Kanye West "Takes Back" Confederate Flag

   Kanye West is known to do outlandish things that never cease to shock the public. It works like a charm, every time, and we are always entertained. His actions, his words and his mannerisms are very hard to predict but when will we stop acting so surprised? Kanye has made it clear to his audience that if he has a statement to make, it will be made, and last week’s events were no different from the rest.

                Last Tuesday, Kanye was seen sporting a jacket with the Confederate flag shining in all its glory on his right sleeve. Ironically enough, this happened at about the same time that Kanye slandered Barney’s for racially profiling in its stores. Now, before I get to how I feel about the charade, let’s get to the general public point of view. From all the articles I have read and all the newscasts I have seen, public opinion is split between two sides: publicity stunt and “cultural hero”. On the one hand, you might cry publicity stunt because Kanye is known for his antics; he needs to stay in the public eye to, (say it with me) make money. As long as Kanye remains a household name, he is getting called for photo shoots, commercials, advertisements, sponsorships and the list goes on. Not that we don’t talk about him enough as it is but it would make sense for him to pull a stunt like this.

West takes it even further by placing the Confederate flag on his tour merchandise. We’re talking t-shirts, sweaters, snapbacks, etc. which leads us to believe that this could be a marketing technique as well. On the other hand, some people see Kanye as the one person who looks out for the Black community. As an African-American, once you dig deeper, I can see how this could be a positive action that most people could take as a negative at face value. For example, take the N-word. People outside of our culture don’t understand why some of us use it. African-Americans sought to take that word that has such a negative connotation in our history, and turn it into something more endearing. Then we face the problem of “Well if you can use the word, why can’t I?” from non-African-American people. There’s a whole lot of controversy that comes with this, but you should understand the point I’m trying to get across. Kanye may be trying to abolish an ugly symbol that has lasted too long in our history.

            As for my thoughts, I believe Kanye has every opportunity to carry out the latter. Whether or not he is aware of this opportunity remains unknown. And even if he is, his statements in previous interviews give me the impression that he doesn’t really care. But that could be a bluff as well. I want to believe that Kanye has every intention to set the bar for African-Americans to succeed, however I need to see the fruits of that labor. If you are going to call yourself God, if you are going to flaunt the Confederate flag, have an end purpose to it all. Otherwise, the amount of ruckus that was made on your behalf was in vain, and these actions will just be thrown into the same pile as the Miley Cyrus’s or Lindsay Lohans. There will be no accomplishments made. I don’t want Kanye to be a walking oxymoron, exploiting those who he claims to support just for the sake of self-gain. What happens when Caucasians start wearing the flag as a fashion statement? Will not history repeat itself (as irony would have it)? Who knows, maybe I set my sights too high for someone who has no filter… ever. Only time will tell. What do you think? Is this a stunt, stirring up controversy for some publicity or taking back a negative symbol that has been in the African-American culture for years?

     

- Ashley Germain 

From The Runway to Your Closet: Spring ’13 Must-Haves

Ah, Spring. The sun is out, the flowers are blooming, & the winter chill is calming to a light breeze. Time to break out of those heavy winter coats & show off those outfits that have been begging for a little sunlight. Every season a new set of trends come to view & I have just the pieces to make your Spring (& possibly even Summer) pop! The top fashion designers pulled out all the stops on their lines this Spring & gave us a sneak peek as to what has to be in our rotation this season. Check out these top fashion trends for Spring 2013 that will have YOU walking like a runway model!

Black & White

            You hear Spring & automatically think pastel colors & florals, however this year Spring didn’t want to be so bright. Add a few black and white outfits to give yourself a sleek and edgy look. Outfits like this can go from E-board meeting to nightclub with a few adjustments & a change of a heel. Signature outfits stand out in the best ways & you definitely don’t want to be a part of the crowd.

Stripes, Stripes, STRIPES!

            Even though everyone is into the geometric shapes this year, stripes are what’s coming up next. Bold stripes on shirt, pants/skirts, or BOTH will make you look down right cool & give your look a hipster vibe. Don’t think you can pull it off? Try it away! Trust me, you’ll be happy you did.

Peek-a-Boos

            Looking to add a little spice to your wardrobe? Cutouts are what’s hot! Dresses with cut out sides, shirts with sheer middles (cleavage alert!), or even skirts that slits go to where no man has gone before, it’s all the rage! Perfect pieces for a night on the town or just to feel hot for a day; work it out & feel confident doing it!

Statement Sunglasses

            When your Aunt Sally wore those big sunglasses that covered her entire face they looked silly, but this Spring you’ll be crowned a fashionista! Statement sunglasses with flare ends will send a simple outfit through the roof. Don’t overdo them with bulky jewelry or wild outfits. Keep it cute & the glasses will do the rest.

Bermuda Shorts

            If you’re like me & aren’t cut out for the booty shorts & stockings, then Bermuda shorts might be up your aisle. These wide legged shorts come to the knee and give any outfit a flirty flare. With all the different materials they come in, you can’t help play with the variety. They go great with a heel, flat, or combat boot. A fitted shirt & a light jacket would be perfect in my eyes, but there are so many options and a whole season to test them on!

Short Suits

            Having lunch with the girls? Get fancy & throw on blazer with a pair of pleated shorts for a business casual look. Another style that can go from business to fun within seconds, but the best part? No adjustments! Short suits will keep you cool while keeping you looking cool (get it!). A low heel is best, but of course you have to out do your friends from time to time. Throw on that 6-inch & pump it out!

Floral Pant

            Okay, okay, a little floral made it on the list. Floral is a classic, & classics never die. A bold floral pant will be divine with a simple blouse & cute shoe. Make them as bright as you want, it’s Spring! If you’re a fan of your backside, then these will definitely give your ass-sets a bit more attention. Can you handle the attention the flowers will bring?

And its that simple! With a few signature pieces, you could be the next Naomi Campbell! Keep your Iphones in your purses though. Have fun dressing!

- CookTP

Maison Margiela Partners With H&M

Have name brands and high end fashion become too available? If so, will this decrease the desire to possess- and even the supply and demand for it? 

For the past year or so there have been a lot of collaborations with high end fashion designers and mainstream clothing stores. H&M first paired up with Versace in 2011, and the informal debut was during Kanye's performance on the runway at Victoria Secret's Fashion Show. His bomber jacket with the staple Versace print on the sleeves was quite the piece. Not long after, the craze for Versace and for H&M was on the rise. I always wondered, with a man like Kanye West and how he presents himself we all know he takes pride in his "exclusive" high end image. So, why doesn't he mind wearing a $129 jacket that he knows everyone else will also (Or does he care)? 

This year, Maison Martin Margiela has paired up with H&M for their collaboration. At the launch party, celebrities in attendance ranged from Alexander Wang, Sarah Jessica Parker, and of course, Kanye West. The pieces, from men's sneakers and jackets to women's dresses and blouses, are nothing less than amazing. Looking through the look book, nothing is more than $500, which is, for lack of a better phrase, a bargain sale for such a renowned fashion designer. With this being said, is the outcome of the collaboration going to be more than a huge hit for H&M, will it be a signifier of less exclusivity for Margiela? I personally think what makes high-end fashion so classified in its caliber is the mere fact that the pieces are very particular and rather limited. It allows the line to remain in high demand because collectively, we as humans enjoy having what others don't. Kanye West embodies this desire. 

I hope to see some progression for Margiela within this year of collaboration, because his work is outstanding. If I could afford it, I would be a young Kanye myself, showing off rare pieces and basking in every moment. However, if such collaborations for H&M continue, what is the outlook on high end fashion vs. mainstream? Is this the beginning of fusion and somewhat equality, or will hierarchy continue to reign in the fashion world? 

- Olivia Khoury

You Are What You Wear..Or Maybe Not?

Is your style really a reflection of you? Do you care what image you convey with your clothing? What truly means 'dress to express'?

Teenagers and the demographic of college-age students alike are the number one priority demographically when it comes to the fashion world. I just want to know, do you think they really care about your best interest? Are you conscious of your choices? Everyday we witness the media- social networks, tabloids, gossip websites- hype up celebrities and their so-called 'fashion sense'. It's sad to say there are those of us who subconsciously emulate those people to a T. Being that we are children of older generations- the psychedelic and activist era of the sixties, the revolutionary and disco era of the seventies, the retro and glam of the eighties, and so on- you'd think collectively we'd each conjure up a sense of individualism. It hurts me to say a lot of us rely on those put on a pedestal around us to dress us, which can in itself relay a lot about us to the world.

At the end of the day, some might say they do not care about the opinions of others, or everyone will eventually look the same. Touché. However, as pictures are worth a thousand words, do you really want to look back and have those words not be your own? Allow your soul to glow through the clothing.  Fashion  statements are the unspoken words of the individual wearing them; don't allow the clothes to wear you.

- Olivia Khoury

In Style: Leather!

Trading in cotton for leather? Yes, yes, y'all. Ladies, although those darling cotton leggings are our best friends, we need to be honest and say they've served their time. Recently, I've been eyeing those cute leather- pleather for the cheap people like me- pant leggings. Leather is very tricky to wear; to pair it with just anything can look a bit tacky and overbearing. For a chic ensemble, go all black; for a retro look, add gold jewelry to your outfit; to go classy, add a dainty, oversized sweater and flats. 


For the brothas, leather bottoms can either come off a little flamboyant, or send a misconstrued message. To be on the safe side, stick to leather vests or jackets; the classic look to add some simple chic-ness to the wardrobe. Obscure elegance always catches an eye (But remember: BLACK leather, boys. Please don't go '85 Michael Jackson on us with the red leather jacket). All in all, leather is the perfect go-to piece when in need. Delicate, edgy, and sophisticated. Once you go (p)leather, you never go back.

- Olivia Khoury

90's Are Making A Comeback

Evolution and repetition are the two core reasons why fashion even exists. All throughout history, we can trace back trends to previous time periods, and the emulation still occurs today. Every time I enter a store with my mother or older relative I am hit with the "Girl, we used to wear this stuff back in the day! Mhm, a blast from the past". Even though we don't want to admit that we probably mimick our parents in pictures we take now from their own back then, the truth is inevitable. In my opinion, nostalgia is in the air- the 90's have certainly returned and graced our culture. Currently, sports wear, snapbacks, and eccentric hairstyles are returning to the subculture fashion scene. 90's-influenced jewelry graces our necks and ears, and Dr. Martens are returning to the U.S. from teenage infatuation. Leather and varsity jackets, snakeskin, bold letters on hats and skull caps, and all black ensembles are continually making their way onto the fashion-forward pedestal. Thanks to artists like A$ap Rocky, Joey Bada$$, and Azealia Banks, the influence from NY is spreading all over the U.S. Some may even say this influence is spreading all over the world because of social-networking sites. So, ladies and gents, return to mom and pop's house and dig out those old, certainly not outdated, vintage tee shirts and jackets. It's going to be a nostalgic and eclectic winter.

- Olivia Khoury

D.I.Y.s? Oh My!

I might be the only one who relates to this, but I remember during Christmas I used to receive those random, ‘this-is-wack-because-it-isn’t-the-new-gameboy-or-the-new-ashanti-cd-MOM’ presents that I’m sure no one else in my whole school received. I used to think my dear mother was such a cornball for buying me gifts like Tie-Dye kits, the kits with an array of beads and string to make your own jewelry, and that infamous Bedazzler machine for your jeans. (Yes, she went there.) Although I was angry at her all day on Christmas, it would be about 2-3 weeks that I would sit on my bed and begin to create things on my clothing, and the vibe of guilty pleasure would fill the room. So succeeding that terribly embarrassing anecdote, the moral of the story is as follows: DIY fashion is taking over the world again. DIY is “Do-It-Yourself”, and those kits at the craft stores are an enabler to a whole new aspect of personal taste in wardrobe. Today we see a lot of clothing at the stores with studs, beads, knits, and embedded stitching in the jeans- DIY is a way to create your look to emulate the styles you see in the boutiques with your own twist. DIY is economical and a path to show off your creative and artistic side into your clothing. There are many tutorials on YouTube and throughout the internet to guide you to your personalized finished product. Head to the thrift store, find a piece that has potential to add your own spice, and grab scissors, spray paint, needle and thread, and some jewels. Here are some examples:

http://pinterest.com/stacie_grissom/diy-fashion-ideas/ 

- Olivia Khoury

Online Shopping Made Easy

We are a greedy and spoiled bunch of a generation (This is not a complaint). With the technology that we have within our grasp today, and the cyber networks, if one wants something, we can retrieve it in a matter of seconds:

Girl walks by you in the hallway. Look at her shoes. Her shoes are cute. Oh, where did she get those shoes? Look up and half smile, she might catch you creeping. Look down again as you pass her. Grabs phone. Google. Yes. Yes. Those! Buy. Express shipping. Text So-and-So about the shoes so maybe she can get a pair, too. Put phone away. Scream to self and do a dance. End.

We all do it, right? But one might ask if this is necessarily a good thing. I personally have distaste for wearing the same pieces as someone else, but the earth keeps revolving. Networks such as eBay, Etsy, and even Craigslist act as the enabler to one's personal shopping addiction. Such sites are easy to access, simple to use, and ready to take your money whenever you are ready to hand it out.
On a more positive note, you can be the one receiving the extra cash in your account. Etsy, a website I was introduced to this past summer, is a site run by clients/users that either make their own clothing or accessories, or collectors who have a surplus of cool vintage items that they want to make money off of. Pretty much anything you can make, or find in an antique shop, is sold on here. For those of us on campus who love to create and design but don't have a platform to sell and showcase their products, Etsy is reliable and easy. There are so many young entrepreneurs, to use the term loosely, on this site that probably make a nice amount of extra dough. However, some sites blow me away because they will charge sixty dollars for a shirt- so keep in mind some people are doing this as their means of money, if you want to support someone's electric bill for the month. Do your research and stay away from sites with negative reviews. Keep a low identity, but express your inner fashionista.  Happy selling and happy hunting.

- Olivia Khoury 

Fashion's Night Out

"Unity." When asking Tyler Torey Williams what she believes Fashion’s Night Out symbolizes, she replied, "I feel as though it symbolizes unification in NYC; just a lot of passionate people who share one common interest that take time out of their life to come together and celebrate fashion". That's exactly what happens every year. 

Fashion’s Night Out is an annual event for the hipsters, artists, bloggers--and even tourists from around the world--to dress in their most creative ensembles and witness their favorite fashion designs and designers in the flesh. Taking place in the heart of New York, SoHo becomes illuminated on the first night of Fashion Week with celebrity appearances, performances, and courteous goodie bags from vendors to the shoppers (speaking for us broke college students, I know those goodie bags are like early Christmas presents). For the stores and their companies, FNO showcases what they have to offer to clientele, gives them a chance to boast about the people they endorse and support, and turns them into venues for music numbers and runways for models. However, the most enchanting aspect is the mystery of who you might run into as the night progresses.

This past Thursday, September 6th, crowds lined up to catch the handsome heartthrob Pharrell hosting at BBC, which he does every year. Azealia Banks blessed a crowd of people at MAC with her colorful presence; an elegant Alexander McQueen event created a classy aura amongst the smog of adolescent riots in the area; and the beautiful Solange Knowles DJ’ed the night away at Diane von Frostenberg.

FNO is an enchanting night to explore the dynamics of the fashion world: to network with those around you, and to just mingle and admire the fact that so many people around you are on the same wavelength regarding NYC culture. That alone is an experience in itself.

Are You Ready for the Fall Fashion?

Autumn is here! The leaves are falling, cut-off shorts are being stowed away in storage, and boys will not be able to wear their infamous Jordan slippers and socks outside anymore. (Yes, ladies, the day is finally here. Rejoice.) Season changes yield new trends and style ideas. I personally don’t care for “fashion” trends; I like to embrace individual style and expression. However, here are just a few, a sneak peek if you will, of what to expect for this upcoming fall season- maybe a few you can incorporate into your own unique style!

Sleeveless Vests – It’s not quite winter so full coverage isn’t ideal just quite yet. However, it seems as though sleeveless (fur) vests are making their way into the autumn spotlight for that go-to jacket. For men, this can include cut-off camouflage vests, paired with black jeans.

Full Skirts – The mini is out & full-length skirts are now “in”. I enjoy this look because it is refining the timeless and classy look for women. Layering a full length skirt with a draping, loose shirt with bold accessories is a look I personally admire. Hint: thrift stores are notorious for the full length skirt. Save yourself some money!

(Faded) Denim – The 90’s look is re-emerging, and the faded look is now the norm. Faded denim button-up shirts are an essential piece to one’s wardrobe nowadays. It gives a certain casual aura to an outfit when paired with sneakers and colored jeans, or can also be made classy when paired with high-waisted pants and oxfords or loafers.

Oversized Vest Shirts – I’m an advocate for the women’s oversized look. In the 90’s, it was ideal for women to wear oversized clothing and still portray a tasteful, sexy look. For men, it compliments a great pair of jeans and boots. Allow your confidence to shine through elsewhere other than the tightness of your clothing articles. Oversized shirts always need some balance, so fitted bottoms and neutral shoes can always do the trick. 

- Olivia Khoury