Your Magazine Vol. 4 Issue 14: February 2015

FEB 2Ø15

INTRODUCTION

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Volume 4 Issue 11 • October 2014 CLAUDIA MAK

Creative Director & Head of Design

DANNY LEMAR

Editor-in-Chief

MATTHEW MULLEN Managing Editor

CHRIS GARCIA+ NOUR BASSAD

Asst. Editor-in-Chief

Head Copy Editor

CHELSEA TREMBLAY

CHRISTABEL FRYE

ANDREA PALAGI

RIANA ODIN

PIM PHONGSIRIVECH

Photo Director Romance Editor Living Editor

CHRSTIAN LOPEZ

Marketing Director

PEYTON DIX

A&E Editor

Art Director

HANNAH PERRIN+ RIVKA HERRERA YMtv Directors

CAITLYN BUDNICK

Style Editor

HALEY SHERIF

Asst. Creative Director

MADELINE BILIS+ KAREN MORALES Web Editors

Copy Editors JACQUELYN MARR, PAULINA PASCUAL, KELSEY PERKINS, JAMIE KRAVITZ, CHRISTABEL FRYE, ARIELA RUDY, DIANA DILORETO, ISABELLA DIONNE, JULIA ROBERTO

Marketing ELISE MESA, JAMIE IANNACE, KINSEY MINSCHKE, REBECCA FLUHR, KELSEY JOHNSON, TRACY PARCO, LIA BROUILLARD,

CAMILA ORIOL, BRIANNA MARTINIELLI, ESTHER GLASIONOV, MAX CHERRY, NATALIE BENJAMIN, STELLA SANGUANSIN, NIKOLAI JACKOWSKI

YMtv AMANDA GOMEZ, LINDSAY GUALTIERI, TERRENA SCANNELL, MEGHIN HEWITT, RORY MCCANN, WILLIAM VICKROY, STEPHANIE PUMILIA, JAIME TOSCANO, ALEXANRDA JAMES, TATIANA OCHOA, ANDY KEYES

Layout Design by CLAUDIA MAK, HALEY SHERIF, AND MATT MULLEN Editorial Credits: SCOTCH & SODA, AllSAINTS SPITALFIELDS, AMERICAN APPAREL

INTRODUCTION

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LETTER FROM THE EDITOR

THIS IS WHAT FEBRUARY feels like: every day

I check my email to find that Emerson has been closed. Everyone is tweeting about how horrible their morning commute is. Every Instagram I see is of mountains of snow. Every morning, I layer, wrap, bundle, and pack clothes onto myself before walking outside. Everything is cold, hard, bitter, and grey.

Now, I am a person who looks at the bright side of things.

I’m the trademark optimist of a group and it’s hard to wear my spirit down. So February, with its stainless steel color scheme and slushy snow that stops being fun after the first flurry, is something I can find the silver lining in.

First, the sore thumb of the month: VD. Saint Valentine’s Day. I don’t think I’ve ever met someone who actively likes Valentine’s day. It’s tough if you’re in a couple, battling the building pressures of the day’s expectations. It’s not fun if you’re single, when being alone turns into societal-induced loneliness. So find the fun stuff to do. My mom has been and will always be my Valentine, so I can cross any reasons to be mopey off my list. My method is making sure that I am spending my time with my friends, the real loves of my life. This year, I’m planning to eat a ton of greasy, high-sodium Chinese food while seeing JLo’s The Boy Next Door. (I’m so happy to see her back on the big screen.) Two things I love: Chinese food and a movie that stars Jenny from the Block. Find things you love and go for it.

Second, the weather. It could be worse. Moving on.

Third, “February Fatigue.” You know what I’m talking about. The fact that, aside from these seemingly unending and slightly annoying snow days, we don’t get time off during this month. Spring Break is forever away, our weekends are rushed, and the groundhog always sees his shadow. You know what I say? There’s always something to do. Some ideas that I’ve recently come across, based on my interests are: a documentary on Youtube about the Spice Girls. I had no idea that the group faced the problems they did, that Ginger left and the other four continued onward without her, and that Baby wasn’t originally part of the gang. Some really thought-provoking stuff. Next, reading. If you’re reading this, you’ve got a head start! Right now, I’m re-re-rereading Gillian Flynn’s Gone Girl and finished Dark Places a few weeks ago. Disclaimer: maybe read the latter in a brighter, more happy time (it’s, well, dark). Books help us escape. Go where you want to go. And lastly, while everyone was freaking out about Netflix getting Friends (I hate Ross the way some people hate February), I was watching Happy Endings on Youtube. HE was a short-lived sitcom that made me laugh my ass off. If you have a sense of humor, you should check it out.

I know this isn’t comprehensive, but I hope that you can find some light in what I’ve written here. Like Beyoncé says, “Stop making a big deal out of the little things.” And you can’t argue with that.

XO,

INTRODUCTION

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CON A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO VIBRATORS DIY VALENTINE’S DAY

TWO GUYS, TOO LITTLE TIME

LOVE FOR LEATHER OH MY EYEWEAR! BEAUTY HABITS TO BREAK WEST CO.

FASHION SPEAK INTRODUCTION

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BRITNI BIRT BRITNI BIRT

CHELSEA TREMBLAY

MEGAN CATHEY ANDREA PALAGI ANDREA PALAGI PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHRIS GARCIA

KAREN MORALES

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SOME SAULT FOR YOUR STYLE 36.

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THE POWER OF THE SEED 39.

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HOT BODY HOLIDAY 41.

5 EMERSONIANS TO FOLLOW ON INSTAGRAM 42.

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WHERE TO LIVE OFF-CAMPUS 45.

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50 SHADES OF CONTROVERSY 49.

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RICH PEOPLE FOOD 51.

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A+E PLAYLIST: RURAL 53.

A+E PLAYLIST: URBAN 54.

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CHRISTIAN LOPEZ SYDNEY HANNIBAL LINDSEY GONZALES LINDSEY PARADIS JAMIE KRAVITZ

LINDSEY PARADIS CHRISTABEL FRYE CASSANDRA MARTINEZ CASSANDRA MARTINEZ

INTRODUCTION

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ROMANCE

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a beginner’s 2014 WAS THE YEAR of Ice Bucket Challenges and

Kim K breaking the Internet. It was also coincidentally the year of me breaking my sex life into thousands of pieces. This called for a brief six-month hiatus to figure out what exactly I wanted from guys—and from my vagina. After awhile, I realized it wasn’t a stable boyfriend I was after, but instead a mind-blowing orgasm. I suspected I could somehow achieve this on my own. Sure, sometimes an I-never-knewmy-body-could-look-so-much-like-a-pretzel hookup can do wonders, but I thought that if I was going to consider myself a true sexpert, a little experimentation was necessary. While I am all about au natural, I figured why not switch it up and use technology to achieve the perfect O? I rounded up two of my girls and decided it was time for a little field trip to Vibrator Village to invest in something even better than a boyfriend. What we learned is that the best sex comes from being empowered, and toys aren’t just for kids. So do yourself a favor and grab an adult toy (you’re allowed to play too), do a little experimenting, and follow these tips to become a self-serving goddess.

Luckily, making your first ever vibrator purchase is less intimidating than it may seem. There are plenty of online resources with reviews to give you an idea of each one’s differences and the ones that work best for your body. However, with something as personal as this, it might be more helpful to have a little face-to-face interaction. I knew as much about vibrators as I knew about sports: absolutely nothing. For me, having someone there to not judge me when I giggled at these handy-dandy tools was a must. Search for local sex shops in your area, and call first with any questions just to feel out the type of service and knowledge offered. The most important thing is that you feel comfortable with the experience. I asked about 100 questions before making my decision; which vibrator is best for beginners, which material is best, and how does that fit inside anyone?

All inquiries are valid, so definitely ask away! That way you can leave knowing you have the tool to satisfy you in the right way without breaking the bank—or your vagina.

by Britni Birt

ROMANCE

guide to vibrators

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It is definitely easy to get overwhelmed; they haven’t quite found a way to fill a Toys-R-Us sized store with adult toys, but the selection is still pretty daunting. You can choose from thousands of tickling, buzzing, twisting, and battery-operated objects meant to bring you pleasure, so how can you possibly know where to start? I definitely didn’t.

Vibrators and dildos are the two main doors into sex toy land, but the best place to start is with a vibrator. As more than half of all women can reach orgasm solely through clitoral stimulation, there are three basic options to make sure the clit is being serviced as much as you need. These three types are great for beginners looking to reach anything from a complete orgasm to some extra clitoral lovin’.

C-love: These are vibrators that focus entirely on clitoral stimulation. These typically come in wand form or smaller versions of a regular vibrator. They can be placed on the clit for maximum stimulation. You will see a lot of these in an egg or bullet shape, but when purchasing one in wand form, look for a head that rotates side to side rather than up and down. The left to right movement keeps the clit from becoming too sensitive and allows for multiple orgasms in a close range of time. These types of vibrators are great for girls who know they need their C to O. What’s up Doc? A rabbit vibrator is the best happy medium for someone looking for both external and internal pleasure. This is a two-pronged vibrator that allows you to service the clitoris and the vagina simultaneously. It is called a rabbit because the outer prong of the toy tends to resemble a pair of rabbit ears. These typically are made of rubber, silicone, or latex and come in a wide range of colors and sizes.

You’re a G: We all need a little G-spot loving, and while it is not quite as easy to find as Young Money makes it sound, some girls feel like it’s the magic lamp that just can’t be reached—or rubbed for that matter. So grab a friend (a G-spot vibrator that is) and get searching.

A G-spot vibrator is similar to a regular vibrator but it has a curve and usually some sort of softer coating, either a jelly or silicone texture.

The curve tends to happen more in the tip for these kinds of vibrators so there is an optimal reach back to the G-spot.

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You might be a girl who knows her G-spot like the back of her hand but needs a little more clitoral stimulation, or the other way around, but this is a gotta-collect-them-all scenario. Did you have just one toy as a kid? Didn’t think so. It is totally okay to just grab one and see where it takes you or start building your collection now with a basket full. Some sex shops even offer toy chests for your special collection.

Now while these aren’t the real things, there are still some safety precautions to take for the down-there area. Buying your first vibrator is an investment, no matter how much you choose to spend, and without proper care, they have the potential to contract harmful bacteria and even STI’s. Make sure to use these safety tips for a clean and healthy relationship with your new best friend.

Mr. Clean: Cleaning them is crucial. This may sound like a duh moment but many women forget to clean their sex toys. The best way to keep up with this is doing a quick rinse off after use with warm water and a gentle soap or even a pH-balanced wash like Summer’s Eve cleanser. Most stores even sell a special spray. This will keep the bacteria to a minimum and ensure your toy will be around a lot longer.

Lather up: Lube is great, but make sure you are using a kind that won’t be harmful to the material of your toy. Most water-based lubricants should be fine with the jelly or silicone outer shell, but make sure to ask if they are compatible before purchasing.

Finders, Keepers: Not that you plan on hanging it next to a picture of Mom and Dad, but make sure your vibrator is stored somewhere safe and concealed. The silicone finish can attract dust and other air particles, making it grimy. It’s also important to check the batteries once in a while and even pop them out if you aren’t using it frequently to avoid corrosion.

With a little research and the right mindset, this is the kind of commitment so worth making. Grab a friend and gear up for the sure-to-be-eventful process of buying your first sex toy. Once you find your soul mate, maybe a G-spot for your V-spot, make sure to give him a little extra love and care to ensure a long and happy life with your main man. Go get some good vibrations!

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ROMANCE

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yad s’enitnelav yid diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day diy valentine’s day yad s’enitnelav yid ROMANCE

by Ellie Romano Photo Art by Chris Garcia

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VALENTINE’S DAY is a celebration of love— and to celebrate it, lovers

and friends often exchange gifts to express their appreciation for each other.

But choosing the right gift is no easy feat, especially for a holiday with so many feelings attached to it. There are a million questions you have to ask yourself before you decide on a gift: Will they like it? What are they getting me? Is this enough to spend on them? Is this too much money? Or too little? What size do they wear? Does this gift express the correct amount of affection I feel for them?

This year, to avoid the stress of hitting the stores and trying to find the perfect gift, think about the alternative: making the gift yourself.

Do it yourself—or DIY—gifts, are a great way to show your love. The fact that you are creating the gift by hand shows that you put a lot of effort into the gifting process, more so than any price tag could ever show. Another plus about DIY gifts is you don’t have to break the bank when making them. Furthermore, DIY gifts are unique and personalized, which will create sentimental reactions. Not to mention, they will last longer than any bouquet of flowers.

Now that you have been convinced a DIY gift is the way to go, here are some popular DIY gifts to give:

A MIXED CD:

If you or the recipient of the gift is a music lover, you can’t go wrong with making them a mixed CD. This is a past time that’s been going on since cassette tapes were still the iPods in life. You could make a CD of some of your favorite songs you want to expose the recipient of the gift to, or you could fill it with some of their favorite songs to show them you know their interests. You could also go with a more romantic route and create a CD with some more sensual/amorous songs—this could turn into a great sex playlist between the two of you down the line if you play your cards right.

COLLAGE:

Gathering up pictures of the two of you, creatively pasting them together and then framing the final product creates a sentimental gift reminding the recipient of all the great times you two have shared. It is an easy way to warm another’s heart—and nearly free of charge.

FOOD:

Baking on Valentine’s day is very appropriate, since it is a holiday that revolves around eating candy. Spending a little time in the kitchen baking cakes, brownies, or cupcakes will show your special someone that you put time into creating something for them—and who would be unhappy about receiving cupcakes? Plus, with some pink icing you could write a romantic note or designs on your pastries adding the ideal Valentine’s vibe.

SHARPIE MUGS:

If you have some blank mugs and sharpies lying around, you have another DIY gift right at your fingertips. You can personalize the mugs with any design or message you want and give a practical gift your significant other can use every day—meaning they have a reminder of you first thing in the morning.

A LIST:

Compiling a list of all the reasons you like the recipient of the gift is bound to produce wanted flattery. This idea can be executed in more creative ways then just writing the reasons down on a piece of paper and sending it in an envelope. One unique idea is to take a deck of cards, hole punch each one and bind the pack together with a ribbon, and then write a reason on each card.

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Just to prove to some of you skeptics out there who aren’t yet fully convinced DIY gifts are the way to go, we at Your Mag have compiled some success stories of DIY gifting.

Charlie Casey ‘17 reminisced to us on his favorite Valentine’s day gift. He says, “In high school my girlfriend at the time and I had really different tastes in music. For Valentine’s day she made me a CD that had a bunch of different songs from her style of music that she thought I’d like and threw in a few songs from my genre to create a really good variety... I still have the CD in my car.” This is an example of a small, easy DIY gift that could last years.

“Best Valentine’s day gift was a prom-posal from my boyfriend in high school during the dress rehearsal for my senior musical,” says Amelia Fabiano ‘17. “We played love interests in the show and the scene he did it in, his character was actually supposed to ask me to a dance anyways.” She received this unique gift through song, which is another DIY gift idea—writing a love song if you are so musically inclined.

Timmy Joseph, a sophomore at Rutgers University chose a variation of “the list” idea to give his girlfriend. “I gave her literally the cutest card I ever wrote, there was like a complete essay inside telling her why I loved her,” says Joseph. He also gave her a stuffed animal, chocolate and jewelry as he admitted “I really went hard” to make it the best V-Day he could, and a DIY gift was all part of it.

Similar to Timmy, Melissa Rosenberg ‘17, made her sweetheart a Valentine’s day card but added her own twist to it. “I once took a selfie of me holding a happy Valentine’s day card in front of all of [my boyfriend’s] favorite things—fave pizza place, fave dessert place, park, movie theater...and then we went and enjoyed all those things.”

Mari Skoultchi, a sophomore at Wagner College, proved the quickest way to the heart is through the stomach by saying her favorite Valentine’s day gift was homemade cookies from her boyfriend spelling out “Happy Valentine’s day.”

DIY gifts can vary in size and shape. But Logan Reever ‘17 summarizes DIY gifts best when he says, “I feel just showing gratitude towards whoever you’re with is what it’s about.” As long as your handmade present represents your feelings, the size and shape of the gift won’t matter.

As Valentine’s day approaches this year, if you find yourself at a loss for what to give to a certain someone, remember, you can’t go wrong with DIY. In many cases, it has a more meaningful effect on the gift receiver since they are getting a sentimental item, not material. Even if you are not the most crafty person and your gift doesn’t turn out like the pictures all over Pinterest, don’t forget, it’s always the thought that counts.

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two guys

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TOO LITTLE TIME

FRIDAY NIGHT DATE: three hours ROMANTIC WEEKEND GETAWAY IN DC: 48 hours ARGUING ABOUT DATING TWO GUYS AT ONCE: felt like a lifetime

by Chelsea Tremblay

ROMANCE

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I SPENT

an entire weekend combating the “Why are you paying more attention to him?” game before I realized that trying to date two people at once is the worst idea, ever.

I can’t even give the men all of the blame for my misery.

Have you ever noticed how people urge you to be an adult and make your own decisions until it comes to matters in your personal life, and then suddenly every aunt and third cousin has an opinion?

Suddenly, everyone else happens to know what is best for you, like a swarm of Emily Gilmores pushing their way into your private matters. My friends and family all wanted to argue about this casual dating thing. Time is a precious thing, and I was spending far too much of it discussing who was taking me to dinner (and other late night activities). As a working college student preparing for a semester in a new city and a new internship, I should have referenced the timeless, classic saying: ain’t nobody got time for that.

This is not a “how to,” but rather a “how not to” or even a “please don’t get yourself into this train wreck.” Sure, there are probably plenty of proficient casual daters out there, but I cannot rank myself among them. I’m five months into this hiatus and am still trying to figure out the “rules” (or lack thereof ).

To begin, let me take you to the period I refer to as the Dark Days.

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I was changing names in my phone, clearing my text inbox 10 times a day, and constantly lying about where I was. I would go to bed with the guilty conscience of knowing I had the dried kisses of two different guys on my skin. Sometimes I would wake up in the arms of one and fall asleep in the arms of another.

Who was I? I always used to be the good girl, the girl you could take home to mom. Was casualness turning me into an unrecognizable person—or an even scarier thought, showing me who I really was?

I didn’t even know if I was doing it correctly. Was there a way to do it correctly? Sharing your time, your affection, and your body with different people in the same week—I’ve never heard of a For Dummies edition for that.

I wasn’t sure if I was cut out for casual dating. I knew if I could look at myself from an outside perspective, I wouldn’t like what I saw. I knew if I switched roles with the guy lying next to me (whichever one it was that day), I wouldn’t like me very much.

When my boyfriend of four years and I decided to try seeing other people I thought it was a great idea. Our most popular pastime was binging TV shows—as 20 year olds, weren’t we missing something? I felt like there was more for us out there than being able to debate which season of American Horror Story is the best.

Surely at my prime I should be wined and dined (or hit on at the bar, at the very least).

I thought maybe, just maybe, so many people decide to stay out of serious relationships in college because—who would have thought?—it’s fun?

It isn’t like there was a MRS degree I had to worry about losing, so why shouldn’t I utilize this time to be youthful, free, and a bit reckless? Initially, I was intrigued at the notion that my days of commitment had ended, and that I was finally breaking free from the chains of pre-marital marriage.

And then I was suddenly attempting to tackle a whole new beast: dating two guys at once. Let me tell you, this beast kicked and thrashed.

The first lesson in how to screw up casual dating is to date someone you have a serious past with. Yes, I committed the sin to end all casual dating sins: I agreed to see my ex. That made this metaphorical beast very upset. To most, this is probably an obvious no-no, but I’ve already explained my inadequacy at this game. At face value it seems like an alright idea; dating someone you already have chemistry with eliminates the difficulty of having to find

someone who remotely interests you. However, if we break it down to simple science, males are possessive beings. They don’t like when others try to take what belongs to them. In no way did I ever, or will I ever, view myself as someone’s belonging, but our past gave him a sense of possessiveness that was hard to overcome when I explained that other people were allowed to “play with his toy.”

Okay, okay, so maybe I wasn’t that honest up front. The word casual was thrown around, but no explicit details were shared—and that was problematic. Sure, there’s no need to hand over all the dirty details of your excursions, but if you are bringing someone into your lifestyle, you have to be transparent about it. It turns out, people are obsessed with titles. Boyfriend, girlfriend, friends with benefits.

I was repeatedly asked, “What are we?” As it turns out, saying “This is not going anywhere serious, we are dating and having fun with no strings” works better than hiding the truth of the situation. And if they don’t like “no strings” then they will walk away and you will have avoided a major headache.

Being honest with others is just as important as being honest with yourself. One of the guys I was seeing tried to change my mind; he told me he loved me and wanted us to be in a serious relationship. At this point, I committed a casual dating sin that would put the aforementioned sin to shame: used the L-word back. If there is anything that can make “casual” burst up in flames, it is that move right there, ladies and gentlemen. I lied to myself about what I wanted in order to make him happy, and I only ended up hurting him more when I realized my mistake. If you know you aren’t ready for something that either ends in a break up or in marriage, don’t lie about your feelings.

We have been drilled with the value that lying is bad since we could talk, but apparently it didn’t sink in for me. I lied a lot. “Oh, I’m sleeping over my friend’s house.” Or “I have no clue how I got this UTI.” Or “I’m just texting my mom.” Lying just led to guilt and paranoia—I couldn’t even enjoy this time of “freedom” because I was constantly worried about getting caught in my lie. It is so much easier to tell the truth, no matter how ugly it is.

Setting boundaries helps the whole honesty thing actually work. I realized that after being asked whose penis is bigger; honesty was a real kick in the ass then. I haven’t figured out the best “bound-

aries speech” yet; my first one went something like “Don’t ask who I’m with or what I do with other guys in my personal time because it’s none of your damn business—as a single adult I am free to do what I want when I want and I won’t be interrogated!”

The middle of a fight may not be the best time to give the boundaries speech.

What advice I can give women about this situation (sorry, guys) is not to let gender barriers stop you from living the lifestyle you want to live. Generally, males are given a “get out of jail free” pass when it comes to dating and sleeping with different partners while females get a tarnished reputation. (To the jerks out there: girls do not get “loose” from having too much sex!) I had a difficult time getting over feeling grimy about being interested in two guys at once. I wasn’t sure if I had just been conditioned to think I was acting badly or if I was truly being bad. Was I being slutty or just embracing the freedom of being 21?

I decided that it had nothing to do with my age; I was embracing the freedom of being a free-thinking, independent, “fun”loving adult. As long as I was being safe and staying within the bounds of my moral compass, I could do whatever I pleased. Yes, it took me a few trial runs to find a middle ground that pleased my morals, but I found a place somewhere between woman of the cloth and town bicycle. Let me be clear, I’m not encouraging meaningless hookups. I’m encouraging those of you out there who aren’t sure if you are happy to find joy in the idea that you don’t have to play by the rules—and that goes for everyone.

I am still building upon my working knowledge of what it means to be “casual” and how you can achieve that as a reality, not only an ideal. Balancing two people’s emotions (well, technically three, including my own) is no easy feat. Thankfully, I’ve come a long way from wondering if only street walkers are allowed to sleep with multiple people in one day.

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love for leather

by Megan Cathey Stock Photography

STYLE

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JACKETS

Few clothing items are more quintessentially American than a leather jacket. A black leather jacket is a staple in a wardrobe for it’s versatility—it looks amazing with jeans and a T-shirt or over a cocktail dress. Leather jackets are available in multiple silhouettes, from the classic biker jacket style, to a more structured blazer style with lapels and a collar. For something different, try a leather jacket in a fun color. A pastel pink jacket will easily transition into spring. Or if you’re aren’t sure that leather jackets are quite your style, try a jacket with leather detailing, like a parka with leather sleeves, or a cotton blazer with leather lapels. Check out Topshop for a sleek blazer with faux leather lapels (Topshop, $125).

TOPS

One of the more popular ways to incorporate leather in an outfit is to wear a shirt or blouse with leather detailing. Consider a button-down blouse with a leather collar. For a more comfortable option, try a cotton tee with a leather pocket (Check out J.Crew, $100). Leather detailing, like leather sleeves or pockets, gives an unexpected upgrade to your basic tops. For a night out, consider a leather tank. Nasty Gal offers multiple leather crop tops that are under $100. Pair a leather crop top with high-waisted pants or skirt.

LEGGINGS + PANTS

SKIRTS + DRESSES

ACCESSORIES

Tired of denim? Try a pair of the leather leggings or pants instead. Zara has multiple pairs of faux leather trousers for under $100. Pair with a buttondown blouse and heels for a modern, sophisticated look. Although black is always a good option, pairs in chestnut or burgundy are perfect for winter.

If you’re looking for a more comfortable option, upgrade your basic cotton leggings with a leather pair. Check out Asos.com for multiple brands with leather leggings, starting at $30. Keep the look casual for class with an oversized sweater and sneakers. For a more subtle way to incorporate leather, try a pair of trousers with leather piping down the sides. Check out J.Crew for pants with leather detailing that are still appropriate for work or an internship (J.Crew, $158).

Toughen up more feminine silhouettes with some leather. More conservative silhouettes are anything but boring when leather is involved. Try Ann Taylor for a faux leather pencil skirt (Ann Taylor, $100). Style with a top in contrasting fabric, like a fuzzy sweater. Or if you find pencil skirts too restrictive, leather skater skirts are the way to go. If you’re feeling especially bold, try a leather dress. Leather dresses come in nearly every style, from skater to shift to bodycon. Asos.com carries multiple brands like Warehouse and River Island that make leather dresses that won’t break the bank.

STYLE

Leather shoes and bags are a no-brainer, but consider adding other leather accessories to your wardrobe. American Apparel makes leather baseball caps available in a range of colors from classic black to seafoam green (American Apparel, $60). Or for something more feminine, try a leather headband.

You probably already own leather boots or flats, but multiple brands have released leather sneakers. Rachel Zoe offers both slip-on and lace-up sneakers in leather (Shopbop.com, $195) For a more affordable option, Steve Madden has a variety of styles in leather, including studded pairs, and pairs in gold or silver.

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OH MY EYEWEAR!

EYEGLASS STORES are the place where self-confidence

goes to die. Fluorescent lighting, over-involved salespeople, a pathetic selection of frames that have been tried on, stretched out and touched by hundreds of greasy-faced strangers do not make for a pleasant shopping experience (not to mention anywhere from a $300 to $600 price tag).

In 2004, English socialite-gone-entrepreneur, James Murray Wells, started Glasses Direct the first ever online eyewear retailer.

Glasses Direct let visually impaired and fashion forward customers browse a wide selection of chic, affordable eyewear without leaving the house. However, here in the US, shopping for eyewear online didn’t really catch on until Dave Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal launched Warby Parker in 2010. Just five years later, Warby Parker was named the Netflix of eyewear by Vogue.com. However, in recent years in the shadow of Warby Parker, a slew of smaller online eyewear sites have popped up. Here are the ones that caught our eye:

ZENNI OPTICAL Zenni Optical believes that technology is sexy. On the company’s website, you can try glasses on without actually trying them on. Zenni Optical uses a quirky online tool that allows buyers to upload a headshot to see how the glasses will look on before buying them. In addition to appealing to the techie within us all, Zenni is also perfect for the girl who can’t make up her mind. Zenni Optical is the place to pick up a pair of glasses for every day of the week in every color of the rainbow without putting too much stress on your bank account. And after your chic, sexy, geeky, or freaky Zenni Optical frames come in the mail, you can use your newfound vision STYLE

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by Andrea Palagi Art by Okan Benn

to check out Zenni’s online blog that posts do it yourself videos like “DIY Glittery Frames” and scholarship contests like the Growing Up With Glasses Poetry Contest for high school seniors.

EYE BUY DIRECT BOGO and promos are what Eye Buy Direct is all about.

First time buyers get an automatic 15 percent off of their first purchase. This online eyewear retailer is home to over 1,000 unique frames with lenses and coatings that can be customized to any shopper’s preference. By cutting out the middleman and selling direct to customers, Eye Buy Direct is the only online retailer that offers a pair of $6 glasses that can actually be worn respectably and fashionably in public. Not only does Eye Buy Direct make you look good, it also helps others feel good. The company operates under its selfmade 2.5 Billion Initiative which outlines their commitment aid the 2.5 billion people worldwide who need vision correction.

ILLESTEVA ILLESTEVA is the website for the four-eyed guy or gal who wants to feel a little less frugal and a lot more fancy (yet not totally broke). This eyewear retailer hand makes its frames in France and Italy combining classic styles with Downtown NYC aesthetics by using untraditional materials like titanium and acetate in each frame.

With a higher price tag also comes a celebrity fan club. Beyoncé, Lena Dunham, and Elton John are just a few of ILLESTEVA’s best customers and Zac Posen and Dasha Zhukova are just two of the company’s celebrity collaborators. However, if you want to be your own style icon, ILLESEVA also offers an easy access build your own eyeglasses option on their site.

THE FIRST STEP is admitting you have a problem. The

BEAUTY HABITS

problem is, when it comes to beauty habits, most of us aren’t aware we have one. You may be the master of makeup application or the queen of all-natural beauty products but if you’ve done any of these beauty no-nos, you may not be as beauty-minded as you thought.

OVERNIGHT MAKEUP FACE Sometimes we can’t help it. The night gets away from us, one party turns into two and before you know it, you’re waking up in a chalky, sticky sea of sheets coated in your 24-hour-old makeup. However, we know that once you start, you can’t stop. Sleeping with your makeup on even just one or two times a week can clog pores which leads to breakouts and sensitivity. This nasty habit can also disrupt the natural oils of the skin on your face. For those nights you never want to end, switch to a non-oil based face makeup to help cut down on the side effects of overnight makeup face.

LONG TERM POLISH WEARING

TO BREAK

Summer doesn’t officially begin until the first mani/pedi of the season. And yet while the small pink flowers that the manicurist paints on may be cute, the yellowing nails underneath are not. Because most nail polishes so often contain the chemical formaldehyde, wearing polish for too long (also known as chain manicuring) can cause your nails to turn a pale shade of yellow and become thinner. Even worse than the polish is the remover which contains high percentages of acetone.

It’s important to let your nails breathe. In between paintings, treat any brittleness or yellowing with tea tree oil or lemon juice.

DIRTY BRUSHES Everyone knows that our faces needs to be washed at least once a day but what about the things that get closest to them: our makeup brushes. Makeup brushes can absorb facial oils and lead to nasty breakouts. To avoid this, makeup brushes should be washed at least once a week. The best cleaning method is to run brushes under lukewarm water and rinse gently with mild shampoo. Be extra careful not to get the brush’s barrel wet, this could loosen the bristles and cause them to fall out. If you can, consider using disposable makeup sponges for applying liquid foundation and replace powdered cover-up puffs as often as possible.

by Andrea Palagi

TOO MUCH HEAT Your mother always told you never to leave home with a wet head and for once, mom was wrong. Over blow drying, straightening, curling, or crimping hair causes severe and sometimes permanent damage, completely changing the texture or thickness of one’s hair. If you can’t go rogue and ditch the heated hair care, make sure to complete a deep hair conditioning one or two times a week and use a thermal protectant spray before going in with the straightener.

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WEST CO.

INTRODUCTION

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P H O T OS / CHRIS GARCIA M O D E L S / NATHANIEL CHARLES DANA STERN CARINA ALLEN MARTY MILLER LILY RICHARDS

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io sh fa n k ea sp

by Karen Morales

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ATTENDING your first fashion networking event can be nerveracking. You might show up feeling awkward, not really knowing who to approach, and end up drinking way too much complimentary wine to kill your nerves. You ever-so-gracefully make your way over to a group of people engaged in lively conversation and try to tune into what they’re saying so you can chime in. But whether the alcohol has impaired your thinking, or you’re just simply a rookie, you can’t seem to follow the conversation. You laugh along with everyone else anyway at the joke someone apparently just made. This is all hypothetical of course, not at all based on real life events.

If you’re an aspiring person of fashion who wants to make it in the industry, you ought to know a few things. Every industry has its own jargon and terminology that only makes sense to those who are in it.

The world of fashion is a complicated one; it’s a way of expression, a social dynamic, and a business. Learn these terms to help you navigate it.

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THE BUSINESS OF FASHION Concept Store (n): A retail store designed to appeal to a certain lifestyle of a specific market niche. Beyond selling just clothing, concept stores also offer interior design, music, and other products. These types of stores tend to emphasize a fun shopping experience.

Doors (n): The number of retail stores at which a particular product is sold.

Look Book (n): A collection of photos created to show the designer’s collection for the current season. It’s typically less creative than an advertisement and intended to only showcase the clothing.

Showroom (n): A place where sales representatives or management show a line of merchandise to potential buyers.

Sittings (n): An editor whose job is to manage and direct the fashion photo shoots.

CLASSIC TERMS Atelier (n): The French term for a designer’s workshop or studio.

Glitterati (n): The beautiful people, the popular crowd, the shiny set, celebrities.

Haute Couture (n): Dressmaking houses in Paris that produce high quality custom clothing, although it has been more frequently used to mean high fashion in general.

Item du jour (adj) (n): Item of the day. Something particularly timely and “now.”

Ready-To-Wear (adj) (n): Apparel that is mass-produced (opposite of custom-made).

Resort (adj) (n): The market season in between fall and spring that shows during July and August, but is available in stores in December and January.

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GARMENTS Bardot Neckline (n): A neckline for women’s wear that is similar to a boat neck but covers even less of the top of the shoulder but slightly more than an off-the-shoulder garment. Popularized by French icon Brigitte Bardot in the 1950s, the sleeve looks like it is barely held up by the shoulder.

Fascinators (n): Cocktail hats or decorative trappings made of fancy materials such as feathers, flowers, lace, or beads.

Fortuny Pleats (n): Crisp pleats set in silk fabrics, usually seen on evening gowns. Spanish fashion designer Mariano Fortuny invented the fortuny pleats in the early 20th century.

Gauntlets (n): Dress gloves extending above the wrist.

Hot Pants (n): Tight and super-short shorts meant to emphasize the legs and buttocks. Launched by British fashion designer Mary Quant during the “Swinging London” scene of the mid-1960s, these super-short shorts were fashionable until the early 1970s. Usually made of cotton, polyester, and nylon.

CURRENT BUZZWORDS Contemporary (adj): A specific classification of mid-priced apparel and accessories that are trend-focused, but more affordable than true designer brands.

Directional (adj): Another word for trendsetting. A trend that looks crazy at first, but then six months later everyone is wearing it.

Fashion tribe (n): A group of people that dress in a distinctive style that represents their membership to that group.

Frow (n): A hybrid of the words ‘front’ and ‘row”—as in the front row of a catwalk show.

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SOME SAULT FOR YOUR STYLE

by Christian Lopez Photography by Chris Garcia

THERE

are a lot of things that I like about style. Each morning, you choose to express who you are, and your many complexities, with whatever you choose to cover your boobs or noobs with. You are the da Vinci and you are the code. How liberating.

There are just some things that are SO cool (should I mention turtleneck sweaters?) that make me question why I ever questioned fashion, why I continuously feel like I have nothing in my closet, or why I really do think that Buzzfeed is better than CNN. On the other hand, whenever I scratch my head and squint my eyes towards the black hole my closet it really irritates me. The reason for this season is this: women have more options than men. Bringing me to what could be the end-all, be-all question of my existence: do women have more style than men? Fuck that, I have more style than my mother! I simply have yet to live as long as her so therefore can’t easily know what I’m going to wear every day. I am still coming into my own, cultivating my style, figuring out that turtlenecks actually make me look the garment’s reptile namesake. However, when I am trying to get dressed before I am late to work, I can’t be satisfied with the fact that I am not as aged as my matriarch, that I do not fully know the answer to every question in the world, more importantly to my style conundrums.

Yes, that is truth, but truth will not clothe my body.

Why is it that women seem to have more style than men? Fundamentally, we wear equal amounts of clothing. The quantitative—arguably qualitative, too— difference in retail stores between men and women is something that I think should be brought forth to the UN. However, it never will because clothes are just clothes. They aren’t saving lives. People save lives. Well, I know not every hero wears a cape, but I’m sure, at least legally, our heroes aren’t naked.

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I know that all of my heroes are well dressed. In fact, that is absolutely why they are my heroes. Some people just seem to know every answer to the problem that is getting dressed in the morning. They know to put their right leg in their pant before their left, something that I thought I had figured out. Schooling you on everything you wish you knew about fashion and expressing yourself by just standing in their clothes, something that I have definitely NOT yet figured out. Those are my superheroes.

I have many female style icons (God bless you, Leandra Medine), but I struggle to find someone that can be embodied in my clothes. I can take from women, but only so far until I am suggesting something besides the fact that what I am wearing is totally awesome. Since there are more options for women, there are fewer male superheroes. When I look for morning inspiration I want so much more than to have to resort to the last four pages of a J.Crew catalog. There are few resources to produce my regalia and a lack of icons. What gives?

Stylistic merit should not be so hard to find. It isn’t impossible, however. There are stylish men. Those men wear clothes and buy clothes from men’s stores. Those stores, although may be a needle in a haystack, are actually hammers, and have really hit the nail on the head.

Clothes do not make the man, so I have heard, which is why I run. I could never miss leg day, which is how I happened to come across Sault New England.

My run route goes through my favorite neighborhood in Boston, the South End. This seriously cool, seriously residential area is home to many shops and restaurants that adhere to the swank city lifestyle that I totally buy into. That day I was doing the opposite of my usual (hanging to the left) and was hanging to the right of Tremont Street and in my 36th minute (okay, my sixth minute, it doesn’t take that long to get to South End) I had taken notice of a sign that read, quite possibly, two of my favorite letters, GQ. Whenever I see these two beautifully round loyal members of the alphabet, my heart does a hop over the G, a skip through the Q and a jump for joy. I read GQ religiously, but I had never heard of this shop. If I have never heard of this shop, do I even read GQ? At first, I ran past it. I couldn’t possibly go in my running gear. What if GQ was in there??

Exactly… What if GQ was in there? I went in.

My workout threads were not prepared for this stylistic merit.

Sault New England is New England in modern menswear. It is aged, but timeless. The store observes traditional American sartorial, but narrate a story of heritage from brands like Jack Spade and Penfield.

Sault immediately felt as if it was supplying a lifestyle that was trendy, yet personal. Tastemaking is their focus. They sell armor, not just the suit.

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There was one other person in the store, an assumed employee. I asked him the connection to the men’s magazine. The store was one of 25 stores selected to take part in GQ’s How To, a dapper month long event to feature independent retail men’s shops. I told him how thrilled I was to find this store. A nook where I could potentially find my cranny into style.

As soon as I left the store, I took out my phone to text my friend about my findings. I searched for an Instagram for evidence. I came across Sault’s Instagram, saultnewengland; found the described employee to be the store’s owner (casual) and a significant social media presence (their Instagram is a great style inspiration board, trust me).

Before I returned to this contradiction of everything I have previously fought for, I made sure to go in dressed to impress, as if being a superhero were my job. I was greeted by Philip Saul, the once employee, now store owner/superhero. He was dressed in a white button down with a navy bandana knotted around his neck, rolled up light wash denim, and Jack Purcell converse. Again, causal.

Just kidding, SO. COOL. We made light conversation as I browsed the store. I picked up a book in the store called Street Style and mentioned that it seemed almost impossible to dress like these people. He responded with “they didn’t just buy those clothes, they collected them.” This is exactly what I mean by some people just seem to get it—I swear, on my own grave, because those words have me practically dead, that I have not shopped the same since. We talked for maybe another two minutes. He mentioned style advice that his father had given him, which I wish so badly that I could echo but can’t because I was so hung up on the groundbreaking news he dropped on me like Hiroshima. I bought How to Be a Man by Glenn O’Brien and left.

This conversation with Saul has flooded over into an on-going debate with my closet. Do I really have style like I think I do? Is it cool or “collected” enough to be featured in a book on street style?

Moreover, what goes into style? What makes it and how? These are things I was sure Saul had some insight on.

Philip Saul has become a superhero of mine. Except, his ways aren’t so super. The weather dictates how he gets dressed in the morning. His style is “never-ironed” and “lived in.” Who needs an iron to cultivate their style? Not Philip, not I. Sure, style is ever evolving, but Saul has fashioned a space for men to come to mold their own.

Shop Sault New England at 577 Tremont Street, Boston, MA 02118 or www.saultne.com

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THE POWER OF THE SEED

by Sydney Hannibal Stock Photography

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GETTING HEALTHY can often times be a lengthy and

convoluted process that can involve tedious routines and unpleasant measures. There are so many steps you can take, fads you can latch on to, and methods you can try to attain overall wellness. It can involve popular trends such as the unidentifiable and unpleasant green juice. However, fear not. The chia seed is here to save us all from a lifetime of drinking blended kale. While chia seeds are just recently gaining mainstream popularity as a miracle food rather than a miracle plant toy, they seem to be here to stay—which is great for our health and our taste buds.

The chia seed hails from the Salvia Hispanica plant of southern Mexico, which is a part of the mint family. This tiny seed is a super food that delivers large amounts of nutrients with very few calories and provides a stream of continuous energy. Chia seeds are high in antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and proteins. Just two tablespoons can provide you with 25 percent of the recommended daily amount of fiber. Not only is your body provided with fuel and nutrition, but these seeds can help with bone health and prevent and combat various diseases, such as heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

From simply putting a scoop of chia into your water bottle to creating entire recipes revolving around the seed, chia seeds can be effortlessly and efficiently integrated into your daily routine. Because of it’s mild taste, it can be incorporated into a myriad of dishes, both savory and sweet. You can cook them into scrambled eggs or incorporate them into any dessert with a batter. When added to liquids like water or juice, the seed expands takes on a jelly like sub-

stance. Chia Fresca is a perfect example of this. With only two cups of water, one and a half tablespoons of chia seeds, a half tablespoon of lemon juice, and a half tablespoon of maple syrup, you can create your own refreshing, healthy drink. The neutral taste and small size allows chia seeds to be mixed into a variety of things such as yogurt, smoothies, and salads. Adding a healthy burst to your daily routine doesn’t have to detract from a delicious meal.

Chia seeds are becoming increasingly more favored and attainable. You can get your chia fix with a local juice delivery service like Cocobeet or a juice bar like Jugos, but that will cost you about $10 per juice. At Cocobeet, picking up a Banana Chia power smoothie (which contains banana, almonds, dates, cinnamon, and, of course, chia) gives you something sweet and simple. This option is totally convenient due to their free Boston delivery. From Jugos, where the menu is a lot larger, you can get yourself a Big Sur, which in addition to chia has the health power of wheatgrass on its side.

You can also purchase a bag of chia seeds from Trader Joe’s and make your own creations. Each bag contains about 10 servings, for about $5. No matter how you choose to go about obtaining your own chia seeds, the results will be positive and your body will thank you.

Jugos: 145 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA 02116 (617) 418-9879 Cocobeet: Cocobeet.com (857) 263-8598

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HOT BODY HOLIDAY

by Lindsey Gonzales Photo by Petiscos e Miminhos, Flickr Creative Commons

Valentine’s day begins an endless overload of festive candies as businesses stuff their shop windows with ornate displays of sugary treats, enticing passersby to stop and buy a box of chocolate for a loved one. No one knows for sure why chocolate has become a staple in the Valentine’s day diet, but this sugary aphrodisiac is impossible to avoid throughout the month of February. For chocolate lovers, this swapping of sweets can be a godsend, but it also challenges one’s ability to maintain his or her figure. Once the barrage of chocolate treats ends, no one likes to feel regret for having thoroughly enjoyed Valentine’s day. Thankfully, Your Mag has compiled a list of healthy and delectable alternatives to the typical Valentine’s day fare that will satisfy the health-conscious chocoholic.

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CHOCOLATE MACAROONS (GLUTEN FREE & VEGAN)

CHOCOLATE HAZELNUT DROP COOKIES

Hail Merry Copy Cat Makes 10-15 macaroons

Giada De Laurentiis Makes 38-40 cookies

Ingredients: 1 cup shredded coconut ¼ cup coconut oil 5 tablespoons cocoa powder 2 tablespoons maple syrup ½ teaspoon vanilla DIRECTIONS: Add coconut to food processor, cover, and pulse several times.

Add the remaining ingredients, cover, and run the processor again to mix completely. Scrape down the sides when necessary.

Use a tablespoon to measure equally sized portions of the mixture and deposit them directly onto a dish lined with parchment paper.

Refrigerate immediately, to allow the macaroons to set, then cover and store in your fridge or freezer.

Ingredients: 1 cup (2 sticks) room temperature butter 1 ¼ cup powdered sugar 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 2 cups flour ½ cup room temperature chocolate hazelnut spread DIRECTIONS: Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line 3 baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone liners. Set aside.

In a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar on high speed until light and fluffy, about 2 to 3 minutes.

Beat in the vanilla. With the machine running, gradually add the flour until incorporated. Beat in the chocolate-hazelnut spread.

Using a small cookie scoop or a tablespoon, drop 12 balls of dough onto each baking sheet. Bake until the bottoms of the cookies flatten out slightly, 10 to 12 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and transfer to a wire rack to cool completely, about 30 minutes.

Place an additional cup of powdered sugar in a medium bowl. In batches, roll the cookies in the sugar until coated. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.

DOUBLE CHOCOLATE BROWNIES Ellie Krieger Makes 24 brownies

CHOCOLATE-AVOCADO MOUSSE (VEGAN) Giada De Laurentiis Makes four ¾ cup servings or six ½ cup servings Ingredients: ½ cup semisweet chocolate chips 4 (8-ounce) avocados, peeled and pitted ½ cup agave ½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ½ cup almond milk 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract ¼ teaspoon fine salt fresh raspberries, for garnish DIRECTIONS: Place the chocolate chips in a small bowl over a small saucepan of barely simmering water, stirring until the chocolate is melted and smooth, about 3 minutes. Set aside to cool.

Place the melted chocolate, avocados, agave, cocoa powder, almond milk, vanilla, and salt in a food processor. Blend until smooth and creamy, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

Spoon the mixture into glasses and refrigerate for at least 3 hours.

Garnish with fresh raspberries and serve.

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Ingredients: 6 ounces bittersweet chocolate 2 tablespoons unsalted butter 1 cup whole grain pastry flour ¼ cup unsweetened cocoa powder ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda 4 large eggs 1 cup packed light brown sugar ½ cup plain low-fat yogurt ¼ cup canola oil 2 teaspoons vanilla extract ¾ cup chopped walnuts (optional) DIRECTIONS: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.

Melt the chocolate and butter in a double-boiler or microwave, stir occasionally.

Whisk the flour, cocoa, salt, and baking soda in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs and brown sugar until smooth, then add the yogurt, oil, and vanilla, and whisk to combine. Whisk in the melted chocolate mixture until blended. Add the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.

Spread the batter in the pan and sprinkle with walnuts, if desired.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out with a few moist crumbs. Cool completely in the pan on a rack before slicing.

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5 EMERSONIANS

INSTAGRAM markets itself as “a new way to see the

world.� Emerson students are taking full advantage of the photo app to share the world through their own personal lense: whether they focus on food, fashion, photography, concerts, or even selfies. Your Mag found five Emersonians whose Instagrams are must-follows, due to their unique, interesting, and yummy looking content.

to follow on Instagram

by Lindsey Paradis Photo by Grayson Kohs

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1.

MEREDITH BARRY @MEREDITH_BARRY “I think of my Instagram profile as a way for me to show the world through my eyes,” says Meredith Barry. For Barry this includes a lot of food photography. Her profile showcases food ranging from golden chocolate muffins to PB&J thumbprint breakfast cookies to homemade pizza. Her food shots are scrumptious looking and will make you wonder where you can get some. And you can, as the Emersonian cooking connoisseurposts her delicious recipes on her blog www.marinatewithmeredith.com and stars on her own Emerson Channel show Marinate with Meredith.

Worried that even with Barry’s recipes you won’t be a hit in the kitchen? Barry offers the advice, “don’t be intimidated by cooking. You’ve been eating food your whole life and you know how you like things to taste. Trust your tongue and give cooking a try!”

2.

KAVITA SHAH @KIANOPAV What makes Kavita Shah’s Instagram so interesting is the way in which she captures texture. Whether it be brick walls, sidewalk grates, old trash barrels, or aged trees Shah captures beautiful textures that are often overlooked in everyday life.

Even more inspiring is Shah’s commentary on her shots making statements such as, “grey skies today are making everything stand out more prominently than usual: colors, frustrations, realities. It reminds me of the way rust cracks open painted metal, unearthing layers from the past that are, at times, better left concealed.”

3.

DAVID WEINER DAVID_CONCERT

The Instagram of Grayson Kohs is filled with eye-catching photography, that’s all shot from his iPhone. Kohs’ Instagram content is what you call iPhoneography: the trend of creating photos on one’s iPhone which has quickly grown, even among professional photographers, since 2007.

Most of Kohs’ photos are a classic black and white, but are occasionally contrasted by bright and vivid shots that radiate with color.

Kohs credits the black and white motif to the editing process.

“I have a workflow of apps I use to edit, and most of my photos are in black and white because I can push them more without getting noticeable grain or noise,” says Kohs.

The content of his photography has a large range: including scenery shots, concert candids, on-set snapshots and video clips.

These on-set snapshots and video clips capture a passion of Kohs: film. More of Kohs’ film and photo content can be viewed on his website www.graysonkohs.com.

5.

BRITTANY SCHOELKOPF BBRITTAANNYY Brittany Schoelkopf ’s favorite thing to photograph is the beach, which isn’t surprising since looking at her Instagram is like visiting a SoCal beach. The California native’s Instagram is full of beautiful shots of west coast sand, sun, and surf. The sunny shots will keep you going through the harsh Boston winters, and will give any Emersonian planning on the LA program something to look forward to.

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David Weiner has been shooting concert photography for years: first for a Kansas radio station, then for Emertainment Monthly, and as a freelance gig. Now, he also showcases his concert shots on Instagram.

“I made an Instagram for my concert photography this past November so that I could share the shots I was getting with the bands I was shooting,” says Weiner.

Weiner’s Instagram displays plenty of crowd shots along with close-up musician candids. His Instagram is perfect for any music lover, and if you can’t find your favorite band on his Instagram, his website www.davidjweiner.format.com showcases even more shots.

4.

GRAYSON KOHS GRAYKOHS

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where to live off campus

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by Jamie Kravitz Photography by Kyle Kennan

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Starting the search for off-campus housing can be an overwhelming ordeal. There are many aspects to consider, from choosing a neighborhood to setting a price range. Not sure where to begin? Well, you’re in luck, because Your Mag is here to help.

Adam Mason is the owner of Preview Properties Inc., a real estate agency with offices in Allston and Brighton. His advice for students who are beginning the search for off campus housing is to be as prepared as possible. “Identify what your budget is. Determine your deal breakers,” says Mason. “If you take the time upfront to determine what you want versus what you do not want, and what you can spend, etc., the search will go a lot smoother.” Additionally, he recommends identifying a part of the city where you will “get the most bang for your buck,” and advises against setting an unrealistic price range. Finally, he tells students to do their research.

“While most listings are made available to the larger agencies, not every agency is the same,” says Mason.

“Don’t be ‘sold’ an apartment, be matched with the right place because your agent listened to your needs and has the inventory to offer you selection.”

In addition to getting a professional opinion, we at Your Mag talked to students who currently live off campus. Here’s what they had to say.

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allston RESIDENT EXPERT: KRYSTYANA GREAVES ‘17 Krystyana Greaves lives in Allston with three other roommates. The rent is about $2,600. When looking for off-campus housing, Greaves used Off-Campus Student Services, Emerson Facebook pages, and recommendations from other Emerson students. “I really like that I am a three minute walk from the Green Line, there are tons of other students in my neighborhood, I am close to a grocery store, and there are a lot of restaurants in the area,” says Greaves.

According to Greaves, there are some downsides to living off campus. “If you have any late activities on campus you have to be aware of how late it is and when the last train is so that you do not get stuck,” says Greaves. “There is nothing bad about my neighborhood, but you do always have to be aware of your neighbors and what is going on around you.”

Her advice for students who are looking for off-campus housing is to start looking early, and not to get discouraged if you don’t find something right away. “I found my roommates during orientation and I am very thankful and lucky that I waited and did not jump on the first apartment I found. Also, make sure you are comfortable with where you are living. If you do not feel good about the area or the apartment, don’t settle because it is close to school or is a really good price. Your apartment should feel like a second home and if you are not comfortable in it when you first settle into it, you will probably never be comfortable,” says Greaves.

She also recommends setting a monthly allowance, but planning to spend extra here and there for a special occasion. “Also, set a plan of how you will be paying for rent and facilities with your roommates in the beginning so that you are not trying to figure things out in the middle of the year and risking a late payment,” says Greaves.

east cambridge RESIDENT EXPERT: SAM NIPATNANTAPORN ‘16 Sam Nipatnantaporn lives in East Cambridge. “My living experience is a little different since I kind of live at home. Though I live with my dad, he travels most of the time so it’s really like living alone. I have the luxury of not having to pay rent, but I do have to pay for my own utilities, etc. by myself since my dad isn’t actually around that much,” says Nipatnantaporn.

Nipatnantaporn likes where she lives because of the close proximity to other colleges, the Cambridgeside Galleria, the short commute to campus, and the fact that it’s a quiet area. “I like having the freedom to do whatever, whenever I want and not be restrained by dorm rules. It’s nice to spend all day on campus but then have somewhere else to go home to,” says Nipatnantaporn. Though she says it can be hard to carry all her books and equipment for projects around when she has many things going on on campus in one day, she does mention that Emerson offers lockers for off-campus students.

Her advice for students looking for off-campus housing is to look for places that aren’t too far away from campus. “[It should] have easy access to the T (you’ll be happy for that when it’s pouring rain with wind), and look for a place that has easy access to places to eat. Late at night when you’re too lazy [to cook], you’ll want options,” says Nipatnantaporn.

brookline RESIDENT EXPERT: JASMINE REYES ‘16 Jasmine Reyes and her three roommates live right off of the Brookline Hills stop on the D line. It’s a 25-minute T ride from campus, and the rent is $850 per month. “Brookline is just a really cute neighborhood,” says Reyes. “I love the park by our place, the cool local stores…and the fact that it’s not that far of a walk or bus ride from Coolidge Corner is great, because of the movie theater and the Trader Joe’s.”

Reyes does admit that living off campus can sometimes be a pain, especially when it comes to getting to class on time (and looking presentable). She also says that visiting friends can be more difficult when you live off campus, but she looks on the bright side.

“The way I see it is there can be negatives to anything, but you just have to find the positives in the situation,” says Reyes. “I do have a good amount of friends who live off campus and our schedules align enough to where we can all hang out in the Student Lounge. Make time to see them even when you really don’t want to put pants on and go outside. It’s great to visit friends at their apartments or have them come over to yours and just be able to hang out. It’s different than going from LB to Colonial or Piano Row or Paramount and hanging out in a common room.”

Reyes’ advice for students who are looking for off-campus housing is to talk to Steven Martin, the director of Off-Campus Student Services. “He has a lot of resources at his disposal,” says Reyes. “And just remember to breathe. The process is crazy enough as it is, and stressing out about whatever little thing that may go wrong won’t make it any better. Things will work out, you will find a place to live, and it’ll be worth it when you have a place to call your own.”

LIVING

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50 SHADES OF CONTROVERSY

by Lindsey Paradis

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The Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy, by British author E.L. James, was originally posted online as Twilight fan fiction. This fan fiction has now become a worldwide phenomenon, topping the New York Times best-seller list for over 50 weeks.

James’ Master of the Universe, the initial title of Fifty Shades, was a hit amongst online readers. James was encouraged by the readers and responses she received, taking it to a virtual publisher: The Writer’s Coffee Shop. Through this publisher, James released the trilogy as eBooks, with the option of a print-on-demand paperback. The trilogy sold a combined 250,000 copies between eBooks and paperbacks.

James then signed a seven-figure deal with Random House’s Vintage Books. This amounted to the Fifty Shades trilogy being re-released in paperback in April 2013, along with other editions following. Thirty-five million copies have been sold in the US alone, with copies also being sold internationally in 37 countries, and, most recently, a film deal with Universal Studios.

While this all sounds pretty successful, the Fifty Shades trilogy has faced plenty of criticism and controversy. The trilogy has even been dubbed “mommy porn” due to its erotic nature.

The story starts innocent enough: literature student Anastasia Steele interviews young and handsome entrepreneur Christian Grey, in place of her sick friend Kate. And, like many stories that include handsome young men, they feel an attraction to one another. Yet, it is Christian’s saying that he “exercises control in all things” that starts to tip the scale from innocent romance to “mommy porn” erotica.

The next issue for the film version of Fifty Shades of Grey was casting. Actors often jump at the chance to star in a film based on a best-selling book series, but many stars openly admitted they did not want anything to do with this franchise. Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Jerry O’Connell, and Armie Hammer all publicly stated their lack of interest in Fifty Shades. Emma Watson took to Twitter to deny rumors of her involvement stating, “who here actually thinks I would do 50 Shades of Grey as a movie? Like really. For real. In real life.”

Fifty Shades of Grey producers thought they finally found their Christian and Anastasia in Dakota Johnson and Sons of Anarchy star Charlie Hunnan. But when Hunnan ended up dropping out of the film, he left producers forced to push the premier date back from Aug. 1, 2014 to Feb. 13, 2015. Hunnan was later replaced by Jamie Dornan. Additional cast members include Luke Grimes and Rita Ora as Christian’s brother and sister.

While Brindisi didn’t “read any of the stories fully...because [they were] written so poorly,” she definitely plans on seeing the movie. “I’m really excited for the movies so I can actually learn the rest of the plot. I’m also just interested to see how exactly they’re going to shoot what’s essentially a porno and make it a real movie.”

That was one of the most obvious hurdles the transformation of Fifty Shades of Grey from page to screen had to face: how to take overly sexy, BDSM erotica and make it acceptable for the silver screen.

Yet, producers have made Fifty Shades acceptable for theaters with an R-rating. In order to reach this desired R-rating, it is implied that some of the sex will have to be tamed down. One of these scenes is the first time Anastasia and Christian have sex, in which Anastasia has three orgasms. Historically, the MPAA isn’t overtly fond of extended orgasm scenes.

In the past, the MPAA has slapped oral sex performed (that’s performed on a woman) with an NC-17 rating, so we can expect the first time Christian goes down on Anastasia to be less intense on screen than paper. Additionally, Dornan has stated that he does not show any full frontal nudity within the film.

Even without the full frontal, Fifty Shades of Grey is about to sex up the silver screen this February: possibly paving the way for subsequent sequels and even more controversy.

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Christian exercises his control in the bedroom by taking a BDSM approach; this includes a dominant and submissive relationship, along with erotic rituals such as bondage, discipline, and restraint. The practice can be tied with S&M. Plus, Christian’s own personal red room of pain.

It was this practice of BDSM that brought up a lot of talk and controversy among, well everyone: readers, the entertainment world, critics, doctors, and even those who are part of the BDSM community. This includes critics stating that what is portrayed is not actually a BDSM relationship, but an abusive one. In 2013, the Journal of Women’s Health published the article “‘Double Crap!’

Abuse and Harmed Identity in Fifty Shades of Grey” in which specialists and professionals dubbed the relationship as abusive due to Christian fitting the profile of a controlling, stalking partner who is emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive. Due to this content, the trilogy faced, and still deals with, multiple issues with censorship and removal.

Gini Brindisi ‘15 is one of those who doesn’t hold disdain for the BDSM relationship portrayed in the trilogy. She states, “I know a lot of people criticize BDSM saying it’s belittling to women, but I think it’s just the opposite. It’s empowering.

Women are exploring their sexuality and there’s nothing wrong with that. Some men like when women dominate them and some women like when men dominate them.”

Yet, Emily Solomon ‘17 agrees with critics and sees the BDSM relationship portrayed in Fifty Shades as belittling rather than empowering. She states, “the books are at best problematic and at worst dangerous. The relationship portrayed is unhealthy and makes it appear as though the way Christian treats Anastasia is acceptable and even normal within BDSM relationships, which is just plain untrue....He takes control of numerous aspects of her life (where many if not most BDSM relationships only exist within the realm of sex), and she lets him without much fuss.

Christian hovers and is incredibly possessive, and the narrative does little to show that it’s problematic and downright abusive.”

The controversy the Fifty Shades trilogy sparked carried through to the production of the movie. One of the first issues of controversy was a lawsuit. Although Universal Pictures secured the film rights, pornographic film company Smash Pictures aimed to release an adult film version of the trilogy. The lawsuit was settled for an undisclosed amount of money and Smash Pictures stopped any plans for production.

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w e n s ’ e r e h t , r a i v a c , e d i step as

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rich people food

by Christabel Frye

SINCE 2011, Rich People Food has been tearing up Boston

Make sure to listen to Rich People Food on Spotify and Bandcamp, and follow them on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

with it’s indie-rock melodies. Like any band, they’ve faced their share of changes, but find themselves with their current lineup: Steve Weston, who rocks lead guitar; Brian Bernhard, taking on vocals, rhythm guitar, and bass, as well as the role of lyricist; John Cooke on organ, bass, and synth; and Brendan Reza on drums.

Every member contributes to music-writing for this band.

Influence comes in many different forms for this band, who have been compared to acts like Kings of Leon, The Strokes, and Two Door Cinema Club.

“Our influences are everywhere: what’s on the radio, what’s not on the radio, as well as everyone’s personal tastes and nostalgic keepsakes,” Brian Bernhard explains of the band. “[I have] a bluesy grit with a folk-pop mentality, Steve brings some early ‘00s low-fi and ‘80s analog groove, Brendan keeps an eye on the best of the radio and filters it through his hardcore/metal background, and John finds a way to balance jam band chops with a solid funk core.”

With varying backgrounds but a shared love of music, the original band members didn’t exactly find each other through sending vibes out into the universe and creating a rock band. As Bernhard explains, it took a little more luck and a lot more talent. “[The] original members, of whom only Steve remains, rose from the wonders of Craigslist. Through friends of friends, frolicking through parties, and happy accidents we found our current and strongest lineup. Our history has been very touch and go. With the addition of each new member has come a new sonic volume of the band...represented by our catalog of music so far, [and] we’ve been consistently grinding away at the Boston gig circuit since we started.”

Despite the changes, Rich People Food’s sound has done nothing but mature over the release of their two EPs. The first EP, which was self-titled, hit the scene in 2012. With sounds reminiscent of Grouplove and driving down a winding road with the top down on Saturday morning, it’s almost unbelievable that it was recorded wholly at a house in Allston. The lyrics from each song on this EP are down-to-Earth, and the music makes feet instantly tap and heads nod.

“Our first EP was recorded in a matter of weeks in a house in Allston. Though it was rushed, we’re still proud of those songs as a creative starting point for the band,” Bernhard says.

The second EP, Native Tongue, was released in May of 2014.

According to Bernhard, a lot more time went into this record.

“Native Tongue was recorded and mixed over the course of about a year. Recorded in Boston partially at a studio called The Record Company and partially at a house in Back Bay, this was the first EP to feature current drummer Brendan Reza. Scheduling difficulties made this a problematic record to finish in a timely manner, but it more than paid off and serves as a more polished continuation of our original sound; it is an EP that we especially love to play live.”

The time and effort definitely paid off. The songs from Native Tongue sound neat and professional, while maintaining the

homegrown vibe that is so important and vital to indie-rock bands.

Native Tongue seems to be perfect for any situation—dancing alone in your room on a Tuesday night or out with your friends on a Saturday. “Namesake” could bring together a crowd of estranged family members with lyrics like “I don’t wanna be forgotten / I’ll be dead before long / I don’t want to be forgiven for my only sins / Tattoos, saviors, and cigarettes show the way.” The title track has guitar riffs that carry over staccato-esque words, creating a perfect combination for this edgy melody. The other tracks, “Run Riot Run,” “Carnivorous Creatures,” and “In Color,” have qualities that make this Boston band stand out amongst other new indie-rock bands. The passion and drive of Rich People Food shines through in every note played in Native Tongue.

If their past music doesn’t convince you to stay in tune to this great local band, the possibility of a new EP should definitely keep Rich People Food in your sights for 2015.

“2014 was a year of growth and evolution. Most of [it] was spent finishing and releasing Native Tongue,” explains Bernhard.

“After the packed EP release show at the Middle East Upstairs in August, we parted ways with synth player/bassist Lisa Hickox and welcomed organist/bassist John Cooke. John brought with him a tangible and gritty texture that we immediately vibed with and the wheels haven’t stopped turning since. 2014 wrapped with the recording of “Young Blood” and 2015 will see its release, video, and a hell of a lot more live performances. Probably another EP as well.”

The band’s favorite song to play, according to Bernhard, hasn’t been released on record yet. From the sounds of it, we have a lot to expect from their newest single “Young Blood.”

“It’s the first recording to feature our newest member, John, and it has the rich, raw, and organic sound that we’ve been trying to capture. It’s a blast to play live…it sounds huge live; like an explosion of youthful hope.”

This fresh year has brought a fresh new set of gigs.

“Our gig schedule is starting to heat up for the year. We play all over Boston, here and there in New York City, and venture out into the other New England states every once and a while,” says Bernhard.

Most often, you can catch Rich People Food at TT the Bears and The Middle East in Cambridge. Recently, the band has been partnering with local marketing gurus at The Brain Trust and performing at Wonder Bar in Allston.

Ultimately, Bernhard says Boston has been kind to this band.

“Being a band in Boston is exciting. It feels like the music scene here is really starting to take off. Though securing gigs can be sporadic, with Boston Calling starting to take off, I think 2015 will bring some well-deserved attention to the burgeoning Boston music scene, and we’re excited to be a part of it.”

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A+E PLAYLIST: RURAL

by Cassandra Martinez

These songs are for when winter is heralded in naked white trees and the crunch of dead leaves underfoot. For the frost that mutes the world when the sky is charcoal grey, but gleams so brilliantly when the sun at long last breaks through the dismal curtain of clouds. For abandoned houses and dirt roads, for silent treks through empty fields surrounded by trees whose bare branches are silhouetted in the early sunset. For long nights and burning fires; the silence of a world painted in white snow, vast cerulean skies, weak yellow light, and the brittle cold.

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“WINTER IS COMING” BY RADICAL FACE

Sometimes winter is a gentle cold, one that sweeps gently across the fields like ice slowly covering a lake; but sometimes “she tears the trees down” and has “storms for lungs.” “Winter is Coming” provides a whirlwind of various instruments, tempos, and melodies that mimic the unstoppable ice and wind of the season.

“HOLOCENE” BY BON IVER

“Holocene” embodies the very feeling of crossing frost-coated fields in the weak morning light, the gentle melody recalling imagery of ice shining in the sunlight.

“TO BUILD A HOME” BY THE CINEMATIC ORCHESTRA

With the silence of snowfall and the scarcity of life found in the dead of winter, the season often fills us with a sense of melancholy, but “To Build a Home” also provides a melody of hope, the same way the sun begins to thaw the ice in hope of spring.

“LANDFILL” BY DAUGHTER

Singer Elena Tonra’s voice captures the bittersweet nature of winter and the hopelessness that settles deep in our bones with the cold.

“WHITE WINTER HYMNAL” BY FLEET FOXES

For driving along open fields on a bright winter day, when the sky is a brilliant blue and even the dead trees are beautiful in their own way.

“LUMP SUM” BY BON IVER

For walking along the beaten path back home as the snow begins to fall.

“STUBBORN LOVE” BY THE LUMINEERS

If “Landfill” is a cold heart hardened laike ice, then “Stubborn Love” is warm sweaters and fireplaces, sheltered from the raging snowstorm outside.

“DIRTY PAWS” BY OF MONSTERS AND MEN

Of Monsters and Men’s song gives vivid imagery of animals and insects colliding with one another in fabled woods. The song is bright and pretty, like yellow rays shining through the woods; all bark and branches.

“WELCOME HOME, SON” BY RADICAL FACE

“Sleep don’t visit, so I choke on sun / And the days blur into one / And the backs of my eyes hum with things I’ve never done / Sheets are swaying from an old clothesline / Like a row of captured ghosts over old dead grass / Was never much but we made the most / Welcome home”

“BLOOD BANK” BY BON IVER

Bon Iver’s song describes not only how “the snow started falling,” but two people finding warmth and comfort in one another despite the cold that surrounds them.

“THE WOODS” BY DAUGHTER

“Oh, it was certain then / And we were trying to stop the winter / Killing all it could / Killing all it could”

“WINTER WINDS” BY MUMFORD & SONS

Despite the cold that winter brings, there is also the hope of spring. Although everything dies in winter, it will be born again as the year continues to turn. “Winter Winds” captures this balance of hope, celebration, and, of course, the chill of winter winds.

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A+E PLAYLIST: URBAN

by Cassandra Martinez

These songs are for when winter forces you to bury your face in your scarf as the wind howls between the alleyways; when you wonder how others can stand in the cold, shivering outside buildings as they smoke.

For early nights that give themselves to the brilliance of the city skyline and every storefront that still plays Christmas music. For hot coffee, icy sidewalks, and that brisk walk that never fails to slow so you can stare at the shining city lights.

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“SWITZERLAND” BY DAUGHTER.

For when storefronts are opening and the city begins to awaken.

“SIGNS” BY BLOC PARTY

The melody of Bloc Party’s song is reminiscent of the twinkling of Christmas lights strung across the city’s few trees, keeping the darkness of winter at bay.

“WE LOOKED LIKE GIANTS” BY DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

For that time between winter and spring. For escaping the city, the mountains—anywhere but here—and hoping that holding someone close is all it will take to forget the winter and herald in the “sugary smell of springtime.”

“SOUTH” BY RACING GLACIERS

Despite how the biting cold rushes pedestrians through the city streets, “South” seems to reflect the simple beauty winter mornings may provide.

“CHICAGO” BY SUFJAN STEVENS

Despite the cold that causes your breath to form clouds before your face, the sight of the city skyline—stark against the pale morning light of winter mornings—will always fill you with such hope.

“OUT GETTING RIBS” BY ZOO KID/KING KRULE

Sometimes winter is escaping from the icy wind into a dark hipster bar, swallowing drinks to keep the cold and the heartbreak at bay.

“1901” (PHOENIX COVER) BY BIRDY

For being young, in love, and clinging to one another to keep warm in your new city and fighting back the tears in your eyes.

“DECEMBER” BY REGINA SPEKTOR

Cities are filled with so many lives, so many different stories, and each feels the cold in a different manner. There are those who are lonely and heartbroken, those who live in brick houses with warmth in their hearts, and those who must sleep in the cold.

“WINTER SONG” BY SARA BAREILLES AND INGRID MICHAELSON

“This is my winter song to you / The storm is coming soon / It rolls in from the sea / My voice; a beacon in the night / My words will be your light / To carry you to me”

“A LACK OF COLOR” BY DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE

The strumming of the guitar in “A Lack Of Color” is reminiscent of grey skies showering sleet down on a city devoid of the vibrant hues of summer while the lyrics mourn what could have been.

“NORTHERN WIND” BY CITY AND COLOUR

“You are all four seasons / Rolled into one / Like the cold December snow / In the warm July sun”

“ALL THE LITTLE LIGHTS” BY PASSENGER

Similar to “Signs,” the melody of Passenger’s song and the idea of “little lights” brings forth the image of twinkling Christmas lights., As the singer describes moving through cities and different places throughout his life, a warmth is carried beneath all the sadness and cold of the winter. Despite the darkness of winter, the city lights and the warmth of others gives hope for a brilliant spring.

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INTRODUCTION

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