FRINGE- Spring 2011

FRINGE

Washington Square News PRESENTS

FROM THE EDITOR

DAVID LIN/WSN

Every issue of the Washington Square News is like a trial run for

missing from the equation, I’m certain the issue would have suffered. And

everyone on the editorial team. For those of us interested in pursuing a

with that in mind, I’d like to thank the wonderful team that made this issue

career in print journalism, it’s the perfect incubator for learning about the

possible. To our models, thank you for looking gorgeous and putting up

daily mechanisms that go into producing a print news source. FRINGE is

with a bunch of crazy people for an entire Saturday. To Katie, our deputy

similarly a fantastic practice arena for us young editors, stylists, writers

managing editor, thank you for invaluable insights and dealing with all

and photographers who aspire to enter the fast-paced world of fashion

of the logistics of putting a fashion issue together that no one else could

editorial. This issue certainly does not disappoint in that regard.

handle. To Francis, our creative director, thank you for making this issue look

Conceptualizing content, pulling together a styling team, requesting

beautiful and dealing with my delirium towards the end (and for providing

samples from P.R. agencies and sometimes being ignored by said P.R.

coffee and donuts at the shoot). To Allison, Emily, Jacobi and Jake, our

agencies: These are just a few of the essential tasks that go into producing

stylists, thank you for being so detail-oriented and creating such unique

FRINGE every semester. Hiccups were encountered, but expected. The

and original looks. To Michael and Michelle, our photographers, thank you

occasional scare that a $400 sample might be missing sent us into a

for making this issue look so fantastic with breath-taking photography and

tizzy. But, within a larger perspective, this issue of FRINGE has been an

exquisite lighting. To our writers, thank you for producing such well-written

overwhelming success.

and intriguing content. And to our managing editorial team, thank you for

Our shoot, which took place on a beautiful Saturday in April, was

giving me the opportunity to put this whole thing together. Special thanks

unquestionably one of the most productive (and fun) days I’ve had this

to the Cooper Square Hotel for providing the venue for our first spread,

year. We laughed, we joked and generally had a great time with each

and to anyone I may have forgotten on this long list. No offense intended.

other: models, photographer, stylists, editors. While I hate to perpetuate

I’m just a little tired.

stereotypes about the industry, I’m sure most Vogue shoots aren’t nearly as stress-free and enjoyable to produce. Everything that has made this issue so great — the high-quality photography, the beautiful clothes, the impeccable styling, the eloquent writing and the contagious positivity during production — was the result of some incredible teamwork. Had a single person been

(previous page)

On Heartleigh: Vivienne Tam (dress) On Aurora: Vivienne Tam (dress), Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz (necklace) On Katie: Vivienne Tam (dress) On Alley: Vivienne Tam (dress), American Apparel (scarf)

— Jake Flanagin, Fashion Editor

WORDS OF WISDOM FROM INDUSTRY INSIDERS ALEXANDRA WILKIS WILSON

founder and chief merchandising officer of Gilt Groupe

Q: What was the inspiration for developing Gilt Groupe?

A: The concept for Gilt Groupe was inspired by the excitement of the New York City sample sale and wanting to bring that excitement across the U.S.

Q: How do you explain the rapid success of Gilt Groupe compared to other companies or retailers that offer discounts on designer items?

A: We work very hard on getting the best brands and invest a lot of time and money in securing top photographers to ensure our members are going to be inspired.

Plus, we only stock ready-to-wear. For that we have a big team of merchants and buyers, and they’re very picky about what we feature on the site. We only accept a fraction of what is offered to us. We cherry-pick.

VIA GILT.COM

by Sarah Kamenetz and Jake Flanagin

Alexandra Wilkis Wilson is a founder and chief merchandising officer of Gilt Groupe, the company behind the massively successful online discount luxury retailer, Gilt.com. After graduating from Harvard College and Harvard Business School, Wilson spent three years in investment banking before managing large-scale retail operations at Bulgari and Louis Vuitton. WSN spoke to Wilson about Gilt.com’s success and the future of fashion retail.

EMILY WEISS

Q: What made Gilt Groupe recession-proof?

A: We started right before the recession hit, right before Lehman’s collapsed in 2008, so we were in the thick of it. But we built a very loyal fan base of shoppers, as well as brand partners. The loyalty only got stronger when the recession hit, because customers didn’t want to pay full price for anything anymore. Our brand partners became very loyal because we kept a lot of designers afloat when the department

stores were returning excess inventory they couldn’t sell. We stepped in and our brand partners aren’t going to forget that.

And as the economy heals, our prices are still preferable to full prices.

York, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami, Chicago and Tokyo. Gilt City sites for other cities are currently in development. The rest I can’t talk about, so stay tuned!

Q: What do you foresee for the future of online, high-end fashion retail?

Q: What are some of your favorite designer labels? Are there any other retailers, besides Gilt.com, that you frequent?

A: I think we’ve really paved the way for a lot of full-price and discount retailers in terms of the quality of our photography and how we approach our brand partners.

We really listen to our customers about where they’re spending their money and what they want. That affects how we run our site and other types of sites we launch. Jetsetter was established because our members travel a lot. We’re also launching a menswear site this summer.

But we try to stay true to our core.

Q: What do you foresee for the future of brickand-mortar retailers?

A: I think a lot of brick-and-mortar establishments are hopefully investing time and money into online platforms and e-commerce. It’s pretty obvious at this point that that’s the future. It may seem daunting, but it’s really important for all product categories to move into e-commerce even if they’re wary at first.

Q: What’s ahead for Gilt Groupe?

A: I love Chanel, Lanvin and Yves Saint-Laurent, but I have a deep respect for Zara and H&M. I think they’re smart business models.

Q: What, in your opinion, is the most important thing for aspiring entrepreneurs who are looking to break into fashion to keep in mind?

A: Take advantage of student networks and the NYU network of teachers and alumni. Spend time getting to know professors and classmates above and below your year, because you never know who’s going to be a useful contact. If you were to start a business, is there anyone you could start one with? Look for complementary skill sets: What are you good at? What are you not good at? Where can people help you out? If you want to start something online, meet some engineers, because they can help you with the math and computer skills that are required to develop one. I would also say don’t be afraid to fail. Sometimes, people learn the most from failures. Lastly, take time to figure out what you’re passionate about and pursue it.

A: In September we launched Gilt City, which provides discount to city-specific retailers and establishments in New

Sarah Kamenetz is a staff writer.

Jake Flanagin is fashion editor.

Email them at fashion@nyunews.com.

A: There have been so many people and experiences that have helped me achieve what I wanted to do in terms of work so far — my family and friends, of course, and my mentors. You also have to find strength within yourself to accomplish things. We can be really eager and ambitious and also our own worst critic. Learning how to act, how to react and generally good decision making are real arts and things I’m always trying to get better at. I’m naturally a very “why not?” and “sky’s the limit” type of person, so taking chances and forging ahead have definitely led to some positive developments and will hopefully continue to propel me forward. I’m a fullon Aries in that way.

Q: What advice do you have for other NYU students hoping to “make it” in the fashion industry?

Vogue fashion assistant and editor of IntoTheGloss.com

Q: How has your NYU education equipped you for a job in the fashion industry?

COURTESY OF EMILY WEISS

by Amanda Randone

She dashed across Washington Square Park to make it to class at the Steinhardt building on time.

She strutted the chic hallways of Teen Vogue’s New York City office. Now, fresh off the plane from Fashion Week in Paris, she’s ready to take on Manhattan once again. NYU graduate Emily Weiss has certainly established herself in the fashion industry. While you might recognize the 26-yearold as Lauren Conrad’s ambitious competition on “The Hills,” Weiss has since amplified her presence in the world of fashion. After a threeyear internship at Teen Vogue, the bold Bobcat went on to be a fashion assistant at W magazine.

In addition to her current job assisting Vogue editor Elissa Santisi, Weiss is taking on cyberspace with her edgy style blog, IntoTheGloss.com. Here is what she has to say about her speedy transition from NYU student to fierce fashionista.

A: I was a studio art major at Steinhardt and a communications minor. I’ve always been a super visual person, so studying art was a natural direction for me. I honestly think that there’s no better training for the fashion industry than hands-on experience, so, to be honest, I interned more than I went to school. I was typically at Teen Vogue for three days a week and crammed all of my classes into two days. To each his own, but that’s the formula that worked best for me and allowed me to have a great training while getting an education. My only advice would be to enjoy freshman year before jumping into an internship. Even the least “collegiate” student needs to experience a little full-on college. In fact, the best four months of my life were spent just studying abroad in Florence.

Q: If you had to identify one element that contributed most to your success, what would it be?

Q: Looking back on your success so far, is there anything you would change?

A: So far, there’s nothing I would change.

I truly feel that everything happens for a good reason. Each experience, good or bad, is important because it helps you decide what you want and don’t want. It points you in the right direction.

A: There are several pieces of advice I believe are really important for starting out. First of all, the fashion industry is tiny and sort of has “classes” just like school, like “Class of 2007.” That means a lot of the same people you intern with will be climbing the corporate ladder alongside you. It’s important to treat everyone well, be supportive and really forge good relationships with your peers and not just your higher-ups. More often than not, they will be the ones recommending you for jobs, telling you about openings or asking you to collaborate down the line. To that point, your reputation is your calling card and precedes you: Make an effort to be courteous, respectful and hard-working, even if you know your current role isn’t for you. It may not be forever, but impressions can be. And don’t put personal pictures or anything incriminating online!

Facebook was just heating up when I was at NYU, and now, it’s almost scary to me how easy it is to access information about someone online!

What’s that line from “The Social Network”? “The internet isn’t written in pencil, it’s written in ink.”

Amanda Randone is a staff writer.

Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.

the HIGH LIFE PHOTOGRAPHY BY

MICHAEL GEORGE

On Michael:

Brooklyn Industries (shirt), H&M (belt), H&M (trousers), Bass (brogues)

On Alley:

Richard Chai (dress), Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz (necklaces), stylist's own (gloves)

On Kellan:

American Apparel (shirt), Warby Parker (glasses)

On Aurora: Richard Chai (dress), stylist's own (gloves), BCBG (bracelet), stylist’s own (headpiece)

LIGHTING DESIGNER

MICHELLE WATT

ABOUT THE VENUE The Cooper Square Hotel graciously permitted us to use their beautiful, second-floor bar and patio as the backdrop for “The High Life.” Situated on the Bowery, on the east side of bustling Cooper Square, the hotel is a tranquil oasis of modern luxury in its vibrant setting. The tower itself is an ultra-modern glass monolith designed by Carlos Zapata, reaching a total of 21 stories. All interiors were designed by the celebrated Milanese decorator Antonio Citterio.

With 145 rooms, the Cooper Square Hotel boasts a sleek, modern aesthetic without forfeiting the warmth of world-class accommodations. The setting was the perfect environment for “The High Life,” and we’re nothing but grateful to the helpful staff. Look out for more information regarding the Cooper Square Hotel in our Graduation Issue this May.

ON Heartleigh:

American Apparel (scarf), claudia e. (shorts), model’s own (shoes), Warby Parker (glasses)

ON KATIE:

model’s own (scarf), Ray-Ban (sunglasses), H&M (shirt), H&M (floral romper), stylist’s own (shoes), stylist’s own (necklace)

ON MICHAEL:

L.L. Bean Signature (blazer), L.L. Bean Signature (shirt), Brooklyn Industries (chinos), Warby Parker (glasses)

On Kellan:

Brooklyn Industries (sweater), American Apparel (shirt), H&M (shorts), Seiko (watch)

BEAUT & VERSAT

by Emily McDermott and Sarah Kamenetz photography by DAVID LIN

CLASSIC

ELECTRIC

AUTIFUL SATILE In the world of cosmetics, no single look will suffice. As the seasons change, the makeup you choose should reflect the atmosphere of the occasion. With that in mind, we've compiled four distinct looks modeled by the beautiful Jacqueline that will prove useful for any number of events.

LUMINESCENT

FRESH

MODISH BEATS

1

by Jordin Rocchi 1. JUSTIN TOWNES EARLE— “Harlem River Blues” 2. Best Coast— “Crazy for You” 3. Ellie Goulding— “Lights” 4. The Naked and Famous— “Passive Me, Aggressive You” 5. Tallest Man on Earth— “Sometimes the Blues is Just a Passing Bird” 6. The Dum Dum Girls— “He Gets Me High” 7. Jenny and Johnny— “I’m Having Fun Now” 8. Raphael Saadiq— “Stone Rollin'”

5

These eight artists aren’t just some of the hottest musicians on the scene – they are also the epitome of style.

2

6

3

7

4

8

day tripper PHOTOGRAPHY BY

MICHAEL GEORGE

ON Alley:

Alice + Olivia (blazer), American Apparel (bow), H&M (T-shirt), American Apparel (tights), American Apparel (socks), Bass (saddle shoes)

ON Aurora:

Peter Som (blouse), American Apparel (petticoats), Bass (pumps)

On Michael:

stylist's own (sunglasses), L.L. Bean Signature (shirt), H&M (belt), Brooklyn Industries (shorts), American Apparel (socks), Bass (brogues)

On Kellan:

St. James (shirt)

On Heartleigh:

Warby Parker (glasses), H&M (top), claudia e. (shorts)

ON Aurora:

Peter Som (blouse), American Apparel (petticoat), Ben-Amun by Isaac Manevitz (earrings)

On Michael:

L.L. Bean Signature (shirt), H&M (belt), Brooklyn Industries (shorts), Barbour (jacket)

by Carrie Courogen

FRUGAL FASHIONISTA: DEALS ON THE DOWN LOW

College students are typically on a tight budget, but for NYU students, sticking to it can be more difficult. Living in the city subjects us not only to a higher cost of living than our peers tucked away in college towns, but to more expensive clothing as well. New York shopping is both a fashionista’s blessing and curse: good for her style, but bad for her wallet. But if you work hard enough, you can employ some little-known tips and tricks to look great without busting your budget.

Join store mailing lists When the cashier asks you for your email address, your first instinct probably is to say “no thanks.” With all the listservs you’re already attached to, you don’t need any more spam filling up your inbox. But if you’re a loyal customer to the store, you may want to think again. Store-sent emails often give their recipients insider deals — this means coupons, discounts and first dibs on sale items. Go for it — they’re more of a help than a nuisance in the end.

Ask stores if they offer student discounts Your NYU ID picture may be a tad embarrassing, but if you flash it at a J. Crew register, it will save you 15 percent off your final purchase. Simi-

lar perks can be found at stores like

ten very close to the adult extra-small

Madewell, Rugby by Ralph Lauren and

or small equivalent. A girls’ North Face

Topshop. If you’ve purchased a $20

Denali jacket is just $99, while the

Student Advantage card to get money

adult counterpart runs at $165. Same

off travel expenses, did you know it

goes for footwear — if you’re plan-

comes with retail perks, too? Although

ning on investing in a pair of Hunter

only available online, cardholders

rain boots to deal with April showers,

are offered discounts at Bluefly.com,

try on children’s sizes. A youth size 5

Macy’s and Target. But be sure to ask

or 6 will fit up to a woman’s size 7,

around — many stores don’t openly

and they’re $50 cheaper. While kids’

advertise their student discounts.

clothes can be great steals, don’t forget to try everything on first.

Give consignment shops a chance Why pay $80 for a brand new La-

Check out discount department stores

coste polo when you can buy it gen-

Tourists load up with bags from Cen-

tly used — or even better, new with

tury 21 all the time, and they flock to

tags — at a consignment boutique for

the mega discount department store

a quarter of the price? If you’re will-

for good reason. Stores like Century

ing to wear someone else’s clothes for

21, TJ Maxx and Marshall’s may stock

that vintage vibe, why not apply it to

some things that are slightly last-sea-

contemporary wear? New York is filled

son, but if you’re looking for name-

with shops like Buffalo Exchange that

brand basics, look no further. Amaz-

can be great resources for basics and

ing deals can be found if you search

accessories. Keep in mind that em-

hard enough. Michael Kors heels for

ployees hand pick every item they buy,

just $45? What more could a fashioni-

so what you’re getting is quality — be it

sta ask for?

brand new or very gently worn.

Carrie Courogen is a staff writer.

Browse the children’s department Smaller girls would be surprised at how much money they can save if they skip the petites section and head over to kids. Comparing measurements on sizing charts will show that large and extra-large youth-sized items are of-

Email her at fashion@nyunews.com.

the

mod

dels

ALLEY LIANG

AURORA BELL

HEARTLEIGH LITTLE

KATIE SUMMERFIELD

KELLAN PEAVY

MICHAEL MENDIETA

Washington Square News PRESENTS

FRINGE SPRING 2011

Editor-in-Chief JAYWON ERIC CHOE Managing Editor | Print

KELSEY DESIDERIO

Managing Editor | Online

ARIELLE MiLKMAN

Deputy Managing Editor

KATIE THOMPSON Assistant Managing Editor

RUSSELL STEINBERG Creative Director

FRANCIS POON Fashion Editor

JAKE FLANAGIN MODELS

AURORA BELL JACQUELINE GONZALEZ ALLEY LIANG HEARTLEIGH LITTLE MICHAEL MENDIETA KELLAN PEAVY KATIE SUMMERFIELD

STYLISTS

ALLISON BECKER JACOBI HOLLINGSHED EMILY MCDERMOTT JAKE SAMMIS

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL GEORGE MICHELLE WATT DAVID LIN DO HOON BAE

advertising business manager

REBECCA RIBEIRO sales manager

Stefanie Yotka circulation manager

MEagan Driver

Advertising coordinator

Emily Chen

university sales coordinator

Emilia Mironovici sales representatives

Sophia Aizin Kaitlyn O’Brien Melissa Ynegas

advising director of operations

david cosgrove editorial adviser

keith leighty EDITORS-AT-LARGE

RANDY KREIDER MATT MARGINI RICHA NAIK SARAH NGUYEN ERIC GREGORY PLATT web consultant

MICHAEL STRICKLAND About WSN: Washington Square News (ISSN 15499389) is the student newspaper of New York University.

WSN is published Monday through Thursday during NYU’s academic year, except for university holidays, vacations and exam periods.

Corrections: WSN is committed to accurate reporting. When we make errors, we do our best to correct them as quickly as possible.

If you believe we have erred, contact managing editor Kelsey Desiderio at managing@nyunews.com or at 212.998.4302.

nyunews.com

the

outtakes