FINE ARTS FASHION
AND MORE
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[shif-on kuhl-er]
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Dance. Dress. Design
Artist Makes a Cardboard McMansion
plus:
WHY FASHION ISN’T RUBBISH!
Watch Out For Those Pants on the Ground Dancing With Her Heart in Mind Show Me the Money
This Magazine Contains
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Fashion
Dress Codes Vs. Uniforms: No Comment 42 Fashion Math 41 Pull Your Pants Up, Son! 38 The World Without Fashion 44 Top 12 Fashion Don’t: The Female Edition 32
Fine Arts
Crayon Wars 12 Dancing to the Beat of Her Drum 28 Everybody has to Dance to Their Own Drum 31 History of Jazz 26 More Than Just a Cal 24 Taking a Bow 8 Thinking Inside The Box 18
Brain Food
Couleur Range 6 From the Mind of the Author 7 June Inspiration 2 What Art Are You 16
theEVENTSpallete What’s hoppin’ in June
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6/3/10 • First Thursday. South Congress
• Becky’s New Car. Zach Theater
6/4/10 • Chumbo Project: Big Chief Kevin. Ruta Maya
6/6/10
6/14/10
• Free Sunday Concerts by the Austin Symphony
• Project Chumbo: A two hour class on bead work. Ruta Maya.
• Star Wars in Concert. Frank Erwin Center.
6/19/10
6/6/10
• Juneteenth parade
6/25/10
• Coppelia. The Long Center. • Making Movies exhibit. Harry Ransom Center.
6/27/10
• Last day of Ruben Herera exhibit. Mexic-arte Museum.
• Texas Sculptor Society exhibit
• Wizard of Oz musical. Bass Concert Hall Photos By: Creative Commons
theCOULEURpallete
Anastasia A. Anastasia A. is a typical teenager who loves to match the colors of her clothes as well as looking cute. Fashion and “doing me” is one of the many joys in her life. She is quiet but loud, goofy but serious, energetic but calm and just an all around fun person to be around. She teamed up with the rest of the fashion, dancing, artsy, team confetti teens and created Chiffon Couleur for teenagers just like them.
Sofia D. Sofia D. hasn’t seen sunlight for the past semester and instead has been working on Chiffon Couleur. On her free time, she often ponders about constructing a house of pure gingerbread hoping that small children will visit her and befriend her. She boasts about her best friend, Chung Ling Soo, and sometimes refers to herself as Janice. Such is life.
Mikisa H. Everybody knows her as the loud, crazy girl in LASA. You can hear her from a mile away. You will most likely never see her in a bad mood. And she’s very energetic. Fine Arts is her life and she enjoys every minute of it. Well…this year she joined Team Confetti in creating a fashion/ fine arts magazine titled Chiffon Couleur. She enjoyed every minute of working on this magazine and is ready to share it with you.
Isabel M. When you say hello to Isabel M., it’s like biting into a molten hot, dark chocolate lava cake. Intermixed with the liquid chocolate are hard crunchy pieces, bits of chocolate that weren’t efficiently crushed up. These pieces represent the specks of crazy inside Isabel, that sometimes rise to the surface. She is not married. She does not have kids. She does not live in New York City.
Photos By The Chiffon Couleur Team
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Couleur Range
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BY: ISABEL M .
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1. Pink Scarf 2. Chuck Taylor Converse 3.Twinkle Toes T-Strap, Modcloth.com 4. Saguaro Scarf, Modcloth.com 5.Jazz Feet Shoe, Modcloth.com 6. Tea Rose Bow Clutch, Fredflare.com 7. Rubber Boots, Marc Jacobs 8. Fist Backpack 9.Squidlet!, Shanalogic.com 10. Flower Scarf 11. Bubble Ring 12. Purple Ring 13. Little Kitty Pocket Mirror, Shanalogic.com 14. Lego Barrette 15. Prim and Paisley Scarf, Modcloth.com 16. Deena & Ozzy Scallop Lace Skimmer, Urbanoutfitters.com Photos By: Creative Commons And Isabel M.
From the MIND of the AUTHOR * Greatest and Worst BY: SOFIA D.
Steerpike (Titus Groan, Gormenghast): You are more than a villain, an evil renaissance man gifted with everything that no one else could have except for power. You may have lost big, but you are still victorious as you tear the reader’s ideas and morals apart.
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Bella (Twilight): Please Bella, really? Talk about dating someone for the wrong reasons. You should have run.
Harry Potter (Harry Potter series): I admit Potter, you got a pretty cool backstory, but could you ease up on the grumpiness?
Bilbo Baggins (The Hobbit): Oh Bilbo! If only everyone could be as daring as you. Well done, you managed to walk out your front door.
4
Don Quixote (Don Quixote): I don’t think you’re crazy and even if you are, you do whatever you want. Don’t let anyone bring you down; you’re a great character. Lirael (Abhorsen, Lirael): I’m very sorry you have a horrible life, but you got to do what you got to. Moping doesn’t get you anywhere!
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5 Photos By: Creative Commons
Taking a Bow
Freshman Alina Vega has been doing theater since first grade. It’s more than a favorite hobby.
BY: SOF I A D.
“W
ild Boar Cast.” The director gives out instructions as half a dozen teenagers bustle in position. He turns on the stereo and they begin to artfully swing their arms and twirl. Then, they hear their queue and all crouch in a synchronized fashion. All, but a girl with wavy blond hair. She’s wearing a black tee saying “Zach Showstoppers”, dark denim skinny jeans and bright yellow high top converse. She stands up, walks from the chorus and begins to sing. She has become Haumea. For ninth grader Alina Vega, this is nothing out of the ordinary. In first grade, Alina started her first class with
the Zachary Scott Theater. This camp started her off in her theatrical career. Now, at only 14 years old, Alina has already done a range of shows including, Wanda’s World, Into the Woods and now, Call it Courage, approximately 1.5 hours long and consisting of 20 actors and two casts. But for her theater is more than just a favorite past time; it is a dream. As the rest of the actors chat excitedly between songs, Alina sits hunching over an open script, observing it and savoring it. Alina hopes to go to The University of Cincinnati (UC), considered one of the most prestigious theater programs in the country. Call it Courage director Adam Roberts even has an expression saying that at least two
Photo By: Sofia D.
(Right) Alina Vega acts out Hamuea in Call it Courage. She played the main character’s mother. (Below) Alina Vega performs a scene in Wanda’s World. It opened two years ago.
“ “ One day in this
environment is
enough for me to fall in love with it. And if you it this much, you’re to do it.
actors in any given Broadway show are from UC, because of how successful its actors turn out to be. This is where she hopes to fulfill her dream. For now, Alina spends her time at The Zachary Scott, rehearsing the latest scene and perfecting the latest dance. “I have to believe that I can,” Alina said. Alina started her first Zachary Scott show in seventh grade when the Zach Showstoppers program started. Here, teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15 years old audition. Those who get in, receive in depth and intensive theatrical training. Later in the year, the theater hosts a musical comprising all teenagers. Anyone can audition, but Showstoppers are guaranteed a spot. “When I got the letter in the mail saying I was accepted, I was like, oh yeah!” Alina said. “ It just escalated from there.” Alina still remembers the moment after her first show at the Zachary Scott and said it was one of the most sat-
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 10
FINE ARTS
isfying parts about theater. “[It was] the first time I stood under the hot stage lights and I sweated on stage and I was about to collapse from dancing,” Alina said. “Also the first time I had someone cheer for anything big and it felt great.” But Alina’s theatrical bliss has run into roadblocks. Since rehearsals are six hours long every Saturday and Sunday, she said that dealing with homework has been a challenge for her. Alina even stays awake until 3:00 a.m. at times finishing her work. In the end though, she said it’s all worth it. “Tech week is an absolute monster,” Alina said. “I also had a huge test in Algebra II that week, and I sort of fail at math anyway, but that unit was especially bad. I had a whole lot of trouble with my review sheets that week.” Also, with every theatrical performance comes something called tech-week, a week usually before the show where the director adds in lights, sounds and the special Photos By: Kirk R Tuck
FINE ARTS
Being able to manipulate facial expressions is one of the most important parts about threat one: acting. Singing isn’t from the throat, but from the diaphragm. Knowing this is the first step to mastering threat two.
effects. Alina said it is the most stressful and difficult week in theater “Rehearsals get really intensive and long,” Alina said. “Tech weeks are worse. It’s slow due to stage mishaps, sound, light, and costumes malfunctions.” Despite tech-week and homework, Alina said that she enjoys being at the Zachary Scott theater and considers herself a part of it. “One day in this environment is enough for me to fall in love with it. And if you love it this much, you’re meant to do it,” Alina said. “I have met so many people and made so many friends. I couldn’t back out if I wanted to.” One friend, actor Saara Hassoun recalled the qualities that she said Alina brings to the Zachary Scott. “She is not afraid of doing weird and crazy things,” Hassoun said. She bends her arms and pulls her hands to her chest like a dog begging for table scraps. “She has this thing she calls the dinosaur. It’s hilarious.”
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 11
:
Whether its singing, acting or dancing, there is no doubt that musical theater requires a range of skills needed to overcome any Broadway audition.
The art of dancing, threat three can take years to master and involves coordination and balance.
For Roberts, director of Call it Courage and who has worked with Alina in Wanda’s World, these qualities are seen in a more professional light. “[She brings] professionalism, dedication, [and an] amazing work ethic,” Roberts said. “[She brings] a real sensibility and understanding of her character and how it relates to the musical theater.” Alina has been in the last four Zach Scott shows as well as at other venues such as Jewish Community Center. At rehearsals she says she loves learning about theater history and being with the other actors. After the show, and the weeks of rehearsal, Alina says she finds her final rapture in self-satisfaction. “So many people would say they love what is produced but it goes deeper on a personal level,” Alina said. “But it’s fulfilling something you love. It’s awesome; it’s so cool being better at something.” Fin.
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Photo By: Sofia D.
Wars Why the arts are dying in schools
BY: SOFIA D. ext time you go school shopping with your little sister or brother, keep an eye on them. They might just be trying to sneak a pack of crayons in the cart. Or worse, they might be trying to act artistic when creativity is currently being driven down the drain pipe in schools. Shame on them. According to a 2009 report by the Austin American Statesman, in 2010-11, Art, Music and PE classes will be cut out of all elementary schools in Austin. All across the country, the once thriving theater, music, and visual arts classes have been boarding it up and hitting the road. These classes that have been part of United States education since the 1870’s are now falling apart. For example, according to Southwest Journal, Washburn High School in Minneapolis will completely cut its music program, and in Toledo, Ohio one district is firing all art positions because of this sudden shortage of funding. Due to a policy called No Child Left Behind that was implemented during the Bush administration that economically punishes schools that do badly on standardized tests such as the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) and rewards schools that show academic progress, art classes sadly, are no longer are as prominent as they used to be. Schools should not get rid of these art classes. These classes may not be following the curriculum of a TAKS tests that asks tediously to fill in bubble after bubble of scantron, or that asks the student
FINE ARTS CHIFFON COULEUR-- 12
to know a short explanation about how fossils are formed, but the art classes are beneficial to maintaining emotional health and skills as well as the bright face of the girl with the yellow crayon. The House and Senate, who give funding to schools as well as the superintendents and principals who divide the funds argue that these classes cannot live with the limited funding. If little funding is given to the schools, it makes sense to these funding organizers to give most money to core curriculum to battle standardized tests. With the hard hit recession narrowly escaping depression, the budget has been going dry. Schools would prefer to spend the money on core curriculum materials such as textbooks, Elmo Projectors or Ti-84 calculators. Also, many middle and high schools that are low performing run on block schedule so that the core classes occupy more time during the day. This prepares for the standardized tests, but as a result can cut down the number of electives, thus shortening time for art. But the organizers are missing an important part of the fine/art classes. It isn’t how well you can cram information into mankind’s big noggin or whether you can properly factor an equation and use these factors in the real world, it is the mere joy of pressing the triangular shaped record button and seeing your work and ideas flow out of your heard and into the memory of the camera. It is simply bliss. Whenever I walk into an art class, the air changes from something like stale water to a Willy Wonka fizzy
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 13 FINE ARTS
“
We evolve and domesticate, but we also have a history of story telling, that goes back thousands of years. . .
lifting drink. The classes are stimulating and motivate students who suffer to keep up with science or history class to come to school. These classes also help develop the necessary skills to do better in the core classes. An example is something called the Mozart Effect studied by the Indiana University showing that listening to 15 minutes of music by Mozart improves spatial temporal intelligence, a key skill in math and engineering that enables the brain to mentally visualize spatial patterns. In this way, if I were to say the word cylinder a cylinder may pop into your head and I were to ask you to look at is base, you might imagine the circular area that forms exactly the same cylinder’s base. It is suggested that spatial intelligence may be connected to another art form, writing. In writing, spatial intelligence is used in imagery. For example, if I were to describe a tree, I would first imagine the tree in my mind, and then describe and think about its long gnarled branches, thick trunk that shoots 50 feet up into the sky, and crunchy olive colored leaves. Another example is theater, where students gain confidence and improve communication and have fun in the process. Speaking on stage makes a person more conscious of how they talk. Even those who are shy must battle this fear and address the audience in a monologue, song or dramatic exchange between actors. It seems strange as well that the organizers–that is the ones responsible for allocating money to different areas of the
”
A student plays the violin in a concert. Orchestra is one of the major fine arts activities in high school. (Left to right) Photo By: Creative Commons and Brentwood Baptist Church
FINE ARTS
(Left) Esperanza High School student in Anaheim, California makes a fire hydrant. It won first place in an art contest. (Middle) The Jonesborough Theater in Tennessee presents a student play. The theater hosted a story telling event with and included a show by the theater. (Right) A student art piece is featured at the Queens Museum of Art. This is the museum’s third year to feature student art work.
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 14
FINE ARTS
school such as Principals, and Superintendents–honor artists like Pablo Picasso, William Shakespeare and Frédéric Chopin, yet they are more than willing to cut the classes that honor them the most. In English, for instance, students may read a Shakespearean play such as Romeo and Juliet, yet as theater classes are being cut, the students don’t see the play or perform in one as the play was intended. Thus, the stereotypical image of boredom from reading these classic plays, not because of the content, but because of how it’s presented. Perhaps, the fine arts classes could help specifically to interest the set of students who are not engaged and performing low on tests and help improve the scores on these tests. Schools should divide funding and provide more money for fine arts classes from the core classes. More importantly, core classes could also try to implement creativity more to engage students, improve skill building, and create wellrounded individuals. Instead of seeing the core classes and the arts as a radi-
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 14
cal difference such as the difference between black and white, they should blend them together and create a new shade that uses creativity to help students understand difficult concepts and expose them to different art forms. The education system should also be about producing well-rounded individuals instead of graduates with a head full of facts, but lacking the art and culture that had been expressed since the time of our ancestors. As humans, we defy all other species on the planet because we create. We evolve and domesticate, but we also have a history of storytelling, that goes back thousands of years through theater, poetry, dance, painting, film and clothing. This art defines humanity throughout history and the system should encourage it. Through art, cultures, emotions, and ideas are expressed. Once it is taken away, we are no different than any of the trillions of living organisms that have called earth home.
(Left to right) Photos By: city of Anaheim, Jonesborough theater and the Queens Museum
High School students do leaps in dance class. Dances classes are one of the performing arts classes that have been cut across the country. Photo By: Creative Commons
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ART Are You?
What
BY: SOFIA D.
Mac
PC
YEA
Are you a
Musician
Have you ever found microsoft word annoying because you can’t Apple D?
Pepper
NAY
Do you sing in class?
Do you know what Chiffon is?
Do you sing in the shower? Do you wear Uggs?
Do you dream of someday owning Miu Miu shoes?
Graphic designer
Do you have perfect pitch? Can you repeat a tune you’ve only heard once?
YEA
Are you frustrated when you see a white line around a cutout in a magazine?
YEA
NAY
Do you find it easy to make friends? Does it bother you when you have mud on your hands?
Do you know who Tavi Gevinson is? Do you fake cry to get through the hardest part of your day?
Fashion
Sorry Charlie, go back to your Color by Numbers book NAY
Do you think the Pythagorean theorem is tons cooler than Emily Dickinson?
Writing
Do you find yourself rapping to sonnets? Do you find poetry interesting?
Do you sometimes get into your English projects?
Painting
Sorry Charlie! Go read your color by number!
Are you a big In a play, does player in Little Big the writing excite Planet? you more than how
the actors perform?
Do you find yourself playing the air guitar?
Do you play Little Big Planet?
Dance Do you have good balance?
Do you make up alternative endings for the happy birthday song? Do you mind close contact? Are you good with your hands?
Have you ever tried to escape from handcuffs?
When you bake cookies, do you call your oven your kiln?
Can you stay completely still for more than two minutes?
Do you prefer musicals to ballets?
Theater Does it bother you when color is unbalanced? Were you successful?
Ceramics
Would you prefer an art gallery to a base ball game?
Do you doodle on all your work?
Do you prefer color from imagination to reality?
Do you like baking?
Do you consistently sculpt strange hairdos with shampoo?
Do you hate that people don’t still use Kodachrome?
Film/Photography
FINE ARTS
The story how a cardboard Ikea box became a masterpiece.
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 20
Thinking Inside the Box BY: ISABEL M.
W
e all need some time devoted to relaxing. With the stress of homework, various expectations, and not to mention a whole other boatload of things, it’s important that we all find a time and place where we can just unwind. A place where we can close our eyes, turn off our overflowing brains, and be enveloped in peacefulness. For most people this Zen abundant place would be an inviting bathtub surrounded by candles, or a sunset painted beach. But 11-year-old Julian M. has a different place in mind. “I enjoy just sitting in my box, watching on my iPod. Also, if I have a horrible headache, I just like to go in there, close up the doors and just have some peace and quiet with no light.” Julian says. For Julian his place of relaxation is none other than his very own box house. A secretive, sacred art installment he has created inside of his family’s living room. The box house stand nearly six feet tall, tall enough that Julian can stand up inside. It’s long enough where he can lay down completely, in several different arrangements. The various cardboard boxes that make up the box house have pounds of blue painters tape covering their
FINE ARTS CHIFFON COULEUR-- 20
Julian shows how one of the handle systems works. The inside of the box house becomes completely dark when the door is closed.
“
holes, and attaching them to one another. Jagged holes have been stabbed out of the boxes creating windows to the outside. To some the box house may seem like a disgusting pile of garbage, but despite them the house still remains Julian’s pride and joy. It stands as a testament to creative and innovative art projects. “And [the box house is] cooler than just making a cool Lego thing, because I can move inside it and stand up in it.“ Julian says. After school, once he’s finished his homework of course, Julian will retire to his box house. Filled with several pillows and a flashlight, the box house is the perfect place for Julian to unwind and momentarily forget his fifth grade stressors. But it’s not just the relaxation capabilities that makes Julian’s box house one of his favorite possessions. It’s the process of building, constructing, and creating his house that Julian revels in. The fabricating process, which so far has been spread over three months, has and continues to be very rewarding for Julian. “I just like the feeling of building and especially the feeling that at the end of the day, I tell myself that I made that awesome structure.” That awesome structure started as just one box that originally held an Ikea office chair. When his family got another box of a similar size, Julian rescued it from destruction and added it onto the first box, creating a room big enough to be a bed for him. From there the box house has expanded greatly. “I just love boxes, and so I just like to sit in them.” Julian says. But Julian’s love for construction and boxes goes deeper than simply attaching several boxes together. He has created unique and creative additions that have taken his box house’s awesomeness to a whole new level. He says his favorite of these pieces is a string pulley system that can be used to open and close one of the entrances from inside the house. Julian will lie on his back inside the house, reclining on a mint green body pillow.
I have no doubt that [the box house] will eventually consume our entire living room. But since we really don’t use that room that much, I’m okay with the growth of
”
the box McMansion.
FINE ARTS CHIFFON COULEUR-- 22
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 23 FINE ARTS His hand will reach for the pulley, and then with one swift move he’ll use it to pull close one of the openings, closing off himself from the outside world, and enveloping himself in darkness and peace. Another one of these additions is door handle and lock system Julian has created. He first made the handle by weaving together two different colored strings, and then attaching the rope to one of the doors. He then connected a wire to this door, when the door is closed he is able to wrap the wire around the pulley system for the first door, holding the door closed. “I like this things because I don’t have to get up in the box to close the doors.” Julian says. Julian continues to expand on his box house. Every cardboard box and container that comes through his family’s house goes to his box house. “I have no doubt that [the box house] will eventually consume our entire living room. But since we really don’t use that room that much, I’m okay with the growth of the box McMansion.” Barbara Yznaga, Julian’s mother says. Until then, Julian plans to add another entrance to the back of his box house, so it even more resembles a real home with entrances from either side. But Julian’s feverish passion for building isn’t just limited to boxes. Sometimes he’ll build using Lego Mind Storms, specialized Legos that can be used to build programmable robots. “I have made a lawn mower out of Lego Mind Storms and I have made a really I mean really cool gondola.” Julian says. His love for all things building isn’t a new interest. “Since I can ever can remember which is not that long I have loved building.” He attributes part of his construction love to the rewarding process that it is for him.
“I like to build because the thing when it’s all done looks awesome.” When Julian isn’t building or basking in the glory of his creations he enjoys playing the video game Call of Duty 4 Modern Warfare. “I like it because you have real guns and so you have to really aim and have to practice to be perfect.” It’s clear that Julian values processes that are rewarding after much time and patience. He also plays tennis after school, and sometimes on the weekends will fly Remote Control planes with his dad. Airplanes are another of Julian’s passions.
He aspires to be an engineer at the Boeing, the world’s largest manufacturer of commercial and military air crafts. This job would combine both of his loves, making it the perfect fit for Julian. “I would like to be a engineer at Boeing, because I love building things and finding out problems and fixing them. Also the biggest airplane company in the would and I love I mean I super super super love airplanes.” Julian explains. His mother wants Julian to be able to experiment and eventually discover what his calling is. “I am happy to accommodate a budding architect/engineer’s vision. For all I know, he’ll be the next Frank Lloyd Wright.” she says. Until the day when Julian enters the workforce, be it as a architect, engineer or aircraft engineer, we’ll be able to look at his box house and see the amazing way engineering and art can be combined in the mind of someone truly creative. { }
Photos By: Isabel M.
More Than Just a Cal “Don’t give up, don’t stop. No matter how sad, depress, or tired you get, don’t stop.”
BY: ANASTASIA A.
This was the cover of the 2008-2009 Sweet Az Hon-
T
he face of a woman, a proud and a positive woman with a goal for herself covers its front page. Dark hair, brown skin, helps show the beauty to come within its pages. On top of this inspirational magazine is the calendar’s title Sweet Az Honey. Anika Adams is trying to change what she feels are the negative views society displays about women. The CEO of this company is Anika Adams, known as Indya’Kamelle in the business industry. Indya’ Kamelle created Sweet Az Honey to help “motivate
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 24
young girls and teenage girls to see themselves in a positive light, not to allow TV or society lead them to think it’s cool to dress and act like some of the ladies in videos, that they don’t have to go around showing their bodies and to overall have more confidence and love for themselves.” Personal life experiences and the connection with her baby sister grew the passion of building up Sweet Az Honey into what it is today and what it will be in time. “My relationship with my sister made my passion build up for what I’m doing with Sweet Az Honey because I see how positive she is about herself and life in gener-
FASHION
al, so that relationship with her made me wanna help other girls be positive as well.” Just like how all great things are created, Indya’ Kamelle had to build up what would later become a calendar with small steps. “First I had to come up with a name and develop a plan for the business, then get a business license and last find girls by word of mouth, online such as MySpace and Face book, on the street and girls that I knew.” These young
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 25 FASHION
women that Indya’Kamelle found became the faces of Sweet Az Honey, women of distinguished character, hard workers and loads of respect for themselves. To make sure these women represented Sweet Az Honey well, Indya’ Kamelle made sure they weren’t adding to how society portrays women in today’s society by making sure they are either in school, graduated, working and or working on the goals they have set in their lives to succeed. With these women by her side, Indya’Kamelle was able to creative a motivational calendar. As the calendar grew, so did Sweet Az Honey as a company. Just like the calendar, Indya’Kamelle is trying to affect
society and help change what she believes are its negative impacts. “Everyone wants to be loved, cared for and feel special. And many of the problems today is that young girls are being mislead, misguided and abused in many ways.” Indya’Kamelle says “So, if I can be a part of helping and reminding young girls they are beautiful, important, somebody, special and show them how to love themselves then they won’t be easily swayed to do negative things that may harm them.” To be more influential on a more hands-on basis, Indya’Kamelle recently started working on another project to go along with next years calendar. She’s trying to get a mini summer camp for girls started. This
their self-esteem and to cherish themselves.” A lot of times in life, people may set certain goals for themselves but never meet them things don’t go as they planned it. No matter what happens, Indya’Kamelle has a plan. “Try another way to get it there. The company will be successful. There is no question “if I can’t, I’m going to get it there.” For all those young ladies who want to start their own company, one thing they should always remember is “Don’t give up, don’t stop. No matter how sad, depress, or tired you get, don’t stop.” To make sure she and Sweet Az Honey succeed, Indya’Kamelle is working hard to make that success a reality.
*
Photos By: Anika Adams and D. Brown
camp would help girls increase their self-esteem and teach them how to not let society’s impacts influence them in the choices they make in their lives. Overall this camp is meant to be a mentoring program that helps these young girls by doing things in a way that can be fun yet educational. For example, if one of the workshops involved good hygiene, one of the activities the girls would do is a game that would teach them how to have good hygiene. “I hope to reach the lives of little girls, help them understand they are beautiful, increase
History of Jazz The Roots
African Slaves would perform dances to the best of their drums. The dancing was a way to express their long-suffering and eventual freedom. The dances eventually spread through Africa. Jazz then became popular when slaves moved over to the America. By the 1900’s, the dance became a combination of ballet, tap and African American rhythms. It took a long time to catch on but it eventually did.
Happiness Ends World War II brought a halt to all jazz dances. Studios started teaching the techniques of jazz and the common dances. It eventually became as popular as ballet. Jazz moves started to appear in Broadway musicals. Bee-Bop started to emerge but didn’t last long because it was an offbeat dance that was very hard to learn. Did you know??? Jive dance was brought to England by American Troops during World War II.
AFRICA 1800’s-1920’s
The Turn Around
AMERICA 1940’s
HARLEM 1920’s-1930’s
America started seeing flappers. Flappers wore short, frilly dresses and had no problem showing off their best dance moves. Dixieland jazz prompted new dance forms like the Black Bottom, Charleston, Fox Trot, Rag and the Shimmy. Swing Jazz became popular thanks to Duke Ellington. Artists, like Duke Ellington, performed with big bands at bars every night. While the bands played, the people danced. The most popular dances during this time were the Jitterbug and the Boogie Woogie.
Did you know??? The first mention of Flappers came from a 1920’s movie called, The Flapper.
Photos By: Creative Commons
Modern Dance
Since the 1950’s, Jazz has grown to be the middle child of ballet and tap. Modern Jazz Dance contains roots from the Caribbean Traditional Dance. Jazz dance is still seen in many Broadway shows. Many of the jazz dancers now, wear jazz shoes made of leather which help them when they have to perform turns. Many jazz dances include a combination of dance styles from ballet, contemporary, lyrical and hip-hop. Directors/dancers such as Bob Fosse, Katherine Dunham, Jerome Robbins and many more have shaped Jazz dance to what it is today.
AMERICA 1950’s
Hey! Welcome To The 50’s! Before the Jazz Age (1950’s), jazz dancing was referred to as tap dancing because the tap routines were set to jazz music. The jazz age included dances like the Cakewalk, Charleston, Jitterbug, Black Bottom, Boogie Woogie and the Lindy Hop.
Did you know??? Katherine Dunham,an African-American dancer & choreographer, ran her own dance company for more than 30 years. She is known as the “Queen Mother of Black Dance”. MODERN DANCE PRESENT DAY
BROADWAY 1960’s-PRESENT DAY
On the Way to Broadway The Broadway musicals; Cabaret and The Pajama Game included dance routines that were influenced by jazz dance. Many of the Broadway musicals performed today are still influenced by jazz dance.
Chicago, a musical created in 1975, is mostly known for its strong jazz choreography. Bob Fosse, a strong image in jazz, created the dances.
CHIFFON COULEUR--28 FINE ARTS
Dancing To The Beat Of Her Drum BY: MIKISA H.
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s you walk past the dance room, located in LBJ/LASA High School downstairs next to the gym, you may hear a woman screaming at the top of her lungs to a room full of rowdy teenagers. She screams like this almost everyday but it’s not because the students don’t understand what she’s teaching, well maybe that’s part of it, but because she has a strong passion for dance. Mrs. Hughes, or G, as many people call her, is a woman of short stature but very loud. She teaches dance and coaches the First Ladies Dance Team at LBJ/LASA High School. But it took a lot of disappointments and strength to get where she is today. “I was a neighborhood child, so [my family] never had money for me to take classes,” she said. Hughes attended Pearce Middle School, located about 5 minutes away from the LBJ/ LASA campus. While in middle school, Mrs. Hughes tried out for LBJ cheerleading but didn’t make it on the team. It wasn’t until later that she discovered that she liked dance. She tried out for cheerleading at LBJ but didn’t make it on the team. “Dance showed up but Magical Choir was always my first love”, Hughes said. Magical is what we now know as Varsity Choir. Mrs. Hughes participated in the Magical Choir and Yearbook/ Newspaper before auditioning for the First Ladies dance team. One day Mrs. Hughes’ best friend wore a purple
had to go to her dads house in San Antonio. Mrs. Hughes was scared that she would get in a car accident or something major and then she wouldn’t be able to dance. She remembers the first dance that she danced to. It was a military dance with a jazzy flow. She says that she will never forget it because the song that the dance team danced to was a marching band song. “I don’t think anybody ever forgets their first dance or audition dance.” After spending countless
days and hours in the dance room, Mrs. Hughes tried out for captain. She became captain of the First Ladies dance team her senior year. Although she was invited to dance for president Bill Clinton, she was not able to because she didn’t have enough money to pay for the trip. What was supposed to be the happiest year of high school became her most stressful and worst experience on the dance team. Being captain of a dance team is hard enough but Mrs. Hughes had such a strong passion for dance that she used to argue with the director/coach. Mrs. Hughes didn’t like the way the director/coach did things such as the scheduling the day they had practice or the dances that she made up. “I think that’s why I wanted to come back. Because I wanted to fix something.” And that’s exactly what Mrs. Hughes has done. She has created a sense of sisterhood between all the First Ladies while teaching girls to be ladylike and disciplined. All First Ladies must say, “yes ma’am” when told or asked to do something. When Mrs. Hughes was captain, the First Ladies team thought they were the best because they never saw any other dance teams perform. Mrs. Hughes didn’t realize that she or the team wasn’t the best until she got to college. “One day, my college
“Dance showed up but Magical Choir wa jacket that had a flap on it. On the back of the jacket were the words First Ladies. Mrs. Hughes never knew what First Ladies were until her best friend mentioned it to her. When Mrs. Hughes started her high school years at LBJ, something sparked her to try out for “I think that’s why the dance team. “I was the I wanted to come only girl in my group to try back. Because I out and then once I made it on everybody auditioned the wanted to fix somenext year.” thing.” Says Hughes. The night that Mrs. Hughes found out that she was a new First Lady; she
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director told me “Ummm. No Honey.” Mrs. Hughes director showed Mrs. Hughes that they weren’t the best. She also taught Mrs. Hughes a lot of things in college that would eventually help her in the future. Mrs. Hughes college director was a huge inspiration because she showed Mrs. Hughes that dance connects many people and in order to bring them together, you must learn many different dances and realize that you always have something to work on. Most of the dance techniques and style of dance that the First Ladies
do now are inspired by Mrs. Hughes’ college director. Thanks to her college director; Mrs. Hughes has open her eyes to other forms of dance and encourages everybody to learn more than one dance. Mrs. Hughes told a story of a young lady who could dance very well and had great potential but all she wanted to do was dance hip-hop. “There is a time and place for hip-hop.” She says that you should find one thing that you love and then branch out to other things. Mrs. Hughes suggests that anybody who wants to further their career in dance should take classes at a studio and not at school. There is no pressure to perform and the teachers focus on the basics. Once you have the basics down, then you can start building your dance career. The basics will come in handy when you learn different styles later on. “It’s almost like building vocab,” she said. Mrs. Hughes continues to build her vocabulary every day. She continues to better young ladies and prepare
* Mrs. Hughes sits at her desk, located in front of her bookshelf, trying to put in last minute grades for her first period dance class. Her bookshelf contains many books & videos that hold many memories.
as always my first love.” them for the future. Next year not only will she be a dance coach but a full time mother of 2 children and 3 dogs, a wife, a teacher and a student at the Texas State Grad Program. Mrs. Hughes reminds everybody that there will be disappointments and struggles in life, but that shouldn’t be the end. It should only be the beginning.
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1. Pearce Middle School. This is where Mrs. Hughes attended Middle School. 2. The First Ladies dance team lines up on the field at a football game. 3. The First Ladies dance performs during the half time show.
Photos by: Mikisa Harvey
BY: ISABEL M. Inspiration can come from unlikely places. Even in the summer, knit chain link scarves can become the idea behind an astonishing creation. Winter hats with dangly pom poms may cause this side effect too.
HEY VINTAGE! Summer trips to Hey Cupcake can unite us with a vintage-esque Airstream. Be that Airstream. Embody it’s boldness. It has the audacity to be from another decade. Let that inspire you.
COULEUR ME TURQUOISE You’ve been dared to visit the blog, Color Me Katie. Just try to go there and escape without being inspired. Bold-colored construction paper transform spaces once Katie has touched them. Turquoise the couleur. It’s kind of in right now. Worship it.
Photos By: Creative Commons
CHIFFON COULEUR-- 31 FINE ARTS
Everybody Has to Dance to Their Own Drum Thril er
Bollywood
This dance was created in 1982 by Michael Jackson. Thriller was shown in theaters over the world and became a huge hit. Thriller became and still is the top selling CD. Austin took place in Thrill The World 2009 and attempted to create the largest group of people to do Thriller.
Cha-Cha Slide
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This dance was created by DJ Casper, a dj from Chicago. He created the Cha Cha Slide in 1996 for Bally Total Fitness. The song became a huge hit and spread over the United States and across the world. The steps are called out by the DJ. You simply listen and dance. Its that simple. That’s why it became a huge hit. Young and old can dance to it. This dance is now performed at family reunions, parties & many other social events. FINE ARTS CHIFFON COULEUR--31
Salsa This is a hot, spicy dance that originated in Cuba and spread to surrounding countries/islands. The name “Salsa” means sauce. This dance is usually performed to songs that are 160-200 beats per minute. Women who perform this dance wear clothes that are poofy and revealing. Men usually wear a shirt that’s unbuttoned with regular pants.
Photos by: Creative Commons
Bollywood dancing is modern Indian dancing that is shown in Bollywood movies. The dance mixes belly-dancing, Indian folk dances and modern dance. The motions that the dancers use express emotions and words. The clothing that the dancer wears usually reflects the mood of the song.
Can You Breath
Just Too Tight, Too See Through and Too Wrong
2. Wearing skinny jeans that are either way too tight or unflattering. If you sit down or kneel, no one should see your underwear.
1. Wearing clothes that are either too tight, too short or too see through is not hot.
T0P 12 FASHION DON’TS The Female Edition BY: ANASTASIA A.
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FASHION
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Hot or Cold? 3. Mixing two seasons in one outfit. You should never mix snow boots, a winter jacket, a tank top and shorts together in the summer. Pick one season and stick to it.
Wow, is Your Outfit a Safari? 4. Wearing too many patterns. It’s never cool to look like a zebra and a leopard. If you want to wear a patterned outfit and look like an animal, don’t wear a combination of them.
Photos By: Creative Commons
Taste the Rainbow 5. Wearing too many colors. When choosing the colors your going to wear in your outfit, make sure you don’t look like the rainbow.
Too, Too Much 6. Revealing too much when wearing leggings. If it looks as though you have nothing covering your legs, you should either wear a longer shirt or add some bottoms over your leggings.
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FASHION
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Is Your Shirt Too Short? 7. Wearing ultra- cropped tops. If your belly button is showing, try again.
Man Shoulders 8. Wearing huge shoulder pads. If your shoulder pads make you look like you have too shoulders in one, I think you should rethink them.
Way Too Bulky 9. Wearing clothes that are too big or too bulky do nothing for your figure. All it does is add pounds and more weight.
No Sun, No Glasses 10. Wearing sunglasses at night or indoor. There is no sun in the building, so why are you wearing sunglasses. Take them off and stop trying to look cool. CHIFFON COULEUR-- 36
FASHION
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It Burns My Eyes 11. Wearing crocs in public is a major no no. Crocs are not in style and they have never been in style.
Gold and Silver, No No 12. Mixing your metals. Gold jewelry is out of the question if your jacket has silver buttons.
Pull Your Pants Up, Son! Is sagging just another trend? BY: ANASTASIA A.
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Sagging Pants originated when some random group of guys started to do it. If you think this your dead wrong. In today’s society whenever I turn my head, I find my eyes set on someone’s underwear. Now the last time I checked, pants were supposed to cover the butt and cover from the hip down, but the more the years go by, the more underwear you see and the fewer pants that cover them. Our generation is living up to its name “generation Y,” the generation of the butt crack revealers. This trend that many guys are involved in is the SAGGING OF THE PANTS. Since the early 80s’, sagging has become a regularly seen thing. But if only they really knew what it originally meant. Sagging of the pants is FASHION CHIFFON COULEUR-- 39
when, instead of allowing your pants to fit on your butt, the way they are intended to, some male population allow them to sag below the waistline. Sagging pants originated in prisons. The prisoners weren’t allowed belts or shoestrings because these were popular ways to commit suicide, harm others and used as weapons. Because the men couldn’t use belts or anything to hold their pants up, they would sag. This wasn’t originally meant to be a fashion statement. Rumors from some ex-prisoners say that in prisons, sometimes when man sags’ his pants and reveal the crack of his butt, he was telling the rest of the men that he was “available”. Availability meant that they wanted to have sexual intercourse
with any other man that wanted to. Not to mention, when a man sagged in jail, it meant that the individual was homosexual. Sagging didn’t only mean that an individual was homosexual, but it also originated with “crack.” Crack began to take a big toll in inner city communities all over the country. This caused many young men to get sent to prison with crack related charges. In prison, these young men were introduced into a new way of dressing which included sagging their pants. When the men were released from prison they keep the look. This was a way to mark oneself as someone who has been locked up and therefore giving them a street credibility says www.sojones.com. This trend, sagging pants, soon spread into hip- hop. Toward the
Photos By: Creative Commons
early 80’s, sagging pants became a rising trend. “During the late 80s, the group N.W.A. (Niggas with Attitude) brought in the era of gangsta rap, a new hip hop genre that mirrored the thoughts and reality of urban inner cities” says www.sojones.com. N.W.A was the first popular hip- hop group to sag their pants. Since then sagging has been a common trend in today’s society. I think the trend sagging pants is quite unattractive and immature. The majority of young men have adapted to this trend and embraced it into society as well as some women because they think it makes them look cool and tough. But on the flip side, many individuals find it stupid, unprofessional, and it makes it harder for young men to get jobs. If I really wanted to see a guys butt then sagging would be fine, but I don’t. I think if guys want to be taken more seriously as a man, then they need to dress like one and unfortunately sagging isn’t part of it. If young men think sagging is attractive to most girls, they’re dead wrong. Having slight sag is okay, but when they go to the point where I see their butt or underwear more than I should, they’re going way too FASHION CHIFFON COULEUR--40
derwear to the world isn’t a good way to do this. There are plenty of other ways for guys to express themselves. They could play sports, draw, dance, plenty of other things that can show people their personality. Others may say everyone else does it, but when has following the crowd ever been cool. There are other trends that any guy can be involved in that doesn’t make him look like an idiot. My purpose isn’t to offend anyone, over board. Like Shamontiel says but instead to reveal that on the website www.associated- too many sagging is unatcontent.com, “How is it attractive tractive and to reveal how it for a woman to see some man’s all got started. pants sagging so far down under Just because the men his butt that it looks like there’s a in prison sag their pants private party going on around in doesn’t mean that it’s okay his knees?” It’s not attractive. Not for others to do it. If young every female wants to see a guy’s men knew how sagging got underwear. If you think it’s an at- started and the rumors about tracting mechanism, it’s not…so that, I’m pretty sure a lot of you can stop now. young men would reconsider Some people may read this their actions. Last there’s a and think, “Wow, she’s just a lot of other ways for males to hater.” Many guys (mainly teen- express themselves instead agers and young adults) would of sagging their pants and take this offensive more than showing their underwear to anything. To some people saying the world. Sagging pants is that sagging isn’t cool is like say- not cute, nor fashionable. ing matching is tacky. Sagging of Find another trend and pull the pants may be a way for guys your pants up son! to express themselves and their personality, but showing your un-
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Fashion Math BY: ISABEL M.
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Photos By: Creative Commons
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Dress Code vs. Uniforms: BY: MIKISA H.
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n 2008, school officials at Monroe High School in Monroe, Ohio bought up the issue of cheerleaders’ skirts being too short. The superintendent of the school’s district said that the cheerleaders are able to wear the skirts at the games/pep rallies but not in the classroom. But why is it such a big problem now??? The district didn’t have an established rule for skirts and shorts because it wasn’t such a big issue. The district recently established (in 2008) that if students wear skirts, they couldn’t be anymore than 3 inches above the knee. Due to this issue, parents became upset. They believed that because they paid for the uniform, their children should be able to wear them during school. So this brings up the question …are school dress codes really effective??? Or should schools have students wear uniforms instead??? I believe that a dress code is more effective than uniforms because students may rebel and behavioral problems may arise because students can’t express themselves. Most people may think that dress codes are not enforced and that students end up pushing the dress codes limits. Although the dress code gives students freedom to wear what they want and design the clothes how they want to wear them, there are still rules. Such as the “5 Finger Rule”, the “students can’t wear colored shoelaces rule” and/or the “students can’t wear any clothing portraying nudity, violence or drugs”. If the rules of the dress code are enforced multiple times then students should get the hang of it and catch on.
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FASHION
No Comment
Another great idea for students is that they can create fashions and start a trend that abides with the dress code. Some hot new trends that abide with the school dress code are skinny jeans, wearing flats or wearing leggings. People reading this may also think that students may feel pressured to rebel and they may also think that students don’t have to worry about what to wear in the morning. I personally believe that students would like to worry about what to wear in the morning. It builds self-esteem and responsibility. If students think that waiting until the last minute to pick out their clothes for the next day is acceptable, then it’s not. Students would learn to manage time wisely and have their outfit set out the night before. This will also help parents in the morning. They won’t have to worry about rushing and being late to work. All students want to express their individuality. Wearing uniforms hinders the students’ ability to be independent and unique.
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Photo By: Creative Commons
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The World Without Fashion Why society needs to stop putting down fashion and start encouraging it.
BY: ISABEL MILLER
Photo By: Creative Commons
“ ” Suddenly the whole morning is going wonderfully,
Photos By: Creative Commons
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and are probably not the most wearable shoes in the world. But this is an example of how fashion is a type of art. These shoes are so extravagant that they should be put into a museum on display for the entire world to see, on display for people to look at and have their eyes light up like nighttime stars, just like all other forms of art. For society to accept and embrace fashion, the word must first be defined. But this is a difficult task to do, for there are many different opinions about what fashion is. In my I hate the way I immediately get into the shower only to have ice-cold opinion, fashion is wearing a capette with dolman sleeves, even when it’s water rain down upon me. I hate the way I feel at 6:05 in the mornquestioned by non-believers. Fashion ing, like I’m going to puke out the remains of last night’s spaghetti is wearing ‘like a million layers’, even and meat sauce onto the taupe carpet. I have my reason though, when layering isn’t in. Sometimes fashfor why I put myself through this cruel torturous routine every school ion is defined as wearing expensive morning, for fashion. I do it because exactly 30 minutes after my or designer or popular clothes. This shower, once my hair is approximately halfway dry, I will begin to isn’t fashion, this is conformism and ponder the clothing in my closet and soon put on an outfit of my choice, and this will make all the negative feelings go away. Suddenly an overwhelming need to fit in. This the whole morning is going wonderfully, as I dance through our house false fashion is why people run away from being fashionable. Some of these wearing an amazing outfit. Fashion has the power of making a day people rebel against this false fashion better. Fashion has the power of making a person feel better about by wearing things that aren’t mainherself and boosting their endorphins. Fashion has the power of making jaws gape in amazement when a person lays their eyes upon stream and are unconventional, which broadcasts their hatred of fashion. By a garment. Society should encourage fashion, assert all its benefits, wearing clothing that is unconventional refute the fallacies that people have about it. We should embrace or not heavily promoted by the media fashion. these people are in fact participatLook at Alexander McQueen’s October 2009 Paris fashion ing in fashion. This is because at its show and see the amazing shoes that his models wore. They look core, fashion is an expression of a like the clipped claws of a crab, covered in sequins and doused in person and how they would like to be bright colors. Non-believers look at these shoes and say ‘Those are perceived. This means that a person absurd! Who would wear such things?’. I agree that those shoes should wear whatever makes them make their models look like towering skyscrapers about to tumble, feel good, whatever they find pleasing. This could be army combat boots or sweet flower prints or whatever a person likes. It means wearing something different from what everyone else is wearing, or wearing something differently than everyone else does. Editor for Elle Magazine Cynthia Durcanin says that “Fashion is a means of self-expression that allows people to try on many roles in life…. It’s a way of celebrating the diversity and variety of the world,” Durcanin’s quote embodies the viewpoint of fashion that I believe in. By embracing fashion society would be embracing diversity and originality. There are groups of girls who prance around in mundane uniforms, short shorts, low cut tees. It is assumed that all teenage girls aspire to dress this way, but there is a group of us who find that look trivial and mundane. We
hate getting up at 6:05 in the morning. I hate the way I have to peel back my eyelids and force my burning eyes to begin seeing the infant day for me.
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strive to be more unique and more interesting in the way we dress. We will stand tall when one of them eyes us and gives us a ‘whatever’ look, we won’t lose self-esteem, because we can just look at what we’re wearing and smile to ourselves. This is what fashion should truly be about. If you asked the non-believers about how badly fashion affects girls, they would go on and on about how models hurt girls’ self-esteem and shouldn’t the whole fashion industry just be thrown out, it’s hurting our poor girls so much. A mistake that is often made is that models equal fashion. Models in fact do not equal fashion. They, along with everyone else in this world, are just canvases to be painted upon. They just happen to be the fancy-shmancy canvases that cost an absurd amount. Society doesn’t dismiss painters who use certain canvases, so there’s no reason to dismiss fashion because of Shoes from problems with models. Fashion is in fact beneAlexander McQueen’s fiting many women. The organization Dress For Success is a company that gives women who Spring Collection. do not have access to work-worthy clothing, suits and accessories for their job interviews. Once a woman has landed a job they are given more clothing that can be mixed and matched to create several different work appropriate outfits. Wearing these clothes gives the women the confidence that they had lost, it makes them feel like they could become successful, could get a good job, and could be self-sufficient. If the world were without fashion I wouldn’t force myself to wake up at 6:05 in the morning. If the world were without fashion others and myself would be lacking self-expression, lacking glorious art to stare at in amazement, and lacking the self-esteem that fashion gives to us. To prevent this predicament from ever happening it is essential that fashion is promoted and put in the positive light that it deserves.
HIGH FASHION:
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Photos By: Creative Commons and Sofia D.