Blossom Magazine: Issue One

THE DECADES ISSUE

EDITOR IN CHIEF

BRYNN BURKE

CREATIVE DIRECTORS

HANNAH FLINT

LUKE ROBERTSON

ASSISTANT CREATIVE DIRECTORS

ELLA HASEK

CASEY RAND MANAGING EDITOR MADELINE HAGER

DIRECTORS OF MARKETING

AZI DAVIS & LINH TRAN

DIRECTOR OF ADVERTISING CLAUDIA CORDANO

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HANNAH TARSNEY & CHELSEA CONTE

DIRECTOR OF EVENTS ISABELLA GONZALEZ

DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS PATTY RAFTOVICH

PHOTO

TAMIA TURNER

AZI DAVIS

JACOB ZAMBRANO

EMMA WYATT

DESIGN

LINH TRAN

NOLY TRAN

TAMIA TURNER

STYLE

CAMILLE MOLTEN

EDITORIAL

ELIZABETH WEST

AMANDA ANDERSON

NEENA SIDHU

NOEMI CANNELLA

MARKETING

DARA VIGANOLA

ABBY VINCEQUERE

DAYLAH HUFF

ADELAIDE KLINE

CHLOE MURRAY

Letter from the

EDITOR

Blossom Magazine was founded last year by two students: Kate Turner and Rorie Amos. These two students had a vision for the future of USC’s fashion culture, but unfortunately graduated and were ready to pass on this new and unstable organization to someone new. I asked if I could take over the organization as Editor in Chief because I had big ideas for the future, just like they did a little over a year ago.

They trusted me with their project, Blossom Magazine. The goal was to create a space for fashion lovers, creative, and more. We are open to anyone joining and let people put their visions to life. I could not have done this without so many people, but especially Luke Robertson and Hannah Flint. They created the beautiful images you will see throughout this magazine. I am so thankful to have such a supportive team that worked so hard to make this happen.

This issue ties in inspiration from different eras of fashion. From early 2000s Gossip Girl looks to a futuristic shoot, we created something for everyone. The eras represent different seasons of life, and also highlights the way that fashion continues to repeat itself. Each photoshoot is tied with a lifestyle article comparing the use of fashion to

Sincerely,

ARTICLE NOEMI CANNELLA

PHOTO HANNAH FLINT

DESIGN BRYNN BURKE

CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING

LUKE ROBERTSON & KATE TURNER

“Gossip Girl here, your one and only source into the scandalous lives of Manhattan’s elite.”

Well, that’s almost true. You will, in fact, be hearing from some of Manhattan’s most eliteUniversity of South Carolina alumni that have made the move to The Big Apple. However, rather than scandal, you will be reading about their successes, hardships, and life advice to fellow University of South Carolina students who have dreams about becoming some of Manhattan’s finest.

In the wise words of Blair Waldorf, “If you really want something, you don’t stop for anyone or anything until you get it.”

When it comes to making a life in New York City, this is a perfect quote to live by. The city is full of fresh and young minds all trying to make a name for themselves.

There are all types of stereotypes floating around. You may hear that it is dirty, the people are mean or that it is too expensive. But, leave it to Anna Holman and Kat Kotesha to completely change your opinion on NYC.

Anna Holman, a Web Content Strategist at IBM in New York, is a University of South Carolina alum originally from Southern California. While UofSC was extremely far from where she grew up, Holman took a leap of faith and left home to pursue volleyball and an education in Marketing. Holman had many internships throughout her time at UofSC, her most recent being at IBM as a Marketing Content and Strategy Intern and where she ultimately ended up getting her first post-grad position.

When asked about why New York, Holman said, “I didn’t have my heart set on New York, I wanted to experience anywhere and everywhere.”

She had internships in California, Greenville and Atlanta, and had the opportunity to move to Austin, Raleigh or New York post-grad. Despite all of these different locations and opportunities, Anna took yet another leap of faith and landed in

New York.

“I heard from many people that New York City is a great place to be when you are young and in your twenties,” Holman said. “You have no kids or financial responsibilities for anyone else but yourself.”

This couldn’t be more true. Being in your twenties is a period of immense personal growth and opportunity, and where better to be in a city that is home to about eight million people and endless possibilities.

There are many things that Holman enjoys doing in her free time. She lives and works in East Village, so she spends a lot of time here. The vibe is young and lively and you can always find something to do if you just take a step outside and wander around.

One thing she looks forward to every week is going to Poetica Coffee, a coffee shop in East Village with half off drinks on Wednesdays.

“I also really love finding good happy hour spots, like 345 Cantina. It reminds me of Cantina in Columbia, and they have the best tacos for cheap,” said Holman, reminiscing about her time at University of South Carolina.

While shopping and finding new coffee shops are both fun things to do, Holman has one passion that she truly loves: Anna Holman Photos. This is Holman’s freelance photography business that she started well before she started college at UofSC.

Her business has now grown to having over 300 clients.

“I am really trying to tap into the clients in the city,” Holman said “It is so much fun to experience because I get to meet complete strangers and network with them while also seeing new places..”

Kat Kotesha, another University of South Carolina alum and NYC success, is originally from Spartanburg, SC. At UofSC, Kotesha studied Fashion Merchandising and minored in Public Relations. She first got her foot in the door with a buying internship at Macy’s the summer going into her senior year, and because of her successful completion of this internship, she got a return offer for full time after graduation on her first day of senior year. She is now Assistant Buyer in Private Brand Handbags.

Since Kat went to school only an hour and a half away from her childhood home, moving to New York City definitely had its challenges.

“The moving experience was so chaotic, but it was so worth it,” Kotesha said.

Despite the original challenges that were thrown at her, from finding an apartment, getting used to her job and having a mouse in her apartment (in typical New York fashion), New York is somewhere Kotesha truly loves with all her heart.

“I always told my mom, I never want to have a what if moment,” Kotesha explained.

There are so many college students that grow up in their hometown and go to college not too far away, and when graduation comes around, they may find it hard to make that first jump to moving away from home. But it is always better to take a risk and know that you tried your hardest at something new, rather than staying somewhere you are comfortable with and regretting it years down the line, like Kotesha said.

Both Holman and Kotesha agreed that New York City was a culture shock, but the experiences the city has provided for both of them outweighs any cons.

Two of Kotesha’s favorite experiences so far have been going to Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon.

Kotesha lives in the Upper East Side area, and if you recall, this is where Gossip Girl is focused around. In true Upper East Side fashion, Kotesha loves the rooftop bars, going to

museums like The Met, and of course grabbing brunch with her friends on the weekends.

“I love vintage shopping in Brooklyn,” Kotesha said.

Holman and Kotesha are only two of many success stories about moving to New York City Of course, New York is a glamorous place to be, but it doesn’t come without hardships.

“My biggest thing from transitioning to South Carolina to New York City was the loss of community,” Holman described.

You are no longer living in the same apartment as your best friends of the last four years. Despite anything that may have been hard to get used to, Holman wants students to know that her biggest advice is to stay open minded when thinking about post-grad life.

“You have to remember that everyone is on their own timeline, some friends will be doing crazy things, but don’t feel like you are behind,” she said.

Kotesha wants her fellow UofSC students to know that you are going to have to make sacrifices to make living in any city attainable.

“Learning to budget was tough.” she said. “And New York City is not always glamorous, but it is so, so, so worth it. Even if it’s only for a year or two.”

Making a life for yourself in a foreign city teaches you so much, and one of the most important takeaways for Kat is that it taught her a lot about independence, along with being okay with going outside of your comfort zone,

“Move into a big city and move out of your comfort zone, especially when you are in your twenties,” Kotesha said. “You can’t grow in your comfort zone, so do something that is a little scary because you will never regret it.”

There is no doubt that taking a chance, one that may seem uncomfortable and scary at first, will turn into something amazing.

If nothing else, take Serena van der Woodson’s advice, “Don’t let people tell you who you are, you tell them,” and go show the world what amazing things you have to offer.

RETRO REVIVAL: DAISY JONES & THE SIX

ARTICLE MADELINE HAGER · PHOTO & DESIGN HANNAH FLINT

CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING LUKE ROBERTSON, ELLA HASEK & CASEY RAND

Hippies, music and vintage clothes, what more could you ask for?

Well, that’s what you get with Daisy Jones and the Six, a television series set in the 70s that tells the story of the rise and fall of a rock band. We follow Daisy Jones, played by Riley Keough, the lead singer of Daisy Jones and the Six alongside her

friends and band-mates.

Daisy Jones and the Six has inspired a new wave of 70s fashion for our generation. The Western and free spirit styles are quickly coming back. All over TikTok and social media, people are posting what they would wear if they lived in this decade, some are even recreating outfits from the show.

INSPIRATION

INSPIRATION

Jones’ costume designer, Denise Wingate, spoke about her inspiration for the main character’s fashion sense.

“I was very influenced by a young Linda Ronstadt,” Wingate said to Glamour in an interview. “She was a goddess, and people loved her. She was just rock-and-roll—wearing short shorts, little halter tops, cowboy boots, and she wore those big hoop earrings. She had such a great style.”

She also admitted to not wanting to copy Stevie Nicks, lead singer of Fleetwood Mac which the show is loosely based on, but to be influenced by her.

There is definitely a nod to Nicks in this outfit worn by Daisy. Nicks often wore long-sleeved, witchy outfits, such as this one. Jones truly is an embodiment of Nicks through her fashion in this television series.

The next icon is the character Simone Jackson, played by Nabiyah Be, who has her own singing career in the show. Jackson embodies a typical 70s disco star with outfits that have a colorful edge but keep with the classics.

Fringe, bell bottoms and boots are Jackson’s wardrobe staples! She rocks the more muted tones, sticking to browns, reds and oranges. Leather and corduroy also play a big role in Jackson’s style.

According to an article from Insider, actress Nabiyah Be said Jackson’s character was inspired by Donna Summers, Diana Ross and Chaka Khan.

Khan was recently inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and is described as the funk queen and disco diva. Khan’s spunk is certainly portrayed in Jackson’s character.

TRENDS

Belts and Bellbottoms. The two B’s of the 70s that people couldn’t live without (and maybe beer too).

The chunkier, the better. Western-style chunky belts have been a rising staple piece that we see throughout the show.

Camilla Dunne, photographer and wife of lead singer Daisy Jones and the Six, wears a leather belt with two beautifully detailed metal buckles. Personally, I think belts can make or break an outfit. First, she started off with a simple tan dress, but all you need to add to make it edgier is a belt!

Other statement belts are seen on Jones and Jackson throughout the show and have quickly made their way into the world of fast fashion.

almost every character. Jones and Jackson seem to have them in every color. Daisy pairs her bell bottoms with crochet and flowy tops, a perfect outfit if you’re on your way to Woodstock!

Jones truly carried the essence of the 70s with her in this show. However, her look wouldn’t be complete without bell bottoms.

Throughout the show, we see bell bottoms on

Last but not least, I would like to highlight my personal favorite look in the show. Karen Sirko, the band’s keyboardist and played by Suki Waterhouse, normally had a dark look to her throughout the show.

According to the show’s stylist, she was inspired by artists like Joan Jett and made to dress more androgynous.

Sirko completely left that style behind when she wore this outfit to the beach. This bathing suit basically sums up the 70s, the psychedelic print and keeping with the natural tones.

Daisy Jones and the Six has sparked a rise in 70s and vintage clothing. I hope you can be inspired by this show to go outside of your fashion boundaries and start your trip into the retro world.

DROPOUT CLUB

ARTICLE AMANDA ANDERSON

PHOTO TAMIA TURNER & AZI DAVIS

DESIGN TAMIA TURNER

CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING ELLA HASEK, LUKE ROBERTSON & KATE TURNER

MEET THE DROPOUTS

MODELS ELLA HASEK, CLAIRE MURPHY & AZI DAVIS

PICKLEBALL: AN AMERICAN PHENOMENON

Sports, Sports, Sports! America is all about sports. That also seems to be the case on the University of South Carolina campus. Gamecock pride seems to be abundant on campus each year as we go through each sport season from football in the fall to basketball in the spring. However, there is a new sport on the rise: Pickleball. This sport isn’t as new as you may think since it dates back to 1965. Rather than new it’s more of an underrated sport that has begun to gain more popularity over the years.

Now what is pickleball you may ask? Jade Parker, a current freshman and co-founder of the Pickleball Club at the University of South Carolina, describes it as being similar to tennis with slightly different gameplay. While it’s no secret that tennis and pickleball are similar, pickleball is quite unique

much like its name. One big difference is the paddle and ball used to play.

“The paddle isn’t see through, it’s solid and then the ball has holes in it, kind of like a wiffle ball.” said Parker.

Another major difference is the two bounce rule. After you serve, the returning team has to hit the ball after one bounce. Then, the serving team has to let it bounce once before they rally back. After that, it’s game on! This rule is in effect at the start of every point. Now that we’ve established the difference between pickleball and it’s sister-sport, tennis, let’s discuss the appeal of pickleball.

“I’d say this is one sport that anyone can play ranging from young kids to even 70 year olds.” said Parker.

Pickleball is ideal for all skill levels as it is

fairly easy to learn. Whether you’re a beginner who just wants to learn a new sport for fun, or you’re a skilled player who craves the thrill of more competitive play.

It’s also a social activity. Because of the small court size, gameplay allows players to be close enough to each other to hold conversations. Therefore, pickleball makes it easy to spend quality time with loved ones or go on an outing with new and old acquaintances while also getting an enjoyable workout. In her interview about pickleball, Jade revealed that pickleball served as a social activity for her as well.

“I got into it my junior year. A lot of my high school friends started playing at the same time. I really like the social side of the sport because it allows you to meet people and hang out with friends while playing which you can’t do in many other sports.” Parker said.

Another appeal of pickleball is its

affordability. The one time purchase of a pickleball racquet and ball, which is all you need to play, is typically 30 dollars or less. In tennis, 30 dollars is normally the starting cost of just the racquet.

Knowing all this, the rising popularity of pickleball comes as no surprise. In fact pickleball has become so popular that it was referred to as “the fastest growing sport in America” by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association in 2022 and it has

only continued to grow since then.

As of right now there are about 36.5 million pickleball players in the US according to the National Pickleball Association. It was 4.8 million just last year. While pickleball has become a nationwide phenomenon, let’s look at the popularity of it right here in South Carolina.

In South Carolina we have 779 pickleball courts and over 2,000 pickleball players. 250 of those players are Columbia residents. To bring things even closer to home, we also have pickleball players here at the University of South Carolina. Just this year freshman, Jade Parker, created a pickleball club here on campus. The club is actively looking for new members. If pickleball peaks your interest and you’re a USC student then you should give it a try.

If you’re not a USC student but are still interested in pickleball, that’s okay too! You can start by searching pickleball clubs and courts in your area and go from there.

FUTU RISTIC IGNITING INFLUENCERS

ARTICLE NOEMI CANNELLA

PHOTO JACOB ZAMBRANO & EMMA WYATT

DESIGN LINH TRAN & NOLY TRAN

CREATIVE DIRECTION & STYLING LUKE ROBERTSON, ELLA HASEK & CASEY RAND

Over the past decade, the rise of influencers has been taking marketing by storm. The gaining traction of social media stars has caused much controversy over the years. Influencers have a very powerful role in society.

First and foremost, they are creating content in partnership with different brands for their audience. While this may seem like an easy task with technology at our fingertips, accountability is a huge part of social media in this day and age, as consumers are not just looking at the content being posted but are deep-diving into the companies and who they market themselves to be.

When it comes to influencers compared to the traditional magazine, there is talk about whether

influencers are going to replace print. Back in the early 2000s, publications such as Vogue and Elle were what society turned to for the latest trends. These magazines held so much power in the fashion industry and influenced what everyone would be wearing.

Compared to now, influencers have the same effect, if not greater. Influencers have the potential to be more authentic and relatable to their audience. Fashion magazines, however, focus on the glitz and glam and perfect, photoshopped models. This is extremely unrelatable for the common reader, whereas with influencers, they have the ability to show who they really are and be their authentic selves.

So, what exactly are influencers? They are users on social media that have established credibility in a specific industry. They are also known for setting trends. Social media influencers are changing the standard of having to be tall and skinny to make it in the fashion industry. While influencers post about new and hot trends, they also post about diversity in the fashion industry and wearing what makes you happy and feel comfortable. This has led to a movement of more inclusivity in brand sizing and styles.

Ellie Phelps, University of South Carolina student, is also working to change the standards of the fashion industry through her online platform. Phelps is at UofSC studying mass communications. Her interest in content creation started in high school, but it wasn’t until college when her Instagram and TikTok took off.

Phelps encourages her audience to find their passions and what makes them happy.

“I like to make sure I am happy,” Phelps said, “but I want my happiness to pour into others’ lives.”

Phelps helps her audience find happiness by remaining her authentic self on her socials.

So, what does authenticity mean when it comes to being a social media influencer? For Phelps, that means she won’t stand in front of the camera in clothes she isn’t comfortable in. “As long as your heart is happy and you don’t feel pressure from the outside world, that is authentic,” said Phelps. Especially with younger generations, they want to see influencers that are trustworthy and aren’t just there for the likes.

With marketing in the fashion industry taking on a more digital approach, it is important to know how to differentiate genuine vs. inauthentic influencers. While magazines have always held high beauty standards, social media has the potential to be just as fake. While being able to engage with your audience one-on-one is great, it’s easy to get lost in the quick rising fame.

Overall, social media influencing is now the way of the future. “It is beautiful to see all kinds of people, what they like and what they are confident in doing and wearing,” explained Phelps, and while social media can be intimidating, there is so much to learn from and grow in when it comes to social media and influencing. Only time will tell the fate of traditional magazines, but until then, we have a community where people can show their true and authentic selves and be welcomed and embraced for doing so.

BLOSSOM

A collaboration with the Dillard’s Campus Collective at USC

DILLARDS

USC to showcase the Born on Fifth x Antonio Melani Collection

Elle Shoes $130

1. Constance Top / $159

2. Aurelia Skirt / $199

3. Blair Dress / $269

4. Millie Shoes / $130

5. Catherine Dress / $219

6. Gemma Dress / $269

7. CoCo Top / $159

8. Lou Lou Skirt / $89

James Dress $199

*not available for purchase

*not

$24

Pearl Triple Drop Earrings

available for purchase

Constance Pearl Drop Earrings

Black Pearl Stud Earrings

Anonymous, embarrassing, and hilarious stories submitted by students for students