The Lexington Line - A/W 20 - Part 2 by LIMCollege

THE LEXINGTON LINE A/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Editors’ Letter Color Pages Editors’ Picks Beauty Buys

THE USUALS 27 Quaran-TV 28 Film, Interrupted

CULTURE 18 36 38

And the Rest is Drag Snatched, Beat, Serving Face Drag Hacks

BEAUTY 16 24 40

A Little Respect Runway Report To Uniform, or Not to Uniform

FASHION 08 30 34

At Ease The Transhumanist Agenda Alt. Enlightenment

LIFESTYLE

TABLE of contents

03 06 10 14

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Amara Geddes Evelyn Mazza Justin (JT) Bell Victoria Villano Khayla Biscoe

Cagney Conner Jenesis Grullon Evelyn Peralta Zoe Phinazee

Francesca Gonzalez

Abigail (Abby) Johnson Jennifer Felder Magali Zoanetti Nya Williams Sian Jackson Sohl Garibaldo

Zoe Velasquez Julia Herrera Mala Desai Sheaylia Nickens SoHee (Sophie) Baek Trinity Wingo

Larissa Creighton

Milena Bennett

Victoria Montalti

Thea Pekarek

Michelle Brunson

Gabrielle Garry Khayla Biscoe Kally Compton

Editor in Chief Caitlyn Mae G. Araña

MANAGING EDITOR

DESIGNERS

Dani Brand

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Fallon Carey

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Styling assistants

ART DIRECTOR

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR

MARKETING DIRECTOR

WEB DIRECTOR

FASHION DIRECTOR BEAUTY DIRECTOR

WEB EDITORS

Jenna Filingeri

STYLING DIRECTOR Kanika Talwar Tessa Aldridge Kally Compton Sam Morim Nicol Maciejewska Sofia Naranjo Clay Lute

Fashion Lifestyle Culture Music Features Accessories News

Ian Grafvonluxburg Rebecca Riggio Emily White Sabrina Stott ZeHao Chen Joshualyn Tibo

Fashion Beauty Lifestyle Culture Features Accessories

EDITORS

ASSISTANT EDITORS Samantha James Ziyu Xu

Assistant creative DIRECTORs Katlen Guzman Garrett Scott

masthead

Erica Fouts

ASSISTANT STYLING DIRECTORS

Tessa Aldridge Sofia Naranjo Stephanie Hagarty Kash Khemlani Juliana Jimenez

Marketing

Assistant Marketing Director Assistant Marketing Director Social Media Manager Social Media Manager Social Media Manager

Professor John Deming Professor Joseph P. Sgambati III

FACULTY ADVISORS

Dr. Daniel Chaskes

ARTS & SCIENCES DEPARTMENT CHAIR Sarah Albert • Christopher Barto • Morgan Boerum • Dave Brand Olivia Bronson • Laura Cioffi • Andrew Cotto • Michael Donohue Meredith Finnin • Professor Timothy Foran • Josh Frazier • Tiffany Fuentes • Mickey Herzing • Maranda Janky • Dr. Kenneth Kambara Professor Grailing King’s Exhibition and Set Design Class • Melissa Krantz • Eric Martin • Modern Litho • Professor Ata Moharreri Maurice Morency • Gail Nardin • Kristina Ortiz • Pheanny Phen Professor Donna Pulese-Murphy • Olga Raganelli • Travis Stephens Dr. Alex Symons • Sabrina Talbert • MT Teloki • Carolina S. Wojtowicz • The LIM College Bookstore • The LIM College faculty All contributors to The Lexington Line MANY THANKS

Lisa Springer, Provost • Michael Londrigan, Associate Professor & Advisor to the Provost Elizabeth Marcuse, President of LIM College • Frontline Workers in the COVID-19 Crisis The Lexington Line is a registered trademark of LIM College SPECIAL THANKS The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Despite this year’s hardships, communities gathered to fight injustice and an ongoing pandemic across the globe. People bravely adapted by learning to appreciate small joys. Adapting to our new normal started off with a bumbling earnestness, but we’ve settled in nicely. Zoom meetings, a renewed gratitude for our health, a regimented approach to selfcare and a broader cultural immersion—these are now just a part of life. This issue celebrates our current reality, despite the conditions it was born out of. In the spirit of memorializing small joys, Culture Editor Kally Compton reflects on some binge-worthy favorites during the initial months of quarantine in “Quaran-TV.” Similarly, Fashion Director Victoria Montalti works with what she has in her capsule fashion challenge, touching on an intangible. We hope that this section of the magazine serves as the source of escapism that we all may need. While it’s critical to remain grounded in reality and face the trials and tribulations that will surely come our way, it’s vital to remember that reality is not all bad—there is much luminosity to be found as well. —The Editors

Caitlyn Mae G. Araña

MANAGING EDITOR

Erica Fouts

Editor in Chief

editors’ Letter

Dear Readers,

Dani Brand

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Acne Studios Mini Bag $420

Christian Dior Spring 2021 RTW

Viktor&Rolf Sage Spell $145

PANTONE 16-0632

willow

Aritzia

Cloud Puff Jacket $250

Stila

Suede Shade Eyeshadow $24

Balenciaga

Urban Decay

Eyeshadow Single $20

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Lambskin Giant Bag $1,895

Ofra

Eyeshadow $15

Glossier

Skywash Sheer Matte Lid Tint $18

Puma

Spring 2021 RTW

Knit Sneakers $39

PANTONE 15-4020

Bottega Veneta

Padded Cassette Bag $2,800

Cerulean

Moschino

Dolce & Gabbana

Light Blue Eau Intense $110

Pantone Color of The Year Tote Bag $15

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

at EASe

my journey to eating disorder recovery By tessa aldridge

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

TRIGGER WARNING: This article features explicit discussion of eating disorders

don’t think I had any idea what a vegan was before I completely changed my diet five years ago. Now I feel like everywhere you go, there’s something labeled “plantbased” this or “made from plants” that. But when we see those words, do we consider how much a diet change could affect someone’s life?

For instance, I had trouble finding foods that were vegan, and I couldn’t just eat 10 bags of chips or whole boxes of cookies anymore because a lot of those snacks didn’t fit into my new diet. Because I was focused on finding plant-based foods that would nourish me, I was no longer mindlessly eating whatever was in my pantry.

Before I went vegan, I was a terrible binger. I wished so badly that I wouldn’t have an appetite or wouldn’t want to eat. But that’s not me. I love food. I was just scared of it. I didn’t like that I liked it, but the way burgers or pizza made me feel when they melted in my mouth was just… heavenly. It was too good to be true.

Lauren Cannell, who is a personal trainer, believes it is up to the individual and their doctor to figure out what to eat when recovering from an eating disorder.

When I realized I could possibly lose weight without having to stop eating, I was mesmerized by it. I could eat more and more and then just purge it all. It would be as though I didn’t eat it in the first place. But I didn’t know how terrible I’d feel. I’d be out of breath from constantly trying to make myself gag. I’d spend too much time scrubbing my hands in hopes that the stench of body insecurity wasn’t left behind. I didn’t want to do that anymore.

“Sometimes being too restrictive can backfire for someone who has already been restricting food groups,” she told me. While the restrictions of veganism have had a positive influence on me, what about those who don’t use it so positively? I’ve witnessed so many instances of people who seek out veganism as a way to lose weight and then inadvertently develop eating disorders—and that’s not the intention behind the diet.

I thought, “how hard could this be?” And then I realized how many things contain milk or honey or an animal byproduct of some sort.

YouTuber Stella Rae was obsessed with veganism. When I found her channel, I knew nothing about the vegan lifestyle. At this point, I didn’t eat meat, but I still ate fish and dairy products. When I found myself watching all of her videos, though, the impact was profound. She was destined to educate on animal cruelty, and it had me hypnotized. So, I went vegan. I thought, “how hard could this be?” And then I realized how many things contain milk or honey or an animal byproduct of some sort. I remember wanting to have a Kind bar; I looked at the ingredients, and realized, “well, technically I can’t eat this.” This was back in 2015, and while it wasn’t as easy to find plant-based options then, they were still out there. I asked Dr. Leah Adkins, an OB/GYN from my home state of Ohio, if she believes a vegan diet is dangerous for those in recovery. She told me it is reasonable to try a vegan diet “if you are mindful of consuming enough calories and a proper amount of both macro- and micro-nutrients.” Being vegan is restrictive. It just is. But these restrictions led me to the balance I struggled to find previously.

While Cannell and Dr. Adkins echo the same sentiment of veganism being a personal choice that is overall a good one, it’s not without its dangers. “Vegans have so many choices for foods,” says Dr. Brianna Donlon, who is also an OB/GYN in Ohio. “I do worry, however, that the selectivity or eliminations of certain food groups could be a psychological trigger for a person with this type of restrictive behavior.” Then what qualifies as a healthy diet?

“In my opinion, portion control and moderation are incredibly important parts of a diet being ‘healthy,’” said Dr. Donlon. She believes a healthy diet includes all food groups, focusing on moderate to high amounts of lean proteins, fruits, veggies, healthy fats, complex carbohydrates and limiting intake of simple carbohydrates, sugars and additives/preservatives. In general, it seems like—for any diet—the most important thing is ensuring that you are getting all the nutrients your body needs. I found that veganism, though technically restrictive, allowed me to enjoy food again and to find a way to love my body. Being vegan may not work for everyone, especially those who may struggle with restriction. For me, it was a way into recovery.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Fallon Carey • creative driector

editors’ picks

Tripod Alice in Chains is one of my favorite bands. I love this album as well as the art.

Scrunchies Although scrunchies are my most frequent impulse buy, they usually end up lost. It is a vicious cycle.

Avocado Tzatziki Dip Trader Joe’s Avocado Tzatziki dip is a musthave. I actually get two each time I go shopping, just in case.

Huda Beauty’s In Retrograde Palette My favorite palette— the glitters are hella pigmented.

The King of Queens I absolutely love The King of Queens. I grew up watching it with my parents. I have watched it through multiple times and I do have all 9 seasons as a box set.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Mui Mui I really love this heel/sock combo.

V for Vendetta My favorite movie of all time is V for Vendetta, and in these times, I highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good thriller. Bad Bunny - YHLQMDL Although we were robbed of a Bad Bunny summer, my pick for best album of 2020 definitely goes to Bad Bunny for YHLQMDLG thanks to its throwback reggaeton sounds.

Tabi Boots I recently got a pair of Tabi booties in matte black vegan leather, and they’re already my new favorite pair of shoes!

editors’ picks

Fenty Lip Gloss - Diamond Milk My favorite gloss is Rihanna’s Fenty Lip Gloss in the Diamond Milk shade. It’s thick and shiny, and it smells amazing.

Ian Grafvonluxburg • Assistant Fashion Editor

Hermes Birkin White Crocodile Himalayan Bag In the spirit of manifesting, my favorite fashion piece is one of the most expensive bags you could ever hope to win at an auction.

Alexander McQueen Savage Beauty MET Collection Coffee Table Book I love collecting fashion books to put on my coffee table because I feel that it adds fashion to any space. I recently got the Alexander McQueen book that recollects his Savage Beauty exhibit at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Thea Pekarek • Web Director

editors’ picks

Layered Gold Necklaces I love finding necklaces with random pendants and layering them.

Beats My Beats fully transform me into the main character with my own personal soundtrack. I love it here.

The New Yorker The New Yorker inspires me to keep telling stories—stories that matter.

Mom Jeans and ‘80s Sweater I take pride in being told I look like an extra from Stranger Things. Give me all the mom jeans and ‘80s sweaters pleeeaasseeee. Prism This serum has my skin GLOWIN’. Whack World I couldn’t stop listening to this album for months; I still can’t. I also made all my friends watch the music video. A creative genius.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

The Fire Next Time James Baldwin. What more is there to say? Okay, there’s a lot, but I can’t fit it in all on this page.

Chanel Tweed Jacket This Chanel Tweed Jacket is one of my favorite pieces I own. I found it while vintage shopping in Rome and have never seen anything quite like it. It is so versatile and effortlessly ties together any look.

Sustaina Babble This podcast is key to understanding the ins and outs of climate change. This is a great way to learn more about rising temperatures and how to slow them down.

editors’ picks

The Ballad of Sexual Dependency The Ballad of Sexual Dependency is one of my favorite photo books of all time. Nan Goldin perfectly depicts the struggle for intimacy in her friend group through her photography, if you ever get the chance to look through this book, I absolutely recommend it.

Michelle Brunson • Beauty Director

Jennifer Fisher Mini Jamma Gold-Plated Hoop Earrings Hoop earrings are my go-to accessory. They elevate every look, whether you’re going for sporty casual moment or sophisticated chic.

ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint As someone who doesn’t like a fullcoverage foundation, tinted serum is my holy grail. It’s loaded with beneficial ingredients, not to mention it has a SPF of 40 that leaves your skin glowing and protected.

French Exit by TV Girl French Exit by TV Girl is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time. The album is so unique as it is filled with an array of eclectic songs that are perfect to listen to any time of the day.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Beauty Buys by Michelle Brunson

1. MAKEUP BY MARIO Master Secret Glow™ Highlighter $22 2. MILK MAKEUP Flex Highlighter $28 • 3. PATRICK TA Major Glow Body Oil $52 • 4. SUPERGOOP! Glow Oil SPF 50 $38 5. ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Liquid Glow Highlighter $25 6. FENTY BEAUTY Match Stix Shimmer Skinstick $25 7. DIOR Lip Glow Oil $34 • 8. LAURA MERCIER Translucent Loose Setting Powder - Glow Finish $39 • 9. SUNDAY RILEY C.E.O Glow Vitamin C + Tumeric Face Oil $80 • 10. SHISEIDO Aura Dew Highlighter For Face, Eyes & Lips $25

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a little respect appreciating vs. appropriating By sofia naranjo Sometimes wearing accessories that are not from your own culture is in very bad taste. Cultural appropriation happens often at music festivals and costume parties. For example, Native American headdresses should never be worn at Coachella or costume parties if you are not Native American. A group’s culture is not your costume. The Native American headdress is a valuable symbol to the indigenous people—only the most powerful members of the tribe wear the headdress, like chiefs or warriors. The bottom line is, don’t wear the headdress unless you’ve earned the right. Many cultural accessories are appropriated in this way. At music festivals, it has become popular to wear rhinestone face jewelry, but the rhinestones started to look similar to Bindis. Bindis are worn in between your eyebrows—on your third eye—by South Asian women in the Hindu culture and religion. Not Coachella girls. Here are five accessories you can appreciate instead of appropriate.

Henna Tattoos Henna (originally called “Mehndi” in India) is a dye from Lawsonia Inermis (Henna tree) and its application is to comfort people with diseases related to poor blood circulation and body aches. Henna has been traced back to Egyptian and Hindu culture and is now extensively used in India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, the Middle East, and Africa. Henna Tattoos are seen at festivals like Diwali and weddings. It has become westernized for its “aesthetic”; we see this art done at theme parks and amusement parks like Disney and Universal. This art has been done at these locations for a while already, so it may be easy to wonder how we can blame individuals for getting them when they have become so normalized. Nevertheless, now is the chance to learn and do better. If you want to appreciate Henna tattoos, then the only time you should be wearing them is if you are invited to a Mehndi party, which is a tradition held before a wedding, or if you’re marrying into a Hindu or South Asian Muslim family.

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Native American Jewelry Native American jewelry incorporates turquoise, coral, silver, and other stones. Most Native American jewelry is designed or distinct to The Navajo, The Hopi, and The Zuni tribe. The Navajo tribe are known to be silversmiths; they combine many embellishments and gemstones into their jewelry. The Hopi’s technique includes turquoise stone and a symbol that distinguishes them from others. The Zuni tribe’s jewelry carries meaningful stories within their symbols. Native American jewelry often carries symbols, stories, and purpose, so it’s necessary to be conscious of your jewerly’s meaning and origins. The best way to appreciate Native American jewelry is to purchase it handmade from Native American artists. According to Whitney Bauck in Fashionista, “In short, wearing Native patterns or jewelry is fine as long as you bought them from an actual Native designer.” Buying imitations of the jewelry is disrespectful and dishonors the hard work and passion that went into making it. By doing this, you are supporting Native American artists and respecting the culture.

Waist Beads Waist beads are made from seeds, glass beads, and stones. They represent a woman’s sexuality, femininity, fertility, and spirituality, and have been around since the 15th century, originating in African countries. They are most common in Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and other west African countries. Now, waist beads have become westernized and popular in the United States for purely aesthetic reasons. Waist beads in the U.S. are worn with outfits that reveal the stomach and are commonly seen with swimwear. Even though this accessory is rooted in female empowerment, we need to remember what waist beads represent in African cultures. They are used in various parts of African life traditionally, like in medicine, awakening, strength, support, and also as a waist trainer to give women awareness of their changing figure. Waist beads are also symbolic of the many powers women hold, so any woman can wear them to represent the power within them. If you do purchase these beads, remember to do your research and educate yourself on the specific African cultures before wearing them—or buying them. You can also wear waist beads under clothes like Ghanaian women usually do, for more appreciation of the accessory and the culture. As we learn these rules and the best ways to appreciate other cultures, there should be no reason why we continue to appropriate them. We have the internet at our fingertips, so we can research and educate ourselves; it is not difficult to be considerate of other cultures. Let’s do better. Inclusivity means nothing if there is no respect or awareness.

Hoop Earrings While people in American culture have been sporting hoop earrings for decades, debate surrounding the fact that they are to native to specific cultures is relatively new. They originated in Black and Latinx cultures and tended to be looked down upon, but they were rebranded as a hot trend when white people began sporting them. See the issue? The media portrays white models and influencers as the originators of the look, along with other aspects of Black and Latinx culture that have been appropriated, like overlining lips or overtanning. It becomes an issue when white individuals get praise and credit and people of color get disregarded. In 2017, a group of Latinx students a Pitzer College, which is just outside of Los Angeles, wrote the message “White Girl, take OFF your hoops!” on a wall on the side of a dormitory devoted to “unmoderated free speech through art (colloquially name “the free wall),” according to The Claremont Independent. Hoop earrings have been around for thousands of years. They can be traced back to 2500 BCE in African civilization, Nubia (now known as Sudan). Hoops are also seen in 1500 BCE in Egypt, and they started to become universal when adopted by the Greeks and the Roman Empire. Hoop earrings symbolize beauty, power, religion, and wholeness. But what if you’re a white person who likes the accessory and means no harm? What is the best way you can appreciate this rather than appropriate? Do your research, know the history, and give credit where it is due. If you’re going to buy hoop earrings, buy from Black and Latinx artists. By doing this, you are showing your support for and awareness of the culture.

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

And the Rest is Drag Michelle Brunson Dani Brand

Johnny Chiurazzi Cameron Hennessey

PHOTOGRAPHY

models

Michelle Brunson

Beauty director The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

By Ian Grafvonluxburg, Kanika Talwar, and Victoria Montalti

Ru n way R e p o r t

Chic from Home

No Shirt No Problem For Spring/Summer collections, designers tend to show less layering on the runway. This season they took it one step further. Taking a more risqué approach, bralette tops were all the rage. Each designer had a different interpretation of the trend, but the idea remained the same. Versace went sexy as usual and showed us a bralette encrusted with jewels and organic underwater shapes, fitting their nautical spring theme. Designers like Jacquemus and Coperni took a simpler approach, showing subdued bralette tops that are meant to accentuate the shape of whoever is wearing them. Support is something that most people don’t associate with a bralette, but Etro and Alberta Ferreti made sure that you feel as comfortable as you do playful. Thick shoulder bands were attached to their bralettes, possibly even making them adjustable. With these styles, even without a shirt, you can still get service!

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For the perfect Zoom meeting attire that won’t be considered a fireable offense, designers opted to create more relaxed suits that are both chic and work-from-home appropriate. Dior Homme paired a tailored jacket with shorts, while Miu Miu chose a skirt for comfort. Others like Boss, Acne Studios, Tibi, and Ambush incorporated a flowy bottom for ease of movement while maintaining a waist-up tailored look. Taking the informal approach by way of fabric, Homme Plissé Issey Miyake utilized burgundy corduroy. Valentino took on a collaboration with denim legend Levi to simplify the blazer look. With the foreseeable future alluding to more flexible work environments, all collections agree that comfort is a top priority.

6 Feet Apart This Spring/Summer season was all about keeping a good distance away from your neighbor, and designers found a chic way of doing so. Accentuated shoulders were found on the runway or in the studio in several collections from designers all over the world. Although a bold shoulder is nothing new to some fashion week names, designers played with the idea in new and innovative ways. Balmain presented pagoda shoulders, which is not usually a house code, and Matthew Williams debuted as Givenchy’s newest creative director with a bold crocodile skin cape that is sure to keep everyone at a 6-foot distance. Many designers added shoulder accents to blazers and coats, like in the cases of Zuhair Murad and Isabel Marant, but some dared to give blouses larger, protruding features of their own, like in the cases of Sankuanz and LRS. Whether or not designers kept social distancing in mind when making these collections, the looks definitely demand their own space, and they won’t take no for an answer.

The Full Spectrum All the colors of the rainbow were present and playful for a necessary escape from the past year’s hardships. Tom Ford decked out his collection with a shade of purple befitting only of royalty. Cinq a Sept and Elie Saab chose glorious greens; Cinq a Sept used a highlighter yellowish-green while Elie Saab kept his greens grassy. Alice + Olivia and Burberry had full-out monochrome moments with yellows and burnt oranges, respectively. Vivienne Westwood did a mix of colors with royal blue, coral, and forest green. Pretty in pink, Christopher John Rogers and Valentino put their own spin on the iconic Mean Girls color. Bright and beautiful colors have come back from the ‘80s in full force to brighten our days spent indoors.

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#LIVEWITHFLARE

QUARAN-TV

Releases, rewatches, & Returns By Kally Compton

uring government-mandated quarantine, many people began their new COVID-19 routine of Zoom meetings coupled with hours of binging new Netflix releases or rewatching fan favorites. Thankfully, countless shows and movies—both old and new—were accessible through streaming services, and some will certainly be remembered as COVID-era classics.

Game of Thrones is a long-term investment, but it’s worth the watch. It aired on HBO in 2011, lasting 8 seasons. Each episode is an hour long and jam-packed with sex, swords, dragons, and family feuds—definitely a sit-downand-digest sort of show. It has a huge cult following and many people rewatched it or watched it for the first time on HBOMax due to an abundance of free time.

Releases

Netflix released two popular Nickelodeon series over quarantine: Avatar: The Last Airbender and its sequel, The Legend of Korra.

Love Is Blind was released on Netflix on February 13th, shortly before the pandemic reached full swing. The reality show featured endearing contestants propositioned with the challenge of finding a life partner without ever seeing each other. Unlike other overly-romanticized dating shows, the series captured the indecision of contestants who doubted whether they should even be there in the first place. The producers also included the aftermath of each proposal, and even served up a dramatic reunion episode. On March 20th, Netflix gifted us Tiger King. This docu-series was peculiar, to say the least, and introduced us to the unforgettable Joe Exotic and Carole Baskin. Tiger King highlighted the underrepresented issue of trafficking domestic tigers in the U.S. and accounted for many Twitter memes and TikTok trends inspired by the show’s unlikely icons. A Netflix original docu-series about Jeffrey Epstein, Filthy Rich, was released on May 27th. This four-part series discusses the various cases of rape, sexual assault, and human trafficking of young girls by Epstein in the ‘90s and 2000s. This series was the top-rated hit on Netflix during its release, igniting a conversation that brought people in power into question due to Epstein’s regular contact with government officials, high-powered executives, and even European royalty.

Rewatches

This release was nostalgic for many Gen Z kids and Millennials who watched the American cartoon series growing up. The characters from both shows have been consistent fan favorites in pop culture, even well after their respected endings.

Returns Euphoria was all the rage last summer when it aired on HBO in June 2019. The show won several awards and had a lasting effect on makeup and fashion trends, even during quarantine. After canceling filming in March, the Euphoria team announced that they have begun filming Season 2, and that two special episodes would be released on December 6th, 2020. Following the special episodes, the second season is predicted to be released in spring 2021. Outer Banks was released during quarantine and held the top spot on Netflix after its release. This modern-day-Goonies squad has reportedly regrouped to film Season 2. New characters will be introduced alongside the ever-favored Kooks and Pogues, and season 2 is set to release in spring 2021.

New Girl turned up on many quarantine binge lists. The show aired on FOX from 2011 to 2018. It’s a lighthearted sitcom about a woman named Jess who moves into an apartment with three men. The humor and connections between the characters as they transform each others’ lives, in conjunction with recurring celebrity guests like Prince and Megan Fox, made the show an understandably classic rewatch. The Lexington Line • a/w 20 • vol 7 • no 1

Film, Interrupted

the Industry’s adaptation to filming during the pandemic By Kally Compton

hat would happen if you opened Netflix and the “Coming Soon” section had disappeared? This was a real fear for the television and film industry as it came to a grinding halt and filming was at a standstill for months. We missed new seasons of our favorite shows, like Euphoria, that would have aired this past summer. The demand for good shows increased during quarantine, so people who work in film and television had to learn to navigate remote work and social distancing mandates to keep the industry alive. Rebecca Cutter is one of the industry’s many creative, hardworking writers. She has written episodes of some popular series like Gotham and The Mentalist. Her own creation, Hightown, is her “baby.” The crime series is based in Cape Cod and centers on addiction. It aired on Starz in May 2020 and was picked up for another season, with hopes that filming could begin this fall. The writing process for her show remained the same, as she could conduct most of her writing and meetings at home. However, some questions arose as she went about this now-virtual process. She asked herself, “How can we move this scene outside? Can they not kiss in this scene?” The cast and crew became a family as they worked on set, Cutter says. On October 19th, shooting was moved from New York to Wilmington, NC. While she was excited to start the process, she stated that it was a big change:

“People want to work and will continue to do what they can to get back to it, but the process of shooting is going to be weird for everyone.” According to Cutter, sets will be separated into zones, and only authorized people will be able to access those areas. Testing will also be a critical part of the set’s safety measures. The takes themselves will be shorter, and everyone on set but the actors will be in full PPE gear at all times. The actors are the most susceptible on set as they cannot wear masks while shooting. Cutter fears the actors’ emotional vulnerability may be compromised on set considering they will have to be surrounded by not only cameras, but also people in suits and masks. They also must isolate to avoid exposure to the virus. Despite the fears, Cutter and the Hightown team are excited to return to work. While the safety protocols are rigid, they enable more shows to film upcoming seasons. Plans for a final season of the popular Netflix series G.L.O.W., for example, were scrapped due to the pandemic, in part because the show requires abundant physical interaction between performers. Whether these protocols will last beyond the pandemic remains to be seen. Some anticipate that Zoom will replace physical writers’ rooms and in-person auditions. These are all aspects of our new normal that we must adjust to. The film industry has changed dramatically, but the stories we crave aren’t going anywhere.

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Examining the fears, myths, and truths behind science as our savior 30

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By Dani Brand

Do you want to live forever? If yes, you may unwittingly be a transhumanist. More likely, your answer requires a more critical approach: What do you mean live forever? Under what circumstances? What’s the catch? Transhumanism is a technologically-based way of living that aims to erase one of our main roots of suffering: death. Nearing the end of one of the most disastrous years humanity has seen in decades, transhumanism—while not new, but gaining more popularity in recent years—might start to seem like more and more of a viable option. At its most basic level, transhumanism is the idea that science can improve our lives dramatically, possibly to the point of immortality. One idea championed by transhumanists seeking deathlessness is called “longevity escape velocity.” Longevity escape velocity is essentially living as best as you can—eat healthily, abstain from drinking, drugs, sex—in order to add enough time to your life to achieve “singularity.” Singularity is the end-goal of transhumanism, the moment where scientific progress finally grants immortality. One of the leaders of the transhumanist community, Zoltan Istvan, elucidated the gravity of accepting transhumanism sooner rather than later in his novel The Transhumanist Wager, published in 2013. Istvan states, “Transhumanism will lead humanity forward to understand what seems like a simple truth: that the spectre of ageing and death are unwanted, and we should strive to control and eliminate them.” While there is technology that falls under the scope of transhumanist achievements, like hearing aids or prosthetic legs, scientists outside of the transhumanist community created these technologies to ease people’s suffering. That, to me at least, is a beautiful thing. It’s a testament to human survival: people are born, decide to become scientists, and proceed to create things that ease pain. We die, the technology lives on. It’s a stunning escalation of innovation and disintegration that, to this point, has worked just fine. Transhumanism provides us a theoretical escape route to a plainly mortal existence. All this meandering through existential topics like existence, life’s meaning, our simple pleasures—transhumanism chooses life, forever. But the nearly religious belief that ultimately science will lead to a path of immortality is decidedly unscientific because it is unspecific. Typically, science is viewed in opposition to religion due to the respective natures of each; one is based on falsifiable evidence, the other on faith. Transhumanism is a bewitchingly seductive consolidation

of both—it accounts for our scientific accomplishments and then faithfully believes that, on some imaginary trajectory, humanity will reach singularity. If we follow this line of thought to its logical conclusion, would we not inevitably be full automatons? If we follow the idea of heralding science as our savior, leading us to a blissful eternity on Earth—which is only a slight variation from standard religious promises of eternal bliss made by institutions ranging from the Catholic church to the Church of Scientology—where does it end? What does singularity even look like? Is it even desirable? Does it come with a big, red self-destruct button?

Now, we keep our entire lives on our phones, and Mark Zuckerberg—and his like—buy and sell our lives like poker chips. Say that 100 years into singularity, you have already replaced most of your major organs through 3D printing. Lungs, heart, liver, pancreas, the works. You’ve already lived longer than most humans in recorded history. That being said, your skin will be certifiably wrinkled and verging on sheer dissolution. Quick fix: skin-suit exoskeletons. There goes another part of your body that is now, technically, a machine. And what about past that? People have not lived long enough to see how long the human brain can function adequately, but it does start to push out fumes around 80 years. Transhumanists would likely suggest we upload our consciousness to a computerized memory bank, similar to the core concept behind Elon Musk’s Neuralink Lace Interface. And, for argument’s sake, let’s say the soul is stored in the brain. Once we trade in our mushy human brain for a theoretical little black box of mechanized memories and emotions, and all of our organs are materialized through machines, and our skin is essentially a suit that we put on every day, and our joints and bones are bionic—are we still human? Is it worth the wager, trading off your humanity for immortality? “Do you want to live forever?” This is the first question transhumanist Roen Horn asked The New York Times author Mark O’Connell upon meeting him. O’Connell, an acquaintance of Zoltan Istvan, was traveling with both Istvan and Horn across the country in what Istvan

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beneficial for people who need the tech to survive. However, many of those same participants who found transhumanism appealing in the sense of a human-aiding service still found artificial intelligence dangerous.

called his Immortality Bus for his presidential campaign in 2016. In O’Connell’s article “600 Miles in a Coffin-Shaped Bus, Campaigning Against Death Itself,” Horn’s logic comprises the exact heedless rationale worth scrutinizing about this movement:

The Anti-Transhumanist Manifesto, written by Dr. Sarah Spiekermann along with several other doctoral professors, provides an exacting perspective regarding the potentially perilous nature of transhumanism. Spiekermann claims, “Transhumanism is a negative perspective on human nature… This perspective is best recognized by a superstitious belief in science as saviour and a distanced contempt for our human nature: our fragility, our mortality, our sentience, our self-awareness, and our embodied sense of ‘who’ we are (as distinct from a ‘what’).”

“I run the Eternal Life Fan Club… It’s an online organization for people who are serious about living forever. Not, like, 500 years like a lot of transhumanists. Forever.” Why roll the dice on “forever” when everything has a natural life cycle? And if it’s not forever that you’re going after, then you’re just arguing for longevity, which seems to be even more frivolous. Even planets eventually implode, so what? “Forever” is just as long as we can inhabit a functioning planet, which brings a whole other series of questions into play—but you see where this rabbit hole is leading.

While transhumanism heralds an optimized future through scientific augmentation as the avowed evolution for humanity, it neglects the inescapable artificial intelligence component that will surely follow.

Are you scared to live forever? If yes, welcome to anti-transhumanism.

Many surveyors against the general notion of transhumanism claimed that their aversion was rooted in how artificial intelligence has already been distorted by the hands of capitalism. It’s fairly common knowledge that our data gets sold to the highest bidder. Ten years ago, that wasn’t so frightening. Now, we keep our entire lives on our phones, and Mark Zuckerberg—and his like—buy and sell our lives like poker chips. So, here lies the true crossroads. Can we have transhumanism without the inevitable integration of artificial intelligence?

There are always inescapable dissenters to any movement. This movement, much like anything that flourishes in the dark, revolves around a concept that we have all considered but never named. Out of curiosity, I created a survey to see how people in my general orbit would react to some transhumanist concepts. Only 16% knew what transhumanism was before taking the survey. The vast majority said they thought artificial intelligence, within itself, is dangerous. About half found the idea of transhumanism appealing, but 65% found it immoral to integrate tech with the human body.

Existence is pain. Silver lining: Pain makes joy so much sweeter. Call me an optimist. Life is a serial link of moments, a series of seemingly random or planned events that we exist within by the powers that be—and pain is a part of it. There are trillions of ways one person can live a life, yet whichever path is chosen, pain is surely there. Human beings are sensitive. I think it’s part of our charm.

This survey is not intended to be all-inclusive, but its responses are indicative of the general idea behind dissenters’ fears about transhumanism. The idea was appealing, but there was a clear distrust of artificial intelligence. Most people who found the idea of transhumanism appealing claimed that it would be

Survey Results: Appealing Transhumanist Technologies

*TRANSHUMANIST TECHNOLOGIES DEFINED RFID Chips: subdermal wrist implant containing personal identification information *TRANSHUMANIST TECHNOLOGIES DEFINED

RFID chips *

Survey Results: Appealing Transhumanist Technologies Neuralink Lace * RFID chips *

Neuralink Lace: highcontaining bandwidth brain-machine RFID Chips: subdermal wristultra implant interface connecting humans with computers personal identification information

Exoskeletons

NeuralinkLanguage Lace * translating earbuds

Augmented Vision Aids #1: glass eye implant that has a camera Neuralink Lace: ultra high bandwidth brain-machine connected to your creating a live feed interface connecting humans withretinas, computers

Exoskeletons Augmented vision aids #1 *

Augmented Visioneye Aids #2: smart lenses that can record Augmented Vision Aids #1: glass implant thatcontact has a camera video by blinking, overlaying connected to your retinas, creating a live feedCGI onto reality

uage translating earbuds Augmented vision aids #2 *

ugmented vision aids #1 *

3D organ printing

ugmented vision aids #2 *

Augmented Vision Aids #2: smart contact lenses that can record video by blinking, overlaying CGI onto reality

Gene editing

3D organ printing

100

Votes Received––Participants Could Cast Multiple Votes

Gene editing 0

Votes Received––Participants Could Cast Multiple Votes

100

120

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ALT. ENLIGHTENMENT Occultism Reigns Again By Erica Fouts

In her new song “Just Like Magic,” pop princess Ariana Grande sings, “Good karma my aesthetic / keep my conscience clear that’s why I’m so magnetic / manifest it.” Manifestation, crystals, witchcraft, astrology, past life regressions—an amalgamation of these components, among others, are composing a new-age spirituality that is fueled by mainstream media and pop culture. #WitchTok, a hashtag applied to TikTok videos that relate to witchcraft, has 5.7 billion views. Co-Star, which cites itself as “the hyper-personalized, social experience bringing astrology into the 21st century,” has amassed 1.5 million followers on Instagram. Gwyneth Paltrow’s media and retail empire Goop, which is famous for the sale and discussion of crystal therapy, is valued at $250 million. These practices and interests are condemned by a number of organized religions, yet they are becoming increasingly normalized in today’s youth culture. Millennials and Generation Z are the least religious generations in recorded American history, according to Pew Research Center; roughly a third of each age group do not affiliate themselves with an established religion. So what is the draw towards these historically taboo beliefs? For 29-year-old Brianna Wedeward, it’s a connection to nature.

“I first learned about [Wicca] when I was living in Eugene, Oregon a few years ago,” she says. “I guess it was just a point in my life where I was thinking about religion and what I actually believe in… A lot of the basis of Wicca is cycles of the natural world, and that just made a lot of sense to me.” The connection to nature also appeals to 26-year-old Liz Kristen, who identifies as a witch. Liz, a teacher from the West Coast, sells hand-poured intention candles and crystal bundles on Etsy. “To me, being a witch is being a lifelong learner and always being open to learning and following guidance,” she explains. “It has improved my intuition and helps me see the world from a different perspective. Practicing witchcraft gives me a connection to all that is sacred and provides me with a sense of direction when I feel lost.” Humans are hardwired to ponder the inexplicable. In particular, when people reach their twenties, they begin to search for a deeper meaning that makes sense to them, and the events that segment each generation undoubtedly impact which religion checks that box. The year 2020 alone is enough to jumpstart a spiritual search. Both Brianna and Liz hypothesized that the occult may appeal to younger generations because of its individualistic nature. Liz notes that “the craft can be practiced by anyone, anywhere. You don’t need a church or a person of religious power to lead. You lead yourself, on your own path, and can connect to the divine source in whatever way speaks to you.” Brianna expresses a similar sentiment, stating, “You can make it what you want it to be and personalize it. And I think with our generation, being individualistic is a really important value.” Another standout factor is the relationship between witchcraft and feminism. In late 2019, The New York Times published an article titled “Witches Are Having Their Hour.” Its author, Lauren M. Holson, notes that throughout history, a renewed interest in witchcraft has coincided with each wave of feminism. “It seems like a lot of more traditional religions have not been very feminist, historically,” Brianna says. “Wicca is a religion that embraces femininity and doesn’t discriminate.”

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Author Laurie Cabot opened Salem’s first witch shop, now called Crow Haven Corner, in 1971. In her 1989 book Power of the Witch, she notes that “a Witch’s power deals with life, and women are biologically more engaged in producing life and nourishing it than are men.” When considering this outlook, a relationship between Wicca and today’s sociopolitical climate is unveiled. The #MeToo movement, in which sexual justice is having its long-awaited time in the spotlight, as well as the ongoing rhetoric surrounding Roe v. Wade, have placed today’s society in an unofficial fifth wave of feminism. Exalting individuality, maintaining the freedom to choose, and upholding ownership over one’s own body, as Brianna implies, can be related to this religion that celebrates a woman’s inherent power. In essence, embracing Wicca is synonymous with the “we grab back” mentality. Wicca’s ties to feminism transcend its relationship with women’s natural cycles and ability to bear children. Witch hunts that took place in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries led to the execution of millions of innocent people, approximately 80% of whom were female. During the infamous Salem Witch Trials, which took place in the 1690s in Massachusetts, 200 people were accused of practicing witchcraft. Roughly 70% of the accused were women, and 14 out of the 19 individuals who were put to death were women. The relationship between the fatal persecution of women and witchcraft is inescapable. The hysteria surrounding witchcraft was rooted in the belief that anything supernatural was “thought to be the work of the Devil or his servants,” according to BBC. Despite the recent uptick in mystic intrigue, mainstream aversion remains. Brianna believes that this negative association is largely rooted in misconceptions surrounding Wicca. “Honestly, I have a hard time telling people I identify as Wiccan,” she admits. “We have all these Halloween movies about witches—which are cool—but I think that’s what people picture. They’re like, ‘oh, so you do magic and spells?’ and I’m like, ‘well no, not really.’ I also think it gets associated with Satanism a lot because one of the main symbols of Wicca is the pentacle, which is actually a protective symbol. But the reverse of that is the symbol associated with Satanism, so I think people see that and think ‘oh my god, you’re into some dark stuff.’ But no, not really.”

Liz says that witchcraft is not only unrelated to anything sinister, but in many ways, more common than some may think. “To me, Witchcraft can be as simple as cooking with love, wearing your mom’s ring for good luck, and starting your day with positive intentions,” she clarifies. Most people do this, whether imbuing their actions with religious principle or not. A great deal of Wicca is focused on placing greater intent into everyday things—a practice that seems increasingly pertinent amidst today’s lingering uncertainty. All religions boil down to meaning-making. How do you connect to a higher power, whether that be a divine being or a divine source within yourself, in an attempt to understand more about the world around you? “I think we’re all just trying to figure out what we’re doing here,” explains 22-year-old Olivia Cassidy. “I consider myself agnostic, but with tarot and crystals, I feel like I have a tangible line to further explore myself and my purpose in this universe where there is still so much we don’t know. I think a lot of people my age are made uncomfortable by the concept that if we believe in one particular something, we’ll be punished after death. I think that the turn to practicing Wicca and being a witch, or being fascinated by tarot and crystals and astrology, all come from wanting some kind of ‘relationship’ with the universe—and with yourself—without feeling like you’re tied to one religion or set of beliefs.”

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Snatched, Beat, Serving Face D r a g P e r m e at e s t h e M a i n s t r e a m by Michelle Brunson

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you’re unfamiliar with drag, let’s start with a little bit of herstory. The act of performing drag dates back to Shakespearean times, when men would dress up in exaggerated makeup and dresses to play women, as women were typically not allowed to act in plays. The British theater slang term “drag” originated in the 1870s as a way to refer to men donning women’s clothes. In the 20th-century, drag queens played a major role in the fight for LGBTQ+ rights, gender-identity politics, and AIDS advocacy. Marsha P. Johnson, known as “the mayor of Christopher Street,” was central to the Stonewall uprising of 1969 in Greenwich Village and modeled for the likes of Andy Warhol. Johnson’s mysterious death in 1992—ruled a suicide, but widely suspected to have been murder—is investigated in David Francis’s 2017 Netflix documentary The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson. Johnson was only one of many drag queens who fought for equal rights and helped establish a place for drag in the broader culture, allowing for the rise of mainstream drag stars like the vastly influential RuPaul Charles. RuPaul sashayed her way onto television with the Emmy-awardwinning series RuPaul’s Drag Race back in 2009. However, the show wasn’t always the smash hit we have all come to know and love today—many viewers were turned off by the way Drag Race challenged societal norms and encouraged drag queens to embrace their individuality. Over the course of 12 seasons and several spin-offs, 163 queens and counting have used the show as an outlet to be seen, heard, and accepted. The explosion of drag has undeniably had a profound impact on our culture. The way we dress, the way we talk, and even our everyday beauty routines have been impacted by it. You may have heard Cardi B famously trademarking the slang term “okurrr,” but pop culture had already absorbed it from Drag Race, and drag culture had evolved it for

decades. Its amalgamation into society was so effortless that people often have no idea where it came from. This goes along with the endless list of terms that have been embraced in modern slang—“spilling the tea,” “hunty,” and “throwing shade,” to name a few. One key component in drag is the technique of “beating their faces,” and no, I do not mean beating themselves up. The act of beating your face can be defined as precisely applying your makeup in such a way that you essentially look flawless. Traditional drag beauty is achieved through heavy application, bold and exaggerated details, and skyscraping wigs—and as a wise queen once said, “if you’re not wearing nails, you’re not doing drag.” That wise queen is Alaska, winner of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars 2, who could definitely attest to a critical fact: Drag queens perform high-energy, intense routines under very bright lights, so it’s crucial that their makeup is essentially bulletproof and looks good from every angle. Makeup is one of the most crucial parts of drag for a number of reasons. It allows the queen to bring the character they are portraying to life and allows them to enter a full transformation. They are also creating the illusion of having naturally feminine features as they transform into a female character. In short, queens use makeup to distinguish themselves in the drag community. One example is season 7 Drag Race contestant and All Stars 3 winner Trixie Mattel, who inarguably has one of the most recognizable looks in the history of the show. She established her signature beauty by creating an exaggerated contour and brow that embodies her Barbieesque persona. Every day in our social media feeds, we see flawless airbrushed complexions, also known as “Instagram makeup.” This is actually all from drag influence. Almost all of the beauty trends that we see today have stemmed from drag culture. Beauty gurus all over

the world have embraced techniques learned from drag queens into their daily makeup routines. These include highlighting, contouring, cut-creases, and overlining your lips to give them the full and exaggerated effect without having to undergo a lip-filler procedure. To sum it up, all of these techniques will leave your face beat to the gods and dramatically transform an everyday look into a snatched soft glam. Beat, a documentary produced by Elle, highlights drag beauty’s infiltration of mainstream beauty. In the documentary, celebrity makeup artist Renny Vasquez refers to toned-down drag techniques adapted elsewhere in the industry as “baby drag.” Although these trends have been embraced in their own lesser versions of real drag techniques, they actually all have their own function in drag. Celebrity makeup artist Tim Pearson points out the reasoning behind highlighting and contouring: “When you’re on stage under bright lights, they have a tendency to actually blow out all of the features. So, highlights pull things forward, and contours push things back.” In addition to influencing the vast beauty community on YouTube, drag makeup has also helped brands bring products to the market that were not always available to the masses. KKW Beauty, Fenty Beauty, and Kylie Cosmetics are just a few of the brands that have introduced drag-inspired products such as contour sticks, highlight sticks, and lip kits. Brands have quickly adapted these products into their lines, as they are obviously extremely effective at making you look flawless. In Beat, Renny Vasquez also brings to light the fact that drag queens almost never get the recognition they deserve for their contributions to our culture. With their slang terms, their beauty techniques, or even the way they dress, they are constantly defying conventions and transforming the world we live in today. As celebrity makeup artist Sarah Tanno notes: “You’re basically doing drag whether you know it or not.”

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“For false eyelashes, put a thin layer of glue on the lash and then put a layer on the eyelid itself. It’ll stick really well then.”–Buff Chick

“If you need to glue/cover your brow, only use Elmer’s Disappearing Purple School Glue Sticks. These are water soluble, so it’s very easy to get out of the brow. You can also see when each layer of glue is dry once the purple turns clear.”–Vidana

dragT ip shacks & Tricks

“Painting your nails before getting ready, because when they dry, you can put the glue-on nails on top of that layer. Removing the glue-ons won’t hurt as much at the end of the night.” –Buff Chick

Curated by Michelle Brunson with Buff Chick and Vidana There are a number of different ways to perfect the art of drag. Philadelphia-based queen Buff Chick and New York-based queen Vidana share a few of their methods for achieving ultimate drag.

“After applying a bold lip, cut the edges with concealer to create an intense definition and leave a clean line.”–Vidana

“When applying lashes, put on mascara first to avoid ruining your false set. Once you put the falsies on, tweeze your natural lash to the fake one, lifting the eye and blending the two seamlessly.”–Vidana

“If you plan to style a synthetic wig, never use heat (curling wand, flat iron, etc.), only use steam. This will keep the hair from tangling in the future and hold your style for much longer.” –Vidana 38

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“Run your makeup brushes against a cheap washcloth between colors. This way, you can dip into multiple pans with one brush and not have to worry about oversaturation. Your brush will also stay clean for longer this way.”–Vidana

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To Uniform, or Not To Uniform

Capsule Wardrobe Challenge By Victoria Montalti

hirteen outfits, three challenges, one exhausted gal. Not a TikTok trend (yet), but a personal challenge to rethink my style, wardrobe, and time management skills. Capsule wardrobes are meant to condense one’s closet to their favorite, most versatile pieces. No nonsense. No meandering. It seems the perfect solution for re-immersing into the outside world post stay-at-home orders. “Seems” is the key word here. It seems that a uniformtailored wardrobe would uncomplicate the puzzle of getting dressed everyday. It’s one less thing to stress about or dwell over. But how do you know what to hone in on or discard? YouTube is saturated with videos entitled “Five Days in the Same Outfit,” “Same Top Worn 7 Ways,” and “My Work Uniform,” offering clickable content that makes you wonder, hmmm, could I do that? Yes, you can! But will you come out of it a uniform devotee? Have I? So, what were the challenges I took and how did they play out? Well, I essentially wore three different capsule “wardrobes,” testing the advantages and disadvantages of each. The purpose of a capsule wardrobe is to tailor your closet to only essential pieces (classic silhouettes, a neutral color palette, enduring fabrics). Three different wardrobes seems contradictory to that ethos and intended ease. But I wanted to play with this, testing one style, one color, and one silhouette. Each challenge lasted five days, requiring five challenge-specific outfits. The intention was to pick out the week’s outfits ahead of time—that didn’t last long! First up, business casual wear.

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Week One

Business Casual

Expectations: More motivated and productive, but restricted Rating: 4/5 If business casual clothing wasn’t already an increasingly acceptable style for those in the workforce, it certainly is now. Waist-up dressing is the norm, despite cautionary tales of boxer-brief Zoom flashings as people work in their makeshift offices. And yet, I’ve never felt truly motivated in pajama pants. So in short, I didn’t wear faded sweatpants under my blouses during business cazh week. My entry into the challenge was more liberal, though. My best blazer overlaid a ribbed crop top and a light washed pair of Levi’s. Okay, I felt like a boss. Throwing on a blazer and zhushing the lapels just does something to you! I immediately felt motivated and capable of accomplishing the day’s deeds. The next day was a deep dive. Wearing my favorite silky blouse and a poly-wool skirt, which I’d worn just once before, I was ready for the office—the home office, that is. And lucky me, because as it turns out, the skirt was too big, and I had to hold it taut with a chip-clip. That’s right, a keep-your-Doritos-fresh clip! Thank goodness for waist-up Zooms. What can I say? I suffer for my art. Believe it or not, this wasn’t nearly as distracting as future outfits.

Trekking into the city for school the following morning, I chose jeans again, but this time a darker, undistressed pair. The big-ticket item that had me strutting down the pavement was a red-striped linen dress that I wore as an open top. This was not my typical college-class style, but it put me into the headspace of participating in my sole inperson class. Day four was a day of balance. It was a day of school assignments, nail and haircut appointments, and a drive to my New Jersey home. A jogger-slacks hybrid and a crisp white t-shirt was the happy medium between looking puttogether and feeling comfortable. A straight-leg or A-line pant is a classy silhouette that can go from day-to-night and from office to hair salon. My final business casual outfit—well, it didn’t exist. I didn’t feel it appropriate to wear the style while I ran around setting up for an outdoor family event. I’m sorry to disappoint, but it was a telling part of the process in learning my judgment, limits, and dedication to sticking within the confines of a capsule wardrobe.

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Week Two

Classic Black

Expectations: Less distracted and more confident, but uninspired Rating: 4.5/5 To confirm, black is one of my favorite colors to wear. I predicted that this would be the easiest challenge since I own so many black pieces and generally feel confident in the color. I was wrong. Mostly because our early autumn days reached 75 degrees, and the seemingly least-distracting color of black caused a flurry of hot flashes. Particularly unmotivated the first day, I threw on a black crop top and leggings. Sure, the look read well over Zoom, but under the façade, I was sweating. I now understand how a classic capsule wardrobe with a variety of neutral colors would come in handy.

Verdict:

The second day of the black wardrobe was a blur—so much so that I cannot remember what I wore—though I’m confident it was black. Apparently, I didn’t feel motivated enough to even document my look. However, the next day I had a newfound mental awareness, just in time for in-person classes and a rooftop meet-up with friends. My black cami,

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jeans, belt, and heeled mules served their purpose of making me feel determined, confident, and classy. By the fourth day of this challenge, I was scrambling. In a hesitant move, I donned a ribbed button down V-neck with cropped black slacks. I felt like Rachel Green, and I felt like a waitress, but I didn’t feel like Rachel Green as a waitress. This was devastating, as the Rachel-waitress look is nothing short of aspirational. On the final day for this week’s wardrobe, I needed a day-to night look that was appropriate for a virtual career fair and dinner with friends. I paired a sleeveless turtleneck with jeans, dressing it up with an animal print headband and my grandmother’s necklace. This was my favorite blackedout ensemble. Black is simply bold and consistent. While I enjoyed this part of the challenge the most, the lack of color got slightly dull. Not somber, but dull.

To uniform, or not to uniform? If you’re prepared for a trial-and-error period, then by all means, uniform! For me, limiting my choices and over-planning was extremely stressful. If you’re opposed to stripping back your wardrobe—and as fashion students in one of the greatest fashion capitals of the world, it’s understandable—then no, a uniform is not the path to a stress-free lifestyle. My conclusion is that while not right for me, capsule wardrobes

Week Three

Dresses

Expectations: More feminine and empowered, but less comfortable Rating: 3.5/5 Dresses! My thought process here was that I’d exude confidence. I could finally wear those untouched dresses that are always just too formal for any daily occasion. One of my favorite pieces is a navy midi wrap dress, which I paired with a straw belt and white Vans. It’s one of those Pinterest ensembles everyone has purchased and worn to semi-casual or semi-formal outings. I felt amazing in the dress all day, especially when I muscled into Walgreen’s for my flu shot. No needle was gonna take away my swagger. For yet another Zoom-filled day, I wore a cold-shoulder neoprene dress, and this was the most annoying outfit of them all. The slippery material and looser construction shifted every other second. I’d adjust on camera constantly and looked like I was fidgeting and distracted. And I was distracted—the antithesis of this challenge’s purpose. How could I feel empowered if I wasn’t even comfortable? A minor falter.

For in-person class, I chose my Matilda’s Miss Honey-inspired dress paired with sneakers. I felt studious, feminine, and dare I say… ethereal? This outfit provided serious serotonin. Next, in a slightly absurd move, I donned a puffed sleeve, polka-dotted mini wrap dress. Honestly, I loved this look, but solely wearing it around my house to greet visiting family and eat pizza was just unnecessary. I’ll tell you something, I accomplished absolutely nothing that day. In a final push, I wore my staple black fitted midi dress for a four-hour road trip. Surprisingly, I found I was so much more comfortable driving in a dress rather than pants, which can turn too tight and too restrictive real quick. Overall, dresses were tricky to balance but felt closest to playing dress-up. And we all need some whimsy now and again.

can be a minimal, ethical, and beneficial solution to looking and staying put together, especially in this baffling landscape. While I didn’t feel put-together for three solid weeks, I certainly looked like it. PRO TIP: When curating

your wardrobe, stick to your favorite, most versatile pieces for ease, confidence, and success. And if it comes down to a piece where you need a chip-clip, let it go.

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