In this edition, view our must-have fashion staples that scream streetwear.
Join us in sitting down with a new athletic wear brand known for quality and eco-consciousness!
By: Kailey Calomeni
Our Beloved Junk
Browse our favorite junk items we just can’t live without!
Kool Kat was created in September 2024 by a girl who simply could not contain the endless ideas, thoughts, and dreams that live rent free in her mind. This very girl has creativity in her veins, and decided to awaken the “kool” in everyone through inspiration and fun! This magazine is a passion project not only for her, but everyone who needs a little dose of happy! Social media has taken a strong hold of our minds over the years, and it is about time we take back control! The two most important things to remember are that dreams should always be followed and ideas are always encouraged. Let your inner child loose and your personality unfold. Kool Kat is a magazine about absolutely everything (NO negative topics here)! From recipes, to poems, fashion, art, local hangouts, etc. The world is yours, and ours, and it’s called Kool Kat. Get off your phone, get dressed, grab a coffee (hot or iced), snatch a copy of our latest issue, and let your creativity flow. You are a part of the inspiration that helped create this magazine, and you are so appreciated. Let Kool Kat be your muse, your bestie, or even your next waiting room read! Cheers to the beginning of a very special friendship!
Yours,
Kailey S Calomeni
Founder & Designer
Written By: Taylor Horton
This is how I started and failed at creating a Halloween costume in time for my campus’s party. This Halloween I wanted to be the little mermaid, with a beaded purple bra and a blue-green crocheted skirt. Mind you I have never used any metal or jewelry making tools, so this would be a very new project for me. Part of my inspiration for this costume came from over the summer. I saw tons of people on my feed making these beaded bras for raves and Coachella. I thought Halloween would be a good excuse for me to learn a new skill. On October 4th, I took a trip to Macomb Mall with my sister and her boyfriend. There I spent $90 on yarn and beads.
On YouTube, LaDenser Crochets has a video called Crochet Maxi Skirt with a V-stitch detail. In her video she clearly describes what materials she used and roughly how much yarn she used. We are making clothing, so the size of the garment and yarn amount are proportional. LaDenser measured her waist, hips, and 3 di erent potential skirt heights. To recreate this skirt, you should have a beginner's understanding of how to crochet before watching her video. She will explain how to increase/ decrease, create di erent stitches, and new rows. The only skill you would have to look up is how to add more yarn to your project and there are plenty of videos on YouTube or TikTok of how to do so. This project needs at least a week to complete, if this isn't your only project. Personally with me being side tracked by friends and school work, it took me well over a week to complete. Please also take into account that your time spent on this project also depends on how fast you can crochet. Recognize your strengths and weaknesses, before only giving yourself a month to do said projects.
On October 20th, the campus parties were advertised for Friday October 25. At this point I was 75% done with my skirt and I hadn't even started my beaded bra yet. The videos I watched said they spent roughly 5 days creating and recreating the piece before it was appropriate to wear. Those videos were of people who had worked with jump rings, lobster clasps, pliers, and beads before. I have never worked with those materials before. I also knew that on
Wednesday the 23rd, I had an exam to take. I was looking at 4 days max if I was going to start and nish this piece. This whole month I thought I had until the 31st to complete this project. I de nitely would have started earlier if I had known. I had consumed so many videos on how to make this beaded bra and now I was going to have to speed run through it.
The steps of the bra were base, bead strips, and fastening/securing. First, I used my mannequin to mimic how I want the base of the piece to look on me. It took me a few tries to gure out how to hold and use the pliers for e ective long term use, but once I gured it out it wasn't too bad. Second, it came to counting and creating the bead strips. The Hobby Lobby beads I bought came in prepackaged strips, but I didn't like the formation. I undid each strip and rearranged the beads to my liking. I was short by a lot. Enough to where it would be considered indecent even for Halloween standards. Third, my friends let me know on Wednesday the 23rd that they have no intention of attending said Halloween parties. It was at that moment where I lost most motivation to complete the piece. It will now sit in the back of my closet till I nd a reason to continue it.
Written By: Anastacia taylor
By: Anastacia Taylor
Looking for a new rock band to listen to? Friday Pilots Club is a new band that formed in Chicago, Illinois in 2017. Their music is classified as rock and alternative. Friday Pilots Club consists of five members. Those five members have had a large number of EPs and singles. The band released a full-length debut album in 2024. Friday Pilots Club had a North America tour in 2024. The tour was called “Nowhere.” Their opening bands consisted of Family Dinner and Capital Soiree. The tour started in Washington, DC on October 8, and ended in Chicago on October 25. A few of the venues that were on their tour were sold out. One of the sold out venues was “Blind Pig” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Ann Arbor is also the hometown of the bassist for Friday Pilots Club. Family Dinner is the newest band out of the three. They are from Long Island, New York. Family Dinner debuted their first EP in 2021. Family Dinner’s music is considered alternative rock. This band consists of four members. These four members have toured with other bands, while touring with Friday Pilots Club. Capital Soiree is a band that formed in Chicago in 2013. Their music is classified as indie-pop rock. The group has a handful of singles, a couple EPs and an album that are currently out. Capital Soiree consists of four members. They were originally a group of three, until they added a live drummer to the mix. All of the members are multi-instrumentalists. Capital Soiree and Friday Pilots Club share a member. The lead guitarist and vocalist of Capital Soiree is a guitarist for Friday Pilots Club. If a person likes the bands Sum 41, Simple Plan, 3 Doors Down, The Offspring or Hozier, they are bound to like one of the bands that were part of this tour. Family Dinner, Capital Soiree and Friday Pilots Club are known for interacting with the crowd on and off the stage. After their sets, they will be in the crowd or selling their merchandise. After all of the bands are done and the crowd is starting to die down, they will talk to anyone who comes up to them.
Written By: Anastacia Taylor
The director of Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Tim Burton, said that this film would only exist if Michael Keaton would return as Beetlejuice. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was set as a direct sequel to Beetlejuice. Lydia’s father was killed on his way back home from a trip. Lydia’s daughter, Astrid, did not like the fact that the family had to go to her grandfather’s house to clean out all of the belongings. Her mother’s boydoes something unexpected at her father’s wake. Astrid leaves the wake because she did not want to be around some of the people and she wanted to just be away from everything. Astrid crashes into a boy’s fence and they start to get to know each other. She goes to the boy’s house a few more times and they get to know each other better. Secrets were revealed about the boy and his family. Beetlejuice helps Lydia and her family with some of their misfortunes. This film talks more about Beetlejuice’s past and explains how he died. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice also goes into more detail on the afterlife. In my opinion, it feels like the setting is more in the afterlife world than in the real world. The movie definitely expanded on the idea of the undead and the afterlife world. Beetlejuice Beetlejuice was released in theaters September 6, 2024. Tim Burton directed the movie. Some other films that Burton directed are Alice in Wonderland, Corpse Bride, Batman and Beetlejuice. Burton’s films usually have a blend of fantasy and horror. The main actors are Michael Keaton, Winona Ryder, Catherine O’Hara and Jenna Ortega. Michael Keaton has been in many wellknown movies, including Batman. Winona Ryder has also acted, produced and directed. Some of the things she acted in are Stranger Things, Destination Wedding, Frankenweenie and Edward Scissorhands. Catherine O’Hara has acted in Penelope, Elemental, Schitt’s Creek and Frankenweenie. Jenna Ortega started acting in 2012 and she has been in 51 other movies and television shows since then. Keaton, Ryder and O’Hara reprised their roles in this sequel. In my opinion, Keaton and O’Hara were the exact same as their characters in the first film. Keaton was still the same quirky character that was obsessed with Lydia. O’Hara still played the obnoxious stepmother. In Beetlejuice, Ryder was an independent woman who did everything without help and was proud of it. In Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Ryder’s character was not independent, but the exact opposite. Lydia needed help with everything and did not truly try to do anything on her own. I do believe that all of the actors in the movie did a wonderful job. I did not have much hope for this movie originally due to the fact that it took so long for them to make it, and just the simple fact that it is a sequel. It was well-rounded and it kept true to the first film. The movie did not talk about major topics, but it was a nice movie to turn my brain off to. I would rate this movie a nine out of ten.
Written By: Nolan Massarello
It’s not often that a movie manages to be both completely entertaining and viscerally disturbing. The Substance is one of those rare lms that is able to do both things so well, entrapping the viewer within its sensual web and slowly injecting its sinister venom. I was still glued to my seat as the credits rolled, which is, by my standards, the sign of a truly great horror lm.
The lm is directed by Coralie Fargeat and stars Demi Moore as an aging Hollywood star known as Elisabeth Sparkle. Due to her age and loss of public attraction, Sparkle gets red from her own aerobics television show. This initial rejection happens at the very start of the lm and sets the tone and the themes for the rest of the runtime. It’s a scathing portrayal of the shallowness in modern media and how the bodies of women are exploited in their youth, only to be casually discarded as they age.
Elisabeth Sparkle struggles with the fact that she has aged and is no longer wanted on her own show. She was once a beloved icon, if not for her charm then at least for her youthful vitality and her desirable physical appearance. During a hospital stay (for reasons best left unspoiled), she nds out from a patient that there is a sketchy black market drug she could take to return to this state– “The Substance”, as it is referred to– and she decides that she would rather inject some unknown and unregulated potion into her body rather than to feel the rejection she has faced from her deteriorating youth.
“The Substance” creates a younger, more perfect version of Elisabeth, which she hopes to use to reclaim some semblance of her youth. However, the instructions that came with the drug constantly remind her to remember that “You are one”. Both versions of herself have to continue to exist, and this duality undoubtedly causes psychological con icts to arise. The details of the cloning experience and how they coexist are better left unmentioned, and something I encourage you to discover for yourself if you haven’t seen the lm already.
There is not much else I can say about the plot without spoiling the insanity that is The Substance. It’s a wild trip from beginning to end, with so much to say about the struggles women face and the exploitation of their bodies. It portrays the male gaze in such a way that manages to satirize it without becoming it; it’s sleazy without indulging in its predatory atmosphere. The visual style and editing carry the lm e ortlessly, turning what could feel like a bloated two and a half hours into one of the most enjoyable watches of the year.
Rarely do we see feminist centered lms tackle the male gaze from the experiences of elderly women, and for this reason, The Substance stands out amongst other feminist horror outings. Demi Moore’s performance is compelling, and as a male viewer I was o ered some insight into a topic that I will never fully be able to understand on the same level as the women who are constantly exploited and used. The lm’s original score (composed by the French artist Ra ertie) adds to the feeling of disgust and frustration, and often reaches intense and horrifying moments that serve the atmosphere of the lm so perfectly.
The Substance does what most great lms do, by providing an experience for its audience that is singular in its purpose but universal in how it is felt. It isn’t just about women, or a satire of misogynistic industries; it is also a lm about aging, the loss of identity, and the way in which we look at women in media. This makes it meaningful to anyone who watches it, regardless of their age or gender identity. It is, in short, the de nitive must-see of the year.
By: Kailey Calomeni
Meet AIV-VIA (uh-vi-ah) Athletics, an up-and-coming athletic wear brand specialized in making you feel your best so you can perform your best. I got to sit down with AIV-VIA’s Founder to discuss the brand and why YOU should shop with them!
It’s a funny story actually, but I started out selling yoga blocks on Amazon. I decided to custom make some mats and clothes for photoshoots with the blocks. I had some connections overseas and had always wanted to start a boutique. Since I was starting to get a demand for clothing and other products, I decided to give it a go! Thus, AIV-VIA was born.
We’re eco-friendly and customize our clothes. Orders typically take 3 weeks due to everything we sell being made to order. We wanted AIVVIA to have a very eco-conscious approach. We minimize overstock and reduce waste by using eco-friendly recyclable materials. We use innovative materials and do NOT have a center seam design on our leggings unlike a variety of well-known brands.
We sell clothing, yoga blocks, hats, belt/tote bags, and soon, yoga mats! We introduce new items in collections and all collections have matching sets. All products offer netural colors and a buttery soft material. Whether it is a high sculpt intensity effect or a scrunch-butt effect, there is something for everyone. We aim to support both your comfort and confidence! All items are available on our website!
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease a 9x13-inch sheet pan.
Wash and hull strawberries. Puree strawberries in a blender. You should have 1 3/4 cups strawberry puree. Set aside 1/2 cup strawberry puree for the frosting.
Combine cake mix, 1 1/4 cups strawberry puree, eggs, oil, and gelatin in a bowl. Beat using an electric mixer until thoroughly combined. Pour batter into the prepared sheet pan and smooth out the top.
Bake in the preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35 to 45 minutes. Remove from oven and cool completely on a wire rack.
Strawberry Frosting:
Combine butter and cream cheese in a bowl and beat with an electric mixer until smooth. Add 1/2 cup strawberry puree, powdered sugar, and vanilla extract, and beat until frosting is smooth.
Frost cooled cake with strawberry frosting. Keep refrigerated until serving.
1 (16 ounce) package fresh strawberries
1 (15.25 ounce) package white cake mix
3 large eggs
¾ cup oil
1 (3 ounce) package strawberry-flavored gelatin
Strawberry Frosting:
¼ cup butter, softened
1 (4 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
2 ½ cups powdered sugar, or more as needed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup strawberry puree
Find and search for our Kool Kat Logo ( ). Hint: It is hidden in 3 places.
Thank you for reading and supporting the first of MANY Kool Kat issues to come! We love you! <3
Graphic Designers:
Kailey Calomeni
Liz Mankovich
Kaylee Lathrop
Models: Tommy Wheaton
Hailey Hough
Jasmine Huynh
Annelyse Foudie
CarleyRaeganHendrickson CarlMilliron
Editors: Maria Chesnutt
Kailey Calomeni
Photographers: Maria Chesnutt
Maddie Miller
Kailey Calomeni
Writers: Maria Chesnutt
Taylor Horton
Anastacia Taylor
Nolan Massarello
Kailey Calomeni
Fashion Direction: Maria Chesnutt
Tommy Wheaton
Hailey Hough
Picture credits: Pinterest & Google
