November 2012

VOLUME 45 | ISSUE 3 | NOVEMBER 2012

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Letter from the Editor

Caroline Nelson Editor-in-Chief Fernanda DeSouza Sarah Dill Deputy Editors Samantha Vance Executive Editor Richard Gilmartin Dianna Mazzone Nicole Tan Senior Editors Keely-Shea Smith Managing Editor Alyssa Kyle Copy Editor Hermina Sobhraj Treasurer w27Newspaper.com Mollie Yarsike Community Manager

ADVERTISING Kimberly Ferguson Advertising Promotions Manager

ART Christina Garcia Art Director Freddy Rodriguez Fashion Editor Jacquelyn Clifford Jessica Farkas Photographers

Photography by Fernanda DeSouza

These days it’s impossible to have a conversation with friends without the entire group checking their social networks, emails or texts on their smart phones.

Even when you think you’re only hanging out with three people, you’re actually talking to the entire Internet.

Siva-Jack Sernvongsat Illustrator Maddalena Alecce Francesca Beltran Raquel Rose Burger Ryan Charchian Amelia Cheikhali Chloe Dewberry Stephanie Kearney Dara Kenigsberg Arushi Khosla Jeannie LaChance Marissa Mule Ashley Mungo Desiree Perez Daysha L. Rodriguez Georgi Dwiggins Lindsay Rogers Emilie Schwenk Giovanna Spica Nathan Sukonik Contributors

Though it’s often difficult to unplug or even use social networks for more than laughing at the latest meme, the recent hurricane subjected the FIT community to two extremes: life without technology and the use of technology to survive.

While many were fighting to charge their phone at the local 7-Eleven, others were utilizing social media to get the latest news on the MTA and Con Edison, and even getting updates on school closings.

As we get back into the swing of things after Sandy and the Nor’easter impacted our lives, W27 would like to show you the next wave in technology from the iPad Mini (p. 15) to FIT’s own Fab Lab (p. 12), while also reminding you that while these constant updates can be fun, they do have their pitfalls (p. 30).

So take a minute to unplug and sit down with this print copy of W27, you might get up with something new to tweet about.

Until next month,

John Simone Editorial Faculty Advisor Albert Romano Advertising Faculty Advisor

ON THE COVER: W27 IS PRINTED ON RECYCLED PAPER. PLEASE RECYCLE YOUR COPY AFTER READING.

This month technology steps into the seams of fashion on our cover with futuristic styling from our Fashion Editor Freddy Rodriguez.

Innovation and transformation take center stage with eyewear that transcends time, bringing 2025 right before your eyes.

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W27

November 2012

TABLE OF CONTENTS ON THE BLOCK 4 5 6 6 7 7 8 9 9 9 10 12

Faculty Spotlight: Chin-Juz Yeh What the Health?

Future Mode: Emery Medina MFIT Reaches Alliance with the Elite A New Step for Advisement at FIT We’re All Here to Get a Job The State of the US Economy FITSA’s Night Out Picture the Future FITSA Hosts First Town Hall Meeting of the Semester Eye of the Tigers Technological Hotspots @ FIT

FEATURE 14 14 15 15 16 17

Apple vs. Samsung The Launch...of Social Banking?

Kindle Fire 2, iPad Mini, None of the Above?

Three Free Apps for Student Success Innovation and Transformation So You Think You Want to Work in PR?

DEAR INDUSTRY 20 20 21 21 22 23

FIT’s Finest: Nathalie Kraynina Reflect Your Style Unique Silhouettes Designed by Alissa Chapman Isaac Mizrahi Fetes Fabulous Beauty Buzz: YouTube Guru Annie Jaffrey Teen Vogue Fashion U

HAUTE CULTURE 24 24 25 25 25 26 26 27 27 28

Film Review: Bones Brigade Q&A with Tony Hawk Philanthropy: Food for Thought...and Illnesses Book Review: The Age of Miracles Theatre Review: The Heiress Tuning In Indoor Date Ideas Concert Review: New Order Gallery Review: Chuck Close Outside Your Borough: Park Slope

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Moop and Mary

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Month in Review

FIT SPEAKS 30 30

Shelter from the Storm Technology is Ruining Your Love Life

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Style on 27

GET INVOLVED WITH W27: To inquire about editorial, contact w27newspaper@gmail.com. To inquire about design, contact w27art@gmail.com.

ON THE BLOCK

FIT

FACULTY SPOTLIGHT:

Chin-Juz Yeh

by Alyssa Kyle

THIS IS CHIN-JUZ YEH, BUT YOU CAN CALL HIM CJ JUST LIKE HIS STUDENTS DO. HE WAS BORN AND RAISED IN TAIPEI, TAIWAN. AFTER FULFILLING HIS MILITARY DUTIES AND COMPLETING PROFESSIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FOR GRAPHIC DESIGN, HE CAME TO AMERICA TO PURSUIT HIS FINE ARTS DEGREE. HE EXCELLED THROUGH A RUSHED FOUR-YEAR PROGRAM IN THREE AND A HALF YEARS AT PRATT INSTITUTE IN BROOKLYN AND THEN SUCCEEDED THROUGH GRADUATE SCHOOL AT THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA FOR STUDIO ART. TODAY, EIGHT SOLO EXHIBITIONS AND 11 YEARS OF TEACHING LATER, CJ CONTINUES TO DEDICATE HIS TIME TO HIS ADVANCING SOLO EXHIBITIONS AND POSITION AS ASSISTANT CHAIR OF THE GRAPHIC DESIGN DEPARTMENT FOR FIT. TAKE AN INSIDE LOOK TO SEE HOW CJ USES HIS PAST EXPERIENCES TO ENHANCE THE CURRICULUMS UNDER OUR ROOF. Photos courtesy of Chin-Juz Yeh

Alyssa Kyle: After grad school, what made you want to stay in America?

CJ Yeh: I was asking myself, “What do I want to do?” Do I want to go back to Taiwan or do I want to stay here. Each direction seemed to have its advantages and disadvantages in things I like and things I don’t like. I decided to just try my luck so I applied for Extraordinary Ability. It’s called EB1 and it’s a status for immigration. You have to be like the top 1% of something to be in that field. If you get granted EB1 status you get your green card. So I said to myself “If I get approved I’m going to stay and if I don’t I’m going to go home.” So I did and here I am.

AK: When did your personal successes begin here in America?

CJY: I consider myself really lucky. I actually had my first solo exhibition in 1999 right after I graduated [from the University of Pennsylvania].

[Afterwards] I started an artist school called ELFA Contemporary Chinese Artist Association. I started actively curating and showing my work around New York City. There are a lot of artists in New York City. I wanted to start a group of artists of Chinese descent who can come together and work and share resources. We did quite well for about three or four years.

would have to say, my favorite experience would have to be the most recent. It’s called Pre-Purpose Re-purpose and Depurpose. From now until next January I have five shows in Taiwan. I picked [to go to] the Taipei Museum of Contemporary Art [opening] because it is my first major solo exhibition in a museum [in Taiwan].

To me that is an important step in my career.

AK: Being that you’ve been so successful over the years, what key skills do you think today’s designers need to be successful?

CJY: Curiosity. I always try to tell my students I will not be able to teach them everything. Even if I could, they shouldn’t stop there. They are my student and they should be better than me. If I am 70% than they need be 80% or 90% because they should build on what I know.

So the most important thing is to learn how to learn. To learn, the first ingredient you must have is curiosity. Anything that anybody tells you, you should think “why?”

I don’t want my student to be a passive learner.

In my classroom I am always asking questions, because I want them to be thinkers and not just sitting there absorbing the information I’m giving. I want them to challenge me.

If they are asking questions that means they are thinking. So I think curiosity is the most important.

TO LEARN, THE FIRST INGREDIENT YOU MUST HAVE IS CURIOSITY.

AK: If you had to pick, which exhibition of yours would you say was your favorite?

CJY: I’ve matured a lot over the years. If I

AK: It’s obvious that you love to teach. You have a lot of experience to share with your

students, but what do you take away or learn from your students?

CJY: A lot. First of all, the energy. That’s one thing I really miss about being in school. Being in school means people are pushing you to learn. When I was in school as a fine art major, our studios were right next to each other and you could wander to other people’s studios and start talking about art and design.

When you are out there working as a professional, everybody wants to get something from you instead of stimulating each other and pushing each other to learn and be better. So I really miss that kind of environment and that is a big reason that I came back to start teaching.

The other thing is I really believe teaching is the best way to learn. If you have to explain something to someone you have to rationalize it in your head. And that whole process helps you understand that subject or use that skill set that much better. I always encourage my students that if they truly want to understand particular skills or a particular software try to teach it to someone. I enjoy the process of learning and I see teaching as a part of that. I love helping them learn and they’re helping me learn at the same time.

AK: How have you seen FIT’s curriculum change over the years?

CJY: The curriculum has definitely advanced, but we should have done more.

I will continue to push to have more.

All of the graphic design programs are struggling with the same thing. Most of the graphic design programs today are based on what we had and then we

start adding digital components on top of it. So instead of having seven classes per semester, now students have like ten classes per semester. The workload is definitely way too much.

So far I have managed to add two more classes to our curriculum that will help students learn. Curriculum changes take time. As a state school we have our advantages and disadvantages and a curriculum can not change on a dime. So, I understand that students might need some additional help and that is why I started the Media Design Club at FIT. I started it in 2009 as a place for students and faculty to come together to actively learn and [gain] hands-on knowledge in the media design field beyond the limitations of the curriculum. We recently won the FITSA New Club of the Year.

AK: How is the transition from print to digital affecting graphic design at FIT? CJY: Not just FIT, I would say most of the design programs today have experienced a bit of identity crisis. Because the older generation of graphic designers identify themselves with materials, like paper, instead of focusing on what’s truly valuable among graphic design, which is visual communication. The media shift shouldn’t be that threatening, but it is to a lot of graphic designers because they identify themselves with something that is tangible. Obviously, you are going to have new tools, and that is an exciting thing. Today typography isn’t a composition anymore, it’s something that can dance and sing and can be interactive.

It is an exciting time. I think more people should embrace what new media can offer.

Photos were taken at Chin-Juz Yeh’s most recent exhibition in Taipei, Taiwan.

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W27

WHAT THE HEALTH?

November 2012

The Gift of Health

Ways to Give Back During the Holiday Season

by Sarah Dill

Exercising and cutting back on food may be beneficial for your outer appearance but why not incorporate a healthy lifestyle to give back to the community, too? Living a healthy and happy life starts with bettering yourself and also bettering others who don’t have the means to do so on their own. During the holiday season, giving back is one of the most important things you can do. After the horrific Hurricane Sandy and Nor’easter shook up the East Coast this season, there are ways to not only give back, but also make an impact in a healthy way.

Rebuilding a community can really motivate you to stay on track health wise and also keep you on your feet! After hearing about Sandy’s effect on homes near Coney Island, the Rockaways, Staten Island and Long Island, I felt compelled to get out

there and give back to those in need. Over the weekend of November 11th, a few fellow W27 editors, neighbors and friends came together to clean up and ultimately donate time to the Coney Island community. Not only did we clean up piles of sand on the boardwalk and support those businesses that were affected by the storm, but we also gained confidence and a bit of exercise in doing so. Walk the neighborhood to collect donations, help out at a local shelter, donate time to clean out an elderly person’s home or even gather a group of friends to run a 5K for a good cause.

Love to cook or bake? Pass along healthy recipes to neighbors to warm them up during the holidays or drop them off at a nearby nursing home to make a few people smile. To get even more exercise

and help animals in need, go to a humane society or animal shelter and volunteer your time to walk or play with these dogs without a home. If you’re afraid to make a commitment to an organization, ask your neighbors or friends if any help is needed. Be the leader and form your own workout crew to motivate people to stay healthy with a weekly volunteer opportunity. Giving back doesn’t necessarily mean shelling out a bunch of money, but more so making an impact and helping improve the health of your environment and community.

To find out how you can volunteer and give back to your community, visit volunteermatch.org, SVCS at FIT or contact large organizations like the American Red Cross and nycares.org.

Photo courtesy of itheecook.blogspot.com

Dorm Dish Recipe:

Low Fat Brownie Bites A BROWNIE IS THE PERFECT TREAT FOR A CHOCOLATE CRAVING, TO DELIVER TO FRIENDS OR TO SERVE AT THE END OF A FAMILY GATHERING. THESE SMALL BROWNIE BITES ARE THE PERFECT MIX OF NUTS, CHOCOLATE AND THE SAME TRADITIONAL WARM BROWNIE TASTE WITHOUT THE ADDED FAT. YOU’LL NOT ONLY BE THE TALK OF THE PARTY WITH THESE TREATS BUT YOU’LL EARN MAJOR “BROWNIE” POINTS FOR THE HEALTH BENEFIT! ***Recipe from Skinnytaste.com***

BROWNIE BITES Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes Servings: 8 • Serving Size: 1/8th • Old Points: 2 pt • Points+: 3 pt Calories: 103.9 • Fat: 4.3 g • Protein: 1.3 g • Carb: 15.6 g • Fiber: 0.6 g

DIRECTIONS: In a small saucepan melt margarine, remove from heat. Stir in sugar, vanilla and water. Stir in flour, cocoa powder, and baking powder. Mix well. Stir in chopped nuts.

Spray the bottom of a 8x4x2 inch loaf pan with nonstick spray coating. Pour batter into pan.

INGREDIENTS: 2 tbsp margarine 1/3 cup sugar 1/4 cup cold water 1/2 tsp vanilla 1/2 cup flour 1/2 tsp baking powder 2 tbsp unsweetened cocoa powder 2 tbsp chopped walnuts nonstick cooking spray 1 tsp powdered sugar

Bake at 350° for 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool thoroughly. Remove from pan.

Cut into 8 bars. Sprinkle with powdered sugar.

ON THE BLOCK

FIT

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Future Mode:

Emery Medina

by Marissa Mule

MM: Describe your personal artistic "style."

MM: At what age did you begin making art?

EM: My personal artistic style in both painting and sculpture is always somewhere in between abstraction and representational. I've been developing a style and working with the idea that, “things aren’t always what they first appear to be.” So, when looking at my work, the viewer has to spend time analyzing the piece and ask themselves what exactly are they looking at.

EM: I was probably about four or five.

Sometimes I say to myself: “I’m going to make art work, because I’m going to be an Artist.”

EM: I already have my dream job, making and selling my artwork. Less important jobs just to bring in an income isn’t something I ever dream about.

MM: Was FIT your first college choice?

Elbert Hubbard once said, “Art is not a thing; it is a way.” This month, I had the opportunity to interview a fellow fine arts major—someone who definitely thinks “outside the box,” and truly believes that art is a way. As an artist who proceeds to follow her dreams, Emery Medina keeps things simple and in perspective. She is an inspiration to all who believe in themselves, and are pursuing their passions.

MM: What do you plan on concentrating on in your senior year?

EM: Oh my! I’m still very much undecided, but I’m leaning towards sculpture as a concentration.

MM: What is your dream job?

MM: What are your strengths/weaknesses?

EM: I don’t fear “hard work,” and when it comes to making art I charge head first into a project and push whatever limit and boundary I have to just to create an exceptional piece. Even though I know sometimes I am going to struggle, I believe that is my main strength as an artist. At some points, I wonder what has possessed me to make the choices I made with a particular project. My main weakness is that I can be my own worst enemy in the studio. I tend to put a lot of pressure on myself—sometimes too much—to create. With that said, I won’t see my work in a clear perspective.

I had no need to apply anywhere else.

EM: FIT was my first selection in choosing a college. I had applied early and went to the portfolio review. As soon as my portfolio review was over, I had my mind set on that acceptance letter. In that,

MM: Do you have any upcoming shows/ anything big going on involving your artwork?

EM: At the moment, I do not have any upcoming shows. I've been focusing all my attention on school and making new artwork, that I wouldn’t feel right sending it out to be viewed by the world. The only big thing involving my art work right now is updating my art blog and hopefully launching my website by spring.

Photos courtesy of the artist Top: Still live in oil Bottom: Pronto-plate print

MM: Do you have a favorite medium?

Marissa Mule: Who/what are your inspirations when it comes to your artwork?

Emery Medina: I'm mainly inspired by other artists. At an early age, I fell in love with Picasso, Matisse, Modigliani and Bacon. Some other personalities that inspire me range from birds, plants, trees, random garbage and objects I find on the street or in a dumpster. I'm also very inspired by oxymorons, patterns, advertisements and books.

EM: I don’t really have one favorite medium. I’ve reached a point in my artistic career where I’ve gotten so excited by painting, sculpture and even photography. In experimenting, they can all be my favorite.

MM: Did you always grow up loving art?

EM: Yes! It started simply with coloring, and then progressed into making crafts and doing drawings.

MFIT Reaches Alliance with the Elite

by Richard Gilmartin

The Museum at FIT (MFIT) recently received accreditation from the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Commission for its quality and commitment to excellence. Being that MFIT is the only museum in New York City that is entirely dedicated to the art of fashion, this acknowledgement ranks MFIT among the best national museums. Less than 1 percent of college museums are honored with such accreditation and AAM found MFIT to meet “national standards and best practices for a U.S. museum.”

MFIT joins an elite group that includes the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C., the Field Museum in Chicago and the Getty

Museum in Los Angeles, along with 20 prestigious accredited institutions in New York City.

“While The Museum at FIT has proven to be exemplary in all that it does—a prerequisite for receiving accreditation—it has placed forging community ties among its top priorities,” said AAM President, Ford W. Bell. “The museum has established strong bonds with local students, its residential neighbors, and with the college as a whole, always a critical issue for college and university museums. The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology is certainly one of New York’s—and the country’s—finest museums.”

“The Museum at FIT is an integral component of an FIT education and campus life,” said Dr. Joyce F. Brown, president of FIT. “However, it also is an important part of the Chelsea community, as well as a vital component of New York City’s cultural offerings and resources. The college is extremely pleased by the AAM’s recognition of the museum’s quality and commitment to excellence. By achieving accreditation, The Museum at FIT has confirmed something many visitors likely already know: it is one of the truly outstanding museums in America.”

Two exhibits are currently on view at MFIT. FASHION A–Z: Highlights from the collection of the Museum at FIT Part

Two, one of two exhibitions that showcase modern and contemporary pieces from the museum’s permanent collection, is on view through November 10, 2012. Also on view is Ivy Style, which celebrates the ivy prep look all the way from its origins to contemporary renditions shown today.

The exhibit is on display until January 5th, 2013. Another exhibition, Shoe Obsession, will open on February 8th.

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A New Step for Advisement at FIT

by Hermina Sobhraj

November 2012

We’re All Here to Get a Job

by Jeannie LaChance

A new campus facility known as the Academic Advisement Center is expected to open on campus early spring semester.

It will operate as the campus’s “one-stop resource” for students that need any academic-related advisement, according to Assistant Dean of the Academic Advisement Center, Tardis Johnson. Its evolution within the academic system will determine how prevalent it will become in the college’s advisory process.

The center hopes to offer limited services by the end of January. As it continues to develop, advisory programs specific to each major will phase in periodically.

These programs encompass assisting students with changing majors, picking classes, and many other academic quandaries that students have.

Along with implementing new programs, the center will also hire new advisors.

This has sparked multiple concerns among faculty regarding the fate of the current advisory system, where students are assigned a professor from their major as their advisor. Professor Richard Balestrino, chair of the Advertising and Marketing Communications Department said, “There are a lot of faculty who feel that their insights into the industry can provide students with valuable information that only we can relate. We hope that students will still be encouraged to come to the departments for that kind of information.” As a response to these claims, Assistant Dean Johnson stressed that “the faculty are the experts.” He goes on to say that the center’s administration does not want to change the relationship between the faculty and their students, but instead wants to provide “an enhanced level of service” in collaboration with the departments. The new advisors within the Academic Advisement Center will also be working directly with the faculty to learn the specific nuances of each major.

The center was created as a result of student surveys, student government and campus groups expressing dissatisfaction with FIT’s current advisory system.

While the college did make improvements to the current system, research suggested that there was still “room for

growth,” according to the Vice President for Enrollment Management, Marybeth Murphy and Assistant Dean Johnson.

The center’s primary focus is on meeting student demands, while its goal is to help students reach graduation with the least amount of difficulty. One of the main problems that many students had was scheduling difficulties with their advisors.

Thus the center provides students with a type of advisory resource that is available the entire school day. It can also facilitate matching student’s schedules with faculty members.

In order to satisfy both student and faculty needs, Jack Oliva, Vice President for Academic Affairs, says he wants the Academic Advisement Center to provide students with a service network. This can then lead to building ongoing relationships with the center’s staff, student body, and faculty. The department of Academic Affairs is working closely with Johnson and the department of Enrollment Management to successfully launch the center in the Spring.

This transformation is only one of many in the college’s strategic plan, known as 2020: FIT at 75, Bringing the Future into Focus. The plan serves as a framework for numerous goals and initiatives that the college has, according to the FIT website.

Some of these goals include technological advancements within the college and opening new facilities to ensure that FIT maintains its competitive reputation.

Input from the student body and faculty will contribute the development of the center after its launch. As time passes, Assistant Dean Johnson hopes to learn more about the FIT culture in order to properly integrate the Academic Advisement Center into student’s agendas. He wants to make the center as accessible to students as possible. He, along with Vice Presidents Murphy and Oliva, is very excited about the project.

“We think that this is going to be a very good way to maintain a very nice balance for students,” Vice President Oliva says.

Hopefully this excitement will resonate throughout the student body and faculty of FIT as well.

On Wednesday, October 24th, the John E. Reeves Great Hall was alive with the hustle and bustle of ambitious students professionally dressed with resumes in hand at 2012 Career and Internship Fair.

Organized by FIT’s Career and Internship Center, or CIC for short, the event provided an opportunity for students to network with potential employers for either a job or an internship.

Tables covered with white linens were arranged in rows throughout the room, filling practically every inch of the Great Hall with employers. The CIC handed out maps of the table arrangements and a list of companies present to help students navigate through the fair. Blue and silver balloons filled the hall while students showed off their portfolios and chatted with the over fifty companies. Dior, Eileen Fisher, Calvin Klein and Ross all had a hefty number of eager students lined up, waiting for the chance to chat.

When asked why she chose to come to FIT to look for potential new employees, Andra Imbornone, the general manager of Juicy Couture’s flagship store on Fifth Avenue said, “The Juicy Couture team

and I look for students who will represent the brand well and be a good fit with what the brand is trying to bring to consumers.” She continued to say that she feels FIT produces those types of students and that she was very happy to be at the FIT’s Job and Internship Fair this year.

“To prepare for such a large affair, the CIC had to start by sending out invitations to employers as well as e-mail blasts to students, which together reached almost 13,000 people,” said Linda Rivera, Administrative Associate at the CIC. Rivera said that the event overall had not hit any major roadblocks and that everything was going as planned. Employers were very happy with the turnout.

Photos courtesy of the Fashion Institute of Technology

ON THE BLOCK

FIT

8 An Evening with Nobel Laureates Joseph Stiglitz and Paul Krugman:

The State of the U.S. Economy

by Nicole Tan

ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 23RD, THE LINE THAT FLOWED OUT OF THE HAFT AUDITORIUM ENTRANCE SNAKED AS FAR BACK AS THE SHIRLEY GOODMAN RESOURCE CENTER’S FOYER. UNLIKE THE USUAL FASHION-RELATED GUEST SPEAKERS THAT THE STUDENTS OF THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY ARE ACCUSTOMED TO, THIS PARTICULAR EVENT WELCOMED NOBEL LAUREATES JOSEPH STIGLITZ AND PAUL KRUGMAN FOR FIT’S SECOND ANNUAL FASHION AND FINANCE FORUM.

important to understand the basis of economic thoughts that Stiglitz and Krugman focused upon. Joseph Stiglitz, an expert in the topic of human inequality as it relates to economic growth, centered his discussions on the growing disparity of income in America, as well as on a global scale. “It’s not the one percent, it’s the 0.1%,” said Stiglitz. “There is a vicious cycle going on, where a weak economy leads to more inequality, which leads to a weaker economy.” As stated in his book, “as the 1% gained 93% of the additional income created in the so-called recovery… those at the top continue to enjoy the best healthcare, education, and benefits of wealth, often failing to realize that their fat is bound up with how the other 99% live.”

At 7 p.m., the auditorium was already reaching maximum capacity. Trendy fashion students of FIT were scattered amongst the many men and women in business attire who made up the majority of the crowd. The prestige of hosting such a timely conversation with these famed economists was apparent.

Krugman, on the other hand, based his discussions on the importance of consumerism, and in particular, the government.

He believes that government spending is the solution to the United States’ current prolonged economic downturn. Krugman had stated that given the excessive private sector debt, the need for the government to pump in money into the economy was, “not a sugar high, but more a diet with essential nutrients.” Both economists agreed on many subjects and topics, especially on the idea of politics and government playing a huge role in restoring the U.S. economy.

Running slightly behind schedule, an opening speech was given both by Dr. Joyce Brown, FIT’s president, and Nancy Zimpher, the State University of New York’s chancellor. In such dire economic times, both academic leaders emphasized the crucial need for education and in particular, public education funding in the United States. President Brown was also quick to point out the relevancy and impact the upcoming presidential elections had on FIT’s fate in terms of even more budget cuts.

Moderated by Robert Johnson, the executive director of the Institute of New Economic Thinking, the conversation between Joseph Stiglitz, author of The Price of Inequality and Paul Krugman, author of End this Depression Now! centered on key domestic and international issues. Topics discussed referenced the Great Depression and current foreign economies that have been performing better than the United States.

In listening to the conversations, it was

In questioning the role of government, both economists agreed on the wide distrust Americans, collectively, had for their government when compared to other nations. Jokes were made in reference to Medicare, citing the general public agreement for wanting a hands-off policy given the success of private medical insurance so far. Both economists agreed that it was time for America to start looking at healthcare as a service and/or good “not for consuming, but for receiving,” and one that should be, “looked upon as a basic right,” as quoted by Nicolas Sarkozy, the former President of France on his view of healthcare.

On international issues, the panelists stressed that America must work on becoming more competitive, and to not

limit their analysis of competitors to just China. Stiglitz also pointed out the difference in international trade from before and now. Before, the United States had traded with countries of similar economies at a scale that wasn’t large enough to trigger inequality. Today, international trade is done primarily with lower income economies at a much larger scale, brought on by outsourcing, creating higher income inequality on a national and macro scale.

Returning to the role of government in the economy, both panelists looked towards Scandinavian countries and Germany for their success in weathering through the current economic crisis. As primarily socialist countries, it was stated that their success was owed to the cohesion between government and citizens.

Germany was cited as a good example for the United States on the basis of their very good technical education combined with close collaboration between the academic institutions and the job market. The strategic collaboration between education and business enabled the nation to allocate human skills and expertise very efficiently, thereby decreasing the overall unemployment rate—something that America desperately needs to fix.

The evening conversation came to an end after approximately two hours, where Beverly Mack, the director of Walnut Street Securities and an FIT trustee, ended with a brief closing statement. Linking the conversation between the panelists back to the Fashion and Finance forum, Mack stated, “discussions such as these are especially important to FIT, because the fashion industry, which is a vital part of New York City’s economy and identity, faces continual global and economic challenges, so tonight’s conversation gave us an important perspective, and some real food for thought.”

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November 2012

FITSA’s Night Out

Picture The Future:

by Jeannie LaChance

by Ryan Charchian

On Thursday, October 18th, the Fashion Institute of Technology Student Association, more commonly known as FITSA, held its annual “FITSA’s Night Out.” The event took place from 8p.m. to 12a.m. in the Great Hall with students coming in and out throughout the evening.

This year’s FITSA’s Night Out put an emphasis on incorporating what FITSA actually is and the role it plays at FIT, said FITSA President Ana Swarup. “We worked on integrating social media this year,” she added. FITSA also helped involve students in the actual event by incorporating performances from groups such as the FIT’s theater ensemble and dance team.

The Great Hall was filled with the uniquely decorated tables of FIT’s various clubs and organizations. There was a space in the center for students to mingle, watch the many performances that were held throughout the event, and eat the treats many of the clubs and organizations were passing out. Each club had giveaways or activities for students to participate in, ranging from cotton candy from the Gospel Choir, to free anime portraits drawn by members of the Anime Club. A few decorations ranging from balloons to

photographs were also placed throughout the Great Hall.

Students participated in a cakewalk and photo booth, as well as a VIP cupcake bar reserved for students who follow FITSA on Twitter (@fitsanyc). Production Management major Octavia Pollard, 18, from Maryland said she enjoyed the Black Student Union table that was holding Fashion Jeopardy as well as Ed(2010)’s Pin the Prada on Anna [Wintour].

A lot of planning goes on to put on an event like FITSA’s Night Out. Vice President of Student Affairs for FITSA, Colin Smith said that FITSA had to set the budget, work with departments within the school, and most importantly, work to gear the evening towards students, in order to execute a cohesive event. FITSA settled on an FIT version of “Fashion’s Night Out” due to its popularity among students, added Smith.

Ziff, Scafidi Educates Students on the Modeling Industry

Last month, Sara Ziff and Susan Scafidi came to the Katie Murphy Amphitheatre to educate students on their revolutionary union, The Model Alliance. Ziff, a former model herself, voiced her concerns about models’ treatment in the fashion industry through her documentary Picture Me in 2009. Scafidi, who created the first fashion law course, is the Director of the Fashion Law Institute at Fordham University. Ziff and Scafidi conversed about the significance of the need to improve working conditions in the modeling industry.

Through The Model Alliance models can anonymously report sexual harassment and abuse. When students at FIT were asked about why they think this is an area to be concerned about, Sydney Weinshel, an FMM major, said, “Because I want to work in fashion I believe I should be educated on all aspects of it. Models play a key role in the industry and should be treated fairly.”

The Model Alliance has several key topics on their platform for Spring 2013 including bringing awareness to underage modeling, the backstage privacy of models and drafting a Model’s Bill of Rights. “I hope more of my friends take a moment to understand how models are treated so

Photo courtesy of gs.columbia.edu

they can understand what happens backstage at a runway show or photoshoot,” Weinshel commented further. Students can become involved by educating themselves on the working conditions for models in the fashion industry or by donating via the site modelalliance.org. The Model Alliance is solely funded by the donations made by its members and patrons.

FITSA Hosts First Town Hall Meeting of the Semester

by Richard Gilmartin

On Wednesday October 24th FITSA held it’s first Town Hall Meeting of the Semester. The meeting, which took place in the Dubinsky Student Center Cafeteria, was hosted by FITSA President Ana Swarup and addressed the various questions and concerns of students as well as the upcoming strategic plan for the school and the “charge-back” situation currently affecting various students from Long Island. No question fell on deaf ears as Swarup left the floor open for anyone to speak their mind.

The meeting began with a brief introduction on the current state of “charge-back” fiasco currently taking place between FIT and various counties on Long Island.

According to the state law of New York, counties must pay a “charge-back” fee when one of their residences chooses to attend a community college outside of their county. Since FIT is a part of the community college system, the student’s county is responsible for paying the difference for their in-state tuition, even

though FIT offers Bachelors and Masters programs. The counties of Suffolk and Nassau have refused to pay the “chargeback” fees the school has issued to them, resulting in a deficit for the school and a lawsuit against the counties. The school urges students living in these counties to write to their local representative before students must pay the difference for the deficit themselves.

Shortly after, Doctor Joyce Brown, President of FIT, spoke about the strategic plan they have for the school. In the past, the last strategic plan was responsible for the renovation of the cafeteria in the Dubinsky Student Center as well as the replacement of the building titles, which took place this past fall. Dr. Brown urged the participation of student’s opinions in the strategic plan, mentioning that focus groups with students will be taking place so their opinions could be heard. After concluding her talk about the strategic plan, Dr. Brown stuck around to hear the concerns of students about their school

and showcased her care towards the students who attend the school itself.

With the conclusion of the brief on the strategic plan, the floor was left open to students who voiced their opinions on everything from using green products in the cafeteria to creating activities in the dorms for students who choose to not go out and stay sober. Among two of the biggest topics were the discussion of inappropriate comments made to students by FIT security as well as employing better signage to encourage students to not smoke near the entrances of the dorms on 27th street. As the meeting concluded, students were encouraged to voice their opinions more often through upcoming Town Hall Meetings and focus groups.

To find out how to get more involved with FITSA and have your voice heard, visit fitnyc.edu/6346.asp#3.

ON THE BLOCK

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Eye of the Tigers

by Emilie Schwenk

Photos courtesy of Fernanda DeSouza

TEAM MEMBER PROFILES ΩΩ Niki Philipps | FMM | Semester 5 | “We eat before, during, and after a match to stay fueled.” ΩΩ Keerthana (Kiki) Sivaramakrishnan | TDM | Semester 1 | “We just chill and have fun on the van rides to our matches! I usually like to listen to some nice music before I start playing!” ΩΩ Hilary M. Baxter | Fashion Design | Semester 3 | “[We get ready for a match]

by Listening to obnoxious rap on the van rides and then attempting to make our own raps via Songify. ΩΩ Sara Julio | FMM | Semester 4 | “I think that sparkling water makes me play better.” ΩΩ Jessica McHugh | AMC | Semester 3 | “I usually listen to music before each match.” ΩΩ Ashley Yakaboski | Semester 1 | Jewelry Design | “I always wake up extra early to eat breakfast no matter what. I also make sure to eat a healthy breakfast always with some fruit. On the way to the match I like to think about how I’m going to play, I enjoyed my teammates energy and excitement during the van rides but I stayed quiet and calm on the morning of the match. Vamos Tigres!”

I MET UP WITH THE FIT TIGERS TENNIS TEAM DURING A GAME OF “KING OF THE COURT” AT MIDTOWN TENNIS CLUB, JUST BEFORE THE TEAM BOARDED A VAN TO THE REGIONAL MATCH. THE TEAM SEEMED TO HAVE LITTLE WORRY OVER KEEPING THEIR FIRST PLACE RANKING IN THE NATIONAL JUNIOR COLLEGE ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION’S (NJCAA) 15TH DISTRICT. THE TIGERS HAD ALREADY WON THE LEAGUE, WITH A 7-0 OVERALL RECORD GOING INTO REGIONALS, AND AS SUCH THE ANXIETY IN THE AIR WAS MORE FROM THE NJCAA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT, WHERE FIT ALREADY HAD A GUARANTEED PLACE IN THE COMPLETION, ALONG WITH A REPUTATION. Last year, the team was tied for 3rd place at nationals. Coach Lynn Cabot-Puro was confident her team would take the regional match with ease, despite losing at least three important players from last season.

Cabot-Puro explained, “They have won head-to-head against every team [competing at regionals] and they are not just going to lose to teams they shouldn’t.” She affirmed that her team came back stronger than last year. The Tigers realize that they are only as strong as their weakest player and have worked very hard to come together, improve their technical skills and become a championship team.

Team member Fernanda DeSouza attests to the teams’ hardworking character

and the solidarity they have gained this season. She mentioned that going on the road with the team is a blast, involving staying in hotels, having fun in the van on the way, staying up at night and acting like typical college kids. However, when the team steps onto the court in their intimidating matching uniforms, right down to their bright orange shoes, they turn into the tigers they represent— knowing full well that they have the ability to crush any team that steps on the court opposite of them.

Competing at the U.S. Open Tennis center, formally known as the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens, felt like a dream to the tennis team.

DeSouza raved, “Gods of tennis have risen and fallen here!”

The enthusiasm the team has for the sport and the arena is inspiring. They went to the tennis center with something to prove: that they are champions.

Each member of the team prepped for the matches in different ways. Many professional tennis players have strange and outlandish training and pre-game rituals and diets. DeSouza told me of a professional tennis star, Novak Djokovic, who didn’t receive his 1st place international ranking until he started a gluten-free diet.

DeSouza prefers bananas and many of the other team members claim that fruit is a concrete part of their training. Sara Julio, an FMM student in her fourth semester

contends that her secret game day remedy is sparkling water. Getting psyched up for the match is a different story. Hilary M. Baxter, a fashion design student in her third semester, helps calm the team’s pregame jitters by “listening to obnoxious rap on the van rides and then attempting to make our own raps,” as a bit of a comic relief, as well as the team’s game time chant, “Vamos Tigres!”

These rituals proved successful as FIT placed in the top rankings once again at nationals. FIT fought a fierce battle against the top 13 teams in the country.

Over three days and 140 matches, FIT took home the second place title after losing to New Jersey’s Gloucester County College.

Teammate Ashley Yakaboski, a jewelry design student in her first semester, won the sixth singles flight against Broome Community College, 6-1 and 6-3, earning the points to push the Tigers into the second place spot in the third tournament day. The tennis team will display their newly won awards outside the fitness center in the subbasement of the Business and Liberal Art and Feldman Centers [B and C buildings]. The team has no doubts whatsoever that they will not only earn a spot at nationals next year, but they also will bring a first-place trophy back to FIT with them. This season may have recently ended, but already these Tigers are getting ready to pounce on next year’s competition.

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Technological Hotspots @ FIT

by Hermina Sobhraj ‘The Wall’ at the Knitting Lab

“ANY SUFFICIENTLY ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY IS INDISTINGUISHABLE FROM MAGIC,” SAID FAMOUS BRITISH WRITER, ARTHUR C. CLARKE. AS RODELL OIGA, FIT’S GRAPHICS LAB MANAGER, DEMONSTRATED THE WORKINGS OF A MACHINE THAT PRINTED OUT A THREE DIMENSIONAL OBJECT, IT WAS THE CLOSEST THING TO WITNESSING MAGIC. THE THREE DIMENSIONAL PRINTER IS JUST ONE OF THE MANY TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCEMENTS THAT THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY HAS ADOPTED INTO ITS MAJORS’ CURRICULUMS. FROM RENDERING SOFTWARE TO LASER CUTTERS, A PLETHORA OF DEVICES CAN BE FOUND TUCKED AWAY IN THE VARIOUS LABS AND STUDIOS ON CAMPUS. PRINT FX GRAPHICS LAB AND FABRICATION LAB D529A (Pomerantz Center) M-Th: 9am to 7pm F: 9am-6:30pm GRAPHICS LAB

Epson Stylus printer in the Print FX Lab, all photography by Hermina Sobhraj

The Print Fx Graphics Lab is home to FIT’s most advanced printing technologies. Equipped with laminating, slide duplication and wire-binding capabilities, it offers students of all majors a variety of options. The lab contains Epson Stylus Pro 11880 printers that can print a page over five feet wide and nearly eight feet long. These printers are often used to create the various banners and posters seen around campus. Size is only one of many options made available by its printing technology. It can also be used for budget, fabric and specialty media inkjet poster prints. Students can also print their designs on certain fabrics, like charmeuse, crepe georgette and Belgian linen.

Besides fabric, the Graphics Lab offers other unique materials to print on such as cotton rags; canvases; Tyvek, a high strength and water resistant material and PhotoTex, which has an adhesive backing.

Along with printing, Print Fx can perform large format, high quality (up to 600 dpi) scanning and copying of images up to 11x17 inches wide. For instance, an Interior Design major now has the option of scanning their large-scale blueprints. They also offer a bookbinding service that allows students a variety of customizations, such as book thickness, bonding length and bond paper printing, which is a form of large paper printing but on draft quality paper.

Lastly, the Graphics Lab has a self-service area equipped with a flatbed scanner, film scanner, large format trimmer and color

Video Studio

Graphics Lab

calibrated monitor. The color calibrated monitor uses a technique called soft proofing, which allows students to print out images that almost directly match the color of the images as displayed on a computer screen. The self-service area’s scanners, trimmer and color-calibrated monitor are free for all students but is on a first come, first serve basis.

Manhattan on a block of wood. Print Fx is currently experimenting with even more materials that could be used with the laser cutter. While not fully open to students yet, Print Fx is working on solving maintenance and staffing issues so that the Fab Lab can be available to all majors, primarily those in the School of Art and Design.

FABRICATION LAB

INTERIOR DESIGN LABS

The second facet of Print Fx is the “Fab Lab,” short for Fabrication Lab. This area comprises of FIT’s state-of-the-art prototyping and laser cutting technology. Many majors at FIT, such as Jewelry Design and Toy Design, involve building prototypes before completing their finished products.

The Fab Lab is home to one of FIT’s most technologically advanced pieces of equipment—the 3D printer. This machine can “print” out an actual object rather than a two dimensional piece of paper. Described by Technology Services Manager, Jana Duda, as “rapid prototypers,” these 3D printers use a liquidlike plastic material to fabricate a three dimensional object up to 8x8x6 inches.

For example, using wax, the printer could create a prototype of an intricate jewelry piece for a Jewelry Design major or a first-stage prototype of a kid’s toy for a Toy Design major. This technology has already begun to revolutionize the fashion industry. Many companies are experimenting with 3D printers to create the actual fabric they would use for their clothing, shoes and other product lines.

Additionally, Print Fx has experimented with laser cutting technology. The Fab Lab’s laser cutter uses an intense, hot beam to create intricate designs on paper, wood and fabric. The laser cutter has the ability to create the branches of a paper tree or draw the subway map of

Model Construction: D Building, Fifth Floor Computer Technology: C Building, Second Floor Remember the Barbie exhibition in the Pomerantz [D Building] lobby? A large part of that exhibition was a product of the technology used by the Interior Design department. According to Professor Andrew Seifer, chair of the Interior Design department, students primarily use model making and computer technology to complete their finished products. Model making allows students to bring their vision to life by building actual pieces of furniture. Using tools that allow them to drill, shape and smooth, students can create anything from a fully functional chair to an entire couch.

While many of the tools are simple saws or sanders, students use them in a way that allow them to create the intricate carvings one would see on a chair or the windows in a miniature model of a house.

Seifer explains that this technology is only one end of the spectrum, as he feels that much of the Interior Design industry will move more towards 3D prototyping technology. Likewise, students also use computer technology such as AutoCAD, a type of 3D design software. Known as the “CAD Lab,” this area provides computer workstations so that students can use AutoCAD to develop blueprints,

Laser cutter in the Fab lab Stoll Machine at the Knitting Lab, courtesy of knittingtraditions.com

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Video studio equipment Jewelry design lab

draw furniture objects and create digital models of floor plans on the computer.

Thus, it allows them to illustrate their models before actually building them by hand. While AutoCAD is the primary software used in the industry, a new program called Revit is slowly being adopted.

Unlike AutoCAD, Revit is a “smart-based software” that allows students to simply type the description of their object into the program. For instance, a wooden chair with four legs would require a set of commands that explains the height and width of the chair, each of the legs and any other supporting material. Revit would then create a 3D image of that chair based on the description. AutoCAD does not use this feature but rather has the user draw out the lines of an object and fills in the space created by the lines to make an image. Alongside this software, students also use the Adobe Suite package for graphic design and complex rendering software in order to perfect lighting, texture, and shading of their models. Many of these technologies are continuing to shape the interior design industry and make it easier for designers to illustrate their thoughts. However, Seifer notes that the department stresses the importance of sketching by hand first. To him, the “computer is only the final tool.”

VIDEO STUDIO A586 FIT recently transformed the video studio into a high-end facility accommodating breakthrough technology. According to Professor Michael Cokkinos, who teaches Video Studio Production, the old version was difficult to work in and contained equipment that did not work well cohesively. The new studio serves as a prime example of how technology can advance the knowledge and understanding of new techniques in the industry.

Equipped with Hitachi Z-4000 Studio Camera Systems, Sony LUMA video production monitors, a professional voice over booth and many other audio controls, the video studio is considered a modern, all digital facility. “It is like a real world facility…the quality of the projects have definitely improved,” said Cokkinos. In the Video Studio Production class, students work directly with all of the equipment. Cokkinos explains that at first many students are apprehensive about using the new technology. However, the class is designed so that students can work in teams. The studio consists of a blue screen, an entire area for footage to be shot and a control room. Synonymous with a green screen, a blue screen can create special effects, such as making a person disappear or layering images on one another. Students use a function known as Chroma Key to control the blue screen and create their own types of special effects. “Scary movies seem less scary now,” said Augusta Falletta, an Advertising Marketing Communications student taking the class.

They also use a three channel digital still store that stores videos and stills. This makes finding and storing archival footage much easier. FIT also offers more advanced classes for video studio production that involve editing, lighting, and other movie making techniques. Students should look forward to some more technological upgrades like a new graphics generator in the future. Graphics generators perform video typewriting and create characters and graphics on the screen. In reference to the new advancements, Cokkinos feels that “it really is a win-win situation.”

Interior design equipment

often overlooked, but contain machines that help students complete their projects every day. A couple other labs with some fascinating technology include the Knitting Lab and the Jewelry Design Studio. The Knitting Lab is home to a completely electronic knitting machine, referred to as Stoll machines in the industry. After typing in a few commands, the machine can knit an entire sweater in less than an hour. While it may sound simple, the technology behind it is extremely complicated and valuable to many knitwear students. By witnessing the process of the machine, students can grasp a better understanding of the cutting, construction, and finishing of the knitwear. Likewise, the Jewelry Design studio is equipped with tools that allow students to hand-render, cast, solder and polish their jewelry. For example, each student has a workstation that includes a torch, which can be used to solder or link, pieces of metal together to form jewelry.

They also experiment with laser technology in order to create detail-oriented pieces.

While this technology has been around for years in the industry, according to Michael Coan, chair of the Jewelry Design department, it allows a student to create a complete jewelry line from start to finish.

While the list of technology could go on, it is important to note just how valuable a presence technology has become in our lives. However, as technology continues to prove its magical abilities, like Seifer mentioned above, we must not forget that the true creators are ourselves.

OTHER TECHNOLOGY TO MENTION With over 20 labs and studios, FIT offers a fantastically wide bazaar of technological equipment. Some of these labs are

Printer in Graphics Lab The Tubular-Knitting Machine

3D Printer

Interior design equipment

FEATURE

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apple vs. samsung RY ER K B AC B L

D

by Dara Kenigsberg

R

O

The smartphone business is a $219 billion dollar industry, with Apple and Samsung as the two main contenders.

Both companies generate products ranging from computers to phones, along with every major technology item in existence today. For quite some time, the two companies have been feuding over patent infringement in a legal battle spanning four continents. This past July, Apple seemed to be in the lead after they proved that Samsung had infringed on four of their patents. In a subsequent trial in the United States in August, the judge urged the tech giants to come to a settlement before a verdict was reached to save them from irreparable damage to their reputations. This decision was beneficial for Apple, a company known for not backing down from a lawsuit, because Samsung was fined $1 billion.

10%

ID 14%

76%

iP H O N E

However, the war between them did not end there. Apple was not as lucky in Germany as they were in the United States, and in September, the company lost a lawsuit brought against them by Samsung and Motorola. Furthermore, Apple was compelled to release a humiliating apology to Samsung in the U.K. In October, a court in the Netherlands ruled in favor of Apple saying that Samsung did not infringe on their patents. It seems as though the war has come to an end, for now at least. On November 10th, Apple and HTC Samsung announced that they have reached a worldwide settlement dismissing all patent lawsuits between them.

They have also signed a ten-year licensing agreement extending to current and

future patents held by both companies.

Though the terms of this settlement are confidential, many believe that Samsung will be paying Apple a large sum of money due to their initiation of the lawsuits and because of Apple’s tradition of holding their ground.

Although both companies issued statements that they were happy the lawsuits have come to an end so they can instead focus on product innovation, patent infringement isn’t the only thing Apple and Samsung are fighting over. Samsung has produced a series of television commercials and print ads that target Apple customers. Late last year, the company aired a series of commercials mocking Apple customers by depicting crazy fans standing in long lines waiting to buy the latest Apple product. In September, with the release of the iPhone 5, Samsung poked fun at the Apple “fanboys,” in both print and television ads. These ads are not far from the truth. When the iPhone 5 was released, it was already backordered online for three to four weeks, and people lined up outside Apple’s New York City headquarters days before it went on sale.

It is difficult to decide whether Samsung is trying to convince would-be iPhone buyers to change their minds or if they are simply targeting consumers who dislike Apple and their products. In a recent survey of 21 FIT students, 16 of them had Apple iPhones, 3 of them had Droids and 2 had Motorola BlackBerrys. Of the two companies, it is safe to say that Apple is more popular.

the launch… of social banking?

by Giovanna Spica

Open bar, beer pong, picture booth and mobile banking. What do these things have in common? Celebrating their success in the UK and their excitement in coming to New York, Waspit held its first US launch at New York City’s Canal Room. Chief Marketing Officer Kasey Kaplan’s description of Waspit made it clear that he understood every step that factors into a college student’s process when dealing with the big “M,”—not mom but money.

Kaplan explained the company’s vision and spoke about the particular design and functionalities of Waspit. Waspit combines traditional banking with social media platforms in order to create an interactive experience with students, their friends and the places they chose to spend their money. With “banking 2.0” students are now able to make payments with their mobile device while simultaneously sharing their experience with their other Waspit friends. Users can

give unlimited reviews, upload pictures, rate their experience and post comments to Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare and Yelp through their Waspit account. The account also compiles all of a student’s social and banking needs to one safe and easy place, ensuring trusted reviews and interactivity.

Through an interview with the company’s CEO, Richard Stegall, who spent 17 years in corporate finance before creating Waspit, it was made clear how much of an adoration he has for his creation. He stated that although he was going through “a lot of good things in the corporate world” he did not feel like he was “building anything.”

According to Steggall, Waspit allows him to tap into “an underserved market” in an innovative way while fulfilling a need. Steggall was very adamant in working with the students to ensure that Waspit was relevant to their lifestyle. The

company does not make money by lending students money or by their spending, nor does Waspit sell any data. The company’s profit is made when the customer uses their daily deals and/or coupons, hence partnering with the merchandiser.

Waspit does not rely on credit, account keeping fees or overdraft fees. Instead the customer is kept up to date with the latest discounts and “buzz points.”

The genius behind this new form of banking lies in dispelling the stereotype that college students hate banks—after all, this is the “Occupy Wall Street” generation. Who says banks and students can’t get along? Waspit ensures easy payments, even offering an ingenious new feature where friends can “split the bill,” easy engagement and lastly, easy savings.

To find out more visit Waspit.me or check out their blog, blog.waspit.me.

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kindle fire 2, iPad mini, none of the above?

three free apps for student success

by Nathan Sukonik

by Raquel Rose Burger

The iPad Mini is distinctly the best tablet device on the market in terms of price.

Priced at $329, it offers more storage and amazing graphics compared to all competing devices. Also having access to the extensive app store that includes over 1 million apps is advantageous. That being said, students who currently have an iPad 2 need not upgrade to the newer iPad Mini or iPad 3. Although on average, major tech journals rank the iPad 3 and iPad 2 the highest in tablets, the iPad Mini is a better, cheaper and lighter alternative.

on TechCrunch.com suggested Google Android devices have had virus issues and system crashes that consistently make the devices useless without a software update.

Students without an iPad should buy one if they lack a laptop presently. The price point and easy, light portability making it ideal for commuters, while FIT students of all majors will be very excited with the apps offered in every area from art history to fine arts on any iOS device, unique only to Apple’s tablets. Apple continues to price the iPad above market suggestion of $299, but realistically, at $329 Apple is taking a hit on their previous profit margins.

One of it’s main competitors, the Kindle Fire 2 has an amazing price: $159.

However, there are multiple problems with this device. A very glitchy OS, lack of unique apps, a poor screen resolution and a processor that does not compete with Apple or Google’s devices. The new Kindle Fire has no camera or major hardware upgrades. Another downside are the ads plastered on the homescreen that give it a cheap look. The saying, “you get what you pay for” has never resonated more than in this tablet.

The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times have suggested that the Google Nexus 7, priced at $200, is a better choice because of its price point. The reality is that this is not true for the average student. A student will likely buy one laptop or tablet for a four year period, seeking high long term return and stability. Being that the iPad is the more stable of the two, students should opt for that instead.

It is also much more versatile. An article

The app collection in the Android also leaves much to be desired. I personally spent a summer with a Motorola Xoom and although the hardware in itself was not the problem, the apps are very glitchy.

My current iPad 2 is my best friend, with amazing screen resolution and significant long term battery lasting almost 14 hours.

The iPad Mini is its modern equivalent.

Now if you need a basic tablet for WiFi and notes, this is perfect for you. But, if you need an eReader, get an actual eReader. You can get an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite that is pure joy to use and cheap at $119.

CALENMOB For iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch This app partners with Google Calendar to bring all the magic of your online calendar to your mobile device. Any changes made throughout the day will be synced right to your Google account for convenient and hassle free planning. You can view your events using eight views: day, week, month, four days, mini-month, week agenda and agenda to discover events and available time slots. CalenMob will send notifications when a meeting or due date is approaching so that you will never miss a deadline. You can invite coworkers or friends to access certain areas of your calendar to remind them when lunch meetings or a girls night out is taking place. It is very user friendly and allows you to color code events and completely personalize your calendar.

ERRANDS TO-DO LIST For iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch This app manages your tasks and includes features such as folders, checklists, scheduling and alarms, making your daily goals as stress free as possible. You can organize your tasks in separate folders such as work, home and errands to make viewing your list more accessible. When a due date is approaching, that task will be starred to remind you to get it done.

Alarms can be set to go off when a task is due in order to ensure it was completed

on time. Errands To Do List allows you to describe each task and assist you in deciding which should be completed in order of importance. You can also select images for each task to remind you what needs to be done without reading over them. This app is also handy in creating small checklists such as a grocery list or birthday card reminders.

POCKETLIFE CALENDAR For iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch This app updates the standard calendar app that comes installed on your phone to a renovated sleek design with added features and a sharper look. You can personalize the color and font of your display and even add Emoji’s to your tasks. If you change the time of an event and it overlaps one already scheduled, the app notifies you of the overlap to avoid lateness or confusion. You can set the current week of the month as your wallpaper in order to see your events at a quick glance.

PocketLife calendar offers a password protection option to hide certain events from coworkers or friends. When trying to schedule an event at a specific time, you can simply type in the time and the app will show you what days you are available at the time within the upcoming week. It’s simple to use, helps keep you organized and the personalization option makes tasks enjoyable.

FEATURE

LOOK 3 COAT: MANDARIN & GENERAL SHIRT: FACTORY BY ERIK HART PANTS: 6 SHORE ROAD SUNGLASSES: MERCURA HAT: STYLIST’S OWN

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s t ylis t : F r e ddy Rodrigue z

m ake up ar tis t : K a t o DiGiovanc ar l o

model : K ris tina Velkova

innovation and transformation

ph ot ogr aph e r : Jac quel yn C lif for d

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COVER DRESS: MANDARIN & GENERAL BLAZER: MANDARIN & GENERAL SUNGLASSES: MERCURA SHOES: MARC BY MARC JACOBS

LOOK 4 COAT: FACTORY BY ERIK HART SHIRT: FACTORY BY ERIK HART PANTS: FACTORY BY ERIK HART SUNGLASSES: MERCURA

LOOK 2 PANT SUIT: 6 SHORE ROAD COAT: 6 SHORE ROAD SUNGLASSES: MERCURA

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So You Think You Want to Work in PR?

by Arushi Khosla

FASHION PR IS ONE OF THOSE CAREERS THAT’S BEEN CONSISTENTLY GLAMORIZED BY HOLLYWOOD AND THE ENDLESS STREAM OF “REALITY SHOWS” TO THE POINT WHERE A NOVICE WOULDN’T BE FAULTED FOR THINKING IT ESSENTIALLY ENCOMPASSES ATTENDING A LOT OF PARTIES, MINGLING WITH FAMOUS PEOPLE AND TRYING TO MAKE CLOSET SPACE FOR ALL THE SWAG YOU GET FROM DESIGNERS. SO EVERY YEAR, FRESH-FACED GRADUATES COME TO THE UPSETTING REALIZATION THAT PUBLIC RELATIONS IS FAR FROM ITS DEPICTION ON TELEVISION. GENEVIEVE ASCENCIO, ACCOUNT DIRECTOR, MEN’S AND ACCESSORIES AT FACTORY PR; JAKE SPENCER HAMMEL, SENIOR ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE AT DIGITAL BRAND ARCHITECTS; SARA FLORES VICE PRESIDENT AT BOLLARE; TANYA BROWN SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER, DIGITAL DIVISION AT BOLLARE; HOLLY STAIR, COMMUNITY MANAGER AT ARTISAN HOUSE AND FOHR CARD CO-FOUNDER; JAMES NORD, HIGHLIGHTED LIFE BLOGGER AND FOHR CARD CO-FOUNDER; TOM HANDLEY, PR AND MARKETING PROFESSOR AT PARSONS AND CONSULTANT; CROSBY NORICKS FOUNDER OF PR COUTURE, AUTHOR OF READY TO LAUNCH AND CREATIVE DIRECTOR AT RED DOOR INTERACTIVE; AND CECILY BARING–GOULD, PR DIRECTOR AT BIBHU MOHAPATRA; ALL SHARED THEIR THOUGHTS ON SUCCEEDING IN A DIGITIZED PR WORLD WHERE BRUNCH IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO INSTAGRAM, WITTICISMS ARE VOCIFEROUSLY HASHTAGGED AND IF YOU DIDN’T CHECK IN ON FOURSQUARE, YOU PROBABLY WEREN’T THERE Sara Flores and Tanya Brown, photography

by Kristen Lam

Arushi Khosla: With a bevy of new apps and social sharing websites popping up every other day, how do you, as brand managers, select the all-important ones for clients? Which do you choose to focus on and why?

Tanya Brown: It’s entirely dependent on the individual brand. Mass brands like Twitter and Facebook are always attractive options to connect with the wider audience there but as you grow, depending on brand goals, it’s beneficial to invest time and resources

Tom Handley, courtesy photo

in connecting with niche audiences in specialty platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, Tumblr, Viddy and Pose.

Genevieve Ascencio: For each brand you have to strategically assess where their consumer lives online and then use those platforms to communicate with them. For example, for a sportswear apparel line, you’ll probably veer away from Pinterest, a largely female-populated platform. That being said, there are definitely some key players.

Tom Handley: Select platforms that complement each other and the strengths of the client. If you’re going to do Twitter, also do Tumblr. Everyone is of course, on Facebook. There are many platforms that are growing but may not necessarily be right for your brand. Stay focused.

AK: You all spend copious amounts of time on social platforms as your job,

Cecily Baring-Gould, courtesy photo

but most of you also maintain personal accounts. When does it all get to be too much and at what point does your day job taint the experience for yourself?

Tanya Brown: I love tweeting and Instagramming personally. If I found it to be a chore, this industry wouldn’t be the right fit for me—you have to immerse yourself in digital, and be excited about it, to really grasp how it evolves and changes.

Cecily Baring-Gould: Followers genuinely appreciate personable communication that flows and is effortless, so no tainting

of duties should be felt.

Jake Hammel: In this industry, it goes hand in hand—part of my job is to be active online and maintain a presence.

I’m Facebook friends with the bloggers I work with; I know what’s going on with them.

Genevieve Ascencio: The biggest challenge for me is more about learning when to disconnect. Having a personal account adds that human touch. While I schedule and strategize tweets for my brands, my personal account is free

Crosby Noricks, photography by Manal Style

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W27 flowing and spontaneous.

AK: Bloggers and online influencers are undeniably major players in the industry.

When influence was first gauged, lots of brands went a bit nuts, sending product to every self-proclaimed blogger with a Wordpress account—thereby diluting their image. Has there been any change in the concentration of quality vs. quantity since?

Jake Hammel: Sometimes bloggers have more reach on a particular platform than others. Power pinners aren’t necessarily as impressive on Twitter. Bloggers with massive Instagram reach aren’t always as big on Facebook.

Sara Flores: Differentiation is important.

Each client has a different niche; each requires a different kind of blogger outreach.

Cecily Baring-Gould: Brands are aligning themselves more carefully now. If you’re relying on a platform to tell your brand’s story, you have to be sure they’re speaking to the market you want to reach.

Holly Stair: That’s why we started Fohr Card! We were noticing a discrepancy between follower counts and actual reach. So what the service does is that it pulls numbers from Twitter, Tumblr, Instagram, etc. and realistically ranks the blogger based on the average. Its going to give brands a way to easily search for content creators and bloggers that align with their aesthetic.

James Nord: I felt like I had a good following and my photography had reached a level where I could successfully work with brands but I didn’t know what to do or where to start. Rich [Tong, former Tumblr fashion director and Fohr Card co-founder] put me in touch with the people at de la Renta and now I am their in-house photographer. We want to scale that experience to hundreds of others through this service. We want bloggers to become a part of the branding strategy in a bigger way. We want them to be able to say “no,” to have that power.

AK: So what do you look for in prospective interns and entry-level employees?

Crosby Noricks: Evidence that they are already leveraging social tools for

November 2012

professional development. I like to see ingenuity—even if there is a lack of work experience, a sample document showcasing how they would approach social for a favorite brand, or an example of a PR plan put together for a friend goes a long way in demonstrating the critical and strategic thinking skills that make for a stand-out employee.

clients, to the publications I read. I look for employees who want to learn more, have the mentality of a student and take initiative.

Tanya Brown: You have to enjoy digital in your personal life to be able to do it successfully as a career.

Tanya Brown: Everyone agrees that your Facebook link has no place on your resume. Twitter breaks down traditional barriers, so students should utilize that opportunity to your advantage— connect with thought leaders, ask for informational advice, seek out like-minded influencers and create a meaningful dialog.

Jake Hammel: It’s the nature of this industry that you have to intern first.

These days, everyone with a Twitter account thinks they can work in social media, which means every posting gets a million applications. Having a personal affinity for digital and doing it as a job is not the same thing. You have to be engaging— ask questions without really asking them.

Social media is PR. It’s pitching to the reader in 140 characters. I went to school in Missouri, but made sure to maintain a strong presence online so that when I arrived in New York after graduating, people already recognized my voice and saw that I was engaged.

AK: In this age of accessibility, the line of professionalism can sometimes be hard to decipher. What is the appropriate “Twittequette?”

WHEN I GOOGLE YOU, I WANT TO SEE YOUR NAME IN THE FIRST FIVE SEARCH RESULTS.

Cecily Baring-Gould: Don’t take internships lightly. The more you put in, the more you’ll take away.

Absorb every little bit of information during your internship and work hard. Instead of a ‘working for free’ attitude, embrace a ‘learning for free’ one. You’re gaining indispensable industry knowledge. It’s how everybody starts.

Tom Handley: Yes, internships are a MUST. Intern in school and one thing everybody can do better is to listen. Read every blog, look at formats, layouts, everything.

Holly Stair: When I Google you, I want to see your name in the first five search results.

James Nord: People should be able to go back to your earlier works and see a parallel. Consistency is imperative.

Genevieve Ascencio: A thirst to learn is key. I’m a student to my boss, to my

Genevieve Ascencio, courtesy photo

Jake Hammel, courtesy photo

Tom Handley: You’re not a brand yet. No foul language on Twitter ever, unless you’re John Jannuzzi.

Jake Hammel: I agree.

Social media links on a resume can sometimes seem cocky. An employer will search for them anyway.

Crosby Noricks: Reaching out on LinkedIn is fine—just make sure to explain why you are requesting the connection. Then, follow up with an email introducing yourself and requesting a ten minute phone call or asking a specific question. Generally, "what advice do you have," "how can I get started," requests won't get you very far.

AK: With everybody and their mother being online now, how does one stand out?

followers, but ten could turn into many more going forward.

Genevieve Ascencio: I had a former intern who started a website campaign six months prior to his graduation [in an effort] to get hired. The website had links to writing samples, video, etc. I was impressed. Creativity and follow through is everything. The art of a good cover letter has also been lost in a way.

Additionally, when I look at your Twitter timeline, I want to see you have opinions on what’s been going on in the industry.

What did you think of the Louboutin vs YSL trial? If you want to work in fashion, it should be there.

AK: Finally, where do you see PR and digital going and evolving in the next few years?

Sara Flores: The bulk of our press is already online because ROI is higher and faster than in print.

Crosby Noricks: I’m excited about storytelling platforms like Cowbird and Meograph and think that the challenge is going to be to maintain a voice and rise above the noise.

Holly Stair: Everyone will be a social media manager but services like Fohr Card will enable those who don’t necessarily want to hire one. It’ll give brands a very clear idea of who’s out there to work and partner with.

James Nord: In my opinion, someone in sales or finance or a designer shouldn’t have to know about social. They shouldn’t have to be that involved in digital. That is why these services are important—to consistently legitimize online influencers and make it easier for marketers and brands to utilize their presence effectively.

Tom Handley: Being witty and bright.

Sharing great content. You could have ten Rich Tong, Holly Stair and James Nord, photography by James Nord

DEAR INDUSTRY FIT’s Finest: Nathalie Kraynina

by Dianna Mazzone

WAIT TO SEE WHAT HER CAREER HAS IN STORE.

changed a lot for me—I’m originally from Bulgaria but grew up in Washington, DC.

Dianna Mazzone: What was your experience like at FIT and how did you transition from being a student to a designer working on your own so quickly after graduation?

DM: You’ve found success showing at Williamsburg Fashion Weekend—what was that experience like? Could you tell us more about the event?

Nathalie Kraynina: I finished my degree three years ago and it was the worst of the economic crisis at that point. I couldn’t find a job as an assistant—nobody was really hiring. I got a lucky break where somebody wanted to put a couple of my pieces in their store, and from there I started my own line. It had always been in my head. Especially when you’re in school, you always think that by the time you graduate, you’ll make a collection and that you’re going to be the next Michael Kors. But it doesn’t work like that. I was disappointed I couldn’t find an assistant job, but at the same time, it was the best thing that could have happened to me. I started being my own designer.

Photos courtesy of Nathalie Kraynina

SLEEK AND SOPHISTICATED YET MODERN AND APPROACHABLE, THE “NATHALIE KRAYNINA” WOMAN IS NATHALIE KRAYNINA HERSELF. THE BULGARIAN BORN DESIGNER AND FIT GRAD COMBINES CLEAN LINES WITH LUXE FABRICS TO CREATE A LOOK THAT IS BOTH GLOBALLY INFLUENCED AND NEW YORK-APPROVED. A STAND OUT AT WILLIAMSBURG FASHION WEEKEND, THIS RISING STAR HAS MADE HER OWN WAY IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY—AND WE CAN’T

DM: Has studying and designing in New York influenced your aesthetic?

NK: The New York woman always inspires me. She’s working, she’s a professional, but then she’s going out and doing a thousand other things. That’s my whole idea—to have something that’s appropriate for the office but that’s different and unique at the same time.

My line is all about the New York girl. I’m very inspired by the city; I’m very inspired by the people. When I first moved here, as a designer, I grew a lot. New York has a special kind of atmosphere and energy.

You can’t pinpoint a certain style but you know when you see a New York girl. That

NK: Williamsburg Fashion Weekend is basically a platform for emerging designers. It’s a fusion of art and fashion, design and music. It’s more like a performance-based fashion show. We invite the general public to come. We had fifteen local designers this season, all of us trying to make it. We’re stronger together and we put on a good show: we have bands and music and there are all kinds of different people showing. My line is very wearable and classic and clean and then some of the others take it to the other extreme, where it’s very avant-garde, couture. It’s been a really cool opportunity for me. It gave me my start. If you have a fashion show [to prepare for], you have to finish your collection, you know? It really gives you exposure, because when you’re starting out you not only have to create, but you have to figure out how to make it, and then how to spread the word.

Working with the other designers—we help each other, we’re in the same boat.

It’s a really cool thing for young designers to consider.

DM: You had some big names supporting your show!

NK: This year, I got the support of Nine West. They loved my collection and they provided the shoes, which was a really big step for me. It’s a really big name and they sent brand new, amazing shoes that matched perfectly.

DM: Your S/S 2013 collection was all black—was that a conscious decision or one that evolved throughout the design process?

NK: It’s kind of both. Black is my favorite color. I always wear black. It’s very “New York” and this season—I’ve been overwhelmed and a little bit tired of neon and flowers and all these crazy things that we’ve been doing. I wanted to do something very clean and I wanted to challenge myself so I decided to do it all black. I thought it was a cool concept for Spring. I mainly wanted to focus on the silhouette, the cut of the clothes, and the texture. I think it became a cool collection.

DM: Your work with the “I Can Too” Foundation is so impressive—what is it about that organization that speaks to you the most?

NK: “I Can Too” is a foundation in Bulgaria. The whole idea is that everybody does what they can. Right now we’re building a center for children with autism—it’s one of the first ones in Bulgaria. We’re raising money for that.

The whole idea is about participation; we don’t collect money—everyone just does what they’re able to do. I wanted to help out and design a line of t-shirts with all the proceeds going towards the center.

The factory that made them is making them for free. It just continues the whole idea—they can manufacture a t-shirt, I can design a t-shirt. You bring what you can to the table.

To learn more about Nathalie or purchase items from her latest collection, visit nathaliekraynina.com.

Reflect Your Style

by Maddalena Alecce

MANY IN THIS WORLD TODAY CANNOT IMAGINE LIVING WITHOUT THEIR SMARTPHONES, IPADS, COMPUTERS AND TABLETS. IT IS ONLY NATURAL, THEN, FOR FASHIONISTAS, WHO ARE ALREADY SO IN TUNE WITH THE TECH-WORLD, TO BE PROVIDED WITH THE SAME LEVEL OF TECHNOLOGY IN THEIR CLOSET. Stone Island, an Italian menswear brand established in 1982, has devoted itself to research, experimentation and technology in order to deliver technologicallyadvanced garments to its consumers.

It was not until 1992, however, that the brand first started working with the transportation of light on garments.

Today the results of their research and

development can be seen in the brand’s Liquid Reflective Jacket, a garment made out of a highly reflective Japanese fabric and coated with thousands of micro glass spheres.

The process behind the creation of this jacket incorporates both technology and manual work. Carlo Rivetti, creative director of the brand, explained the ins and outs of the garment. “It is a mixture of technology and handicraft. When we first started working with the reflective fabric, it was simply a spread of microspheres of glass on polyester fabric.” he said. “Now we use small pyramids of sand fixed on the fabric by a computer so they all have the same orientation and the reflection of light is higher.” The process does not end here. Once each jacket is done, it is hand sprayed individually by the Stone Island team. “This is something that we can

reach only in this country, Italy,” he said.

Because they are hand sprayed manually, every jacket turns out different, which makes each garment unique in itself.

Nowadays, keeping up with technology and consumer tastes is a rather demanding task. In their attempt to constantly be innovative, Stone Island gathers their research internally, as a corporation, and not by looking at trends in the consumer market. “The consumer can desire only what they know. We try to be very innovative and surprise our consumer with something totally new. Our research comes from us, not from the market.

When you follow the market you are always going to be behind or create something that is already disposable.” This last remark probably explains why the Liquid Reflective Jacket is the only product on the market with this type of technology.

Rivetti also discussed the importance of technology in the fashion industry today, emphasizing that the key to breaking into the market is innovation in textiles.

“Everything is relative to the positioning of the brand,” he said. In Stone Island’s case, technology is crucial in their branding strategy. The Liquid Reflective Jacket is a true celebration of the use of technology. So much so that consumers are not very interested in the benefits of the jacket, other than the reflective effect. “People do not buy the Reflective Jacket because it keeps them warm and dry. They buy it because they want to appear in public. It’s simply cool,” said Rivetti.

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Unique Silhouettes Designed

by Alissa Chapman

by Maddalena Alecce

AC: It’s really tricky. I designed my collections over the summer. I don’t think there is any way I could’ve done it during the semester. Now that I’m back in school I focus more on my classes and homework but I do always find time to network and work on the marketing side of my business. Right now I’m trying to find new sales representatives and investors. I’m writing a business plan and using social media. I feel like in the future it will be useful to have social media accounts, like Facebook and Twitter perhaps, so I try my best to keep up with them.

Photo courtesy of Alisa Chapman

Alissa Chapman is more than just a student in the Entrepreneurship program at FIT. As she herself writes on her Twitter account, @DesignerWit, she is a “women’s wear special occasion fashion designer and entrepreneur.” Alissa in fact, has already designed two collections of her own. The first one was back in the Summer of 2011 and the second one, being launched right now, is the Spring 2013 collection. W27 met with this new and upcoming designer, who of course was wearing one of her newest creations, to find out more about her and get some insight on her recent collection.

Maddalena Alecce: Tell us a little bit about yourself. When did you start designing?

What motivated you?

Alissa Chapman: I’ve been designing ever since I can remember. As a child, I would take apart Barbie clothes, making new outfits for my dolls. I guess I totally transitioned into women’s wear from there. I studied fashion design at FIT and specialized in fashion illustration. I then did two internships, one of which was with Oscar de la Renta. I kept talking about him in class and one of my teachers helped me get the internship. I guess if you talk about what you want to do it helps.

The second internship was with a start up company called Segana, (Portuguese for ‘gypsy’). Although the company is out of business now, they were very successful at the time. It was great for me to see a oneperson company doing so well which was what I wanted to do. I knew that if I was at least as successful as they were I would be okay. After both internships I began to design a few pieces here and there and got into my first store: The Dressing Room.

This was back in 2009 though, when the economy was horrible and it was not a good time to invest.

I decided to go back to school and start the entrepreneurship program here. I wanted to be back at FIT and at the same time wanted a business education. Now I’m here, I network with my professors and other students in my class and find ways to work on different projects.

MA: How do you manage to juggle both life as an FIT student and life as an entrepreneur?

November 2012

Isaac Mizrahi Fetes Fabulous

by Stephanie Kearney

CAMERAS CLICKED AND SALES ASSOCIATES DANCED WITH BOTTLES OF FABULOUS IN HAND AT THE LAUNCH OF ISAAC MIZRAHI’S FIRST EVER FRAGRANCE. THE ATMOSPHERE WAS ENHANCED BY THE EXUBERANCE OF HIS MANY FANS.

MA: What is the theme of your new Spring 2013 collection? What inspired your designs?

AC: I was inspired by a lot of different things. It’s a very feminine collection and ballet inspired it a little bit. I am honestly inspired by so many things: cinematography, traveling etc. I see different things, write them down in my journal and develop my ideas from there.

MA: What did you most enjoy about designing this particular collection?

AC: I love everything about designing: coming up with the ideas, making the patterns, shopping for fabric etc. The absolute best part of it though was the moment when it all came together.

Having a professional photoshoot for the new collection was one of the most amazing feelings of designing it.

MA: Tell us about the creative process behind designing an entire collection.

Photo courtesy of Full Picture

AC: I make my own dress forms so it’s a very technical and analytical process for me.

I’m always coming up with theories on what would make a good design. The industry dress forms don’t really fit well in my opinion. I make my own because I feel they are closer to the human body.

The reason why the industry dress forms are the way they are is because when you make a garment on them it makes it in such a way it’s easier to sell; it makes manufacturing easier and cuts some costs. The way I design is to maximize the fit. I really appreciate a couture fit as much as possible for a mass market.

MA: Who are your favorite designers?

Anyone you aspire to the most?

AC: I love Oscar de la Renta and also really like Marchesa right now. However I do try not to look at other designers so much because I want to come up with my own ideas. I really observe in general what people wear, [especially] in New York and turn to celebrities to just get an idea of trends.

MA: What are your plans for the future?

AC: In the near future I am trying to find new sales representatives and investors.

I also want to get into new boutiques. I currently have some designs in the Style Shop at FIT but I definitely want to add some more.

Mizrahi, a man who appears to have done it all—designer, television producer, actor and now, creator of an alluring new fragrance— thrilled the crowd at Bloomingdales on October 18th, donning playful, sparkly gold toenail polish. Since Fabulous’s successful debut on QVC and release at Bloomingdales stores nationwide in September, it’s clear this bottle has the potential of becoming a collectible in the future.

Just like his beautiful and tastefully luxurious designs, the aesthetic of Mizrahi’s perfume came to him naturally. Scents like mandarin, tuberose, peony, warm sandalwood and vanilla are blended together. He said, “So the mandarin orange to me went with mysterious and I know why; whenever I smell that I always go, ‘Oh, who’s that? What is she up to?’ Then the floral notes, which I would say is dominated by tuberose—that’s my favorite thing in the world—goes so feminine and a little crazy.

I think part of the thing is crazy. I think that it’s a great thing if a woman goes a little nuts. She goes a little over the top and lets

herself go. That, to me, is a fabulous woman.” Further commenting on the inspiration of his scent, Mizrahi said, “I was inspired by my work from the past 25 years—trying to get that into one scent—one kind of overriding emotion,” adding that his main inspiration for the fragrance was his mother. “She is obsessed with it. She would have told me if she didn’t like it. She is my biggest critic.”

And who couldn’t help but love it? The perfume is a light and succulent scent that will leave fabulous women emanating warm luxury in the cold city wind this season.

Fabulous is a sweet sensation packed into a luminous and whimsical pink bottle, equipped with an easy, mess-free atomizer and pink polka dotted neck. With its combination of design, scent and feasible pricing at $78 for the 3.4 ounce bottle and $65 for the 1.7 ounce, this is a scent that “fabulous” women everywhere are sure to adore.

DEAR INDUSTRY

22

FIT

BEAUTY BUZZ

Beauty and Brains: FIT Grad and YouTube Beauty Guru Annie Jaffrey Photos courtesy of Annie Jaffrey

by Dianna Mazzone

Genuine, beautiful, and armed with a degree from FIT, Annie Jaffrey is inarguably the total package. From her stepby-step makeup videos to her sweet but no-nonsense product reviews, it’s no wonder this YouTube personality has fans, subscribers and followers in the hundreds of thousands. W27 spoke with Jaffrey about her rise from FIT student to sought after YouTube starlet—and the creativity and hard work that goes into getting viewers to return to her channel time and time again.

Dianna Mazzone: As a graduate of FIT, how did your studies prepare you for the "real world" and professional life? What was your major?

Annie Jaffrey: I majored in Advertising and Marketing Communications and loved the creative side of it. Studying and doing well at FIT required responsibility and the willingness to commit. I definitely put in a lot of effort maintaining a good GPA for four years while juggling internships.

It taught me how much dedication it takes to succeed in the real world. FIT is also great because it of it’s cultural and social diversity, which I believe is important to be exposed to in today’s world.

DM: What compelled you to attend FIT? I know you've lived internationally— why FIT instead of a school abroad or elsewhere?

AJ: While growing up I developed a great passion for beauty and fashion—I figured, where best to set off on my adventure than the greatest city in the world, NYC? Once I found the courage to move to the big city, choosing FIT was a no brainer when you consider its international reputation in the fashion industry!

DM: How did you first come to be interested in beauty blogging and vlogging? Have you always been technology-savvy?

AJ: When I first got my MacBook, I contemplated deleting iMovie (for space saving reasons), thinking "When will I EVER use this?!" How wrong I was!

Needless to say, I definitely was not tech-savvy by any means! But with time you learn and get the hang of editing, constructing blog posts and using social media.

I've always been in love with all things beauty. It's fun, exciting and makes you feel great! I first became interested in YouTube about two years ago, and after

AJ: I have the best viewers in the world!

They inspire me so much. I always take their feedback into consideration; what do they want to see? But I also get inspiration throughout the day. Usually when I’m doing something relaxing, the ideas just flow.

I always want to make sure my viewers will benefit positively from watching one of my videos. It could be anything from a simple beauty or health tip to learning about the importance of fresh fruits and veggies for beautiful skin. Or perhaps, they may not even be interested in beauty, but I made them smile—that’s the most important!

My process for filming is fairly straight-

take anywhere from four to twelve hours.

Once the video is ready, another hour or so can go into creating a blog post, fixing the thumbnail, posting on social media sites etc. It is totally worth it!

DM: Professionally, what are your goals?

Would you like (or have you already) turned your online presence into a career?

AJ: I would love my online profession to become my career but as of yet I am open to any new exciting opportunities that may present themselves.

DM: Where do you see yourself in five years? Ten years?

AJ: It’s hard to tell, but I know it will be involving helping and inspiring others and giving back something valuable. I undoubtedly have a passion for health, beauty and helping others so it will definitely be something involving that.

DM: And lastly, what's your number one favorite go-to beauty tip or trick?

following a few channels for a while I was hooked, and the idea of starting my own channel was both exciting and nerve-racking. I had beauty and health advice I wanted to share, so I uploaded my first video on a whim, and I thought it was fun that people benefited from what I was saying.

So, I kept on making them and almost 100,000 subscribers later, here I am!

DM: You have an incredible number of followers, subscribers, and fans. How do you create fresh content to entice them to return? What's your process?

forward, yet pretty time consuming.

Once I have an idea, I prepare by figuring out what I need to film it, and/or the additional research/facts that I will need.

I sometimes write down a few talking points so I can reference it during filming. Making sure you have good lighting and a quiet surrounding is also important. Preparation for filming and the filming in itself can take anywhere from one to four hours if it’s sit-down. Fashion/ outfit videos can take considerably longer.

Editing is what consumes the most time, but is very crucial for a straightforward, informative yet personable video. It can

AJ: My number one beauty tip is definitely to take care of yourself from head to toe.

Nourish yourself with healthy food and water—it makes you glow! Wellmanicured nails and some mascara doesn’t hurt either. Love yourself enough to take care of yourself!

For fashion and beauty videos, daily blog entries, and more lifestyle tips from Annie, visit her website at anniejaffrey. com.

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November 2012

Teen Vogue Fashion U

by Lindsay Rogers

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19TH, MARKED THE KICKOFF OF TEEN VOGUE’S 7TH ANNUAL FASHION UNIVERSITY, WHERE 500 OUT OF A WHOPPING 1600 APPLICANTS, RANGING IN AGE FROM 16 TO 24, PILED INTO H&M ON LEXINGTON AVE FOR THE FIRST BIG EVENT OF THE WEEKEND, WHICH INCLUDED A BAND, HOR D’OEUVRES AND LOTS OF SHOPPING.

From left to right: Amy Astley, Grace Coddington and Olivier Theyskens.

Photos courtesy of Zimbio

Upon entry to the Millennium Hotel in Times Square the next day, students were greeted with gift bags, flashing cameras, free samples and the opportunity to have their hair professionally styled in between sessions. Grace Coddington, creative director of Vogue, set the stage on Saturday morning for what would be a weekend full of interactive lectures and engaging seminars with some of the industry’s biggest names. Experts and designers including Phillip Lim, Nicole Richie, Olivier Theyskens, Rebecca Minkoff and the Teen Vogue editors all took turns addressing the student body, offering up both detailed accounts of their own experiences as well as invaluable advice to those attempting to blaze their own creative paths in the fashion world.

The themes of the lectures varied immensely, but a couple of topics seemed to resurface several times over the course of the weekend, such as the current state of the fashion industry in New York City, the impact of technology on the industry, and what the experts are looking for in an increasingly competitive pool of interns and young job applicants.

TECHNOLOGY IN THE INDUSTRY A major theme of the event, technology was a topic that each speaker took time to comment on, alluding to how big the size and role of technology within the fashion industry has become. In the opening session of the full occupancy event, Grace Coddington addressed the issue stating, “I’m not someone who is buying into this whole computer world, I’m afraid,” but did acknowledge that she is hoping to become inspired, and that she understands how “technologically driven” so many of the younger generations have become. Phillip Lim, creative director of 3.1 Phillip Lim, empathized with Coddington in a later session, noting that he too has to jump on the technological bandwagon, a tool in the

fashion world that might seem frightening at first, but has a lot of potential and advantages. Nicole Richie of Winter Kate and House of Harlow 1960 and Rebecca Minkoff, co-founder of her namesake brand, both discussed the inextricable link between their brands and social media and how crucial communication is in terms of reaching out to customers.

Interestingly, Minkoff and Teen Vogue reported that to date, Instagram has been their biggest social media tool.

WHAT THE EXPERTS LOOK FOR Grace Coddington was very particular when discussing exactly what she looks for in interns and prospective employees, saying she tends to favor “someone with humor, and someone who’s not going to pack up and go home early in the evening.” Regarding style, she said, “It’s not about how they’re dressed. They don’t have to be wearing Prada or anything.

I don’t want to be aware of the effort. It should look effortless.” The Teen Vogue editors stressed hard work and staying ahead of the game, and were especially

FASHION IN NYC Despite the onslaught of students that traveled from as far as Poland to attend this year’s annual conference, when it came to location, all eyes were on New York City. Coddington claimed that moving to New York was one of the best moves she ever made for her career, saying, “The speed of New York City is just fabulous.” Similarly, Theyskens discussed how natural the transition from Paris to New York felt to him, saying he feels more at home in the city now than he does in

I DON’T WANT TO BE AWARE OF THE EFFORT. IT SHOULD LOOK EFFORTLESS. keen on finding interns with their own quirky styles. Amy Astley, editor-in-chief at Teen Vogue recalled one of her favorite interns as someone who had blue hair.

Olivier Theyskens, creative director of Theory, emphasized the importance of being able to sew, having patience and the ability to pay attention to detail as wanted skills for those pursuing a career in design.

Europe. Theyskens also finds much of his inspiration from the streets of New York, admitting that he looks more for things he doesn’t like, as opposed to things he does. The Teen Vogue editors seemed to be in agreement with Theyskens, as while most of them have lived and attended school in other parts of the country prior to becoming editors, all seem to have found their niche in the Big Apple.

Amy Astley and Nicole Richie

HAUTE CULTURE FILM REVIEW:

BONES BRIGADE

by Fernanda DeSouza

childhood introductions to skateboarding, and then fuses them together as the team is quickly formed. Peralta’s choice to hold all of his interviews inside a warehouse with the decor of—you guessed it—skateboards, was very appropriate in that it created a more personal interaction between the audience and the team. And his choice of soundtrack, although very predictable in a 1980s way (think Devo and Pete Shelley), added a unique touch to break or introduce each scene.

Coming 11 years after Peralta’s documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys, Bones Brigade is nothing short of a sweet and fresh tale chronicling a subculture that rose from the ashes and caused a sensation in America— much to many parents’ dismay.

I guess there is one last thing to say— Bones Brigade was gnarly, so shred on, homies!

IT’S NO NEWS: SKATEBOARDING IS IN. EVERYTHING ABOUT THE SUBCULTURE, FROM THE CUSTOMIZED DECKS TO THE STREET SKATING VIDEOS THAT ARE PLASTERED ALL OVER YOUTUBE, THE PHENOMENON OF THE SPORT HAS TAKEN OVER. Since it’s birth in California, the sport has evolved drastically, with it’s notoriety starting with the infamous 1970s skate team, the Z-Boys, depicted in the 2005 biographical film, Lords of Dogtown starring Heath Ledger and Emile Hirsch. Fast forward a few years, and Stacy Peralta from the Z-Boys, along with George Powell, creates his dream skate team that includes the six guys who would become the Bones Brigade: Lance Mountain, Steve Caballero, Tommy Guerrero, Tony Hawk, Rodney Mullen and Mike McGill. Six amateur teenagers unknown to the world of competitive skateboarding that would soon revolutionize the sport.

The documentary was carefully crafted so as not to exhaust the glorious success the team reveled in, but also focused on the struggles of competition, winning, and with it, the fame and money. And let’s not forget, the occasional scenes documenting some of the most innovative skateboarding that was being done at the time. It almost becomes like a “Skateboarding 101” educational video as one is taken through the rich history of maneuvers such as the ollie, the flatland ollie, and the groundbreaking “McTwist,” Mike McGill’s own creation where a rider performs an inverted backside 540 aerial while the front hand grabs the toe side of the board. If none of that made any sense to you, then be warned: do not try it at home.

Director Stacy Peralta spews his collection of videos and photographs to showcase the birth and development of his celebrated skate team effortlessly. Peralta follows each individual separately, starting with early

Bones Brigade is now playing in theaters and is available iTunes and DVD December 4th.

FD: Do you think there are some misconceptions society has about skaters and skateboarding?

FD: What was the most important lesson that you learned from Stacy and being in the Bones Brigade?

TH: I think that in the past it was really much more just misperceived because people didn’t know what skateboarding really was and was seen as sort of a rebellious activity, something for slackers, for kids who didn’t have any direction in life and they also saw this destructive element because the kids were just trying to find places to skate and there was no place to so they would make the urban landscape their skate park. So society saw that as destructive when really they were just being creative, working with whatever was out there. But I think in recent years there has been a shift in that idea because it’s much more venturing, skating has led to more opportunities, and it is a legitimate career in the eyes of many.

TH: Probably the biggest lesson I learned was to be accessible and stay grounded and not take any of it for granted because we were, at some point, teenagers making ridiculous money, and we thought we were invincible, and we managed to stay grounded and that this wasn’t going to happen for the rest of our lives. Our lives are a testament to that, because we are not in rehab or destroyed ourselves because we were trying to chase fame.

FD: Well with that, when money becomes involved, do you feel that skaters tend to shy away the true essence of what skateboarding really is?

W27 got a chance to catch up with legendary skateboarder Tony Hawk to get his thoughts on the raddest sport, the creation of the film, the team’s goals and mission and why fame and fortune were fake.

Fernanda DeSouza: What was biggest significance about being part of a team that revolutionized the world of skateboarding?

Tony Hawk: For me the biggest significance was being recognized to even be part of the team because I was relatively younger than the other guys and not necessarily established in my competitive level. So for Stacy to recognize my talent was kind of shocking to me and it gave me incentive to step it up and to justify his choosing of me. But to be thrown into the mix of Caballero, Mike McGill, to me it was very intimidating.

FD: Right because you turned pro when you were 14, yes?

TH: Correct, but I got sponsored by Powell-Peralta when I was barely 12 years old.

FD: Do you think that put a lot of pressure on you for being so young?

TH: It definitely put the pressure on me but it allowed me to sort of get out of my comfort zone, and to learn to skate other terrain and to be more well rounded. I was sort of in this comfort zone–I skated my local park, that’s where I was the best.

I didn’t venture away from it very much and being on the Bones Brigade allowed me to do that but also to embrace it and to learn to get better.

FD: Can you compare the Bones Brigade to the Z-Boys? What were some differences that you saw between the two teams?

TH: The biggest difference was our timing because in their era they were creating this movement from nothing. We were able to build from that foundation because they had established everything.

You could skate swimming pools—that became the standard. And then we learned to do these aerial maneuvers in the pools, but in their generation there were very few organized events, the business side of it was scattered. I think we had a bit more refined opportunity of how we could make this a career and the level of popularity that we went through was much bigger than they had. Stacy had been through it twice so he had a much better handle on it and a better way to navigate us around.

FD: Have you seen a lot of changes in skateboarding since you were in the Bones Brigade?

TH: I don’t think so, I mean if anything the people that have poured their hearts and souls to improve their skills are finally benefitting from that, maybe in a much bigger way than we ever anticipated. I do know that anytime it gets to be a negative aspect is when you see kids that are skating just because of that, because of that inertia that there might be fame and fortune to be had. Those types of personality fall away very quickly, because when they get any taste of fame and fortune, they lose their motivation and they kind of just fall off. In skating, you have to keep improving your skills: just because you won one big event or because you are known for one trick, that’s not going to resonate. You’ve got to continue to outdo yourself, you’ve got to keep challenging yourself. That’s the hardest part of skating, the evolution of it, the pushing of the limits.

TH: Oh yeah, I mean obviously I’ve seen skating change, but I think that nowadays it’s much more eclectic and the variety of embracement, that the idea of the activity is much cooler now than say 10 or 15 years ago. It was very segregated then, you had this type of skater and this type of skater and if someone did everything, you were considered an average skater. Nowadays, there is national respect for those who can skate a bowl and who can skate a handrail and this and that.

FD: I mean even I picked up a skateboard just being near the scene so much...

TH: Oh it’s much more welcoming now.

There was an attitude kind of towards our area where you had to be super hardcore, you had to live it or you were a poser and you were not going to be accepted into our world. And now it’s much more relaxed and now there are casual skaters, there are kids who play baseball and they skate.

FD: Because there are kids who turn pro and think they are set for life and that that’s it.

FD: Is there anything that you’ve learned growing older and being involved in the sport as long as you have?

TH: Absolutely. And those are the guys who fall off the radar very quickly.

TH: I’ve learned to really enjoy the ride and I don’t want to be cliché but it’s not so much about the destination as it

25

W27 is the journey and I’ve learned to just enjoy the other aspects of it—being able to travel the world, the experiences were just incredible opportunities. The competitions became incidental to the experiences that surrounded them. In terms of being a fierce competitor you learn to really believe in yourself and visualize what you want and how to make that happen. If I learned to work at it [the tricks] that I could just be that much better at it.

FD: Do you cherish the friendships you’ve created within this group of skaters?

TH: I think that even if we don’t keep

in touch regularly, and we haven’t in the past, there is still a heavy connection and we feel that immediately. It’s not like we have to get to know each other again, we know where we stand with that. We’ve definitely been spending more time with each other since the documentary.

FD: Is there one particularly funny story about being out on the road with the guys?

TH: [Laughs] I remember one year Lance [Mountain] and I spent five weeks on the road in the US, then five weeks on the road in Europe almost immediately. Three weeks in Australia and one week in Japan, all back to back to back. And we were all

November 2012

but 19 or something? It was a blast and we loved it and put our hearts into all the appearances and things, but it was awful [laughs]!

FD: You can see in [the 1987 film] The Search for Animal Chin that you guys just had a lot of fun being with one another and just cheering each other on.

TH: That’s the heart of it right there.

That’s exactly why we ever did it. It was a way to try to push limits and to push each other and to just keep getting better. And we didn’t know who would appreciate it but we just happened to keep doing it.

FD: You’ve got a lot going on—anything planned out for the future for Birdhouse or Ride Channel?

TH: Yeah, we just released another video game for all the game consoles. Ride Channel we are still in negotiations for next year but there are some pretty heavy interviews coming out in the next couple of months, many of which relate to the Bones Brigade documentary—there is one with Rodney Mullen and one with Steve Caballero.

To read the Q&A with Stacy Peralta, skateboarder & Director of Bones Brigade, visit w27newspaper.com/post/stacyperalta.

PHILANTHROPY:

BOOK REVIEW:

FOOD FOR THOUGHT...

AND ILLNESSES

THE AGE OF MIRACLES

by Amelia Cheikhali

by Daysha L. Rodriguez

In November, the smell of Thanksgiving dinner wafts through the air. It’s time to be thankful for the things that really matter—like friends, family, your health and especially a full tummy.

Not everyone will be as fortunate during the holidays, however. That’s why this year everyone should give a special thanks to God’s Love We Deliver, for delivering meals to those who are suffering from severe illnesses and cannot manage to cook for themselves.

The organization showed their appreciation to the fabulous designer by renaming their facility “The Michael Kors Building” and declaring July to be “Michael Kors Month.” Guess the fashion industry isn’t as superficial as everyone assumes it to be.

At least we know Michael Kors will be taking part. Back in October, the worldrenowned designer gave his thanks to God’s Love by donating $5 million for their Expansion Campaign, helping them reach the $20 million dollar mark. With the large amount of money raised, God’s Love will be able to continue their extraordinary service. They hope to expand their facility, allowing them to double their clientele to nearly two million people.

God’s Love was founded in 1985 by a woman who personally delivered meals to a man suffering from AIDS. Today, they are the top providers of nutritious, individually tailored meals to every single one of their seriously ill clients. All of the meals are completely free and are given to children and elders as well. God’s Love does not limit themselves to New York but delivers to New Jersey. There is no waiting list, no long forms to fill out and no approval waiting period. In fact, meals are delivered within 24–48 hours from when the order is placed. God’s Love has a small employed staff and over 76,000 volunteers annually who all believe that “food is medicine.”

Michael Kors was awarded the 2012 Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement Monday, October 15, due to his twenty year devotion to God’s Love.

To volunteer at God’s Love, send an e-mail to volunteer@glwd.org or call 212.294.8103. For more information, visit their website at godslovewedeliver.org.

THEATER REVIEW:

THE HEIRESS

by Fernanda DeSouza

of the widowed Dr. Austin Sloper. The Walter Kerr Theater played as the backdrop for the performance, with an elegant set design that transports us back to the late 1880s living room of the Washington Square brownstone. The play follows good-natured Catherine, who suffers blow after blow from her father, Doctor Sloper, who makes sure never to mask the disappointment he has in his daughter, a girl who could never compare to the mother and wife that he so idolized.

The Broadway revival of the 1947 play by Ruth and Augustus Goetz, adapted from the celebrated Henry James tragicomic novel, Washington Square, tells the story of Catherine Sloper, the loveless daughter

Jessica Chastain’s poise and eloquence did not resonate on stage as it so often has on the screen. It’s plain and simple: Chastain is too aesthetically pleasing and personable to be pitied as the plain and hopeless Catherine. The character and her Oscar nominee counterpart translated as uncomfortable and did not result in the

The Age of Miracles can be described either as a story of a middle school girl named Juliawho happens to find herself living in the time of “the slowing,” or as a storyabout “the slowing” through the perspective of a twelve year old girl.

This is not your average post-apocalyptic story, in fact, their world never does “end.”

Instead it just shifts off its normal orbital track causing “the slowing.”

The days and nights begin to lengthen and by the end of the book we find ourselvesliving through a seventy-two hour “day.” As the normal terms of day and night become twisted, scandals break out between those who follow “clock time,” the normal twenty-four hour system, and those who follow “real time,” staying up when the sun is up and sleeping when the sun has set. It’s fascinating to read how such a small slip off the orbital track can cause unnatural occurrences like ozone depletion, the syndrome, gravity changes, a need for personal greenhouses, crops dying and overall strange behavior. The book begs the question, “is this behavior just fate or truly caused by ‘the slowing?’”

performance that many had hoped for in her Broadway debut. It was more exciting to see the character of Aunt Lavinia, an amusing woman to watch, played by the sublime Judith Ivey. Lavinia was refreshingly filled with wit and humor, enough to supplement the characteristics that Catherine lacked.

David Strathairn plays the unpleasant medic who, for years, has struggled to come to terms with the loss of his wife.

Some critics and showgoers argue that Strathairn’s portrayal of Doctor Slopper wasn’t true to the cruelty of the book’s character. His performance was much more pleasant and easier to take in that what was expected—he spread his venomous comments gracefully throughout the dialogue, without having to force his maliciousness. His portrayal reflected his loneliness as a widower with a daughter who hasn’t lived up to the woman he loved. His body language was composed and the look of his tiresome gaze alone spoke for his melancholic state of mind.

A great shift came with the crowd’s relief and excitement at Dan Stevens’s entrance,

Besides the fact that Julia did seem slightly older than a sixth grader, I enjoyed her as a narrator and the book as a whole.

Walker never states exactly how the earth shifted, but her combination of imaginative circumstances with real life issues pull you in to get lost in the white nights with Julia.

no doubt generated by the Downton Abbey fans in the audience. Stevens’s charming persona, extracted from his character Matthew Crawley in the hit period drama, is befitting to his interpretation of Morris Townsend. A handsome young man who has squandered the little that was left of his inheritance to travel the world is caught in the web of the Sloper family and takes a keen and unexpected liking to quiet Catherine. Doctor Sloper tries to catch Townsend at his game, knowing his true intentions are after Catherine’s inheritance, not Catherine herself. Stevens’s performance smoothly transitions from the mesmerizing young fellow to the unraveling of the ill-willed man that he truly is. Much to the crowd’s dismay, Stevens’s allure made it difficult to hate Townsend’s sneaky character.

The Heiress will delight audiences and reveal the New York that was nothing short of respectable occupations, civility and scoundrels in search of large inheritances. If only all scoundrels looked like Matthew Crawley...

HAUTE CULTURE

FIT

26

TUNING IN

by Georgi Dwiggins

5J BARROW Seeing a band live is always a great experience. But, there are certain bands that are made by a live show, bands that have such an energy onstage that every element of the performance adds to the overall sound. Local band 5J Barrow absolutely falls into this category.

The group came together after vocalist Eryn Murman and vocalist/guitar player Jason Hite decided to throw their passion for music into a larger project, creating the beginnings of 5J Barrow. Sitting in the living room of their West Village apartment, the two took their love of inspiring folk music and began to write songs to excite an audience. Less than two months later, pianist Eric Namaky joined the effort and the three began to hone their lively sound, playing local spots around the city.

After recently opening for Rovnik at The Bitter End, the band showed that a year has really allowed them to grow. 5J Barrow makes a point of collaborating with musicians around NYC, adding to their eclectic

sound. Their show at The Bitter End was no exception. With seven people onstage at once, the band felt like one big family of musicians. Their sound resembles bands like Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeroes or The Head and The Heart, with swelling violins and chilling harmonies.

Donning masks for their spirited new single, “Wildwood,” the band was a blur of wild sound. Though they had a few soft acoustic moments, with Murman whispering candid, heartfelt lyrics like, “My logic and soul were torn…” 5J Barrow doesn’t keep it somber for long, as they literally jump into full-on stomping folk rock, making you want to join too.

The band has recently record their first full EP, available at soundcloud. com/5j-barrow.

ROVNIK NYC based group Rovnik has been spending the last month experimenting with new instrumental combinations, influences and ultimately an entirely different sound. The band brought this newfound

energy to their recent show at The Bitter End in Greenwich Village. This historical haunt has hosted the likes of Neil Young and Joan Baez, still holding that unconventional rowdiness that music can inspire.

Starting the show with a sort of 80s influenced and synth-heavy ballad, each member got his own moment to shine.

Showing how they’ve grown individually and together, Rovnik kept the audience guessing through the whole performance.

Anderson’s clean vocals called out over energized beats. Klugman delivered deep bass with quick fingers, while Martinez let his finesse with cymbals play a main role.

Debuting one of the six new songs they played at The Bitter End, the band launched into the “5,4,5.” You could feel the excited energy of their new rhythm.

They’ve become playful and a bit less subdued. “I wanna see you fall at the tip of my gun, come on it’s all just one big game, it’s all for fun,” repeated Anderson in impossible falsettos, bouncing from high to low.

Martinez started to have his fun, launching into an intense drum solo complete with flashing white lights. He brought it up to an electric beat, to which Klugman thumped countering bass. The guys seemed totally immersed in frenzied sound. As remnants of the song vibrated, Martinez and Klugman left the stage so that Anderson could have what he referred to as a “Phil Collins moment.”

Next was a stripped down version of their song, “Stranger in the Night,” then their newer piece, “Confessions of an Anti-Socialite,” in which Anderson sang honestly, “It’s me who makes everything harder than it should be.” This served as interlude to what was the most interesting innovation of Rovnik’s show. After reaching out to another NYC based artist, R&B singer Loretta Antoinette, the band became an interesting blend of talents.

The group gave the audience a rousing cover of Fleetwood Mac’s “Everywhere” and a conversational duet, “Different Scenes.” It was obvious from the crowd’s enthusiasm that Rovnik should continue to keep it different, and keep exploring their changing sound.

INDOOR DATE IDEAS

by Chloe Dewberry

WHEN GOOGLING NEW YORK CITY DATE IDEAS, THE TOP RECOMMENDATIONS YOU'LL MOST LIKELY COME ACROSS ARE ROWING BOATS AT CENTRAL PARK OR WALKING THE BROOKLYN BRIDGE WITH YOUR LOVED ONE. UNFORTUNATELY THE SEASONS ARE CHANGING AND THE IDEA OF WALKING THE HIGHLINE IN THE BLISTERING COLD DOESN'T SEEM AS ROMANTIC AS IT DID IN AUGUST. IT'S TIME TO FIND YOUR WINTER CUDDLING PARTNER AND TAKE THEM TO INDOOR HOTSPOTS BEFORE IT GETS TOO COLD TO LEAVE THE APARTMENT. HERE ARE SOME OF THE BEST DATE SPOTS IN THE BIG APPLE THAT DON'T REQUIRE YOU TO WEAR FIVE LAYERS OF PATAGONIA: NUYORICAN POETS CAFE

SPIN NEW YORK

236 East 3rd Street 212.780.9386

48 East 23rd Street 212.982.8802

Courtesy of en.wikipedia.org

Courtesy of quiteallright.blogspot.com

Listening to poetry all night is only for the mushy-gushy die hard romantics, right?

Wrong. Alphabet City’s Nuyorican Poets Cafe brings poetry for the hip-hop generation—there’s not any way more unique and intimate to spend a romantic Friday night.

Attending one of the club’s Friday night poetry slams will have you and your hubby snapping your fingers at some of the nation’s most talented spoken word artists. You and your date will feel as though you’re in an episode of HBO’s “Def Jam Poetry” as you cuddle in the dive cafe balcony watching and voting on (it’s a contest folks!) some of the nation’s best spoken word potentials.When hostess Mahogany Browne takes a break from getting you and your beau to dance to Bell Biv Davoe’s “Poison,” the poets will make you laugh with their blunt humor or tug at your heartstrings with their words. At least you’ll have a shoulder to cry on.

What you probably thought was a nerdy Olympic sport played by guys who claim "Balls of Fury" is the best movie of all time, turns into a fun and unique weekend date night at Spin. Bring that special someone to the Flatiron sports club/bar and challenge them to a good old fashioned ping pong tournament. The venue also boasts a full bar so the tournament doesn't lose that beer pong feel we college students love so dearly. The prices are steep ($20 for 30 minutes at a ping pong table) but worth it as the the Spin restaurant staff serves kobe beef empanadas to your ping pong table. So serve it up and prove to your significant other that you can play ping pong without breaking a sweat. Loser buys the next round of playing time.

5C CAFE AND CULTURAL CENTER 68 Avenue C 212.477.5993

Courtesy of ontheinside.info

Everyone has those nights where they need to take a break from the warehouse raves and have a relaxing and classy date night.

5C Cafe and Cultural Center is the romantic downtown spot to take that special someone to listen to good music and enjoy a great laid-back atmosphere. While the Alphabet City block may look run down, the vibe is welcoming and alive inside 5C Cafe. The jazz club features a folksy living room space that showcases local music talent while doubling as a low-key vegetarian restaurant. The cafe will make you feel as though you're front row watching John Coltrane while you're cuddled up with your boo eating salmon burgers. Who can resist a spicy mac and cheese and saxophone solo combo?

Feel free to inform your date that the building you're listening to great avant-jazz in was once home to Allen Ginsberg and you'll boost your beat poet knowledge cred.

NITEHAWK CINEMA 136 Metropolitan Avenue 718.384.3980

Courtesy of caliperstudio.com

A night spent at Nitehawk Cinema proves that the best things comes in pairs: dinner and a movie for you and your date. The Brooklyn theater provides a full menu in addition to standard concessions so that you can enjoy an endless course meal while viewing the latest indie movie release. Each theater has paired tables and seats, making it the perfect place to take advantage of the Sunday brunch menu with that OK Cupid date. If the menu and movie screenings aren't enough to convince you to take your next date, maybe the drink menu will be more successful. Ryan Gosling fans will be pleased to know the theater serves a cocktail called "The Driver" that contains Gosling's Black Seal Rum and Gosling's Ginger Beer. The minds behind Nitehawk Cinema know that film themed alcoholic beverages and midnight movies make the perfect date.

27

W27

November 2012 GALLERY REVIEW:

CHUCK CLOSE

by Desiree Perez

CONCERT REVIEW:

NEW ORDER

by Francesca Beltran

After making New Yorkers wait seven long years, the legendary English postpunk band, New Order, took over the Roseland Ballroom on October 18. They played the first of their two completely sold-out dates, finally putting multigenerational fans out of their misery.

Accompanied by background visuals, colored lights, and laser displays, the band played an incredibly varied setlist that began with the instrumental piece, “Elegia.” The piece was written in memory of the late Ian Curtis, lead singer of Joy Division, from which New Order was formed. The band’s most iconic songs were covered including, “Ceremony,” “Age of Consent,” “Bizarre Love Triangle,” “The Perfect Kiss”’ and Joy Divisions’s biggest hit and best-selling 12-inch single of all time, “Blue Monday.”

Throughout the evening, New Order showered attendees with a potpourri of electro-rock tunes, post-punk pieces, and pop songs that covered most, if not all, of the band’s many genres. Fans got to witness why this brilliant combination of new wave and electronic music rapidly positioned New Order as one of the most acclaimed and influential bands of the 80s. In return, the audience showed their

enthusiasm with applause, yelling, dancing and arm-racing.

Despite the absence of founding bassist Peter Hook (replaced by Tom Chapman), the memorable evening wasn’t short of excitement and goose bump inducing moments that proved New Order is one of those few bands worth waiting for.

Moreover, Bernard Sumner’s constant communication with the audience not only showed an endearing sense of humor but also brought the band closer to home.

The main set ended with ‘Temptation,” one of the most applauded songs of the evening. Much to the crowd’s delight the band returned on stage and surprised fans with an audio-visual tribute to Joy Division that included “Atmosphere” and their ultimate hit, “Love Will Tear Us Apart.”

Even if New Order found its own irrefutable success long ago, it was still a fitting tribute for them create a remembrance of where they started and who they started with. Appropriately, the night ended with a sign that read, “Forever Joy Division,” and Sumner’s voice singing, “Love, love will tear us apart again.”

Photography by Francesca Beltran

Photography by Desiree Perez

No music, no appetizers, and certainly no champagne. There was no need for that when the man of the moment was there. He was charming, the ladies liked him and he liked the ladies... a lot.

That's Chuck Close for you, an artist and photographer that has had the chance to photograph and paint sultry women and famous celebrities like Kate Moss.

Despite being paralyzed for life and suffering from prosopagnosia, also known as the inability to recognize faces, Close still manages to stay true to his craft. One of the reasons he paints portraits is to remember the faces he has trouble recognizing. However his portraits aren't only made to help him, they're also made to be admired.

The Pace gallery was filled with many admirers. Groups of three or more gathered around the intricately painted canvases that displayed celebrities like Cindy Sherman and Paul Simon.

The portraits weren't plain; they look like colorful mirrored squares on a disco ball.

The tiny squares, when observed closely, look like they can either reflect or drip.

Yeah you read right, drip. The various

colors he uses in a single square and the shapes he includes makes the colors look as if they're still wet and have a life of their own. The paintings are truly psychedelic. But there was something else more rad about the gallery.

Further into the gallery an excited and smiling group of men and women gathered around in a circle. It wasn't a piece of art they were admiring; it was the artist himself! Sitting in a wheelchair wearing bright yellow tights, he was shaking hands with those around him. Everyone was trying to take pictures and ask him questions as others brushed upon them to be the next one to get a picture. One woman went up to him and they effortlessly greeted with a kiss. Not a kiss on the cheek but on the mouth, a true sign that he really is a ladies man.

The Pace gallery will be showcasing the art of Chuck Close until December 19, 2012.

HAUTE CULTURE

FIT

28 OUTSIDE YOUR BOROUGH:

PARK SLOPE

by Samantha Vance

Famous for quaint restaurants, coffee shops and of course Prospect Park, Park Slope is truly a New York City destination. It’s not rare to see neighbors stop and chat or watch a pack of kids pile into a pastry shop for an afterschool cookie.

Large families as well as chic couples wander the streets, and notably different from Manhattan, they don’t all have a place to be.

Photography by Samantha Vance

To get the full Park Slope experience, start your trek at Prospect Park. If you happen to be there on a Wednesday, stop by the Greenmarket for fresh produce, bread and seasonal treats. Depending on what side of the park you start on, you can make your way to the zoo, which features a great farm animal petting area. Swing by and visit my friend Kale, a dark brown Babydoll sheep. On the way back towards Bartel-Pritchard Square you can meander through the many scenic walking trails.

Once you’ve had your fill of cute animals, think about stopping for a snack.

Colson, a tiny patisserie with an authentic French feel (and owner!) doesn’t disappoint. The café au laits come in cups the size of bowls and the flourless chocolate cake, with its rich flavor and texture, is a must-share.

Retail therapy is a bit different in this neck of the woods. Instead of watching ladies tote four or five shopping bags, you’re more apt to see them carrying

a single bag from The Community Bookstore, a neighborhood gem. Try out their Mystery Book Swap, a program started when the owner of the store and his neighbor had both read all of each other’s mystery novels. The store lets you cart home used mystery novels for a buck apiece—as long as you trade in some of yours. Another Park Slope charmer is Bird, a sweet boutique that boasts highend indie designer apparel and accessories. Take a peek at their new seasonal arrivals, like the faux fur helmet hat from Tsuyumi ($170), or the knit neck ring by Echo ($48), to add some edgy flair to your winter wardrobe.

After you’ve exhausted your legs and perhaps your wallet, hunker down for a traditional Italian meal at Scalino, a personal favorite. Always bustling, the tiny restaurant displays chalkboard style menus and family style service. The staff is always friendly and the food is always good. Order the Rigatoni Scalino, a pasta dish with turkey sausage and thick tomato cream sauce for guaranteed enjoyment, and end the dinner with their delicious chocolate soufflé—a real cherry on top of an authentic Park Slope afternoon.

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W27

November 2012

MONTH IN REVIEW

by Ashley Mungo

CLIMATE CHANGE COMES TO NEW YORK If there were any question about whether climate change and its effects actually exist, skeptics should now have their answer in the form of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy. While it was only a Category 2 storm at the peak of its intensity, Sandy, which started in the western Caribbean and made its way to states like Michigan and Wisconsin, caused extensive damage to the Northeast. It is estimated that Sandy will have caused damages of at least $20 billion, while approximately 199 people were killed by the storm.

neighborhood in Queens, Breezy Point, lost 111 homes due to a fire that engulfed much of the neighborhood. Here in Manhattan, Battery Park had a water surge of 13.88 feet and seven tunnels under the East River flooded. Almost all residents below 39th Street were out of power for more than a week due to damage caused by an explosion at a substation at East 14th Street and F.D.R. Drive.

New Jersey was also badly hit, with a 50 foot piece of the Atlantic City Boardwalk washed away and half of the city of Hoboken having flooded.

The damage in New York was unfathomable, with thousands out of power and hundreds who lost everything from loved ones to their homes. Parts of the Northeast were hit extremely hard, including the south shores of Long Island, Queens and New Jersey. One

As absolutely devastating events like 9/11, and now Sandy, have proven, we as New Yorkers always come together in times of need to build a stronger community. Here at FIT, students were incredibly lucky to have constant electricity, with no reports of structural damage. But because of

mass transit issues, school was closed for the entire week after the storm hit. While many students are native New Yorkers, it is unimaginable what some of our fellow students and professors who were impacted by the storm are going through at this time. Following the aftermath of the hurricane, FIT has done an incredible job in helping our great city and community. A canned food drive is running until December 11th, a blood drive took place on November 15th and links on the FIT website regarding volunteer opportunities have been posted. The general public can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10 to relief efforts.

“FORWARD” WE GO: BARACK OBAMA RE-ELECTED After months of campaigning and billions of dollars spent, the election finally came to a close on Tuesday, November 6th when incumbent Barack Obama went head to head Republican candidate Mitt Romney in one of the most expensive campaigns in the history of our country.

When everything was said and done, after the candidates had made every effort they possibly could by travelling to sometimes up to three states in one day to pour their hearts out to voters, America went to the polls and decided to give President Obama another four years in the White House.

Courtesy of i.dailymail.co.uk.

On the day of the election, both candidates were essentially tied in the national polls, with President Obama leading narrowly in state polls. Some blogs had President Obama’s chance at re-election at 90.9 percent, while other people bet millions that Mitt Romney would travel to victory. As results started to pour in on Tuesday night, the outcome was still unclear. Polls in states that were almost certainly going to go to Mitt Romney closed first, therefore allowing Romney to have the advantage in electoral votes early on. But what really mattered were nine specific states: the swing states that would ultimately determine the election, which are Colorado, Ohio, Wisconsin, Florida, Virginia, Iowa, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Nevada. The most important of those swing states was Ohio, as a Republican candidate has never won the election without carrying Ohio.

Many people in the media expected the race to remain essentially tied until the early hours of the next day, but the race was called at around 11 P.M. eastern time when President Obama was projected the winner, and as exit polls showed his most loyal supporters were women,

minorities and young people. He took all of the swing states, but lost two states that he carried in 2008, North Carolina and Indiana.

Towards the end of the night, Mitt Romney chose not to concede, even as almost every media outlet projected President Obama the winner, as he and his advisors thought the race was still too close to call. At around 1 A.M. the next morning, Romney finally conceded to President Obama and gave his concession speech in Boston to his most loyal supporters. With undeniable sadness in his eyes, he congratulated President Obama on his victory, with prayers that he will be successful in guiding America. Shortly after, President Obama gave his victory speech in Chicago, in which he spoke of never being more hopeful for America and listed key things he hopes to accomplish in his second term, such as immigration reform, energy independence and deficit reduction.

As the results of this election are ultimately clear, what is not is how congress will work with President Obama the second time around. Republicans still control the House, and Democrats the Senate, but with no re-election ahead, President Obama can finally be firm in implementing the change of which he speaks so highly of, to hopefully be remembered as the President who unified an extremely divided America.

FIT SPEAKS Shelter from the Storm

by Fernanda DeSouza

Where the hell did that hurricane come from? Not only was it unwanted but also caused a sensation on the social media sphere. The Grease Sandy meme for one and the ridiculous (yet funny) Hurricane Sandy Twitter handle: “What if ‘Gangam Style’ was actually just a giant rain dance and we brought this hurricane on ourselves?”

I started my preparation for the storm at the grocery store, much of which resembled a zoo gone awry. Having lived in Miami, I knew exactly what to expect: empty shelves, screaming children, and grumpy, old, overly prepared women.

Although I (and my building) luckily survived unscathed, I took the precautions: bottled water (Evian was on sale two for four dollars!), taping my windows, and cooking enough food to last four or so days in case of losing power. But nonetheless, I ventured out a few hours before the storm became destructive to take photographs on Chelsea Piers and the sight was overwhelming. A scene straight out of The Day After Tomorrow minus an adorable Jake Gyllenhaal.

HERE ARE A JUST A FEW THINGS SANDY RUINED: ΩΩ Halloween I was really looking forward to a killer rooftop party in Williamsburg to celebrate the successful completion of my tennis season. And not to mention a chance to win some prize cash for best costume—as skateboard legend, Stacy Peralta. I thought it appropriate for a party hosted by a skateboarding shop, right?

Cancelled (also, R.I.P. Halloween Parade and children’s trick-or-treat nostalgia).

I still managed to make the best of my Peralta costume, skating up and down 9th Avenue with a blond wig, but naturally nobody understood my costume in Hell’s Kitchen, nor did I expect them to. I found that shouting “gnarly bro!” at passersby helped a bit. The highlight of my night?

Scoring a $2 Chipotle “Boorito” for my friends and me.

were forced to live like primitive animals in search of refuge, for the closest operating deli and for a hint of electricity to charge our iPhones, MacBooks and iPads.

I found myself the day after the storm eating at the only restaurant open on Macdougal Street in Greenwich Village— being run on a generator resembling a John Deere tractor. The best part was the owner shared it with the neighbors to allow them to charge all their electronics.

ΩΩ NYC Marathon

ΩΩ Rats, Rats, Rats

I can’t run more than two miles without self-inflicting an asthma attack. These people have trained for months, if not years, to run this course and motivate me to get off my lazy butt. Jilting me from this motivation will prove dangerous, especially with the food-infested holidays right around the corner. I guess I’ll have my Doritos to comfort my shame instead.

Did the gushing water drive out all the rats that hide in the crevices of the underworld of our subway system? If they didn’t find shelter that means their dead bodies are just floating about. Insert gagging and/or vomiting noises here.

Internet sensation overnight. ΩΩ Free Subway Rides Not that I had anywhere to go since everything was on a “Closed for Apocalyptic Holiday” schedule but how badass did it feel walking through those opened emergency doors without paying? Also, Sandy probably did a little scrubbing of our 108year old, grotesque subway system. Could West 4th be a little cleaner!? ΩΩ Quality Time With Our Beds

ΩΩ Occupy Wall Street: You know what occupied Wall Street?

Sandy. Okay, we don’t hate Wall Street enough for us to wish it a victim of extensive flooding. Nor do we hate sketchy areas of Brooklyn, Queens, and yes, even Snooki’s very own Jersey Shore. The damage was extensive, leaving some of our very own Financial District classmates homeless for some time. Now do you people believe in global warming? This storm was Al Gore’s slap to you nonbelievers’ faces. ΩΩ The Hunger Games With the lack of power for many of us, we

When was that last time you slept in FIT? Without worrying about beating a classmate to the computer lab or sewing machine at an ungodly hour. Be honest. ΩΩ Attitude Adjustment

ΩΩ President Who? Although the election has come and gone, the fact that hundreds of voting stations in the East Coast suffered power outages proves that Sandy was anti-American and made sure to strip citizens of their American duty.

SOME GOOD DID COME OUT OF SANDY: ΩΩ Rediscovering Mayor Bloomberg’s Spanish Wow. You’ve got to give it to the man for trying. Better than yours or mine, I bet. And I’m sure it was the first time you giggled since before the storm hit.

Let’s not forget his right-hand lady, the sign language translator who became an

Other than after the 9/11 attacks, there was never a time where New Yorkers were so nice, especially to one another. It’s reassuring to know that when NYC goes through an I Am Legend scenario that its citizens will have one another’s back (take the aforementioned owner of the restaurant with generator). All over Facebook and Twitter, friends posted statuses offering their apartments, electricity and food for those less fortunate. Cue Toy Story’s “You’ve Got a Friend in Me.” The damage caused by the Frankenstorm will be ongoing for weeks. If you want to donate, please visit redcross.org, or call 800.Red.Cross or text the word “Redcross” to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Technology is Ruining Your Love Life

by Richard Gilmartin

WHETHER YOU REALIZE IT OR NOT, TECHNOLOGY HAS SLOWLY BEEN CREEPING UP ON YOUR LOVE LIFE AND IS SLOWLY SUFFOCATING IT. BE IT TEXTING, COMMENTING, TWEETING, INSTAGRAMMING, OR JUST SURFING THE INTERNET IN GENERAL, THERE’S ALMOST NO HOPE THAT ROMANCE WILL COME OUT OF THIS BATTLE ALIVE. ΩΩ Texting For whatever reason, giving a girl your number pretty much gives them permission to act like a crazy person and weirdly obsess over you during their every waking moment. I’ve seen it time and time again,

a guy texts a girl saying that he’s going to his lacrosse practice and for the next four hours the girl anxiously sits by her phone waiting for him to answer her texts. “OH MY GOD, WHERE ARE YOU?” “ARE YOU WITH ANOTHER GIRL? WHY DON’T YOU LUV ME?!?” Chill out, we just met yesterday.

means that the two of you are having secret liaisons. You can’t even lie low and ignore your crazy boyfriend’s 75 text messages because you can’t have a girl’s night out without your bestie, Trisha, checking you into 1Oak and posting at least five pictures of it. Good looks, Trish. ΩΩ Hook-Up Apps

ΩΩ Social Media Social media has made it pretty much impossible for anybody to have any sort of privacy anymore and it’s probably the number one tool of boyfriends/girlfriends with trust issues to single handedly destroy their own relationship. God forbid your ex from sophomore year of high school comments on your post about your dog passing away, because that obviously

This one is mainly for gay men looking to merely hook up with the closest abled body (What up, Grindr). Seriously though, do I even need to explain why this ruins romance? Just remember that somewhere Paris Hilton is in the back of a cab judging you for your actions. (Go read TMZ if you don’t know what I’m talking about.)

No judgment here though.

ΩΩ Porn Most girls at FIT complain that they can’t find a decent boy. “Where are all these boys anyways?” they say. “At least 15% of the population at FIT is male, we need to find that 15%!” Well ladies, I’ll tell you where they are, in their rooms. That’s right, they’re all watching porn! They just couldn’t handle all the estrogen floating around in the halls of the A Building any longer. Here’s a helpful tip, next time you see one of these elusive creatures, make sure you have brushed up on who’s who in the porn industry right now so you at least have something to talk about besides nail polish. Really though, we don’t care that your Essie nail polish color is out of season.

W27

Amy Marietta | FMM | Favorite app/website: “The Fancy, because it is like Pinterest except you can buy the items!”

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Paul Tomasiello | FMM | Favorite app/website: “Instagram is the best.”

November 2012

Jessi Lembo | Photography | Favorite app/website: “I love Soundhound.”

Photography by Jessica Farkas

Brittany DiSpirito | FMM | Favorite app/website: “Instagram is awesome.”

Logan Combs | FMM | Favorite app/website: “Instagram all the way!”

THIS MONTH STUDENTS STAY AHEAD OF THE TREND BY SEEKING INSPIRATION FROM THE LOWER EAST SIDE’S PUNK SCENE OF THE PAST. FROM DR. MARTINS, ADIDAS SNEAKERS AND BLACK PANTS, TO CRAZY 80S-INSPIRED PATTERNS AND MANIC PANIC HAIR COLORS. IT’S OUT WITH THE NEW AND IN WITH THE OLD, SO DON’T BE AFRAID TO RUMMAGE THROUGH YOUR PARENT’S CLOSET!

Kelly Lettieri | AMC | Favorite app/website: “MosaLingua is pretty cool.”

Jonathon Cioffi | Communication Design | Favorite app/ website: “Snapchat is really great.”

Dana Russ | Accessories Design | Favorite app/website: “Instagram is my favorite.”