’s just my culture.” How long it takes to get dressed: 30 minutes Style Icon: Fabolous

out of the top. For a little bit of a dare, try a cropped vest in short-fiber cheetah print fur. At night, even if the weather is not very cold, a full jacket is more acceptable. Try a jacket in a wild color like bright purple, or furry booties or pumps. For guys out there willing to take a chance, try a fur collar or hat, or fur-detailed boots or moccasins. For the saf-

“It’s okay—in fact, it’s totally chic—to fake it.”

Joe Zee (Elle Magazine’s Creative Director) est of the fuzzy looks, both genders can always find hoodies or boots trimmed or lined with Sherpa or faux-shearling. If the ethical reasons and variety of options do not spur you to go faux, just take a look at the price tag. For example, this season you can find a $30 faux fur vest at Old Navy or a $130 faux fur veby Michael Kors. Stores like H&M, Forever 21, Express, and even American Eagle are featuring reasonably priced pieces this fall and winter. Fake fur by high-end designers is also shockingly affordable, and virtually indistinguishable from the real thing. So find the piece you are looking for and go out looking faux-y. Not even your grandmother will be able to tell the difference.

Sargeant

Nomad

Revel in your inner globe-trotter with these fierce cross-cultural styles in an east-meetswest fusion of military-inspired looks for the modern trendsetter.

Model: Yoon-ah Jo Suede Hot Pants Burnt Orange Shorts from Ike’s- $24 Slouch Cream Tank Blouse- Stylist’s own Scarf- Stylist’s own Swirl Appliqué Cream Jacket from Ike’s- $15 Pink Suede Chain Bag from Antic’s- $32 Brown Slouch Boot Heels- Stylist’s own

Model: Aneesha Rao Army Green Cargo Pants from Ike’s- $28 Fuchsia Silk Top from Antics-$26 Brown Slouch Boot Heels-Stylist’s own Belt- Stylist’s own Canteen from Ike’s- $18

Model: Taiwo Odusanya Black Romper from Ike’s- $18 Green and Gold Belt from Antic’s- $12.50 Gold Necklace- Stylist’s own Red Bag- Stylist’s own Navy Oxfords- Stylist’s own Moroccan Print Top from Antic’s- $12

Model: Aneesha Rao Black Opened Strap Boots- Stylist’s own Bangles- Stylist’s own Zebra Print Sweater from Antic’s- $24 African Print Skirt from Ike’s- $20

Model: Yoon-ah Jo Black velvet skirt from Ike’s- $15 Gold belt- Stylist’s own Black studded belt- Stylist’s own Black Asian Shoulder Pad Blouse from Ike’s- $24 Brown Slouch Boot Heels- Stylist’s own

Model: Taiwo Odusanya Suede Long Boots- Stylist’s own Dark Suede Shorts from Ike’s Brown Strappy Bag- Stylist’s own Silk Leopard Top from Ike’s- $24 Brown Belt- Stylist’s own

Model: Aneesha Rao Blue Necklace- Stylist’s own Black Vest- Stylist’s own Cream Bubble Skirt- Stylist’s own Black Belt- Stylist’s own Black Opened Strap Boots- Stylist’s own Black Purse- Stylist’s own Pink Scarf- Stylist’s own

Model: Yoon-ah Jo Brown Slouch Boot HeelsStylist’s own Slouch Cream Tank BlouseStylist’s own Motorcycle Pants- Stylist’s own Orange Necklace- Stylist’s own Chocolate Brown Suede

Model: Taiwo Odusanya Pink and Blue African Skirt from Antic’s- $35 Camel Brown Cardigan- Stylist’s own Leopard Belt- Stylist’s own Zebra Scarf- Stylist’s own