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Magazine
Spring 2010
magazine
fashion
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an emotive canvas
Editor in Chief: Laura Kost
Production Manager: Sara Buchanan Section Editor: Jane Anne Murphy
cover look
layout artists Sara Buchanan Leilani Brower Susan Carrai Kelly Malacarne Meredith McKee Jennifer Rose
william trainor in various shades of blue paint from Michael’s Arts & Crafts with navy blue chiffon from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.
fashion Fashion Editor: Linnea White Assistant Fashion Editor: Alex Cook Anthony Manzanares Glynnis Maynard Emily Sekulic
photography
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Photography Coordinator: Dan Tarjan Assistant Photography Coordinator: Meredith Mckee
staff writers Janelle Clayton Danielle Fox Jessica Modi Jane Anne Murphy Michelle Ross Chanel Parks
Summer Reads & Movie Reviews
a collection of reviews on some old favorites that could become new obsessions
The Best and Worst of Birth Control
how healthy is birth control? an outlook on the pros and cons of the Pill
PR: Pressured Relations
a look at Kell on Earth, the non-traditional fashion reality televsion show
Fashion Week Wrap-Up
fashion week is over - how to incorporate the newest fashions into your own style
Did Photo-shopping cause Body-shopping?
everyone knows about photo editing, but how far is too far? and what impression has this left?
Clothing Alternatives
a look at shopping localy to find a unique looks that’s all your own (and cheap too!)
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Retrospective: Music Inspired
movies of the Aughts by: Danielle Fox
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lmost Famous (2000): An ode to the rock scene of the 1970s. An aspiring rock journalist (Patrick Fugit) tags along with fictional band Stillwater on their cross-country tour. The film is meant to show the price of fame while inspiring the audience with the bond over love of music, demonstrated by the iconic Tiny Dancer bus scene. Also starring Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, and Frances McDormand.
igh Fidelity (2000): An adaptation of Nick Hornby’s novel, a recordstore owner and eternal romantic (John Cusack) narrates the current breakdown of his relationship via top five lists. His musical preferences color his perspective while asking the age-old question, “Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music?”. Also starring Jack Black and Tim Robbins.
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veryone Worth Knowing (2005): Lauren Weisberger’s second novel is very similar to The Devil Wears Prada, but instead of the fashion sphere, she writes a very amusing take on the vicious world of public relations in New York. An unpretentious and smart young woman does not know what she is getting herself into when she abruptly decides to change career paths to one that is much more exciting and glamorous. The reader can live vicariously through her exploits, reveling in the newness and taboo behavior of elite high society along with the protagonist. This is a fast and fun read without much depth but with the same guilty pleasure that made The Devil Wears Prada such a hit.
The soundtrack to a movie can either make or break it, so much so that music itself has become the subject matter for many films. With the start of a new decade, movies like The Runaways, based on the ‘70s female teen band of the same name with Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning, are already in the works. Here are five movies of the Aughts that give music its due respect.
ay (2004): A biopic of soul singer Ray Charles, played by Jamie Foxx, who won the Oscar that year. Passion is what drives this film, demonstrated by Foxx’s portrayal of Charles’ performances, which showed the artist on the verge of bursting from his eagerness for his music. The drama of his personal life depicts the musician as a complex and flawed character as well as someone to be admired. Also starring Kerry Washington.
http://loopgum.files.wordpress.com/2009/07/97800071826572.jp
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ringing Down the House (2003): Ben Mezrich’s book chronicles a group of MIT card counters as they make millions in Vegas at the blackjack tables. It’s based on a true story and champions the underdog, which makes for a compelling read. The reader cannot help but cheer on the students and curse the casinos, and the game of cat and mouse between the two makes it read like an action book. This book is sure to help stave off boredom during the long summer months of internship monotony, which are sadly and fortunately far removed from the fast-paced world of gambling. The film adaptation in 2008, 21, stars Jim Sturgess, Kevin Spacey and Laurence Fishburne.
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Fun Summer Reads by: Danielle Fox
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alk the Line (2005): Another biopic, this time chronicling the life of country music legend Johnny Cash (Joaquin Phoenix). This movie allows the audience to gain an understanding of how Cash’s music was insightful to the human condition, how we can fail and succeed with such success on both ends of the spectrum. Also starring Reese Witherspoon
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cross the Universe (2007): This musical is based entirely on Beatles’ songs, over 30 of them, and centers around Jude (Jim Sturgess) and his love affair with Lucy (Evan Rachel Wood) amid the antiwar movement and social unrest of the 1960s. The songs are brought to life with stunning and innovative visuals while placing them in the context of a plot. Cameo by Bono, who revamps Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds and I Am The Walrus.
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http://www.webrary.org/graphics/starbucks_mezrich.jpg
ocus Pocus (1990): Kurt Vonnegut’s penultimate novel keeps with his tradition of nonlinear plots and war inspired themes. The story revolves around Vietnam War veteran Eugene Debs Hartke, currently a professor at a college when escaped convicts from a nearby prison overtake it. The events that follow will undoubtedly cause a collective shiver among students everywhere while also employing our intellects – Vonnegut asks for the answer to a quantitative question at the end of the novel which can only be answered if you have been paying attention to the details of Hartke’s life. This book will certainly keep the mind sharp when students are taking a break from intellectual pursuits.
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The Best and Worst of
birth control by: Janelle Clayton
Many women choose to take birth control pills to either avoid pregnancy, lessen acne breakouts, or lighten menstrual periods. Some birth control methods seem to be easy and affordable ways to obtain peace of mind. Is using birth control as an attempt to put our minds at ease underlined with risks that makes birth control more dangerous than it is worth?
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ost women associate their birth control pills’ a d va n t a g e s in relation to how well it protects them against pregnancy. Because all methods have a chance of failure, it is wise to use more than one contraceptive when having sex. In addition to decreasing the risk of pregnancy, benefits of the birth control pill that may often be overlooked are lower occurrences of acne, cystic breasts, osteoporosis, anemia, and agonizing periods. The risk of cancer of the uterus and the ovaries and benign tumors in the ovary are all decreased by at least 50% when taking the pill. The advantages are so attractive that I wondered, if birth control pills are so good, why don’t all women take them? The disadvantages of birth control lead many women to rethink their decision to take the pills or steer clear of them completely. Before anyone begins to use a new method of contraception, she should visit her doctor to ensure that she chooses the right method for her. For this reason, birth control pills need to be obtained
from a doctor or clinic. A disadvantage of birth control pills is that a prescription can be a huge expense, costing up to $50 per package. Each month requires its own package, leading birth control pills to run up a bill of about $600 per year. Some women have difficulty controlling their weight while on the pill. And although it is uncommon, women may experience high blood pressure, headaches, or even depression. Another disadvantage of the pill is forgetting to take it daily. If a woman forgets to take a pill, it is also important that she visit her doctor. Even if she makes up the missed pills, she may experience spotting or light bleeding. Birth control should be carefully selected with the aid of a doctor and its packaging should be carefully read. Combination birth control pills have the hormones progestin and estrogen in them. These pills have serious side effects such as pulmonary embolism, stroke, and blood clots. Some women who have taken Yaz birth control pills have experienced life threatening blood clots. The blood clots can develop in legs, which is known as deep vein
thrombosis. The blood clots caused by Yaz can also form in the eye, head, arms, pelvis, and lungs. They can cause sudden headaches, swelling and pain in the arms or legs, coughing blood, blurred or double vision, and sharp or crushing chest pain. For some women on Yaz or Yasmin, they developed gallbladder disease and required gallbladder removal. Yaz is not the only birth control brand that has women regretting their decision to begin taking oral contraception. Women are holding manufacturers of Yaz, Yasmin, and Ocella birth control pills legally accountable for any harm that has been inflicted upon them due to the consumption of the pills. Many women are fighting back against the companies by actively pursuing lawsuits. It is always important to be safe when having sex and each method of contraception has benefits. Your doctor should inform you about what type of contraception is best for you according to your health and lifestyle. And always, abstinence is the only fully effective method of birth control.
side effects
Progestin/ Estrongen/ Androgen Effects Absent or light period
Higher estrogen, lower progestin potency http://blogs.musc.edu/womenspeak/image.axd?picture=j0423098.jpg
Depression
Lower progestin potency
Weight gain Lower estrogen, lower progestin potency
Acne
Higher estrogen, lower androgen potency
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PR: Kelly Cutrone
Andrew Mukamal CLAS ‘09 Bio: Andrew serves as Kelly’s assistant on Kell On Earth and is noted for his gothic and fabulous style that he rocks everyday. Being under constant stress is probably second nature for Andrew; he is an alumnus of UVA and a brother of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity. Turning heads with his impeccable style while catering to Kelly’s every need, he is on the right track to achieving his true career goal as a fashion designer.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @AJMukamal and stay updated on his blog at: bravotv.co/ kell-on-earth/blogs
Pressured Relations by: Chanel Parks
Kell on earth
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hat does it take to make it in the fashion world? A question that surrounds young, fashion hungry girls and boys dreaming of their fifteen minutes of fame. Whether they want to be a fashion model, designer, or just a fashion guru, everyone now has the chance to indulge in behind-the-scenes footage spanned into thirty to sixty minute shows that tell about making it in the industry. Since America’s Next Top Model made its mark as the original fashion reality television show, a plethora of programs have surfaced including Project Runway and Launch My Line. Recently, however, these fashion based shows have become less “how-to,” not only going deep into the world of designers and models, but into talents usually hidden such as the intern and public relations expert. Starting from MTV’s hits The Hills and The City, one woman in particular, Kelly Cutrone, breaks the mask that hides the internal workings of what makes the fashion world go round. With her own, new show Kell on Earth now airing on Bravo, everyone gets the chance to experience the daily lives of New York’s biggest PR firm. As a new addition to Bravo’s growing list of fashion-based shows, Kell On Earth pinpoints the life of Kelly Cutrone, PR extraordinaire and head of the firm, People’s Revolution. With the like of other fashion moguls, Kelly presents a cold-hearted attitude to get what she wants, which in the process causes drama; her assistants tend to cry every episode and her bouts of yelling and arguing seem to be a reoccurring issue within the office. Kell On Earth conveys that fashion PR is more work and less play, shattering the hopes of some who perceive the industry as a constant party. Like her designer and model counterparts, Kelly is on a mission to be successful as well as inspiring, evident in her new book If You Have To Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You. As a single mother, Kelly outshines all the women in her industry, proving that even the toughest of obstacles create a path of acquisition. What sets Kell On Earth from the likes of shows such as Project Runway and America’s Next Top Model is that the show does not glorify what its like to be in the fashion industry. Those shows create high pressure scenarios for their contestants to endure; however, People’s Revolution does not have “contestants” competing for a prize, but rather a team who does not create their situations, they live them. This turning point in fashion reality shows challenges the typical day in the life of a profession because a typical day does not exist in the PR world. For all those hopefuls, not one profession within the fashion industry is a cakewalk. Kelly and her team exemplify that success can only be obtained through challenge, no short cuts allowed. Everyone can benefit from Kelly’s daily mantra, “If you have to cry, go outside.” For more on Kell on Earth: Visit bravotv.com/kell-on-earth or follow People’s Revolution on Twitter @peoplesrev.
Destined to build your own PR Empire?
Public relation is a business dedicated to communication, networking, and publicity, just to name a few. PR is not only limited to fashion, there are a number of industries that are dealt with by PR, including medicine, entertainment, and politics. There is not an individual major that can satisfy “training” for the PR industry, but a strong background in business and communication skills paves a road towards PR success. So, you think you can produce five fashion shows in one day at New York Fashion Week, like People’s Revolution did? Follow the ambition that Kelly has for People’s Revolution on Kell on Earth and see accounts on what it is like in the PR World. For more on Public Relations go to: http://www.prnewswire.com/
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Fashion Week Wrap-Up by: Nabilah Jiwani
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rom sprightly playful prints to somberly subdued solids, classically structured shapes to Star Wars–inspired galactic silhouettes, Fashion Week 2010 incorporated a perfect amalgamation of forms, fabrics, flair and finesse. Sift through climate campaigns by Vivienne Westwood Red Label, Charles Anastase, Todd Lynn, and Organic by John Patrick, unconventional black-and-whites by Sass & Bide and Helmut Lang, vitalized graphic prints by Erdem, Just Cavalli and Basso & Brooke, and impeccable constructions by Burberry Prorsum, Valentino and Miu Miu…enjoy!
Do Prints
Fuse different fabrics to make a bold statement. Try various prints and mix them up to play with a plethora of palettes. Designs by Diane Von Furstenburg and Marc Jacobs are always fun and exciting!
Space Jam
Trekkies unite for out-of-the ordinary fashions. Try on jackets with some shoulder padding. Perhaps lustrous leather items. And to finish the look, play with your makeup! Suggestions of where to shop? Look for sleek selections at L.A.M.B and Rag & Bone.
Where the Wild Things Are Let the wild rompus begin! It’s Monsters Inc. for this season. Feathers, fur, and fuzzy elements are the perfect start to creating a funky look for this fall. Cableknit leggings will keep you warm and can be found at American Apparel. Search for the missing pieces at thrift stores for a lower price tag.
Classically Quirky Mix up the mundane black-and-white for something uniquely chic. The classic relationship of blackand-white needs some spicing up with different textures and designs. Leave your colorblock dresses at home and try on some fun prints that will stay in your closet for life! White House Black Market would be the ideal place to start. Also try Quotation and Leifsdottir (usually found at Nordstrom or Bloomingdales).
Sweet Tart
Shearling Chic Stay warm in autumn with these 70’s inspired fleecy delights. Lose yourself in a vintage clothing store to find extravagant outerwear without the expense of Burberry and Miu Miu.
Get in touch with your inner rebel, and punch in some punky plaid. Break out the schoolgirl skirts and spiky accessories, but incorporate some bright colors instead of the overplayed black and red. Maybe some bright pink tights will finish the look.
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Did Photoshopping Cause Body-shopping?
heidi montage
poll:
If you have had some form of elective procedure done, were you satisfied with the results?
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by: Michelle Ross
hen accepting that we live in an intensely visual world, it’s easy to point fingers at Gutenberg and say, “We weren’t always like that!” The truth is we are genetically engineered to be visually oriented. I’m not disagreeing with the common notion that in 1439 the world 360’ed from an oral to a visual world with the invention of Gutenberg’s printing press, I’m clarifying that visual acuity is a primal instinct. Rewind to B.C. and the 17th book of the Bible, Esther. King Xerxes searched his entire kingdom for the most beautiful girl in the world and found Esther. Now, there is America’s Next Top Model that searches for the most beautiful girl in the U.S. Instead, they find Adrianne Curry from Joliet, Illinois or Yoanna House from Jacksonville, Florida. It’s almost as if things have never changed. What happens, though, when digital media is introduced in a visually accustomed world? Photo-shopping. When a Ralph Lauren advertisement surfaced on the internet of model Filippa Hamilton with a “head bigger than her pelvis,” speculation of photoshopping skyrocketed. Blogs like BooingBooing.net had a field day humiliating Ralph Lauren. Most commentators from BooingBooing.net were shocked at why photoshopping was even done considering Hamilton was 5’10”, 120 lbs, and beautiful. Ralph Lauren retaliated by saying that the photo was
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**Out of all the people who took our poll, the results are as follows:
36% 12% 22% 30%
Very Pleased O.K. Not Impressed Very Dissatisfied
January 2010
November 2009
AFTER never supposed to be released. Should it ever have been made? Websites online are devoted to photo-shop mishaps—the most viewed being photoshopdisasters. blogspot.com. It’s easy to laugh when Emma Watson is one legged in a Burberry Ad or Daniel Day-Lewis’s crotch is missing in Nine promotional posters. However, it is not so funny when the world’s most beautiful individuals are distorted into some digital creature with genetics constructed of a binary computer code of 1’s and 0’s. Is our own DNA not good enough for the fashion industry? Or is it not good enough period? In 2008, L’Oreal digitally lightened Beyonce’s skin color for a shampoo commercial. Vogue’s March issue erased Tina Fey’s childhood scar from their entire photo shoot. Digitally enhanced
BEFORE people extend even to blockbusters like Pirates of the Caribbean where Kiera Knightley had digital breast implants for the whole trilogy. The media thinks imperfections won’t sell. Small flaws like Meghan Fox’s toe thumb or Kate Winslet’s size 11 feet are tucked under the carpet. We think these people are perfect. In actuality, they are photo-shopped into perfection. Modern technology has become so advanced that people can photo-shop themselves under the knife; plastic surgery has turned into body-shopping. Obviously, body-shopping only
applies to a wealthy demographic, but almost everyone has looked in the mirror and said, “if only I could have a nose job…or I want a tummy tuck.” Ashley Simpson fixed her hook nose, Meg Ryan inflated her lips, and Sarah Jessica Parker erased her trademark mole. These things may seem like imperfections, but they can also define a person. Sarah Jessica Parker made the mole famous during her Sex and the City days and fans freaked when the Sex and the City movie premiered minus her mole. She should thank her lucky stars her career didn’t plummet like
Jennifer Grey’s did after her nose job. But none of these tweaks compares to this year’s plastic surgery veteran, Heidi Montag. At 23 years old, she has already begun following in the footsteps of other body-shopaholics like Janice Dickinson and Joan Rivers. Heidi is a reality star from MTV’s The Hills, and is best known as ½ of “Speidi” because of her highly publicized relationship with Spencer Pratt. In February, she revealed her face after ten surgeries in one day… but according to her, it only counts as one surgery because it was all done on the same day. Clearly, her logic is unsettling, but we can all hope her decision making skills are better. Alas, they are not. Here are her ten plastic surgeries according to People Magazine: 1. Mini brow-lift 2. Botox in forehead and frown area 3. Nose job revision
4. Fat injections in cheeks, nasolabial folds and lips 5. Chin reduction 6. Neck liposuction 7. Ears pinned back 8. Breast augmentation revision ( 32 DDD) 9. Liposuction on waist, hips, and inner and outer thighs 10. Buttock augmentation It’s fair to say she is addicted to plastic surgery. The most disturbing thing, however, is when People Magazine interviewed her, she said she opted for surgery because she was never the pretty one, always the frumpy one – a gross self-interpretation considering she was prettier that 99.9% of everyone else out there. Fans of the show, including her
own mother, are sickened by her new look. Heidi’s face is cold, hard, and empty of all expression and personality. Unfortunately, in the world of celebrities and socialites, plastic surgery is commonplace. Results can be horrifying, hence, why websites and T.V. shows are dedicated to plastic surgery nightmares. Images of Donatella Versace and Priscilla Presley make you cringe, but one glance at Jocelyn Wildenstein will send anyone running. Fortunately, most of the average world sees the ridiculousness in this type of body-shopping. It still makes us shudder to know some people will go to this extent to attempt perfection.
The world’s modern view on beauty is that it is something to be attained – no longer inherited from blessed with beauty parents. Computer savvy technicians can sit behind a desk and digitally wipe, smooth, erase, or enhance a person’s features. Now, Dr. 90210 can physically enhance or suck out problem areas so that an individual can look like a model from a Ralph Lauren advertisement. This desire for perfection is a wild goose chase. Not only do standards of perfection differ from person to person, its reality is fictitious. We could make the fashion industry or the media the scapegoats for this impossible chase, but the root of this issue is the way we all seem to be stuck in a visual material world. I am not claiming this to be a widespread epidemic; I just want to present this as an issue. Awareness is the best cure.
Is our own DNA not good enough for the fashion industry? Or is it not good enough period?
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CLOTHING
ALTER NATIVES
a look at shopping for style revival and creative story and photos by: Jessica Modi twists on a budget
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Q& A
Ike’s Underground
Name: James “Ike” Eichling Background: Retired Screen Actors Guild member and model
Retail Start: early after Vietnam
Store’s Lifespan: one and
a half years at current location, one year at previous location on Ivy Road Clothing source: within the five county area
How he selects items: “Does it make me smile when I see it? That’s my operating principle. I’m my own picker.”
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ollege students are notoriously broke, making buying clothes even more strenuous than usual. Not only do we worry about the fit and the material, but we also worry about that daunting price tag. Trying to fit new clothing into one’s budget in addition to the Bodo’s bagels, late-night Little Johns, and constant coffee runs is a balancing act that we can’t learn in our classes. Luckily enough, we live in a town that has some great options for affordable clothing. If you take the time to look farther than Duo’s upstairs, you’ll find that there are incredible used clothing stores are all over the area. Hop on the trolley and it’ll drop you off just steps away from one of the best affordable stores in Charlottesville: Ike’s Underground on the Downtown Mall. Like the name implies, the store is underground below the Twisted Branch Tea Bazaar. However, don’t let the lack of windows and creaky stairs scare you away, there are plenty of good finds here. They have several packed racks with random vintage items, from ambitious fur coats to neatly crocheted vests. If you’re looking for funky costume jewelry, they have a great selection. The front counters have dishes full of perfectly worn-in
bracelets and chains along with unique pins and earrings. Some of these jewelry pieces do get a little pricey, but just avoid the over-priced clip-on earrings. Also, if you’re not quite in the mood to shop, Ike’s owner is an incredibly chatty and personable guy who might even let you price bargain with him a bit. The next smart-shopper’s stop should be Antics on Main Street, just a block off the Downtown Mall. The store tends to have more pretty and classy clothes, but also has some funkier antiques and kitsch. Clothes here are more wearable vintage clothes as opposed to the overstated costume vintage of other stores. The fun 50’s shoes and jewelry fall into this category too, as they are great finds for everyday use. It’s not the cheapest vintage store, but its prices will beat those of other clothing boutiques any day. Also, the store’s 15 minutes of fame from the visit of Joe Plummer from Modest Mouse only helps to increase its appeal. Charlottesville also has great Goodwill and Salvation Army stores. The names usually scare people away, but I know plenty of people who’ve scored great deals there. You can find four dollar Betsy Johnson dresses and three dollar J. Crew sweaters in both of these stores that are
in perfect shape. Goodwill also has enormous bins of cashmere and wool either solid or patterned scarves; the one dollar price tag doesn’t hurt either. Looking for a comfortable plaid shirt? Salvation Army has racks of them for two dollars each. It also has racks of comfortable, slouchy sweaters that are easy to pair with jeans or leggings. These two stores are a little farther away, so you’ll need a car to get to either of them. Yet you won’t regret spending the gas money when you walk out with five items for under ten dollars. There are countless perks in attending the University; the quality and number of vintage stores in Charlottesville is one that students should take advantage of more often.
“Charlottesville is interesting; has lots of interesting people with interesting things. There are interesting diplomats, people of foreign service and oldhorse families that have interesting things, as well as an influx of sophisticated urbanites who have interesting things.” --Ike Eichling
Yellow and Red Dress: Antiks $50
the Breakdown Yellow Dress: Antiks $36 Straw Bag: Antiks $25 Black Rope Belt: Antiks $8
Large Glasses: Antiks: $6 Owl Necklace: Antiks $8 Rings: Ike’s $5-10
An Emotive Canvas photos by: Dan Tarjan & Meredith McKee
“There can be no transforming of darkness into light and of apathy into movement without emotion.” Carl Jung’s words inspired an exploration of the physical embodiment and expression of emotions. The aesthetic palettes of movement and body paint allowed for the projection of melancholy sorrow, twisted envy, regal compassion, and passionate rage. Transforming the everyday student, dancer, athlete into a visionary embodiment of emotion involved the creative styling process of V Magazine’s fashion team. The finished product evokes the diary that is painting, that is movement, that is photography, that is emotive expression.
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previous page: Steven Ward in red & black paint from Michael’s Arts & Crafts with red tulle & slate organza from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts. this page: William Trainor in various shades of blue paint from Michael’s Arts & Crafts.
Rebecca Ott in green & yellow paints from Michael’s Arts & Crafts with green peacock cotton cloth from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.
this page: Steven Ward in red & black paints and black feathers from Michael’s Arts & Crafts. photo shoot: Coordinated by L. White, Paint & Makeup by Fashion Staff, Materials Obtained by L. White, A. Manzanares, G. Maynard, in studio space. Edited by Dan Tarjan.
Cristina Page in purple and yellow paints from Michael’s Arts & Crafts with purple and gold silk dupioni from Jo-Ann Fabrics & Crafts.
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magazine if interested: contact Laura Kost @ lnk6f@virginia.edu