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(11/21/03 5:16am)
Films, TV shows and sometimes books influence fashion. Characters in movies or on TV shows often inspire us to dress a certain way. Sometimes the character may be a role model, like Mary Tyler Moore, or influence a certain way of dress, like Don Johnson in "Miami Vice." The way characters dress can tell you a lot about them before they even say their lines. \nThere are also movies that have left a lasting impression on American culture. "Breakfast at Tiffany's" inspired woman everywhere to buy a little black dress and pearls. Now it is a fashion rule that every woman should own a little black dress. \nJames Dean made blue jeans cool for rebellious teenagers in "Rebel without a Cause." People still wear the button-down shirt under the tiny sweater like Alicia Silverstone in Clueless. \nOne of the books that has influenced fashion, or at least predicted fashion, is "Brave New World" by Aldous Huxley. It is about the future of America and the placement of people into classes that determine the way they think and live in society.\nThe book describes pants with a pocket or satchel on the belt used by women to carry their contraceptives. Similar pants were seen on runways and in catalogs last season. Huxley also mentions men wearing khakis and button-downs to work. If you haven't read the book, it makes the most eerie fashion predictions. \nAnother book that makes fashion predictions is "The Screw Tape Letters" by C.S. Lewis. This book is one of his more adult books. The book is a collection of letters between two demons and their plan to corrupt the world. In it, Lewis describes the ideal of beauty in the future, which is the current standard of beauty. \nI have compiled my own list of my favorite fashionable and stylish movies. Briana Rauen, a sophomore, suggested I do TV shows, so I included a list of shows that have influenced American fashion.\nThe "most stylish" means a movie's style was just as important as the characters. The movies under "best costumes" are films where the actors/actresses had to live up to the costumes they wore. \nThese are just a few of the movies I could come up with. If anyone would like to help create IU's top 10 fashionable movies and TV shows then e-mail me at pworthy@indiana.edu. The list will be made and published in the IDS.
(11/20/03 5:18am)
Continent to continent, every week is fashion week. Designers present collections in Portugal, Spain, Britain, Los Angeles, New York, and now, Australia. International fashion weeks are growing, and designs from around the globe have begun to influence American culture and college students. \nSenior fashion design major Kate Coxworth, who held an October fashion show at the John Waldron Arts Center, said she has great respect for international fashion. \n"I think that other cultures and their adornment are very interesting," Coxworth said. \nWith the popularity of H&M, a British clothing brand, and Oilily, a clothing company based out of The Netherlands, fashion from overseas is becoming a part of North American style. \nIn her fashion show, Coxworth drew on influences from Spanish Flamenco, the traditional song and dance of the Gypsies -- flamencos -- of Andalusia in southern Spain.\n"In my designs, flamenco can be seen in the color palette, the ruffles, and the use of many different textures together," Coxworth said. "My color palette consisted of white, red and black to mimic the three parts of Flamenco: singing, dancing, and guitar playing. The ruffles are an essential part of the flamenco-style dress, so I incorporated those in almost everything." \nThe Spanish culture isn't the only foreign culture influencing fashion. This season, the British mod look is back. However, the Brits have graced design houses for years, said Simon Ward of the British Fashion Council, which owns and organizes London Fashion Week and the Lycra British Style Awards, the annual celebration of the best of British fashion.\n"British designers can be found in most of the major design studios around the world with major houses such as Dior (John Galliano), Givenchy (Julien Macdonald) and Chloe (Phoebe Filo) designed by British designers," Ward said. \nWard also said he would describe British fashion as a blend of classic lines and originality as seen in popular British labels like Burberry, a mark that has seen a resurgence among women at IU. \nSenior English major Natalie Rothgeb said she loves Burberry. \n"I was studying in London in Chelsea -- everyone wears it there," Rothgeb said. "A lot of younger kids wear Burberry, and a lot of kids our age."\nThough Britain is known for its classic lines, Ward says British style is more than just plaid hats and skirts. \n"British Style is best summed up by the word 'eclectic,' as it ranges from classic British brands, such as Burberry and Pringle, to cutting-edge British designers, such as Alexander McQueen and Hussein Chalayan," Ward said. \nThe successful British store H&M has now opened in the United States, and many people are calling it "eclectic" with an American appeal.\nRothgeb said she shops there because it is also affordable. \n"You can buy something there, and if it falls apart in two days it won't matter, because you can buy it cheap," she said. \nOthers say the stores provide quality knock-offs at a good price.\nSophomore education major Jaclyn Klein recently went into to the new H&M store in New York City, but it did not appeal to her taste. \n"I did not like the way it was set up," she said. \nH&M's claim to fame is selling knock-offs of high fashion design labels. Customers usually have to look through racks of clothing to find a purchase.\nThough Klein, who is originally from New York, said she doesn't like H&M, she admits New Yorkers love knock-offs and she thinks it will be successful. \nAnother country that now influences fashion is Australia. Since the start up of its Mercedes Benz Fashion week in 1996, Australia has aimed to become a major player in the Asian Pacific market. \n"To be positioned as the center for ready-to-wear fashion in the Asia Pacific region and part of the international fashion week circuit, has been very beneficial for Australian fashion designers," said Ann-Maree Kelly, communications manager of The Australian Fashion Innovators, organizers of the Australian Fashion Week. \nTheir plan is working because Australian style has been adopted all over the United States and now at IU. \nUggs, a new Australian boot, has also become popular, Klein said. The boots come in many different heights, from mid-calf to knee. Made from chestnut-colored suede, the boots are lined with fur and some feature fur decorations on the outside seams. Klein said the boot has been popular for a while. \n"Some of my friends went to Australia last year, and said Uggs were popular there and now they are really popular here," Klein said.\nKlein said she owns a pair of Uggs and says the boots are popular in unexpected places. \n"I went to Las Vegas for Halloween, and I saw a lot of people wearing them with skirts," Klein said. \nThough Uggs are popular, Klein said she bought them because they are a good investment.\n"I needed some boots that are great for warmth," she said. "They look cute and they're so warm."\n-- Contact staff reporter Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(11/14/03 3:41pm)
There have been two revolutions in fashion history. The first revolution in fashion took place during the French Revolution in 1789; the members of the aristocracy wanted to disguise themselves as common citizens, so they dressed below their status in order to avoid being murdered. \nAlmost 200 years later a similar revolution hit America: Hip hop emerged in mainstream society. Fashion has always been used as a class differentiation. The members of the upper class chose dress that set them apart from lower class citizens. Consequently, the lower class citizens would adopt these styles of dress in order to be able to identify themselves with their superior class. This is called the trickle down effect. \nHip hop gave birth to a revolution. It was the first time in America's history that dress from the lower class was being accepted among the masses. \nOne of the earliest messages in hip hop was to openly defy the system. In 1986, Run DMC made political statements through music and inspired fashion with their song "My Adidas." \nAdidas became the official shoe of hip hoppers and urban youth. Break dancers were wearing Adidas warm-up suits, and tight rolling their pants. \nPublic enemy was the paradigm of the era of hip hop. "Fight The Power" and "Don't Believe the Hype" were two of the most popular songs. \nIf you are going to openly defy the system, the first thing to do is set yourself apart from the conformist. Flava Flav, a member of the group, wore a big clock around his neck to symbolize social conciousness, while men dressed up as militant Muslims, and wore traditional African colors of red green, and black in their videos. This influenced black and urban youth to adopt this form of dress. Hip hoppers were a subculture and had built their own style, tribe, or group of people that dress a certain way because of beliefs or a culture.\nIn 1990, MC Hammer soared into stardom with the song "U Can't Touch This." He made rap acceptable for all people.\nAlong with the music, the fashion became popular. Everybody had a pair of Hammer pants. Vanilla Ice, a white rapper, capitalized on the trend by dressing and dancing almost identically to MC Hammer. Rappers were becoming fashion leaders.\nIn 1992, Snoop Dogg exploded onto the scene with his album Doggy Style. This album made "gangsta rap" universally popular and influenced a new lifestyle and dress in American youth. Khakis, flannel shirts, do rags, Chuck Taylors, Converse, Pumas, and anything that had to do with any American sports team. \nAll of a sudden, people were paying hundreds of dollars for hockey jerseys and Starter jackets rappers like Snoop Dogg and Warren G wore. Urban wear labels appeared to cater to the popularity of urban dress. Then the white youth started catching on and it became controversial. Oprah had a whole show in 1992 centered around 'Wiggers,' or 'wanna be niggas.' The hip hop style wasn't just "ghetto" anymore; fashion had gone upstream.\nIn 1994, President Bill Clinton began to close the gap between the lower and upper middle class. People had more money and they began spending. Inner city youth began wearing labels like Nautica, Polo and Tommy Hilfiger. No one wanted to be a "gangsta" anymore. \nSnoop was suspected of murder and gangsta rap wasn't as popular. \nThis shift opened the door for for someone else to take the spotlight, and his name was The Notorious B.I.G. "Biggie" was unique because he rapped about the good life that everyone was experiencing. Jay-Z and AZ also took part in this movement. Rappers like Foxy Brown and Lil' Kim influence women to buy Prada and Frankie B.\nThey rapped about Gucci sweaters and Versace clothes. It was champagne music, and everybody wanted to sip. \nBy the year 2000, rappers had harnessed the power of clothing and most began their own labels. Urban wear like Phat Farm, Fubu and Baby Phat were hitting runways, and the hip-hop life was becoming glamorous.\n"Others see an upbeat response to the longest period of peace and prosperity in 100 years," Elizabeth Hayt wrote in a New York Times article, "Style Directive for 2000: Make it Extravagant." \nHip hop is unique because, like the French Revolution, it influenced upper class citizens to dress like their lower class counterparts and vice versa.
(11/12/03 6:10am)
"When I asked my roommates to go out to a pub or something they responded, 'We don't go out without dates,'" she said. "One girl even said she was going to sit in the room and cry, because she didn't have a date for Friday and Saturday."\nShe said the college experience was pivotal in her life. It inspired her to change the world and how women were allowed to behave. \n"From that point on, I vowed I would show the world women could go out with each other and don't need men to go any where," Bushnell said.\nThe audience agreed, and showed it by cheering and clapping in response to her statement. \nBushnell couldn't help showing off her fashion sense, which also influenced the show and its viewers.\n"I have on a pair of Manolo Blahniks, just so you know," she said, sticking out her foot so the audience could see.\nSophomore Briana Rauen said the show has had a big influence on fashion, because it introduced people to designer labels they wouldn't normally know about. \nFreshman Stephanie Sobic said Sarah Jessica Parker inspired her to wear aviator sunglasses.\n"I rocked the aviator sunglasses because Sarah Jessica Parker wore them on the show," she said.\nSobic said she was interested in what Bushell had to say and shared stories about her favorite episodes before the lecture.\nGill said if she could ask Bushnell one question, it would be, "How close is 'Sex and The City' to her own life?" \nGill didn't have to wait for the question-and-answer portion of the talk to find out. \n"All my friends were like Samantha, the most independent character with the strongest libido," Bushnell said. "Even my Miranda, the most career-driven and practical character, was like Samantha."\nShe explained she created Carrie Bradshaw, her alter-ego, when she started to write her sex column for the New York Observer as a way to disguise herself when her parents read the column. She also revealed that Mr. Big, Carrie's romantic interest in the show, was actually a real man in her life. \n"The show was about me and my friends," Bushnell said. The column became popular because everyone thought it was about them and it was."\nBushnell's ability to relate to her audience catapulted the book and show, 'Sex and the City,' into an instant success.\nBushnell recalled her experiences of growing older and looking for love in New York City and the impact of the sexual revolution on women and relationships.\n"What happened during the sexual revolution created a change in men," she said. "They did not want to commit. They would date you, live with you, but they wouldn't marry you." \nBushnell said the women in the '80s and early '90s faced a lot of changes, because they were some of the first women to actually make their own money and support themselves. She said women couldn't find the one thing they were promised -- marriage and children. \n"Single and in your 20s is normal dating," she said, "but the mid-30s and single you should worry. For women, not being married and not knowing if they would get married was scary."\nThough her adventures were sometimes painful and full of rejection, Bushnell gained valuable knowledge and was very generous in sharing it. \n"Men will come and go, but girlfriends last forever,'' she said. \nBushnell attributes womens' new openness about sex and relationships to the strong bonds built between single girlfriends. She said married women are loyal and single women don't mind sharing dirty details. \n"Anytime you give women power, money and status they go out and have sex like men," she said.
(11/11/03 5:48am)
Candace Bushnell, the writer of the popular book "Sex and the City" and former sex columnist for the New York Observer, will give a lecture at 6:30 p.m. tonight at the IU Auditorium. Bushnell has been lecturing on several college campuses recently. \nLydia Roll, director of the Lectures Committee for Union Board, which is sponsoring the event, feels students will benefit from Bushnell's lecture. \n"I think her words will be helpful," Roll said. "(The lecture) definitely has potential for being informative, entertaining and helpful."\nThe plot of Bushnell's book is based on Carrie Bradshaw, Bushnell's alter ego. It confronts the trials and tribulations of single women in their mid-30s to 40s.\nThe book "Sex and The City," was turned into a series on HBO, starring Sarah Jessica Parker as Carrie Bradshaw. The show follows fictional Bradshaw and three best friends on their romantic escapades through New York City. \nSophomore Briana Rauen plans on attending the lecture. She feels the shows reveals the importance and the strength friendship can provide among singles. \n"It also emphasizes the strong bonds women feel between their friends," Rauen said. \nThe show first aired June 6, 1998, and has become one of the top 20 syndicated television shows nationwide, according to Nielsen media ratings.\nRoll said the show's popularity is one of the main reasons for bringing Bushnell to IU.\n"The reason we want to bring her is because it will provoke an interesting perspective on a pop culture phenomenon," Roll said. "To bring in someone who has spawned something that popular is important."\nSince its premiere, the series has won many awards including a Golden Globe for Best Television Series, a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series and a Primetime Emmy for Outstanding Costumes and Outstanding Comedy Series. \nRoll credits the show's popularity to its ability to speak to a new generation of singles.\n"She shows an aspect of single life that is new," Roll said. "Men and women are staying single longer."\nRauen said the four women of "Sex and The City" embody the future of many young women.\n"It is so popular among college students because the women exemplify the young and single life that most of us will lead out of college," Rauen said.\nThe show not only mirrors single life, but also influences the relationships and social lives of its viewers. Roll feels "Sex and The City" has made being single look fun and even more acceptable. \n"Through her work, she has brought the issue of being single longer to the forefront, and let people know it's okay to not get married out of college," Roll said. \nRauen said the show has helped many of her peers feel more comfortable with who they are. \n"I think it has also influenced college students in regards to young women not being afraid of being single and not being afraid of their sexuality," Rauen said. \nAlthough "Sex and The City" is in its final season with only eight episodes remaining, Bushnell's influence continues with the premiere of her latest books, "Trading Up" and "Four Blondes." The two books reveal the turbulent lives of the social-climbing Manhattan elite. "Four Blondes" and "Sex and the City" are now on sale at the IU Bookstore. Tom Cardis, buyer for general books at the IU Bookstore, said the books' sales haven't been out of the ordinary yet.\n"(Bushnell's visit) is an exciting event and her book signing should be good for book sales," he said. \n"I am expecting them to sell tomorrow."\nUnion Board will also be selling them at the lecture. After the lecture, Bushnell will hold a Q&A session and sign books.\n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(11/07/03 3:54pm)
The lifestyle of American women, and women in general has continued to evolve. In the past, women's activities were very restricted. Laws denied women the right to vote, work, and receive an education. Independent women could not receive credit cards until about 1973. Women were restricted by society and sometimes by each other. \nFashion also restricted women's physical activities, making it hard for them to function outside traditional feminine roles. \nI remember the first time I fell in a pair of three-inch boots. I was trying to run to the train so I would arrive to class on time. I got on and the train jolted as it was about to leave and I fell face-first onto the floor. It was funny for observers, and even I laughed when I saw it happen to other girls. The incident was very common. Every day a girl from my school would fall because of fashionable clothes that didn't function with the lifestyle of a busy college student. \nWe would laugh it off and say, "Small price to pay for looking good." We were fashion students and the expectations of dress were high. People knew us at first glance; we were the girls running and stumbling our way to the train in the most fashionable clothes. We were fully equipped with a full book bag and a purse. We had on full makeup, and we got up at 5 a.m. to primp ourselves only to fall face forward on the train. \nThe daily pressure to look good taught us a great deal about social expectations, and our own limitations as people trying to live in a fast-paced society. Through these hard falls, many of us learned most clothing isn't made for active women. Thorstein Veblen sums it up in his book Theory of The Leisure Class. \n"Elegant dress serves its purpose of elegance not only in that it is expensive, but also because it is the insignia of leisure," Veblen writes. \nContrary to popular belief, the origin of clothing was for adornment. People wanted to look good, even when they were wearing leaves. Clothing was another form of art. Functioning in it wasn't a top priority. Women of higher status wore clothes as a symbol of their wealth. If you wore elegant clothing, it meant leisure was your main activity and your husband was wealthy enough to support this lifestyle. Women were trophies, and dressing them up in the latest fashions was a subtle way for a man to brag about his status. \nNineteenth-century architects had to widen doorways because huge dresses prevented women from walking through the smaller thresholds. The corset didn't allow for much activity either, except catching your breath every four steps. \nThe hobble skirt of the 1910s made it nearly impossible to move around. Short skirts and hot pants of today also restrict the way women move. Veblen also wrote that fashion has served two purposes for women: to show exemption from labor and as a device to keep us frail and unfit for labor i.e. the corset and high heels. \nThe high heel and the corset make manual and necessary work extremely difficult.\n"The corset is, in economic theory, substantially a mutilation undergone for the purpose of lowering the subject's vitality and rendering her permanently and obviously unfit for work," Veblen wrote in Theory of The Leisure Class.\nNow that women have the freedom of making their own money and receiving educations they can dress for themselves. \nLooking around campus, you notice women wearing velour suits, yoga pants, and sneakers. Womens' motivation to pursue their dreams has inspired a more relaxed form of dress. Women don't have to hobble up and down stairs anymore. Designers have seen a change in society and have risen to the occasion, and we should also thank employers for casual Fridays.Yesterday, I was talking to a guy on the bus about why he wears Converse and I wear Puma, and how I can't wait to get a pair of shell-toe Adidas once I earn my stripes. \nTimes are changing. I will never dress up everyday. I thank modern society I don't have to. The modern woman's lifestyle makes it nearly impossible to live up to standards set more than 100 years ago.\nAmy Spindler, former fashion editor of The New York Times, observes the conflict between traditional standards and the modern woman. \n"Women's engrossment in appearance, along with attending to men and children, could easily distract them from pursuing a full time career," Spindler writes.\nWe should embrace our freedom and be fashionable, but comfortable whenever we want.
(10/31/03 4:50am)
I was having a phone conversation with a friend the other day. We were bouncing ideas off each other, and he came up with a theory I did not agree with. He said "Scarface" and "The Godfather" have influenced fashion.\n"Look around," he said. "Everyone wants to be a thug and wear their suits like the ones in the 'Scarface' and 'The Godfather.'" \nWhen I got off the phone I thought about why I disagreed. Did I disagree because his statement was a little stereotypical? I don't know anyone who wants to be a thug. Or did I disagree with his opinion on the suit and how it became a part of street culture? \nPersonally, I think it was a little bit of both. In my opinion, the suit has always been a way for men to conceal certain things about themselves. If a man walks into a room in a good-looking suit, would you know if he was a cashier, a pimp, gangsta or top executive? Probably not, unless you are really good at being able to tell the difference between designer suits and not-so-expensive suits. \nThe suit is like armor in a society that revolves around looks. It helps men look respectable, no matter what they do or where they are from. Amy Spindler, fashion editor for The New York Times, believes that suits say little to nothing about the men wearing them. \n"If there is any music that could be ascribed to men in their conformist suits, it's the sort being piped into the conveyances lifting them to their offices," Spindler writes.\nThe suit has been adopted as the uniform of professionals. Most men wear suits on interviews, and it is a rule of fashion for a man to own at least one well-tailored suit.\nAccording to Lloyd Boston, a fashion writer, the suit was a tool used by black men to integrate themselves into white society. In a society where African Americans were made to feel inferior, the suit was a way of leveling the playing field. Owning well-made suit gave them a chance to look and feel respected.\nThe suit helps to conceal personal information about men, while exuding respectability. The suit is a perfect costume for men wanting to hide scandalous or illegal behavior. If drug traffickers or mobsters walked around with their pants sagging and a pair of Nike's they would have a greater chance of getting caught. Most people don't associate urban wear with class and distinction. \nA mobster can hide behind a suit. He can be in any part of town anywhere, and no one would give him a second glance. Why? Because he would be wearing a suit. Men of illegal professions wear suits because they want to look legitimate, not because it is fashionable.\nI believe the '"authentic" suit-wearers are the businessmen, the men who line Wall Street and have the corner offices. Pimps, gangstas and con men alike are trying to emulate them and not each other. \nA perfect example of the "trickle-down effect" is the zoot suit. The first zoot suit recorded was ordered by a man named Clyde Duncan in Gainesville, Ga. He ordered the suit because he wanted to look like Clark Gable's character, Rhett Butler, in "Gone with The Wind." There are scenes in the film with Butler wearing Civil War garb consisting of long coats and peg-legged trousers. The movie opened in 1939, and the first suit was ordered in February 1940, according to The New York Times. \nA year later, a picture of the suit was published in the Men's Apparel Reporter, and spread like wildfire all the way up to Harlem. In 1942, during World War II, the WPB clothing conservation banned the suit because of regulations on fabric, but it was too late. The suit had caught on and bootleg tailors were catering to the young kids wearing it. It even spread to California, where it became popular among Latin and white gang members.\nThe zoot suit took on its own identity, but it was inspired by a man that embodied the essence of a respectable gentlemen. Portraying yourself as a classy businessman works much better than coming across as a common criminal.
(10/30/03 7:12am)
Monroe County Youth Football competed in a new venue Monday as the American Football League played its championship game at the IU Memorial Stadium. The AFL consists of over 600 8- to 10-year-old boys from Monroe County. The coaches said it gives the boys a chance to learn discipline and to learn the game of football. \nSteve Hayes, coach of the Ellettsville Firebirds, said the boys are the most important part of the experience. \nThe Firebirds were undefeated at 9-0 on the season when they played the Steelers who were 8-1. The event was supposed to favor the Firebirds, considering the Steelers' only loss was to the Firebirds earlier in the season.\nMark Hays, assistant coach of the Steelers, felt his team would take home the trophy because it plays with a lot of heart. Pike said the Steelers would take it because of their skills. In the end, the Steelers won.\n"We have a pretty strong running game, speed in the back, and power in the middle," Pike said. \nAll the teams in the league aim to play at Memorial Stadium. Dave Umphress, senior vice president of the Monroe County Youth Football Organization, said the event gives the kids a lot to look forward to.\n"It's their Super Bowl," Umphress said. "They come on Saturdays with Mom and Dad to watch the big guys play so this is huge for them." \nHayes told his team on the first practice that the goal was to get to Memorial Stadium. \n"I'm really excited to be here. We had an excellent season at 9-0. We won it outright," Hayes said. \n"Starting, I was not expecting them to play at this level. They play hard and give their best effort." \nMichael Graham said he was happy to be there, and his team deserved it. \n"I feel real good. We've tried as hard as we can to get here all season, and we made it," he said. "We are going to win because we're undefeated and they're not." \nThe start of the game was intense, and in the first quarter both teams, were establishing their running games. The Firebird's assistant coach, Brad Seitzinger, said his team would be guarding against the pass. Michael Bower of the Steelers had a passing game of 25-30 yards which is exceptional for a 10-year-old. \nThe Firebirds are a small team, which gives them a speed advantage. The Steelers goal was to isolate Nolan Rogers, who was one of the stars of the game because his skills helped his team gain yards. Seitzinger praised his team's running game.\n"We are the smallest team in the league, but we're fast, and that helps because we run in extra points," Seitzinger said. \nDuring the second quarter, the Steelers Trae Washington scored the first touchdown of the game and then ran in an extra point putting his team at 7-0. Pike gave Washington credit by calling him a small Kordell Stewart.\n"He can run and pass the ball off ... the options, he's multi-purpose and we like that," he said.\nThe cold weather made for a lot of fumbling and lack of game. The Firebirds were still at zero, and things were not looking good. Umphress said the Firebirds' inability to score was due to the execution of their game. The fourth quarter progressed as the Steeler's made another touchdown. Bower dove into the end zone scoring for his team and allowing them to take home the championship 13-0. Bower said his teamed knew they were going to win.\n"We won because we got heart, as soon as we lost last year we knew we would win," he said.\n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(10/28/03 5:10am)
The Indonesian Student Association entertained guests at its annual celebration "One Night in Indonesia" Saturday night in Alumni Hall. The guests were greeted with the words "selamat datang," which means "welcome" in Indonesian. \nStudents put on a drama influenced by batik, a traditional Indonesian fabric pattern and showed ways to wear it in a fashion show. Visitors tried authentic Indonesian food, while listening to live music and watching Indonesian music videos. Foods included gado -- a mix of cooked vegetables and cashews, fried bananas, beef with coconut rice, perkedel or fried potatoes, and chicken with peanut sauce.\nBefore the festivities took place, the audience stood up as members sang the Indonesian Raya, the Indonesian national anthem.\nAmiruddin Panjaitan, the Consul for Information and Culture Affairs at the Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Chicago, said he thought the event was great. Panjaitan was the ISA's guest of honor. \n"I am proud of what the students did here tonight; they worked so hard," he said.\nThe student members of the ISA have been preparing for Indonesian Night since this summer. The event gives the students a chance to unite in their language and with each other. \nFredy Steiawan Pribadi stressed the importance of unity among the Indonesian students.\n"I am happy to see so many different ethnicities here," Pribadi said. "In unity we are strong, in separation we are nothing." \nThe event gave the ISA members a chance to embrace their culture and teach others at the same time. Viola Widjaja, coordinator of the event, said she enjoyed seeing non-Indonesian students in the crowd, and she hopes people can learn from the experience.\n"We don't want people to be scared because of the bombing in Indonesia," Widjaja said, referring to recent terrorist attacks. "We want people to know where Indonesia is and get a good feel for the Indonesian culture."\nDancers performed three traditional Indonesian dances. The first dance was the Lampung Dance, a traditionally done by women in the Indonesian city of Lampung. Music accompanied the women clad in traditional Indonesian attire. The dancers wore red, white and gold batik. The costumes included beaded headpieces and batik wrapped dresses. The dancers wore jeweled foot decorations and long gold ornaments over each finger. Pribadi said his favorite part of the show was the dancing. \nThe second dance was the Taruna, traditionally performed by young female dancers to show their coming of age. The movements of the dance are supposed to express the gentleness of the time. The dancers wore a purple and gold batik wrapped skirt and a matching form fitting tunic with sleeves. Sophomore Justin Sorrell, who attended an Indonesian performance for the first time, said the dancing showed the culture's depth.\n"I thought it really showed a lot of the richness of the culture," Sorrell said. "You can see it in the costume and in the rhythm of the dance."\nThe Jaipongan dance, or a wedding dance, was the last dance performed. It is danced with two couples, which were pulled onto the stage and were instructed on how to perform the Jaipongan dance. \nPribadi said he thought the way the dancers moved their heads and eyes was amazing. Traditionally, dancers move their heads first to the left and then to the right, with the eyes quickly following the head movement.\nThe dancers also left quite an impression on Sorrell. \n"The eye movements were really striking. It was very exotic, very sexy," Sorrell said. \nISA members also acted out a drama based on Indonesian culture. Panjaitan said he liked the drama the most because it is similar to an opera. The drama was based around a batik shop owned by a mother and her three sons. The show conveyed the complexities of making batik as well as important aspects of dating in the Indonesian culture. The sons received their mother's blessing before going out on a date. It also revealed arranged marriages as being a part of the culture, and the pride that comes with carrying on a family legacy. \nBatik was also the theme of the fashion show. The students combined traditional batik with modern clothing. The males wore batik wrapped around pants like a skirt and as a jacket and the women wore brightly colored scarves, belts and wrapped skirts in red, pink, and gold. The wrapped shirt was a striped yellow batik that went over one shoulder and tied at the waist. Widjaja said it was not traditional Indonesian dress, but it was a modernized version of how Indonesians use batik. The master of ceremonies wore a Kebaya, a traditional Indonesian blouse made of lace, with batik wrapped as a skirt.\nISA members said they were happy with the turnout of the event and hoped by sharing their culture, many people learned more about it. Pribadi said he was proud of the event and the way it turned out. He said he hoped people got the essence of Indonesia.\n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(10/24/03 6:31am)
The staff of the IDS recently received a letter from someone coordinating a fashion show. He wanted to know how to make his show successful. The letter reminded me of the first show I was ever involved in and of shows I fitted, dressed and watched. A fashion show is one the biggest productions I have ever been to. It takes an endless amount of work, and if one thing is left unattended, the entire show can become a catastrophe. In the words of Deborah Christiansen, IU fashion design professor, "It's more than just pretty clothes walking down the runway." \nDuring my first show early last February, I was stressed and pressed for time. I was out of town right before the show, and the theme of the show was making wearable clothes out of trash -- newspapers, feathers and torn pantyhose. It was a far cry from my style, but I thought, "What the hell, I should try all types of fashion."\nThe show took place at Bullwinkle's during the Slum Goddess party. My clothes were ready, but I was not. I was terrified. People kept showing up late, my clothes arrived 20 minutes before the show, and I was totally out of my comfort zone. To put it lightly, I was trippin'. The show came out well, but there were lots of things that could have made it run more smoothly. \nNo event is going to be perfect, but preparation is a decisive element in how successful a show will be. Here are some steps to take to ensure a successful show:\n1. Always know your audience. I was talking to a designer the other night about the Bill Blass show during Fall Fashion Week in New York City. We were talking about how Lars Nilson was fired from his position of head designer by Blass last February because he did not cater to the Blass clientele. We both agreed fashion is an art form; you have to know to whom you are speaking. If your audience is going to be full of college students, then your show should be centered around what appeals to those college students. \nThe feelings and thoughts you are trying to evoke should be present in the style of clothing, the music, the location and the décor. The show has to have a theme to bring it together. \n2. Communication must be open. You are dealing with a lot of different people, and they need to be up to speed. At the Slum Goddess show, I didn't know some of the designers. Not knowing your associates is weird, considering your art is being presented on the same runway. We hadn't decided the order of looks going down the runway until about 10 minutes before the show. \nLast minute decisions always happen at any fashion show, but organization and communication ease the tension. All the designers and models should have exactly what they need. Make sure there are enough dressers -- people who help dress the models -- to help with clothes. Helpers are essential; designers and models should not have to leave the backstage area for anything. Fashion shows are hectic behind the scenes, and anything that cuts down on problems is a blessing. \n3. All clothes should be fitted before the show so you know they can function. One year at FashBash, a big show in Chicago, there were some disasters because of the clothing. We had one model that could not get out of her outfit, and another one whose outfit wouldn't fit. One model was running around completely naked, and the other one couldn't go down the runway. Put all that together with 30-second changes, dancers, celebrities and alcohol, and you have a mess. \nOne of the most important elements of the outfit are the shoes. If the runway has a slick surface, make sure the shoes are scored -- an artificial way of wearing down the shoes so the soles create friction. I have seen many a model make some nasty spills because the shoes were not scored. \n4. Everything about the location should always suit the show. The event space should be large enough to hold models, dressers, designers and all the clothes that are going to be on the runway. When you're working at a show, there isn't a lot of room and you have 30 models and all their belongings, things come up missing. In short, make sure there is enough room for everyone and everything. The location should be easy to access and models should not be able to be seen by the audience before the show. In some cases, you can't rent a big space, so make sure everyone cuts down on what he or she brings.\n5. Have fun! Get catered food, drink, dance and get buck-wild. The right lighting and everyone -- models, designers and the audience -- looking good can make a successful show last late into the night.
(10/23/03 5:42am)
Tired of being a maid for Halloween? Is your old doctor costume wearing thin? How about that Anakin outfit?\nThis year, the costumes are mostly inspired by films and popular culture. And Halloween itself isn't nearly as bloody and gore-oriented as it used to be, said Alice Huff, owner of Costume Delights, which sells and rents costumes for a variety of occasions.\nHalloween is now the second most celebrated commercial holiday in the Americas, according to www.historychannel.com. Americans spend over $6.9 billion annually on decorations, costumes, party supplies and other Halloween paraphernalia. Halloween dates back to 2000 years ago when it started as a Celtic holiday celebrating the dead. Costumes were also a part of the celebration. Celts wore animal heads and pig skins. In Europe, people wore masks on Halloween so the spirits visiting Earth would mistake them for other spirits. Costumes began to change when the holiday was turned into All Saints Day. People began dressing up as saints, angels and devils in honor of religious figures. \n"People want to cut loose and be something they're not," said Pamela Ladd, owner of Blast Off Balloons. \nHuff has noticed a '70s-inspired trend in the last couple of years because of the popularity of the "Austin Powers" movies and the popular "That '70s Show." \n"Every movie that comes out and every TV show is indicative in sales of what is going to be popular," Huff said. \nFactory Card Outlet is also selling costumes inspired by movies. "The Matrix" costumes dominate sales. "Neo" and "Morpheus" costumes go fast, a trend store supervisor Lindsay Fry credits to the upcoming release of the last installment in the trilogy. \nStill, Ladd said the store's most popular costume would have to be the pirate because of this summer's blockbuster "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl." People come in either to buy the entire costume or the accessories, which include toy swords and daggers, belts, eye patches and skull-and-bones themed jewelry.\nThough the movie costumes seem to be the most popular, many of the vendors stock up on a general variety of outfits including such traditional staples as French maids, firemen, doctors and pumpkins. \nCostumes Delights rents and sells over 7,000 costumes it has in stock. Costumes range from a six pack of Pabst Blue Ribbon to jester costumes.\nFry said she feels Factory Card Outlet has a wide variety of costumes. Costumes at the store include the Cat in the Hat, the Queen of Hearts, Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz," a cow and clown costumes, which seem to be the least popular costume in the lineup. Fry said her store has not sold a single clown costume yet. Clown costumes aren't popular at Blast Off Balloons either, said sales representative Mary Craig.\nStore owners also see people who use the same costume year after year, only making minor changes in size or accessories. The most common costumes are usually American icons or figures connected with Halloween. \n"Most females go for the witch or the devil," Fry said. \nThe recent rise in interest in the '50s has led to good sales of poodle skirts and Marilyn Monroe getups.\n"We sell out of Marilyn Monroe costumes every year. It doesn't matter which of her movies the costume is from," Huff said. "We only have about one or two left."\nBoth Fry and Huff say most men go for the more off-beat costumes. Fry has noticed several purchases of the "Sponge Bob Squarepants" and other cartoon-inspired outfits.\nFry said a lot of men also come in to try on the larger-size female costumes. Factory Card Outlet sells a big girl costume for guys. The outfit is a big pink dress fully equipped with breasts. \nCraig and Ladd agree the funniest costume at Blast Off Balloons is the blow-up doll suit. \nLadd said the most unique is the handmade flower pot costume, which includes a large flower pot that fits on the wearer's shoulders and petals that frame the face. \nAll of the stores sell makeup and accessories for people wanting to be a little more unique or realistic for Halloween. \n"It's always how you wear the costume," Ladd said. "You have to have the right accessories."\nCostume Delights offers plenty of accessories to help anyone put together a costume without spending much money. \n"You can take any dress you have, get the right accessories and you're a flapper," Huff said. "All you need is a feather boa, long gloves, cigarette holder, headband and long beads." \nLadd said she gives customers a list of ideas from the in-store booklet as a starting point for brainstorming.\nThe search for a costume shouldn't be something difficult, Ladd said. The difficulty arises out of the desire to look different from everyone else at a Halloween gathering. To find a comfortable costume, look for it fitting in the shoulder, the waist and leg and arm length. Also, make sure you have all the accessories you will need, including jewelry and makeup. \nUltimately, choosing a Halloween costume is about being comfortable and finding something unique to match the wearer's interests, Huff said.\n"It has to be fun to party in, that is key to a good costume." \n-- Contact staff reporter Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(10/17/03 4:30am)
Last Friday, I stumbled over one of the most outrageous fashion articles I have ever read. I was reading the Wall Street Journal and came across this article called "The T-shirt You Can't Get."\nThe article described the marketing tool used by high fashion names, now being used by lower scale retail stores: the wait list. The wait list is when a store purposely orders less than they plan to sell, to make a product seem in demand and more exclusive. \n"... It adds to the allure," Deborah Lloyd, Banana Republic's executive vice president for product design and development, said in the article.\nThe waitlist for a denim jacket at Banana Republic is three weeks long.The Von Dutch trucker cap that hip hop icon Pharell made so popular is selling for $85, and it's a two- to four-week wait.\nThe entire article poses the question: Is it about the art or about how much money a label can make? The art of design is being threatened by what will make the most money. Designers have to make money, but exploiting trends to gain profit is not artistic. The turn was predicted in February 2003 by "Women's Wear Daily" in the article "Who Can Save New York Fashion." \n"American designers are starting to question their own creativity and their chains to commercial conventions," the article said.\nWhen it comes to trucker caps and denim jackets, why buy something that everyone else has because of a name, or who was seen wearing it? \nI believe the fine line between art and profit was crossed a long time ago.\nIn an age where commercial rappers spit designer's names like Louis Vuitton, Frankie B., and Versace over and over again, many people think dripping in labels is what defines style. This couldn't be further from the truth. \nBeing stylish is about creativity and flair. Everyone should have a piece in their closet that fits his or her unique style. One way to achieve this, is to shop at places that don't cater to mass-marketed brands, like vintage shops or used clothing stores. Vintage shopping is fun, and eclectic clothes can add drama and boldness to a wardrobe. Some vintage stores don't look very welcoming, but if you look around you can land great items. Nicole Kidman is known for her collection of vintage clothing. In the October issue of "British Glamour," one of model Milla Jovovich's fashion rules was to never be a slave to fashion. She said her style is eclectic and festive. \nVintage stores are also good for ethnic prints and accessories. You can usually find beaded scarves, jewelry and hats. There are great vintage stores in Bloomington. On Kirkwood you can visit Cactus Flower and the Material Plane. Both stores are affordable and offer a wide range of items. There is also Salvation Army, Goodwill and garage sales. I found a corduroy matching skirt and jacket at a vintage shop. \nAnother source for finding free clothes is older relatives. Before our parents were parents, they had style. T I have never found a pair of jeans like the already broken-in jeans of my grandmother's from the '70s. They fit like they were made for me and they are cute. \nSearching through my mother's old clothes I've found items that she couldn't get back if she threatened my life. Plus, there is something special about strutting down the street in the same clothes your mom styled in. Often you have the same build as your mom or dad so its a great fit. \nWhat makes vintage clothing stores so cool is that they stand out. Have you ever seen someone walking down the street and you didn't know where they got their clothes? It didn't look like what was considered to be in now, but it looked good. Think vintage. \nIndividuality is important, but no one should ever wait four to six weeks to express themselves. Being able to recognize quality brands is a valuable skill, but looking like you came off of a runway conveyor belt is frightening and boring.
(10/16/03 5:21am)
In the past two years, more students registered for Costume Construction Technology and fashion design classes than in the 10 years before, program coordinators said.\n"(The) Apparel Merchandising Organization became such a large presence on campus, many people are learning about the fashion design program," said Kate Rowold, professor of costume construction technology. "The Bill Blass exhibition received national recognition, and the Women's Wear Daily ranking also got us recognition." \nThe professors said they feel all this recognition influenced more students to register for CCT classes. This climbing interest has caused an overload of students, leaving the professors with little to no space. The fashion programs consist of the Costume Construction Tech Program and the Fashion Design Individualized Major Program. The CCT program is a two-year degree, and the IMP fashion design program is a four-year degree. Each program is competitive because of the lack of space and course work.\n"We are only accepting 24 students this year, and we have overflowed in the past years," Rowold said. \nProfessor Deb Christiansen said the overflow has forced them to move some classes into the cutting rooms. \n"Last year we accepted closer to 30 students because some of them drop -- two have already dropped this year," she said. \nForty-seven students applied for the program this year, and classes are already full for the fall of next year. Rowold said there are still people on the waiting list.\n"It's not an endless university -- we are not going to get new professors or more space anytime soon," Rowold said.\nSpace is not the only reason the program is so selective. The course work is time-consuming.\n"We have a rigorous technical program," Christiansen said. "No one expects Costume Design Construction to be that rigorous. People think sewing is menial; you have to treat it like a class and then some. You also have to have some kind of math skills." \nThe program went through the same kind of boost about 10 to 12 years ago. At the time, program directors added prerequisites to scale it down. Now, the program requires an application to get into the IMP fashion design program.\n"We do a pre-application process for a year," Christiansen said. "I gauge their motivation, dedication, technical and creative skills."\nOut of 11 potential individualized major fashion design students, only four or five get accepted into the program.\nCarol Coelho, a junior in the CCT and AM programs, said she wants to apply but isn't sure. \n"I am thinking of applying, but I'm not sure; I didn't take the prerequisite," she said. "Now I'm questioning if I want the extra work."\nChristiansen said the program seeks to create well-rounded fashion designers. \n"Fashion designers are smart and savvy and pull inspiration from a lot of different disciplines," Christiansen said. \nStudents in the fashion design program have to take more languages than those in Apparel Merchandising, and they are required to take music and theater appreciation and two semesters of costume history.\nProgram directors recommend students take art history, two to three fine art studios and fashion illustration, if it is being offered, Christiansen said.\nSenior Marianne Marks has been sewing for a long time. She said the AMP and CCT programs have allowed her to perfect her skills and work in a costume shop. But Marks wants to graduate in May, so applying to the IMP would not make sense for her. \n"I can do what I want with a AMP and CCT degree," she said. \nStudents have three semesters to create and present their own line, including 20 to 25 pieces based on a theme. The program directors also require written documentation about the line, Christiansen said.\nSome students go on and work in the fashion industry and some don't. Christiansen said she has noticed more students going into the industry over the time she has been teaching in the program. This summer, IU students interned with designers like Betsey Johnson, Anna Sui, Diane Von Furstenburg and other top designers.\nThree of last year's five graduates went on to work with designers such as Gloria Vanderbilt, James Caviello, The Limited, and costume companies.\n"After all the work doing fashion, many of the students figure out they would rather be doing costume design," Christiansen said.\n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(10/10/03 6:32am)
We have all done it. It is one of the hardest tasks on the face the earth: shopping. You can be in the best of moods, and by the time you finish your shopping expedition you feel like you have been put through the ringer. I have been there so many times. I love to shop, but more times than not I begin to ask myself, why? I can't wear Baby Phat because Kimora Lee is crazy and her clothes only go up to about size 6, and Express jeans flatten my butt and make it look weird. To sum it up: the clothes attack me. \nClothing attacks are very common. You walk into a store with your heart set on a particular item of clothing. You try it on and, at the expense of your self-confidence, it doesn't fit. You spend about five minutes flapping your arms up and down, trying to find a way to make it work. Sadly, it doesn't work. Just when it sinks in, the sales girl knocks on the fitting room door, and says, "Is everything okay?" That is when something snaps. You yell, "NO!" and slap her across the face with the offending articles of clothing. \nThen you go ape and scream, "Your clothes attacked me! I'm suing!" That is the worst-case scenario, but scenes in a dressing room can be depressing. \nEveryone has problems with clothes. I have experienced the "ride up" more than once. The ride up is when your skirt "rides up" and becomes shorter throughout the day. Polyester attacks my feminine fat, and makes me want to run and hide. \nThin girls have their own dilemmas. The pants that are supposed to be fitted but aren't or have the "saggy butt look." I think everybody knows about the saggy butt look. \nIf you have bigger breasts, finding a shirt is tough; finding a bra is worse. Girls with bigger bottoms might have a hard time keeping their underwear from showing. Petite girls have to get everything hemmed. All women have had the dreaded thong-wedgies. Some men have to buy pants bigger in the waist to fit their rears. \nWe all have fashion woes, but there are ways to combat these attacks. \nWomen with bigger thighs and hips, I am with you. Be honest. Look in the mirror and say, "I can't wear everything." Accept it and move on. There are stores out there for you and Express is not one of them. Express clothes are not cut for curvy women. On the other hand, Lerner and the Limited are a saving grace. The clothing is cut bigger in the thighs and in the butt, making them look and feel more comfortable. Also, wide leg jeans should be in your closet from now on. These are for us, along with stretch denim and A-line skirts. Whatever you do, stay away from trends. \nPetite girls and bigger men, find a good tailor. Or shop at a store with clothing geared toward your body type. Joseph Abboud is a great designer who cuts his clothing for more muscular men. They can be expensive, but a nice suit and pants is worth more than gold. \nPetite girls -- don't make the mistake of walking on your pants. Walking on your pants ruins them and by the time you want to get them hemmed you can't. And for heaven's sake, stay away from capris! Dry cleaners and some of the fashion design students are more than willing to hem pants for a price. If you have a boyish figure and want to manipulate curves, wear shirts with ruffles and skin tight pants. If you have the spare tire, when your waist is bigger than your butt and hangs over your pants, don't wear midriff shirts. Girls with bigger assets and curves forget Victoria's Secret and go Fredrick's of Hollywood. La Redoute, a French clothing company is great for curvy figures. \nDon't accept defeat in the attack of the clothes! Work with your body, not around it. My best friend from Russia would say, "In Russia we don't care about trends, we wear what looks good on our figures." \nWe should all have this attitude. Don't be ashamed of your feminine fat; instead, use it to your advantage.
(10/09/03 5:25am)
Students and faculty members hosted a welcome reception for newly appointed IU President Adam Herbert Wednesday afternoon in front of the IU Auditorium.\nAt the reception, Herbert was presented with a sweatshirt and hat for the Homecoming game. \n"I have been in education for 34 years, and this has been the warmest welcome I ever received," Herbert said.\nHerbert announced at the reception his plans for enhancing the college experience and maintaining a high-quality learning environment.\nThe president spent most of the time meeting and greeting students. He asked them their names, majors and where they were from. The music of Miles Davis played in the background as students sipped apple cider and ate snacks.\nHerbert said he considers meeting the students he services an important part of his position. \n"The negative part in Florida was I didn't have a chance to interact with students," he said. "It has been a plus about being here."\nHe said he also plans to make even more of an effort to meet other people.\n"I walk from my house to the office; my wife and I went to a volleyball game; and I am going to start visiting various academic buildings," Herbert said.\nRahul Sharma, a sophomore and member of the IUSA, said he feels the new president is a good fit for IU.\n"He is very friendly and very confident and a good face for the administration," Sharma said. \nHerbert's openness and friendly personality was a change for students, who compared him to Myles Brand.\n"I feel that he has an arduous task in front of him," Sharma said. "Currently, the student body has a very negative attitude towards the administration. I think once they hear him speak they will warm up to him." \nYunika Jackson, admissions coordinator for the School of Education, said Herbert will bring new ideas to campus and find a way to implement them.\n"I think it's wonderful they found someone outside of Indiana, especially someone African-American," Jackson said. "I think it is good for IU."\nJackson said she was surprised when she found out he had been selected to be the president.\nCharles Nelms, vice president for student development and diversity, said he is happy IU attracted a candidate of Herbert's caliber.\n"I was pleased IU was successful in attracting a person with his experience in higher education as a president and as assistant chancellor," Nelms said. \nHerbert said he wants to enhance the learning experience at IU. \n"We are working on improving classrooms and the quality of the class space," Herbert said. \nAlong with the academic changes, Herbert said he would like to have a top 10 football team. \nNelms said he thinks Herbert is off to a good start. \n"He has an enormous level of experience, energy and enthusiasm," Nelms said. "His ideas will enhance the overall effectiveness of IU."\nHerbert stressed the importance of a high-quality environment conducive to learning.\n"I would like to improve the quality of all our academic programs so that they're amongst the top 10 or 15," he said. "We also have to do it in a way where we maintain a nurturing and positive environment." \nHerbert said he plans to create the same level of enthusiasm that he sees in the alumni of IU. \n"I want to make sure your experiences at IU are the best times of your life," he said. \n-- Contact staff writer Patrice Worthy at pworthy@indiana.edu.
(10/03/03 5:07am)
Fashion is a tricky industry to break into. It is considered to be one of the most difficult industries to break into along with music and acting. The fashion industry is full of hungry young people with experience and dedication who work hard. There are also people trying to get into the fashion industry with little to no knowledge of fashion, but they are easy to surpass. Success in any field depends on drive with tact. \nIf you are a writer there are many ways to break into the fashion industry. One of the most common routes is to do a three-month internship with either a designer or a fashion magazine. Though interns are low on the totem pole, it looks great on a résumé. Unfortunately, internships often aren't what students expect. Meenal Mistry, fashion editor of Women's Wear Daily, said students expect to come out of fashion internships with a heightened knowledge of the field.\n"A three-month internship does not guarantee you anything, not even another internship," she said. "It's surprising how many students come in with this idea and it couldn't be further from the truth."\nMany writers do their own transcribing. Of course, there is more to being an intern than sitting at the computer playing solitaire. \n"The work involves some photocopying and phone work," Mistry said, "but it's mostly packing and\nunpacking clothes, returning them to showrooms and occasionally going on photo shoots to assist the stylist."\nA good intern doesn't just pour coffee, but it is common knowledge in the fashion industry that interns aren't the busiest people in the world. \nIf you want to become a fashion writer, you should write. Writers should never be afraid to showcase their talents in a positive way. A writing portfolio is invaluable at job interviews. Class assignments on yoga shops and letters to the editor have no leverage. Obnoxious criticism of fashion writing and design did not work for Joan Rivers, who tragically fell victim to her own self-hate by deforming herself with plastic surgery. \nIf you have never written for the IDS, I encourage you to do so. Before you do, make sure you know the difference between a fashion article and a fashion column. Fashion articles need research and fashion columns are opinion. I have found that paying attention in your trends and concept classes and reading something other than fashion magazines helps. Fashion is a vast subject. I found that paying attention to my professors and reading up on my fashion history helps with both critiquing and writing about fashion. \nNetworking is a powerful tool in the fashion industry. It is how Coco Chanel, Ralph Lauren and Zac Posen established themselves. It is key in an industry built on connections. Networking helped me get a job working for one of the top agencies when I was a freshman in college and allowed my designs to be picked for a major fashion show. You have to learn how to talk to people without sounding desperate for a job. Networking also involves learning how to get into fashion events like fashion week and getting a seat at the most exclusive shows.\nMost of all, you have to have respect for the people who are already doing what you want to do. Mistry advises interns to offer their opinions in an appropriate way. \n"While interns' opinions are valued, they tend to offer them at the wrong times," Mistry said. \nI have learned that you have to know when and how to tell people what you think. Interviewing designers and the top fashion editors requires the talent of listening. It isn't learned by sitting in the peanut gallery, reading everyone else's work. You can love fashion and even bet your life on it, but the real secret is maximizing every opportunity to your advantage. \nOf course, your resume is essential in landing the job of your dreams. Normally, the rule is not to gloat, but you can highlight your best accomplishments. Fran Healey, Operations Manager at Black Label and Women's Collection at Ralph Lauren, lives by this rule. She said you have to add fuel to the fire. \nDon't be shy about your achievements. If you have worked side-by-side with Ralph Lauren and helped him decide what was going on his runway, worked with Michael Kors, had your writing praised in Women's Wear Daily, wrote the first fashion article for the number one collegiate newspaper in the country, have studied fashion for years in two different cities and currently have your own fashion column you should express that on your résumé.\nBoasting does not get people very far socially. If you are more than qualified for the job, your employers will acknowledge that. If you are not, they won't. Most importantly, success in any field takes tenacity. You will get rejected, and most writers don't get a job on their first interview. Advancement depends on who is still standing when the competition proves wanton.
(09/26/03 5:03am)
Now that fall is already here, we can get ready for spring. We haven't even fully relaxed into that whole mod London thing designers have bestowed upon us this season, and now here's spring.\nIsn't it funny? Spring isn't here yet, and runway shows are going on everywhere.\nSome designers were inspired by femininity from the '50s, and its innocent sophistication, while others obviously think we should all look like candy children in bright oranges, neon greens, blues and pinks. Have they gone crazy? I personally feel the latter will be a little easier to fit into, but who can deny flirty femininity? \nSpring is like a burst of sweet-smelling perfume. On the other hand, it is no more than a bunch of hairy, pale-skinned people ready to get out into the sun and live a little. \nThis coming spring, it looks like we will be living in slouchy linen pants and feminine dresses that fall on the body. Think English tea time meets mademoiselle. The colors behind most designers' inspirations, are red, pink, peach, lavender, black, yellow, and of course, white. Prepare for A-line skirts and dresses, extra-wide leg pants, cocktail dresses, and form-fitting pedal pushers. The collections don't evoke an air of royalty like last spring, but they are ultra-feminine with a sex kitten appeal. \nMy favorite would have to be the eyelet lace cocktail dresses and A-line skirts. \nOne of the most beautiful trends is the beaded 1930's-style dress. The dresses are usually flouncy and pink with a floral inspiration. Tracy Reese embodied the spirit of spring with her collection during New York Fashion Week. People were actually crying at her show. Cynthia Steffe also aimed for the same look, with her 40's-inspired collection. The only difference was the bright red lipstick worn by the models. The look was fresh, but with an innocent seductive appeal. It made one think of the girl that aces the poetry class, but flirts relentlessly with her professor. This spring is going to be blooming with smoldering sexuality. \nOn the other hand, bright colors are coming back with a vengeance and it almost makes me want to cringe. The looks are happy, and remind one of lying around on a beach. It would be good if I could get past that late-80's-early-90's-bright-color thing. Do you remember just dying to have those neon green socks and disturbingly pink shoes? \nWell friends, those days are back -- but with a 12-year age difference. I am not saying the look is horrendous, but it hasn't been long enough since that fashion faux-pas. Of course people will pick up a couple of striped tees and bright blue culottes. This is not the circus, and I have never been that ecstatic about spring. Even Tommy Hilfiger hopped on the bright color bandwagon. His collection includes bright pink pants for guys, and bright yellow satiny pleated skirts. All I have to say is it reminds me of being seven. I almost couldn't look. The first thing that ran through my mind was MC Hammer and Barbie. \nI would advise everyone to stay away from this look. I predict that this shockingly bright color phenomenon will not be as popular as predicted. Though the romantic flirty thing is going to be a lot to prepare for, I feel the trend is more timely than clothes we wore when we were eight. \nEnjoy the whole mod, collegiate-style look, and hope that buyers will stock the store with age appropriate clothing or at least colors that don't scream 'I ran away with the circus.' I believe this is just a joke and the real stuff is being shown at some private events; if not, they have a lot of explaining to do. If you would like to get caught up on fashion week and the trends for spring log onto www.style.com. See for yourself the elegance -- and the absurdity -- of spring.
(09/19/03 5:57am)
My observations during fashion week have brought me to the conclusion that people in New York assume fashion is for the 30-and-over crowd. Actually, this observation about the fashion industry has always troubled me. I try to have a casual conversation and it turns into work. I find myself doing an interview or making a connection to find a job. \nI have worked in Chicago and New York and I have noticed there is a lack of the 18 to 21 crowd at the fashion shows, especially in New York. I did run into some guys my age who build sets for Playboy, but I don't know if that counts.\nIn the tents at the shows there are only, "I-have-been-doing-this-too-long" editors, snotty PR assistants and really old socialites wearing bad lipstick and clothes. When the liquor starts flowing the only people I have to talk to are editors, writers and wannabe designers. I am not saying this is a bad thing, but spending 90 percent of my time around these people can be stifling. \nI find it a little ironic that the people who buy most of these clothes aren't at the shows. In the words of hip-hop group The Diplomats, "What's really good?" \nAs much as I knock some of the fashions at IU, I also recognize good fashion statements. I see you uptown girls with your Burberry coats, bags and shoes. I also notice the blue jean mini skirts that line the sidewalks outside of the Main Library. IU was mentioned in Women's Wear Daily as one of the most fashionable colleges, so why don't they beg us to come? Let's face it, Louis Vuitton is the handbag god at this school. \nThe truth be told, we are the people that make labels like Baby Phat, BCBG, Club Monaco and Rocawear popular, yet the only time the designers pay attention to us is in the ads. College students are the life-force behind most designer lines. So why aren't we filling up seats at the shows? \nIt's like opera: the older people give sponsorship and, of course, they have older friends. Therefore, what they want, they get. Fashion is not opera. Fashion is something that changes with the times, and it is also a part of our conspicuous consumption, as written by Thorstein Veblen, a great economist, in Theory of the Leisure Class. College students use fashion for everything. We use fashion to upstage competition, impress potential employers and, of course, get booty. We should be in those seats, because, inevitably, we decide what is hot and what's not. \nWhen it comes to Fashion Design students, the best way to learn anything is from experience. Before I came to school here, I was working with an IU fashion design student in the Chicago shows. She is now working in New York. The fashion industry is based on connections and a little talent. You have to know people. New York is the fashion capital of the United States, and simply put, they hire who they know. Occasionally, IU sends about 10-15 students to New York, but sadly they could not make it this season. IU has to represent. We may be in "fly over country," but it didn't stop our fashion design program from being praised in the May first issue of WWD. \nIn February, during fashion week, we should make a point to crash every after-party. We should be decked out in BCBG, Burberry from head-to-toe, and soaked in Givenchy perfume. We should no longer be ignored when it comes to fashion, and instead of using us in their ads to sell youth to old people and a lifestyle to college students, they should respect us enough to invite us to their shows. We are one of the most fashionable schools in the nation; we should be there.
(09/17/03 5:16am)
NEW YORK -- The fourth day of Fashion Week in New York City proved to be a hectic occasion. The tents are becoming increasingly full and the shows keep getting better. Sunday, Lacoste surprised many with a colorful laid back style for spring; while Tuleh disappointed its audience with a short show that one could categorize as boring. Monday, the Bill Blass show was full of surprises and show-stoppers as new head designer Michael Vollbracht proved himself to an audience full of curiosity and found out that the designer could pull off a successful comeback after a 15-year hiatus.
(09/15/03 6:13am)
NEW YORK -- This year marks the 10th anniversary of 7th on Sixth, an organization originally formed in 1993 by the Council of Fashion Designers of America to organize, centralize and modernize the New York collections. It has become one of the city's marquee events, attracting thousands. Fashion industry leaders, the worldwide press, buyers, celebrities and politicians make up the mix, and it generates an estimated $253 million for the city's economy each year.\nThis year, 66 designers will present their spring collections from Sept. 12 to 17, and many are making their debut under the tents at Bryant Park. Collections like BodyGear Activewear and Bahar Korcan are showing their creations for the first time at this year's Fashion Week. The popularity of the event has created so much hype that hundreds of people are being denied entrance to many of the most talked-about shows. Baby Phat, Rosa Cha by Amir Slama and Fusha lines were so long their shows were standing room only. In February, the less-than-booming economy didn't add to the already downtrodden mood surrounding the shows. But this season, things are different. A-list celebrities are dominating the red carpet, and designers are supporting others designers by attending shows.
