modmuze November 2023

modmuze November 2023

Flipping the Script How we can use anger to our advantage How Merch Designers Make T-Shirts That Never Die Supporting artists with style

Can it Camp?

Incorporating camp into everyday fashion

editors’s note The directing team and I would love to invite you to read modmuze’s next issue titled: “Noir”. Our goal was to step out of our comfort zones and do things we had never done before. We wanted to talk about controversial topics, all while rebranding modmuze to fit a more modern atmosphere. Modmuze was done playing it safe, and we wanted to give creative expression to all of our members to write and design things they desired to get out into the world.

This issue is moody, dark, off-beat and surreal. We experimented with different colors, themes, props and locations. You could find us at a rock concert, a blank field, or a parking garage depending on the day. With all of these things put together, you are sure to find an article and pictures to fall in love with. We hope you appreciate all the hard work each of the members put in and enjoy what we had to say.

Modmuze also wanted to focus on individuality. Just because your peer is doing something, doesn’t mean you have to do it, too. From a cross dangling around your neck, to repping silver and gold jewelry, to wearing a fur coat to an art museum, modmuze wants to remind you that your authentic self is your best self. If you want to do something that society isn’t necessarily deeming a “trend” at the time, just do it anyway.

ings, but there was one specific thing I noticed that really stuck. I haven’t always been the most confident, and a lot of times growing up I would shape myself into the version of who I thought people wanted me to be. It wasn’t until I came to college and joined modmuze that I realized our differences are what make us unique and beautiful. Each one of us is different and we aplaude people for it, not tear them down like society seems to do. People don’t want a botched version of you, they want the real you. We’re all still figuring it out, but in the meantime, don’t waste time trying to be someone you’re not.

Modmuze has been an outlet for so many people over the years. We love how people from all different walks of life get to come together to create something they’re proud of and that people will talk about. We all have something to say, and we hope you will take the time to listen.

This issue is very near and dear to my With love, heart. It is my first full issue being editor-in-chief of modmuze. I’ve learned so much already like how to update a membership list and how to lead meet-

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF & President

Emily McCaslin, MMJ Leah Brainerd, DM

PRODUCTION DIRECTOR

Hadley Waldren, ENG

MARKETING DIRECTOR

Hannah Schob, DM

PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTOR Loren Rogers, Fashion Merchandising STYLING & MODEL DIRECTOR TREASURER

Sebastian Arias, DM

Patricia Dimick, DM WRITERS

Jillian Eckert Cooper Carr* Kamryn Chapman Kennedy Skaggs Raynee Howell Brooklyn Taylor-Talbert Shealynn Hoffman Ruby Van De Steeg

PRODUCTION Sophia Rodriguez Bailey Wrightsman Ruby Van De Steeg MARKETING Laiza Hernandez Lily Hudson Olivia Kopang Tiana Berry Callie Covington Caroline Kreger Lauren Overholt Kaylee Pike Madison Jewell PHOTOGRAPHY

Hannah Cozens Toni Purnell

STYLISTS

Catie Barrett Jordan Reimer Maggie Levy Abigail Burnham Rylie Duncan Riley Kirkman Meredith Mountford Audrey Flood Olivia Heller Ruby Van De Steeg

CREATIVE ADVISOR Kelly Kerr Multimedia Producer 106 Nancy Randolph Davis 918-691-1813 kelly.kerr@okstate.edu FACULTY ADVISOR Cristina González Associate Professor Art History 108 Bartlett Center (405) 744-6016 cristina.gonzalez@okstate.edu

modmuze is a fashion and lifestyle magazine produced by students, for students. Our magazine provides a unique platform for students to freely express themselves creatively -in any and all ways imaginable. our mantra empowering self-expression

*Copy Editor modmuzemag.com

modmuzemag@okstate.edu

@modmuzemag

modmuze editorial team

CREATIVE DIRECTOR & Vice President

@modmuzemag

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Noir French influence come to life

Religious Themes in Fashion When cutting-edge has its limitations

Can it Camp?

Incorporating camp into everyday fashion

Pushing Your Boundaries Ways to add new sparks in your life

Feeling Small To be lost in a moment

Flipping the Script How we can use anger to our advantage

How Merch Designers Make T-Shirts That Never Die Supporting artists with style

Mixing Metals Personal style or fading fad?

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Stripped Discovering your naked self

Good For Her A look at the female villain archetype and why we root for them Beauty Redefined If society can define beautiful, why can’t I?

Bound 2 Clique Rap turned editorial

CONT ENTS

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he title for this month’s issue, Noir, is an ode to the black and white of life but especially the gray in-between. Noir, meaning “black” or “dark” in French, comes from a genre of film characterized by ambiguity, cynicism and moodiness. Cambridge dictionary describes it as “a way of showing the world as being unpleasant, strange or cruel, especially in books and movies.” In this issue we hope to define noir in terms of fashion and design as quirky or “out-there” and push this issue so as to add a new layer to modmuze as a whole. We want to think outside the box and push boundaries that have not been crossed before.

The term “noir” was originally applied to American thriller or detective films made in the 1940s and 50s and to the work of directors such as Orson Welles, Fritz Lang, and Billy Wilder. This genre term was created by a group of French critics who noticed a trend of dark, downbeat looks and themes in American crime and detective films released in France following World War II. This genre uses morally ambiguous characters, cynical and disillusioned attitudes, stark lighting effects, and an underlying existentialist philosophy. All these themes add to the idea behind the black and white films that the world itself is not only black and white but also gray, in morals, in ideals, and in how most everyone views life.

We chose this theme for this issue because we felt it would help us to rebrand the magazine and show off a different side from what we have done in the past. It will help us push the envelope on this issue and issues to come as well as show a mysterious side to the magazine. The theme shows how ambiguous life can be and how different every person truly is. It will also help in playing with photography effects such as lighting and distortion and help add creativity to outfits and styling in the issue as well. As a whole, this theme is a great new start for the publication and a launching pad to do even more perplexing themes from this point forward.

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Photos by: Loren Rogers Styled by: Catie Barrett Layout by: Sophia Rodriguez Models: Aubrey Ruffin, Landry Baker, Ashley Lewellen

by Leah Brainerd

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Religious Themes in Fashion

by Shealynn Hoffman

“So, religion and fashion? It’s a messy, complicated mix.”

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“For a while, religion felt constricting to me.”

When I was a kid, I was raised without a religion, not on purpose. My family celebrated Christmas, and we had a Bible at home, but after the age of five, I probably stepped into a church only one or two more times. For a while, religion felt constricting to me. I didn’t understand the point of waking up early on Sunday to sit in a church for several hours or pray before every meal. As I have matured, I realize how important religion is to the people around me–not just friends and family, but strangers who spend their time in churches, temples, mosques, synagogues, or anywhere else they choose to worship. I also realize that religion affects how people dress and the lifestyles they choose to live. Many

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people choose to dress modestly or wear certain garments to abide by the rules of their religion, while others are more relaxed with the definitions.

Sadly, in the fashion world the diversity of religions and cultures hasn’t always been handled in the most gentle way. Consider the “gypsy” trend of the 2010s (note: The Romani people have stated that this word is a slur and should not be used). People often use religious symbols without understanding their significance, like when Chanel showed off dresses for their 1994 spring collection that used the text from the Quran as a pattern. Chanel later apologized because many people in the Islamic community were offended. For many people in the fashion world, to be in fashion is to be controversial. The attention you garner may lead to more sales and buzz about your brand. As generations come and go, we are less willing to tolerate disrespect to religious and cultural identities. Brands and fashion influencers have taken these feelings into consideration and are making an effort to appeal to many different types of audiences.

When I was a teen, I wore the cross,

“I also realize that religion affects how people dress and the lifestyles they choose to live.”

Photos by: Loren Rogers Styled by: Abigail Burnham Layout by: Bailey Wrightsman Model: Samantha Williams

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but I did not identify as Christian or Catholic. At the time, I wore it as a rebellion against the standards I felt. Being raised in the South, there seemed to be an obligation to be Christian, and go to church, and be good and holy, but I didn’t understand what that meant.

For me at the time wearing the cross was my personal protest against something that I didn’t completely understand, to me the symbol of the cross was just for my aesthetic, it was something that I could wear if I thought the outfit called for it. I could remove it when I wanted to. When I turned 17, I gave up on such feelings, it didn’t feel right to me to wear the cross in that way when I was friends and family with people who believed strongly in God.

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So, religion and fashion? It’s a messy, complicated mix, but it’s also changing and evolving as the bridge between cultures becomes smaller due to a growth in internet cultures. We can see the fashion world take a new form and an increase in diversity in every part of the art. For a majority of history, fashion was set up for only the wealthiest members of society. Now we see different styles and trends appear daily, and trends from around the globe become popular worldwide. The perfect balance of respect and beauty when using religion as a theme in fashion would be Heavenly Bodies, the 2018 Met Gala. Designers did research and stayed on theme while being respectful to the Catholic Church.

As an adult I have found it easier to

I understand that research must be done to ensure that no culture or religion is disrespected and that anyone who uses religion simply as an aesthetic must be called out.

balance religion and fashion. I understand that research must be done to ensure that no culture or religion is disrespected and that anyone who uses religion simply as an aesthetic must be called out. When I think back to my teen years, my cross-wearing protest wasn’t hurting anyone, but it was a reminder to myself about who I wasn’t.

Now I think of those memories as a reminder to keep in mind the feelings that people have towards religion and be respectful with my self-expression.

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Can it Camp?

W

by Ruby Van De Steeg

e have all been there before…

You are out shopping when something exciting catches your eye. It’s loud and fun but you don’t think it’s quite practical for your day-today life. There is always an excuse like “it is too flashy” or “I love it but I would never wear it.” However, once you really think about it, there isn’t anything stopping you from wearing whatever you want, wherever you want. There isn’t a rule that says you can’t wear glitter to the gym. Maybe you put it back on the shelf and say that it’s just not for you, but you can’t get it out of your head. You toy with the idea of trying it on. “Just for giggles” you say, but you put it on and that little voice in your head starts convincing you how much fun it would be to have it. Okay, you want it now, but where on earth could you wear it?

The beloved Donatella Versace once said “Camp taste turns its back on the good-bad axis of ordinary aesthetic judgment. Camp

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as Moschino, Marc Jacobs, Christian Lacroix, and even Dior while under the direction of John Galliano. The glamorous Met Gala rolled out its carpets for a Camp theme in 2019. Even some of the most influential figures in film and music are modeling camp for the public eyes with outlandishly intriguing fashion, including Lily Collins wearing Vera Wang at the 2023 Met Gala or Cardi B wearing Mugler fall 1995 at the 2019 Grammys. Even so, it does not have to doesn’t reverse things. It doesn’t be designer to be stylish. argue that the good is bad, or There might even be camp the bad is good. What it does is fashion happening around to offer for art and for life a dif- you without you noticing.

Wearing Tova Necklace from the Wooden Nickel.

ferent —or supplementary —set of standards.” Looking at it from her perspective gives a refreshing approach to the unavoidable question of “should I buy this?” It is common for consumers in the world of fashion to find themselves being swept away into different aesthetic categories, trying to fit each one perfectly in order to find their true match. This might work for some people, but certainly not all. One must simply surround themselves with what they truly love, only then can they find their “true aesthetic.” For most people, this implies trying out a little of everything to see what they like about each aesthetic in order to create their own. The outgoing and charismatic aesthetic of camp should not be tossed to the side as an unapproachable identity. Camp has made its way onto the runways of the greats, such

Golden Goose sneakers: you either love them or hate them, but they are undeniably camp. Popular for their pre-distressed appearance and their use of animal print, Necklace worn

by Mikalya from Ian Charms

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Photos by: Loren Rogers & Hannah Cozens Styled and layout by: Ruby Van De Steeg Models: Mikayla Curlee, Pumudu Wilikanna

Skirt from Wooden Nickel by Molley Bracken

glitter, graffiti and endless customization, these sneakers’ camp aesthetic is widely overlooked due to both their price tag and trendiness. For something that is constantly worn with almost any outfit to almost any setting, it’s a surprisingly versatile camp article of fashion. On the east coast it would be difficult not to spot someone sporting a pair. It’s almost

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as if their sky-high prices are making the animal prints and glitter justifiable because they are luxurious. Once something becomes luxury, it becomes acceptable and more comfortable. It can be difficult to find the confidence to express one’s own style rather than conforming to what could be labeled as normal. You must let yourself flaunt what you like, no matter if it is “acceptable” or not.

Metallic clothing is another great example of camp style in our everyday lives. From the viral silver Skims tee to the returning metallic Zara jeans, there are endless possabilities. In fact, chrome jeans were so popular that people started doing it themselves at home. Inspired by trends, people felt comfortable wearing these statement pieces for normal errand runs or class. It can be quite reassuring to see someone else styling something that you might have been intimidated by. Metallic apparel can be a statement, however, it is making its debut in almost all settings. Although it is here now, it might not be for long. Trends have the power to bring unusual and unexpected style into the streets, but they are marked with expiration dates. If you found yourself truly enjoying this style and not wishing for it to go away, then don’t let it leave your closet. Trends are a buffet conveyor belt for all of us to see what we would like to sample or leave on the table. One must not let themself believe that they must try every flavor

and then never try them again. If you find yourself feeling happy when you dress a certain way, then don’t stop when you’re the only one left doing it.

Yes, you can wear feathers to brunch, or sequins to grocery shop, or even lace to workout. No you don’t need a price tag or current trend to justify your true undeniably fashionable self. You can buy fashion, but no one can buy style.

Purchase that fun and extravagant piece and instead of wondering if you could ever find an excuse to wear it, make an excuse. Fashion is supposed to be fun, not a stressful way to fit in.

You might find that others will respect you more for being yourself. If what you truly like is just the classic basics of tees and jeans then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. There is a reason we know classics as classics.

However, if what you truly want is to wear the things that are out of the ordinary then you should not be afraid to do so at any time or in any setting.

Call it camp or call it being yourself, just make sure you have fun with it.

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PUSHING YOUR

W

BOUNDARIES

by Brooklyn Taylor-Talbert

fortable because it was full of things that just made sense to me. That is the beauty of hen people think about their com- comfort zones. You have the freedom to exfort zone, they think of their safe space. press yourself and do things that only make Somewhere they can go to unwind or, in sense to you. Asking someone to step out of some cases, escape. When I think of my own it can be uncomfortable, even scary for a lot safe space, I think of my room back home of people. Which is why it’s good to start in Texas. My room is decorated in different little by little, slowly building your own shades of purple complemented by black or reality. Here are some ways you can start. white furniture that has a faint smell of my favorite body spray. I have Going to local concerts is a good two random mannequin heads, way to start small. The venues are one in my closet and one that less crazy so it’s great for those sits on my desk. I sometimes with social anxiety. It’s also scare my family members an opportunity to socialize with them. Scary Halloween and discover genres that you masks from past years have might grow fond of. Going been sitting around in ranto a comedy club is anothdom places, as well as fake er small step that anyone swords and a toy crossbow can enjoy. Food as well that looks oddly realisas the intimate setting tic. Before I came to make it a great place to college, I picked up go alone or with others a new hobby: adding and a good way to unrhinestones to objects wind. Small plays at around my room. I put a local theater also them on video game fit in this category. covers, my controller, a poster and other Another way to small objects. It always step out of your brought me so much joy comfort zone is to walking into my room go to a hole in the and seeing so many wall restaurant. things sparkle and A hole in the wall shimmer. It made my restaurant is a small room feel more comestablishment that

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is inexpensive and family owned. They are hidden gems that are a delightful surprise when you go to eat there. Don’t get me wrong, going to a new restaurant can be a bit nerve-wracking because there are so many what-ifs running through your mind. What if you don’t like the food and you already paid for it?

What if the service is bad? What if the place isn’t clean? What if it’s not as good as the other places you’ve been to? But once you push past these questions, you will be able to relax and enjoy great food, and maybe also a conversation with loved ones.

Stepping out of your comfort zone can help you expand it. So can finding new things to take comfort in, such as fashion.

jewelry as accessories. For the past three years, this style been my favorite and I tend to mix it in a little bit with street fashion. Now when it comes to hairstyles, it’s normally eccentric, like how mullets have made a small comeback as of early 2021, but people have made their own spin to it. Eccentric hair also includes adding color to your hair. Ever since I was 12, I’ve always experimented with my box braids by adding color to them.

I always go with bold colors. It’s one of the ways I expressed myself with my looks.

I even experimented with my natural hair as well and tried wearing ponytail extensions like the one Ariana Grande wears. My hair was one of the ways I stepped out of my comfort zone in terms of style, but your path to discovering the best version of you starts with a small step of experimentation.

Photos by: Loren Rogers Styled by: Maggie Levy Layout by: Sophia Rodriguez Models:Olivia Nall, Megan Wilkie, Ramsey Kimbro

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I have fallen into an atom.

The slip happened just now.

I was looking at the table, inspecting the scratches and imperfections, itching at every spec, gnawing at every thought.

I fell quickly, deeper and deeper.

I am on a parcel of dust, inches look like miles; I cannot grow bigger, impossibly small and getting smaller.

It only took a second.

I stumbled and now, I am in an atom, and I am incredibly small.

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feeling small

by Hadley Waldren

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Photos by: Loren Rogers Styled by: Meredith Mountford Layout by: Hadley Waldren Model: Jakey Hartsfield

I am in an atom, and I am incredibly small.

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FLIPPING T H E S C R I P T: HOW WE C AN U S E A N G E R TO OUR A DVA N TA G E

by Emily McCaslin

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My hands are shaking, and I feel it building up inside me.

Everything in me just wants to explode and let it out, in hopes of feeling better. I’m a lit block of TNT just waiting to go off. I just want to scream. Tears are streaming down my face; I’m so frustrated. I know I should hold it in, but why is it so hard? Why do I feel this way?

Anger. The sixth of the seven deadly sins and one of society’s most threatening emotions. One full of trouble, pain and regret. Anger has shown us many times just how strong it can be.

King Saul is represented as one of the angriest people in the Bible. There are many examples where he let his anger overtake him and none of the times did it ever work out in his favor because of it. Because he couldn’t control his anger, it put a wedge between him and his son. Even a spear at one time or another.

Anger is one of the most powerful and acted upon emotions in a human’s life because it’s very hard to control and even harder to get rid of once it has met its full potential. It plants seeds of regret and can hurt so many people. Everyone experiences it. It’s not something we can just magically get rid of one day, but we can find ways to control it and use it to our advantage.

Yes, anger has its moments where it can wreak havoc, but what if there was a way to flip the script and somehow use anger for good?

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Ange

Believe it or not, some of the best moments can be born when people harness anger and use it to fuel them to achieve great things. You lose your sports game? Use that anger to help you win the next one? You failed a test? Use that anger to help you score higher on the next one. Your significant other broke up with you? Use that anger to make sure you find someone who treats you better next time.

Get mad that you’re mad. Get mad and use it to realize that you deserve better and that something needs to change. Sometimes you have to reach a point of exhaustion and anger at something to finally do something about it.

Anger is a powerful tool you can use to work yourself up to go for what you want and deserve. It doesn’t always have to be bad if you choose to use it in this way. Instead of having an outburst that could lead to regret, choose to take your anger out on something else.

Easier said than done, right? An-

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ger is slippery and hard to direct.

It’s okay to make mistakes in regard to how you respond to anger. It’s how you learn from it and change it the next time that matters.

Coping mechanisms are a great place to start. When you feel anger boiling

up inside you, use some of these methods to help calm you down.

Breathe. Take a deep breath and count to 10. Or 20 or 30. However long it takes to calm down even just a little bit.

Walk away. Sometimes this is the best thing to do in the moment. When emotions are high, we tend to say things we don’t mean. If you need to, take a step back and go outside or into a different room to take time for yourself.

Think about the good things in your life. I know this sounds cliché, but your life should not be based on negativity. There is so much more to life than anger. Be thankful that you’ve learned what not to do, and use that to do better next time.

Find the one thing that makes you happy and cling onto that. This could

be a person, a hobby, a song, a book or anything else that makes you smile, regardless of what’s going on. Whenever I get angry, I like to think about the people in my life that are always there for me and focus on the good they bring to my life.

Every emotion was put into our lives to help us, even if it doesn’t seem like it at times.

Anger can be hard to deal with, but when we finally grasp it, we can turn it around to aid us through life.

Everyone’s walk with anger looks different and everyone uses different ways of coping. Find the best one that works for you.

Anger doesn’t have to be scary.

It can actually be helpful. Anger is a tool; you just have to learn how to use it properly.

Anger doesn’t have to be scary. It can actually be helpful. Anger is a tool; you just have to learn how to use it properly.

Photos by: Toni Purnell Styled by: Riley Kirkman Layout by: Bailey Wrightsman Model: Erin Kistler

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How merch designers make t-shirts that never die 30 modmuze NOV

by Cooper Carr

Photos by: Cooper Carr, Sebastian Arias Styled by: Audrey Flood Layout by: Hadley Waldren Models: Miriah Martinez, Audrey Flood, Ray Morgan

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On any given day, on ebay.com, a search for “vintage band tee” yields well over 100,000 results.

An algorithm produces listings of t-shirts that are torn, stained and faded, and t-shirts in mint condition. You’ll find t-shirts you’ve seen a hundred times before and t-shirts that don’t remind you of anything you’re even slightly familiar with. Your search will yield listings with asking prices from about $30 to thousands of dollars. As this is being written there is a XXL, pre-owned The Cramps shirt listed at $50,000 and 25 ebay users are watching it. When you think of band t-shirts you might think of the Rolling Stones, Nirvana, Pink Floyd, Wu-Tang Clan or the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Or you might think of the one you own, that has your favorite band’s name on it, that you bought at a show, online, or at a thrift store.

The next time a lead singer at a concert tells you to go check out the merch table, do it. While you’re there, think about how the t-shirt in front of you got there and what it means for you to buy it.

siderable trust in their designer.

Morgan has made art for other acts, and he takes their trust seriously. He says he couldn’t design for other artists without a knowledge of the scene they represent and the aesthetic they embody.

“I think the number one thing to look at is obviously the audience,” Morgan says. “You might have a styling that you’ve been doing for like a year that you think is really successful, but then you get hit by a band that kind of doesn’t do the thing that you are comfortable with.”

In the design process for other bands and his own, Morgan takes into account the identity of the band and what their vision for the future is. Fans should be able to look back and realize the artists were thinking five years ahead.

In Photocopy’s case, the vision is of “a bunch of weird dudes from Oklahoma.” He says he’s experimenting with what it means to have an Oklahoman identity. That could be why cows have featured prominently in Photocopy’s art to date. It’s also one of Morgan’s reasons for taking sole ownership of their t-shirts and album covers. A designer from another state might see cows daily, but they wouldn’t know what it means to be an Oklahoman.

Ray Morgan is an Oklahoma City based artist whose work gets t-shirts to merch tables. Morgan is both the drummer and the artist for the band Photocopy. He says he refuses to let anyone outside of the band touch their merch.

Not every band is lucky enough to have an in-house artist though. Morgan says the second step in Those that outsource place con- the process is to compile refer-

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ences, something he learned to do in mind the importance of local art. Wearhis time as an architecture student. ing a band’s name on your chest can be cool because the t-shirt is cool. But it’s “In architecture school, we would also cool because that t-shirt is pubhave to have packets full of design licity for them. For smaller bands, this references,” Morgan explains. “So can be more important than the monthe professors could tell we were ey they make from selling merch. When making decisions based off things the costs of a designer, t-shirt blanks, that were successful in the past.” and screen-printing are factored in, Morgan insists that like architecture, the price of a merch run can be sneakgood merch isn’t just something that ily high, and the margins are small. looks cool. He lists Wayne Coyne’s work on the art for The Flaming Lips as The third step in Morgan’s process is a point of inspiration, noting the fact where things get practical. The designthat they are from Oklahoma as well. er and the artist have to choose blank He hasn’t ripped off The Flaming Lips t-shirts to print on and choose how to merch, but for Photocopy’s first merch print them. Most outsource the printrun, he wanted to capture the attitude of ing to a third party. The issue of garsome of their shirts from the late 1980s. ment quality can be a divisive one, especially for fans who don’t know the “It’s good to acknowledge who things that go into making a merch run. your influences are and be in- Morgan advises new artists to not worspired by them,” says Morgan. ry about people chastising them about the quality of the merch they sell, beBesides the visuals of The Flaming Lips’ cause bands should be able to profit merch, Morgan is inspired by the simple and get the word out about themselves. fact of a band from Oklahoma succeeding. He acknowledges representation “If you’re at the merch table,” says is important and says seeing someone Morgan. “You’re not just buying a from the same area do well has made shirt, you’re supporting artists.” success more tangible. This brings to

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Merch prices are also a hot button issue. At face value the question seems simple for huge artists like Taylor Swift, whose shirts generally cost upwards of $45 at concerts. More successful artists need less support so they should be able to charge less, right? But with bigger acts come more expenses, so it isn’t that simple. Still, Morgan argues a shirt from a smaller artist can mean more to both the buyer and the seller.

magic happen. When you can express yourself by wearing a cool t-shirt and support someone’s livelihood with the same purchase, it’s easier to pull the trigger. Morgan says good merch is realized by the fans. The sweet spot is for fans to want to wear a band’s shirt not just because it’s stylish, but also because they are grateful for the music that band has made. It takes thoughtfulness for a designer to enter that territory.

“If the print is kind of messy, they got a little bit out of the print lines and maybe there’s a stain on the shirt even, I think that stuff is more powerful and special than a perfectly printed shirt on comfort colors,” says Morgan.

He also noted that the money bands make on merch sales goes back into the art, used to pay for things like photography and mixing and mastering.

This is where the difference between big and small acts is most meaningful.

“If you have something that people can buy into and support on aesthetic value alone, and not solely because they want to support your act,” Morgan says. “That’s when you’ve really cracked the code as a merch designer.”

When designers crack the code, t-shirts hang around for decades. Morgan himself owns several vintage Flaming Lips t-shirts. Some merch is too special to throw away, so it either ends up on someone’s body, in a thrift store, or listed on Ultimately, it’s the relationship be- ebay. It might even sell for thousands. tween artist and fan that makes the

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When designers crack the code, t-shirts hang around for decades.

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Mixing Metals

by Kennedy Skaggs

With the current focus on each person’s personal accessory metal of choice, there is a lack of discourse surrounding if you can mix the two main fashion metals: silver and gold. There’s a wide variety of accessory colors to choose from, but the main focus here is the two most mainstream choices. While high-fashion magazines like Vogue say it can be done, the general public doesn’t seem to agree. Silver or gold? Let’s talk about the possibilities of both. This conversation has two key points: aesthetic and accessibility.

Having an aesthetic is all about defining what makes your look yours. That might mean gold suits your undertones better, or maybe silver fits your overall outfit better. When I asked my friends and family about their preference, hardly anybody mentioned wearing both together. This caught my interest. Why does mixing jewelry metals feel taboo? When it comes to each individual’s personal aesthetic, everyone has different rules. For example, maximalists are way more likely to consid-

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er mixing silver and gold compared to minimalists. That’s a general example, but the point is that your accessories are yours to curate and that could look wildly different to someone else’s curation. No matter where you stand, you can mix metals. Don’t worry, it’s not going to ruin your look or appear off-putting. You just have to find the balance of what fits you. A great way to add the other metal into your look is to look for pieces with multiple metals already. Believe it or not, there are super cute pieces out there that use both in a way that is right up your alley. If you’re someone who spends most of their time curating their closet or jewelry box, this is a great way for you to expand your comfort zone with accessories.

Photos by: Hannah Cozens Styled by:Loren Rogers, Sebastian Arias Layout by: Patricia Dimick Models: Erin Payne, Brooke Vrba

However, not everyone can afford to buy brand new jewelry just to fulfill an aesthetic whim. That’s okay! If you already have pieces of the other metal, try mixing and layering what you have.

If you can, try two or three pieces of the opposite metal. This could be any of the following: necklaces, rings, earrings or bracelets.

Try to couple each of your main pieces with the opposite metal to create a more blended look while also drawing attention to each point of interest: wrist, neck, ears and hands. This is the method I liked the best when looking into mixing metals.

trend. Honestly, I love silver jewelry. It’s not often you find me in gold. Don’t get me wrong, I occasionally catch a spontaneous desire to trade my silver for gold, but I don’t like mixing the two. It’s just not for me. I even tested that while writing this article. I mixed and matched within my collection to attempt to find a combo I loved. And even though I love my jewelry in its usual styling, I didn’t love any combination I curated. However, there are some great jewelry stacks with the perfect blend of gold and silver that look amazing on the wearer.

It’s just not for me, and I think that’s an important point in fashion that gets often neglected. Fashion magazines Here’s my take: Do what you want. Acare meant to enhance your fashion cessorizing is supposed to be fun, so choices, not make them for you. Sorry don’t do anything you’re not that interVogue, mixing metals just isn’t for me. ested in just for the sake of following a

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Stripped

by Kamryn Chapman

Discovering Naked Your Self Philosophers have long pondered what the “self” is, and one idea many of them agree on is that there is a core essence to our being. Aristotle calls this the “psyche” or “soul,” John Locke calls it our “internal sense,” and the Buddha calls it “Atman.” Whatever you call it, it’s clear this essence is an important part of our lives, and we must try our best to understand it. As Socrates famously puts it, the goal of life is to “know thyself.

Unfortunately, knowing thyself is no easy feat.

In a world where our attention is constantly being diverted to the next new thing to do, say, wear, or even think, how could we possibly know which parts of ourselves are truly ours?

What we do know is that

be bulky, uninspired, uncomfortable, and oftentimes just plain ugly.

self-discovery happens through self-expression.

There’s no way to know yourself until you look in the mirror, start trying things on, and decide how you like them. But if you, like most of us, have been confined by the rigidity of societal norms, you need to assess which parts of your self-expression truly come from yourself, and which are co-opted from others.

So you need to A Note on strip. Take off your have the freeSelf-Identity: “societal clothes”. dom to express Learn from the Reveal your true, yourself howevExperts core, naked self, er you choose. and ask yourself what you really already, you may want to wear, like, think have found that you feel and say. Once you stop changed, but also more wearing constraining, yourself than you’ve scratchy material that ever been. Expression doesn’t fit you, you’ll changes, self doesn’t.

Let’s think of self-expression as a game of dress-up.

If you’re starting with a “societal wardrobe” (that is, the wardrobe society dresses you up in), you shouldn’t define yourself based on what or who you like, what you say, or what you think.

That isn’t you, at least at first. Societal clothes can

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A Note on Self-Identity: Learn from the Experts The LGBTQ+ community is one of the best examples of people who know their naked selves. Every queer person has had to, or will have to, strip themselves of the notions and identity society draped over them, and then look inward to discover who they are at their core. They express themselves in a way that is true to themselves, without seeking approval for the sake of it. They find their inspiration from within, authentically and boldly subverting expectations from how the world says they should act.

Those who dress androgynously arguably push societal boundaries in fashion the most. The people who lean into gender fluidity likely began their journey of self-expression by feeling the insistence of the gender binary weighing on them, knowing they didn’t fit into that box.

They reject what’s considered socially acceptable and continue finding new ways to discover themselves through their expression.

If you’re questioning your identity, sexually or otherwise, take it from the experts and start by taking a good long look in the mirror, then try some things on. The only way you can reach a deeper sense of yourself is through good old-fashioned trial and error, and going back to the basics each time you fail. If you’ve already come to terms with your identity, you may have found it feels like the most natural, breathable, comfortable clothing you’ve ever worn.

Even if you aren’t in the midst of an identity crisis over societal pressures, take the risk to challenge yourself and what you think your limitations are. By some stroke of luck, you may naturally fit into the box others expect of you. Congrats! That position is

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Photos by: Hannah Cozens Styled by: Jordan Remier Layout by: Ruby Van De Steeg Model: Beckett Shapard

much easier and more comfortable to be in, but don’t get complacent. Use that starting point to push the boundaries of your expression, and decide if who you claim to be is who you really want to be.

Experiment and have fun, because, at the end of the day, you can’t mess up an attempt at deeper self-discovery.

While it’s fun to imagine a world in which we are immune to social and societal pressures, we can’t always serve a look completely constructed from our own minds (not even the gays). Of course, we’ll be influenced by fashion trends, advertisements, and our peers, even if we try extra hard to reject them. Discouraging as it may be, the best we can do is pick and choose which items of the societal wardrobe we want in our personal wardrobes, and remember we have the power to decide what we let in. There’s a difference between wearing something for the sake of external approval and serving for the sake of the serve. Wear your clothes, don’t let your clothes wear you.

We need our “clothes” to express ourselves in some way. But you first have to know what it is you want to express. So know your naked self.

Embrace your naked self. And bare your chest to others when the time is right. You can’t leave your skin, so get comfy in it. Breathe in, breathe out, take a good look in the mirror, and get out there.

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Good for Her 44 modmuze NOV

A look at the female villain archetype and why we root for them by: Jillian Eckert

Photos by: Loren Rogers, Hannah Cozens Styling by: Sebastian Arias, Jordan Reimer, Hannah Schob Layout by: Hadley Waldren Models: Yasmine Abusaleh, Hannah Schob, Ethan Nolan, Kaylee Pike

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Everyone loves a complex, compelling villain. Movies like Todd Phillips’ Joker and Craig Gillespie’s Cruella wouldn’t be so successful if we weren’t fascinated by villain origin stories. What went wrong? What could possibly make a person do such terrible things? Why do they always have such cool outfits?

Even more than a compelling villain, we love a female villain. The femme fatale archetype has been around for ages, though it can be a misogynistic trope. While portrayals of female antagonists are sometimes problematic (Regina George, for example, directly correlates hyper-femininity with being a horrible person), there’s something undeniably captivating about an evil woman. To some degree, the very idea of a female villain directly opposes common stereotypes about what a woman should be. Villains aren’t caretakers, they’re not deeply empathetic, they’re not gentle—the list goes on.

Along with female antagonists, the concept of “feminine rage” is often discussed on social media in opposition to masculine rage. We’re used to seeing men in television and film express big emotions to a dramatic degree. Many lists of “best acting performances” just feature a bunch of men

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yelling. In contrast, women tend to be showcased for their more understated performances. That’s not to say the female actors don’t deliver powerful, dramatic performances—it just seems to happen less often. For so long, women have suppressed their true feelings and hidden behind passive aggression and fake niceties.

Lately, with shows like Euphoria and movies like Pearl, we’ve seen female characters truly unleash their anger. These characters are often deeply flawed and messy, but that makes them feel all the more human.

There’s a sense of solidarity with these characters—she may be a bad person, but she’s got human struggles and emotions just like the rest of us.

There’s something in every female antagonist that only a woman can relate to. We want to root for them and see them find their happy ending, despite the bad things they may have done.

The feminine antagonist aesthetic has made its way into fashion as well. Categorized by dark colors, bold jewelry and lots of messy makeup, this style is

both fun and striking.

Embracing darker aesthetics and styles is empowering. It’s difficult not to feel cool in a villain-esque look. This style is all about embracing femininity and subverting societal expectations.

Female villain aesthetics encourage you not to shy away from negative emotions—

let t h e m out, girl! You’re allowed to be imperfect.

Female villains captivate female audiences because they represent everything a woman shouldn’t be by societal standards. Those standards are changing, but it’s still somewhat novel to see a woman be just straight-up bad. They make for interesting, complex characters that we can’t help but root for— not to mention the killer looks.

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B E AUT Y

R E D E F I NE D 48 modmuze NOV

by Raynee Howell

If society can define beautiful, why canʼt I? “Having beauty; possessing qualities that give great pleasure or satisfaction to see, hear, think about, etc.; delighting the senses or mind:” That is the definition of beautiful.

The word beautiful, since its origination, has been used to describe what is pleasing to the eye. Beautiful is a descriptive word used to evaluate the features we admire the most about each other.

External features, the ones we can see, are the easiest to define.

“Very unattractive or unpleasant to look at; offensive to the sense of beauty; displeasing in appearance.” That is the definition of ugly.

Ugly was not always used to refer to one’s external features. The word originated from medieval times, meaning feared or dreaded. Fear is subjective and dread is a response to a subjective fear. Having a “worst fear” is like having a favorite color. Most people have their own. Fear and dread are feelings, not descriptive words for one’s appearance.

As ancient societies accumulated accepted sets of values and beliefs, the acceptance of certain appearances over others became a part of the conversation. The features of an accepted appearance became known as beauty standards, which are specific characteristics, mostly physical, but sometimes emotional, that put pressure on individuals to conform to society’s perception of beauty.

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The Atlantic slave trade, according to Sabrina Strings, the author of “Fearing the Black Body,” was the start of toxic beauty standards in America. In the beginning of the 18th century, Europeans began drawing distinctions between themselves and the slaves who had been colonized.

tiful” as it is defined by societal norms.

As America developed, the importance of thinness took different forms. In the 1900s, Hollywood adopted the “trend” of thinness through movies, magazines, and ad campaigns. The European ideal of beauty has been carried on throughout the history of America and is still relevant to the conversation today.

The recent developments in body positivity, mainly online as social media has developed, has allowed us to take steps away from traditional beauty standards.

Cultural movements for body positivity have created a more inclusive space.

The American Society of Plastics Surgeons have reported that since 2000, the percentage of plastic surgery percentages have increased by 115%. This is not a shocking percentage. It has become a lifestyle for those who continue to try and reach Europeans believed all black peo- peak perfection in the eyes of society. ple were heavier because they had no self-control surrounding food. “This The worst realization to come to, afbegan the whole idea that Black peo- ter altering our bodies to appease othple, as a race, were prone to what was ers, is that there are still people who considered a low form of corpulence feel as though we are ugly. No matter that should be avoided,” said Strings. how much we change about ourselves, beautiful and ugly are simply just opinWith the falsehood surrounding the body ions. Conforming to one standard is altype of black people, Europeans created most impossible as the societal definithe widespread importance of thinness tion of what is considered beautiful and as an identifier of wealth and superiority. what is not has become ever-changing.

Inclusivity in the conversation of beauty standards is extremely necessary, Beauty standards continue to foster in- especially for those born with appearsecurity and low self-esteem. Today, they ances that make them different. Society go beyond just the initial expectation rejects the idea that distinct features of thinness. An hourglass figure with curves is the desired body type, while a narrow nose and bigger lips are preferred. Individuals will stop at nothing to achieve the new definition of “beau-

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can be beautiful; when one’s uniqueness is what makes them so beautiful.

Myles Towry, 19, knows how it feels to be born different. He was born with alopecia, a condition that causes hair loss.

“Growing up with it was harder than people expect,” Towry said. “When you look around, everyone is different than you are.”

Towry grew up in Oklahoma, with a twin brother, who did not have the condition. He was not only different from those around him, but he was also different from his closest family members.

Regardless, his family never let him feel like the differences between them mattered. He became more comfortable in his own skin because of his family’s support.

“My mom would help me a lot when I was younger, and it boosted my self-esteem. My family, in general, would always compliment my head,” said Towry.

Towry’s family redefined what beauty meant to them. The social standard of “normal” did not block Towry from embracing the parts of him that make him unique; that make him beautiful.

Learning to embrace our differences to define our own sense of beauty is the only way to dismantle society’s preconceived standards. No one person can define beautiful for anyone other than themselves. Choose to define yourself as beautiful. Choose to embrace who you are.

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Photos by: Hannah Cozens, Toni Purnell Layout and Styling by: Sebastian Arias Models: Hailey Ford, Myles Towry

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The occasion for the images in this spread is an attempt to highlight fashion texture in low-pressure settings, mostly through slightly unconventional pairings of subjects and their garments in everyday spaces that offer slight juxtapositions. There are images of ironic proximity, dogs in jackets and hoodies that are filled with unserious humor, yet also force us to directly face the fact that these furs and textures in fashion have to come directly from an animal’s back (in the case of real animal skins at least). These didn’t come from one individual shoot but are rather the best of a series of mini photoshoots taken across the span of a week inside of different homes. This was done to highlight the idea of texture in fashion in a general sense rather than to focus on one area in particular. It seems to be that the texture of fabrics can be overlooked past the question of “is it soft?”, and having the images in black and white forces the viewer to truly analyze the surface of the garment, as distracting qualities like color vanish. The main objective of these photos is to invoke the question of texture’s influence in day to day life.

Texture is a key element in the world of fashion. In the current era of athleisure in America, it can be argued that texture is the most important element for today’s fashion designer to consider when designing new garments. For the modern customer, comfort is not a want but a need, and with the number of options at our disposal today, it’s not surprising that modern customers won’t settle for less. The key characteristics in fashion texture that are most prevalent today include textiles that are soft, smooth and breathable. But let’s be real, fashion is more than just comfort for many. Fashion

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texture can range from scaly snakeskin, scratchy sheep wool or noisy polyester blends. Although artificial textiles made from synthetic fibers can offer unique texture, it’s primarily in natural textiles where the most interesting textures in fashion can be found, whether they come from plant based fibers or animal based ones. Plant based fibers include linen, hemp, and most importantly cotton. Cotton is one of the most important textiles in fashion today, as it’s one of the key textiles used in athleisure as well as staple fabrics that we see every day, such as denim and flannel. However, it’s animal based fibers that offer the most exciting texture in fashion. Unsurprisingly, when you picture the animals, some of the most popular examples of animal based fibers include alpaca, cashmere, wool, mohair and silk.

Texture in the world of fashion is not just about comfort and touch.

Visual elements such as drape and the shaping of the fabric are just as important. The texture of a garment has range in its ability to inflate the silhouette of the wearer just as easily as it can hug the wearer and

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Photos by: Loren Rogers Layout and Styling by: Sebastian Arias Models: Daniela Perez, Alan Tran, Robby Ward, Chris Zava

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Clique Clique Clique Clique

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WITH LOVE,

modmuze editorial staff