Styled

styled

Internet Influence The Teenage Closet The Vintage Side of Things

2 | 2019

3 | 2019

Table Of Contents 4 | 2019

Title

Page

About the Editors

6

Introduction to each of the creators of Styled.

The Art of Fashion Photography

8

A feature article with a specific lens focused on the photography side of fashion.

The Statistics: Teen Fashion

12

The facts on the matter of what’s popular with teens.

The Vintage Side of Things

14

The inside scoop on vintage stores and why they are so popular.

Flashes of Fashion

18

Experience a quick blast to the past in a time line of trends from the 1960s to the 2000s.

The Teenage Closet

20

A deeper look into the culture of teenage fashion.

Which High Schooler Are You?

24

A few styles and price ranges to discover which high schooler you are.

Thrifting: Cart to Counter

26

Follow the flow of used clothes!

Thrifting

30

The differences and similarities between two outfits, thrifted and retail.

Internet Influence

32

The rise of resale culture.

The Importance of Color

36

Combos and coordinations of color!

5 | 2019

About The Editors

Stella Rae Hi! My name is Stella Rae Kinard and I was born and raised in Austin, Texas.

I have one older sister named Byron and one younger sister named Magnolia and they are both some of my best friends! I’ve always loved clothes and how well I can express myself with them. Shopping and fashion is also something I find myself bonding with people over and creating a magazine about something so present in my life seemed like a perfect project for myself! My favorite thing about fashion is how diverse it can be, and how everyone’s individual style is brilliant to them at least, and if someone else doesn’t like it...well...it just doesn’t matter!

Wassup, my name is Marta Knoll and I go to LASA High School in Austin, Texas.

I have a younger brother named Alex and a younger sister named Ellie. In the past year, I have gotten a lot more interested in shopping and fashion. I really like to go clothes shopping with my sister because she has a very good eye for clothes and can help me find cool outfits. This magazine has really helped me find new styles and clothes that I may not have worn before. Hopefully after this magazine is published I will still be able to cultivate my own personal style!

Marta 6 | 2019

Hey, I’m Alice Beckett and I’m a freshman at LASA. I like camping, hiking, playing (and winning at) softball, and I love hanging out with my friends more than anything. I wanted to make a magazine on fashion because the different ways people dress are so interesting to me, especially when people wear weird and funky clothes. Plus, I love shopping so much I go to Goodwill at least once a week. I chose to focus more specifically on high school fashion because that’s who I am: a high schooler.

Sophia

Alice

I’m Sophia Giulietti, and yes, my last name does sound familiar.

I have a sister named Alex and we love to shop. I’ve been more interested in fashion lately, especially thrifting because of all the good deals and unique items. It’s fun to plan outfits for the week, especially with a new variety of clothes. I think I’m a little obsessed since it’s ~80% of my closet… whoops. This school year has been quite stressful but it gives me more freedom and I’ve made new friends. I do rowing right now which is pretty fun but can also be very difficult, and I’ve been working on rock climbing, skating and running.

Hey guys, I’m Jasmine Gaynier and I was born and raised in Austin. I have no siblings, but I do have a 4 year old puppy named Tiffany. Throughout my life I’ve been very interested in style and fashion and I pay a lot of attention to current and former styles. Fashion is really most important to you rather than others, and I hope you’ll be able to find new thing that interest you about fashion! This year I’ve picked up some new interests, like softball, which I play with our co-editor, Alice. I hope you enjoy our magazine and you learn some things about fashion along the way!

Jasmine

7 | 2019

Photo courtesy of Nina Ho.

Fashion Photography How this art has influenced society

Story by: Marta Knoll

Photo courtesy of Tania Quintanilla.

8 | 2019

ooking through the camera lens, the photographer looks at the model while telling them what to do.

Around the model, a team of people are watching as their hard work finally paid off. People say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and in this case, the beholder is the photographer. fable to showcase emotions and their point of view.

L

The art of photography has been around for centuries. Ever since the first photograph was taken in 1826, it has been used in a different ways.

Inside the realm of photography, there are many different subsets. The amount of individual groups in photography make this a diverse medium.

Fashion photography, one of the many types of photography, is unique in its own way. This kind of photography is mostly used for financial purposes, such as promoting a brand, but it can be used in other ways. In this way, it has been more popular in recent years as social media influencers have used it to showcase their outfits to their followers.

There are also some differences between fashion photography and the rest of photography.

“I think for me there’s just a lot more creativity,” Nina Ho, an Austin photographer, said “and you also get a really unique opportunity to collaborate with a full team to bring your creative vision to life, so it’s less a single photography experience or photographer experience, it’s more of a team, collaborative experience.”

Unlike other types of photography, multiple people are needed on site to realize the dream of the photographer in the shoot. Fashion photography can be seen as a well-oiled machine; if one part is not doing its right function, the entire machine will be useless. It was only when all the parts are running smoothly that the final product will be

well executed. When the team is able to execute the vision properly, it can become accepted and influential.

Much of what is shot for commercial use has the ability to impact today’s society. People tend to gravitate toward what is portrayed in the media, and if the photographer is able to perfectly capture the point, then it will be able to influence a good portion of the community. Tania Quintanilla, a fashion photographer based in Texas and New York, said, fashion photography can set trends, politically and commercially.

Many fashion photographers agree with this portrayal. A photographer based in Austin, Romy Suskin, said fashion photography has become a story.

Through one picture, the photographer can give you a beginning, middle and end. Many different components can be used to perfectly come to this.

Costumes, lighting, makeup and facial expressions are a few of the elements

“Fashion photography can set trends, politically and commercially” --Tania Quintanilla

that the photographers manipulate to get their final result. Photography is a medium without many rules. These individual liberties is one of the things that draw people to this art form.

Photographers are able to turn a twodimensional piece into a complex story.

Great photographers often have the most experience, which then leads to

Photo courtesy of Romy Suskin

the time they have spent pursuing photography. New and upcoming photographers can often feel intimidated by the sheer number of photographers around the world, as that could often lead to competition and strain around photographers.

One of the first things that Suskin stressed about was the importance of mentors. She believed that she would have moved a lot faster in her profession if she had one.

Another way someone can become a better photographer is through practice. Ho also said that the most important thing about being a photographer is to always believe in yourself and pursue what you enjoy.

Money will soon follow that and once you have set a concrete foundation for yourself in the style that you like, fans will start to admire your work.

The way that people feel about photography can be adamantly seen, as the lack of care correlates to a lack of unique style, which is a very key part of photography. While it may be subtle, every photographer has a special way that they shoot their subject, or in other words, their “voice.” Ho said that it can take years to find you voice.

One of the best ways someone can use to find their voice is to shoot many different things until 9 | 2019

Photos courtesy of Nina Ho.

something catches your attention.

“Always be shooting,” is the advice that Ho gives to young photographers starting in the business. She says that grew a lot as a photographer because she always had her camera with her and was trying to capture every moment.

“It’s more about developing a good eye to whether you’re shooting on a disposable camera, whether you’re shooting on an expensive DSLR, It’s really about having a vision as a photographer” Ho said. The nicest camera isn’t what is really needed in this line of work; it’s really about being able to strongly shoot what you want to present to the audience you have. Someone can be greatly influenced by something that is presented to them, so the 10 | 2019

photographers always try to get their point across skillfully.

The way that photography is viewed has also changed dramatically since the invention of the internet. People are now able to easily share their work and access other people’s work. This instant sharing of ideas opens people to new concepts and connections.

What is being shot for the public is also changing. People are moving away from the conventional side of photography and toward the creative expression side.

Ideas and conventions that were once deemed as “un-shootable” are now put into the spotlight.

Photography allows for diverse forms of expression. It is a broad medium, and because of that, the way that you can express yourself is up to you. Centuries ago, it was only the wealthy that had

access to cameras, but now almost anyone can take a shot at this art form.

This had led to an influx in expression by photos, and different people have different ways of showing their life and what is around them.

Photo courtesy of Tania Quintanilla

“So it’s less a single photography experience or photographer experience, it’s more of a team, collaborative experience.”

--Nina Ho Photo courtesy of Romy Suskin

Photo courtesy of Nino Ho

11 | 2019

The Statistics: Teens usually shop

Once every couple of months

Friends influence a teen’s style the most

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$

Teens are spending Less Money on clothes than previous generations

62% of teens shop with their families

Teen Fashion

By: Marta Knoll

What YOU need to know about the new generation

Nike is the favorite clothing brand of teens

Blue

is the color that teens prefer to wear

11 1

Teens shop the most at Mainstream stores

Teens usually spend

$31-$40

on clothes

1

Sources: •www.practicalcommerce.com •Survey made for LASA teens •www.teenvogue.com 13 | 2019

The Vintage Side of Things The inside scoop on vintage stores, and why they are so popular!

Story by: Stella Rae Kinard

alking down the streets of Austin, it was nearly impossible for the day to pass by without seeing someone wearing clothing from at least one vintage store or another. Unique pieces that came from countless locations and endless eras blur past on the Austin scene, which was home to just a fraction of the world’s vintage market. Cities and towns across the country were home to these distinctive stores that celebrated everyone’s individual fashion and style.

Vintage stores in Austin have been around for decades. One example of these stores was Blue Velvet, founded by the Barker-Benfield mother-daughter duo in 1994. Another example was Buffalo Exchange, founded back in 1974 by Kerstin and Spencer Block in Tucson, Arizona, and later opening a location in Austin, Texas. But what did the word “vintage” even entail? Although definitions may have varied from person to person, or place to place, generally, something that is vintage could be summarized as a product that was made in a past era.

The diversity of the vintage category of clothing is something that caused people to gravitate to it. Aarian Frye, an employee at Buffalo Exchange, said that vintage could include pieces from one of a kind 1950s gems to fun pieces from the early 2000s.

So, what’s the difference between a thrift store and a vintage store? While thrift stores could house plenty of vintage clothing -- and possibly for a cheaper price -- vintage stores have already sifted through the masses 14 | 2019

to uncover the gold, and this was what they sold on their racks. These vintage stores curated their selection and saved their customers the time it would have taken for them to scrounge around for the pieces that are really one of a kind and of good quality.

Vintage stores may have been thought of as pricey by some, but their clothes were often affordable for what they were worth and were certainly not geared toward a wealthier audience exclusively. Jennifer Barker-Benfield,

a co-founder of Blue Velvet, said that vintage stores are available for anyone with an interest in vintage, regardless of the money in their pocket.

“We try to have wearable, fun, unique clothes that are reasonably priced,” said Barker-Benfield. This was a common goal between vintage stores

in the area, especially when a large crowd at their stores included college aged people and younger.

Despite these younger generations having been a large part of their demographic, vintage stores did not cater to only one area of a population. “We have a super broad range of customers,” said Frye “Some people shop with us because they love fashion and love the thrill of the hunt, and a lot of other people shop with us simply because they want to find great everyday staples like jeans and tees for a fraction of the price.”

The clothing from these stores spanned generations, and that was one reason why people of all ages could find something unique and of good quality at a vintage store. “High schoolers and college students often come shopping with their parents and even grandparents -- in some cases, the grandparents have been shopping at Buffalo for decades!” said Frye. Another reason these stores were so welcoming and popular was the genuine and fun community that surrounded them.

At vintage stores, there was never a shortage of styles or trends to try

out. Clothing types from these stores never fail in their versatility, ranging from 1970s-inspired bell sleeves, to the athleisure trends of the 1990s and 2000s including belt bags and Fila sneakers, all the way to animal print and chunky Gothic boots.

This wide range of styles found itself overlapping. “Past trends are totally cycling around again!” said Frye, “The awesome thing about Buffalo Exchange is that we have trends from almost every era represented in our store.” Fashion is always morphing and evolving, and Frye has found that many customers enjoy blending styles from all times and places to generate their own fashion sense.

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“I think people get tired of looking generic, they want to stand out with something special.” Barker-Benfield said, “If you buy a vintage piece, you are the only one who has it, unlike at fast-fashion or chain stores.” The idea of individuality really came through here and seemed to be an ever present value in vintage stores and their customers.

Self-expression has been a key factor in one’s individuality and vintage stores had a way supporting this self-expression that one couldn’t find in retail stores. There was an idiosyncratic journey that accompanied each and every article of clothing that could be found in a vintage or resell store, and when someone sold their own clothes, they allowed a new journey to begin.

in mind, but sometimes it all came from the clothes.

Jinni J. valued the opportunities she got from sourcing the clothes for some of her photo shoots from vintage stores and still, even now, keeps some of the pieces. The clothes were like seeds that just grew into her ideas. “A lot of times it would start with the clothes, or I would have a concept in mind and then go look for the clothes and then approach one of my friends or whoever,” Jinni J. said.

Vintage stores were not only for the average consumer. They could also be a place to begin a creative career.

That is what a photographer based in Austin and New York who uses the Instagram handle Jinni J. did to really jump-start her own.

Early in Jinni J’s career, she asked the store Blue Velvet if she could source clothing from their store to use in her photographs. She found herself going into stores such as Blue Velvet all the time and discovering pieces that she felt inspired by. Sometimes she would go into the store with an idea already 16 | 2019

A Blue Velvet tote bag is being sported on a customers arm. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer BarkerBenfield)

She wasn’t the only artist who dabbled in the realm of vintage clothing. Jinni J. had stylist friends who also liked to incorporate vintage clothing into their work.

Vintage clothing was everywhere, and it was adding something new to this world.

Whether someone was looking for art inspiration, expressing their self through the unique pieces harbored by a vintage store, or just wanting to try something new, these stores had a little something for everyone.

In fact, vintage stores loved for absolutely anyone with an interest to come and visit and then join in with the blur of vintage clothing.

Jinni J, a photographer and entrepreneur based in Austin, Texas and New York City smiles for the camera. (Photo courtesy of Jinni J.)

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By: Stella Rae Kinard

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Story by: Alice Beckett A deeper look into the culture of teenage fashion. igh top converse, low top vans, dresses, mom jeans, sweatpants, and sweatshirts. Teenage fashion is weird, and it ranges from thrift stores to high fashion to everything in between, all while heavily influenced by the thoughts and judgments of others.

Teenagers have always been subject to pressure from themselves, adults and society to look and act a certain way, and this has shaped the way high school fashion has evolved. Teens teens tend to act as if they don’t care much about their clothes, when they genuinely do, or vice versa. It’s all about pretending-- pretending to be richer, poorer, older, younger, more retro, or more ahead of the times. And it seems the current high school style is stuck between all those labels.

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“It’s really hard to be a teenager fashion-wise, because of the pressure to fit in,” Karen Cokinda, an employee at Top Drawer Thrift, said. “The style is a

mix between modern day and 70s and 80s clothing.”

“Some of our clothing has a vintage element which is becoming very popular these days,” said Jaz Terrace, store manager at Urban Outfitters.

But it’s hard to place labels on the ever changing, completely diverse high school fashion of 2019.

Byron Kinard, a McCallum High School Junior, said that at her school, “It’s obvious a lot of kids care about their fashion or will go to further extents than a normal teenager would, just like wearing things that would

normally be out of the comfort zone for a normal high schooler. I think it’s definitely an environment with a lot of experimental and out there fashion.”

Her style has expanded a lot since going to McCallum, especially through being inspired by other students.

Kinard was a junior director of the student produced, McCallum fashion show, so she has had much exposure to what people wear at her school.

“Students at McCallum make all of their own clothes for their models,” and, although most of it was crazy runway fashion, she said “some clothes are very everyday stuff, and actually students sometimes see clothes in the line, and will find the designer, buy that piece from them, and they’ll wear it.”

In summation, Kinard said that even though a lot of it’s not practical clothing to wear, the fashion show’s clothing definitely does represent fashion ideals that people have at McCallum.

Even at McCallum, other teenagers judge each other’s style so harshly. It seems no environment is safe from the pressure to dress a certain way.

Kinard said teens are just trying to express themselves and they’re gaining confidence with what they’re putting on their body, and that they shouldn’t be judged for their style.

Kinard described her style as “masculine normally, and not as crazy

as a lot of people I see. Normally I wear like jeans, or Dickies, or pants of that kind with a thick belt and a tiny shirt. Mostly my crazy parts are like jackets or something, and I’d say that’s a pretty common look at McCallum.”

The places she shops at the most are Buffalo Exchange, Savers, and LoFi, and she added that right now, she has recently found herself dressing a lot like Watts, from the 1987 film, “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

Kinard, as someone who buys most of her clothes vintage or thrifted, represents one example of teenage style, while on the opposite end exists Urban Outfitters. “The style at Urban represents the 2019 high school style because it shows up in schools all across the nation. Plus, our clothes are simple enough to be worn everyday, but cute enough for the kids that want to stand out,” Terrace said. And although Terrace likes and buys from second hand stores, she compared Urban Outfitters to them, “People sometimes like Urban Outfitters more because it isn’t as risky, if you come to our store we have lots and lots of stylish clothes. At thrift stores, you have to comb through a selection, and if something you like doesn’t fit you, you’re out of luck.”

And although Kinard doesn’t shop there, she agreed that items from Urban Outfitters make so much sense. “It’s cute clothes that are trendy, and they’re just right there. If you don’t feel like going to a thrift store and working so hard to find a piece that could be kinda cute, and working hard to alter it or something.” Kinard said

21 | 2019

that whether one prioritizes effort or cost determines a high schooler’s style.

“I’m not sure if I can point a finger to our most popular clothes, but our more basic sweater, shoes, and hoodies sell a lot. Also, our cropped tank tops are gaining popularity,” Terrace said.

Cokinda’s said that teenage thrift

shopping comes from how broke kids are, “A way to get cute clothes for a fraction of the price is something that would appeal to anyone, but especially teens.” Kinard seconds this, citing high costs as her reasons for not shopping at Urban Outfitters. “Urban Outfitters is really expensive for clothes that you can find at a lot of other places, if you try hard enough,” Kinard said.

22 | 2019

“I am not a fan of those expensive, high retail stores. In general, thrift shopping is better because each piece has a story, and that story is very affordable,” Cokinda said, who’s entire closet is thrifted. “I encourage any teens to wear whatever seems cool to them and to explore lots of styles and thrift shops are great for that,” she said.

“I would tell teens to like what they wear, and wear what they like,” Terrace said. She added that popularity doesn’t matter, and even if it did it wouldn’t be worth it. “I wish I could tell my high school self to stop worrying about

what others think about your outfits.�

She said that high school students are more focused on how they themselves are looking than they are on judging others, even though it may not seem like it.

Teenagers spend a lot of time on their clothing because of how hard it is to find outfits that match their personal

style and current trends, while still being taken seriously by adults as well as fitting a budget. Teenage style varies and evolves so much, businesses can only hope to try and keep up. And so maybe the mysterious world of high school fashion should remain just that: mysterious.

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Which High Schooler Are You? Find out which teen your style is most like or get inspiration for your own outfits.

Stella Rae The Caroline Top Brandy Melville $24

Gus Austin Tee Shirt Yard Sale $1

Dupant Racing Jacket Buffalo Exchange $25

Blue Jeans Savers $14

Air Force Ones Nike $90 24 | 2019

Cargo Shorts Target $10

Black Shoes Academy $15

By: Alice Beckett

Sources: • Stella Rae Kinard, Student, Lasa HS. • Emily Kerr, Student, Lasa HS. • Gus Lindell, Student, MacCallum HS. • Photos by Alice Beckett, 2019.

Emily Black Tank Marshalls $5

Hawaiian Shirt Goodwill $6 Jean Shorts Kohls $25

Boots Doc Martens $140 25 | 2019

Thrifting: Cart to Counter Following the flow of used clothes aphazard hands sort through the new racks of old clothes, and whether it’s to start a new trend or tend to a tight budget, the flow of vintage wear makes its way onto the floors. Although the tags read low prices, thrift stores of all sizes continue to profit and thrive with friendly faces.

From behind the counter to the cart of the customer, this low cost, high quality shopping movement has flourished with people of all ages.

H

All photos by Sophia Giulietti

26 | 2019

Story by: Sophia Giulietti

Thrifting has become a popular trend: bringing vintage styles back from the past with the addition of affordable prices. The recycling of these clothes adds an unknown history to each piece. Although larger vintage stores are the most recognized, such as Goodwill or Savers, Austin Pets Alive Thrift, a small nonprofit thrift shop in Austin, Texas, brings a warm welcome for a good cause: saving animals lives.

It was created by the manager, Oliver Jolis, and opened in April 2018 to raise funds and generate revenue for the Austin Pets Alive animal shelter. All profits from the store were donated to the nonprofit.

“I came to Austin with the idea and I approached my sister about who I should talk to about creating something like this. She said Austin Pets Alive is an amazing organization so I just went to the shelter and knocked on the door.

That’s how it got started.” The ability to pitch the idea of a nonprofit store changed Jolis’ life as well as Austin’s community. The goal was to expand their life saving programs, while also bringing a huge assortment of clothes, furniture, and various items with low prices for all audiences. The program has raised over $400,000 to support Austin Pets Alive’s no kill policy. Although it achieved this, it also

unexpectedly bonded the businesses and people neighboring the store.

“I feel like with a smaller store, especially if it’s independent like this, there’s more creativity involved. I’m a believer in creating an environment that’s homey and feels good to be in.

We’ve got so many amazing volunteers, who are willing to give their time and

“I just went down to the shelter and knocked on the door.

That’s how it got started.”

-- Oliver Jolis, Austin Pet’s Alive Thrift!

Manager put in the extra work to decorate and make it look cute, so I had my vision of what I want it to look like -- the overall vibe and atmosphere,” Jolis said.

Volunteers wandered around the store, organizing clothes and running the cash registers rather than paid employees.

Jolis had a set goal: to make the store a community where people could come and interact with the volunteers, meet new people and at the same time and shop. His store brought in new people every week, some who came by to offer help and others who donated clothes directly.

“I find that some of the people here shopping for a cause come simply to support Austin pets Alive. They’re not too concerned about the price,” Jolis said.

Oliver Jolis, the Manager at Austin Pets’ Alive Thrift! poses for a picture from behind the counter.

Although a large variety of clothes were donated directly to the store daily, only a small amount made it out onto the floor. Volunteers in the back area sorted through the piles of used items and made sure only the “cool, trendy, sell-able stuff ” went out, as Jolis called it.

It was a precise process that took much time and effort.

The clothes that did not make the cut

were donated to Goodwill, the Battered Women’s Shelter or other small organizations, depending on accessibility. “In a perfect world, we would give to maybe smaller, local organizations more, but at this point it’s the question of being able to get it to these people,” Jolis said.

While much of his attention went to the good causes and managing the store, Jolis also couldn’t help but notice the current Austin trends. “I like to see what the customers are buying. I’m not the most fashionable guy, but I do observe and figure it out. The Austin style is very eclectic, it’s everything, leaning toward the boho style vs the high couture style, people are more laid back here.”

He recognized the importance of fashion as certain decades of clothing sold better than others.

For example, fancier clothes such

27 | 2019

as formal dresses did not sell well compared to denim jackets and high-waisted jeans. “Clothes are a mode of expression, and it’s a two way street: clothes influence culture and culture influences clothes. They’re a way for people to express themselves, like a wearable canvas and I believe that everything -- given time -- will come back,” he said.

The love for clothes is well-known,

“I believe that everything, given time -- will come back.”

-- Oliver Jolis, Austin Pet’s Alive Thrift! Manager

especially for many fashion bloggers who record their thrifting tips and fashion advice online. Meg Dunigan, the owner of a popular lookbook website, “The Autumn Girl”, said that Austin has a style that is very laid back and casual. With experience in the fashion market, she used her webpage to put together outfits, thrifted or not, to inspire her followers. Paige Casey, a 25 year old fashion blogger has built up her follower count as well, with an Instagram specialized in the business industry of fashion shopping. “Fashion is cyclical so I think we will always recycle old trends and try to make them ‘new’ to mix things up. I think as humans, we get bored of our looks and turn to fashion houses to decide what’s going to be

Baskets of ties show the low prices of the shop. Many varieties of clothes are found on the walls.

28 | 2019

on trend in the future.” Both bloggers agreed that thrift stores had positive, sociable, personal and environmental outlooks. Thrifting reduces pollution as less clothes needed to be produced while at the

same time brings communities together and savors Austin’s unique culture.

Although thrifting seems to be a chosen hobby for many teens, Jolis has noticed the lack of them in his shop. In the future, he hopes to attract younger customers to explain current trends and spread awareness.

The store is student friendly -- there is a 20 percent discount off of everything. “If students want to be involved, obviously shopping here is a way to support us. Telling your friends and helping spread the word about the stores is huge for us because our bandwidth in terms of marketing is low. We’ve made sure the prices are low, the quality is good, and we can’t lose,” Jolis said, “Really, we’ve just been doing great.” As the flow of clothes continues to make it out onto the floor, The Austin Pets’ Alive Thrift Shop continues to bring the community together.

(1) A handmade sign hangs from the ceiling as a decoration.

(2) Hangers with donated tops fill the organized racks.

(3) A mannequin stands wearing a knit vest, for the purpose of decoration and personalization.

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or

By, Sophia Giulietti

30 | 2019

Outfit 2: Vintage

Outfit 1: Basic Savers: $10

Brandy: $38

Goodwill: $13

Brandy: $20

Goodwill: $4

Brandy: $18

Goodwill: $8

Adidas: $80

Brandy: $40

Goodwill: $10

Converse: $40

jeans and converse.

jeans and adidas.

Outfit 4: Edgy

Outfit 3: Sporty

Brandy: $45

Adidas: $45

Goodwill: $4

Savers: $7

nike shoes.

Under Armour: : $35

Nike: $75

Goodwill: $5

Brandy: $22

Savers: $6

Doc Martens: $140

jeans, and black boots.

Sources: Adidas, Brandy Melville, Nike, Converse

31 | 2019

The current items in @weirdchic’s Depop shop (Photo By Lillian Long).

Internet Influence

Story By: Jasmine Gaynier The rise of resale culture

through the world wide web

T

hroughout time, when people were looking for a little money, they would turn to selling their old clothes. But in recent years, it has become the singular source of income for Depop shop owners. As a creative outlet for people who love fashion, both YouTube and Depop help showcase the artistic taste of influencers.

32 | 2019

Fashion has always adapted to work with other mediums and change to fit new trends and technology. As a result, fashion has taken trends such as thrifting to newer places with the addition of technology. Apps such as Depop and YouTube manage to shape an ever-changing world of fashion.

Depop is an app for creators to be able to sell their products on a global

platform. After it’s launch in 2011, the app’s usage and notability has grown greatly. While it can be used to sell anything, the app is mainly used to sell clothes. Some creators make the clothing, while others have found and have decided to sell it. Unlike other platforms, Depop offers a personal interaction in items not found in other market and social media apps. When an item is purchased, the customer is able to talk about any questions, concerns or requests about the purchase directly to the shop owner.

“Using this ethical and sustainable way of sourcing clothing made me feel not so bad about being a consumer.”

--Kayla Daou Many items are one of a kind, and can only be found in select spots.

Kayla Daou is the owner of UGLi Clothing, which stands for Used Garments Living Infinitely. “I started my Depop account in 2015, my senior year of high school,” Daou said. When she was younger, she realized she prefered thrift stores over regular shops. “Not only was the quality better, but I was also saving these garments from landfills. Using this ethical and sustainable way of sourcing clothing made me feel not so bad about being

a consumer,” Daou said. She realized that she could make a profit by selling clothes and providing others with the chance to help make the world a greener place.

Sabrina Chantel is a Depop shop owner. She started her shop as a way to help gather extra money to help her move to New York. After she added hand-painted details to vintage bags, it gathered her shop attention and people continued to flock to her store. As a result, Depop became her full-time job.

One reason Depop has gained a lot of members is because of its sustainability.

According to Daou, Depop has become more popular since, “More people are aware of the way clothing is made these days for fast fashion companies.” Fast fashion, or cheap items mass produced to help companies stay on track with the latest trends, has dominated the world.

Stores like Forever 21 and H&M managed to become very popular because of their use of fast fashion. Fast fashion was created in response to the fast-paced trends made by the internet.

But, in recent years people have realized many companies do not always use sustainable sources or legal ways to obtain labor.

live many lives, and the longevity of a piece is one of the main, if not the most important, selling points. Fashion is very cyclical and old trends always find their way back in so if all the old clothes when a trend was first born are still floating around out there, why not utilize those instead of buying new ones that will probably not be as well crafted anyways?”

Like Depop, other forms of social media allow creators to provide their

“Shopping secondhand you’re not only reusing and reducing waste, you are also directly supporting a diverse group of small business owners and creatives,” Chantel said. So, to combat mass production people turn to thrifting and vintage items, “Physical stores are normally only open for a set amount of hours in a day, and aren’t open 365 days a year, whereas the internet and these apps are never closed, aside from very minimal amounts of maintenance that is almost not even worth mentioning.”

While thrift stores have gained new patrons, people turn to Depop because of it’s accessibility and disuse of fast fashion. “With reselling and vintage fashion, a piece of clothing gets to

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creations to a global platform, but the selling aspect isn’t as prominent.

Inayah Mirza is a student at Austin High who creates YouTube videos, photography and poetry.

Mirza said her favorite part about YouTube and Instagram was “just being able to make something I’m proud of and share it, whether it is a poem or a the way some of my pictures look together.” Mirza started her YouTube account because she wanted to express herself creatively in a way she felt she couldn’t at school.

Like Depop, YouTube has become a creative outlet for many people.

As a result of the internet, fashion has been more globalized and trends have become more widely accessible.

While some believe that it is a good thing, others think it has lead to bad consumerism. Chantel said, “I think Instagram has influenced people’s style by encouraging them to be themselves and find other people that they relate to and draw inspiration from, no matter how specific the niche.” Instagram allows others to develop followings and create new brands with unique touches and has a reach that wasn’t possible with a physical building, Chantel said.

On the other hand, Daou said “Instagram has definitely made individuality seem less individual.”

She said Instagram has made people into larger consumers than they were before. “Since everything is based off 34 | 2019

Kayla Daou’s Depop shop, uGLi clothing, sells a variety of different items (Photo by Kayla Daou).

“I feel that a majority of the audience online, especially those on selling apps, are people who are really looking to create their own style.”

--Sabrina Chantel

of aesthetics, people will buy clothing just for a photo op, stop wearing a pieces they own after it’s been seen on Instagram, or worse, buy something just because their favorite celeb or influencer promoted it.”

Mirza and Daou found that uniqueness is a big factor to Depop’s charm. Mirza believes Depop has helped people to find specific items because each piece is like no other. “I would consider the most sought-after items in my shop to be the unique items that can’t be found anywhere else,” Daou said.

Since everything is very one-of-a-kind, people are able to find pieces that they would not be able to otherwise.

“I feel that a majority of the audience online, especially those on selling apps, are people who are really looking to create their own style,” Chantel said.

“They want to be unique and put their own twists on the typical trends and staple wardrobe pieces, and vintage pieces, especially reworked ones, are exactly what a lot of people are looking for to fulfill those wants

In Inayah Mirza’s free time, she makes poetry and photography (Photo by Inayah Mirza).

and needs.”

In a world of mass production and constantly shifting trends, the internet has solved some of the problems it has created. Depop has managed to be a new wave of the old, which could change the landscape of the fashion world for decades to come.

Kayla Daou uses her creativity for her shop layout and presenting clothes (Photo by Kayla Daou).

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The Importance of Color Can’t decide what colors to wear? This quiz will help you out!

What year are you most inspired by?

60s

50s

What are you trying to emulate?

Red Means: passion intensity anger

Orange Means: optimism adventurous creativity

80s 70s

Yellow Means: opportunity happiness positivity

Green Means: dependable growth kindness

Need help with pairings? You can go...

Primary

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Complementary

Blue Means: trust loyalty wisdom

By: Jasmine Gaynier Sources: •Graf1x.com “Color Psychology” •Juicebox Interactive, Most popular colors defining each decade.

•HGTV, Colors Through the Decades.

90s Purple Means: spirituality imagination luxury

Pink Means: compassion love playful

00s Black Means: power elegance discipline

10s Grey Means: neutral conservative quiet

White Means: faith purity fresh

Neutrals go well with everything!

Toned Down

Colorful

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