3xploring unseen urban spaces: St. Stephen's Church

STICK TO THE CODE: “TAKE NOTHING BUT PHOTOS AND LEAVE NOTHING BUT FOOTPRINTS”

… and that’s exactly what I did.

Anatomic Motion

Special thank you to Alam, Shaherzad, and Emma, this all really would not have been possible without them.

 

Description: Two chronophotographic sequences of 9 prints each in the style of Eadweard Muybridge. Both depict the erratic, explosive and even controlling nature of stress, the first capturing a dancer as she performs an original, choreographed composition, the second in the face of the dancer as she attempts to execute the unpredictable combination of rapid and controlled movement textures in the piece. Photographs, around 32.5” x 44”, are presented along the window planes at the Logan Center. While walking down the row of windows, the viewer engages with the dancer’s emotion at two different scales, that of the physical/ biomechanical (the dance itself) and that of the psyche/psychological (the dancer’s face). The dual sequences display stress as both a social phenomenon and an individual struggle—thus its impact is twofold, both communal and personal. The creative objective is to attempt to visualize the achievements and art of biology as tangible to non-biologists. Supported by Logan Center Pitch It! Grant 2023-24.

Until next time,

Maryam.

where are you

where are you? are you lost in your worries, anxieties, or frustrations? are you drowned in the tasks, assignments, and work of your mundane life? go out! observe the world! smile!

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invisible threads

Green was the color of the grass

Where I used to read at

Centennial Park 

I used to think I would meet someone there

Teal was the color of your shirt

When you were sixteen at the yogurt shop

You used to work at to make a little money

Time, curious time

Gave me no compasses, gave me no signs

Were there clues I didn’t see?

And isn’t it just so pretty to think

All along there was some 

Invisible string

Tying you to me?


Bad was the blood of the song in the cab

On your first trip to LA

You ate at my favorite spot for dinner

Bold was the waitress on our three-year trip

Getting lunch down by the Lakes

She said I looked like an American singer

invisible string, Taylor Swift, 2020.

You’re probably familiar with this track (and if not, please for the love of everything go listen to it!), and the premise behind it. And if you’re not, hopefully you just read the lyrics, but if you didn’t, Miss Swift is essentially singing about an “invisible string” that binds her with the subject of the song. Going back, she can identify experiences that connected them, even before they had met. This song has inspired a trend on TikTok right now as a derivative of what’s being described as “invisible string theory”, where people have been highlighting instances in which someone close to them in their life has had an experience that reflected some aspect of their own lives, or were literally in the same place, prior to when they met in the context of their current relationship. In simpler terms, the universe will keep you apart at all costs until you are meant to meet. For instance:

Per usual, the general trend provides a gross lack of awareness or credit to where the “theory” actually originates from. Rebranded as the invisible string theory, the red thread of fate (or the red string of fate, depending on where you are) is a story prevalent in East Asian mythologies that describes a physical connection that exists between two people destined to meet, fortified by an invisible, red thread. The thread may be tangled, stretched, twisted, or mangled, but the connection will always exist. The details (whether the thread is tied to a pinky finger or an ankle, etc.) is regionally dependent, but the core of the tale remains the same. You and your soulmate(s) are connected, right now. They could be walking around, right next to you, completely unaware of your significance. And you, of theirs. You could cross paths, at any moment, without even realizing it. You are not meant to meet yet.

It’s a concept that has compelled me since I was first introduced to it– and, in accordance with the videos under the trend in tandem with my own experiences, I believe it. Maybe the thread isn’t physical, or red, or perhaps there is no thread at all— but I do think that we share unbreakable, metaphysical connections with specific people throughout our lives, and that the people we are meant to know are meant to know us.

Funnily enough, someone very close to me in my life thinks all of this is bullshit (he tends to be cynical about things like this, concepts that are considered “spiritual”). He asked me why it mattered– what is the consequence of this mythological tale, this theory, being true? Or false, for that matter? And to be honest, I didn’t really have an answer. But I also don’t think it’s that black and white– just because its truth doesn’t “matter” on a universal level, doesn’t make it irrelevant, or totally insignificant, either.

At this point in life, there’s a lot of talk about the future, about what comes next. It’s a lot of new experiences, and a lot of change. You move away from familiarity to somewhere completely foreign, in the spirit of this great new chapter (you’re in your prime!) and have to construct your own life from the ground up for the first, but probably not the last, time. And with that comes excitement, yes. But also discomfort, and difficulty (with many things– do I wash these sheets on hot or cold? What actually is business casual?). I am not one to invite change with open arms. I can accept it yes, but the process isn’t something I enjoy. It feels unstable, unpredictable. It is out of my control, and that makes me uncomfortable.

So, when things seem especially unsure, I revert back to what’s familiar:

The sound of ocean waves crashing against a jutting cliff, the taste of rice and salt. Warm Vanilla Sugar, cardamom and cinnamon and kidney beans, fragrant, boiling on the stove, the dissonant sounds of a rehearsing pianist. Coffee in the morning, ginger in the evening, and lemons for the in-betweens. Distinct but distant chatter coming from the room down the hall, a shelf of art packed full, spilling over, shattering. A brush of fur against an ankle, oily hair and a kiss on the head, gentle fingers on backs and warm water on feet.

What brings me the most comfort though, perhaps, is the familiarity, the consistency, of people. My family, my friends. Regardless of what happens, there are a select bunch of people that I know are not going anywhere. And, according to the mythology, there is something innate, something subconscious, that will bind us together regardless of circumstance, and regardless of distance— unbreakable, metaphysical connections. And, perhaps even more intriguing, there are people that will be important to me, just walking around somewhere. Connections that will inevitably be forged, just waiting for the right moment. It’s a nice thought. Cheesy maybe, but nice. Comforting, in an age of change.

So for me, that’s why it matters— comfort. I think it’s just nice to think about the people in my life as a part of a makeshift web that follows me, present and connected. Just a single thread’s tug away, whenever I may need them, or they may need me. It’s also just interesting to think about when you truly met someone for the first time.

For example, the other day I had a friend over for dinner.

We had only met about four, maybe five months prior— I had never heard of her, and could not recall ever having seen her around before we had initially met. It was during a school program, of course, where all great relationships originate. We were eating shrimp pasta and sipping red wine, talking about our interests, our ambitions. She said she was a screenwriter. I tell her I am an artistic director, a producer, an editor. I ask her if she’s worked with the school’s film organization. She smiles. She says yes.

We realized that we had sat right next to each other— her right behind me— for six separate club meetings and a premiere over a year and a half prior. And this wasn’t some massive consulting club. We had definitely bumped into each other at those meetings, but one had just never perceived the other. Us connecting during that program was the unification of our thread. We were finally meant to meet.

In a way, this myth is just another way to say: “small world”, or even “everything happens for a reason”. That the people in your life are there for a purpose, coming and going as they are meant to in order to serve you best throughout the grand span of your lifetime. It kind of circles back to the idea that you are a “mosaic” of everyone you have ever met:

Your childhood best friend you always mimicked, whose favorite color is still yours. The permanent scar on your knee from when your family friends taught you to skateboard; they got divorced and moved away soon after, you haven’t spoken to them since. Despite being twenty years old you still tie your shoes the way your kindergarten teacher taught you— two bunny ears, wrapping around each other each other in a dance, into a bow. Using semicolons more often than you should, because your sixth grade English teacher loved them, and you loved her.

While the traditional mythology is typically associated with romantic soulmates, I like to think it extends past this. All of the people you have met and have stayed, did so for a reason— they all share an invisible thread with you, and you with them.

Anyways, regardless of the theory’s, the myth’s, validity, I encourage you to take a look at your own little *web of important people* in your life. Because you never know where your invisible strings, or red threads, may connect.

SHOOT CREDITS, AND SPECIAL THANKS TO:

Models: Sara Vetter + Arianna Wooten

Creative Direction & Photography: Riya Khetarpal + Spencer O’Brien

Styling, Editing, & Collaging: Riya Khetarpal

All images are courtesy of the author

The Mallard and her Abacot Ranger: A poem for our duck pond displaced duo

Enjoy my short poem and photos I took of these beautiful ducks at Promontory Point!

Under a canopy of clouds ever so grey,

appears the sunshine with a heart shaped ray.


On a beach where wind-driven waves whisper to shore,
In one breath caressing, in the next, they roar.
At times gentle, like secrets shared in trust,
Then fierce, against the rocks, a relentless thrust.

There stood an Abacot, noble and rare,

His heart aflutter, in the salt-spray air.

Then, through the mist, a vision did appear
A Mallard, grace embodied, drawing near.
Her feathers, a mosaic of the earth and sky,
Caught the hidden sun, a spectacle for the eye.

The Abacot chased, his soul alight

Drawn by beauty in the dimming light.

In silence, he floated as time took flight
Admiring her form in the fading light.

Her beauty a beacon, on this cloudy day
A promise of spring, in the midst of gray.

Alas! he reaches close, dedicated, with no time to waste

Enveloped in aura, with the presence she’s graced.

In her orbit, the world seems to pause and embrace,
A harmony of hearts, in love's tender chase.

With a twinkle in his eye, he began to speak
Words smooth as silk, his heart on the peak.
"Among these waves and the whispers of the sea,
None shine as brightly or as wondrously as thee.

Your elegance, dear, outshines the morning dew,
A beauty so profound, it renews the world anew.

Might I be so bold, to walk by your side,
Through tides and times, with you as my guide?

In your presence, the cloudy skies turn clear,
With you, dear Mallard, I've nothing to fear.
Let's write our story, on the sands of this beach,
A love so vast, it stretches beyond reach."

Her gaze soft, from blur she emerged,
A smile in her eyes, two worlds converged.
"Your words, like ripples, reach my heart, so still,
In this dance of whispers, I find my will.

To walk with you, beneath the clouded dome,
By sea’s soft murmur, where wild spirits roam.
Your courage, dear Abacot, has shown me glim,
In this dive of faith, come quick! let’s swim"

The end.

Hope you liked it :)

Meditations In An Emergency

My narration of my favorite Frank O’Hara poem.

Poem written by Frank O’Hara.

Photographed by Maryam Shariff.

Special thank you to Stacia Konow for agreeing to wade in freezing water. <3

O’Hara, Frank. “Meditations in an Emergency.” 1995. Poetry Foundation, https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poetrymagazine/poems/26538/meditations-in-an-emergency.

digitalscrapbook: my last fall q

Due to the pandemic, I sometimes describe my three and a half-ish years here as “fake college.” We were sent home from school for COVID my first year, spent second year entirely online, and third year in some kind of ambivalent in-between space. It really feels like my fourth year snuck right up on me - and now we’re over a third of the way through!(?) I resolved to make the most of this last year of my yOuTh, and I’ll be bold and say that, so far, I’ve done a decent job!

One thing about me is that I love to dwell in nostalgia. Another (related) thing: I love to SCRAPBOOK.

I have assembled here a digital scrapbook of my last fall at UChicago. <3

One of the biggest changes this school year has been my new job as an RA. I hadn’t lived on campus since being kicked out of the dorms in March 2020 (when the world was ending), so I was a little apprehensive about the return. I moved in two weeks before classes started and spent a full week doing RA training before the new kiddos moved in and we began O-week! My RA friends made the transition so much easier for me and have provided a support system unlike any I’ve ever had before:)

On the Friday before our first week of class, I had my first ever interstate field trip! We took a 7am Amtrak from Union Station to St. Louis, Missouri to visit the City Museum. We spent five hours straight exploring the surreal play structures of the museum, roaming manmade underground tunnels, climbing ladders to nowhere, swinging across ball pits and launching ourselves down a five-story(!) slide. At the end of the day, we took the train right back to Chicago. It was an exhausting day, but certainly one of my most memorable as a student here.

My oldest friend Megan and I have a tradition of visiting each other at least once a year at our respective schools. She’s currently in grad school in Florida, and in October, she made the trip to Chicago to stay in my dorm room on an air mattress for four days. We tagged along on a house trip to go apple picking in Hobart, Indiana, which I swear is right out of a Hallmark movie.

One of my favorite parts of living in Chicago has been exploring its MANY music venues. I love going to shows both of artists I’ve been a longtime fan of ones I haven’t heard a single song of… To speak to the former, I saw Declan McKenna in October and almost passed away.

Cultivated lots of new hobbies and skills this quarter! I learned how to sew and knit in a class in the art history department called women’s work and became a woodworking GOD for my children and architecture class. It was so cool to get to visit the Lab School’s Early Education campus and meet the kids and watch them play with the blocks I made them:’)

Okay I am embarrassed to say that I have not been to the Christkindl market since my first year BUT I did manage to conduct some EPICLY FESTIVE holiday activities. I only fell ONCE ice skating and only got into ONE fight with a middle aged woman at the Joffrey’s Nutcracker show.

Cheeseball alert: I love my friends and am getting madly emotional about my college career coming to an end. Fortunately, this is great motivation to keep up with my scrapbooking to maximize future nostalgic looking back at the good old days….

What I learned from Superman

Originally, I directed this piece to be an ode to Eid Al-Fitr of the Spring Quarter, to be published as a celebration of Muslim identity and beauty. 

Today, instead, I want to write about Superman.

 

Originally from the planet Krypton, Clark Kent spent most of his life hiding his alien origin and superpowers. Clark Kent fabricated his identity obscuring his true background.

Like Superman, for years I adopted the name “Mary”, pretended my parents were born in South Carolina, and ironed my curly hair to black strings. Growing up in the South, immigrants from Middle Eastern and Muslim cultures are openly ostracized from mass media and shamed for being villains and aliens to the US. I traded traditional clothing for Simply Southern t-shirts, ignored my mother’s attempts to teach me Arabic, and morphed into the identity of “Mary” I created.

 
“All I wanted was to be Mary from Greenville, South Carolina.
”

Yet, no matter how much money wasted, how many tears shed, how much time lost, I was never truly “Mary”. 

And in reality, I can never be “Mary”.

And honestly, I never needed to be “Mary”.

 

As my love for the idea of “Mary” grew stronger, my resentment for “Maryam” followed. There was no escape, every small detail resurrected the remnants of Maryam I learned to hate.

Substitute teachers still called me Maryam on the roll, and the strangers in grocery stores still asked me, “Where are you really from?”, but

 

I believe Clark Kent teaches us all a lesson.

At his core, Clark Kent wants to reconnect with his roots, the same dilemma children of Muslim and Middle Eastern immigrants can relate to. With time, Superman and I grew to love our identity; he showcased his family crest worn at his old home, I learned to honor who I am and where I come from.

My name is Maryam Abdallah Shariff Al-Alawiy (مريم عبدالله شريف العلوي) and I will never be “Mary” again.

Photographer and Editor - AJ Gleason (link to her Instagram!)

Creative Director/Writer - Maryam Shariff

Modeled by Ameera Abu-Khalil, Aminah Ghanem, Noor Mryan, Maimouna Abdulmumin, Shaherzad Chawdree, Maryam Shariff

All clothing provided by the models themselves.

I bought a $45 Digital camera and it’s now my favorite thing to own.

One of my favorite pass times growing up was flipping through my parents’ old photo albums and seeing pictures of them during their “prime.” Tangible documentations of unforgettable moments filled with pure joy and so much life as they navigated their teenage and young adult years. And though I’d always wished that there were more captured for me to see, what made the experience better was the added bonus of hearing the anecdotes that accompanied those memories. So despite having sat with this thought for years, I found that even more recently, all I could think about was how exciting it would be for me to start documenting my life in the same way.

Though, I don’t particularly consider myself to be one of those people who believe they were born in the wrong generation, as I like to think that others were much worse (to each their own I guess). There is simply nothing better than that nostalgic grainy 90s/ early 2000s digital picture quality or that of even older vintage film from the 60s/70s. What can I say? Photos like that simply make me happy and seeing them resurface has been one of (if not my favorite) throwback comebacks.

And call me basic, but I can’t lie, after seeing girls on my Pinterest boards and Bella Hadid thrive with their digis, I too needed to have one of my own. So over the summer, right before my birthday (that was the trigger lmao), I decided to bite the bullet and surf eBay, Depop, Etsy, and Poshmark, (you name it I was probably on it) until I finally came across one I loved. Quite literally my holy grail, my cherry-red Fujifilm FinePix digital touchscreen camera sold to me by a wonderful seller on Mercari. And not to be dramatic but I’ve never made a better decision in my life!

My digital camera has allowed me to capture some of the most amazing moments with friends and family in a way that my phone simply does not compare. That alone is why I’m obsessed. I often like to joke about being in my “photographer era,” but to be honest, I don’t think I’ll ever leave it. The older I get the quicker life goes by, and the faster it goes, the more I find myself wanting to record all of the moments that count. 

Don’t get me wrong, I’m a strong believer of living in the moment. Yet, what I think is great about this idea of “ living in the moment” and having a digital camera (or film, or polaroid, or camera in general etc.)  is that picture-taking becomes a part of said moment. Everyone is excited when the camera comes out, it’s like a mini photoshoot. Think: you’re at a y2k themed basement party, your friends are stunning, you’re meeting strangers and they jump in too. It’s exciting and lively, the music is amazing, and you’re overall just having a good time. 

Like don’t these pictures just give you so much serotonin? Every single one gives main character energy!

That’s the magic. To put it simply, taking pictures on your digital camera doesn’t feel like a dent in the moment nor does it feel like this obligatory thing that you have to do in order to retain a memory in all of its glory. It feels natural and in the end, it is the fun!

So just in case, you were thinking about it already, I say make the one purchase that you definitely won’t regret (as long as it's from a trusted seller lmao, remember reviews are your best friend!). 

Until then, I hope you enjoyed these pictures of my hot friends and I. Shout out to Hour.nine :). 

Signing off with this sketchy alley photo — Liz


I Know A Place

 

Valentine’s Day, the day of love. Too bad we can’t love and be loved on any other day of the year, right?

Just kidding, promise. We’re fun around here.

College is prime-time for dating, and there’s something so vulnerable about being The Date Planner. The stakes are high (or low, depending on what you’re looking for). Location is a symbol of sincerity, of “how into me are you, really?”

“So, what are we?”

What do the kids say?

“I know a place.”

What is that place for you?

The gardens of Millennium Park? The sticky seats of a movie theater? Your freshly-made bed?

What about around campus?

Shinju Sushi? The Pub? The rooftop of whichever school building with the best view?

Enough of that. Anything can be a date with the person who has your heart.

Here, the Blog navigates the charming and sometimes uncanny spaces that exist on campus, and the ways in which love can brew all around us. Anywhere, anytime.

This shoot was styled by our talented crew and models themselves, with garments and accessories from their own closets.

Click photos to enlarge

 

The Lovers

 

Cast

Photography & Editing: Sonia Chang

Models: Fatou Ndoye & EJ Song

Written by: Nadaya Davis

Creative Director: Nadaya Davis

Crew: Vivian Li, Matthew Sumera, Anna Selden, Kaja Muchova (hand cameo), Laura Sandino, Ivana Del Valle, Nadya Osman, Nadaya Davis, Vivian Li

Thank you to the staff of Cobb Cafe for allowing the Blog to stay after hours, and a special thank you to Arthur Oien for hanging behind and tolerating us!

Thank you to our amazing crew of Bloggers for working hard to bring this shoot to life!

Find more of Sonia Chang’s work here on Instagram.

 

MODA Lookbook Episode 11: It's a Fine, Fine Line

 

Welcome to Episode 11 of MODA Blog’s Lookbook series! We wanted to offer our wonderful team the opportunity to create and direct more editorial content for your viewing pleasure. Completely student styled, modelled and produced, the MODA Lookbook hopes to inspire, empower and challenge the talent of our community. Keep your eye out for more Lookbooks coming soon~!

I love Makeup.

In a very unexpected turn of events, makeup was what I turned to as a form of solace during the pandemic. There was something about completely changing my appearance that gave me permission to become an entirely new persona, which I suppose in many ways, aligns with my ethos on fashion.

I enjoy being who I am, and I enjoy giving myself the freedom to expand my understanding of myself through my self presentation. Fashion, makeup, all of that good stuff is my preferred form of self discovery I suppose. Furthermore, MODA blog has always been a kind of playground to me, a kind of space where the limitations of normative society are kind of lifted momentarily, where I can exist in a world with novel rules and expectations, in many ways it’s like putting on a persona like in a Video game or a play, and I think after spending so much time in such a high-intensity academic institution, the opportunity for play became all the more exciting.

For the 11th(!) Lookbook, I wanted to take advantage of the blog’s playground-like nature to engage with my new hobby in a more profound way. I set out to explore the kind of contemporary discourse on makeup as it relates to male-identified individuals, more so with the intention of exploring what stopped me from wearing makeup for so many years. In a lot of ways, I think that knowing that nobody would see me for a while liberated me from the expectation of appearing palatable to a wider audience, spurring my love for makeup, and while I enjoy the freedom, I can’t help but wonder why that limit existed in my mind in the first place.

What got in the way of my wearing makeup?

Though I’m generally comfortable in resisting any dated notions of masculinity, I can’t help but think that my fear to adorn my face with lines and colors was a byproduct of being looked down upon. Like many young men, I was told that makeup was solely worn by women, and while I admired the artistry of the makeup-adorned women in my life, when I made the effort, it was suddenly some kind of indicator that I was at best silly and at worst, a “sissy*” (*redacted buy i’m sure. you can guess what was truly said here).

In what seems to be a combination of aesthetic deep dive and visually appealing act of resistance, this Lookbook presents six tableaus of men in makeup, more than anything with the aim to confidently add to a once quiet, and now burgeoning space. At the end of the day, I’ve always said that makeup is designed to be removable, and it doesn’t have to be something that everyone engages with, and yet at the same time, I’m a great advocate for seeing its short lived nature as a sign that its an object of play, and therefore should not be perceived as any kind of indicator of something ulterior.

Makeup is Makeup.

and I Love Makeup.

Note that this shoot was conducted outdoors and all cast and crew were properly tested prior to shoot. The team kept masks on during the entirety of the session. Models masks were only removed for final photographs.

Eye of the Tiger: In a modified cat eye with extended Inner corner, model JR mixes a contemporary eye look with roots in punk and rock icons. JR wears Nyx Matte Liquid Liner Vegan Long Lasting Black Eyeliner.

 

Eye do: Model Jesse Santana’s extended outer corner updates the classic cat-eye. Jesse wears Nyx Matte Liquid Liner Vegan Long Lasting Black Eyeliner.

New Rules: JR shines bright in a highlight-intensive look. On eyes: Juvia’s Place The Nubian 2 Palette. On face, Juvia’s Place The Nubian Highlighter in Nefertiti.

Wave Finder: Brilliant Blue liner frames Jesse’s eyes as an alternative to traditional black liner. On eyes: Nyx Epic Wear Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in Sapphire. On Face, Milani Rose Powder Blush in Tea Rose.

Read Between the Lines:: In a more abstract look. Jesse channels minimalistic one-line portraits popularized by Picasso with Nyx Matte Liquid Liner Vegan Long Lasting Black Eyeliner.

 

Hook, Line and Sinker: Expanding past the eyes, JR adopts a more artistic approach to eyeliner, courtesy of guest makeup artist David Naples. On face Nyx Epic Wear Long Lasting Liquid Eyeliner in White.

Gone Offline: Illustration and featured animation by Andrew Chang

Bee Line: some fun bonus content for you guys for making it this far.

 

Cast and Crew:

Director + Photographer: Andrew Chang

Models: JR Ansera, Jesse Santana

Makeup + styling: Andrew Chang, David Naples

 

Creativity in Quarantine: Glenys McGuire and Ruby Bromberg

To remedy the feelings of isolation that manifest all too often in the time of COVID, University of Chicago first-years Glenys McGuire and Ruby Bromberg took matters into their own hands through a DIY creative project in their Woodlawn dorm rooms. The project? First, a meshing of wardrobes. Second, a photoshoot.

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Since arriving on campus this past September and forging an undeniably strong friendship, Ruby and Glenys have discussed sharing closets on multiple occasions. While they each maintain a distinct style aesthetic -- Ruby’s more of a 70’s chic and Glenys’ more of a general vintage/retro influenced by London street-style -- their closets speak to the same overall vibe while perhaps reflecting different eras. In other words, they maintain a similar aesthetic, but present that aesthetic rather differently, resulting in two distinctive styles. 

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While Ruby likes to rock tighter-fitting clothes with a statement piece or two, Glen’s outfits make a statement more through the cohesion of its different elements and thus through the entire outfit as a single entity. Such a contrast was the impetus behind the meshing of wardrobes -- to dress each other in items they wouldn’t normally wear, allowing themselves to push each other out of their comfort zones with respect to how they would normally present themselves. For example, Glen dressed Ruby in baggier clothes that Ruby would not have worn on a normal day.

Ruby found that she was able to love the way she felt in this entirely different cut; she still felt sexy, even without sporting a tight-fitting pair of pants. Glen, however, relies more on her face and hair (rather than her clothes) as manifestations of her femininity. Back in London, she typically wore darker, baggier clothes that some would characterize as “androgynous.” Yet through this meshing of wardrobes, she tried on more colorful, tighter-fitting pieces and too found success and joy in how she perceived herself.

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Such an intellectual and stylistic fusion could only be memorialized with a photoshoot. As they experimented with different outfit combinations, Ruby and Glen spoke at length about body image and the extent to which curating their own aesthetic makes them feel prouder and more confident in their bodies. While snapping solo pictures of each other, the conversation soon drifted into one about the juxtaposition of oneself with others in group pictures. The shots they captured below thus served to draw attention to the flattery inherent in individual, rather than collective beauty. 

This project, of creating remarkably well-composed images with just a dorm room and one other person available, was for Glenys and Ruby not only a means of creative expression, but also a morale booster amidst a time of emotional frustration and isolation.

MODA Lookbook Episode 10: Glow-up Doll

Welcome to Episode 10 of MODA Blog’s Lookbook series! We wanted to offer our wonderful team the opportunity to create and direct more editorial content for your viewing pleasure. Completely student styled, modelled and produced, the MODA Lookbook hopes to inspire, empower and challenge the talent of our community. Keep your eye out for more lookbooks coming soon~!

“If you are a muse, you just know somebody loves you, and they want you to be around because things start happening for them.

You wake them up, and you say, ‘Come on, look at this’.

…And they look at it…

…and they suddenly know what to do.”

These were the words of one legendary Muse - iconic American Model, Pat Cleveland, who famously inspired artists in the ranks of Halston, Andy Warhol, and Antonio Lopez. Just as the classicists may tell you, a muse is a near mythic being who somehow breathes life into the inanimate, who draws one’s eyes towards something and makes it special. This figure of the muse is one which has never faded from our cultural lexicon; they are constantly reborn, sustaining lifelong magical relationships with artists of all kinds.

I’ve been lucky enough to find myself face to face with muses across my time at University, many of whom you can find on this very blog. I can attest to their ability to change the train of my creative process, or influence the planning of something new. There is something there, in their esprit, in their love for what they do, that resonates with me and I’m sure with countless creatives out there. Muses capture an creative’s artistic point of view, but manipulates it to be something far more powerful than what it had originally been.

Though in this era of social distancing, and quarantine, it’s been trickier to come face to face with the muses in my life, and truthfully, I began to worry I would lose out on that kind of creative shot of adrenaline moving forward…until I met Brad.

Brad Maple is truly a one-of-a-kind bona fide star. An international model, having worked across the United States and Asia, with plans to move towards Europe after college, Maple has the kind of muse-appeal that you can find in those very special kinds of beauties. With piercing blue eyes and naturally yellow-toned lips, Brad absolutely stunned me with his unique look, and he was kind of enough to let me capture him through my own lens.

So for the 10th instalment of our Lookbook series, I bring to you Brad (The model) captured by Andrew (the photographer), in an exclusive photo-story and interview for MODA. Experience the shoot to find out all of Brad’s thoughts on fashion, modelling and how his career blew up! We hope you enjoy MODA Lookbook episode 10.

Click on photos to enlarge.

Gold Star: Brad Dazzles in vintage Yukata (Editor’s Own) and Chains from Vitaly, McQ and H&M,

Brad, can you tell our viewers a little bit about yourself? What do you do at the University? And maybe how you got started with modeling?

Hi, I’m Brad Maple. I’m a second year Public Policy major here at the University, I haven’t really joined any clubs yet, but I’ve always looked at MODA and thought, that might be fun to do. If I’m being honest, I’m not super interested in fashion, which I know my agents and all the people I work with are gonna hate me for saying, but I really do enjoy this whole modeling thing.

I was discovered in a Spencer’s in Philadelphia in the summer before my Junior year in high school. I was just leaning against a wall next to some Marvel tees, when this lady approached me and asked me if I had ever considered modeling. I told her ‘no’ and she asked me if I would ever consider it. She slipped me her card and when I showed my friends, they told me that it would probably just be a summer thing. It was totally not just a summer thing. I worked for the rest of high school, flying between New York, Philly and across Asia. My agency told me that when I hit 18, they could send me to do the fashion week cycle, but truthfully, I’m not too sure I could stand on my own two feet in that chaos, I’m getting lightheaded just thinking of it.

Plastic Fantastic: “I feel like people often see me as a kind of plaything or a doll, constantly subject so some game of dress up.” says Maple in H&M White button down and swimming trunks. (On left -Both Model’s own)

How do you find this whole double-life then?

Haha, it’s the best and the worst of both worlds I guess. No 16 year old could imagine being on camera for so long. I don’t even really have an instagram…I mean I have one, but I decided to keep it on private, and I only let close friends follow me. It’s weird sometimes when people come up to me and ask to take pics. I’m just a regular guy, I put my pants on one leg at a time and I float when I jump into a swimming pool, but these people sometimes treat me like I’m some kind of inhuman creature.

American Boy: Swimming in this 12-foot Pyer Moss for Reebok Scarf and beanie, Brad captures the spirit of today’s American Fashion scene.

Being as popular as you are, how do you find managing your fanbase? What are those interactions like?

When I see them in real life, they all say the same things- “I love you” or “you’re so hot”. Recently I’ve been getting a lot of “You’re shorter in real life” and like I think anyone would feel kind of weird hearing that, but like when a fan says it to you in tears, you kind of take it as a compliment. Sometimes I even get “re-scouted” by those shady Fake Agents who are looking to make a buck , and sometimes I play along, but other times I let ‘em know who I am. Fans can get kind of wild, but I always knew it would be part of the job I guess, and I think I wouldn’t have blown up had it not been for my fans.

Have you made it to TikTok yet?

I can hardly stand, man. Do you think I’d be much of a dancer?

Inflatable Influencer: “A lot of the time it’s just hype. Fashion, models, sometimes it all feels like we’re here one day and then gone another.” Muses Brad in H&M Button down and Jeans (Model’s own), SUPREME crewneck Sweater, Black Taak Beret and Air Jordan 1 ‘Shadow’ (Editor’s own)

“Fashion operates as a kind of masquerade. Nobody is who they are; everyone is someone else. I’m never who I say I am, every day I get to become someone new.”

Wrapped Up:

 

Have you had to do anything wild on set yet? What are some of the strangest things?

I’ve done some crazy shit. This one time, I did a shoot, and there was this other model, right, and they were dressed up as a carrot. The director gave me a pair of rabbit ears and made me chase the carrot around for the shot. Another time, I was doing like a catalogue, and the photographer just pulls out this maid’s uniform, and was like “why don’t you put this on?” Needless to say, the pictures didn’t make it to the catalogue, but they made for a pretty fun instagram post.

It’s weird sometimes. I feel like people often see me as a kind of plaything or a doll, constantly subject so some game of dress up. Today I’ll be a biker and tomorrow they’ll put me in a suit and make me act like James Bond, and on another set, I’m a rabbit, chasing around a carrot. All these people live inside of me that sometimes I forget who ‘Brad’ is. I used to like it, but now I think I’m ready to find that old Brad again. Fashion operates as a kind of masquerade. Nobody is who they are; everyone is someone else. I'm never who I say I am, every day I get to become someone new.

In the Limelight: “My own personal style is a mix of kind of streetwear and pretty basic staples. It’s nice when editors lean into that”. Brad wears RIPNDIP Hoodie and H&M Jeans (Model’s own) along with olive Bomber Coat from Gilda’s Designer Thrift Boutique (Editor’s own)

This shoot is all about you being a special kind of Muse, how would you say social media has changed the kind of ‘Musehood’ experienced by models today?

Thanks man, that means a lot. I don’t really like to think of myself as someone else’s muse, I just want to be Brad. Like, I enjoyed shooting with you just because we got to wear our own clothes, but you really did me dirty putting me in that wedding dress. Only for MODA I guess.

Right. With social media, it seems like the idea of a muse has become a lot more ubiquitous. There was this idea that a muse was a really lucky, kind of rare encounter. They would just fall into your lap at a casting or walking down the street, or I guess at a Spencer’s…but nowadays those encounters can totally happen digitally. And it’s super easy now, you don’t even have to leave your bed! Plus I heard brands hire people just to scout instagram looking for their next muse, that shit’s kind of crazy, but like it makes sense I guess. I don’t think it diminishes the “Musehood” of any person to now be able to access each other’s images at your fingertips, on that level, it makes sense to me. The weird part is that we have access to everyone’s pictures, or worse, that people’s next paycheque depends on what they post. That’s kind of fucked, but it might just be something that I’m afraid of.

Brad to Be: Celebrating a walk to remember, MODA Blog EIC Andrew Chang captures Brad as he’s never been seen before. On Brad: Custom Wedding gown. On Andrew: Soul of London sport coat and trousers, Converse Run Star Hike sneakers, Vitaly Chains and rings.

What advice would you give to anyone trying to pursue both their career and school at the same time?

I can only really speak for myself and different things work for different people. But something that I think can apply to a lot of people is to just know yourself. If you feel like you’re deflating, don’t be ashamed to take it easy. For a lot of us, capitalism is so deeply imbedded into our psychologies that we think that when we take a break, we’re being unproductive or we’re not valuable, and it really helped me to realize that my self-worth is not determined by how much money I make for someone else. It’s great if you enjoy your work and feel empowered from doing it, but you don’t have to feel great at work if that’s not what you define as success. If you feel like a boss when you come home and cook or when you log into League of Legends, that’s totally valid. Our lives don’t have to be defined by our contributions to an economy eh?

Cast and Crew:

Director + Photographer: Andrew Chang

Model: Brad Maple

Makeup + styling: Andrew Chang

Javier Senosiain & The Organic House

Understanding organic architecture is about feeling the world around you. Think back to the last time you took your bike, scooter, even your Big Wheel out to play around your neighborhood. As the wind lightly glossed your face and tousled your hair, you gained speed. Faster and faster until –– a sharp connection to the asphalt, bits of green grass stuck to the blood on your knee. By that time, you would relegate yourself to the indoors, dabbing Neosporin on the cut and cleaning the soil off your fingertips. 

Organic architecture takes the synthetic, manmade forms of building and integrates them with the surrounding world. The architects pay attention to the use of the natural within the artificial. Yes, humans created the showerhead and the sink spout, but the water? That is nature, which must be acknowledged. Louis Sullivan, the “father of skyscrapers,” pioneered the term under the belief that “if the work is to be organic, the function of the parts must have the same quality as the function of the whole.” While Frank Lloyd Wright is often highlighted during the discussion, the organic style has been found in traditional Eastern styles of buildings, most especially Japanese architecture. The dominance of nature within the space of the building is most notable, as architects must bend ideas such as form, shapes, and color to the will of the nature in front of them. 

The different tools for organic architecture are as follows: geometric shapes, curvilinear lines, unaltered materials, and authentic form. 

Surprisingly enough, for some architects, math guides their conception of organic architecture. Math, specifically geometry, define the world around us. While many things in the world are not as easily explained, our description and understanding of nature’s proportions are dependent on math. Basic geometric shapes govern both the artificial and natural world, acting as a bridge for the two to connect. 

For example, Antoni Gaudi, a Catalan architect, adopted “geometrical structures present in nature,” specifically “hyperbolic hyperboloids that are in fact inspired by tree trunks.” By harmonizing the shapes within nature and the mathematical constructions within architecture, Gaudi was able to cohere the two within the Sagrada Familia. Furthermore, Louis Sullivan also denoted various principles based on lines, discussing the balance between geometric shapes and curvilinear forms. 

Many architects, most notably within the Eastern building tradition, use materials derived naturally for their structures. By utilizing the same forms that repeat in the landscape, the construction seems less artificial, thereby raw and unprocessed by humans. The use of raw materials and various shapes leads to the idea of the aggregate form representing and flowing along with the assemblage of nature itself. 

Another leader in the organic style is Javier Senosiain, a Mexican architect who combines his heritage with the form and function of his work. Senosiain has researched bio-architecture and freeform design, leading him to create the “Organic House” in 1984. While this piece was developed and constructed over 20 years ago, it still remains relevant to this day. 

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The “Organic House” is covered in a lush green landscape, the building itself almost completely hidden by the environment around it. Senosiain constructed it in this way because, to him, “to take a walk in the garden is to walk over the roof of the house itself without even realizing it.” A key piece of the “organic” part of organic architecture is the viewer’s interaction with space itself. When the interaction between the human and the building resembles that of a creation point, space itself becomes primal.

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The “elemental functions required by man: a place to live and fellowship with others.”

Where Frank Lloyd Wright built atop a waterfall, Senosiain burrowed beneath it.

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Instead of taking an external approach with the rolling green hills of Mexico, Senosiain worked inwardly. The architecture feeds off the energy of the hills through the interior, working within nature rather than around it.

Senosian discusses what the house maintains as “the elemental functions required by man: a place to live, and fellowship with others.” I think this is what I love so much about the piece itself. While emphasizing all of the traditional forms of organic architecture, Senosiain brings something new to the table. He emphasizes a kind of primitivism in his work, where so many others display elegance. From the gritty terro-cement interior to the hidden exterior, Senosiain doesn’t just juxtapose Naucalpan de Juarez and the habitual form. He does not settle for connection between the artificial and the natural. He turns the artificial into the natural.

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The very essence of building broaches the unnatural.

The world at our fingertips is the untamed, touched only by the cosmos. When we build atop that world, we turn the natural into the artificial. In the Bay Area, every plot of usable land has transformed from golden grass to apartment complexes in the 10-mile radius surrounding my home. So-called “scenic routes” cut through the rolling hills and deep valleys, trying to make as little of a human impact as possible. But when nature hands us rock slides, we don’t back down. We put up signs, nets, and bridges until the industrial has usurped the organic. The Organic House stands at the boundary of this ever-changing phenomenon. We won’t stop reconstructing the Earth: designing, creating, and building is who we are and how we have chosen to leave our mark as humans.  

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What does the Organic House have to do with our current state of affairs? What does organic architecture provide us in the time of Covid-19? At the very least, the pandemic has drastically changed and sped up production of transportation and habitual architecture to maintain policies of social distancing. Rigid, urban life –– moving shoulder to shoulder on cramped streets in cramped cities –– has all but disappeared in the last couple months, leaving us to reconcile our ephemerality with the permanence of nature. In the next few months, architects may be emboldened to repurpose our connection with nature, and as a byproduct, our connection to ourselves. After the virus, when we depart from online modules of existence and back into the natural world, maybe the architecture, along with us, will become more organic.

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This Is What It's Like to Start a New Life in Covid Times: Maya Rodriguez

For many young graduates, the COVID-19 pandemic put a dent in most future plans. From deserted summer music festivals to delayed careers, the impact of cancellations and never-ending postponements range from short-lived disappointment to life-altering damage. After spending a year abroad coupled with a strict lockdown from March to April, I moved my belongings to a new city just as far from home while preparing for a remote quarter “at” UChicago. I’ve spoken to many students who have done the same, whether they chose to stay at their home in a different country or similarly prolonged their study abroad (if you can even call it that) experience. It’s strange enough to move to a new city and even more so in 2020. I began to wonder how odd this experience must be for my graduated friends in both the states and abroad. This interview represents the first in a series where we can learn more about what starting a new life looks like in these times and, I hope, providing a bit of hope to those of us with big plans.

First, I’ll be chatting with Maya Rodriguez, a class of 2018 graduate who then worked as a staff member at the Center for Identity + Inclusion. Maya started her master’s in Sociology at Columbia University this fall. Because Maya also served as EIC for MODA Magazine, we paid tribute with a timely FaceTime photo shoot.

Give us an update on your life! Where are you now and what have you been up to? 

I got accepted to grad school in the spring! From March till mid-August I was at home in Chicago and then moved to Washington Heights to live with a fellow UChicago graduate and close friend of mine. I’m currently at Columbia University in the Sociology MA program studying social movements, technology and media, and urban cities. I’m currently trying to enjoy the city outside and in a COVID-friendly way until the winter really hits.

How has Covid impacted your life in a new city? Did you ever rethink moving?

COVID limits the amount of time and physical class engagement I have in NYC. In some ways, it’s hard to really engage with the campus and have the “full grad experience.” That in itself can be frustrating. For me, part of the appeal of grad school was small-group learning and collaboration in a university setting, but my cohort friends and I have been able to figure this out by making library reservations, quad hangouts, and cafe patio sessions here and there. Besides that, the COVID measures put in place in Chicago concerning dining and indoor events have been pretty similar to those in NYC. So overall, there hasn’t really been a huge change in that respect.

However, because of guidance from the CDC and Dr. Fauci that I’ve internalized, I haven’t felt the need to doubt or rethink my plans! I’ve adjusted to what we need to do to keep ourselves and others safe and that’s really all that matters. My ability to do “fun NYC things” is only limited to my imagination; there are a ton of ways for me to do COVID safe things like bike rides and Central Park hangouts, to name a few.

Have you been able to make new relationships during this time? 

I have! I’ve been able to at first virtually connect with my fellow cohort members and those of us in NYC have been able to socially distanced hang out while the weather allows! It has honestly been really great to feel like we can support each other academically and socially via zoom, research projects, and outdoor safe activities. In some ways, this is as close to the normal grad school experience we can have in a pandemic. That sense of normalcy is comforting. We also just celebrated one of their birthdays by having cookies on one of our quads.

The “good part” of living through the pandemic in NYC is that I can still maintain my relationships from home, college, and across the country while being able to form these new relationships in grad school. I’m lucky that, in this point in my adult life, I have the amazing support of my friend network as well as my family. It makes me feel significantly less alone during this time.

As a former staff member, how did you feel about the university’s handling of COVID last spring? Did you feel supported? Do you now?

I think the university did the right thing by swiftly moving all of us off campus, which generally aligned with spring break. There was a lot of communication from administration that was debating just how quickly they could move people without totally disrupting UChicago life. While it is completely valid to be upset with the final decisions, I was generally supportive of what they decided in the end. As a staff member who worked with students on a daily basis, it really did feel that the university was trying to strike a balance between our health and the need to support students and I would say it was an acceptable compromise. I knew there could have been better and more concrete ways that I would have liked to see students supported, like physically helping people move items, but I know that was and continues to be a health risk for all involved. It was the balance the university struck and it seemed to turn out to be acceptable.

As a Columbia grad, I feel supported by the university since we have randomized mandatory testing to keep ourselves safe. This, along with limited campus access, does feel like a good way to ensure community health and us being able to feel we’re a part of the community. At the same time, the randomized COVID testing is not weekly which could be improved. Since Columbia’s campuses are embedded into the NYC neighborhoods, it does feel like we have to have faith in other students. Similar to UChicago, this is the compromise many universities have had to make and I feel is defensible. 

What’s been the best and worst part of your experience so far? Are you happy?

So far, the best part has been being able to enjoy life as a student again with the sociology department, in combination with enjoying the outdoor NYC activities with new friends. It still feels like life is going on even if in some ways that makes me feel guilty. How can we continue to experience life “normally” while so many people continue to suffer, get sick, and in some cases pass away? Why can I go to school and feel secure that if I did get sick I would be cared for at the Columbia hospital while many couldn’t? Sometimes that feeling is the worst part about this experience, because it reminds me that so much more should and could be done to protect people. 

In general, however, I do feel happy. Going back to school was a big goal of mine and I’m glad that I could have the opportunity to do that. My support network continues to be there for me in multiple aspects of my life. I try to keep in perspective that I can still take time to support my local and home communities and make sure that when school is finished, I can use the skills from Columbia and translate them to tangible change, be it policy or local impact work. 

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Why can I go to school and feel secure that if I did get sick I would be cared for… while many couldn’t? Sometimes that feeling is the worst part about this experience, because it reminds me that so much more should and could be done to protect people.

Do you see yourself staying in New York? What’s next for you?

I could definitely see myself staying in NYC for a bit longer! I’ve slowly started to see the city as a place to learn and grow and I hope that I can see how communities and neighborhoods in NYC support each other. That way, when I feel like it’s the right time for me to go back home to Chicago, I can bring what I’ve learned back and the connections I’ve made to help make the best improvements at a neighborhood and city level. I’ve got the rest of the year at school but I could definitely see myself working at a Columbia research center or working with the city in some capacity to help underrepresented communities. If I feel like it’s the right thing for me, I could apply to PhD programs in sociology as well. The main goal is always to figure out what is the best way for me to help and support the communities I care about, especially in Chicago. The pandemic has affirmed that this should have always been at the center of my work and I will make sure that the next steps I’ll take will hold me to this!

A Week of Looks: Grace Feeley

I started A Week of Looks last year out of sheer curiosity in the many ways people find fashion inspiration day to day. It literally comes from anywhere from like the trees to their favorite artists or even that lunch you just had. Through this series, I want to showcase some of the people whose fashion choices inspire me. So, In the second installment of this series, Grace Feeley gives us a peek into her mind and style:

I am a second year at the college. My major is still a bit undecided, probably going to double in something with econ (so predictable for a UChicago student) and something more creative like art history, philosophy, etc. I am a Styling Editor for MODA Magazine and the cofounder of the MODA Magazine podcast, which I am really excited to get up and running this year. Fashion, not only because of my social engagement at UChicago, is an integral part of my life. I also enjoy creative writing, cooking, playing with animals, and walking (typical New Yorker trait). It is very hard for me to describe my personal style. Overall, it is very campy and a delicate mix of chic and ugly. I generally take on different personas from time to time and dress according to their own style, which leads me to having a very incohesive closet. To me fashion is all about experimentation and I don’t think personal style or aesthetic is stagnant--it is always changing.

Is there anything in fashion that scares you?

For the longest time, I was afraid to be judged by other people for what I was wearing— whether the outfit was very avant-garde and unique or the way my body looked in an outfit. I think with age, I have learned that other people’s opinions have no influence on the way I think of myself, and I became amused with the attention I get from my outfits. When people stare now, I think to myself, “take a picture, it will last longer.”

How can an outfit dictate your mood?

I usually use my outfit to express my mood. If I am feeling happy, I will wear bright colors and maybe put more effort in my outfit. If I feel sad or tired, I will probably just wear dark, comfortable clothes. I also sometimes plan my outfits in my head days in advance, and if I come up with a really good outfit without trying it on beforehand, I know I will have a really good day wearing that outfit.

How do your style choices change from day to day?

My style depends on many different aspects: the weather, what activities I am doing that day, who I will be seeing, did I sleep well the night before, am I sick, etc. These all influence the different pieces I can wear in a day. For example, if I am going downtown with friends and walking all day, I will probably want to wear more comfortable shoes, which then influences my aesthetic for the day. My aesthetic is also really dependent on the media I am consuming at the moment. If I am in a phase of watching old movies, I will probably be influenced to dress more classy and girly, but if I am watching a bunch of up and coming runway shows from new designers, I will dress more contemporary and edgy.

How has the implementation of masks changed the way you think about choosing an outfit?

I like to sometimes color coordinate my outfits with my mask, however, I do not have an extensive mask collection like my wardrobe. I would like to acquire some really cool, maybe bedazzled masks to elevate my looks in the near future. However, the most important thing to me is to WEAR A DAMN MASK. I would rather be safe and keep others safe than “ruin” my outfit if the mask doesn’t match. 

Monday

What was your inspiration for Monday’s fit? How did it make you feel?

My inspiration was definitely Serena van der Woodsen meets monster high? I don’t know, definitely preppy private school vibes but a little more in the rebellious, grunge side. I am from NYC and have an unhealthy obsession with Gossip Girl. I watch it 2 times a year, and it definitely influences my style. But I was also influenced by the trend of wearing pleated mini skirts with a collared shirt and a crew neck. This is my take on that trend and mixing it with elements from different aesthetics. 

It was surprisingly warm this entire week--very unlike Chicago. If it was colder, I would have probably paired this outfit with an oversized cardigan or hoodie. I cannot wear those boots if it rains, so thank god it did not. I was also feeling very adventurous and out-there this day and wanted to be seen— I usually feel like this. This outfit made me feel tall, something about the bare legs and five inch heels; being this tall just makes me feel empowered and confident. 

Where did you get the pieces in this outfit? How did it make you feel?

The blouse is Liz Claiborne and was stolen from my mother’s closet, and the tie was stolen from my father’s closet. The skirt is reworked authentic Scottish plaid. The boots are Jeffrey Campbell, and the custom Italian leather bag was gifted to me.

Tuesday

What was your inspiration for Tuesday’s fit? How did it make you feel?

My inspiration was definitely Carrie Bradshaw meets Katharine Hepurn. I love the old 40’s and 50’s style of the exaggerated slim waist, which I tried to recreate with this belt.  The gloves are so over the top and make me feel very girly. I also love Monica Bellucci—she is an icon, and her bust is featured on the shirt.

The weather was very warm and sunny, hence the sunglasses! It definitely felt like summer on this day, and the outfit was very summery as well, with the golden hues of the skirt and shoes. I was feeling very girly and petite this day, so I wanted to wear something to reflect that. In the end, I felt like a tiered cake/ballerina/old Hollywood actress.

Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?

The shirt is Dolce & Gabbana (from a couple years ago, I no longer support the brand). The belt, gloves, and Richard Chai skirt were all thrifted. The shoes are Stuart Weitzman, and the sunglasses are from a boutique in NYC.

Wednesday

What was your inspiration for Wednesday’s fit? How did it make you feel?

My inspiration for this outfit was from streetwear for the ss2021 Fashion Week mixed with Rei Kawakubo Commes des Garcon. This was very edgy and a little impractical, but I thought the re-invented use for scarves was dope. 

It also was a little cold, and I didn’t feel like wearing a scarf around my neck. So, I wore it around my torso. Also, I got away with wearing open toe shoes in the cold because the pants are so long they basically go to the floor. For reference, the shoes are 4 ½ inches tall. I was definitely feeling like I wanted to stand out in a more contemporary way. Also, I probably wanted to dress more modestly and keep myself fully covered--probably meaning I wasn’t feeling like the best version of myself that day, but I still felt very avant-garde and modern. I definitely got a lot of looks wearing this because you can see the scarves tied behind my torso, but I thought the overall look was dope.

Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?

The shirt was pajama shirt that I got for Christmas a couple years ago. The pants and shoes are both from Alice and Olivia. The pink scarf is from Banana Republic, while the orange one is Italian wool. My bag is vintage Fendi, and the sunglasses were bought on the streets of Italy.

Thursday

What was your inspiration for Thursday’s fit? How did it make you feel?

The dress, in a different colorway, was actually worn by Blair on Gossip Girl. That is the only reason I bought it. So aside from the preppy vibes of the dress, the shoes and coat remind me of the 70’s and Sharon Tate. I bought the coat after I watched Once Upon a Time in Hollywood because I fell in love with the aesthetic, as most people did.

It was colder and windy this day, so the coat was very necessary to keep me warm because it went down to my knees. I also was feeling very christian girl autumn because of the leaves all over the sidewalk, so I wanted to wear that color palette. It finally felt like fall in Chicago, and I definitely needed something heavier to cover my body this day. It was the only day this week I wore a proper coat. I also am always aspiring to be Blair Waldorf, so dressing like her always makes me feel powerful and reminds me of home.

Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?

The dress is Marc by Marc Jacobs. The shoes are Stuart Weitzman, and the coat was thrifted.

Friday

What was your inspiration for Friday’s fit? How did it make you feel?

My inspiration was definitely more contemporary for this outfit. I liked how my sleeves became puffed but my bustier kept my torso tight; it gave me Victorian vibes. I really want to get pieces from the 1700-1800s (or of that same aesthetic) and love that brands like Simone Rocha (Particularly SS21) are also using that motif. I was also inspired by the flowy dresses under corsets in the Christian Dior 2021 resort collection. 

It was also warm again today, so I thought it would be a good time to put together the last summery outfit of the season. From now on, I will probably always be wearing some form of outerwear and definitely be sticking to full pants. As I felt a little sad this day, I stuck to a very neutral color palette. My staple color is black. I have been trying to venture out into more colors, but when I need a bit of comfort, I always go back to it.

However, the palette and mood of this outfit made me feel like Emily Ratajktowski— very off duty model vibes, probably because of mixing biker shorts with tall boots which I have never done before. I was a little scared to mix the athletic biker shorts with more polished pieces, like the boots and bustier, but I think the overall look was really cool.

Where did you get the pieces in this outfit?

The shirt was stolen from my father’s closet, and the biker shorts were bought on Amazon. The bustier is Proenza Schouler, while the boots are Michael Kors. The sunglasses, from the 90’s, were stolen from my mother’s closet, and the Vivienne Westwood necklace was stolen from my boyfriend.

All Photos Courtesy of Elliot Duprey

MODA Blog Favorites: October 2020

 

Welcome to MODA Blog Favorites! This is our monthly series where MODA Bloggers, photographers and editors let you know what we’re loving this month! From binge-worthy series, to our favorite books to some Holy Grail skincare products, the team wishes you all a safe, and healthy fall quarter. Here’s what the team is loving, hopefully bringing you a monthly dosage of inspiration!

Andrew

Boomerang Fu

I think quarantine has forced me to find ways to make the best use of my now reduced immediate circle of friends. Cue the introduction to the most adorable family game of the season. My roommates and I were introduced to this adorable dodgeball-esque game by a mutual friend and it’s recently become my biggest obsession. From accessible game mechanics to ADORABLE graphics, Boomerang Fu is a game that amateurs or seasoned gamers will all love, and it’s the perfect antidote to those dreary days indoors. Highly recommend.

Pyer Moss x Reebok

Earlier this year, I managed to snag a highly coveted fave item in this season’s wardrobe: a twelve-foot-long Pyer Moss x Reebok Scarf. For anyone who isn’t familiar with the brand, Pyer Moss is an amazing Black owned brand run by designer-activist Kerby Jean-Raymond. Mixing in streetwear and tailoring elements with the overall intention of creating dialogue about Black narratives, Pyer Moss merges fashion with activism, storytelling and theatre in such an incredibly modern way. I absolutely recommend making the effort to invest in such a powerful family, and now that Jean-Raymond has ascended to a creative director role within Reebok, you can risk splurging without hurting your wallet too much. I absolutely can’t wait to see what Pyer Moss comes up with for future collections and I absolutely urge you all to pick up some pieces if you’re interested in sportswear.

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Converse Run Star Hike

In my first year at college, I set the arbitrary and slightly unreasonable goal of reaching 5”10’ by the time I turned 21. And now that I’ve reached my adulthood, I’m saddened at my humble 5”9.5’…Thankfully, I managed to get a hold of Converse’s most recent Run Star Hike drop and can safely reach my dream height at the drop of a shoe (literally). Originally a collab with English designer J.W. Anderson, the Run Star Hike merges a Classic Chuck Taylor with the sole of a hiking boot. The platform converse are both cool and classic AND comfortable, though I’ll admit, they scraped my ankles up at the start. For anyone looking to buy a staple sneaker with a little bit of an edge, I absolutely recommend a pair of RSH’s, especially if you’re also looking for a little bit of extra height to reach those unattainable cups in the top shelf!

Images via here, here and here.

Eleni

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Trader Joe’s Maple Leaf Cookies

Cookie sandwich but ~make it fall~. I eat these pretty much everyday. They’re like vitamins to me now. I also recently discovered you can buy them on Amazon and avoid the line outside of Trader Joe’s so…

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Hot Tools Dryer Volumizer

A hairdryer, brush, & straightener in one. I normally just sleep with wet hair and it’s fine when I wake up, but if I let it air-dry during the day when people might actually see me, for some reason it dries extremely frizzy. So this is what I use for those days. A+

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Weekly Planner

Very, very necessary. I mean, I probably spend more time scheduling things on this than actually doing them, so in that sense maybe it doesn’t add too much to my productivity. But at least it keeps me aware of what I should be doing.

 
 

Images via here, here and here.

Felix

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Autumn Decor

I took a trip to the Dollar Tree and made my room look like a autumn mood-board

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Sufjan Stevens

A new Sufjan album to make me feel everything all at once

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todoist

I’m always swtiching productivity apps, and todoist is my latest attemp to stay on top of everything.

Images via here, here, and here

Carla

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Fleece-lined joggers

It’s cold and heating is expensive. Also, I didn’t buy my first pair of sweatpants (they always seem to pop up as hand-me-downs or random sports memorabilia) until the day before lockdown in France. With the way things are going, I figured I’d add another pair to my collection.

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Retinol

I’ve had the same wrinkle on my forehead since I was 13 years old and the magic of retinol for all skin ailments kept popping up on my feeds. Wrinkle’s still there, but I have managed to get rid of sunspots and am generally glowing—as they say.

Boujee bougie!

I’ve always wanted to treat myself to an expensive candle, and have taken COVID restrictions as the perfect excuse to do so. I chose one that’s locally-crafted, vegan, and oddly reminiscent of that one week where we all decided we love folklore.

Images via here, here, and here

Laura

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LED Orbs

I’ve been obsessed with these light up orbs for a while and recently bought a few from Loftek to decorate my apartment with! They are amazing and hypnotic I heavily recommend these to light up your apartment / dorm with!

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Granny Square Crochet Hats

My crochet obsession has been recently centered on making granny square hats. I accept commissions :)

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Long-sleeve Fingerless Gloves

Here is a picture of me crocheting with my favorite fingerless sleeve gloves.

Images are blogger’s own

Ashley

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Tote Bags

Since coming back to Chicago and living off campus for the first time, I’ve developed a deep love for tote bags. My go-to has been my Outdoor Voices tote (free with every in-store purchase), but I have my credit card ready for when a certain cow patterned canvas duck bag comes back in stock. It’s one of those accessories that can be both casual and convenient. You’ll never run out of room and they’re almost always affordable, if not free! Whether you are lounging, apple picking, or grocery shopping, a tote bag is your new best friend.

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Byredo Rinse-Free Hand Wash

I think we can all agree that washing your hands right now, and really always, is a must! So, if you’re willing to splurge a little (actually a lot) on a nice smelling hand sanitizer I cannot recommend Byredo enough. Once you find your scent you won’t go back.

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Gilmore Girls

What better way to welcome fall than to watch Lorelai and Lorelai, excuse me *Rory, take on Stars Hollow. It’s kind of embarrassing that this is my first time watching the notorious 7 season TV show that claimed the 2000’s, but better late than never right?! All I can say is if you’re looking for a mid-week pick-me-up Gilmore Girls will never fail.

image via here, here and here

Nadaya

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Sputnik Coffee

I recently acquired a new coffee machine and a grinder to grind my owns beans. Exciting! It’s been so fun having a little calming process to do in the morning before Zoom class. I found a bag of Sputnik coffee at Hyde Park Produce, and it’s both cheap and tasty.

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Slasher Films

My favorite subgenre of horror, personally. A go-to October favorite for me. Time to binge all the Scream movies (even the bad ones) as Halloween approaches!

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Vagabond Loafers

The Kenova’s, specifically. They’re so, so good.

Images linked via clickthrough

Matthew

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Miyoko’s Organic Vegan Mozzarella

Honestly, I can’t get enough. It is great option if you’re looking to cut back on your dairy consumption. Miyoko’s, in general, is one of the best cheese replacements, that’s readily available, on the market right now.

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Open Produce

Stumbled upon while drunk searching for snack; returned sober. This place has the best stuff: vegan cheese, passion fruit juice, and FREE bread (occasionally).

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Neon Nail Polish

I have been slightly unhinged lately; the color has just been very suiting to my attitude.

Images via here and here

Alessandra

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Trader Joe’s Chicken Gyoza

Learned about these bad boys from my roommate, and thus my obsession began. For the past few days, I have eaten these for lunch or dinner (sometimes both) and I am officially obsessed with them. These have brought me so much joy and have saved me from having to do more than one dish that would come from cooking something like mac and cheese.

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Black Nail Polish

Since it’s officially spooky season, I’ve been wearing more black (sometimes gray) nail polish, taking me back to my freshman year of high school. I personally love Essie’s Licorice, since I tend to favor Essie nail polish, but OPI and Sally Hansen also have some nice black nail polish.

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Sex and the City

After having it recommended to me by everyone and their mother, I finally started watching it. I’m only a few episodes in, but I’ve really enjoyed the show, both for the fashion and for the progressive approach to women freely expressing their sexuality and having their own careers, which I think is great since a lot of times I feel like there’s an either/or rather than a both/and approach in certain media (or maybe that’s just what I’ve been watching).

Images via here, here, and here