Empower

THE AVENUE Fall 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 2

vivid on page 24

THE AVENUE Fall 2017 Vol. 6 Issue 2

President Daniel McGorry

Treasurer Meredith Fisher

Editor-In-Chief Shelby Robin

Head Photographer Ellie MacLean

Senior Creative Director Samantha Isaacs Creative Director Halley Husted Communications Director Halle Butler Communications Associates Victoire Cointy, Kaitlin Jahn and Mikaela Amundson Deputy Editor Dana Dworkin Beauty Editor Morgan Chemidlin Lifestyle Editor Tova Lenchner Men’s Fashion Director Michelle Rodriguez Women’s Fashion Director Valerie Butler Senior Graphic Designer Fernanda Fiszner Graphic Designers Sarah Ceniceros, Phoebe Lasater, Sarah Porter, Karina Masri and Claudia Bracy

Photographers Allie Kuo, Danica Woo, J. Brimeyer, Simran Gvalani, Kate Coiro, Hanna Cormier, Jasmine Rayonia, Rashod Blades, Diya Khullar, Zenith Hakemy and Louise-Audrey Zenezini Writers Allie Kuo, Nikki Quinn, Alana Bates, Alyssa Pascoe, Madelaine Millar, Kiley Choi, Anne Koessler, Cheyenne Tang, Phil Zminda, Estelle De Zan, Julia Germain, AJ Addae, Louise-Audrey Zenezini and Maria García-Mauriño Stylists Annie Wu, Abigail Manos, Ariana Matos, Catherine Barna, Alex Hackel-Johnson and Moana Yamaguchi Models Alex Hackel-Johnson, Laide Ajiboye, J. Brimeyer, Maria García-Mauriño, Jet Hardie and Aya Albakoush Makeup Artists Dana Dworkin, Taylor Colton, Rebecca Lustig, Karli Brush, Helena Kangadis and Karen Tran

letter from the editor Whether you use fashion as a shield to protect or as a sword to slay, what you wear can definitely make you feel empowered. This issue of The Avenue is all about Power.

Who has it, how to get it, and the things that empower us.

We believe that fashion and power inform many aspects of our lives, but two big areas are romance and politics.

We all strive to feel empowered and often the easiest way to do that is by getting dressed in the morning. What we wear sets the tone for how we are perceived and allows us to express a lot about ourselves. You can use your wardrobe to display your identity, sense of humor, romantic feelings or political opinions. Yeah, clothing can say a lot.

Hope you enjoy reading our last issue of 2017 as much as we enjoyed making it! See you again next semester.

Shelby Robin Editor-In-Chief

table of contents

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34

6

Styling Red

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Using Fashion to Be a Social Activist

10

Using Sexy Clothes to Empower Yourself

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Pantsuits & Beyond

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How the Beauty Industry Has Failed Dark Women

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Flattery or Just Imitation?

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Own Your Style, Own Yourself

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The Most Powerful Women in Fashion

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VIVID

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The Single Life: A Female Millennial’s Take on Love

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The Power of Powder

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Is Feminism Just a Trend?

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Powerful Playlist

42

The Power of Dressing for Yourself

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Do You Have to Play Hard to Get?

48

Interview with Melanie Steiner

Styling written by Anne Koessler photographed by Hanna Cormier

RED

From its intense hue to its classic powerfulness, the color red has never gone out of style. Red symbolizes the timeless emotions humans experience in life, including love, confidence, passion and power. Because red relates to these universal qualities, it is unsurprising how prominent and popular it is in the fashion world. Whether it is the classic pop of red shining underneath Christian Louboutin heels or a dramatic red lip applied as a finishing touch for a night out, red is a powerful element that can easily become incorporated in everyday fashion.

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While some people may shy away from wearing red clothes during the day, it is a stylistic choice that voices an important statement. The color red is not limited to just representing sexiness and passion, which is often the explanation behind why so many people associate red clothing with evening apparel. However, restricting clothing to a certain time of day is contradictory to the ideology of style as a whole; how does grouping certain colors into separate identities support the freedom behind individual style? There is no shame in wearing red

head-to-toe for something as casual as a lunch date since fashion is a representation of everyone’s own unique look.

Simply put, there are no boundaries when it comes to styling red clothing.

It is so effortless to incorporate vibrant red clothing into an everyday look. Pairing some white Keds and a simple denim skirt with a red top transforms this “nighttime” color into a more casual outfit for class. Wearing a flattering red dress with a matching red lip is not only reserved for the darker hours! If it evokes great self-confidence, then go ahead and face that dreadful meeting that has been lurking in the back of your mind because feeling good about yourself makes conquering these obstacles easier.

Red not only boosts confidence, but a sense of empowerment is additionally delivered. Since red clothing is extremely eye-catching, it dramatizes the strength that can be read from the person wearing this color. Think about how the red carpet is a prestigious and powerful event for the elite where these idols exhibit strength in powerful clothing. There are countless moments of stunning red dresses that make red carpet history so memorable.

Remember supermodel Bella Hadid’s legendary red gown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2016? From the luxurious red satin and that intense split running all the way up to her hips, this look embodied confidence and power on a whole new level.

There is a science behind why the color red is so attractive and desirable among people, especially men. In a survey conducted by psychologist Adam Pazda, 25 men were shown a photograph of the same woman wearing a white T-shirt and then a red T-shirt. They were asked to rate on a scale from 1-9 how romantic or desirable each photo was. The results favored the red greatly: the men ranked the red shirt 1-1.5 points higher than the white, indicating that these men favored the red shirt over the white (Strain).

Since red is more indicative of wanting sexual and romantic relations, it makes sense that people biologically associate red with power and fertility.

models: Anne Koessler and Adelaide Megard

Wearing the color red is more than just a stylistic choice since it also voices power without words. Due to the popularity and timeless nature behind this color, it is so simple to incorporate red in any wardrobe. Whether it is just the pop of a red scarf and gloves when the weather becomes frigid or intentionally wearing that red dress to prove a point, choosing this shade embodies a great sense of strength. Even when your day is going south, throw on those red heels and own today because red’s power speaks louder than words.

source: sciencemag.org

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USING FASHION TO BE A

SOCIAL ACTIVIST written & photographed by Allie Kuo

“The history of dress is, to a very large extent, a history of protests,” wrote Quentin Bell in his 1951 article, “The Incorrigible Habit: A Study of Dress Reform in England.”

This may seem like a bold claim, considering that Bell was talking about the fabric that covers our bodies, but he makes a striking point.

Fashion is a form of expression, whether it is overt or understated. It’s what you see all around you, therefore becoming a vital part and representation of a society’s culture. Unless you happen to find yourself in the company of nudists, everybody wears clothing. So what better medium is there than clothing to help advocate for a cause?

Looking back in history, fashion played an important role in reinforcing political and social messages for change.

British suffragettes in the early 1900s wore long white dresses and skirts for solidarity during their fight for the right to vote—“well aware of the effect clothing could have on their movement”—which inspired suffragists here in the U.S. to follow suit in their attire. During that first wave of feminism, after the 19th Amendment was passed, fashion was no longer as restrictive and confining as it had been for hundreds of years. Women began to loosen up in both their lifestyles and their style choices, their fringed shift dresses reflecting a whole new range of freedoms and opportunities unavailable before, as well as a spirit of rebellion.

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A few decades later, with the second wave of feminism after WWII when women took on jobs that were typically done by men, pants slowly replaced impractical clothing for the workplace. Trousers were popularized by Coco Chanel and her feminist fashion views, when she decided women should be able to enjoy the same freedoms as men in pants, according to a Glamour piece about “5 Things You Can Thank Coco Chanel For.” In the 1960s and 70s, the Black Panthers wore black berets atop their natural hair, which, according to Mic, was a nod to the green ones soldiers wore and a way to demonstrate their unity and militant methods. These berets came to be associated with the revolutionary group and synonymous for many with Black Power.

And even in the 21st century, fashion is still being used as a symbol in protest. After the 2016 election, people showed up to Women’s Marches all over the country in pink “pussyhats,” knit caps with pointed ears that gave a big middle finger to our president’s vulgar remarks from a 2005 video.

Though these examples of political fashion are not as blatant as say, a Dior shirt from their Spring 2018 show that declares “WE SHOULD ALL BE FEMINISTS,” their more subtle nature is still relevant in showing that intangible messages speak louder than the clothes themselves.

Designers have also used their runways as a space to create dialogue and draw awareness to societal and worldly issues. Outspoken British designer Vivienne Westwood is perhaps the most active of the bunch, taking advantage of her platform and shows to illuminate topics like gender norms, climate change, Scottish independance and fracking, according to Dazed. And just recently, in his Fall 2017 show, Prabal Gurung dressed models in white t-shirts emblazoned with statements like “I am an immigrant” and “Revolution has no borders,” sending a strong message out onto the runway about his political and social stance.

Though a graphic tee isn’t going to close the wage gap or end racism, at least it can help spur conversation that hopefully leads to action. However, it’s also crucial to remember that activism is not just wearing a fun, Instagrammable item and calling it a day. You can be an advocate for a cause through fashion, but fashion cannot be the only way you are advocating for that cause.

model: Jaclyn Mendoza

If going out and protesting isn’t your cup of tea, there are other ways of supporting causes you care about. Buy clothes from designers who donate proceeds to charities and organizations that matter to you. Find stores that sell ethically made pieces, such as Reformation or Ash & Rose in Boston’s South End, rather than clothing produced by people being paid unlivable wages. And if you are wearing a piece that calls for action, such as a Black Lives Matter shirt or a pussyhat, talk to people about the change you want.

What we wear is never an unconscious decision, so there’s a reason why dress has time and time again been used as a means of reflecting the political and social climate of a certain era. There is no need to have to choose between fashion or function—at its best, style can be both.

using sexy clothes to

Empower Yourself written by Alana Bates illustrated by Sarah Porter

From the latest fashion trends in Vogue to scrolling through one’s Instagram feed, sexy clothing is everywhere.

More and more every day, wearing revealing outfits is becoming a societal norm as we continue to accept the place that it has in the fashion world and in our daily lives.

I am personally all for the rise of sexy clothing. Dressing in miniskirts, plunging necklines and figure-hugging dresses gives women the opportunity to express their feminine side and individuality. It helps women display their bodies in a way that makes them feel confident and empowered. Increasing women’s confidence is crucial in the world today. It is no shock that societal pressures continue to diminish the confidence of females who do not live up to the unrealistic expectations that the media portrays for our gender. May it be their weight, height, skin color or a certain facial feature, women are constantly put down when they don’t meet extremely strict and limited beauty standards. I have seen firsthand that dressing in sexy outfits can boost the confidence that women have in themselves, and I believe that all women should be encouraged to take every chance they can get to dress in whatever makes them feel sexy.

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Every day, women are judged for what they choose to wear. Slut-shaming is a prevalent problem in our society that needs to be addressed. It is important to remember that it is a woman’s choice to dress in whatever pleases her. Just because a woman dresses in a revealing matter, it does not mean that she is a sexual object. One recent instance of slut-shaming in the fashion industry was the statement that designer Donna Karan gave in an interview about the sexual assault allegations against Harvey Weinstein. Instead of holding Weinstein accountable for his disgusting actions, Karan expressed sympathy for the producer, stating that women open themselves up to unwanted sexual attention when they dress provocatively: “How do we present ourselves as women? What are we asking? Are we asking for it by presenting all the sensuality and all the sexuality? You look at everything all over the world today and how women are dressing and what they are asking [for] by just presenting themselves the way they do.” Such appalling cases of slut-shaming blame women rather than holding men accountable for their actions.

The notion that dressing in sexy clothes degrades women by making them sexual objects is simply archaic and untrue. Dressing in a revealing fashion is about more than how it makes an individual look; it’s about how it makes them feel. Women should be encouraged to dress in sexy clothes and to feel empowered by what they wear.

Take a look at Emily Ratajkowski, for example. The proud feminist and fashion icon who made her debut in Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” music video loves to dress sexily.

Over the years, Ratajkowski has and continues to face fierce criticism regarding her provocative outfit choices and risqué Instagram posts. Yet, nothing could stop the starlet from dressing in her favorite revealing outfits. As Ratajkowski eloquently put it, “Any expression that is empowered and is your own as a woman is feminist. If a woman decides to dress sexy, it doesn’t mean she’s not a feminist. [We] should be doing things for ourselves. If that is the woman’s choice, and it makes her feel good, then that’s great. Good for her.”

If wearing a tight dress, a low cut top or a short skirt makes a woman feel empowered, she should be supported in her choice to do so. We should be proud of our figures and embrace our sexuality rather than feeling pressured into dressing a certain way. After all, it is 2017, and the era of restricting what women wear or how they should look needs to come to an end. For all the ladies out there, show off your sexy side! Flaunt your figure and wear whatever makes you feel sexy, empowered and beautiful.

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Pantsuits In the early 1960s, women began to take the workplace by storm. Along with this revolution came a new way of dress; one that said women were here to work and make an impact. Towards the end of the sixties, approximately 40% of women participated in the workforce. The most popular style was a matching skirt and jacket, which was commonly worn and popularized by First Lady Jackie Kennedy. This was a time of color and pattern and her sets ranged from light pink to navy. Most of her wardrobe was designed by Oleg Cassini, who shaped what is known as “the Jackie look.� Jackie Kennedy was the most loved and, in that sense, the most powerful First Lady that the White House had seen to date. These designs were mass-reproduced by department stores and working women were soon able to recreate her look.

By 1980, shoulder pads were in along with pantsuits.

Oversized blazers and red lips took over thanks to icons like Madonna and movies like Working Girl starring Melanie Griffith. As more women joined the workforce, more cuts and style of business clothing emerged in offices across the world. By the early 2000s, tailored blazers and pants came about. They have notably been worn by women such as Hillary Clinton, who, during her race to the White House in 2016, seemed to have a different pantsuit for every event.

The pantsuit, especially in striking white, has become synonymous with Secretary Clinton. Today, the variety of workwear is endless—from fitted pants, to blouses, to dresses, there is a style for everyone.

The pantsuit is a time-tested power move. There is something about a tailored blazer and pants that makes every woman feel like she can take on the world. Of course, the classic combination of all black with a white button-down will always be a go-to, but women are calling for patterns and colors that represent their individual personalities. The cut of the blazer itself, the color, the lining and even buttons can showcase individuality. A long-line houndstooth-printed blazer paired with colorful tailored pants could provide a modern twist on an otherwise classic outfit. If one already owns a pantsuit, a very simple way to change up the look would be to add a printed blouse or one with an attached bow. Layered underneath the blazer or simply paired with the trousers, it would be the statement piece of the outfit.

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Beyond written & photographed by Louise-Audrey Zenezini

pantsuit “ The is a time tested power move.

model: Adriana Yozzi

However, pantsuits are not the only workplace attire that screams “powerful.� Dresses and skirts come in A-line, fit and flare, pencil, midi and more. Among the classic white button-downs, a patterned skirt suit or a frilly frock can make all the difference. The key is to find the dress or skirt that fits you like a glove; nothing says power like a properly fitting, wrinkle-free outfit. These clothes can express individuality by finding the color that makes you feel like a movie star, or the detail that makes you feel unique and powerful. Being able to express yourself and feeling strong and confident in an article of clothing embodies the true meaning of powerful. So the next interview, meeting or even class you attend, make your statement in your powerful outfit.

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how the beauty industry has failed dark women written by AJ Addae photographed by Simran Gvalani

As many might know, makeup originated from a much earlier epoch in ancient Egypt. In as early as 4,000 BCE, Egyptian women would apply mixtures of copper and ore, as well as pastes of copper minerals to adorn their faces with makeup and shape their eyes. Historically, makeup started in the hands of black women, for the purpose of enhancing beauty, maintaining status, and promoting good health. Although beauty standards bear a timely prominence throughout many cultures, over the progression of time, the varying purposes of cosmetics inevitably shifted, as well as its audiences.

In 1500 BC, Chinese and Japanese women incorporated makeup into their cultures through illuminating cosmetics, such as using rice powder to make their faces whiter, and painting their teeth gold. Similarly, in the 1600s, European women would lighten their skin with white lead paint, creating the widespread concept of “The Mask of Youth.”

Fundamentally, over time, beauty standards have taken a precipitating shift towards glorifying the ivory, youthful complexion, through almost all cultures and ethnicities.

Evidently, achieving the standard fair skinned, flawless complexion is ultimately inaccessible to a vast amount of people. Out of all complexions, the most disadvantaged in this regard are dark skinned people. Although contemporary makeup offers several means of access to inclusivity regarding dark skinned people, makeup for darker people is essentially inaccessible as a whole.

According to Refinery29, black women, specifically dark women, spend 80% more on cosmetics than their non-black counterparts. However, ironically, they are vehemently underrepresented in the beauty industry.

Commonly, darker skinned people experience widely unrelatable inconveniences regarding cosmetics, from

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having little to no access to their foundation shades and BB Creams, to having no “nude” colors for their lips. The discrepancies faced in the dark skinned community are so deeply rooted to the point that when darker people wear what most would consider “normal makeup,” such as eyeshadows and lipsticks, they are essentially overdramatizing more than what one would recognize on fairer skin with the same makeup.

It’s a well known collective ideology that “black don’t crack,” and that “dark skin doesn’t need cosmetics,” due to an already richer complexion in comparison to fair skin.

Although these generalizations are potentially true, it is important to recognize that this is a probable symptom of the collective perpetuation that “dark skin doesn’t need cosmetics.” This comes from the underlying notion that dark skin doesn’t have as many cosmetics readily available. Applying cosmetics is seen as more of a “personal revolution” or a “sassy dramatization” on dark skin, than in comparison to fair skin, when really, it’s just cosmetics.

Or is it? Whether it’s just cosmetics or not, as the contemporary makeup scene unfolds and darker people are more embraced by the media, the collective society should not wait for the media to tell the rest of its tale.

It is important for cosmetics to be more reclaimed and refined for darker skin, as cosmetics were born from dark skin. With ethnic-centric cosmetic brands and growing shade ranges at the makeup counter, the darker skin cosmetic industry has never been more powerful than today. Ultimately, the end goal is still a ways away, and as the budding human culture approaches progressively inclusive cosmetic sufficiency, inevitably, there is a whole lot of work left to do.

makeup for darker people is essentially inaccessible as a whole

models: Anneke Gustafson and Asiah Stewart

flattery or just imitation written by Phil Zminda photographed by Rashod Blades

The fashion industry occupies a unique space in today’s world. As Miranda Priestley’s iconic cerulean top monologue in The Devil Wears Prada highlights, it is impossible not to engage with fashion in some way; even a plain white t-shirt from a department store represents thousands of jobs, people, and designers that had a hand in its production. To keep this industry afloat, businesses must continually design and develop clothing people will like and, with the rise of digital platforms, businesses have more places than ever to gather inspiration for their designs.

However, the accessibility of unique art and fashion also makes it easy for them to mimic their work and sell it for profit. The saying goes that “imitation is the sincerest form of flattery,” but it’s hard to chalk stealing designs up to simply admiration when dollars are on the line.

Celebrities are designing now more than ever due to the power and profitability of a huge social media following; however, to say their designs are original is questionable.

In June 2017, a black-owned independent brand Plugged NYC claimed that Kylie Jenner’s line of camo clothes mimicked their own line and proved Jenner’s admiration by posting e-mails between Jenner’s manager and the company in which she described their camo clothes as “basically her favorite.” Despite the controversy, Jenner continued to sell the clothes on her site and sold through the entire collection. Another social media star, Cara Delevingne, was criticized for selling a shirt with the slogan “The Future Is Female” on it no more than three weeks after she was spotted donning a shirt with the same slogan given to her by a small Los Angeles design collective, Otherwild.

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Admittedly, neither Plugged NYC nor Otherwild own the copyright to their design—however, this lack of design protection is due to the ambiguous nature of copyright and trademark laws in the fashion world, not oversights by the businesses. According to the Art Law Journal, fashion designs at their core cannot be copyrighted due to a two-century-old court case that defined clothing as “a utilitarian item, not an artistic expression or scientific invention.” While designers are able to register copyrights for original prints, patterns, and color arrangements, they are forbidden from trademarking any “utilitarian” aspect of a design such as its shape, style or structure. This ruling allows businesses to replicate the aesthetics of designer pieces while avoiding lawsuits. Although it is possible to patent a certain clothing design, the patent process is unfeasible for most designers due to the substantial amount of time and money it takes to acquire one.

With flimsy copyright laws and unrealistic patent systems, businesses can steal from both well-known and unknown designers without major consequences.

Even when designers do sue, the courts do not necessarily rule in their favor. In 2011, Louboutin sued Zara for selling shoes with red bottoms because it caused customers to confuse Zara shoes with Louboutin’s notably red-soled and significantly more luxurious shoes. However, the courts decided in favor of Zara due to the vagueness of Louboutin’s trademark registration and suggested that Louboutin “reserve a specific Pantone color” going forward. This case sets a startling precedent; if a brand as well-known as Louboutin can have one of its most

models: Karen Tran and Taylor Smith

iconic design elements stolen without consequence, what designs are safe?

Small designers are even more vulnerable to design theft.

With the rise of Internet platforms such as Instagram, Tumblr, and Etsy for designers to showcase and sell their work, designers at fast fashion companies and even large design houses have more creative work at their fingertips to use for inspiration—and imitation. The Fashion Law described one particular case in which a 24-year-old artist named Boris Schmitz had three of his drawings fixed onto a bag sold by Zara. He was dumbfounded, but not surprised, saying “Zara is known for [theft] in my community.” Schmitz’s case is just one of many designers whose work has been stolen by larger, more powerful companies with neither credit nor contact.

Some businesses even steal copyrighted designs but have such vast revenue streams that they can afford to continually be sued. Forever21 alone has been sued and settled out of court over 50 times for copyright infringement suits on prints and designs from small and large designers alike.

For a business as large as Forever21, though, using the design illegally and settling later is significantly more costeffective than licensing the design in the first place.

Despite the ubiquity and unethicality of these actions, no one seems to be certain of what should be done to stop it from happening. Some critics say that prohibiting the ability to take inspiration from other garments in the fashion industry would leave us with less than ideal options for clothing in no time flat; imagine only one business being able to design, sell and produce a white button-down shirt. More stringent and expansive fashion protection laws that don’t bar progress in fashion are not an impossible dream, though, as both France and Italy have systems in place that protect garments and accessories in their entirety. It’s unclear when America’s fashion laws will catch up, though—so what can we do about it?

We can start by refusing to buy from companies like Kylie Jenner, Zara, Forever21, Nasty Gal and H&M that are notorious for stealing designs. We can support small designers or buy secondhand. We can do our research and make sure the people we buy from are using original designs. We can advocate for more stringent copyright legislation for the fashion industry. It’s clear that these businesses won’t stop stealing as long as their bottom lines aren’t affected; it’s on us to make them pay.

sources: refinery29.com, artlawjournal.com, businessinsider.com, thefader.com, thefashionlaw.com

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written by Nikki Quinn photographed by J. Brimeyer

Alice Kim How would you describe your style?

I try to stray away from following trends. If I do have a piece that is of the latest trend, I just try to match it with something that’s not.

How did you create your style?

Being an art major, especially, you’re surrounded by people who have their own style and that encourages you to create your own. I started off first really into street fashion because it’s about experimenting across the spectrum.

I have learned to just gain confidence when I am in an outfit that I really like.

What does your style say about you?

Depending on my outfit I either look 5 or 20.

How do you feel when you’re wearing an outfit showcasing your personal style?

It affects my mood. If you feel good about yourself, you are more willing to speak up and look people in the eye.

It’s very important to be confident during a presentation/ interview. What would you wear for that?

I really like blazers, the ones that are more professional.

I also like baggy ones. I probably wear thigh high boots— that’s the one item that’s me. But, to keep it professional without looking trashy, I’d thrown on a really nice blazer, a skirt and a white button-up shirt.

Sometimes you have to tone down your personal style for professional occasions, how do you do that?

My wardrobe consists of monochrome colors to begin with so the color issue isn’t a big deal, I would just work on not being too showy. I’d probably just stick to a bodycon dress but always something over to balance it out.

Does having an especially good outfit day affect your confidence?

A good outfit is just all in my head. Because they’re certain brands I’m a huge fan of but other people wouldn’t know.

If I wore a t-shirt from one of my fashion idols I’d feel really good. Because it’s all in my head, I feel like personal style comes a lot from inspiration and also it’s very personal to you. As long what you are wearing makes you feel good about yourself, I think that’s all that matters.

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Shawn Cai How would you describe your style?

A modern fusion of minimalistic streetwear and prep.

How did you create your style?

I’m an avid fan of the modern silhouette of streetwear while at the same time loving the reserved classics of collared shirts and top coats.

What does your style say about you?

My style shows that I am adventurous and versatile.

I always look for new ways to mesh different pieces of clothing together from my closet.

How do you feel when you’re wearing an outfit showcasing your personal style?

Damn I feel good. It doesn’t affect my confidence that much because I’m naturally confident but it makes me feel good when I see myself in the mirror.

It’s very important to be confident during a presentation/ interview. What would you wear for that?

For a formal presentation, obviously wear a suit and tie.

You can wear a mismatched suit or an actual full suit.

Because it’s a professional setting, you don’t want to go too crazy and stand out too much. A well-fit, tailored navy suit will do the job.

Does having an especially good outfit day affect your confidence?

Hell yeah.

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Taj Ahad How would you describe your style?

In one word: simple. I love sporting solid colors.

How did you create your style?

Not sure because I never gave it much thought, however I would say that it sort of came to be when I started college last Fall. I started buying lots of clothes that I thought looked unique or interesting, and I suppose that was the start.

What does your style say about you?

Hopefully something positive! I guess it depends on what I’m wearing because I like to convey different images depending on the occasion. For example, I hope to convey a sense of professionalism when I dress up for an interview.

How do you feel when you’re wearing an outfit showcasing your personal style?

A nice, fitted blazer that isn’t black, a button-down shirt that’s solid-colored or of minimal print, skinny pants and black Chelsea boots or black leather dress shoes.

It’s very important to be confident during a presentation/ interview. What would you wear for that?

There isn’t too much to tone down because my style is very wearable I think, however I think it’s important to not wear graphic prints or ripped jeans in professional settings.

Sometimes you have to tone down your personal style for professional occasions, how do you do that?

Not necessarily, however I suppose this depends on the occasion. I usually wear joggers and a North Face when I go to class, grocery store, post office or gym, which is where I tend to be every day. I would definitely feel less confident if I were having an off outfit day at a wedding or job interview.

Does having an especially good outfit day affect your confidence?

Of course it does!

The Most Powerful Women in Fashion written by Madelaine Millar photographed by Kate Coiro

Despite being an industry built primarily for and around women, many of the most powerful figures in the fashion world are men. Names like Tom Ford, Marc Jacobs, Ralph Lauren and Louis Vuitton dominate womenswear.

For much of fashion and beauty history, women were simply the consumers off of whom men made money.

Today, women are taking unprecedented power in fashion, and these are seven of the most powerful women who are redefining the industry today, from high fashion to the high street.

Anna Wintour No look at powerful women in fashion could begin with anyone except Anna Wintour, the Editor-in-Chief of Vogue since 1988 and the Art Director for Conde Nast. She is a dame of the British Empire, number 28 on Forbes’ list of the World’s Most Powerful Women and widely believed to be the inspiration for the character of Miranda Priestly in The Devil Wears Prada. She deserves credit for Vogue’s modern aesthetic—it was her choice to use younger designers and less well known models. It was also her choice to move towards the personal, modern, clothes-oriented shoots of today’s Vogue and away from the tight, heavily made up, glamour shots of the 1970s and early 1980s. Under her leadership, Vogue also began to put more celebrities on their covers. An interesting fact about Wintour? She has sported her iconic bob since the age of 15.

Pat McGrath Pat McGrath’s inventive, editorial style has graced more runways than any other makeup artist in fashion history.

Doing makeup for around 80 major shows a year, magazine covers for publications like Vogue and Harper’s Bazaar, as well as the faces of makeup greats like Kim Kardashian and Rihanna, Pat McGrath is one busy woman. On top of all of that, she launched her own line—Pat McGrath Labs—in 2015. Her signature look combines flawless skin with colorful, effortlessly-cool makeup and unexpected materials. A woman of color, she says she was originally drawn to bright colors because there were so few nudes available for darker skin tones when she was beginning to experiment with cosmetics in the 70s and 80s.

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Miuccia Prada Miuccia Prada is the only other woman on this list with a Forbes Top 100 Most Powerful Women spot to her name.

The co-CEO and head of design at Prada and founder of Miu Miu sits at a comfortable number 79. She was also the first ever recipient of the International Designer of the Year award in 2013. Miuccia Prada took her grandfather’s company from a leather goods family business to an international fashion powerhouse. She is also responsible for the iconic Prada nylon backpack, which redefined luxury handbags for a modern, utilitarian world and for the unique design style of ‘ugly chic’. As she put it; “Ugly is attractive, ugly is exciting.”

Ann-Sofie Johansson In 1987, Ann-Sofie Johansson walked into an H&M and never left. She worked her way from shop assistant all the way up to head of design, bringing a high-fashion twist to a high-street brand. As a fast fashion brand, H&M may be more trendy than some of the other companies represented on this list, but it’s more affordable nature makes it all the more accessible. Nearly everyone has at least one H&M piece in their closet, illustrating the power and influence of a woman like Ann-Sofie.

Stella McCartney In an industry where names matter, being the daughter of legendary musician Paul McCartney would give any designer a foot in the door. In Stella’s case, it got her Naomi Campbell, Yasmin Le Bon and Kate Moss modeling her graduation collection at Central Saint Martins School of Art and Design. That said, Stella McCartney’s success is all her own. She launched her fashion house in 2001 and her designs are now distributed in over 50 countries.

She is a strong supporter of animal rights, and uses no leather or fur in her designs, demonstrating her commitment to being one of the most sustainable brands in the industry. She also debuted the “optical illusion” dress, which uses colorblock panels on the sides to create the illusion of a slimmer figure—a technique now a staple in cocktail dresses.

McGrath

Westwood

Vivienne Westwood Another dame of the British empire, designer Vivienne Westwood is largely credited for initiating the iconic style of punk. The tartan, safety pins and dog collars that defined the youth of London during the 1980s were guided by her careful hand. It’s easy to see that styles she pioneered thirty years ago are still relevant today, as tartan comes trotting out right on schedule every fall. In recent years, she has also become an environmental activist, donating over £1 million to the charity Cool Earth.

Sophia Amoruso Sophia Amoruso founded NastyGal as an eBay vintage store at the age of 23. Less than ten years later, the brand was valued at $350 million. Her self-made woman story is known throughout the fashion world thanks to her autobiography (in book and Netflix series form!) #GIRLBOSS. In a strange turn of events, NastyGal ended up filing for bankruptcy in 2016 and was acquired for $20 million by the Boohoo Group. Despite the eventual downturn of her business, Sophia Amoruso has still more than earned her spot on this list, having revolutionized the path to building a fashion brand and become a pop culture shorthand for a successful businesswoman.

Amoruso

models: Maria Paula Arriaga, Julia Germain, Amera Youssef sources: theguardian.com, material-magazine.com, atelierdore.com

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photographed by Ellie MacLean

the single life:

A Female Millennial’s Take on Love written by Kiley Choi photographed by Danica Woo

Out of ten of my closest female friends that attend colleges spanning from Northeastern University to the University of San Diego, only one of them is currently in a relationship.

For many millennial women, this number probably doesn’t seem so strange; it’s no secret that the percentage of females in the U.S. choosing to stay single for longer has been rapidly increasing. According to a 2015 Gallup report, the number of women ages 18 to 29 who are single and have never before been married rose an incredible 11 percent from 2004 to 2014—from 49 percent to 60 percent.

For those who did choose to get married, the median age for marriage in 2014 among women was up seven years since 1960, from 20 years old to 27 years old. So, why are we waiting so much longer? What has changed? As it turns out, quite a lot.

1. Busy schedules Since 1994, the percentage of young women attending college after high school has risen at least eight percent.

Women are keeping themselves occupied by continuing on to obtain master’s degrees at a higher rate than men, and are on course for surpassing males in receiving doctorates as well. Even after college, they have been increasingly keeping themselves busy; women now make up 47 percent of the total labor force and own almost 10 million businesses. Who has time for the stress and needs of a relationship when you have an advanced level of education to obtain and a CEO position to fill?

2. Financial stability The days of marrying because of financial dependency are becoming a thing of the past. Although there is still a disheartening 20 percent pay gap between men and women in America, the gap has decreased by 20 percent since 1979. If this rate of change continues, the gap is predicted to disappear completely by 2059. Although this is an optimistic estimate at best, the number of female breadwinners has been increasing, and young women are simply just not as dependent as they used to be on men for financial reasons.

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3. Overwhelming debt Ironically, although women are earning more money, they are also taking on more debt. As the number of females enrolling in college increases, so does the number of females burdened with massive student loan debt—an average of $37,172 per graduating student as of 2016. This does not even take into account the debt accrued from masters or doctorate programs. Someone saddled with so much debt will be more reluctant to start a relationship and marry someone with an immense amount of debt as well.

4. Sexual freedom Rising numbers of women have been participating in movements standing up for each other, defending each other’s rights and fighting to end double standards such as slut-shaming. Despite the disapproval of older generations, casual sex has become more accepted among the youth, with about 45 percent of millennials admitting to have participated in it during their 20s (as opposed to 35 percent of Generation Xers). Premarital sex has also become a lot more socially acceptable among the millennial generation than it was among previous generations. Females today between the ages 18 to 25 have actually been reported to have more intercourse than their male counterparts; in a 2017 study by PLOS.org, 52.1 percent of females ages 18 to 25 reported having sex in the past month, as opposed to 39.3 percent of men. As satisfying sexual pleasures without having to commit to a complicated relationship becomes more accepted, more women are opting out of dating.

5. Selfishness Not all of the reasons for staying single are necessarily positive. Millennials have been brought up in a generation with a different way of viewing themselves and others; the pillars of this generation, it seems, are “self-love” and “putting yourself first.” Although these are two very important parts of being confident and happy with yourself, no other generation has stressed these messages quite as much as they are being stressed today. What society has ended up with is a group of young people (both men and women) who are more independent but also more selfish. They want to focus on themselves and take on less responsibility for others. This behavior is reflected in modern relationships as well.

model: Jill Kligler

6. Pickiness and gender populations Tinder, Facebook, Instagram, Match.com…Millennials are inundated with options for possible partners. Beyond just technology, the increase in the number of people attending college boosts the amount of eligible significant others available as well. With so many possibilities surrounding this generation on all sides, committing to just one possibility has become harder. There is a constant fear of missing out on someone better. What’s more, this surplus of options is lopsided in men’s favor. There are just not enough men to go around; for every four collegeeducated women there are only three college-educated men. This discrepancy between the two genders has made it easier for guys to pass up on relationships due to a surplus of options and harder for women to find an eligible, educated man to seriously pursue.

Is this trend of women staying single for longer a bad thing? So far, it would appear not. Females who stay single have proven to develop increased confidence and to be involved more in communities—especially in urban environments. They earn more degrees, climb higher in the workplace, can afford their own homes and can also afford to be independent until the “right” man comes along.

As a result, divorce rates are significantly lower among the women who wait longer to get married. Females who stay single for longer and develop more confidence and authority are also helping contribute to a paradigm shift in terms of equality among genders—not only is the pay gap decreasing, the number of men who are comfortable being stay-at-home dads has doubled since 2006.

So, go ahead girls, take your time. Working on yourself first has proven to pay off in the long run.

sources: nces.ed.gov, pewsocialtrends.org, pewresearch.org, blog.dol, yesmagazine.org, aauw.org, theatlantic.com, latimes.com, journals.plos.org, qz.com, economist.com

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the power of powder written by AJ Addae photographed by Diya Khullar

Give makeup her full story.

Makeup should not be solely seen as a mask, a burden or some means of adherence to harmful beauty standards.

And on the other hand, to those who righteously pipe, “I’m not wearing makeup for the approval of men; this lipstick or eyeliner or lashes are for me, and me only!”—congratulations. This is good (it actually is), but it is important to take into account the multidimensionality of makeup.

Makeup—the word itself is misleading. It bears the narrative of wearing cosmetics in order to masquerade as a “made up” identity that one can remove at the end of the day. To even say the words, “This morning, I am putting on makeup before work,” suggests that before work, the person will put on cosmetics as a part of their overall attire. The why that follows is what provides the most divergence. Most people, even makeup wearers, shine a light on makeup as a dichotomy of either “wearing it for themselves,” or “wearing it for others”—and this is where the fault lies. The concept of wearing makeup is no dichotomy; it bears multiplicity. It is an inevitable trend that as people grow, they are more likely to wear cosmetics to accommodate professional environments. For example, when the career workplace is entered, one can count on the fact that just about every woman (and others who wear cosmetics) who has access to makeup, is wearing makeup.

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People wear makeup for plenty of reasons. Those who chime in with their hegemonic, “I wear makeup for myself!” must take into account, that makeup is most commonly used as a means to navigate the professional world in a “presentably acceptable” way. To say as a whole, that people wear makeup in order to simply please themselves, is in fact an erasure of those who wear makeup in the workplace in order to gain access to what they want, whether it is to be employed by sex work, fast food work or even attempting to land a job in an interview.

People are made to feel like they have to look a certain way, especially in regards to environments in which they cannot simply pull an Alicia Keys and be bare-faced, such as the workplace, a party or even school. If this reasoning does not seem credible, simply consider the amount of times that you have heard young men complain on the subject of having to “live with what they have,” because women have makeup, and they “have nothing.”

Now, the aforementioned is not so to disregard the people that wear makeup for themselves or for the sake of art. In fact, the aforementioned is to further qualify the notion that if you wear cosmetics simply for yourself, or for art, then this is a privilege in which you must acknowledge. It is important to take into account the fact that there are numerous people that often avoid being bare-faced during their jobs or other various professional environments, so that they are treated under the same privilege as other well-groomed, functioning people. Additionally, there are numerous that wear makeup to attract the desires of others, which is valid. In fact, there are plenty other reasons to wear cosmetics. At the end of the day, it is important to know that the difficulty in finding it so hard to only choose between “People only wear makeup for themselves” and “People wear makeup to attract others,” is for a complex reason. There is multiplicity and there are complications and it is not your fault; it, like many other commonplace things, is a product, of society.

models: AJ Addae and Amy Wu

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IS FEMINISM JUST A TREND? written by Alyssa Pascoe photographed by Simran Gvalani

In recent years, feminism has resurged onto the scene as one of the most prominent social movements.

Both political figures and celebrities have highlighted the importance of identifying as a feminist and the rest of the world has quickly caught on. This is shown in all spectrums of the style world, in both fashion week and fast fashion.

However, many raise concerns: is feminism’s role in mainstream society forever, or is it just a fad?

Feminism in fashion has a positive influence on the world and has allowed individuals to share their voice about issues through their clothing. Women in history have used clothing to make statements, with both miniskirts and power suits. In the modern era, Jennifer Lawrence and Emily Ratajkowski have been seen sporting empowering shirts, which has helped the trend enter the market. There are now a variety of articles of clothing available, from the “Pussy Hat” to shirts stating “FEMINIST.” Retailers like Forever 21 and Topshop have both carried a variety of feminism-inspired items, which opened the feminist fashion market to millions. These items allow people to communicate and spread a message, simply by dressing in the morning.

Unfortunately, a lot of these trendy pieces feminists are wearing do not have the social ramifications you would hope for or expect.

Many critique the ethics behind the involvement of corporations in social justice movements.

For example, recall the controversy back in 2014, involving Elle Magazine. The magazine collaborated with a feminist organization, The Fawcett Society, to sell t-shirts with the design “This Is What A Feminist Looks Like,” with a percentage of the proceeds going to charity. Celebrities who promoted this collaboration include Emma Watson and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. The idea behind this collab seemed excellent, until a discovery was made about the manufacturing of the shirts. It was revealed that these shirts were produced in a Mauritian factory using female sweatshop labor, with workers earning less than a dollar an hour.

This raised the criticism of the role of feminism in business: what is actually the goal of these corporations? In the ElleFawcett controversy, it is clear that the intention was to maximize profit under the guise of creating social change.

This is contradictory to what feminism stands for. Big businesses have latched onto this trend of feminism and have utilized it on products to gain financial capital.

Despite the problems with big businesses and feminism, many people still want to share their ideas through clothing. The question is, are they doing it for feminist reasons, or to just seem cool? Either way, people are still able to use fashion to spread a message, just through a better manner. Consumer awareness is critical and before purchasing a product a person can always research a bit about the business.

There is also the option of buying clothes more locally, like from Etsy or a local business.

Smaller sellers typically make products at home with original designs, so consumers can ensure that things are ethical. One great store is Prinkshop, which donates 30% of proceeds to different girlempowering charities.

Green Box Shop is another excellent seller, which uses fair-trade cotton t-shirts to spread powerful messages.

There’s also the option to DIY clothing—rather than buying something with a message. It is easy to copy the statement down onto a shirt, or screenprint something.

Feminism has played an important role in society in the past decade, but it is important for consumers to be aware of the way businesses use it. By supporting ethical brands, people can share their feminist ideals, while ensuring a positive influence on the world.

model: Elena Kosh

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Power Playlist written by Julia Germain illustrated by Sarah Porter

To visit a college campus like Northeastern is to walk amongst hundreds of people wearing headphones—each person is walking around listening to their own personal soundtrack to life. In a crowded world, headphones help privatize public spaces. Many people believe that music is extremely personal and sharing music is granting someone a closer look at your thoughts.

Music is profoundly linked to personal memories and calming a chaotic brain: making it effective in treating dementia patients and individuals with anxiety.

Scholars continue to study music as a means to destress and empower. Dr. Michael Bull, an expert on personal music devices from the University of Sussex, expressed to Wired magazine his professional theory that “music is the most powerful medium for thought, mood and movement control.” Next time you find yourself in need of a mood adjustment, or a little empowerment, grab a pair of headphones, or a friend and listen to a few of these songs.

PUMP UP These songs are perfect for kickstarting your mood or getting you dancing with friends.

Crazy in Love, Beyonce Dancing on My Own, Robyn Any Way You Want It, Journey 8TEEN, Khalid Sex on Fire, Kings of Leon

FEEL GOOD MUSIC These songs are perfect for a long walk to class or just skipping class altogether.

On the Way Home, John Mayer Chateau, Angus & Julia Stone youarefire, LANY There She Goes, The La’s Suddenly I See, KT Tunstall Mr. Brightside, The Killers

GIRL POWER “Who run the world? Girls!” Whenever you need to be reminded of just how powerful the female force is, listen to a few of these anthems of female empowerment.

Bad Girls, M.I.A. That Don’t Impress Me Much, Shania Twain Womanizer, Britney Spears Hollaback Girl, Gwen Stefani What the Hell, Avril Lavigne Love Me, Katy Perry Run the World, Beyonce

AFTER A BREAKUP You’re not alone in anything, especially a breakup with some of the music industry’s leading ladies to carry you through it.

Fuck You, Lily Allen Tears Dry On Their Own, Amy Winehouse Single, Natasha Bedingfield Go Your Own Way, Fleetwood Mac

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the power of dressing for yourself

written by Cheyenne Tang photographed by Jasmine Rayonia We have all heard the saying “dress to impress.”

It’s an easily brushed off statement and rarely is much thought given when saying it. I grew up in a school where we had to wear a uniform everyday with the exception of a few themed holidays and exams, so it’s safe to say there wasn’t much impressing to do with our stiff blue polo shirts. Senior year, during our IB exams, we got a mass email saying we were required to wear uniforms even during exams. You bet there was an uprising. This was one of our only opportunities to express ourselves with our style, even if we were expressing stress and fatigue. We weren’t going to miss out on one of our only chances to wear comfortable clothes to school—and we didn’t. But what does it mean to be comfortable? Although no one usually cares what they look like during exam time, there were still those few people who dressed to the 10s. Why? Who were they trying to impress?

In this modern age of social media and the Internet, it’s impossible to escape the fact that all eyes are on you, 24/7. We’ve come to the point where we use social media

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to shape how people see us and what they think our lives are like. Which brings us back to the question “Who are we trying to impress?” It feels like we’re constantly looking for someone’s approval and often times it’s from someone of romantic interest. One of the first things that some women think is whether or not they look attractive in their outfit. The idea that women exclusively dress for men is still common today and some people assume that it’s the only valid reason for us to look good. Someone wearing a plunging neckline is automatically seen as “desperate” or “thirsty,” sometimes even “asking for it.” In contrast, a baggy hoodie and sweats can be labeled “slobbish,” “lazy” and it’s assumed that someone who dresses like that doesn’t want a boyfriend. These snap-judgements are made through the lens that women dress to impress men, but it’s really not that simple.

Phil Zminda, one of our models, noted that comfort and style don’t have to be mutually exclusive. Olivia Eaton said that she prioritizes the two equally. There’s nothing wrong with wearing something you know you look good in, nor is there anything wrong with rocking those sweats. It may be easier said than done to be bold and confident in what you wear, but the sense of empowerment that comes with it makes it worth it. Throughout elementary school, I was always in someone’s shadow so it was hard for me to come out of my shell as a teenager. I still struggle to fully embrace who I am and how I like to dress, but every now and then a wave of confidence comes over me and I feel like I could conquer the world.

“

no matter what we wear, we should be able to wear it with unapologetic confidence.

Suddenly there’s no one in my head anymore and I can really just focus on looking good for myself. I have a little more bounce in my step and even if no one’s really looking at me, the world becomes a catwalk for me to show off my personality through my clothes. To Olivia, that means “a long flowing skirt paired with tons of jewelry” as she “[feels] naked when I’m not wearing my stack of bracelets and rings.” She feels that “wearing something that is a statement is empowering.” Phil’s brown Chelsea boots “have a bit of a heel to them” and hearing the “clickclack” of them throughout “[his] day is intoxicating.”

These models find their confidence in their clothing. They are unapologetic in how they look because they feel good in their clothes, and that’s all that matters. models: Morgan Albury, Sarah Elbakri, Olivia Eaton, Eesha Ramanujam, Phil Zminda

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Throughout history there has always been a struggle for females to assert themselves and be taken seriously in any situation. The same goes for fashion. Gender norms are no longer accepted as norms as women wearing clothes that were traditionally labeled as masculine is becoming more common. Over time the “girly” and “pretty” mold has been broken as we’ve ventured out into more adventurous looks to more accurately represent the diversity of the female gender. No matter what we wear, we should be able to wear it with unapologetic confidence. However, there’s also nothing wrong with feeling nervous, or scared to step outside of the comfort zone. It can be hard to fully embrace the “I did it for myself” attitude, but as Sarah Elbakri said, “life is too short to live for other people or in fear of what they might think.” The bottom line: you do you, and don’t let anyone tell you that you can’t.

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do you have to play

Hard to Get written by Estelle De Zan photographed by Zenith Hakemy

Dating advice columns often suggest that people should “play hard to get” to escalate desire. This philosophy has been instilled time and time again because it so widely permeates pop culture, but why such a counterintuitive strategy? If you like someone, why is it encouraged to deliberately act as if you don’t in order to get them to like you back? This age old idea prompts that “the chase” is an important part of romance. Are we obligated to play this game? Of course not, but deciding to succumb to this game or not is a question that most people ask themselves.

Everybody tends to be insecure, whether they show it or not. Everybody—men and women alike—wants to have the upperhand in their relationships. In other words, most individuals seek to be in a relationship in which they feel wanted, wanted to the extent that their partner likes them more than they like their partner. This is done to instill in them a sense of security. A protective measurement of sorts, it guarantees that they’re in control and therefore less likely to get hurt in the long run.

Truly opening yourself up to someone and presenting yourself enough to be vulnerable often takes times.

This is true because you risk those feelings not being reciprocated. You don’t want to look too available because then you’ll be taken for granted. If someone takes you for granted, there’s a very real fear that they’ll tire of you.

Being a tease ensures such yearning. This includes waiting a few minutes, hours even, to respond to someone’s texts.

Why? People want to maintain the appearance of being busy and having a life. Replying too fast instills too much eagerness and playing it cool releases such tension.

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In, “Playing Hard-to-Get: Manipulating One’s Perceived Availability as a Mate,” an article mentioned in Psychology Today by Dr. Jeremy Nicholson, it is reported that daters play hard to get to increase the perceived demand and value of themselves as a mate. It is also done to test the interest and commitment of potential partners. Many of the behaviors associated with playing hard to get tie back to prolonging the chase, assuming that the interest expressed is mutual.

This game thrives on social media, which is one of the many tools used to create intrigue. Snapchat and Instagram play a large part in said game. Snapchat, because it’s so instant, is oftentimes used to show off and prove to others that you’re having a good time. This can be very calculated, such as having pictures of other men and women on your story, which can create the impression that you have other options. With the intent being to spark intrigue, this creates a sort of urgency, as you’re not waiting around for one person (even if you are). Nicholson claims that such strategies are often used when people feel like they’ve been too nice or overlooked.

Even when individuals are in a secure relationship, it’s an ego boost to know that people find your partner attractive.

As long as that outside desire isn’t threatening, it can be a turn on because you’re in possession of something that other people want but can’t have. This makes your partner more special and gives you the impression that you’re in a position of power.

Robert Cialdini, a psychologist with several New York Times bestsellers on the power of persuasion, found that people value something more if it is rare or difficult to obtain. Doting this phenomenon the “Scarcity Principle,” he found that making something rare, unique, or giving it a time limit (or expiration date), makes it more attractive.

This in turn hikes up its value. Similar to reverse psychology, if you tell someone they can’t have something, they want it more.

Psychological research has found that a person usually likes another about as much as they think that person likes them. According to Erin R. Whitchurch and Timothy D. Wilson of the University of Virginia and Daniel T. Gilbert of Harvard University, “If we want to know how much Sarah likes Bob, a good predictor is how much she thinks Bob likes her.” In the study conducted, they had female undergraduates view the Facebook profiles of four male students. Some of the women were told they’d seen the four men who liked them the most; others were told these were four men who rated them about average. The last group weren’t told about the level of the men’s interest in them. Initially the women reported that they prefered the men who indicated that they liked them a lot; however, they were most attracted to the men who liked them an uncertain amount. With an implication that these men needed to be won over, this mystery rendered them more

alluring. With the women hypothetically having to work for the uncertain men, this made them scarce, harder to get and therefore more attractive.

Despite this mentality getting positive results, dating coach and founder of School of Love NYC, Monica Parikh says that she doesn’t believe in mind games. Instead, she advocates developing a “confident and detached style of dating.” This sounds similar to playing hard to get, because it is. Rather than being passive and wanting to be chosen it counts on people being the active chooser in their relationships. The token difference between the two is that playing hard to get implies that you need to be chased. Being more detached is more assertive as it demands that you know yourself enough to recognize what you’re looking for in a partner and how you want to be treated.

Is the game of playing hard to get something we’re conditioned to believe in? Is it trivial? Immature? Perhaps, but shifting one’s mindset from ‘Pick me!’ to ‘Are you good enough for me?’ instills in one a sense of confidence and self-respect, as it drives individuals to be more aware of their self-worth. This insinuates that instead of playing hard to get because of sheer obligation, people should have the power to know what they want and be hard to get because of how they expect to be treated.

model: Moana Yamaguchi

sources: psychologytoday.com, manrepeller.com

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Melanie Steiner INTERVIEW WITH CHIEF RISK OFFICER OF PVH interviewed by Shelby Robin & Maria García-Mauriño

We had the honor to interview one woman who is changing the game: Melanie Steiner. For those who don’t know her, she is one of the Senior Vice President and the Chief Risk Officer of PVH, the company that owns emblematic fashion firms such as Tommy Hilfiger and Calvin Klein, among others. We were inspired by her aura and the passion you could feel behind every single word she said. During our conversation, she spoke to us about what being a woman in her position means and her feelings about power and individuality in the fashion industry. After those intense 30 minutes, we felt like, as young women, could do anything we put our minds to and we will always remember what she said to us: Women are awesome!

How and why do you represent yourself as a feminist?

I feel very strongly about inclusion and diversity in general and that’s a big topic at PVH, the company that I work for.

I try to mentor as many women as I can. Women need to help women especially and you don’t always get that.

I like to talk on those topics because it’s my passion area.

You attended Fortune’s “Most Powerful Women Summit” this fall. What was it like attending an event all about powerful women? It was really inspiring. It is amazing to see so many women doing incredible things. It was in industry, government service as well as media, so it was a broad array of amazing women doing really cool stuff. It just shows you there are all these great women really breaking down barriers.

I thought it was interesting because it coincided with when the Harvey Weinstein story came out, so one can imagine there was a lot of conversation about it. You had a room of women, CEO’s, real decision-makers and people driving the agenda, and there was one panel where somebody from the audience asked the room how many women have been sexually harassed in their lives. I’d say, and I am eyeballing now, probably between 50% to two-thirds raised their hands.

It’s just amazing to think that we have come such a long way. These are women who are in the senior-most positions in their industry and look at what they have had to endure.

It was an interesting juxtaposition.

Do you have any major takeaways from this event you could share with our audience? Women are awesome! Exclamation point! When you really own your power, you own your individuality and with truth and passion, you can do anything.

I have met women that do all sorts of interesting things and so for me the biggest takeaway was just that there are so many great opportunities for us; we just have to own it. There are statistics about how women are less likely to put their hand up for things and advocate for themselves and then we’re also less likely to get opportunities, because we don’t necessarily feel entitled to them. It’s a combination of less opportunity plus the fact that we don’t advocate for ourselves, so being there made me realize that if you can really own your skill set, you can go anywhere.

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Do you see fashion and feeling powerful as being related in your life? I think fashion definitely plays a role but I would say it’s almost more of a role in your own individuality and your own sense of personality. In the end, I think that what gives you power is not the clothes, but the self-esteem. It’s what you have inside. I see clothes as an accessory, a selfesteem accessory. If you don’t feel good about yourself, then clothes are just something external that you may positively get rewarded for, but who cares if you don’t feel good about yourself. Nothing external will make you feel good; it has to come from within. Fashion is important, but the strength and the power come from inside you.

How about advice to young women when it comes to how they present themselves with fashion and beauty in mind?

I’m really all for individuality but at the same time there is an aspect of being appropriate. I’ll tell you a story: when I started out as a lawyer in a very conservative law firm, I remember wearing flowy dresses and things like that. For this reason I was once taken aside by the office manager who gave me feedback on my dress. She thought it was too pretty or too soft and that I should be wearing a suit. I was really aggravated. I was like “I don’t have to be wearing a uniform!” It frustrated me, but at the same time one has to also be aware of one’s surroundings, because how you present yourself is also how you’re looked upon by others. You have to be respectful of your environment while balancing that with your individuality.

What career advice would you give to a young woman who is just starting out? Be a sponge; learn as much as you can and take advantage of every opportunity. A lot of times what I’ve seen with young people is that they come in and don’t necessarily know how to be proactive or get the most out of their experience. Sometimes they just expect that the person that they report to or the leader will give them every opportunity and will drive their career. But in the end, you are responsible for your own career and nobody is going to make it work for you. Nobody is going to give you the opportunity.

Sometimes they do, but most times you have to make it work yourself. It’s a matter for me of being proactive and being positive; they are the two biggest skill sets that you can have.

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