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STAFF Photoshoot Director - Mila Gamarra Photoshoot Assistant - Lalo Ambris Photoshoot Assistant - Emily Carrier Photoshoot Assistant - Ali MacCloud
Editor in Chief - Aryanna Clark Creative Director - Abigail Sikes
Editor in Chief Assistant - Allen Morton Creative Director Assistant - Gracyn Holloway
Media Director - Nicole Shrem Media Assistant - Tommy Adzema Media Assistant - Martha Mendoza Media Assistant - Alva Terho Videographer - Kevin Farley Videographer - Rachel Martinez Videographer - Kaya Youngquist
Stylist Co-Director - Shannon Mellish Stylist Co-Director - Lily Dougherty Stylist - Maddy Wieder Stylist - Grace Marshall Stylist - Mattie Peters Stylist - Erin Booker Stylist - Alyssa Battle
Content Director - Camile Cabrera-Ramon Content Assistant - Rose Jackson Content Assistant - Jill Mauro Content Assistant - Gabby Schuchts
Beauty Director - Elizabeth Diaz Beauty Assistant - Kenzie Landrum Photoshoot Director - Bella Hart Photoshoot Assistant - Cole Brooks Photoshoot Assistant - Maria Rojas
PR Co-Director - Emma Bailey PR Co-Director - Marlena Hoffman PR Assistant - Sarah Amster PR Assistant - Barbara Del Rio Diaz PR Assistant - Maya Estremadoyro PR Assistant - Karla Soberon
Photoshoot Director - Anna McGee Photoshoot Assistant - Paige Burrow Photoshoot Assistant - Anna Cleary Photoshoot Assistant - Gavin Pinto
Merchandise Co-Director - Maya Nadulek Merchandise Co-Director - Lana Nassir
Photoshoot Director - Ansley Stevens Photoshoot Assistant - Jenna Evans Photoshoot Assistant - Layla Matthews Photoshoot Assistant - Caroline Schwartz
Casting Co-Director - Abbie Calaforra Casting Co-Director - Ava Redding Casting Co-Director - Maggie Watson
Photoshoot Director - Brooke Johnson Photoshoot Assistant - Terese Coutu Photoshoot Assistant - Lauren Stewart Photoshoot Assistant - Courtney Yurkon ISSUE 31
Set Designer - Zoe Dobbins Treasurer - Davis Johnstone
embodiment
DIRECTED BY ARYANNA CLARK, ABIGAIL SIKES ASSISTED BY SHANNON MELLISH MODEL: FRANCESCA ALFANO PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABIGAIL SIKES
Getting to know yourself One of the most challenging things I have faced in growing up is realizing that I often put heaps of effort into getting to know my friends and family while having no consideration for myself. In the past year, I have allocated more time than ever to be with myself. Self-reflection seemed like a subliminal, unimportant thing until I started to do it. Self-reflection and meditation are some of the hardest things I’ve had to learn to do. Devoting time to thinking about your ambitions, morals, values, and most importantly your feelings can change your perspective on valuable aspects of your life and other lives around you. It can be challenging to possess a positive outlook on life when you are rationally ignorant of the things going on around you and in the entire world. Before I began conducting research on sustainability, I had no idea how the clothing and textile industry has been launching our climate into turmoil. Although being rationally ignorant about what is going on in the world can be blissful, being aware can make immense changes in the world that nobody knew hu-
Erin Booker mans could have been capable of. Sustainability is only the first thing I have begun to extensively research. Even so, I have no doubt there is further potential for devoting my attention to making a difference, even if it is small. It can be hard to see the connection between sustainability and getting to know yourself, but when you dedicate time and effort to yourself you can truly begin to help the people and world around you. I recommend keeping a journal and setting time aside every day to reflect on yourself and your thoughts. Although it can seem dumb now, in a month, a year, or even in five years, you will be able to look back and see a notable difference in how you think, act, and feel. I am nowhere close to fully knowing myself, and I’m not sure I ever will. By taking alone time, I am building a relationship with myself. Building an intimate relationship with yourself changes everything. It could be the thing that shifts your mindset, for better or for worse.
who are you when you’re alone?
DIRECTED BY ANSLEY STEVENS ASSISTED BY JENNA EVANS, CAROLINE SCHWARTZ, LAYLA MATTHEWS MODEL: CAMILE CABRERA-RAMON PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABBY O’LAUGHLIN, LAYLA MATTHEWS, AND CAROLINE SCHWARTZ
I hear the couple behind me talking about the weather in Florida and the possibility of a thunderstorm. In the row next to me there are parents with young children. I can feel the anxiety and excitement of the toddler’s first plane ride rolling over me in waves. I gaze at the girl with angelic blue eyes, hair like goldilocks, and cher ub-like features. I imagine her grown-up fifteen years from now when she would probably be the same age as me. Looking out the little airplane window, I think about how much I’ve been thinking lately. I’ve been in and out of an unconscious state, floating between reality and worst-case scenarios. I want to get away from myself and this life. I close my eyes. My mind begins to subdue. A flash of white light and then nothing. I’ve arrived in the middle of nowhere.
On the cab ride to the motel, I see swarms of birds. I envy them. I am jealous of their ability to leave land and enjoy freedom. I wish I could fly away on a whim whenever I please. Perhaps that is what I am doing right now, leaving my thoughts to enjoy silence. The cab driver interrupts my fully feathered daydream to tell me the fare would be seventeen dollars and forty-three cents. I thank the driver graciously and set foot in the run-down motel. In the lobby, I hear paranoid chatter of the world ending once again. I do not pay attention. The world has ended many times and began again in the morning. I quickly retrieve my keys and find room twenty-three. There is not much inside except for a single bed, record player, television, and two lamps of which only one worked. I shambolically unpack and get myself settled in. Lounging on the bed and senselessly channel surfing, my mind went blank; the way your brain blanks on the name of a familiar face at a party. I thought it appropriate to celebrate the absentmindedness that I antici pated on this trip.
written by camile cabrera-ramon
I crave the taste of champagne and cigarettes, so I venture to the liquor store. Back at my motel room, I threw myself a party. I no longer feel the horrible burden of time and space weighing down on me. I play music as loud as the record player would tolerate. I sing and dance in a trance as if it was my last chance. I jump up and down on the bed like a kid in a bouncy house. It’s time to bring on the bubbly! The rich frothing pop and effervescent tickle overwhelm my mouth. The mne monics of light kisses, bubbles whirling, and strawberry scents evade me. The champagne awakens carefree feelings and I relish in the ease. I light a cigarette; it glows with resolution. I inhale the chemical fix for three solid minutes, and the exhale of smoke tingles the corner of my eyes. My fizzy tobacco lips are buzzed and drunk.
It’s long past midnight now. I don’t know how to express what I want, need, or feel. I rarely know what I am doing most of the time. Except that I wake up each morning and try to get through the day as best as I can. I’m try ing to delight in life’s pleasure and not entrap myself inside my mind as much. Sometimes I forget there are moments that simply must be lived. In this continuously changing world, all I truly know is that I don’t want to live a perfect life. I want a life full of everything. I want adventures that lead to nowhere but end up taking me somewhere. Choices that turn out to be mistakes and choices that turn out to be my best decisions. Love that stays and love that gets lost. Long conversations that make my heart ache and tears that make time move painstakingly slow. Growth and grief. Honesty and de ception. Beauty and terror. Happiness and sadness and everything in between. I wish for a life well lived. -
Senior Acknowledgments By Shannon Mellish
1. Change is good
There is no better insight to letting yourself grow than allowing change. This also means that your friends will change, so be patient. Having an open mind allows you to experience new ideas and friendships you never would have thought possible.
2. Not everyone will reciprocate your effort
Not everyone is your person. You can do everything in your power to be the perfect friend, and that still doesn’t mean they want to give you that same effort. You aren’t for everyone.
4. Forgive People
Don’t allow yourself to cycle into a wave of bitterness. Forgiving people doesn’t mean you have to love them again; it just means your allowing yourself to move on.
5. Diversify your friendships The last thing you want to spend college doing is hanging out with the same group of people you’ve always surrounded yourself with. The development process can’t be completed without opening yourself up to new people and new ideas, it will help you experience the world in many different ways and perspectives.
3. Kindness goes a long way The last couple of years has been one of the heaviest mental tolls on humankind. Everyone is struggling whether you realize this impact around you or not. Remember to show people kindness, you may give them unknown confidence that wasn’t instilled in them before.
6. Sometimes being alone is better than being surrounded by people
Stray away from friends of convenience. No one is worth consistently stressing, and no one is worth your emotional exhaustion. Get comfortable with yourself and get to love your alone time.
7. Listen to your body If you are consistently feeling emotionally drained, exhausted, and anxious about a certain friendship or relationship… learn to listen to your instincts.
8. Go outside your comfort zone Spend time with a new group of people, go to a place you have never gone before. Learning always comes from new experiences. Life has never progressed by staying in the same place.
9. Not everyone you drifted from is a bad person
College is one of the most identifying years of your life. As you start to figure yourself out, so is everyone else. Just because someone wasn’t meant to be in your life doesn’t mean they are a bad person. They were just a bad person for you.
10. Be honest with your friends
The best friends you will find don’t nod their heads when you speak.
11. Respect yourself enough to walk away
If you find yourself in relationships that are not beneficial to you, respectfully walk away. Relationships or friendships take most of your mental energy. Make sure you are surrounding yourself with people who love you for who you are.
13. Focus on yourself 12. People won’t always be who you want them to be 14. Don’t people please
College is for growing relationships, but most importantly growing the relationship with yourself. Respect yourself enough to make decisions based on yourself.
Stop imagining people for who you want them to be and see them for who they are. You can’t change people, let them be.
People-pleasing is a form of getting people to love you by attempting to be someone else. Convincing someone to like you because you are obedient or useful is not the same thing as people liking you for who you are.
15. Every miniscule interaction has brought you to who you are today
From the relationship that didn’t work out to the random person who gave their opinion in class, it all made you into the person you are now. Not every situation works out, but you walk away gaining knowledge you didn’t have before. You may give insight to someone on the street and change their life without even knowing it.
bare; the idea of being alone with yourself, introspecting
DIRECTED BY BROOKE JOHNSON ASSISTED BY TERESE COUTU, COURTNEY YURKON, LAUREN STEWART MODEL: ISABEL CHOI PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABIGAIL SIKES
One of the best up-and-coming brands established herself as a permanent success. Xenia Adonts is a well-known influencer (and fellow Aquarius), but better yet, the founder of apparel brand Attire the Studio. The entrepreneur launched her successful brand in 2019 from her living room in Paris. Originally born in Russia, she grew up in Hamburg, Germany, and attended the Hamburg School of Business Administration. Xenia now works in Paris against fast-fashion consumption and strives to establish a brand that gives consumers confidence. I first resonated with Xenia when I learned of her work life and her desire to transition from an influencer to an entrepreneur. A dedicated workaholic, Xenia found herself stressed over the life she had created for herself. Consistently working, not getting enough sleep, and under constant stress required her to readdress her purpose. Fashion shows with top luxury brands and traveling daily sounded picture-perfect. However, something was missing that propelled her to do something more. Xenia often explained self-doubt in her lifestyle stemming from her rigorous schedule and longed to cultivate change that will make a difference. This sparked the beginning of Attire the Studio. Hard work proved to not be a driving force in creating the brand. Transparency became a key component when Xenia started the foundation of her brand. With the historic revelations of Nike and other big-brand companies that failed to provide consumer transparency on human rights and sustainability, Xenia wanted a company that accurately translated to consumers. Xenia spent her time visiting all the textile mills and ensuring she was aware of every single part of the supply chain. Most of the factories are family owned and she can personally meet the people who make the clothes. Using 100% natural and biodegradable fabric, the process wasn’t easy. One of these hardships was finding a designer.
BY SHANNON MELLISH gradable fabric, the process wasn’t easy. One of these hardships was finding a designer. Xenia describes herself as naturally being able to spot the most talented and loyal people. This is when Carmela came into the picture. Originally from Venezuela, she began studying at The Savannah College of Art and Design. Carmela began work at Ralph Lauren and moved to Calvin Klein not long after that where she designed the infamous Calvin jeans. Xenia aspired to create a line people will fall in love with because the clothing is made to last. She wants consumers to keep their pieces for a lifetime. This is what made the design process so essential. This is what brings us back to the basics. Attire the Studio works to make staple items that people will keep in their closet and use in a variety of ways. Her work with Attire the Studio allowed her to be featured in Forbes 30 under 30 Europe 2021, recognizing young entrepreneurs in retail and e-commerce. Expecting $1.2 million in revenue in 2021, she is recognized as a top female entrepreneur. Her work with Attire the Studio isn’t finished yet, but she plans to be one of the most ethical and sustainable brands. Transparency is a top priority for her and she continues to tread her way in the business world. Some would say her work as an influencer is a catalyst for the brand and allows it to get extreme exposure. Attire the Studio aspires to be a leading brand and it’s already dominating the market.
sonder: each passerby in our lives is living complex and vivid experiences at the same time as us
DIRECTED BY ANNA MCGEE ASSISTED BY PAIGE BURROW, GAVIN PINTO, ANNA CLEARY MODELS: SAMMY MARTINEZ, CROSS AYALA, ANASTASIA MCGILL, NOEL HERNANDEZ PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABIGAIL SIKES, LUKE BROCKINGTON
The Art of
Poetry in
Fashion
For every brand and notion that corresponds to the relationship between words and clothing, there is an underlying inspiration and muse that a person or designer is able to translate into their artwork—clothing. Along with poetry, there are always going to be set rules in the world of fashion as well as in expression, creativity, and rhythm. The world is filled with scriptures of words as the vast majority of the population uses verbal language daily. I still remember reading a short story that focused on the connection between the color of a girl’s nail polish and her current state of mind. Colors of clothing, shoes, and how someone does their makeup—it’s all around us. Personally, I still linger on this story in correlation to how I pick out each article of clothing that I wear on a daily basis. Feeling on edge? Maybe I should throw on neutral tones. Feeling excited? Maybe some gold jewelry and glittery eye makeup will do. This emotionally conscious form of expression is found in so many of us. We just miss the underlying collaboration between one’s style and poetic irony that may have led to their clothing choices. Poets such as Eve Ensler tend to use expressive poetry as a way of divulging into fashion. How do we use poetry in fashion? It should be pretty obvious: We create imagery and settings in our everyday lives to correspond to what we want to wear. When styling ourselves, we visualize the conversations we may have and with whom. Ensler says, “The verb that's been enforced on girls is to please. Girls are trained to please...I want us all to change the verb. I want the verb to be educated, or activate, or engage, or confront, or defy, or create.” Eve wanted her audience to know that the world is so hard on young women that expressiveness is embraced less and less. She speaks to those with youthful energies and lets them know that striving for something should not be impossible or dismissed. Creativity should not be limited. When Fashion Weeks hit the runway, writers dedicate so much time to their words and poetic nature. A new era of poetry and style seems to clash with some old approaches without the knowledge of really understanding why that is. All in all, poetry is art and art is fashion—this is the message that has this modern day and age dripping in interest.
— Lana Nassir
looking into a mirror and someone is looking back
DIRECTED BY BELLA HART ASSISTED BY COLE BROOKS, MARIA ROJAS MODEL: PAULINA REITMAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABIGAIL SIKES, KEVIN FARLEY
illustrations by mia hernandez
If Shadows Could Speak By Camile Cabrera-Ramon
If shadows could speak, They would tell me not to be weak. In a world full of phonies and fakes It is hard not to break. If shadows could speak, They would tell me to never feel defeat. Though every time I pick up a pen I fear the rejection of men. If shadows could speak, They would tell me to critique. In this think-less world we raised Honesty is always good praise. If shadows could speak, They would tell me not to be bleak. To bea kaleidoscope of color to the eye Like a shining star in the night sky. If shadows could speak, They would tell me not to shriek. To chase love with champagne Instead of love with pain. When I die, I will be reunited with the shadows suspended in time.
Artwork by Mia Gonzalez
higher self
DIRECTED BY MILA GAMARRA ASSISTED BY LALO AMBRIS, EMILY CARRIER, ALI MACCLOUD MODEL: GABBY GRODMAN PHOTOGRAPHED BY MILA GAMARRA, LALO AMBRIS
the art of shadow work by camile cabrers-ramon
Life is a battle between good and evil, light and darkness, heaven and hell. Humans, as a collective consciousness, live within this eternal battle. Most of us bask in the light and neglect the darkness. Very few take comfort in the moon and never open their eyes to the sun. Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst Carl Jung explains this conflict in terms of two archetypes: the persona and the shadow. The persona is what you perceive to be bright and strong about yourself which is self-projected out into the world. The shadow is what you perceive to be dark and weak about yourself; these aspects are hidden, denied, and buried deep beneath the subconscious. A work of art merely imparts its persona and nothing of its subconscious to the indolent, casual eye of everyday life. Only through willful contemplation will the shadow of the artwork break free and reveal itself to create meaning. Consequently, art is a perfect vehicle to do our shadow work. The persona is how we present ourselves to the world, it embodies a figurative mask we wear every day. This social mask varies among different social groups and situations. The danger of the persona lies in losing sight of our true self as it can get lost in societal standards and expectations. However, no matter how bright someone’s persona may be, buried underneath is their shadow. The shadow is the unknown dark side of our personality. Jung uses the metaphor of a shadow to convey the role of an individual’s subconscious in the face of evil. The shadow self is a poetic means of explaining the totality of our subconscious that is the most difficult version to confront. All the parts we repress from ourselves and society culminate in our shadow. The shadow self consists of the most primitive and neglected human thoughts and emotions such as envy, greed, lust, desire, rage, and selfishness. Resorting to nihilism, the battle between good and evil is insignificant in the grand scheme of the universe. Perhaps life has no inherent meaning, like art; both are entities that simply exist. Art is everywhere, in
paintings, music, poetry, and phoconveying our most private is an escape emotions, whethenced them or not. inside ourselves and make us who we are. physical into the “suscribe the force which tions of the personal and cerns of its creator. Art is influence internal reflecshadow self and gain
literature, sculptures, films, tographs. It is a vehicle for human experience through thoughts and desires. Art into new realities and er we have experiIt compels us to look examine what qualities Truly great art transcends the pra-personal”, a term used to dehas taken flight from the limitahas soared beyond the conthe most effective method to tion in order to challenge the wisdom.
At first glance, art, like us, does not reveal its shadow, and only after endeavoring to discover and recognize the shadows, will we understand them. By examining and understanding our shadow, we are engaging in shadow work which can reap many benefits. The more we are accepting of ourselves, the more we can accept others; thus, improving our relationships with ourselves and others. Exploring the p e r sonality helps us set boundrepressed parts of our aries in our emotional spectrum. For instance, if we learn to accept sadness, we are able to feel joy and discover a middle ground called contentment. Understandi n g your shadow also improves creativity since the more emotional freedom we have the more we will be inspired to think freely and succeed. If you dare to understand your shadow self it can offer insight and personal growth. We must remember that when we r e press and deny aspects of ourselves, they do not disappear, they merely and power. We become more balanced and grow in size whole when we confront the parts of ourselves that we repress. It is only through g r e a t effort and internal reflection that we can become self-aware and are able to appreciate our shadow selves.
“perfect doll,” a study on impracticality
DIRECTED BY ELIZABETH DIAZ, KENZIE LANDRUM MODEL: LAINEY MACKINNON PHOTOGRAPHED BY ABIGAIL SIKES
The Art of Self-Expression in Fashion by Gabby Schuchts “Fashion is art and you are the canvas” Savio Fonesca
Fashion is a symbol of status and prestige. It represents power and confidence. It is also a form of creativity and self-expression. There is so much room to be anything and anyone you want. It creates a long-lasting impression on people. Ever since I was a little girl, I have been drawn to clothing and the sense of freedom it provides. Freedom to be who I want to be. I have gained an incredible amount of confidence due to this freedom. There is empowerment behind this simple realization. One of the most beautiful aspects of this self-expression is that it can evolve. We all evolve as individuals. Who I was as a little girl is far different from the person I am now. When I was younger, I felt so beautiful like I was truly myself when I dressed in attire that I saw in sophisticated fashion magazines. I roamed through magazines such as Vogue and Elle and found ways to replicate the looks while also adding my own spin. I felt like I could express who I truly was by changing my wardrobe. As a girl who struggled with confidence, this simple embrace of self-expression transformed my self-image. I loved myself more as I decided to give myself room to authentically express myself. I have been able to adapt my style as self-awareness has flourished. Now, instead of trying to be like anyone else or replicate looks I see in magazines, I’ve realized that I have my own unique style that no one else has. I’m unashamed to wear what I feel most beautiful in. I encourage you to allow your personality to shine through in your clothing choices. Don’t be afraid to take risks and try something new. Express yourself and wear whatever makes you feel most confident, most yourself. After all, fashion is truly an art, and you are the canvas. Paint a beautiful picture. Don’t be ashamed to display it for the world to see.
FINDING YOUR COSMIC BESTIES
friendships written in the stars by rose jackson
We take interest in our astrological natal charts, zodiac signs, and cosmic placements to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves. Astrology helps you find meaning in who you are, who you can or should be, and why you are the way you are. As astrology guides you through yourself, it also guides you towards your best companions. These powerfully connected relationships are undeniable because they are written in the stars. Astrological compatibility doesn’t just have to be about finding romance and sex; it can help you find your best friends too. These friendships are meant for you and you are meant for them; they are your cosmic besties. The details of your astrological chart are interwoven in immense, complex connections that all cohesively create one being. It's a map of a unique and intangible representation of yourself. Consequently, there are many methods to finding your cosmic besties. One such way is to search for those who have the same astrological element as you. Known as the triplicities, the zodiac signs are grouped into four groups of three based on the elements, referring to temperament. Another method is to look for signs of similar polarity. The polarities of the signs are split between positive and negative (not meaning good or bad); some call it yang and yin. Polarities tend to describe how energy is wired. Fire and air signs are positive; they share the yang, extroverted energy. Water and earth signs are negative; they share the yin, introverted energy. I’m a Gemini and my best friend is an Aries. We make so much sense together. She knows me better than I know myself; we have the same mind. I simply cannot live my life without her. Sometimes we are shocked by the uncanniness of our similarities. To further the quest of finding your cosmic besties, you can look at what sign rules your 11th house placement. Each of the 12 houses in your astrological chart represents an area of your life. The 11th house is the house of social networks and friendship connections. My 11th house sign is Libra. Funny enough, my best friend since middle school is in fact a Libra. Since we’re also both air signs, our connection is especially supported by the cosmos. While I will always say that astrology is fundamentally suggestive and not exact or absolute, it is amazingly interesting to see how much it can click your life together, or make it make sense at least a little more than it did before.
FIRE WATER EARTH AIR
ARIES TAURUS GEMINI CANCER LEO VIRGO LIBRA SCORPIO SAGITTARIUS CAPRICORN AQUARIUS PISCES
Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo Aquarius, Gemini, Libra
Leo, Sagittarius, Gemini, Aquarius, Libra Capricorn, Virgo, Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio Aquarius, Libra, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Pisces, Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo Aries, Sagittarius, Aquarius, Gemini, Libra Taurus, Capricorn, Pisces, Cancer, Scorpio Gemini, Aquarius, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Cancer, Pisces, Virgo, Taurus, Capricorn Aries, Leo, Gemini, Aquarius, Libra Taurus, Virgo, Scorpio, Pisces, Cancer Gemini, Libra, Aries, Leo, Sagittarius Cancer, Scorpio, Capricorn, Taurus, Virgo
DIRECTED BY GRACYN HOLLOWAY, ALLEN MORTON MODELS: ARYANNA CLARK, ABIGAIL SIKES, SHANNON MELLISH, LILY DOUGHERTY, GRACE MARSHALL, ERIN BOOKER, ALYSSA BATTLE, JUDE JONES, SARAH KWARA, BROOKE JOHNSON PHOTOGRAPHED BY MILA GAMARRA