Letting Go

By: Guest Writer, Cooper Carr

Today, I felt like I met the little kid who I used to be. I saw my own tiny fists clenched around something. Whatever was inside was old and dirty, and it was of no use, but my younger self wanted to keep it so bad because it was his. I wanted to look out for little me. I tried to reason with him; I told him I wanted to give him something much better, but he wouldn’t hear it. So, I had to start working on loosening his grip. I am stronger but he was so impassioned, and I knew he would cry. I told him, “I’m you from the future. One day you’ll be grateful I did this,” but he didn’t believe me. I told him that no matter what, he will have to let his treasure go or else it will fall apart in his hand. Eventually I wrestled it away. He cried as I knew he would. Maybe he had a right to tears because I had taken something very special from him. He cried every day for a week, but he started to talk about his loss less, and he started to smile a little more. Today, I reminded him that eventually he will think about our struggle and laugh. The corners of his mouth turned down, and he hid his face from me, but he did not reject the possibility. It makes me happy to see the way he is growing up. It makes me sad to see the pain that the growth requires. I can’t show him what is coming to make his hands busy again. Maybe I haven’t seen it myself. I’m not so much older than him after all. I know he will not be so quick to squeeze it tightly. My own hands are bigger and stronger, but they are still open. So, I hold everything and nothing all at once. I know that one day someone could come up to me and tell me he is me from the future. He could rip anything from my hands, and I would not be able to stop him. It would hurt. So, I’m just going to hold things loosely.

Despite the Darkness, we Blo m.

By: Haley Simpson

How Mod fashion reflects the resilience of the human spirirt.

History repeats itself. There are human habits and practices that are as old as time. Fortunately enough, fashion follows suit. Silhouettes, patterns, colors and accessories circle back every now and then. Have you ever wondered why this happens, what brings back flare jeans or yellow tinted sunglasses? Societal change. Fashion is not as simple as a cute idea or a fun look. Fashion is a reaction to the world we live in. It imitates social climate, breathes reform and demands attention for what it stands for. When history repeats itself, so does culture.

Your grandparents are responsible for the trends you know today. Shocking, right? Baby boomers were in their late teens and early 20s during the birth of Mod fashion. Mod began in the later ‘50s and went through the ‘60s. Taking inspiration from the Beatniks, the so called Mods were a fashion obsessed, music loving and progressive subculture. Marked by miniskirts, chelsea boots, polished silhouettes with cutouts and wide-leg trousers, the Mods flooded coffee shops and disco clubs to feed their socially deprived hearts.

Italian fashion largely influenced designers like Mary Quant and John Stevens who became staples in the closets of the Mods. The bright color palettes and floral patterns were a sign of hope for the future. Women had more control over how they dressed and where they went, and it became normal to go

“After two years of very similar conformity, austerity and uncertainty, Gen Z is also breaking free; just like the fashion icons who came before us.”

Photographer: Kylie Nelson Stylist: Cierra Carney Models: Emily West, Caden Riggins, Reagan Hodson

out dancing without the accompaniment of a male counterpart which inspired less modest outfits. The Mods were also led by pop stars like David Bowie and Miles Davis who also dabbled in the same fashion endeavors.

Self-expression and uniqueness was the trademark of the Mod subculture. The world was post-World War II and was deciding how it wanted to recover. The past 40 years had been marked by conformity, austerity, poverty and fear. The economy regained strength and the adolescent generation got their first taste of disposable income. Not only that, but a huge cultural shift was taking place alongside the protests for a civil rights movement. Women gained rights and swiftly took to fashion to stake a new claim on their sexuality. For the first time, leisure ruled over work and an entire generation had been set free at the peak of adolescence.

Fast forward 60 years, it’s 2021, and your favorite bar just allowed you to come in without a mask on. You spent 2020 online shopping from your quarantined room with the help of TikTok, and the last time you cared about what you wore in public was 2019. You’re now in your early 20s and not just any outfit will do. After two years of very similar conformity, austerity and uncertainty, Gen Z is also breaking free; just like the fashion icons who came before us. The past three years were marked by rioting for racial justice, presidential change, fear of the pandemic and a women’s rights movement. The absence of job opportunities and the appearance of stimulus checks provided adolescence with a new priority order. Leisure and self care came before work. Just like the Mods, fashion began to reflect feelings toward current events.

The emergence of wide-leg jeans was the very start of the new era of fashion that reflects Mod. Gen Z values uniqueness and individuality, leaving skinny jeans in the past. Trends like yellow tinted sunglasses, chelsea boots, minimal makeup, halters, cutouts and flare jeans have circled back. Fresh, bright colors and floral prints symbolize positivity toward the future. Italian inspired cuts and silhouettes are popular again and were seen in Versace and Dolce and Gabbana runway shows during 2021. Brands like Miu Miu embrace the modern Mod fashion, and platforms like TikTok spread the word. Pop stars such as Harry Styles and Taylor swift lead Gen Z with a style similar to Mod. No one will forget Style’s outfit completely inspired by Mod fashion on the cover of his Fine Line album. Pop culture shows have begun to showcase current fashion and makeup trends and party scenes that look straight out of the ‘60s. It all comes down to representation of a generation breaking free.

As we look to the past for comfort and inspiration, we should appreciate the ground work the Mods laid for what we enjoy today. They began the rejection of femininity and the normalization of anyone, anywhere partaking in the Mod fashion subculture. It was, and still is, all about fashion as a release from daily existence. If there’s one thing Mod style has proven time and time again, it’s the resilience of the young human spirit. Above all else, no matter the times. Even in darkness, we bloom.

modfashion

Colorful Emotion Emotion Colorful

By: Emily West