ELLA magazine

ELLA

APRIL VOL NO. 1

COOL, CANDID, COURAGEOUS,

MADISON GETS REAL

10

TRENDS THAT WILL HAVE YOU READY FOR SPRING.

PLUS AN INSIDE LOOK

AT MARTHA WEDDINGSNEWEST EDITORIAL ASSISTANT

#MyCalvins Calvin Klein Jeans

contents

8 | THE GREENHOUSE 15 | 10 Spring trends 18 | HISTORY OF THE PLATFORM SHOE 22 | Interview With Textiles & Apparel Alum

girls’ club

letter from the editor

ELLA Magazine was created for the simple purpose of inspiring readers to become more aware of their day-to-day fashions and the culture that surrounds them. Looking back at the beginning of my journey of what was once an inspritation, I could have never pictured ELLA Magazine coming into life. I was able to expand the boundaries of fashion, and focus on social issuesthat come into correlation with fahsion. Without one we couldn not have the other. I was able to interview a Male Feminist as well as a Textiles and Apparel Alum who now works for Martha Stewart Bridal. Many people shared their stories with me, so we could share them with all of you. A world without fashion is one I wouldnt want to imagine so we keep up with trend to present to all of you. With much anticipation and excitement, I present to you ELLA Magazine.

Diana Hernandez Editor in Chief

ACNE STUDIOS FLAG SHIP STORE NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK

THE Bringing the beauty of the enviornment with style, GREENHOUSE is able to show the need for sustainability in fashion.The enviornment impacts all of us.

The problem with fashion, vis-avis the enviornment, isn’t with any one product or any one process.

We can take steps in the right direction to make fashion production eco-friendly. Having a sense of style is a way of taking action.

People should take both fashion and the enviornment more seriously, not less.

GREENHOUSE

product ad

10

spring trends Spring trends are refreshing and vibrant like the season itself.

There is no doubt that the revival of the 90s is in full swing in 2017. Walking down the street of a busy city you’ll see Calvin Klein printed tee’s and platform shoes. Or maybe you’ll see paisley bandanas and sheer tops. Here are just a few ways to wear these popular spring trends.

2 & 3. EMBRODIERY // DENIM

8. SPORTSWEAR

1. BANDANA

5. TINTED GLASSES Taking a classic, paisley print and giving a modern and feminine twist to it, the bandana is the perfect accessory to up your fashion game. It’s simple, subtle and effortless to work with. It’s literally a square of fabric that you can transform into many different shapes and styles.

Athleisure is a trend that has taken the world by storm. Its seen on a day to day basis in places like college campuses to big cities. Comfort and style should go hand-in-hand.

9. BAND TEES

6. CHOKERS

4. SHEER TOPS 10. FLORAL PRINT Sheer fabrics can be beautifully deceptive. With the feeling of fabric against your skin and the sensation of being covered up, you might start off feeling uncomfortably exposed, but it’s confidence that makes a peek-aboo situation all the more stunning.

7. PLATFORM SHOES Spring is known for various floral prints. Its the bold ones that stick out the most.

Essential Skin Care

Glowing, dewy skin is our thing.

Our skincare products are designed to instantly optimize skin’s tone, texture, and hydration levels so that it’s already at its best before you even think about makeup.

Glossier

History of the 220 BC

1930’S

1300’S

1970’S

MIDDLE

1

Platform shoe

E AGES

1400’S

1990’S

2010

1700’S

TODAY

URBAN OUTFITTERS

Interview With Textiles & Apparel alum:

Kara Keigan

Words By: Diana Hernandez, Design: Diana Hernandez

T

extiles and apparel alumni Kara Keigan is off to bigger and better things.

With a passion for fashion she is out making big plays in New York City. This small town woman had big city dreams and turned them into a reality. With a passion for fashion and journalism she was able to move out of Iowa and go to the fashion capitol of the USA. This Iowa native graduated from Roland Story High School in 2012, and went on to further her studies at the University of Northern Iowa where she obtained her B.A. in Textiles and Apparel and Journalism.

With knowledge about the fashion industry, this woman was able to turn her dreams into a reality. So what is the driving force behind her studying fashion?

Keigan never had a big ah-ha moment where she knew it was what she wanted to do with her life, but she has always taken an interest in it. Her junior year in high school was when she had to start thinking about college and her future.

“It was more of a What else would I do? approach because I just knew I wanted to go into fashion,” said Keigan.

The Cedar Valley is known for many things. One thing that some people aren’t extremely knowledgeable about is fashion, but it’s certainly here. Keigan had many different college picks ranging from Kent State in Ohio, to Cal State Long Beach in California. It was not until relatively late in her senior year where to spent a weekend visiting a friend in Cedar Falls, that made UNI an option.

“YOU’RE EXPOSED TO TRENDS HITTING LONDON TWO YEARS BEFORE THEY CAME TO THE U.S. SO EVERYTHING WE WERE WEARING AND DOING MADE ME FEEL LIKE A BADASS.”

“I went on a college visit, where I had an interview for a large scholarship (that I later received). I was considering all these out of state schools with great fashion programs but then thought, what if I get there and realize fashion is not for me,” said Keigan.

“So I decided to stick around Iowa for my first year, take some fashion courses to see if it’s what I wanted to do, then eventually I would transfer.

After receiving the full ride scholarship I knew I would do my first year at UNI and the rest is kind of history. Once at UNI I joined a sorority and had found

my ride or die (still to this day) best friends within the first two months and transferring was never a thought again.”

At UNI, she was able to study abroad at the London College of Fashion. She was able to learn so much and apply it to every aspect of the life she currently lives. “Studying at LCF was truly a summer of a lifetime. I went into the summer as 19 year old, confident but not necessarily confident in my style or career path. It was there that I took a fashion media and a styling course where I was like shit this is what I want to do with my life.

You’re exposed to trends hitting London 2 years before they came to the US so everything we were wearing and doing made me totally feel like a badass. My tutor for my styling course (a fashion photographer named Darren Black) also helped me in finding my own sense of style. My friend and partner for all of my projects Casey Hinders would brainstorm, create a mood board, shop, style, and model for our own projects. Darren really boosted my confidence saying how much I could pull of the London club kid look in

all the things I styled and wore myself.

So after that Summer I think overall I just dressed edgier but definitely came back to UNI dressing with more confidence.

It was after studying at LCF where she returned to UNI and began the fashion culture magazine Uprising. She had the title of Editor In Chief and took the campus by storm. She was able to create an organization where students studying fashion journalism could release their creativeness for the campus to see. Uprising recently released their third issue and will continue working on their fourth

and fifth, in the coming Fall Semester 2017.

In the Summer of 2015, Keigan received and amazing internship opportunity. “I had amazing exposure to so many different brands at ELLE. I also got to see a little more of the process at a fashion publication. My only experience up until then was styling for Uprising in which we would come up with a concept and thrift and style the pieces we found. Now I was exposed to the whole concept of market work which is still huge in magazines. We worked within 3 markets at ELLE the top highest one was all couture

houses (Chanel, Dior), I worked on the middle market (Phillip Lim, Altuzarra), and the lowest market (& Other Stories, Gap).

Each shoot would be curated with pieces from each market that would then be pulled, then presented to the out of house stylist to style the stories. Studying at LCF is what first put in my head that I wanted to work at a magazine. I realized my favorite part of fashion was putting together looks and going to LCF really exposed me to the fact that was a real job. Being at ELLE is when I had my “I can actually have a career in fashion publications” moment. I knew it would not be easy as print they say is a “dying industry” but I sort of put all my eggs in one basket for styling and fashion publications, and thus far it has worked out for me.” Keigan’s internship opened many doors for her. She is currently an assistant style editor at Martha Stewart Bridal. “Basically I assist in the styling of various stories.

When we begin working on an issue I’m assigned stories (ranging from fashion to working with

K K table top and anything in between). So I will help prep the stories by calling things in, trafficking the samples, then I will go on set assist in any styling and pack things up afterwards to set up. When I was hired I also knew I would take on an article on my own called “Good Things” which basically is 7-9 spread in each issue in which we present new or new takes on old ideas for your wedding. They can range from décor ideas, paper ideas, fashion ideas, and anything in between. Starting next issue I will completely be running this on my own (coming up with

the ideas themselves and styling the story). Extremely nerve racking but an insane amount of responsibility I get at such a young age and position.

The best part about Keigan’s career is that no day is exactly alike. “I’m invited to a ton of press previews to come and look at fashion or jewelry lines from various designers so I might set up a couple appointments a week to get

out of the office and see what is in the market”, says Keigan. “If I am preparing for a shoot I’m calling things in for the set, scheduling messengers, checking in samples, etc. I also have to take part in all pre-production meetings so I will sit in on all the meetings to pitch to our EIC, meet with our art directors about how we want to shoot, etc. Prepping for set I’m usually out running around shopping for anything we might need to shoot (this has ranged from something easy like some paper products to literally going and buying a bunch of squid legs). Then on set I assist in whatever needs to be done whether that is steaming for fashion stories or just helping to make sure the styling is perfect.

Then after I usually deal with all the returns so lots of unpacking repacking and scheduling messengers/fedex. Some boring days, some “holy shit I can’t believe this is my life days”!

Keigan was on set most of Bridal Fashion Week. She only attended around 8 shows. From seeing the classics like Oscar de la

Renta and Monique Lhuillier to seeing some of her personal favorites were Berta and Naeem Khan. “My favorite show by far was the Naeem Khan show. From the styling to the dresses to the music everything was incredible. Loud Italian music led models that were dripping in strands of pearls and large septum pierced down the runway. Every dress is hand beaded so you see amazing fringe and embellishment going on. In a day full of the “pretty pretty princess” bride look it was the perfect way to stand out and a look for that badass girl to wear.”

Keigan has no idea how her career will go or who she will meet. She simply tries to keep it interesting.

“If my career in publications is really successful I could definitely see myself being around here for a long time. Maybe if I was married or with a family I would move slightly upstate and commute in, or maybe I’ll end up a house wife back in the Midwest.”

When asked if she would one day want to become editor of a magazine Keigan smiled and replied, “Absolutely that is the end goal- Fashion Editor Kara Keigan. Sounds good right?”

CHECK KARA OUT ON THE NEXT ISSUE OF MARTHA STEWART WEDDINGS

back cover

ELLA