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(01/06/06 3:51am)
As I stood over a full sink of dishes, washing the time away in a nursing home, one of my co-workers, Debbie, came up to me and said, "Patrice, I turn 58 next week and I bet I get more sex than the young folks." \nImmediately, I cracked up. Debbie is a very strict Pentecostal woman who does not cut her hair, only wears skirts and is very subservient to her husband.\nThe comment did not come as a surprise and as I thought about my own sex-starved life, I realized she was probably right.\nAs my co-workers and I began to talk to Debbie, we realized that though young people walk around mostly controlled by their hormones and waiting for their next sexual fix, we could learn a lot from "old folks." We listened to Debbie's life story in awe, wondering how it was possible in a day where twentysomethings -- who are usually known for their abundant sexual activity -- are more worried about protecting themselves from getting hurt than being open and honest about our feelings and what we want. Debbie told us that she had dated a guy named Henry her entire high-school career, had never had sex and was going to marry him. Then one night, she met her husband and immediately broke up with her boyfriend. \n"Here all this time I had dated this guy, (we) never had sex, and me and Charles had been together for three months, had sex and got married three months later," she said. "Maybe if me and Henry had sex, we would have gotten married." \nI told her sex doesn't matter and if it did, I would have been married five or six times by now. \nThe conversation was enough to make me think twice about the oath of celibacy I have taken for the spring semester. \nShe told us that her husband was the only person she had ever had sex with and if she could go back, she would change that. \n"You always wonder," she said to me. \nAnd I quickly retorted, "Honey, you're not missing much. If you have had one, you have had them all." \nThough Debbie expressed concern for me and a few of the college-aged girls that work in the kitchen, we established that there is no one secret to having a long-lasting relationship or good sex. It is something that just happens. No one can ever explain why they are in 40-year relationships. The only thing that many of my elders have to say is learn from each relationship, and keep in mind what you don't want. I wish I could come back with some wisdom, but the only thing I can say is talking about sex with your elders can be more fun than you think.
(12/08/05 2:19am)
The Christmas season got the spark it needed with the airing of the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Tuesday night. As models strutted down the sparkling runway scantily-clad in white lingerie adorned with crystal, it was official this year that fantasy is the official theme of Christmas. \nHeidi Klum, who blew a kiss to her husband Seal as he sang "Crazy," floated down the runway fully equipped with huge white wings and wearing a white bra with matching underwear glistening with crystals. The scene was a perfect escape from the everyday realities of finals, papers and boyfriend/girlfriend pressure. \nThe show didn't stop there, with the next scene ushering in Christmas presents in the form of leggy supermodels with large breasts dressed in velvet bustiers in red, green and gold to the beat of Snoop Dogg's "Drop it Like it's Hot." Models dressed in red lingerie and top hats imitating toy soldiers, Naomi Campbell wearing gold lingerie with a gold- and green-striped sash and carrying a trumpet and Ricky Martin singing "Drop it on Me" were only some of the highlights of the fantastic Victoria's Secret runway show. \nModels wearing wings and lingerie made from peppermint emphasized the need to be in a place far removed from reality. Every other commercial was for Victoria's Secret, stating, "Don't buy her something she needs, buy her something she wants." It is no wonder CBS decided to air the runway show this season after a two-year hiatus. America, and the world in general, need a fantasy to escape their daily pressures. \nMovie producers feel it too and are catering to the moment much like the depression-era 30s. The fantasy is back with movies like "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Memoirs of a Geisha". \nNo one wants to be on earth and as I think about Hurricane Katrina victims and Pakistanis homeless and facing one of the harshest winters to date, I want it all to stop for just one moment. Like the children in "The Chronicles of Narnia," I want to escape to an alternate world, a world with snow-covered mountains and water so blue it's indescribable. I want it to be so quiet when I take a breath I can hear it echo around the world. I want it to be so cold that ice decorates the trees, making them look like ornaments against a midnight blue sky. When I look up I want to see huge stars sparkling like diamonds and every now and then, they will fall into a blue river and turn into mermaids with green eyes, brown hair and tails of gold. \nThe children of the world wouldn't go to bed hungry and would be dressed in the finest velvet blazers in blue, pink, red and purple, with satin knickers and pantaloons. Their candy supply would be limitless and their laughter would bring joy to the world. No one would worry about presents because everything would already be perfect and we would all have the love we needed. Women would be beautiful like the women in "Memoirs of a Geisha" and adorned in ornate Venexiana dresses with Victoria's Secret underwear beneath. All the men would be gentlemen dressed in velvet blazers, top hats, and colorful ties and pants. Together we would drink the sweetest ambrosia out of platinum glasses and smoke whatever it is the Cheshire cat smoked in "Alice in Wonderland." \nPresident Bush would be nowhere in sight, no news of the investigation of Adam Herbert could be heard and there would be no word for war. Dancing to Santana, Robin Thicke and Ricky Martin, looking beautiful and eating sweets and meats would be our only obligations. For a moment in time, we would all have the precious chance to know the beauty of peace, true love and fashion. I hope everyone enjoys at least one moment during break where they can hear themselves breathe and enjoy their own fantasy. We all need one, and let's hope for a moment we all get the Christmas spark -- we need it.
(12/01/05 5:15pm)
Fashionistas should come with a disclaimer that reads, "Don't judge me based on my behavior. I'm not that crazy." \nIn my experiences I have found the fashion culture breeds an inner "wild child." I don't know if it is the beautiful clothes, the pulse of the novelty or the music, but it can be shocking to those newly exposed to the life. \nFashion people love to get dressed up and go party. My friend Dena Downham loves to get dressed in 1950s-style party dresses or skinny jeans and dance to punk all night. My friend Mallory Zalkin is the social butterfly and has done some of the most outrageous stuff imaginable; and I am the one that doesn't have the sense God gave a goat, but I am low-key about it. Well, sometimes. \nRecently I started seeing this guy who is the more subdued, responsible type. Our first night together, I was dressed in a colorful skirt, sparkling sandals and green shirt when he told me he thought I was a nerd. I chuckled to myself and thought, "You don't know nuthin' 'bout this." \nSoon afterward, he got the shock of his life when he found out what was in my past. Needless to say, we have never had that conversation again. Now when we talk about my past, he asks, "Is that when you got wild?" and I answer with a smile, "I have always been wild."\nThe point is, fashionistas are a breed of their own. Some call us crazy, but I call us spirited. We love to live life, eat cheesecake and have a martini, all while looking fabulous in colorful dresses. When someone is that visual, there seems to be a distinct personality with the package. Model Jasilyn Morgan calls it a rock star mentality. \n"When you get all dressed up to go out, you want to have fun," she said. \nIt is true. I love getting dressed up in black pants, a designer sweater and door-knocker earrings and getting crunk. One weekend, I think I scared my companions, who didn't think I could dance in heels all night. They swore my feet would be sore. By the time I got done droppin' it like it was hot, smackin' my own ass, screaming, "Ya'll ain't ready!" (all while wearing one Baby Phat earring because I lost the other one while partying) they had changed their minds. I didn't need anyone to dance with me either; I was the star of my own video and everyone else were just an extra. While everyone at Sports was grindin' to "Golddigger," I was "Makin' em Lose Sleep" like Missy Elliot and "Asking for a G Clap" like Jim Jones. I am notorious for dancing to the beat of my own drum -- or should I say fashionistas are notorious for dancing to the beats of their own drums. On top of that, we don't care what other people think. \nWhen we go out with our boyfriends, they are more like chaperones than dates. When we get to drinking and happiness fills the air, we become the ultimate party favor. We love everybody and will shamelessly dance to Madonna in designer heels because the song was written for us. We can't help it if we have spirit and a lot of it. \nWhich brings me to my point. Lately, after the scene at Sports, I realized not many people can handle me and my fashion-ation with life. I tend to scare men and most people away. When the guy I am seeing called me a nerd, I realized like most fashionistas, I have a gift for inauthenticity. We can be anyone at any time. It is when people get to know us they find out we have more clothes than we know what to do with, can drink all night and set the standards for partying. It is a way of life for many of us, because we love to live like rock stars. So I hope I don't scare this one away with my spirited behavior, because if you can hang with a fashionista, we have a knack for making your wildest dreams come true.
(11/10/05 4:56am)
In the midst of a conversation about urban wear and the effects it has on black youth, a friend and I started talking about black fashion in the 1950s. \nWe had a hard time accepting the proper dress our grandparents and great-grandparents adopted in order to gain civil rights. We also had a problem with older black people still trying to force us to adopt this same style of dress. When talking about civil rights and fashion, the generation gap is mind-boggling. I can tell you the arguments I have had about my hair. Though I don't straighten it, I understand why Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. did not wear afros. \nIn the 1950s, when black people were struggling for their civil rights, many used clothing as a form of nonverbal communication to obtain political, economic and social goals. In a time when A-line skirts and cuffed jeans worn with button down blouses were in, black people took it upon themselves to emulate white culture in every way. Even hair was straightened. \n"No white American ever thinks that any other race is wholly civilized until he wears the white man's clothes," Booker T. Washington said.\nBlack people in America knew the power of dress, and an example of a man using dress politically is Martin Luther King Jr. King was nicknamed "Tweedy" in college because of his stylish dress. He wore suits with hand-rolled monogrammed pocket squares with a standard-model fedora hat. His dashing good looks and sense of taste went well with his education and background, so it is no wonder he was picked to be head of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Can you imagine Rosa Parks, a seamstress in the 1950s, refusing to give up her seat wearing an afro and dashiki? The look was not appropriate for the time or situation. When students participated in sit-ins wearing their best clothes, it allowed them to openly defy the system while at the same time communicating a desire to belong. \n"Behind the seams," an article by Robin Givhan in the March 2005 issue of Suede, stated the case beautifully:\n"Fashion was there during all of the lunch counter sit-ins and the March on Washington, when black men and women dressed in their Sunday best to confront the indignities of segregation with grace, pride and solemnity. Style was a kind of armor for the young men and women who first integrated schools and universities. When the quiet students marched past sneering onlookers they were cloaked in traditional all-American style." \nThe traditional clothing of the protestors juxtaposed well-mannered, well-dressed black people with the unjust brutality and ill-mannered behavior of certain white people in the South. \nOn the other hand, once black people obtained their civil rights politically, they had to enforce them socially. I am sure in the 1960s when the Black Panthers stormed white America wearing black turtlenecks, black leather jackets, slim black pants, berets and carrying shotguns, it was a sight for sore black eyes that in previous decades, they had seen their people humiliated on television. The look of the Panthers is still a classic staple among many across the country, and in the black community, a leather jacket worn with a turtleneck is as classic as Jackie Kennedy. My leather jacket is a dark green. \nDonned in dashikis, afros and medallions, being proud and black had probably never felt better, and fashion expressed those exact sentiments. James Brown screamed, "I'm black and I'm proud" in orange bell bottom suits. More clothing choices became available when the Four Tops, the Spinners and the Temptations became popular: Black people no longer needed to make a statement because their style had become mainstream.\nI wonder, were our great-grandparents in awe of our grandparents' and parents' freedom when it came to expressing themselves through clothing? Understanding progress and the importance of fashion today, I can respect the black club women who wore white gloves, hats and church dresses to gain black suffrage; I can respect Malcolm X's suits and bow ties; I can respect Angela Davis' afro. Now when I look at myself in the mirror, and I walk outside in a babydoll dress with ethnic print on the bottom, cuffed jeans, curly puffed-out hair and a pair of Baby Phat door knocker earrings, I realize my style is a direct result of those who came before me. Black club women wore gloves and women in the 1950s straightened their hair so I wouldn't have to.
(11/03/05 3:48am)
Fashion is said to be used as a source of self-expression, but when your self-expression starts to offend others, it's time to pull the plug. \nRecently, controversy reared its head regarding the witty, sarcastic and sometimes offensive phrases on T-shirts. The controversy started about a month ago when a woman boarding an airplane wore a shirt that said "Meet the F-ckers" with pictures of President Bush, Dick Cheney and Condoleezza Rice, according to www.thepoliticalteen.net. Many of the passengers on the plane were offended by both the political message and the crude language, so she was asked to cover the shirt with a sweater. She fell asleep on the plane, and the sweater fell open, exposing the shirt once again, so she was kindly but firmly told she could not take the flight. \nWhen I first heard about the situation, I felt it was an infringement on the passenger's freedom of speech and self-expression. Then I realized airlines are privately owned, and by offending others who have paid money to fly, there was reason enough for her to be asked to leave the plane. This incident has been the first of many concerning offensive phrases on T-shirts, and I agree the issue deserves to be addressed. \nIf you look around at students on campus, you can spot many T-shirts with phrases like "Don't annoy the crazy person," "Pale is the new tan" and "You don't know my name, but your boyfriend does." It begs the question: How far is too far?\nI must admit the phrases are smart and witty but can be very offensive and degrading to certain people. As adults on a college campus, we have a right to wear what we choose, but when the shirts are plainly rude, someone has to say enough is enough. We all know what can happen when freedom of speech is used to spread ugliness and hate. It would break my heart to see a T-shirt that displays something racist or homophobic on a campus of educated adults. \nNow there is an entire movement of female high school and college students protesting T-shirts that degrade women. There was an entire segment about the situation on NBC's "Today Show" featuring girls in high school and middle school protesting shirts with some pretty racy phrases on the front, such as, "Who needs brains when I have these?" "Blondes are adored, brunettes are ignored," "I had a nightmare I was a brunette" and "Gentlemen prefer tig 'ole bitties." \n"This one is clever and witty," said a sarcastic Katie Couric referring to the last phrase. \nI will be the first to admit that upon hearing this I laughed out loud, but if we have to question the appropriateness of T-shirts like these on a college campus, I must say they are definitely inappropriate for the high school age group. Whatever happened to phrases like "Cutie," "Hot stuff" and "Big booty girl?" It would seem that the companies making these shirts have outgrown their consumers. "Abercrombie & Fitch has been the target of criticism in the past for its T-shirt slogans and advertising campaigns, but this time it has upset a portion of its prime audience -- teenage girls," read an Associated Press article titled "Racy T-shirt messages drawing girls' backlash."\nAbercrombie and Fitch should stop offending the consumers who help it earn the bulk of its money. It isn't a very smart business decision. Political views should never be expressed on an airplane -- it is too small of a space -- and freshman girls might be skinny, but upper-class women have experience and something to hold on to.
(10/20/05 5:43am)
Spinning on your head and learning the turtle and "six step" are only a small part of what goes down in the School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation every Tuesday and Thursday night. Chapter IU, a crew of "B-Boys," or break dancers, congregate on the racquetball court to practice moves and teach beginners what it is to pop and lock, uprock and toprock. \nThe club started when members came together at IU from all over the world. \n"We started about two years ago underground or guerilla style," said Ninh Huang, president of Chapter IU. "No one knew about it."\nSince it started, the group has grown from four members to 15. \n"People walk by and end up coming and watching or doing their homework while we practice and that's cool," Huang said. Hip-hop culture is becoming more and more popular on campus, and B-Boy Sunni Ayelle said there are factors that contribute to the ever-growing presence of B-Boys and B-Girls on campus. He said the movie "You Got Served" helped bring "breakin'" into the mainstream.\nThe group encourages people to come and watch it practice in the HPER building Tuesdays and Thursdays. It enjoys the company.\n"We are like a traveling circus," said B-Boy Chris Jeng, also known as Chino.\nMember Daniel Blokbergen said he had no problem finding the group. \n"I found these guys the first week I came here from Italy," he said. Though the dancers have no problem finding members, other challenges arise when they are trying to teach others the art. \n"It's real easy to get people in the crew, but to get them to stay is hard," Huang said. "People come and they want to do power moves, but they are based on a foundation." \nThe foundation on which most of breakin' is built is called the "six step," which involves putting all of your weight on your hands and dancing around them doing complicated footwork. \n"Break dancing isn't something you can do once a week and get it down," Huang said. "We practice at least twice a week." \nThe group uses the more experienced members to help build the club, Jeng said.\n"Ninh, Sunni and I came last semester. We had experience so we could teach people and that is why we are as big as we are," Jeng said.\nCyrus Suleman, the popper and locker of the group, feels he owes a lot to the group. \n"These guys taught me everything I know about bottom," Suleman said. "Everything I know I learned from Chino and Sunni." \nAyelle has been break dancing since he was in eighth grade and took a trip to New York City to watch B-Boys on the street. \n"It was a catalyst that heightened my love for breakin'," he said. "I really didn't learn how to start break dancing until I came to IU." \nHuang has been breakin' for about five years and has embraced different styles of dancing, but he feels break dancing is the best for him.\n"B-Boy is the most dynamic modern dancing you can find," he said.\nAfter practicing on the racquetball court, Chapter IU moves into the gym with pads for practicing power moves like "1919" -- holding yourself up with one hand -- and "2000" -- holding yourself up with two hands. \n"The pads keep you from bruising banana style," Jeng said. "These are dangerous moves." \nThe group is currently practicing for a Nov. 18 battle at Willkie Auditorium. The word on the street is there will be a crew from Ball State University. \n"I know we will bring interesting things to the table that people haven't seen before," Jeng said. "There will be a lot of acrobatics, a lot of choreography and a lot surprises. It is going to be one class act." \nHuang, who is choreographing the performance, is confident in his ability to upstage the competition. \n"A B-Boy always has to be prepared to battle," Huang said. "I am not nervous. I have too much experience to get nervous"
(10/20/05 4:36am)
When students look for affordable and unique furniture, they turn to Bloomington's treasure chests of antique shops. Charmingly lining Kirkwood Avenue and surrounding areas, many of the antique shops offer an eclectic mix of furniture from the 19th century up to the 1950s and '60s that students use to furnish their apartments. Hand-crafted wood chairs, desks and oversized trunks used as coffee tables are just some of the wide variety of items students buy at antique shops. \n"A lot of students pick up used clothing or something to decorate their apartment," said Nancy Garrett, owner of The Garret antique shop. "They will buy a wine rack, small table, chair or desk."\nThe Garret is a two-story shop carrying vintage clothing and richly upholstered furniture, mostly from the 19th century.\n"We try to have something unusual," Garrett said. \nAntique stores offer a variety of clothing, furniture and dishes that are often one-of-a-kind. Summer House, located at 320 S. Walnut St., has an array of colorful dishware from the '50s through the '70s. Green fondue pots, '60s-style highball glasses and green and blue martini glasses are just a few of the pieces sold at the stylish shop. \n"People who shop vintage are those who appreciate things that are unusual," said Summer Walters, owner of Summer House. "People who antique already have a strong sense of style and they don't need mainstream to guide them."
(10/20/05 3:34am)
The fashion industry has a major emergency on its hands with the latest NBA news. Players are now being forced to dress in business casual attire when at NBA events, in the stands at games and talking to the media. Designers are probably sending out samples to Allen Iverson as I type this. Thorstein Veblen was right when he said fashion is as important as sports and politics. \nI feel like the new ruling has been a long time coming. When thinking of a professional man, most people think of a man in a suit, tie, slacks or khakis and nice dress shoes. When most people think of athletes, they usually think of more laid-back attire like sweats and jeans paired with Nikes or Adidas. When you think of professional athletes, that is when the discussion gets fuzzy.\n"Should a player not dress for the game and either sit on the bench or in the stands, he must wear a sport coat over his shirt, with socks and dress shoes or boots. The one caveat is while leaving the arena, they can wear team-issued warm-up suits that are deemed 'neat.' And this is just the start of what is guaranteed to set off a large group of already annoyed players," wrote Mike Khan for Fox Sports News.\nI am a little annoyed because they didn't pass this ruling when Dennis Rodman was in the league because if anyone needed fashion help, it was him. Ironically, he now shows up at Fashion Week.\nI am in total agreement with the new ruling -- well, not in total agreement -- but I understand. As reported in Fox Sports News, David Stern wants the players to dress up in order to be more accessible to the fans and to better represent the NBA. Those are both valid points. Men who are professionals should go to press conferences in the proper attire. A press conference and public appearances are business and should be approached as such. A tweed Ralph Lauren jacket, nice slacks, nice shoes and a Rolex never hurt anyone.\nBut who defines proper dress? When MTV's "Cribs" comes to an NBA player's house, should the player be in a suit? Or can he wear braids, Enyce jeans and a T-shirt because he is in his own home (and us girls find it incredibly sexy)? Would "Cribs" constitute as a public appearance?\nWhen NBA players are in the stands at games should they look like fans or professional athletes? If someone is going to enjoy a game, I believe he has every right to wear sweats, baggy jeans and Timberlands or whatever it is he wants to wear. The media should be focused on the people playing the game, not the players watching. \nIn a conversation about the entire ordeal, one of my friends mentioned basketball legend Michael Jordan and how pimp he looked in his suits. Yes, Michael Jordan did look pimp, but not every NBA player is a Jordan or Dwyane Wade.\nAppropriate dress is required in any situation, but where does the jurisdiction of the fashion police end? The whole situation is a bit scary. You can compare it to a college student who works at the Wells Library and his or her boss saying, "now every time you come into the library, whether you are working or not, you have to dress in business casual." Of course, students do not make as much money or are exposed to the public like NBA players, but to have to enjoy a game in business casual is absurd. Will players no longer be able to wear braids? Will basketball players become regulars at Fashion Week? Who knows, the situation has implications that go beyond the court and closet. Will they hire professional stylists; will college athletes have to be trained in the ways of dress if they are headed to the pros? Will the Sean John suit become a staple in every basketball player's closet? These are questions that are going to have to be answered. Dressing for success takes practice and time.\nNow, not only will players have to answer questions about their game, but "who are you wearing?" will be a favorite among the fashion writers. Maybe this is a blessing in disguise. If basketball players own as many shoes as I have seen them in, a dress code could be Allen Iverson's perfect excuse to dress in Sean John suits, Armani loafers and Versace sweaters for free.
(10/13/05 3:12am)
Finally the weather fits the season, and leaves are turning colors of burgundy and orange to match those gold bags, orange sweaters and brown boots. This season's designers are putting an edge on classics, and fur is back in a big way. \nRecently, I was shopping in College Mall and noticed how much better the clothing selection has become. The full brown skirts and the turquoise blouses in Charlotte Russe are very "in" this season, along with the wide selection of bangles hung on the accessories wall. One of my favorite pieces in Charlotte Russe is the brown baby doll dress with gold embroidered trim. I promptly bought one, and when I got home and found I could wear it as a shirt over jeans or as a sexy dress, I fell in love. For the young and sexy, they also have a wide variety of corsets that I, of course, skipped over until one of the ladies pointed them out. \nI continued my mall adventure and noticed some very stylish furry boots from Report Footwear in the Buckle. I love furry boots, and I have had my eye on the Report boots since August when I saw them advertised in Vogue. When I stumbled across them in the Buckle, I about died. I thought for sure I would have to go home to get them, but since College Mall has come up in its style quotient, it looks like I won't have to. I also fell in love with the Akademiks sweatshirts, Enyce jeans and the Le Tigre gear in the Buckle. It is also carrying the new line of shoes called BED:STU and new stylish Steve Maddens. Men will also be pleased to know MW has some very stylish gear for the season. When you go in, ask about the tweed and brown hoodie-blazer as well as some of its sweaters.\nAs I kept walking, I went into one of my favorite stores, Eddie Bauer. Yes, I know it's very "traditional conservative," but it works. This season, the Bauer collection has gone from traditional to funky and has commissioned the head designer at Tommy Hilfiger to do the fall and winter line. \nIf you are looking for a fresh bag this season, Eddie Bauer has you covered. The stylish brown leather totes are among a few of the bags it is selling this season. The brown suede vest with a fur-trim hood is hot and so are the short bubble coats in shades of black, purple and green. Orange was one of the dominant colors in the fall 2005 collections, and Eddie Bauer has plenty of it. Orange turtlenecks and sweaters adorn the walls and are reminiscent of Thanksgiving gatherings with the family.\n"Blue turquoise, spring's dominant color, has matured into Moroccan blue -- a deep, vibrant teal. Rich browns are also extremely important for fall 2005, from spicy shades like glazed ginger to darker chocolates. Meanwhile, rattan exemplifies yellow's new burnished direction," said Leatrice Eisemen, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute in the Pantone Color Report for fall 2005. \nColor and texture are back in a big way this fall. They inspire hot cocoa, fall walks and being wrapped up in a purple chenille throw.\nEssential pieces for fall are full skirts in cherry, Moroccan blue, brown and purple, sparkling ballerina flats, and anything with a leopard print, such as skirts, shoes and bags. Word to the wise: If you are looking for fur shrugs and leopard print items in Bloomington, shop vintage. Velvet is the chosen texture, and many designers, like Tracy Reese and Cynthia Steffe, used the lush fabric to make embroidered princess coats, skirts and blazers. Even men can wear velvet blazers or pants, which makes this fabric versatile for winter. Tweed is back for an encore, and motorcycle boots go very well with a short denim skirt, gloves and tights. For men, a blazer worn with a hoodie is a must-have and surprisingly, so are suspenders worn with jeans and T-shirts or however you want to wear them. This fall is juiced up with color but wraps you up in texture. Be ready to be cuddled up in rich versions of American classics.
(10/06/05 4:54am)
"Three-year-old children who are starving in third world countries make my clothes," I thought to myself. Clutching a Lacoste bag and clad in an IZOD skirt, I sat in class as the professors referred back to the article in the Monday edition of the Indiana Daily Student, "Group attacks unfair labor." Sweatshops in the fashion industry are as quiet as kept; they are the elephant in the living room. If no one mentions it, it doesn't come up. \nThis week, I have been slammed with the subject of sweatshops and, as a fashionista, I don't know what to say or do. So when the subject came up in class, clad in designer gear, I immediately felt threatened and brought up some very insensitive but true points.\nIn my opinion, sweatshops are terrible. But I don't think groups should target one particular industry or group. Everyone thinks it's just top designers or big names that use sweatshops, but smaller and more affordable apparel companies, like Dockers, and technology companies use them as well. Of course, there is nothing I can say to justify the treatment of employees in sweatshops, but I think there is a lot to consider when confronting the topic. \nThe United States' economic system is based on capitalism and, unfortunately, fashion is capitalism's favorite child. In our society, looks matter. People buy clothes from Kmart because they are affordable and people have to look presentable at work. People have to work to make money. Even if you are buying clothes at Kmart, you have to look good, which brings me to my point: The prices we pay for clothing are directly linked to cost of labor.\nWhen the cost of labor goes up, apparel prices go up; as a result, stores that were once affordable become expensive for all. The problem with sweatshops is they are a result of demand. You can live without computers, you can live without cars, but no shoes, no shirt, no service. Yes, the designers get beaucoup overhead from lines of jeans, but in order for us to have those jeans -- from Wrangler to Sevens -- the designers have to live a certain kind of lifestyle. Art supplies cost money, fabrics cost money and advertising and marketing cost money. \nAs I presented the argument to the IDS, I realized people are very passionate about this issue. So, I propose a strategy to attack the value our society places on designer clothes: Attack the shallow-minded employers that won't hire you unless you look good. Attack the governments in those countries for allowing sweatshops to exist. But don't attack the consumer or University clothing that makes up for less than 5 percent of sweatshop labor. Cutting out our 5 percent will not make much of a difference. If the University halts its relationship with these companies, it will cost IU more money, which in turn will cost students more money. Forty-five dollars for a pair of sweats that say "Indiana University" down the side is already too much for me. Ask me why I don't have a pair. \nI hope the sweatshop situation gets better, and when I become a designer, I plan to pay my employees way more than three cents an hour. I plan on making a change, but attacking IU is not the way to go. If you want to make a change, you have to take action. You have to attack the ideal behind the machine, not just IU. Start bigger. Keep in mind: If it's not the 7-year-old child sewing for three cents an hour, it will be you paying $80 for school spirit.
(09/30/05 6:39pm)
NEW YORK -- Anyone who knows anything about the fashion industry knows that fashion people have a certain way of doing things. We tend to follow social rules not written in any book or pamphlet, but rules that have been passed down to us through years of training.\nThis year at Fashion Week, those social cues were highlighted when everyone received an e-mail titled "Fashion Week Kicks Off with Random Acts of Politeness." The trend was started by Nick Graham, an Englishman and the creator of Joe Boxer, who, I can say from personal experience, is a true gentlemen.\nThe e-mail read, "Be on the lookout for the Random Acts of Politeness team, comprised of 30 handsome men sporting British bowlers and nick(it) suits. The RAP team will open doors, carry packages, hail cabs and dispense tips on the art of politeness to passersby." \nI thought this would be interesting. I wonder how many women know how to behave when a man opens the door for them (always say "thank you"), or when a man hails a cab for her. Being on your Ps and Qs is in style, and other designers followed suit. \nTracy Reese, a designer known for her ultra feminine looks, took inspiration from "The Age of Innocence," a movie adapted by Martin Scorsese (based on a novel by Edith Wharton) about New York love and society and finding your way through the overwhelming maze. It is my favorite movie of all time and I own it on DVD. I would encourage anyone who is interested in fashion to watch it for the costumes, but also for the rules. \nAs models came down the runway in brocade gowns with billowing sleeves in shades of pink and champagne, I couldn't help but notice where fashion is headed. Models showed off their Emily Post posture and pose in rich crème carnation blazers with matching vest and skirts that looked as if they were made of rose petals. Other looks included a vintage white slip with beige lace trim, a buttercup-embellished frock, a citrus peach-tiered tunic with a halter vest and matching skirt with green lace and a peach underlay. As the show went on, the looks became more detail-oriented and romantic. \nIn an age where crude and brash behavior has become glorified, there are many of us who hold fast to the old ways. Manners are back in style as well as knowing how to navigate social cues and drink a glass of champagne. Whenever I take someone to Fashion Week, I always remind them to say please and thank you. This year at the Women's Entertainment magazine stand, one host actually said thank you for saying thank you. In the movie "Age of Innocence," Countess Olenska was an outcast in Old New York, but no one told her. Instead, they accommodated her with the utmost politeness and made sure everyone was comfortable. They even gave her a companion to help her with what can often times feel like a social fog. Rules were enforced by fashion and fashion was also a careful consideration. \nThese rules followed in early 19th-century New York are still alive and well. I feel sorry for people who do not understand them or are completely ignorant of their existence. Social rules matter in the fashion industry. For instance, talking to a man that is romantically interested in you at a show is OK, but only if it leads to a relationship and appearances at parties or other shows. You don't want to appear too available or carefree. If you don't like someone, only badmouth them to your close circle. Other than that, forget his name. Always try to look sophisticated at Bill Blass, Tracy Reese or Ralph Lauren shows, or you will be socially shunned. You can wear white after Labor Day, but only if it looks timeless and elegant. Always sit with your back straight and be as charming as possible. \nThese rules aren't in any book, but I have learned them during a period of time by observation, my mother drilling them into my head or by higher-ups informing me. People always ask how I get into so many shows and I say it's because they know me. Well, it is more than that. It is because they know I say "please" and "thank you." \nI smile even when I have been in line for more than 45 minutes. I am charming and polite, even to the security guards (if you want to get into shows follow that rule), and I don't act as if I am entitled to anything.\nIf you have ever watched or read the "Age of Innocence," you would know part of Countess Olenska's problem in New York is she lived in Europe far too long. She didn't know any social rules, and in New York that equals social death. So, I encourage everyone to smile, save off-handed comments for behind closed doors and always dress for the show. Like in "The Age of Innocence," fashion people have manners. We won't tell your presence is horrid, we don't invite you.
(09/29/05 4:43am)
Two days ago in class I mentioned when a girl goes out to the bars, she tends to wear her "come take me home tonight" blouse and jeans. After the comment, the professor leaned back against his desk and asked, "How many of you wear your 'come take home' outfits when you go out?" All of the girls looked around and no one raised a hand, including myself. Simultaneously a football player looked around and said "Liars."\nLiars indeed!\nBy "come take me home tonight," I mean the low-cut camisole with lace, and dark booty jeans and heels. It could even be more extreme and involve a skirt and legs opening underneath a table. The point is that the sexuality is revealed, but inconspicuously. \nSpeaking for the female sex, I know what men like. If women didn't, the population wouldn't be so out of control. As a woman, I also know fashion has great power when it comes to hanging out with the girls at the bars. If women dressed solely for guys, I don't think fashion would be such a consideration as much as color, individuality and sexiness.\nSo for whom do women dress? Going out to the bars is very social and women tend to go with other women. So the dress is sexy, but not too sexy. When a girl is going to meet a beau or go to an event, she will change to cute girl from a hyper-sexualized version of herself. In my case, when I am with a guy as his companion of some sort, I like to look as feminine as possible. All women know men are highly visual creatures, and as much as we hate to admit it, we like this knowledge because it gives us power. \nOn the other hand, no one wants to be the slut within the girl circle -- or the outcast. Unfortunately, women also use fashion to tear into each other. Fashionista and fashion writer Dena Downham lives by the rule that women should shop alone. Friends can be more than critical of what one woman picks out. You could pick out a champagne brocade skirt and look totally hot, but your friends or mother will say you won't. They will encourage you to buy something that reflects their taste more than your own. More times than not, you look crazy. The embroidered skirt is out the window, but military green pants are hot. Not the heel, but the ballerina flat. Most people who know if you are going to buy clothes for me, it would be wise to give me the money so I can buy them myself. \nShopping alone gives women the liberty to pick out something they genuinely like and makes them feel confident. I would rather dress for men and me. I love fashion, so I dress how I like it. I like men, so low-cut shirts in sparkly colors are also in my closet. As much as I like hanging out with the girls, I love being able to express my independence through dress. I believe there is power and dress, and women should accept that power and use their resources.
(09/22/05 4:20am)
When it comes to writing about fashion every week, I try to be as careful as possible. I have realized that fashion has the power of money; it can influence people like a president and it can get you high like the biggest hit of opium. Fashion can have such an amazing hold over people for different reasons. Fashion is its own drug. It can make people spend money they don't have, spend other people's money, steal or sell their own body.\nIn class Tuesday, a girl said she knows a woman that would buy a Fendi bag instead of paying her electric bill, even though she has children. Sounds like a crackhead to me. Fashion addicts will wear fur in the summer and will smoke anything they think will get them high. Like many fashion addicts, sometimes quality goes completely out the window and whatever catches their eye is going on their back. They are like the Romantics of the 19th century, always seeking novelty to satisfy their insatiable appetites. \n"Unlike the dandy, however, the bohemian seeks out pleasure while relinquishing comfort (the bohemian frequently lives in poverty) and looks for new experiences by which to indulge in the senses. This mentality is not limited to the Romantic bohemian, who is essentially an outsider, but spread across the 18th and 19th centuries stimulating a new taste among the middle classes for novelty which is the basis for modern fashion and consumption" (Entwhistle, "Fashion and Identity").\nShopping can often have the same effects as a nice piece of Ethel M.'s Kosher chocolates. It is the highest of the high. I was with someone listening to fashionable music I brought back from New York City, and he ended up burning all of my CDs and calling it HOTSHIT. I thought, "They better not start knocking on my door at 1 a.m. asking, 'What's up?'"\nWhen I go to report on Fashion Week, I sometimes feel like a drug runner or a pusher. \nSometimes you have to be low key about your fashion stash and what you have. The haters out there are like cops. Sometimes the biggest critics are the ones that read my column every Thursday. The worst thing about it is they don't know they are addicted. They are simply oblivious to their addiction, which brings me to my point. \nI have seen and heard of the fashion game bring a lot of people down. For instance, Michael Vollbracht, head designer for Bill Blass, was caught up in the game, published a book saying some pretty bad things about some big people and ended up dropping out of the game or going into fashion rehab. I also know people right here on this campus who spend money they do not have or aren't willing to work for to get designer bags, Prada shoes and Victoria's Secret underwear. This is completely useless considering fashion always changes, but like any addiction, the first step is admitting you have a problem. Like any pusher, I take pride in knowing I am not addicted to my product and am therefore getting the maximum reward. I can stay focused on doing my job without always needing a hit. So, to all those junkies out there: Use your fashion responsibly.
(09/12/05 4:36am)
NEW YORK -- Fashion Week took a surprisingly laid-back turn compared to past seasons. Fashionistas from around the globe came to the tents at Bryant Park not overly dressed, but in jeans, pleated skirts and flip-flops. Designers such as Tomer and Nick Graham, creator of Joe Boxer, made bowler hats in for this season, as well as next season. Celebrity appearances have been sparse, but the shows went on.
(09/01/05 5:25am)
A guy once told me he couldn't date me because I like "fanciful shit." The comment sent me into a deep reflection that still isn't over. \nI like fanciful things (to be classy about it). What fanciful things? I thought about it. I like operas, clothes, hip hop and jazz, babies, good food and a good party. OK, I am like any other woman. Pigs will fly before I work on a farm or become a part of a fire department. I am not knocking women who enjoy those types of things; that just ain't me. \nWomen have been made to feel ashamed of being ultra femme or even just feminine. No hips, no fashion, no pleasure. I love the song "I Love Being A Girl" (by Tamperer), and I always will. There is nothing wrong with buying clothes if you are willing to work for a living. Should women feel ashamed of wanting to feel pretty?\nWhen you think about it, "pretty" is pretty expensive. There's the Lancôme silk lotion, the shopping, the wine and about five other activities -- legal and illegal -- fashion people dabble in. Yes, it seems like I'm describing women who have ducked adult responsibility in favor of sex, clothes and endless parties. There might be some truth to that, but it's hard work.\nPulling from my limited experience, I don't know one fashionista who doesn't work hard. In my opinion, Paris Hilton works hard, and she also has bills to pay. While we enjoy men buying us cute shoes or fur shrugs (hint, hint), we also enjoy working for it. Any woman with a passion for fashion will tell you we hate to sit around and wait for the deep magenta circle skirt with embellishments on the bottom. We want it now, and we will work for it. Any lady who is into fashion knows independence is essential.\nI pull inspiration from older, more seasoned women who are into fashion. There is my mentor at Ralph Lauren for telling me to add fuel to the fire, Tracy Reese for her beautiful clothing made for the ultra femme, Foxy Brown for her acceptance of her penchant for Gucci and her hot sexuality, one of my professors for saying we were not taking a final on a Friday evening followed by, "It just is not going to happen," and my grandmother for telling me that if I want something, I should get it.\nSo bring on all the fanciful things, the Lolita Lempicka perfume, the motorcycle boots and the nights at Tutto Bène. Just remember I am independent, so if you don't buy dinner, I will find another guy to do it.
(08/25/05 4:56am)
Ah yes, another semester is about to begin, and IU has so much to brag about. Not only did we receive the title of "Hottest Big State School" by Newsweek, but we also received the No. 4 most fashionable school in the Women's Wear Daily Big Ten ranking. \nThis is quite an accomplishment considering the first time IU was featured in the magazine, we received honorable mention. Making the top five sounds good to me, especially when you consider what we were up against. \nOf course, that ranking didn't just happen by itself. There are so many people on this campus that contributed. Fashion has taken a surprising turn on this campus, and now showstoppers can be seen everywhere.\nEach day some girl or guy wakes up and decides, "I am going to turn heads and take numbers." It may come out of nowhere, or this person could be a regular fashionista, but looking good on campus has become a priority. \nNot to say it should come before books and booze, but creating a fashion moment can be quite the self-esteem booster. Last semester, when I waltzed into my sociology class wearing fur boots, tight black pants, a men's IZOD sweater, a huge FUBU coat and Baby Phat earrings, I stopped the show. I failed the test, but I looked damn good doing it. Though sometimes fashion can consume us and drive us to do the most ridiculous of things, it is these moments that keep us coming back for more. \nThis semester I hope to see more of us creating moments. Who can resist the feeling of everyone gasping in delight when you walk into a classroom? Even the most unfashionable of us know what it is like when people can't stop telling us how good we look. Yes, it feels good, and that is why fashion drives us all. From college students to college professors, everyone loves looking fabulous in their favorite pair of jeans or designer shirt.\nFor the start of the school year, I encourage everyone to stop the show at least once. Encourage each other -- shout "Get' em girl" when you see a prize piece strutting on campus or out at the club. Own the feeling of looking fabulous and loving it. Indiana Daily Student photographers will be on the prowl taking pictures of those thoroughbreds stomping to class and hanging out with their friends. When you create a fashion moment, you are also creating a fashion memory. \nSo on occasion when you don't feel quite so stunning, you can look back and say "I owned the catwalk that day." Who knows -- next May we could even have our own fashion magazine and rank ourselves No. 1.
(07/07/05 10:05pm)
When Stevie Jay performed his comedy show "Life, Love, Sex, Death ... And Other Works in Progress" in front of an audience at IU three semesters ago, he left an imprint on the minds on junior Michael Malone and sophomore Evan Merida. Since, then the duo has made it their paramount objective to bring Stevie Jay and his candid tales back to IU.\nTonight their hard work will pay off when Stevie Jay hits the stage to perform at Whittenberger Auditorium at 8 p.m. Malone and Merida believe the appeal of Stevie Jay's show is that he speaks frankly about sexual issues. \n"Needless to say, there is so much grief about sex nowadays -- and it's ridiculous and tragic -- because it's distracting us from what really matters. (It's) as if intimate relationships weren't already difficult enough for all people," Stevie Jay said. "It's a universal struggle, and as far as I'm concerned, the key question that needs to be explored is not whether one loves a man or a woman, but whether one loves at all."\nAfter the success of Stevie Jay's first show, which was sponsored by the Union Board, Malone and Merida expected the Board to bring him back. However, Union Board policy prohibits hiring the same act two years in a row -- and Stevie Jay had just performed during the 2003-04 school year.\nMerida remembers his actions immediately following Stevie Jay's first show and the miscommunication about his next appearance.\n"I signed up for Stevie's e-mail list that night. He sent his fan-base a note that he was planning to come back to Bloomington. When I wrote Union Board to thank them for bringing him back, I was told that there had been a miscommunication," Merida said. "...that they would bring Stevie back were it not for their policy which prohibits hiring the\nsame act in consecutive years."\nBut Stevie Jay learned of their desire, and he introduced the boys. Together they joined forces, raising money to bring Stevie Jay back to IU.\n"Michael and I met in the Main Library and shared our stories about Stevie's show, and within 15 minutes of meeting Michael, I was convinced that we would make this happen -- that Stevie would be back at IU this year," Merida said.\nFrom there they devised a plan to bring Stevie Jay back to IU, asking campus organizations to contribute money. Many did, including IUSA, which donated $500 more than the students asked for. They emphasized Stevie Jay's honesty along with his lack of discrimination.\n"Stevie Jay's (show) completely twists society's beliefs about a number of controversial topics in America today and leaves you feeling at peace with your soul after the curtains close," Malone said. "Yes, Stevie Jay is a wonderful comedian with some hilarious jokes and outrageous language at times, but even deeper than that -- he touches each audience member with a sense of vibrancy and honesty."\nMalone said one of the things Stevie Jay does best is bring up topics rarely discussed in society.\n"We all have our inner thoughts and deep secrets we do not share with people, and Stevie Jay expresses his inner thoughts and deepest secrets in a way none of us can," Malone said.\nThe students' plan worked. Stevie Jay appears tonight with support from multiple campus groups that were interested in the students' cause. Whittenberger Auditorium was donated free of charge by the IU Student Association, the cost of printing posters and flyers was donated by the IU Health Center and Chancellor Ken Gros Louis made a huge monetary pledge, making up nearly half of the donated proceeds. IUSA matched Gros Lois' contribution and then topped it within 12 hours of\nbeing asked to help out.\n"Chancellor Ken Gros Louis was the first to answer our call for help," Merida said. "He offered $4,000 to get us started toward our fund-raising goal of $10,700 and helped us establish a financial account through the Office of the Chancellor."\nThe team's efforts truly proved fruitful when they began to receive help from multiple organizations on campus.\n"Shortly thereafter the fund raising snowballed, and Michael and I were able to meet our goal with the additional help of Beta Theta Pi fraternity, the Commission on Multicultural Understanding, Indiana University Student Association, the IU Health Center, GLBT Student Support Services, the Office of Diversity Education and the Kinsey Institute's Sexuality Information Service for Students," Merida said.\nStevie Jay commends Malone and Merida for working diligently to bring him back to IU.\n"Here are two students who aren't even involved in programming. (They) are showing the world that it's possible to set aside differences and get to the heart of what matters in life: respect and human kindness," Stevie Jay said. "This is profound, given the issues facing our country right now around sex and sexual orientation. What Michael and Evan have done is rare and vital, and couldn't have come at a more crucial time -- for all of us"
(04/28/05 5:25am)
This is my last column of the year, and I must conclude fashion has been good to IU. Wednesday, in class, sophomore Laura Steichen asked me if I knew when the Women's Wear Daily college edition was hitting the stands and I told her around May 1. I must say, from the feedback I have received from WWD, I think IU will get a very good review. Not that we need WWD to tell us we look good, but it wouldn't hurt. \nLooking back at this year and this semester, we have come a long way. We went from tiered mini skirts in September to now wearing the A-line skirt. We saw UGGs come in, go out and come back into to style again. Coach bags in every color design and size possible and now everyone wants purple hair, including myself. Even the ballerina slippers were seen in every color and style imaginable. \nI was really happy to see so many fashion shows going on this semester that the arts desk didn't have enough people to cover them. Five student fashion shows were held this semester, and from what I hear and saw, they were very good. It is no surprise David Yassky, WWD fashion editor, was so impressed with our fashion design students. Kate Bondurant, a senior majoring in fashion design through the Individualized Major Program, designed a collection inspired by Russia, which was designer Cynthia Steffe's inspiration for fall 2005. Senior Carol Coelho blew her audience away with her intricate beading and feather design, while senior Kristi Carter looked back at the 1950s, almost the same concept of the AMO show. What can we say? Our fashion design students are on point. \nI have seen a lot of things this semester, but the best ones were things I wasn't supposed to see. One of the greatest moments for the Indiana Daily Student and fashion at IU was when staff Writers Mallory Zalkin, Jaqueline Klein, Photographer Christopher Farrar and I got into the Zac Posen show, and when Farrar and I got into "Project Runway." The most interesting moment is when IDS Managing Editor JP Benitez wore capris to work. I wish everyone could have seen that one. Wow, was it funny! \nThis semester we found out professional male models and female models hang out and go to school at IU, but also something more important: though racial tension tends to divide our campus year after year, I learned fashion has an amazing magnetism that will bring everybody together regardless of race or creed.\nCollege students attending school during the 2004-2005 school year were lucky to be able to enjoy the most fashionable CD drop, which is of course Gwen Stefani's solo album "Love. Angel. Music. Baby." Queen Gwen takes us from after-school fights on "Holla Back Girl," back-seat make-outs in "Bubble Pop Electric," fashionable and rich in "Luxurious" and all the way to the fashionable part of town in Japan in "Harajuku girls." But the most valuable lesson on the album came when she and Andre 3000, the most fashionable male in hip-hop, team up to explore interracial relationships on "We Have A Long Way To Go." The song is a testament that, though we might be young, beautiful and fashionable, there is work that still needs to be done, and who better to do it than those with style?
(04/21/05 6:21am)
We were finally free when Christian Dior introduced the "New Look" in 1947. The hourglass silhouette was produced in the form of an A-line skirt that emphasized the cinched waist and bellowed out, allowing women to walk freely. It is no surprise that now in the spring of 2005, the A-line skirt is back and is appearing everywhere on campus. The skirts vary in color and texture, but the free-flowing full skirt is dominating sidewalks of almost every city. \nI can imagine the reaction of all the women of the world when Dior introduced his creation right after World War II, when all of the men had just come home and hormones were racing like crazy. I would think the feminine charm of the skirt was exactly what the men and women needed after such a decade of brutality. Indeed, what they needed was excitement, and Christian Dior delivered it in a collection of luxurious clothes with soft shoulders, wasp waists and full-flowing skirts intended for what he called "flower women." Read "Christian Dior," an article at www.designmuseum.org. \nExcitement and freedom from restriction is exactly what women need this spring as well. As I watch women everyday in white linen and cotton A-line skirts, enjoying the light breeze that feels so good on hot days, I can't help but say Christian Dior was a genius -- he was so ahead of his time. I don't know one woman who can deny wearing a knee-length A-line skirt on sweltering days and praying for a breeze. It just feels so good between your legs. Sometimes you can even spot us sitting down with our legs wide open, using our skirts as tents, because the breeze feels so good. The A-line skirt is the perfect length for sitting down and enjoying a nice breeze -- it's the female version of the dog in the Sprite commercial. \nAlthough the silhouette can seem homogenous with everyone taking advantage of its simple, functional cut, designers are offering it in bright colors with decorative patterns, paintings and beading. One of my favorite sources for the A-line skirt is www.Anthropologie.com, which features an array of A-line skirts and dresses in a plethora of colors and patterns. Patterns are bohemian in bright colors reminiscent of saris or Asian prints. \n"An embroidered skirt with multicolored flowers lined in salmon pink, mauve, green, optical white or orange-red." said Luca Orlandi of Luca Luca in the "Pantone Fashion Color Report Spring 2005." \nNot only should the skirt say, "I am languishing in the wind," but it should also say, "I am on fire." The look is best worn with gold or silver sandals that wrap around the ankle or flip-flops. You can pair the skirt with many different tops, including a halter top, a long-sleeved shirt or a tank long enough to come down over the skirt. You even can dress it up with a pair of 3-inch heels and a dressy top. I wore my white A-line skirt with black strappy Aerosoles heels, a blue wrap sweater and a matching camisole to the NAACP banquet, and I got nothing but compliments. In the May 2005 issue of Glamour, the A-line style dress was deemed "the dress that looks good on everyone" and shows models from size 2 to size 14 in a black A-line dress from Ann Taylor. Women, admit it -- the way it hides our thighs is like the eighth wonder of the world, a miracle for so many of us. The A-line skirt is limitless -- you can even wear a flowered or embroidered spring coat to cover up on really windy days. Try Banana Republic, Cactus Flower or Talbots for the spring coat. \nSo there you have it: Christian Dior was a genius, and his high fashion intelligence has yet to be challenged. Who would have thought that in the year 2005 the A-line skirt would be a must-have? Who could have imagined that the A-line skirt meant so much, peace, freedom and versatility; the very idea which parallels the pursuit of human happiness. So the next time you jump up on a hot day and put on an A-line garment, thank Christian Dior for being the wind beneath the skirt.
(04/20/05 5:03am)
Sequence costumes, energetic dance numbers and amazing singing are just a few ways to describe "Pal Joey," the last musical of the season. \nThe first scene of "Pal Joey," which takes place in a night club, is surprisingly bare to anyone expecting a razzle-dazzle musical, but that atmosphere quickly changes during the song "You Mustn't Kick It Round." Sophomore Rebecca Faulkenberry, who plays Gladys Bumps, a dancer and singer at the night club, introduces the audience to her robust voice and ignites the action. From there, the excitement and energy gets better and better. \nThe musical flows from song to song, as we see Joe Evans, played by senior Colin Donnell, pass up Linda English, played by graduate student Vanessa Ballam Brenchley -- who very well could be the love his life -- for "Ms. Money Bags" Vera Simpson, played by graduate student Allison Batty. \nThe musical takes place in late-1930s Chicago, and the cast did a wonderful job of recreating the setting with accents, tough attitudes and Donnell's playboy-slick look. The costumes made the musical even more believable, especially the wardrobe of the chorus and Vera Simpson. Simpson was decked out in satin dresses with fur trim, a green frock with a feathered hat to match and a white satin gown with feather trim. Batty portrayed the part of the lonely rich wife looking for attention very well. Although her character is supposed to lack any real depth or feeling, her vulnerability surfaces in Act 1 when she performs "Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered." The moment is short-lived, however, and soon the empty rich wife returns and becomes Joe's sugar mama. \nThe play lends itself to audience participation, especially during scenes when Joe practices his night club act -- the audience of the Ruth N. Halls Theatre laughed at his jokes and encouraged his performances. Joe, whose dream is to become a hot night club emcee, uses Vera's money to buy new clothes, a new apartment and ultimately a new life. His new life finally comes together at the end of Act 1 during the performance of "Pal Joey (What Do I Care for a Dame?)." \nIn this performance, the costume design and technical crew come together to create a spectacle rare among students. The female chorus members come out in feathered headdresses and sparkling costumes that look like something out of a Las Vegas revue, and lights and costumes make it more like a Broadway show than a student play. The dancing was high energy, and Donnell showed the audience his star power when he and the male chorus performed a number that made the audience clap before it was finished. Although the script did not call for a male chorus, after seeing the musical, you can't imagine it without one. The scene was performed with female chorus members as well, but it was the tap dancing by the male chorus members that blew the audience away. Their high kicks brought the house down. \nThe second half of the musical quickly wrapped things up, but not before another lively performance by the chorus of "The Flower Garden of My Heart." It seemed to pick up where Act 1 left off with dancing, brightly colored costumes and chorus girls wearing hats shaped liked flowers. The scene served more as comic relief than anything else, as female chorus members were pushed around by male chorus members on flower pots while they held on for dear life. After the dancing, things go downhill for Joe, whose so-called friends plan to blackmail him while Vera Simpson begins to lose interest. The audience is left to wonder if Joe will ever find love or if he will be forever haunted by his small taste of the sweet life.