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Christine Ann finds her perfect match in Goodie Two Shoes

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Dressisions

Why school dress codes should be abolished

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Special Thanks to...

Alex Albach Christine Ann Danielle Patro Jane Broumley Kara Fuhlbrugge Kendra Young Mary Maraget Quadlander

Letter to the Readers: The authors of True Color have put this magazine together for you to enjoy and learn about fashion in a new way, as art and a profession. Inside you will find articles that show the depth given by clothing and personal style.

We hope that you will take this new perspective on fashion and apply it to your own life, bringing color to where there is none and ideas to where there are few.

We’d like to leave you with a few inspiring words to ponder while flipping through the pages of our magazine:

“Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, fashion has to do with ideas, the way we live, what is happening.” -Coco Chanel.

“I don’t design clothes. I design dreams.” -Ralph Lauren “I base my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch.” -Gilda Radner

Sincerely, Faith, Deborah, Andy, Akshara.

“Although golf was originally restricted to wealthy, overweight Protestants, today it’s open to anybody who owns hideous clothing.” -Dave Barry

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CRIME OR PASSION? W

By Deborah H.

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day,” reports PBS’s online news tour for students. “Even people who say they don’t care what they wear choose clothes every morning that say a lot about them and how they feel that day.” What one decides to adorn herself with for even a single day is a reflection

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“ ” Clothes create a wordless means of communication that we all understand.

of her more hidden thoughts and feelings.“Fashion allows people to try on many roles in life,” continues PBS. Even if this act of trying to things is subconscious to the person, it leads to an outsider’s decision of whether or not to interact with them at that time.

On a more long-term scale, this expression can also be seen in other aspects of culture, such as music, film, and architectural design. It is a never-ending network of changing ideas and opinions, influenced by the way people feel at a certain point in history.

In addition, clothing is constantly is in high demand, creating an industry that provides many with job opportunities and career paths. According to the Christian Science Monitor website, US apparel sales alone reached $180 billion a few years ago, supporting an estimated art“ m S ing he new s s e y “Dr omes t he wa d t bec , by irts an s m k r no odle s . Look o es th of p ry Jan off wi p a M ished akeu al fin rful m asion c colo he oc e. t iv and beeh

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excluded from making clothing choices in this country and because of this, personal style can be used as a very effective channel for creative angst. “Fashion is something we deal with every-

1900

20th Century Staples

hen visiting an art museum, one might find paintings, pottery, or perhaps the occasional statue somewhat lacking in the clothing department-not, in most cases, a couture sundress with strategically chosen beaded earrings and sandals. These items belong to an area of the creative world that seems too many times be left out in the cold. The fashion industry, instead of getting the welcome it deserves, is instead often labeled with adjectives such as “superficial” and “shallow.” These words could not be farther from the truth. Fashion contributes to society in ways many people do not realize, taking the effects for granted.

For one thing, fashion is art you can wear. It’s practical and accessible to everyone, even the artistically challenged. No one is

of communication that we all understand.” This language gives way to people’s first impressions of others and demonstrates aspects of personality that would otherwise be incommunicable. These unspoken statements and assumptions can be used when meeting someone for the first time, at say, job interviews, as the effort put into one’s ensemble shows the effort they put in to all parts of their life, including the job they are applying for.

Fashion should be embraced in the art community, not given labels out of ignorance and resentment. It is a thriving addition to the world market and great outlet for every individual that partakes in any kind of society.

The fashion industry needs to be encouraged, not labeled as trivial and hierarchical. Lest not only will our economy take a major punch, but we will all feel the wrath of stifled creativity.

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80,000 garment factories. This doesn’t even begin to describe the countless other jobs in the field, such as those given to fashion designers and personal stylists. A survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Labor showed that in 2010 the average consumer spent 5% of her yearly paycheck on apparel and appearance. Fashion has an enormous influence on the economy, as it provides both an enticing chance to spend money and an exciting advantage for many to earn it back. Along with these opportunities, the economy provides for the very base of the imaginative pyramid.

Fashion is also something that can be used in communication, as it is easy for people to morph their own style into one more expressive of their personality and how they want people to react to them. “We have the power to control how people think of us,” says wardrobe stylist Kristen Kaleal. The way you dress shows people the person you want to be, and gives you the confidence to give your own opinions in situations and really make yourself known.

If one looks better, they feel better. According to top British fashion designer Katherine Hamnett, “Clothes create a wordless means

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‘Scuse

How Technology is Ruining our Manners.

By Faith J.

L

ong before cell phones were invented and social networking sites available, individuals would actually talk to each other, engaging in conversations about their interests and current events. Children would tell their parents about their day, not text under the table. And if two acquaintances walked by, they would greet each other. Today, if two friends pass by each other, they may not even acknowledge the other. In the early 1900’s, it was important for men to tip their hat to passing women. Now even though we have moved on from that strict etiquette, civility is still important. It seems that our manners are gone, and we desperately need them back.

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You?

One reason why our manners are deteriorating is because technology is taking them from us. In this day and age, technology rules the world. According to lifestyle writer, Liz Kirsten, in the article “Technology Age Manners,” “[technology] takes the precedence over our immediate concentration; therefore, [wreaking] havoc on our manners in public.” No longer do we listen to those around us, instead, we ignore them to update our status or surf the web. With cell phones, we are inspired to “engage in public telephone conversations with friends and colleges any time, any place, anywhere,” writes Canadian Senior Years columnist Cookie Curci in “Manners Don’t Always Keep Up With Advances In Technology.” Though we are able to turn off the ringer or ignore the call, we feel obliged to answer.

We need manners for success in school and at work. Psychiatrist Dr. Gail Sultz says successful adults have “incorporated certain appropriate manners of behavior, as well as sensitivity to those around you.”

When a one has proper etiquette, he can conduct them self properly in different situations. In this era, it isn’t as important to know the many different utensils and glasses as it was 100 years ago (unless you are going to a fancy dinner party), but it is still essential to know how to say “please” and “thank you”, whether at home, with friends, or even in the desert. By being polite when one deals with a someone of authority, one will have an “upper hand”, Terrin Pender, a writer for parenting

Girl talking on phone. Art by Faith J.

advice, asserts. For example, when asking a teacher for help, if one kindly asks, using “please” and “thank you”, the teacher will agree more readily to assist one. Everybody wants courtesy and respect, and, as a result, is more willing to work with those who are respectful and polite, says Pender.

Manners also play a key role in our social well being outside of work and school. Psychologist and professor Thomas Lickona says “manners are minor morals,” and will aid our social relations. Plus, those who

“ ” Manners are minor morals

have them will be happier, more secure, confident, and poised, Lickona says. Those who learn and use their manners will become “well-rounded” individuals, according to Pender.

In the end, as the times changed, our manners have as well, for the worse. Using cell phones during dinner with friends and ignoring the magic words “please” and “thank you” won’t help our case of becoming more civil and courteous. We need to learn to use our manners, then pass them on in hope that society, once again, will be have the politeness and civility we did before.

Manners in the early 20th century

-Girls are known as ladies, if they are physically fit, gentle, and winsome.

-Ladies do not apply/use cosmetics or groom themselves during school.

-Ladies do not loiter on the street to talk to eachother or boys.

-Ladies are not prudes, but they let boys know that they must keept their hands off of them.

-Ladies do not call boys by telephone often.

-If one accidently bump into someone say, “I beg your pardon” or “Excuse me please.”

-One does not speak loudly in public.

-One does not chew gum in public.

-One keeps hands out of pockets.

-One washes your hands before you eat.

From: http://darkwing.uoregon.edu/~joe/digilib/

Prim and Proper

-Boys are known as gentlemen, if they are “fine” and athletic.

-Gentlemen lift their hat when they pass a girl they know, a man, or a man walking with a woman.

-Gentlemen hold the door open for any girls or elderly people.

-Gentlemen do not spit in the street, they use your hankercheif.

-Gentlemen offer their seat in a street-car to a girl, women, or elderly man.

-One eats slowly and noiselessly.

-One never laughs at the accidents or misfortunes of others.

-When dining, one puts ones napkin in ones lap.

-One holds the knife in ones right hand.

-One takes a bath at least three times a week.

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Not so y in prett

. k min

By Akshara P

E

ach year approximately 10 million animals are trapped in the wild, so that they can be skinned for fur coats. It all started in the 16th century when fur farms where created.

In the late 1900s animal activists protested against this inhumane practice but no action was taken. Fur trapping is a terrible, cruel thing to do to poor animals and must be put to a stop before further damage to nature is done.

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lergic to it can be very dangerous for them. When people by real fur coats thinking that they are not allergic to the animal fur it can create allergic reaction to anyone near the fur coat. Faux fur on the other hand does not create any allergies to us so its better for our health and it also doesn’t kill any animals to make it.

Its also much more nature friendly.

Overall real fur coat demand

It is a sin to kill animals and we have no right to do it.

Animals are kept in large quantities in cages and they are taken care of until they reach adult hood.

Once they are ready to be killed they are taken out and beaten unconscious. After this, they are killed and skinned then taken to the market to be sold or traded. This happens in several hundred farms that kill animals every day. These animals are trapped in the wild and killed, this inhuman act shows no respect to animals and is only done to get money.

The Animals are originally brought from the wild and people come to check the traps every few days so by the time they come the animals are either severely injured or dead.

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These traps can be harmful in other ways to. In one incident a dog from a dog park wondered into the green belt near by and got its leg stuck in a steal death trap and its leg had to be amputated. Wild animals along with domestic animals get themselves stuck in these traps and they use all their energy trying to free it sometimes even trying to amputate their foot or paw out. When we get cut by a knife

we get upset from the pain so think of how much pain these animals are in when their paws are stuck in traps for days and they are trying to gnaw it off.

When people buy real fur coats they think they know what animal’s fur is used so they think it won’t effect them if they have allergies but people who sell the fur can be untruthful just so that they can get their money. It takes about 40 minks to make one fur coat, but when the coat is sold they say its raccoon or rabbits because those are in higher demand.

Another example is raccoons; it takes about 20 adult raccoons to make one coat. When people by real fur coats made from animals that they are al-

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has decreased over the years, but fur farming is still a practice around the world that is still carried on today and the more fur coat demand there is the more fur farms open because it takes dozens of animal fur to make a single coat. No matter how much we think raccoons are pests as they did up our garbage, each species is equally part of nature in this world and they need some respect of their own. So next time you walk by a fancy store and see a fur coat, stop and think about how much the animals suffered and cried in pain just so you can wear that coat once to a party and then throw it deep into your closet until you put it out in a garage sale.

Fur Real!

The price of fur must be measured in deaths--not dollars. To make one fur coat you must kill at least fifty-five wild mink, thirty-five ranched mink, forty sables, eleven lynx, eighteen red foxes, eleven silver foxes, one hundred chinchillas, thirty rex rabbits, nine beavers, thirty muskrats, fifteen bobcats, twenty-five skunks, fourteen otters, one hundred twentyfive ermines, thirty possums, one hundred squirrels, or twenty-seven raccoons.

Furriers also claim that fur trapping is a necessary tool for wildlife management. However, trapping as a commercial enterprise can never be a wildlife management strategy. Proper wildlife management needs to be based on highly specific local circumstances, recognizing the delicate balance of a particular ecosystem.

Art by Xanya D.

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D R E S S I S I O N S

By Andy L.

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amble walks into class sporting spaghetti straps.

Coach McNeil sighs, shakes his head, and says, “Camble! Do you have a sweater or something?”

Camble shakes her head while coach says, “Why do you insist on coming to school every day with no sleeves?” This is the basic routine at the beginning of my geometry class almost every time. Then the whole class laughs and continues like nothing ever happened. The dress code says that high school students are not allowed to wear spaghetti straps, tank tops, strapless tops or halter tops. LASA should be exempt from the AISD dress code because teachers and students don’t pay attention to it; and because the dress code is unreasonable and deceptive.

The dress code is unreasonable for high school students and deceptive as well. The dress code says that we are not permitted to wear athletic shorts or pajamas. This is unreasonable because athletic shorts are comfortable and in no way inappropriate. The popular style of gym shorts for girls don’t have holes in inappropriate places and they are long enough not to be distracting.

Also, pajamas should be allowed in high school. The dictionary definition is night clothes consisting of loose-fitting trousers and jacket.

Trousers and jackets aren’t dress code violations therefore pajamas shouldn’t be.

The AISD dress code is categorized by type of clothing. The three categories that are the most unclear are Shorts and Skirts That Distract and Gang-Associated Clothing or Colors. The shorts and skirts categories are unclear because they don’t say how short is distracting which means that the teachers decide that; and every teacher has

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Student Bracelet Art by Andy L

Miley Cyrus at a concert Art by Paparazzi

their own perspective on the matter.

Then there is the Gang-Associated clothing or Colors category. Everything can be Gang-Associated.

Every color of the rainbow, every bandana, shirt, symbol, etc. can be Gang-Associated. For this reason it’s impossible to judge student’s attire fairly.

The teachers at LASA don’t enforce the dress code even though there is one. In fact, the school has no record of students violating the dress code since LASA opened.

Teachers don’t have time to pay attention to what the students look like and, frankly, it’s not their job.

12 The teachers are here to help the students grow. Their job is to teach the students and help them succeed.

Some teachers will merely shake their heads and others may make small comments about a student’s attire. Other than this the teachers let the students wear what they want. For example, teachers let students wear athletic clothing outside of P.E. even though it’s forbidden by the AISD dress code. Even though I am only a freshman, I have never heard of nor seen a teacher write a student up for dress code violation.

Furthermore, there is no documentation for dress code violation on file. It seems there is no reason for a dress code since students wear what they want and teachers don’t do much about it.

There is no point in having a dress code if it’s just going to be ignored by the students. LASA follows the Austin Independent School District or AISD dress code.

The AISD dress code says that students in high school cannot wear the following: athletic shorts outside of P.E., tank tops, halter tops, saggy pants, etc. Tons of students at LASA wear athletic shorts and no

WHY CLOTHES BREAK THE RULES 1

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5 one seems to care. They also wear tank tops, halter tops, and some boys even have saggy pants. So is no one is going to care then why bother having the dress code in the first place?

The teachers don’t enforce the dress code, students are going to wear whatever they want anyway, and there is no point in having a dress code if it’s just going to be ignored a. LASA is place where bright students come to learn and grow. So, if we are bright enough to get into LASA, then we should be smart enough to know how to dress appropriately. The students need to be able to focus in school without having to worry about what they are wearing. The teachers should be able to help the students learn and grow as individuals instead of having to monitor the way students dress.

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1 - shows to much skin 2 - doesn’t cover enough 3 - sleeves are too short 4 - too lowcut 5 - shows to much skin 6 - sleeves aren’t wide enough 7 - The sleeves are to small 8 - no sleeves 9 - shows belly 10 - doesn’t cover enough skin 11 - too short 12 - too low 13 - sleeves are too short 14 - too short 15 - doesn’t cover enough 16 - not long enough 17 - low cut 18 - too short 15

Sole Mates

Photos by Deborah H.

By Deborah H.

Christine Ann finds her perfect match in Goodie Two Shoes

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very year Christine Ann will spend thousands of dollars on clothing she will never wear, invest in hundreds of shoes she will never own, and buy armloads of jewelry that she will never put on. This is all done to fill her store, Goodie Two Shoes, with happy customers, who flock to the South Congress location in order to satisfy their deepest shopping cravings.

“I’m in the field constantly. [I get] to do what I ultimately wanted to do: put together outfits,” Christine, who decided years ago to drop her last name, explained. “I get to do that on a daily basis for other people.”

Christine began designing clothes when she was eight years old. Years later, in 1983, a friend offered her a job at a clothing store she was opening. Since 16

the job paid only $25 a day, Christine produced a line of accessories to supplement her income. Later this grew into her splitting off altogether and starting her own business.

“It was accidental,” Christine said.

“It wasn’t like a career choice or anything, just something I fell into.”

Christine has had a total of four stores, the first three lasting about five to six years each. After the end of each one she has reinvented and reopened in a new location with a different theme. Her current store has been open for ten years and Christine says she doesn’t see any changes occurring in the near future since the store’s downtown location allows for all sorts of clientele.

“It’s really diverse here,” Christine said. “[There’s] a wide range of people [who

all] respect us. Everything from conservative Westlake moms to punk rock kids come in.

It’s fun.”

However, owning a local business is not always easy. A limited staff has left Christine working weekends and missing holidays, a difficult feat for the mother of two. In addition to that, her salary fluctuates from month to month. But Christine says she always manages to pull through.

“Every month I think, ‘This is going to be the month when people are going to forget about me, they’re not going to remember to come and support me.’ Then I’ll have some of my best clientele come in, with their little leftover rent money,” Christine recalled.

Despite the obstacles of owning her own business, Christine says she would

rather deal with the long hours and nervewracking changes in income than work for a major chain, which aren’t as personal and don’t interact as much with their clients.

“I like when people tell me stories about how I’ve helped their life in some way,” Christine explained, continuing with a story of a woman who came in and bought four dresses and some jewelry

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she does this so the racks of clothes won’t seem intimidating. She also takes into consideration those who may not be looking for a new outfit, who are just coming along for support or obligation, by always having a comfortable seating area. In addition, Christine leaves her walls blank of artwork, in order to keep visitors relaxed.

“People have triggers,” Christine

”

Take the job that’s different, that you wouldn’t expect to take, just for the experience.

for her daughter, a new mother, instead of spending the money on her own monthly hair cut.

“She said that when her daughter opened it she cried,” Christine recalled.

“Stuff [like that] makes me remember why I’m still doing this. Why I haven’t chosen something else in the meantime.”

Owning her own store also gives Christine the freedom to set prices and offer certain discounts that she wouldn’t be able to otherwise, such as the 10% reduction given to those working in the street vendors around the downtown area, which in addition to helping out the locals, gives an opportunity for free advertising.

“They’re working people,” Christine explained. “They appreciate the discount, appreciate the consideration.”

Being the sole proprietress of Goodie Two Shoes has allowed Christine to decorate according to her own vision, not corporate policy. Everything is set up in a circle or figure eight, so everything moves freely and customers won’t become trapped by any dead ends. Christine said

said. “I feel that artwork’s very emotional, and I don’t want people to have to feel a certain emotion.”

When taking care of the store, Christine always takes into account her customers and staff. She’s been this way since the beginning, talking with clients and becoming attached to her crew. This may not be how she planned on spending her life, but that is how she likes it, encouraging others to be just as fearless as her and not go into something with a failure mentality.

“There’s a lot of incentive, a lot of motivation that people need,” Christine explained. “Just go for it. Don’t hesitate. Be fearless.”

Christine’s advice is rooted in her own personal experience. Just as she did when she started making jewelry for her friend before opening her own store she recommends “Tak[ing] the job that’s different, that you wouldn’t expect to take, just for the experience. You can always quit, you can always stop. Especially when you’re young, you can start your whole life over again. Go for it.”

The Croquis (fashion illustration model)

Tips & Hints -The fashion figure is 10 “heads� tall, while a normal person is only 8.

-Start with 10 notches going from top to bottom of the page. These should be the same distance apart and be about the size you want the head to be.

-Try not to sketch. Use clean, continous lines.

Art, Design, and Idea By: Faith J.

Front of the the Austin School of Fashion Design.

Writing and Photographs By Faith J.

T

here is a sound of pencil on paper as a group of students use colored pencils to add shades to their drawings.

Mary Margaret Quadlander walks around the large drawing table that was custom made for this exact use, showing individual students how they can add more light or shadows or detail to their design. Quadlander is the owner of the Austin School of Fashion Design where she teaches.

She has come a long way from when she was a child. When Quadlander was young she didn’t like dressing dolls up, she said, yet her mom had good taste in clothes.

“We didn’t have a lot of money,” Quadlander recalled, “but my mom just really taught my sister and I how to dress well with not a whole lot of stuff in the closet.”

Quadlander was interested in building things and was going to enroll in an architecture school in Chicago. It wasn’t until she was 35 and on vacation visiting a friend in San Miguel de Allende, when her friend enlightened her on the similarities of architecture and fashion design.

“I happened to be looking at a Harper’s Bazaar magazine that had all these fashions from the 1940’s, and I was showing them to her and I said, ‘Oh gosh just look at all these fabulous clothes.’ This friend of

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A Haven for Designers Mary Margaret Quadlander and ASFD

mine said, ‘You know architecture and fashion design are pretty similar,’ she said. ‘You’re just using a soft fabric for one thing and hard fabric for the other.’”

After getting a bachelors degree in psychology, a masters in liberal arts, and go-

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Very few make a living in fashion design

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ing through many jobs that she felt didn’t suit her, Quadlander decided to take the FIT test when she was 36, and got in.

“I went and I was so far behind, and I worked ten times harder than the rest of the students I know because they were all out going to parties and going to things,” Quadlander said. “And I graduated at the top of my class and got a scholarship to Paris.”

However she declined the scholarship and instead she got a job in a New York manufacturing company. The clothes they

made were terrible, she said, but she wasn’t there for the clothes, she was there for the experience.

“[The] man that hired me was willing to let me do everything,” she explained, “from the coming up the idea, to helping him cut, to sewing the samples, to delivering the samples over to China Town in New York.”

After working for this company for a year, Quadlander went off on her own to become a fashion designer. But she wasn’t prepared, she said.

“I just was so inexperienced and had so little knowledge about everything you needed to know,” Quadlander recalled.

Yet she pulled through, had successful 22-year career, and even owned her own store in Austin on West 6th Street. After retiring from the designing business, Quadlander taught at University of Texas, but the curriculum wasn’t the best, she said, which led to some students asking her to open a school where they could learn what they needed to know.

“I was getting my masters over at St. Ed’s, and I was teaching drawing at St. Ed’s, and this building became for lease, and I just grabbed it and moved my cutting tables in,” she said. “The next thing I knew, I had 11 students without even advertising at all.”

The school first started out only for

Mary Margaret Quadlander.

adults with eleven students and ten sewing machines. She and one other person ran the school and taught all of the classes themselves.

“If I had 11 people in class, I thought that was great,” Quadlander remembered.

Today the school has grown to include children’s classes during the summer, four classes at a time, classes in the morning and evening, and up to 14 people in a class.

“It’s just huge,” she said.

Lately, the school has become more popular because people have been influenced by Project Runway and other shows that present sewing as a profession, and not

just a way to make your own clothes.

“They don’t necessarily have to be fashion designers,” she said. “That’s a very hard profession, but at least they are all learning this, and they’ll have this talent the rest of their lives.”

For those who do want to become a fashion designer for their career, Quadlander suggested not to get a four year degree in fashion design. Instead, she encouraged seeking a degree in something that can actually financially support, and then going to a fashion university and take a class in New York, like FIT or Parsons, FIDM (in California), or Europe.

“Very few people make a living in fashion design just making clothes,” Quadlander explained, “because just fashion design won’t financially support.”

Even though fashion design is a challenging career, she enjoys teaching new fashion designers.

“I love to see the light bulb go on in a student’s head when he/she suddenly understands something,” Quadlander said.

“The change in the self esteem of someone when the mental block to learning something new is lifted.”

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What’s

the

By Akshara P.

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he sleek silver needle dives through the fabric gracefully embedding the purple into the green silk. The scissors slice the thread. Finally after 4 hours Alex A. has finished her latest masterpiece. The dress made from dark green silk with purple bordering flows elegantly to the

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Alex and her family were invited to an upcoming wedding but after realizing that she had outgrown her other dress she decided it was time to put her sewing skills into action. She biked to a nearby sewing shop and bought the materials she thought would make her dress stand out. “When I make my

make first.

“I remember the first thing I made that day was a pillow,” Alex said. “It was unshaped with stuffing poking out here and there.” After Alex had made a couple pillows and seemed to have gotten the basics down, her mother would sit by her and teach her new skills. She

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Like sewing, knitting was one way I could express my unique style and expand my creativity.

ground as she holds it up gently. The sequins on the bordering sparkle from the sunlight peeping through her window trying to steal a glance at the beautiful dress.

15 year old Alex A. learned to sew and knit when she was very young and has kept it as her hobby ever since. With two younger siblings running around the house, Alex looks forward to a little downtime and quietly sews or knits in her room, making handmade Christmas and birthday gifts for family and friends. Alex makes some of her clothes, adding a little unique touch of her own to make her dress stand out at family occasions.

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own clothes I like them to be a mix of the latest fashion and my own unique taste” said Alex as she flips through Vogue magazine. Sometimes she flips through magazines for hours until she sees a style that just connects to her.

“Alex had non-stop energy when she was little,” Alex’s mom, Cindy said, “It was like she had an adrenaline rush all the time.” Her mom believed that if she could get Alex to sit still for a couple hours and teach her how to sew it would calm not just hers but Alex’s nerves as well. Her mom recalls putting 7-year-old Alex in her lap and turning on the sewing machine and asked Alex what she wanted to

started making jackets, skirts, and little accessories for her dolls.

“I decided to make clothes for my dolls because my grandma, and my mom made clothes and dresses for themselves and I thought that dolls where easier until I could learn to make clothes for myself,” Alex said. “After I made enough doll clothes I begged my mom to teach me how to knit.”

Her mom who was so proud of her couldn’t refuse, even when it was 2 in the morning; she picked up her knitting needles and started showing her the basics. “I remember the first thing I knitted was a blue scarf,” Alex said “It had this strange texture, I guess it’s

Photo by: Akshara Pillai

because I was just a beginner and didn’t know how to make it perfect like my mother’s.”

She didn’t give up though she just took up another ball of yarn and went straight to work.

She would make scarves for her siblings when she was on long car rides or lines that lasted hours.

“I turn to knitting when I want to make patterns, have different textures, or just use multiple colors in one item,” Alex said as she picked up a multi-colored scarf she made in 7th grade.

“Like sewing, knitting was one way I could express my unique style and expand my creativity,” Alex said. “To me fashion is the style of a unique person, or of what a mass of people all like at one time.”

But peer pressure was not a problem for Alex, when she flips through magazines, she sees some clothes that she would instantly buy and then she sees some that make her wonder How is this style even good? Or what makes it magazine-and shop-worthy? This is when she turns to her fashion role model.

“I am really inspired by Coco Channel because she started with nothing and went to having one of the best brands today,” Alex said. “She also defied what was considered normal for her time and I really admire that.”

That admiration keeps Alex going and coming up with different ideas some of which are a mix of her style and the fashion industries trend.

Alex A. picks up the flowing green dress and twirls it all the way around, the little sequins sparkling like diamonds. She carefully puts it on a hanger and delicately stores it away in her closet. Suddenly with the dress out of sight, the sun sinks slowly while Alex A. thinks about her next masterpiece.

A green dress made by Alex in the summer of 8th grade

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Perfect Perfume By: Akshara P.

1)which color do you prefer? a. Pink- girly and romantic b. Purple or red- rich and luxurious c. Blue-calm and energizing

2)Favorite weather? a. Mild and comfy, just right b. Hot, hot , hot love the sun c. Rainy and mist, refreshing!

3)Favorite outfit? a. Jeans and a tshirt b. Black mini with heels c. Flowery sundress

“Purr� by Katy Perry

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4)Dream vacation a. Beach holiday; sun,sea,surf b. Week in paris,shop,shop, shop c. Spa trip!

Your Scent Mostly As

Scents like citrus, grapefruit and other fresh energizing fragrances match your fun-loving personality.

Mostly Bs:

Sporty, vibrant fragrances match your love of all things outdoorsy and reflect your breezy personality.

Mostly Cs: 6)How do you wear your hair? a. Loose and flowing, b. Latest style c. Short and fuss-free

Floral scents symbolize your romantic gentle side; Pick a perfume containing jasmine, orchid violet, rose or vanilla.

7)Whats your bedroom like? a. Warm energy filled loud colors b. Cool colors, calm peacful bliss c. White and free

5)How would your friend describe you a. Sweet, gentle, a little shy b. Funny, easygoing person c. Sassy go-getter

8)Whats your sport? a. Volleyball, ready to spike b. Soccer, going for the goal c. Basketball,shooting hoops

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Lovely Austin By: Andy L.

D

An inside look to one of Austin’s boutiques is a form of art that helps people identify their individual style.

The owners of Lovely Austin decided to go into the fashion business because they thought that there was an opportunity in Austin. They found the perfect spot on South 1st street.

“You know it was just luck

“

We just wanted something that was memorable and complimented the city we live in.

”

and timing really,” she said. “We were looking to find a sub lease that was available that was in the area that we thought would be conducive to our target. We always thought our target market would be between the ages of 25 and 45 and thought that this area was perfect and right for it.”

Even though they found the right place, they were still affected by the recession.

“Luckily we’re in an industry, as far as the consignment angle of our business; it’s a place where people go where you can buy things at a fraction of their original retail price. So it’s very desirable during a recession time,” she stated cheerfully.

It’s like a continuous flow of clothes from one home to the next.

So now we will dive into the clothing aspect of the store. They get loads of clothes all the time and they can’t showcase all of them in their store at once. They rifle through the clothes and pick out special pieces based on color, style, and season. The rest of the clothes find new homes somewhere else.

“We usually find a group of nonprofits we donate to,” Danielle said. “We try and donate to local charities.”

Lovely Austin frequently donates to Homestead Austin. Danielle personally supports the thrifty side of Austin as well.

“Probably half of my wardrobe is from the shop,” she said. “I feel I wouldn’t feel right not promoting my own business and not supporting

y: Art b

L Andy

anielle and her future business partners were sitting around one night with a bottle of wine. They were trying to find a name for the boutique that would become Lovely Austin. Fresh out of school, Danielle knew what she wanted to do. She was going into the fashion business.

“We just wanted something that was memorable and complimented the city we live in,” she said. “Austin is such a unique and wonderful place.

We have such a melting pot of people and styles so we came up with Lovely Austin.”

Lovely Austin’s philosophy is that the clothes they sell should be a representation of the people who live here. This consignment store was built from the ground up and based on the idea that it would reflect the wonderful city of Austin. Her partners and her all have really strong business backgrounds and one of them was really talented when it came to the advertisement of their collective business. But she contributed a lot of their success to luck and great timing.

Danielle believes that fashion

26

Danielle is on the fa r left and these are her asssoc iates.

my consigners but at the same time I’m a discount shopper. So like anything from Nordstrom Rack to Thrift Land.”

Danielle finds tons of stuff that fit her personal style as well..

“Well I’m a very casual person,” she stated. “I’d prefer jeans most of the time and skirts and casual dresses and things like that but I would say that I’m more of a bo-ho chic kind of a girl. “ She likes the thrifty style more than high fashion labels but thinks that everyone should have a few labels somewhere.

“I’m not over stylized. I’m not real comfortable in real high end stuff.

I carry lots of name brand things and I support them because there is something about their fabrics and the way that they are made that it’s nice to own a few things that are made well and are tailored to the high end because they just feel so good.”

Even though fashion feels good, to Danielle it means more.

“I think that fashion goes beyond what the mainstream and really should transcend into what helps someone identify their individual style and makes a statement of confidence,” she said. “That’s what I feel fashion is.”

Art by Andy L

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Street Street Style

Style

Downtown Austin Fashion

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Fashion of Downtown Austin

Photos by Deborah Hallock

Photos by Deborah H.

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The Drag

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Toy Joy

Buffalo Exchange

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Congress

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Arthouse

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Buffalo Exchange

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Fin.

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Find Your Perfect Boutique

By Andy L

Lovely Austin

1106 South 1st Street, Austin (512) 291-7132 This is the boutique shop that I wrote my story on. They pride themselves on reflecting the fashion in Austin. Very cool. Very in. The place to be.

Blackmail

1202 South Congress Avenue, Austin, TX (512) 326-7670 The reviews say that the clothes here are very well made and that the employees are helpful. They have stylish clothes that spear to be more modern.

Definitely worth checking out.

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Touch of Sass

500 N Lamar Blvd # 170, Austin, TX (512) 478-7277 Touch of Sass was born in October of 2004. This the perfect place to find just the right accessory for any outfit. It wil change your wardrobe forever.

t ll

Wee

417 1/2 W 2nd St, Austin, TX (512) 236-1338 This is specifically for babies. They sell the cutest baby clothes and accessories.

They have everything from cribs to jumpers. They also have designed sets for baby rooms that are cute as can be.

Spartan

Suite D, 215 South Lamar, Austin, TX (512) 579-0303 This is a great place to find gifts. They seem to specialize in home dĂŠcor but have a style all their own. Friendly service. Fair prices. Good parking.

Girl Next Door

250 West 2nd Street, Austin, TX (512) 322-0501 They have a great denim selection.

The store has cute pink walls and great customer service. You will rock the world in these clothes.

WARNING: The dots on the map are only a general aproximation of where the actual stores are. So please get good directions before you get totaly lost.

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Akshara is adorable, creative, and funny. She can make people laugh even when they’re in the worst mood. Her favorite colors are green and blue. Her lucky numbers are 19 and 28. She loves soccer and karate but due to her recent foot surgery will not participate until she gets better.

Overall, she is awesome!

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Converse.

ALL STAR

Sense Your World Smell Your World Queen of Egypt Perfume

At all local Egyptian Fashion Botiques.