REVIEW: WINTER FREEZE 2023

As an arctic blast plunged the U.S. Northeast into record low temperatures, the University of Chicago’s Major Activities Board (MAB) put on its first in-person winter event since 2019. Winter Freeze brought three Chicago-based DJs to The Promontory on 53rd Street to give UChicago students a taste of the city’s techno lifelines.

MAB is known for putting on some of the University’s most sought-out shows, so it is no surprise that leading up to Winter Freeze tickets quickly sold out. The draw of seeing some of the “groundbreaking, luminous pillars of Chicago’s queer community, rave scene, and club scene” in your own neighborhood absent of clubs is alluring. Of course, the group of students drawn to queer, DJ sets is not necessarily the same ones drawn to MAB’s keynote Summer Breeze, and my expectations were generally met seeing a wide range of the LGBTQ+ student body making a home of the Promontory. At their best, clubs are key spaces for community building. Winter Freeze should take its place as a signature event for UChicago students moving forward.   

On the note of those in attendance, I must say the only real downside to this event was that there were not enough bodies to fill the space. It seems that there were around 200 tickets available, on top of the MAB staff attending. However, at its most packed, it is hard to believe that the venue was ever more than 75% capacity. A key tenant for clubs is to facilitate spaces where people can lose themselves in a collective. It is hard to let go when there isn’t a big crowd to immerse yourself in. I don’t really see the light crowd as a fault of the event: great lineup, fair venue location, free pizza—what else could draw a college crowd? 

For a University-sponsored event, The Promontory was a solid choice as a venue. It provides students access to a venue not often tapped for other UChicago events. The space holds enough seating options without drawing people away from the dance floor. There is also a great lighting setup. The disco ball's rainbow-bubble reflections were a delight to watch throughout the night. While it would have been nice to have the bar’s full menu available, the drink selection was fair and enabled a more accurate club atmosphere for the night.

In any case, Sydfalls, Miss Twink USA, and Ariel Zetina still put on a great show. SydFalls had the challenge of loosening up the crowd, and they met it head-on with a lively set that leaned into the hypnotic beats of the genre. Miss Twink USA’s love for electronic flourishes was quite notable throughout their hour set — their energy backed by their bright cyan outfit. Luckily for Ariel Zetina’s hour, the crowd was at its liveliest and full. I must specifically compliment Ariel for her suave tempo switches. There was a strong sense by the end of the night that the event could’ve stretched beyond midnight. Hopefully, those in attendance are drawn to the incredible spaces these DJs play all throughout the winter.

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Images are my own. Thank you to the Major Activities Board (MAB) for inviting MODA Blog to attend.

College: The Forever Fashion Trend

The first time I heard of UChicago was through a college brochure. You know the one, with the diverse group of friends walking across the Quad. I remember flipping through the pages and thinking, “This school seems cool and all, but why are so many of these people wearing UChicago hoodies? They already go there.”

I’d dismissed it as a promotional strategy––maroon really is an attractive color––but imagine my surprise when I started Zoom University this year, and every second person was in a UChicago hoodie or t-shirt.

In high school, this obsession with college-logo-wear makes sense; the hoodies act as aspirational items, proud reminders of where we want to go, a way of manifesting our futures. If decision season is over, maybe it’s a flex, or a way to retain some individuality, or even an act of loyalty to the institutions we’ll soon be heading to. 

In college though, this makes less sense. It’s not a flex anymore––we all go to the same elite school––and neither is it a mark of distinction––we all go to the same school. Then, maybe, it’s a show of school pride––a mark of loyalty, but I’ll say this: I don’t think it’s as intrinsically psychological as that.

Do most of us like UChicago? Probably. 

Do we truly believe that we, as individuals, embody the spirit of the institution and will carry its teachings with us like badges of honor for the rest of our lives? I’d wager not. 

Highlights from my “UChicago clothes” Google Search

So why do so many UChicago students look like everything they own is from the Bookstore? The answer is (kind of) in the question. The bookstore is conveniently located; there’s no need to go anywhere else to shop, and they seem to have enough variations of the same logo-based designs. The apparel itself isn’t particularly flashy: minimal graphics, solid colors––maroons, black, grey, white––and comfortably-loose styles are inconspicuous and easy to pair with anything. You don’t have to put too much thought into your outfit––unless, of course, you want to––which is perfect for our busy schedules. 

Similarly, college merchandise is discounted for students. Now, this argument applies to most schools, but at least at UChicago––and maybe this is just me––the prices are still through the roof. But, consider this: When you have nowhere to spend your nonrefundable $100 deposit, you might as well invest in something you can flex when you head back home or venture off campus.

Plus, when you’re at the airport and you see someone else in that classic maroon hoodie, you feel an immediate kinship with them; we subliminally build connections through what we wear. But, will you go up to them and ask them whether they went to UChicago, or whether it was their sibling/parent/best friend? Absolutely not.

This is perfect, because then even if you aren’t a college student, you can wear college apparel without worrying that you’ll be questioned about it! We know this better than most schools, universities are status symbols. Wearing an institution’s logo––even if you don’t go there––makes you seem a certain way; in our case, it makes you seem smarter. For as little as $5 in the case of certain universities, you can change the image you project.

Did you hear that? Yeah, those are the gears of capitalism turning.

Knowing fully well that people who didn’t go to these schools (for whatsoever reasons) want to occasionally either feel or look like they did, colleges launch apparel collections in collaboration with clothing brands––especially those with a large youth clientele. The Rue 21 x Harvard collection, American Eagle’s Tailgate UCLA collection, Old Navy’s University of Michigan sweatshirts; no need to even look outside Cobb Gate, UChicago’s merch is designed and associated with Nike and Under Armour. This is easy profit for brands, they’re selling cheap status symbols to young people that want to buy them. For colleges, on the other hand, this is even better because it saves them money; free advertising, anyone? Brands are businesses, and so are universities. 

With these expansions, college apparel has blown up into its own trend. A manifestation of logomania, even traditionally collegiate-wear silhouettes have been incorporated into mainstream fashion cultures. Varsity jackets and t-shirts, baseball tees, basketball jerseys have various origins in the fashion industry, but their collegiate influence is undeniable; how many fellow students own items like those, if not those exactly? 

But, college apparel isn’t just a trend relegated to those of us tight on cash we can spend on clothes; this logomania has become a high-brow accessory. Summer 2018 saw a league of celebrities subscribing to this trend; Hailey Bieber in a Stony Brook sweatshirt-dress, Drake in a “Tennessee” sweatshirt, Beyoncé’s collaboration with Balmain to raise money for HBCs. 

The question still remains, other than for image-related purposes, why do fully-grown adults want to dress like they’re in college? Well, because they’re not. Nostalgia-fueled fashion is definitely not a new concept. For one, Hailey Bieber cites Princess Diana as one of her biggest style inspirations; and what was one of Princess Di’s most classic looks? Her biker shorts–Harvard sweatshirt combo!

Dressing like you’re in college, or reminding yourself and people around you that you were once in college, seems to be a way of preserving a long-gone youth. Life in college is hard, sure, but there’s a reason these are supposed to be “the best years of our lives.” In a media culture that glamorizes youthfulness oh-so-much, maybe a trip down memory lane isn’t a bad thing.

And for those of us still living out our primes, may we continue to spend atrocious amounts of money on those UChicago hoodies; I know I will. 

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Thumbnail image via

A Conversation with Purple Corporation

Purple Corporation was formed by University of Chicago students Matt Williams and Miles Donnelly. Self-described as “psychedelectric,” the band has three studio albums (Mind Phonics, Atomic Bionic Sonic Chronic, and Memos from Space) and two EPs (BeatPack and BeatPack: Season 2) available on all digital streaming services.

The band features Miles Donnelly on guitar, vocals, trumpet, and production, Matt Williams on bass and production, Nick Olosky on the guitar, Sam Jacobson on the drums, and Jacob Walter on the guitar. Their next album, Indigo Sesh, is dropping on Monday, November 18th, and their next gig is on November 19th at Martyrs’. The following pictures were taken at their most recent gig at Tonic Room in Lincoln Park on November 5th. 

Jacob Walter on an Ibanez guitar

Nick Olosky on a Fender Longboard Stratocaster

Can you talk about the initial inspiration for the band? How did you meet?

Miles Donnelly: Matt and I met up through this RSO (Recognized Student Organization) called Blue Maroon on campus and we just decided to do our own thing and turn the studio into our instrument. We started about a year ago. 

Matt Williams: Word, we just wanted to make songs. Blue Maroon was doing more covers and we wanted to do originals, so we started songwriting in the studio. 

Sam Jacobson on drums

How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?

MD: It's eclectic. I would call it "psychedelectric" because I don't know if we could fit into any genre already. But it's got definitely rock and roll, a little bit of hip hop in there. 

Nick Olosky: I think the produced versions lean a little bit more into hip hop and the live versions lean a little bit more into rock. 

Sam Jacobson: It's a little bit proggy (progressive rock) at parts too. 

MW: But it's definitely psychedelic overall. 

SJ: Yeah, I would say so. It's pretty atmospheric, too. 

MD: We definitely set out with the goal of making something that doesn't sound like anything that's been made before. 

Do you have specific artists that you're influenced by?

MW: For me, Parliament Funkadelic. I'd love to be a little George Clinton but with less drugs. And I think Metro Boomin's a genius with the production. I'm inspired by him. 

NO: Lately I've been inspired by Tame Impala with the guitar sounds, less shred-dy and more atmospheric and out there. 

SJ: That kind of approach fits a lot of our sound better. 

MW: When I make riffs for guitar, King Krule. All of the guitar shapes that I know are from King Krule songs. 

What does your songwriting process look like?

MD: It depends a lot on what we're working with in terms of instrumentation. Sometimes I'll just start with the acoustic guitar, lay down some chords, and write lyrics. Then I'll bring it in to the rest of the band and we'll flesh it out. 

SJ: I'd say there's a lot of fleshing out. Most of the tracks come from a chord progression or a melodic hook. A lot of those have come from Miles because he had written a lot before we met him and started playing with him. Matt, too. They started a while before I met them. 

MD: They'll take something that Matt and I wrote in the studio, and it's very electronic, and they'll translate that into a live instrumentation. 

NO: Jacob and I will try to figure out the chords - 

SJ: That sometimes takes a while. 

MD: When I learned the guitar, I kind of just made up chords. I never took lessons. I have no idea what I'm playing. It's kind of just like, "This sounds good, right?"

NO: And then Jacob and I are like, "Um, I think that's a G minor seven with an add 9?"

MW: We come in with ideas, they make it sound like music. 

SJ: It's a two step process. 

Matt Williams on an Ibanez Soundgear Bass

Do you have specific topics currently inspiring your music?

MD: A big thing that gets me going is climate change. 

SJ: He's pissed. 

MD: And then I write songs about that, like protest songs, calling back to the sixties when they were protesting Vietnam. I think a lot of musical movements are tied to some kind of protest. 

SJ: We've got some of that sixties psychedelic rock sound too. 

MD: And then love and shit. Also I like making up stories. I imagine I'm a little kid playing with action figures. 

Can you talk about the visual component of the band and the album art?

MW: I’ve got Photoshop. I've been messing around with that. 

MD: I have an art connect through my family. We've been collecting art for years, but it's always artists making art in the moment, it's never after the fact. And when you collect an artist's art, they become your homie, just because you're supporting them. So I have a lot of connections with young artists, for example Louis Granet. He's out of Paris. There's also Christian Schumann and Michael Bevilacqua. My mom also runs an art gallery where she represents all these artists. I call her up and am like "I need an album cover," and she'll be like "Alright, I'll see what I've got in the portfolio." And so I pair it up with these paintings that these artists are making. 

MW: Shoutout Yara, she's on campus, she did our most recent album cover. It was a picture I took on vacation with palm trees. 

How do you feel like your music has evolved since you started the band?

MW: Well, the production's gotten better. 

MD: When we started, I'd never played the guitar before, and I'd never played synth or produced. So I've been learning all of that stuff as it's gone along. 

MW: We were making beats and he was like "Yo, I wanna sing on this." And he'd never sung before, just started the summer before this past summer. So over the course of the year we've grown together. 

MD: And then the biggest shift has definitely been when we brought the whole band together. That's the crucial shift. Now we're playing gigs and we've got this really energized sound that the guys are bringing to the group which is sick. 

What's your dream gig in Chicago, or dream gig period?

MW: Madison Square Garden. 

MD: Staples Center. 

NO: The Aragon Ballroom in Chicago. 

MW: That would be sick. Yo, Soldier Field though. 

SJ: It'd be sweet to play Lolla. I think a festival would be cool. 

NO: Yeah, then you can hangout with the other artists. 

SJ: But also the whole outdoor aspect, everyone is just hanging out, everyone is clearly there just to experience music for the day. 

MD: I mean, even Summer Breeze would be sick. Put that in the post. 

What are you currently working on? 

MW: We're trying to do a live album before the quarter's over. 

NO: We've got the current versions of a lot of the songs we've recorded. But a lot of the live versions are rather different, so we want to get a session in the studio or something where we can crank out and record some of the live versions, which would be fun. 

SJ: Something to mark the transition of when they brought us in. It's such a completely different feel and sound, but a lot of them are the same songs with the same ideas. It'll diversify the Spotify page a little. 

MD: And it'll also give something for us to send to venues. And then we're also about to drop a studio album next week. So that's about to roll out, it's 12 songs called Indigo Sesh. 

Do you improvise during live performances?

MW: We opened with a jam at our first gig we ever played. 

NO: Oh yeah, the bar night gig. 

MW: Yeah, so there's a lot of improvisation in our songs. We have pretty large solo sections on most tracks too. 

SJ: We like a good solo. We've got a couple of virtuoso guitarists on tap.

To finish off the interview, who are your favorite artists?

SJ: That's a huge question. I'm going to throw Jimi Hendrix in there. 

NO: John Mayer's my guitar hero. I really love a lot of his songs. That's not the direction I try to go towards, but I love his guitar playing and a lot of the stuff he does is really cool. 

SJ: Yeah, that's a tough distinction to make. All of my favorite drummers aren't necessarily part of my favorite bands. Benny Greb is probably my favorite drummer, but purely as a drummer. I was also revisiting some Led Zeppelin last night. 

NO: I listened to some Santana on our record player. Some of the percussion stuff that he does - 

SJ: It's the Latin rock thing which is so cool. 

NO: Yeah, right. And the way he plans it how you have one beat in your left ear and one beat in your right ear, it's just weird but it works. 

MD: MF Doom is my favorite hip hop artist.

SJ: I think he's my favorite hip hop artist too. 

MD: And then Freddie Hubbard is probably my favorite jazz musician, on the trumpet. 

NO: I already threw Tame Impala out there. 

MW: My favorite has got to be Parliament Funkadelic, George Clinton. 

SJ: Yeah, P Funk's so sick. 

MW: I love those guys. In terms of inspiring me to produce, Metro Boomin definitely. Pharrell has got to be in there. And let me throw SZA's name out there. She's a modern artists that makes albums, like complete works that are just phenomenal.

NO: Yeah, Ctrl is great. 

MD: I mean like, The Beatles. You've gotta mention The Beatles. The thing I strive for is being The Beatles with the last fifty years of context, because they were making weird stuff for their time. 

I was definitely reminded of Joy Division at your gig.

SJ: I was about to say - when we're hashing stuff out in the rehearsal room, I think of Joy Division and Radiohead a lot. 

MD: But it's interesting because everyone who is like "Oh, you know who you sound like?" it’s always something different. 

What else have you gotten?

MD: The Killers. Jim Morrison of The Doors. 

SJ: I've gotten Jim Morrison before I had a haircut. Sometimes it gets really heavy and we kind of sound metal-y. 

MW: Oh, King Crimson. 

SJ: I mean, Metallica. 

NO: Would you go that far?

SJ: Yeah, I don't know if I would go that far. Maybe more Black Sabbath. 

MD: And we've got a lot of jazz and classical roots in there. 

NO: These guys like to throw in a lot of Major Seventh chords, which is very jazzy. 

SJ: Sometimes I swing the hi-hat rhythm. It's that jazz influence. 

MD: Yeah, I started out of classical composition at pre-college at Juilliard in New York. I learned music theory and ear training, but now I just don't think about any of that. I've learned the rules in order to break them. 

Any last words for the interview?

MD: We’ve got an album dropping Monday the 18th and then gig Tuesday the 19th at Martyrs'. And then we've got another gig on December 13th at Silvie's Lounge.  

NO: That's the Friday of finals week so it will be a send off for winter break.

Check out Purple Corporation on Spotify and Apple Music, or on their Facebook and Instagram pages.

Quad Style: Nehir Sahinoglu

Hello hello! I am Nehir Sahinoglu from Istanbul, Turkey. I am a second year economics and psychology double major (hopefully). I am in The Chicago Maroon Marketing Team and in Women in Business, and I am the new social chair of the Turkish Student Association (so look out for fun events to come!). I like cooking, but I like eating more. I enjoy discovering new, aesthetically pleasing places, so I love traveling and getting to know new cultures and mixing those with mine. I like appreciating and creating art, and I do pottery and ceramics. Oh and also, I love fashion, and I try to play with it in my own style. 

How would you describe your personal style?

This is a tough question because I don’t really have a control over my style. In fact, it kind of controls me. I feel like my style genuinely reflects my personality. My style responds to my feelings, taking them as a starting point and branching out from them. My style is spontaneous and crazy: I like to match seemingly unrelated colors, patterns, and silhouettes and to create a cohesiveness from them. I sometimes really like dressing up as a 16 year old boy, that’s why my closet is full of my dad’s jackets, shirts, etc. When I feel like being “girly” I make sure to add a little something of my own to the classic feminine style. That sometimes happens to be my dad’s old ties as belts, or vintage sunglasses or  accessories. In general, I go simple with tops and leave the emphasis on my pants and shoes. I really like to mix and match the vintage and the futuristic style. I think that’s one way to have control over time. 

I’m wearing Marc Jacobs pants with a Zara turtleneck. The jacket that I’m wearing is my dad’s old jacket. My boots are from Massimo Dutti. My belt is from a vintage store in Galata, Istanbul. I bought my ring from an antique jewelry store in Grand Bazaar, Istanbul.

 Where do you find style inspiration?

I honestly feel like I get inspired from everything. If I really like a piece of clothing, my outfit idea forms around it. If I feel in a certain way, let’s say boring, I try to spice up my day by wearing more fun clothes. I look at Vogue, Man Repeller (Leandra Medine Cohen), whowhatwear and many other pages. If I were to name a person, I would say that Alessandro Michele really inspires me. I not only appreciate his sense of fashion but also his aesthetics in general. He has a different creative eye. 

Where do you like to shop?

This one is also hard because I shop everywhere. I would say Zara, AndOtherStories, Urban Outfitters, Uniqlo, and Asos are my classic, safe to-gos. Other than that, I love vintage shops because I always find more unique pieces with character at those. My favorite is to shop from little boutiques that only exist in one or two places. I feel like this is a more common thing in Europe. For shoes, I can’t choose my favorite brand but I can say that I started to develop this obsession over Coach boots.

I’m wearing Vakkorama (a store in Istanbul) pants with a Zara crop top. My jacket is from Topshop (rip). My boots are Doc Martens. Again, I got 2 of my rings and my earrings from an antique jewelry store in Karakoy, Istanbul. The ring that im wearing on my middle finger is actually a nail pitting.

Do you have any fashion regrets?

I don’t think anyone can have fashion regrets because fashion is all about trying and seeing what you like better. Just like everyone has a unique personality, they also have special styles. In this sense, my one fashion regret would be limiting myself in the past. I used to dress up to impress others rather than making myself feel confident and good in my clothes. When I got rid of this fear, that’s when I started to experiment with my style.

I used to dress up to impress others rather than making myself feel confident and good in my clothes. When I got rid of this fear, that’s when I started to experiment with my style.  

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

Of course it did! Honestly, I wouldn’t say that I had a “style” 4 years ago. I just wore what I thought was popular at the time, which didn’t help me reflect or explain myself through clothes. I can’t say that I have the best style or whatever, but at least now I know that fashion is my daily form of art that I express myself with. Dressing up is what takes me out of bed and gives me the enthusiasm to go through the day. 

I can’t say that I have the best style or whatever, but at least now I know that fashion is my daily form of art that I express myself with. Dressing up is what takes me out of bed and gives me the enthusiasm to go through the day. 

How does the style or culture of fashion in Turkey compare to that in the US/Chicago?

I feel like the sense of fashion in Turkey is more European than the US. In Turkey, at least from what I have observed, people put more effort and emphasis on little details that complete the look. Something very little like a jewelry or belt can really elevate the outfit. In Istanbul, I feel like people put looks over functionality, and dress not to just spend the day but also to look as they feel or want. One bad thing that I can say about Turkey is that people fear more from the others’ judgements, so I think the US better provides the chance to express and discover yourself via fashion. 

Why is fashion important to you?

I feel like when my personality started to settle, I didn’t realize this until my style changed. I truly think that fashion helps me to understand who I have become. I sometimes have a really hard time connecting with myself, but fashion offers me the way out! 

I truly think that fashion helps me to understand who I have become. I sometimes have a really hard time connecting with myself, but fashion offers me the way out! 

Photographs courtesy of Maddie Parrish.

Quad Style: Emily Robb

Meet Emily Robb, a second-year hoping to double major in Philosophy and Political Science. She’s from Los Angeles but went to boarding school on the East Coast. On campus, she’s CAO of Theta and involved with Jumpstart, Women in Law, and Amnesty International. She’s super passionate about reading, writing, and music, everything from Ariana Grande to old Monteverdi madrigals.

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How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style definitely varies day to day and is so different based on my environment (LA vs. East Coast vs. Chicago). Sometimes I’ll wear more traditionally effeminate dresses or skirts, other times I’ll wear more playful and distressed loose jeans with fun sneakers and a plain t-shirt. I think my most consistent outfit is a pair of skinny jeans, boots, a cashmere sweater, and a leather jacket.

Any favorite or least favorite fashion trends?

I honestly don’t pay enough attention to fashion trends as much as I should. When I go shopping I can’t help but run my hands over every item of clothing on the rack, so I’d say a lot of what dictates the clothes that I choose to wear is how they feel.

What are your favorite places to shop?

My mom’s closet, thrift stores, Urban Outfitters, Reformation, Madewell, Vince, Rag & Bone. And Current/Elliott has the BEST over-sized men’s cashmere sweaters.

“... although I don’t have the most clear-cut and identifiable relationship with fashion, I’m mostly just grateful it’s become a bit more nuanced and subdued over time.”

What’s your relationship to fashion and how has it changed over time?

If you look at pictures of me in elementary school, you’ll notice that I’m wearing pink in every single one. Apparently I refused to wear anything that wasn’t pink, sparkly, or adorned with hearts, so although I don’t have the most clear-cut and identifiable relationship with fashion, I’m mostly just grateful it’s become a bit more nuanced and subdued over time.

Any fashion regrets?

Literally everything I wore to 7th grade bar and bat mitzvahs.

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All images courtesy of Justin Pan

Quad Style: Wendy Xiao

Hi, my name is Wendy Xiao and I’m a first year with intentions to major in History and Visual Arts; this is how I start all my cover letters! I’m also currently involved in MODA. I enjoy visiting art galleries and I make lots of art myself. I love Kermit and the colour pink, and, lastly, I can also use Microsoft Excel and do basic math because I took a quarter of STAT 200.

What are you wearing for this shoot?

For this shoot, I am wearing mostly Chinese and South Korean brands that I found online, as well as some Uniqlo. For footwear, I’m in my Nike Tartans and Wotherspoons, and I am also accompanied by my pink Kermit portable charger. I did try to go hard on different fabrics for these looks so one is heavy on the corduroy, and the other is a quadruple plaid look (there was supposed to be 5 plaid items but I left my socks at home).

How would you describe your personal style?

I’ve noticed that my style shifts with the climate that I currently reside in. Currently, I’ve been wearing a lot of pinks, purples and neon colours, because I’m resisting against the dull winter weather and seasonal depression. Whereas over fall quarter, I found myself wearing lots of yellows and browns. Overall, my styling preference leans towards streetwear and I’d like to achieve the title of “a tasteful hypebeast art hoe who dresses well.” One look I really want to have is wearing colourful full piece suits, kinda like RuPaul or Cate Blanchett’s character in Ocean’s 8.

“I’d like to achieve the title of ‘a tasteful hypebeast art hoe who dresses well.’”

Where do you find style inspiration?

I follow a lot of Instagram streetwear accounts that pull together the coolest outfits, and seeing how they play with accessories, colours and shapes often give me fun ideas to try. I also get inspiration from Korean celebrities and those “what people are wearing to Fashion Week” photos.

Where do you like to shop?

I’m still discovering Chicago’s local fashion scene but I’ve definitely been getting into vintage and thrift shopping, which isn’t something that was available where I lived. I recently picked up some great stuff! There are a few streets in downtown Chengdu/Singapore where I go every time, and hit up all my favourite stores. One of my favourites is definitely Dover Street Market, I always take my time to walk around there every few weeks or so. I am such a big fan of their collaborations with brands and designers, creating these gorgeous art spaces that truly blend the boundaries between art, high fashion and streetwear. Some of my favourites include the Gucci and Nike collabs, as well as those ASSC Vans, and this Carhartt x DSM jacket I discovered. It’s really a religious experience walking around DSM and trying things on, 12/10 would recommend.

I mainly do my shopping online because I’m still a bit of a brand hoe and I like my New Year's/Black Friday discounts and you can really cop some expensive things for a very good price. I did get scammed on Grailed once trying to buy a Fenty sweater so idk what to tell ya. I also enter raffles for sneakers but I’ve never won any...

Do you have any fashion regrets?

Yikes, let's just say that it took me a while to get where I am and I would say that pre-2016 Wendy was a big fashion don’t. Before getting into fashion I dressed like every boy you knew in 9th grade. I found a photo of me wearing a grey Zara beanie, H&M zip-up hoodie, Adidas shorts and navy converse. Yes, I wore grey, navy, and black in the same outfit.

What’s your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

Initially, I got into fashion because I had friends who were very invested in streetwear and sneakers. I lived in Singapore and the streetwear culture there was growing, meaning that there were more and more opportunities to explore looks. Slowly, I’ve become obsessed with the challenge of dressing myself in ways that would be compositionally balanced, colour coordinated, and aesthetically pleasing. It’s quite a pretentious thing to say but I also just love it so much. My love for fashion also increased as there has been an increase of overlaps between high fashion, the arts and streetwear; three things that I absolutely adore!

“... fashion is an artistic outlet for me to mould and shape my identity... ”

Why is fashion important to you?

Fashion has definitely helped me a lot in finding the confidence in being comfortable with who I am. I struggled a lot with my gender identity back in high school and having the freedom to experiment with my visual presentation. As an art form, I am a fan of how [fashion can] exist above the boundaries of gender. I like that fashion is an artistic outlet for me to mould and shape my identity, but it is also an art form that is explored by designers around the world.

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All images courtesy of Dasha Askenova. View more of her work on her Instagram.

You can also check out Wendy’s artwork on her website.

Quad Style: Andrew Chang

Hi, I’m Andrew! I’m a second year English major from Toronto and the incoming Editor-in-Chief of the MODA Blog. This year I designed for the MODA Show as part of the Designer Boot Camp Program, which was an amazing experience! When I’m not studying, editing articles for the Blog or bouncing very aggressively back and forth between classes, I’ll likely be drawing or taking photos.

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I love wearing suits, but styling them to be more casual. Here, I’m wearing a sports coat and skinny trousers from H&M with a pair of adidas Stan Smith sneakers. I’ve paired the look with a t-shirt that my best friend and I found at a thrift shop in Toronto; we somehow managed to find two and whenever I wear it, I’m reminded of the wonderful times we’ve had together.

How would you describe your personal style?

Honestly, I’d say that I’m pretty basic. I have a sense of what works on my body and I’d say that most of my wardrobe is made up of items that can be easily mixed and matched together with one or two more eccentric statement pieces that I like to play with.

I like to wear pieces that are quite classic but with subversive touches, whether that’s an unexpected icon or a slightly off-kilter phrase. It makes me feel rebellious to play with people’s expectations about fashion; I enjoy watching the shock on people’s faces when they see that I’m wearing a Peppa Pig watch or that I have ‘Canadian as Fuck’ printed onto an otherwise plain white tee.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I get inspired by people with really bold fashion perspectives who can translate their eccentricity into something more accessible. I am obsessed with Ezra Miller right now as I find myself getting more and more interested in exploring androgyny and various subcultures and how they interact with mainstream fashion.

I’d say other inspirations are people like David Bowie, Michael Jackson and Elvis because they really understood how to push the boundaries of style and fashion to translate themselves as characters rather than just people wearing clothes. I admire a lot of stylists as well such as Grace Coddington, Katie Grand and Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele because they understand how to bring fashion to the level of fantasy.

For me, style is all about collecting, mixing and subverting garments to project the image of who you want to be; that kind of persona play excites me the most about the possibilities of fashion.

“For me, style is all about collecting, mixing and subverting garments to project the image of who you want to be”

For this look, I’m wearing a leather jacket from Forever21 with a pair of black jeans from H&M. The T-shirt is a gift from a friend who read my article on Peppa Pig’s growing influence on the streetwear scene and the ring and necklace are from Amazon.

“These virtual personas we craft through fashion are simply images of unspoken desires, fantasies and dreams.”

For this look, I’m wearing a T-shirt from Peace Collective, a Toronto based apparel brand that celebrates Canadian identity, a pair of blue jeans from H&M, a pair of Nike sneakers and a thrifted bowling jacket that I got from Black Market Thrift in Toronto. I got lucky and somehow found a black satin bomber with my name embroidered on it. I’m not sure who Andy is, but I’m glad that they decided to donate their championship bowling jacket to a thrift shop, because now I have it and I am obsessed with it.

Why is fashion important to you?

At the end of the day, fashion for me is about self expression, and I think internally, I understood that from quite a young age. I got really invested in fashion when I was in middle school and I was designing outfits for the characters in a comic book I was writing. I was always thinking about how different garments or different style choices translated into personality traits, desires, fears, and emotions; I wanted people to be able to understand a character through what they wore and how they wore it and I think unconsciously, those thoughts began to leave the pages of my sketchbook and enter my own life.

Fashion gives people the opportunity to design their own character, to be whoever they want to be that day, and to erase it all and start over again the next day. I think we’re so fortunate to live in a time and place where we can feel more free to express our identities or to project our ideal personas through fashion and hair and makeup.

I never thought of this process as deceptive or fake because in some ways, who we are and who we want to be are one and the same. Our projected selves or these virtual personas we craft through fashion are simply images of unspoken desires, fantasies and dreams. Years from now, I’m sure I’ll have a completely different perspective on fashion, but for the time being I’m just enjoying how it all makes me feel. There’s something so uplifting and empowering in choosing to dress a certain way and in choosing to be the person I want to be.

“I’m just enjoying how fashion makes me feel. There’s something so uplifting and empowering in choosing to dress a certain way and in choosing to be the person I want to be.”

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All images courtesy of Isaac Tannenbaum. View more of his work on his website or Instagram.

Quad Style: Josie Sabbath

I’m Josie, I’m a first year, and right now I think I’m going to do a Creative Writing major. Maybe Jewish Studies too. Shout out to Students Organizing United with Labor (we meet Tuesdays at 7pm), #CareNotCops and SWAP (Students Working Against Prisons)—we’ve got an art show coming up that everyone should submit to—and to Southside Scribblers, which is an RSO that teaches creative writing at Ray Elementary every Friday. 

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My masc outfit is all goodwill.

How would you describe your personal style?

To be honest, I feel like my style is always changing, and that’s part of the reason why I like thrifting so much, since it makes it a lot less of a commitment to try out a look I’m not sure about. I’ve worn a TON  of really unfortunate outfits just trying to see if I can make them work. I love really loud patterns, like the ones you could find on your grandma’s upholstery. Right now, with masculine clothes, I think I might fit the “indie” scene, but to be honest I don’t really know what that means. With feminine stuff, it’s really more of a game of whatever fits, but I wear a lot of pink.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I think most of my fashion inspiration just comes from shopping with my friends and trying to take what I love about their clothes and make it work for me so I’m not totally stealing their style. I take a little from the queer punk scene and this one ‘90s HBO show, Queer as Folk. Mostly though, I end up wearing whatever catches my eye when I’m actually in a store.

“Embracing the way I look when I dress closer to how I feel has made me a lot more confident in my appearance.”

Do you have any fashion regrets?

Those unfortunate outfits I mentioned were mostly just clashing patterns. I think five [different patterns] are the most I’ve worn at once. That was good day. Honestly, if I were only dressing for myself, I’d always have more than one pattern on—I think there’s something that’s just so fun about seeing what color combinations come out and the way all the different designs come together to make a new whole. But for everyone else’s sake (people complained about headaches), I hold myself back.

The feminine [outfit] is a skirt and jacket from Value Village (a chain kinda like Village Discount) and a shirt from the Hyde Park Target. I love Target.

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

I only really started thinking about what I was wearing in middle school, and since then, fashion has always just been a way to try to make a good first impression. I think that’s all my relationship with fashion was until I actually started listening to the part of me that felt more feminine. I don’t think fashion is limited to menswear versus womenswear, but finding womenswear that’s flattering on a body like mine can be really challenging.

At the same time, finding clothes that fit well is hard no matter what your body [looks like], and embracing the way I look when I dress closer to how I feel has made me a lot more confident in my appearance. For some reason, it’s way easier for me to look in a mirror and hype myself up when I’m wearing a skirt. But in general, I’m pretty much just thinking about wearing stuff that makes me feel good about myself, and trying to find clothes that’ll make me excited to wake up and get dressed.

“I’m pretty much just thinking about wearing stuff that makes me feel good about myself, and trying to find clothes that’ll make me excited to wake up and get dressed.”

All photos courtesy of Natalia Rodriguez. View her online photography portfolio here.

Quad Style: Veronica Myers

Meet Veronica Myers, a third year double majoring in Sociology and Art History and minoring in Human Rights. She’s one of the captains for the Women’s Varsity Lacrosse Team and an intern at the Smart Museum!

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The top, jeans, belt, and shoes are all thrifted. The only part of this outfit that I actually bought retail are the socks, because Uniqlo was having a sale.

How would you describe your personal style?

My personal style is definitely heavily influenced by the 70s and 80s, not because I intentionally try to make it so, but because thrift stores are chock full of shoulder pads and tailored pants and bold prints, and I also steal a lot of clothing from my mom and dad’s closets. Someone once told me that I dress like a kindergarten teacher... I’m not really sure what that means, but I guess that’s also something to consider.

Where do you find style inspiration? 

This might sound cliché, but my friends!! Especially in college, where we’re all just trying to figure things out and push boundaries, I feel like we’re more willing to take risks and try new things, which leads to a lot of really fascinating looks. 

Where do you like to shop?

Village Discount is my holy grail and definitely where I shop the most, but back home in downtown Ventura there’s a line of thrift stores that my friends and I will hit up every time we’re home for break. If I’m shopping retail, my go-to stores are usually Uniqlo, Zara, Gap, or Target. Also, a good deal of my clothing comes from pieces my parents have held onto but don’t wear anymore (the best being a grey crop top that my dad used to wear during his football playing UCLA college days!).

Do you have any fashion regrets? 

I used to try way too hard in high school and took everything I wore very seriously. I was so focused on a highly curated look that at one point I carried around an artist satchel/briefcase as my school backpack for like, two years? I don’t really regret being so willing to dive into something, but I do regret committing to the satchel itself because I could only fit one notebook and a pencil pouch in it, so I ended up having to carry all of my textbooks in my arms.

The trench coat is my mom’s from when she was a young adult, the top and pants are both thrifted, and the shoes I’m pretty sure are from DSW.

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

My relationship to fashion has changed dramatically over time, and it continues to evolve. I think growing up, we (especially young women) are taught that we need to fit into clothes, or modify ourselves to fit within a certain style, and for a really long time I tried to do that.

I think that’s why I love thrifted clothes so much, because you have no idea and no control over what kind of sizes/shapes/forms/fits you’re going to find. Suddenly, rather than trying to fit into clothing, it becomes a process of tailoring the clothing to you; a belt here, a shirt tuck there, cuffing an ankle, etc. In that way fashion has become such a personalized and individualized experience for me, and it’s become so much more fun and so much more freeing to discover the ways in which I can fashion clothing to this body of mine. 

Why is fashion important to you?

I never put too much time or effort or thought into what I’m wearing, and I think that’s why it’s so important to me. My personal style reminds me not to take life too seriously, and to just have fun with it. If I want to wear a floor length velvet gown, or bright red overalls, or high waisted jeans for the fifth day in a row, why not?

With so many other things going on, sourcing joy from what you wear seems so insignificant, but it can be so gratifying. Maybe ten years from now I’ll look back at what I’m wearing today and think, “wow what was I thinking,” but it doesn’t really matter because I’m thoroughly enjoying being me in this moment, and that to me is everything.

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All images courtesy of Angela Liu.

Atelier MODA Recap

The annual MODA fashion show is, dare I say, UChicago’s best event of the year. And this year was no exception.

Since it was my first MODA show, I really didn’t know what to expect, but I can confidently say that the show exceeded anything I could have imagined. Walking in a little late, but still fashionably, I was excited to see student spectators donning their finest fits. No one disappointed. If there ever was a night to wear that neon pink, vinyl miniskirt you bought on a whim, it was at Atelier MODA.

This year’s show was held at the Theatre on the Lake (pretty self explanatory) in Lincoln Park. Before an electrifying MAYA performance and runway show, there was an hour of drinks, hor d’oeuvres, and in almost every corner, people posing for their glamour shots.

Finally, I made my way to my seat, and after a quick welcome from the MODA Board, the show started and when I tell you everyone was cheering, I mean everyone. The music started playing, and people were immediately on their feet. One by one, the models had their chance to walk the stage, strike a pose and make their way down the runway to strut their stuff. Each had their own flare and definitely did every design justice.

The actual collections were truly incredible, so let me give a huge shoutout to all of the designers because every piece on the runway had so much effort put into it and I can say as someone who was in the crowd, the audience loved them all. There was a mix of athletic wear, formal gowns, street style, grunge and boho, but all of it looked amazing–there were so many pieces that I wish I could buy myself!

So for those of you who weren’t able to make it to Atelier MODA or didn’t buy tickets in time, I’m not trying to give you FOMO… but you really missed out! Atelier MODA did not disappoint, the MODA Board, student designers and models put on a great show, and just the chance to be able to play with your style for a night out was well worth the ticket.

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Images of models and designers by Rebecca Cho, Angela Fung and Yamini Nambimadom

Featured image via Alexandra Nisenoff

Quad Style: Michael Tolchinsky

How would you describe your personal style? Do you have a go-to look?

I’d say it’s a little all over the place in the sense that I don’t have a consistent look to go to, but generally it’s quite minimalistic. It’s not really in my personality to be super flashy, but I try to add little touches of colour, texture, or a graphic of some kind to keep it interesting. I sort of wish I could commit to a particular style since that would probably make life more convenient, but I appreciate a lot of different styles and enjoy putting different parts together.

Where do you get your style inspiration?

Honestly, despite what some people may say, since I’ve come to campus I’ve consistently noticed a lot of really well dressed people and that’s inspired me in a lot of ways. I think in general seeing someone wear something cool in person makes much more of an impression on me than a picture does. That said, I do spend a too much time browsing the internet for clothes, and I’m only mildly ashamed to say that. My dad also has a lot of really cool clothes and I like to take a lot of his advice (or making fun of me) on board.

Where do you like to shop?

I’m a sucker for a really good deal, so I do a lot of online shopping since I’ve found browsing around different stores you can find high quality, brand names for a fraction of the price. I also like walking around retailers at home in London, or in Chicago, then going online and trying to find anything I tried on for half the price. For this reason, I also spend a fair amount of time on Grailed to find used/old items from name brands for non face melting prices.

Any favorite and/or least favorite trends?

This isn’t a trend per se, but I love how fashion has exploded as an interest with the advent of social media, and how there are probably more unique styles that people show than ever. There’s so many cool things people are creating that might not necessarily be for me, but that I can appreciate. As far as what I’ve personally enjoyed recently, I’ve been wearing a lot of woolly, comfy cardigans and trying to go looser with the pants, although that’s still a work in progress.   

On the flip side, I’m personally not a huge fan of intentionally garish designer patterns and labels that have made a resurgence, particularly in a university environment.

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

I’ve always been interested in fashion, but I went to school with a uniform policy, so getting to college has been the first time I can actually wear my clothes outside of the weekend, which has been exciting to say the least. I also find it to be very comforting to be wearing something I think looks passable when I leave the house in the morning. I personally find that I feel much more confident if I’m happy with how I look, and of course what I’m wearing plays an important part in that.

Any fashion regrets?

When I was like 13 or 14, I wore a lot of very tight, multi colored chinos. Coupled with the fact that I tried to convince people I was cool by wearing various snapbacks about 3 sizes too big for my head or a beanie at all times, that was a rough period for me.

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All photos courtesy of Owen Rudalevige

A Power Ranking of On-Campus Food Trucks

Ever gaze upon the elegant train of food trucks down Ellis or S. University Ave. and, unsure of where to stop, continue along your way to Hutch in tentative fear rather than feast upon these mobile and noble eateries? No worries, we’ve taken the guesswork out of it for you. Keep reading for a roundup of food trucks worth your time and some you should definitely skip.

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5. Cheesies

As a huge cheese aficionado and a staunch believer that cheese can make almost anything better, I set my eyes on this food truck with the highest of hopes. It did not meet my expectations. Cheesies specializes in grilled cheeses, but there was something about the consistency, the texture of the cheese, that erred on the side of rubbery. Might have just been a bad day for them, but there are definitely better options down the street.

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4. Aztec Daves

Aztec Dave’s is generally pretty good. It’s only ranked fourth because everything else from third to first is really really good. The burritos are quite filling, and they have quality sauces to go along with their entrees. Extra avocado is quite cheap (a rarity these days), so definitely take advantage of that added perk.

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3. Mediterranean Express

Very solid. I normally get the “Really Hungry,” composed of Chicken Shawarma over rice with Cajun fries and humus. The fries are great, the pita bread is fantastic, and the falafels are top notch. You also have the option to build your own meal, and there are a lot of worthy combinations to work with. Sometimes they’ll give you a voucher for a free side with your next meal.

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2. Lucy’s

Classic American food in the form of really fantastic burgers. The Bleu Burger is great for those who enjoy the promised land of blue cheese, and there is something about the sauce in the Juicy Lucy Burger that really hits home. They have quality fries as well. You’ll be hard pressed to find a better burger in Hyde Park.

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1. Bob Cha

Bob Cha is absolutely amazing in every regard. I don’t know what to really recommend on the menu because everything I’ve had has been spectacular. I personally prefer the pork belly, and the eggs are always perfect. The toppings are fantastic. If you haven’t had Bob Cha before, put it on the top of your list, because you haven’t had the full UChicago experience or truly lived until you’ve gotten a bite of Bob Cha tots.

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Feature image via.

Quad Style: Zhenru Zhou

Meet Zhenru Zhou, third year PhD student in the Art History department. She enjoys swimming, painting and traveling in her free time.

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What are you wearing for this shoot?

A folk-style dress from Chinese Turkestan, a long jacket from Zara, a long coat from the London Frog, a nylon scarf and two hair-wraps from Northwest China, heatech pants from Uniqlo.

How would you describe your personal style?

I don’t know if I have a style. Typically I wear a mixture of old and new, ethnic and generic, similar or complementary colors, but mostly cheap.

Where do you find style inspiration? 

Weather forecasts, seasonal colors, people I meet, and mural paintings that I study.

Where do you like to shop?

Folk costume markets when traveling, Uniqlo when in Chicago, Taobao when in China. Sometimes I get old clothes from my mom and friends.

Do you have any fashion regrets? 

I used to buy too many new clothes before I knew I could wear second-hand things. [I also regret] not being able to give away an old piece of clothing whenever I would get a new one.

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

When I was in my teens and early-twenties, I wanted to look good. When I was in my mid-twenties, I wanted to look unconventional. Now that I am in my late-twenties, I neither want to look good nor be unconventional, but I don’t know how to shed those identities!

Why is fashion important to you?

Fashion and style are not important to me, but realizing the artistic potential of my clothes and actualizing a personal response to their cosmic vital energy are meaningful [to me].

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All images courtesy of Amelia Frank.

Atelier MODA Setlist

Relive the Atelier MODA fashion show with Laila Aziem’s exclusive setlist for the show. For more information, recaps and photos from the event, keep an eye on the Blog and our Facebook page in the coming days.

And don’t forget to check out Laila's Spotify and Soundcloud accounts for more playlists, mixes and singles!

*Note: not all songs are available on both streaming services

Makeup Inspo for Atelier MODA

Fashion shows… We love them for the iconic looks, the runway models, the statement pieces. But my favorite part (and what’s often not even talked about) is what pulls the whole look together: the makeup. You can have the outfit, the hair and the personality to boot, but if you don’t have the makeup look, your ensemble will never be complete.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to be a makeup expert to pull a great makeup look together. For the MODA show, we want you to shine just as much as the models strutting their stuff on the runway. Maybe you’re not sure what look you’re going for, or maybe you’re just here for some inspiration. Keep scrolling for some great makeup looks to choose from:

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Colorful + Unapologetic

The MODA Fashion Show is the perfect time to experiment with makeup looks that you’ve been dying to copy, whether it’s something you saw Kendall Jenner do (well, likely not because that woman does not do interesting makeup) or (much more likely) a look from Jeffree Star or James Charles you’ve been dreaming of since both of their palettes dropped.

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Some inspiration I’d offer is to coordinate your eye looks with your outfit, whether that’s to create a bold cut crease with complementary colors or to entirely define your eyes with a matching eyeliner. Pop on a bold lash, and any look will be complete. Lately, lash companies have been creating eye-color flattering lashes, and I’d certainly say that’s an investment worth considering.

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Too afraid to rock an eyelid look? Well, it’s finally time to break out that strange Kylie Lip Kit shade you bought but never use! Lip color is a true personality statement, and switching it up from pinky nudes and reds will be a breath of fresh air and a definite showstopper.

If you don’t have any fun lip colors, stop by your local drugstore or ULTA and I can guarantee that there are loads of affordable and fun options to choose from.

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Matte + Nude

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I get it. You want to keep it safe, and there’s nothing wrong with keeping things in your comfort zone (unless you’re Kendall, and then it just gets BORING). For a perfect nude makeup look, you can probably draw inspiration from one of the many iconic Kim Kardashian nude-makeup selfies done by makeup god, Mario Dedivanovic. The good thing about this type of makeup is that it’s a really good way to bring out the best of your facial features through contour without looking like you have cakey makeup on.

With a matte, nude look, you’re going to want to have a foundation and concealer duo that really does your skin justice. Consider finding a true match when it comes to these items, and you’ll be on the road to countless perfect skin days. Also, invest in a solid setting powder because it really pulls the whole look together.

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Creative + Artistic

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So you bought the James Charles Artistry palette, didn’t you? Yes, I am guilty of the same crime (of loving makeup!), and when you have palettes like this, it’s almost impossible to not want to venture into the realms of makeup blogger experimentation.

If you really want to go this direction, I highly recommend drawing eyeshadow inspiration from your outfit, whether that is patterns, color scheme, or just general vibey-ness.

Sister James has fortunately gifted us with all types of color-based looks from his palette, but there are infinite other looks you can find if you check out Nikkie Tutorials or Jackie Aina on YouTube.

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General Makeup Tips

Blend

Eyeshadow is tough. There’s nothing worse than having what looks like a massive Pinterest fail on your face. But when things (inevitably) sour, fear not! A lot of blending will really help a look. Sometimes things are pigmented strangely and will look weird. Luckily, enough blending will always soften out a look, so you can keep your panic at bay. Unless it really is messed up beyond repair… Then I highly recommend a soft makeup remover, and try, try again!

Setting Powder

Find a good setting powder, especially if you have an oily skin type. It’ll help your makeup last longer, look less cakey, and add a nice finish to your face. Of course, beware of flashback, especially because the MODA Show will have a lot of flash photography.

Find What’s Right for You

Just because everyone swears by Fenty Foundation or Shape Tape doesn’t mean that it’ll be great for you! Everyone’s face is very different from each other, and it’s definitely not worth putting your skin through hell for one night of glam. I assure you that there are the right products for your skin type out there! You just have to search a little and go through just enough trial and error.

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Feature Image Into the Gloss.

2019 Designer Profiles: Jillian Lepek & Anne Wang

Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. Meet Jillian Lepek and Anne Wang , 4th years who are designing for the show the first time!

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What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?

We decided to work together after becoming friends abroad in Morocco! A large part of our friendship centers on our common aesthetic preferences, which came to be the core of the collection—warm, autumnal colors, woven textures, and clean, up-and-down lines. 

Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?

Neither of us have done real fashion design work prior to this. Mastering the discipline to train ourselves through the unfamiliar parts of clothing design was a big challenge. Just being able to persist through mistakes and turn an idea into reality was rewarding through both in its process, and through the final result.

What are you looking forward to most about the show? 

We can’t wait to see every designer’s collection get appreciated by the crowd! We know how hard everyone’s worked and it’s all culminating at the show, so the atmosphere is going to be amazing.

“A large part of our friendship centers on our common aesthetic preferences, which came to be the core of the collection—warm, autumnal colors, woven textures, and clean, up-and-down lines. ”

Who do you have in mind when you’re designing? 

We try to keep in mind the unifying characteristics of the collection, and how to marry that with the unique look of a particular model we’ve chosen. The establishment of a coherent core makes the divergences from that core more interesting!

If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?

All ideas morph as the process continues, so just commit and execute and see what you get—you can always revise.

What’s your favorite aspect of the design process? 

Related to the previous question—seeing how the ultimate look turns out, especially in how it differs from the vision (in a good way). Accessorizing the look—adding details which enrich the overall depiction of a vision is super fun.

All images courtesy of Jillian and Anne.

2019 Designer Profiles: Alexandre Labossiere-Barrera

Every year, the MODA Fashion Show wraps up winter quarter with the perfect homage to student talent, hard work and creativity. In anticipation of the show, we have been interviewing some of the designers involved in this year’s show. Meet Alexandre Labossiere-Barrera, a first year designing for his first MODA Show!

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What are some sources of inspiration for your collection?

Form follows function. Clothes should look nice, but not at the expense of practicality.

Have you ever done fashion design work before? What are some of the most challenging and rewarding aspects of the process?

I’ve done my own share of architectural design work, but fashion is a first for me.

What are you looking forward to most about the show?

Finding out if I’m any good at this.

Who do you have in mind when you’re designing?

People who aren’t afraid to scuff their clothes up a little. They’re meant to be worn, so wear them.

“Form follows function. Clothes should look nice, but not at the expense of practicality.”

If you could give yourself any advice on the design process, what would you say to your younger self?

Don’t take yourself seriously, take what you do seriously.

What’s your favorite aspect of the design process?

Seeing your ideas take form in front of you is ineffably rewarding.

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All photos via Alexandre Labossiere-Barrera.

Elevate Your Hair Styling Game for the MODA Show

The MODA Show is coming up on February 22nd, and getting your outfit and makeup ready are arguably the easiest parts of the job. You might be left wondering what to do with your hair within the last 30 minutes before it’s time to head to the show. Have no fear, we’ve got you covered! Keep reading for some easy, foolproof hairstyles that you can use as inspiration for your look!

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Half Bun

A cute knotted bun with a few strands hanging loose is perfect for any hair type. It is also the most convenient style because it works in class, at a special event, and everywhere in between. Follow the steps below to step up your bun game.

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Classic French Twist with a Bun on Top

This is one of my favorite looks - confident and delicate. It is also so simple to throw together. First, pull your hair back at the base of your neck, then twist it to the right and lay it against your head with the ends facing up. Spread the hair from the bottom of the twist to the top and make it look polished. Finally, wrap the ends into a bun and pin them.

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Twisted Halo

A super romantic and complex looking hairstyle, yet a twisted halo takes no more than 5 minutes to tie together! First, separate your hair at the crown area. Then, twist back a small section of hair from each side of your head and secure it with a pin in the middle of your head. Remember to tuck the second section behind the first twisted section

Side Braid Ponytail

This is a little more complicated, but trying new styles is always exciting. Here’s a detailed step-by-step instruction:

1. Separate the right side of your hair into 3 parts and make a Dutch braid along your ear. Tug at small pieces of your braid so they loosen up and create more volume.

2. Take a two inch section at the middle of your head and do a standard three strand french braid down the middle, stopping at the curve of your head.

3. On the other side, create a two strand twist and secure with a clear elastic.

4. Put your hair up together into a ponytail and BOOM!

Images via Cosmopolitan; feature image via.

Quad Style: Tyler He

Hi, I’m Tyler and I’m a 4th year majoring in Public Policy Studies! I’m a co-president of Phoenix Survivors Alliance and I’m involved with other activism/organizing groups on and off-campus. I listen to so much music, think about tattoos all the time, am obsessed with Twitter, and I also love to box and work out.

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In this outfit I’m wearing a bright neon orange shirt with a patterned polo (both thrifted) that I cropped with Dickie’s pants and Dr. Martens boots (the laces are different because I broke the laces for the right boot). I also have a gold Timex watch and a necklace and earring that my friend made for me.

How would you describe your personal style?

I feel most of the people that do these shoots say this, but I actually don’t know how to describe my personal style. I do think about it a lot though, and I think at this point I want to say that I always aim to be in the gray area where I am visually and aesthetically pleasing but still look out of the ordinary and unique. I want people to look at me and think that I look weird but in a good way.

Where do you find style inspiration?

I pay a lot of attention to what other people around me are wearing all the time, particularly what my female and gender non-conforming friends are wearing because I find that they often are way more stylish and creative in their style than men. I also follow a bunch of artists and other creatives on social media and often find myself trying to emulate pieces of their outfits and changing up my own fashion through them.

Where do you like to shop?

I spent my whole life buying clothing from retail stores and online until about a year or two ago, but now I essentially buy all my clothing through thrifting. I’m from Chicago and there’s a thrift store in my neighborhood that has a 50% sale on everything every Monday and I usually go at least once a quarter. Before I stopped shopping retail, a lot of old T-shirts and other pieces of clothing that I still wear frequently are mostly all from Uniqlo!

In this outfit I’m wearing a beige hoodie that I got from a Tasha show (@wowtashawow on Instagram and Twitter) that says “I love myself and hate the police” on the front with striped baseball pants (thrifted) and white Air Force 1s.

Do you have any fashion regrets?

I think most of my fashion regrets really stemmed from my self-esteem issues and lack of body confidence, but I did spend a significant portion of college wearing a lot of sweaters and sweatpants (no offense) even though I wanted to look different and be more visually stimulating. A couple things do stick out though. In high school all the other popular guys would pinroll their jeans really tightly, and I definitely spent a ton agonizing over that. I was also obsessed with whether the ankle of my jeans looked too big or weren’t tight enough because everyone else wore skinny jeans, so I always tried to buy and wear tighter jeans even though they were incredibly restrictive and uncomfortable for my body!

What is your relationship to fashion? Has it changed over time?

When I was younger I would often get very anxious and stressed out about following the latest trend or conforming to what other people around me were wearing, and I spent a lot of time feeling insecure about my body and how well I can appeal to others through my fashion. I think a lot of that intersected with class; going to high school on the near northside of Chicago with my background, I internalized and connected so much of my dissatisfaction with my life with being poor and unable dress as (arguably) well as the people I was surrounded by. As I’ve matured emotionally and changed physically I’ve gained a lot more self confidence, and I finally feel like I am in a place where I can experiment with fashion, feel comfortable with myself, and look good no matter what I wear or do.

Why is fashion important to you?

I’m constantly engaged with my surroundings and am always paying attention to what people around me are wearing, and I assume that everyone around me does the same. I think a lot about how “the personal is political” and how it relates to fashion; fashion allows me to make a statement about myself and my being without uttering a word, and I think that’s incredibly powerful. Fashion is endlessly changing over time, but what I’m wearing every day is just a singular instance of my life experiences, my relationships with people around me, cultural shifts, and so many other things. Also, I just love looking good and feeling good about myself!

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All images courtesy of Dasha Aksenova.