Syracuse’s Own ‘It Girl.’
AN INTERVIEW WITH BELLE KORNBERG
Where dirty meets chic meets jewelry.
A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO SLOW FASHION
Trend alert, overconsumption is out!
BEHIND THE CAMERA
Capturing moments, creating memories.
It’s not just a trend, it’s a lifestyle.
EDITORS IN CHIEF
CREATIVE DIRECTORS
MANAGING COPY EDITOR
COPY EDITORS
DESIGN DIRECTORS
GRAPHIC DESIGN ASSTS.
Ellie Batten, Bella Tabak
Layla Harrison, Rhea Srivastava, Charlie Wenig
Rachel Musman
Jenny DeStefano, Jolie Zenna
Revati Mahurkar, Rhea Srivastava
Katie Binkowski, Nuria Cancio, Tess
Cosgrave, Sofia Floresca, Riley French, Abigail Galrao, Logan Keyes, Lilly Kleinhandler, Lilly Marsh, Romy Mindich
DIGITAL DIRECTOR
DIGITAL ASSISTANT
MANAGING DIGITAL EDITOR
ASST. DIGITAL EDITOR
SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTORS
EXTERNAL DIRECTORS
PR DIRECTORS
MERCHANDISE DIRECTOR
PHOTOGRAPHY DIRECTORS
LEAD STYLISTS
HAIR & MAKEUP
DIGITAL SECTION EDITORS
Leila Yang
Olivia Boyer
Katie Hill
Becca Carr
Hannah Abbott, Tal Ben Ari
Mia Rosenzweig, Charlie Wenig
Mia Gelb, Star Terry
Piper Tremblay
Fiona Hurless, Hazel Wagner
Ava Bandura, Britney Kirwan
Kelsey Aberbach, Ella Ray
Star Terry, Piper Tremblay
Waverly Brannigan, Ceci Brown, Eliza Cardillo, Lexi Flood, Katherine Jackson, Cassi Kennedy, Jenna Lopes, Margaret Matthews, Payton McGlory, Kacie Moschella, Emma Neenan, Hailey Roy, Madison Sherman
MODELS
SHOOT 1
SHOOT 2
SHOOT 3
STYLIST
Leila Lanier, Janis Mcpeak
Mae Christos, Caitlin Espiritu, Siobhain Hanna
Lexa Beriro, Layla Harrison, Ashley Tavarez, Brooke Waldack
Spencer Shaw (@ratgirl_vintage)
Dear Readers,
When I was a little girl, one of my favorite pastimes was flipping through fashion magazines. I loved the big, glossy pages, the pretty clothes, and the aesthetic photoshoots. I would spend hours on my bedroom floor cutting out my favorite pictures and making mood boards based on different themes I dreamed up. University Girl was the first student-run publication I heard of when I started at Syracuse University. I would comb through the digital site and stalk the Instagram
– I didn’t know much as a freshman, but I knew I had to be a part of the magic. Now, as the CoEditor-in-Chief of University Girl Magazine, I can confidently say that I have had the privilege of creating a little bit of that magic with the most talented, creative, and driven team.
The theme of this issue, Nostalgia, is particularly close to my heart. As I look graduation and real adulthood in the face, I’m terrified. I’m excited. I’m terrified that I’m excited about the unknown. I find myself longing for the comfort of my childhood, and yet here I am readily running towards this huge life change. That is what this edition is all about. It’s about looking back on a romanticized idea of the past and learning how to embrace the unknown. The three main sections of this issue show us how to do just that — through remembrance, resurgence, and resilience.
The first section, Remembrance, is about embracing our past in its entirety, cherishing the good and bad moments, and recognizing that every experience contributes to our individual narratives. In taking moments of introspection, and learning from mistakes and successes, we find that our past is not merely a collection of memories but the cornerstone of our identity. The second section, Resurgence, is about celebrating the present and living in the here and now. It’s about soaking in the small moments, living with intention, and
finding your personal style. The final section, Resilience, encourages us to embrace risk, take chances, and be resilient in the face of adversity. Every experience is a stepping stone on our path towards personal evolution and forging our destinies.
To my Co-Editor-in-Chief, Bella Tabak — this magazine would not have been possible without you. You are one of the most innovative, creative, and hardworking people I know. Thank you for doing this with me. Our amazing Creative Directors, Charlie Wenig, Rhea Srivastava, and Layla Harrison, helped us capture nostalgia in the most beautiful way. Our design directors, Rhea Srivastava and Revati Mahurkar, and design team made this magazine look absolutely amazing. We wouldn’t be holding it in our hands without them. Our photographers, Hazel Wagner and Fiona Hurless, are geniuses behind the camera, and our Stylists, Britney Kirwan and Ava Bandura, brought our visions to life in a way that was better than I ever could have imagined. To our PR Directors, Mia Gelb and Star Terry, and External Directors, Charlie Wenig and Mia Rosenzweig, thank you so much for all of your hard work. Lastly, thank you to our Copy Editors, Rachel Musman, Jolie Zenna, and Jenny DeStefano. The UGirl voice is alive and thriving in this magazine because of you.
Thank you to the rest of the executive board and to the entire staff of University Girl. Your ideas, creativity, and passion are nothing short of inspiring. It’s been my honor to spend this semester with you.
Love,
design: Revati Mahurkar
Dear Readers,
The feeling of nostalgia has always piqued my interest. I cherished the times my mom would dig up her old photos from her young adult years. Not only did I become obsessed with her late 80s and early 90s wardrobe, but I was also enamored by the stories captured within her pictures. She would point out her old boyfriends and we would laugh about how the relationships ended. Or she would show me all the amazing places that she traveled to, photos that captured her at the Eiffel Tower, or climbing a mountain in Italy.
I am currently living those years that my mom and I looked back on. So, when I feel nostalgic, it is usually from looking at photos from my childhood. I look back at a little girl dressed in colorful, ruffled dresses. She was obsessed with fashion, with her usual accessories ranging from skinny scarves to sequin-encrusted hats. While seeing the majority of my childhood captured visually is a perk of the digital age, I much prefer seeing what I wrote. I remember digging up my old diaries and laughing at what I felt was important enough to write down in elementary school. Or tearing up while flipping through the poems I poured my heart into in middle school.
Writing is an activity that I have always truly loved, but I never thought I could make a career out of it until I became involved in University Girl the summer before my freshmen year. Every time I tap on my keyboard, stringing words together about sustainable fashion, relationships, or pop culture, I think about the little version of myself. That little girl who excelled at writing in school. That little girl who dreamed of the fashion industry while admiring the outfits on her dolls. While she is not a little girl anymore, she is doing almost exactly what she envisioned.
While taking on the position of Co-editor-inchief as a sophomore seemed quite daunting at first, I had an incredibly smooth transition. My other brain cell- I mean- my Co-editor-inchief, Ellie Batten, was a large part of what made this experience so enjoyable. Her passion for this edition was obvious from the beginning and only grew as everything came together. I also want to say thank you to our amazing executive team who poured so much time and effort into this edition. Our creative directors Charlie Wenig and Lay Harrison helped bring our vision of ‘80s and ‘90s nostalgia to life. Photographers Hazel Wagner and Fiona Hurless took the most magical photos. Lead Stylists Ava Bandura and Britney Kirwan made sure our models looked like they just walked out of the ‘90s, and a special thanks to Spencer Shaw from Rat Girl Vintage for helping us achieve our ‘80s, punk, Vivienne Westwood-inspired fantasy. Our design directors Revati Mahurkar and Rhea Srivastava used their talents to pull our articles and photos together, and our copy editors Rachel Musman, Jenny DeStefano, and Jolie Zenna sprinkled the UGirl voice into every article.
When reading this edition, I want you to keep the past, present, and future in mind. How does the passing of time affect us? How
does it affect our relationships and friendships? How does it affect our fashion system? Read this edition from your grown-up, college perspective. Or read it from a smaller point of view, and let your inner child cherish the words on the page. Whatever mindset you choose, I hope you enjoy Nostalgia Edition as much as we do!
Design: Rhea Srivastava
Rhea Srivastava Design Director “Public Menace”
Revati Mahurkar Design Director “Miss Delusional”
Hazel Wagner Photography Director “Took These Photos”
Fiona Hurless Photography Director “The Paparazzi”
“Beauty & Brains”
Ellie Batten Editor in Chief “Future Wine Aunt” Bella Tabak Editor in Chief “Trendsetter” Lay Harrison Creative Director “The Blueprint” Charlie Wenig Creative Director “Prom Queen” Rachel Musman Managing Copy Editor Mia Rosenzweig External Director “Most Opinionated” Mia Gelb PR Director “Passenger Princess” Star Terry PR Director “Gossip Girl”
“Drama
“Directed
“Future
“Miss
“Definitely
“Life
Jenny DeStefano Copy Editor
Queen”
Jolie Zenna Copy Editor “Samantha of the Group”
Katie Hill Managing Digital Editor “Teacher’s Pet”
Becca Carr Asst. Digital Editor “Luxury Good”
Hannah Abbott Social Media Director
by Greta Gerwig”
Tal Ben Ari Social Media Director
Virgo”
Leila Yang Digital Director
of the Party”
Olivia Boyer Digital Assistant “Class Clown”
Britney Kirwan Lead Stylist
MILF”
Ava Bandura Lead Stylist
a Carrie“
1 Beauty Pie ‘Wondergloss Collagen Lip Oil’ ($32) | 2 Patrick Ta ‘Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder
| 3 Charlotte Tilbury ‘Lip Cheat Lip Liner in M.I. Kiss’ ($25) | 4 Camair Cases ‘@hannahlizzy airbrush phone case’ ($75) | 5 It Cosmetics
‘CC+ Cream Full-Coverage Foundation with SPF 50+’ ($47) |6 Jason Wu Beauty ‘Hot Fluff in Souffle’ ($12) | 7 Onitsuka Tiger ‘Mexico 66’ ($120) | 8 Poppi ‘Doc Pop 12 pack’ ($29.88) | 9 “Elvis and Me” by Priscilla Beaulieu Presley ($8.99) | 10 Glossier ‘You’ ($72)
Feeling “ageless” doesn’t have to come from anywhere other than yourself.
words: Fiona Hurless | design: Revati Mahurkar
Nostalgia and I have always had an interesting relationship. At its core, the word is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as “a sentimental longing or wistful affection for the past, typically for a period or place with happy personal associations”, but nostalgia isn’t a definition; it’s a feeling. Whether it’s an old TV show you ran downstairs in the mornings to watch, or the smell of your mother or grandmother’s perfume, nostalgia sucks us in and it’s the part about longing that’s always pulled at me the most.
Even now, looking through old family photographs when I’m home is one of my favorite activities, no matter how many times I’ve seen them before. It’s easy to look at moments and miss them, but something that has kept this specific nostalgia in a positive light for me is the reassurance that no matter how different you and your life look comparatively now, you’re still the same person as the child who may just have been the most authentic version of yourself.
There’s a lot of buzz around “healing” your inner child, but sometimes you don’t have to heal them —you just need to embrace them. At our core, we’re all children. You’ve always been, well, you
Connecting with your inner child doesn’t need to mean running through a sprinkler or drawing with chalk—though those are certainly ways to feel the carefree wonder we often miss. Sometimes, you just need to feed your inner child with the same passions from their time.
For myself, connecting with my inner child was something I did when I
found old pictures of myself with a camera in my hand, and realized the camera sitting on my desk signified a version of this interest that grew along with me. Recognizing that my interest in photography is something I had always subconsciously held onto bridged the age gap between myself as a child with disposable Kodaks and myself now as a senior in college with a hobby that never died out.
Learning to love your inner child is what truly showed me that nostalgia doesn’t need to be sad longing for something you’ll never get back. Nostalgia is present when you realize that getting ready at the pregame with your friends is just a big girl version of dress-up and decorating your new apartment is the same feeling as rearranging your bedroom as a little kid. Meeting up with your friends on campus when the weather is near perfect is just another version of summer playdates, and hot girl walks are a grown-up summer bike ride. The words you write when you journal are a more mature version of the stories in your childhood diary and choosing what to be for halloween may look different but still has the same excitement.
Looking back on the things that brought you joy as a child might seem oddly specific and out of reach at times, but so much of this nostalgia felt can be celebrated in modern ways with the people in your life now. You just have to really think about what it is you miss, and how you can pay homage to what you’re longing for by bringing in your present day interests. I promise allowing yourself to look beyond the past and embrace a sense of play in the present will serve as a form of therapy you can’t find from any licensed professional.
At the end of the day, you connect with the most pure version of yourself in whichever seems best fit. Just know that it is everyone’s first time doing life. You’re still that little human. Be kind to them.
Unpacking the beauty standards we have unintentionally inherited.
words: Britney Kirwan | design: Sofia Floresca
It’s important to remind ourselves that as we are growing up, so are our mothers. With that said, they are equally affected by toxic beauty standards just as much as we are. It made it easy for these standards to be put on us so young because they were being put on our mothers first. However, the blame is not on them. And because they spent most or all of their lives with certain beauty standards, our generation was bound to be brought into it.
I always think about the scene in Bring It On: All Or Nothing where Britney (Not me I swear!) threatens to kick a girl off the cheer team for gaining weight over the summer. They admit that nothing is wrong with her skills, they just don’t want someone “bigger” on the team for aesthetics. When we are introduced to the girl, Brianna, it is clear she looks completely fit and healthy. Most importantly, the shots of her show her smiling and having a fun time at cheer practice (which is really what should matter). It’s scenes like this that practically brainwashed us into thinking that we had to reach these toxic beauty standards or opportunities in life would be taken away from us. In this case, if Briana wasn’t able to get down to a size zero like the other girls, she’d be kicked off the cheer team.
For so long, beauty standards only catered to one group of people. It’s something our mothers had to deal with all their lives, which resulted in them being brought into our lives as well. With the rise of the supermodel “heroin chic” look in the 90s, fitness and diet culture went off the deep end. Every other commercial on TV was for some kind of diet supplement or fitness plan and there were aisles upon aisles of “low-calorie”/”low-fat” snacks. There were constant reminders that if you didn’t look like Kate Moss walking down the street, you weren’t good enough. And don’t even get me started if your hair wasn’t naturally thin and straight. Everything had to be thin thin thin. Thin eyebrows, thin hair, thin body; there was no embracing our unique features or showing off the things we were born with. Every day there seemed to be a new product creating a new insecurity for us.
It wasn’t until we got to high school that things started to shift. Everything we had been told growing up wasn’t true anymore, and we had to rewire our brains in a way. Do wide hips and curves look good on me? I can wear my hair naturally curly to school without feeling embarrassed. Low fat doesn’t mean it’s better for you. The answers are all yes. Our generation may not be perfect when it comes
to beauty standards, but I think it’s amazing how far we’ve come. That could be anything from diet and exercise, to beauty treatments, and even fashion choices. When you walk into Sephora now, there’s a plethora of shade ranges that would not have existed even ten years ago. Again, there is always room for improvement, however, it’s a pretty good start considering what we were born into.
With social media apps like TikTok and Instagram, we can see more and more kinds of women being represented. We’ve been able to grasp the concept of how differences are beautiful and learn about what matters, which goes beyond just looks. With trends like the “clean-girl” aesthetic, we have been seeing more emphasis on minimalism and natural beauty. Let’s not forget that it still is not perfect and some may not see it this way, but there is more of a consensus nowadays that things like body trends are just degrading if anything, and not even possible to try to participate in. Seeing and understanding what we grew up with has certainly given us a high level of awareness and hopefully by the time our kids are growing up, they won’t have to deal with even a quarter of what we and our mothers did.
words: Leila Yang | design: Lilly Marsh
I’m someone who is all about the mems.
Everyday, I will find myself on my photos app or Snapchat memories looking at past photos and reminiscing on those moments in my life. In a world that is filled with selfies and professional portraits, there’s a profound beauty in being the one behind the camera lens. For those who know me, you know that I capture absolutely everything on my phone camera. Why do I do this? imply because there is so much value in taking photos and the memories behind each picture.
You’re a silent storyteller as I would like to say. There’s just a special feeling to being the one capturing the memories rather than being the subject of the photograph. Being behind the camera allows me to find fulfillment in crafting these visual narratives that I just find so much satisfaction in. I truly love being the one who is able to capture these special moments regardless of the photo.
But it’s not just about the thrill of the moment – it’s about the lasting impact of those photos. Every picture tells a story. Whether it’s a candid
that were taken during it. Perusing old photos is like revisiting memories. You can practically feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, hear the laughter of loved ones, and relive those special moments all over again. It’s like having a secret superpower which is the ability to transport yourself back in time with just a glance at a photo.
If someone were to ask me what I couldn’t live without, I would say a camera. Despite my desire for attractive pictures of myself for my Instagram –duh– , I would rather be behind the
A forever keepsake of friendship.words: Ava Swidler | design: Katie Binkowski
Sometimes in life, you meet people who will change you forever. These people instantly make you feel appreciated, alive, and sound. Friendships like these are rare; one may go through their whole life never meeting somebody who genuinely makes them feel this way and reciprocates their friendship. So if you do find somebody who makes you feel this way and you want to ensure remembrance—make a time capsule.
At the beginning of freshman year, my best friend Margot and I decided to make a time capsule. Although we had only known each other for a year, we understood and could confide in one another. Make sure that before you make your time capsule, you plan on being friends for the duration of it being in the ground because that could be awkward. This time capsule would be filled with meaningful objects and letters to our future selves. We decided that once we made it, we would bury it in her backyard and dig it up on the morning of our high school graduation. Typically, in a time capsule, it is buried, but putting it away in an attic or basement has the same effect. We started the time capsule by writing letters, thi is something i HIGHLY recommend doing; we explained our current friend groups, boy obsessions, dream colleges, and other things our freshman selves thought were essential to include. After writing the letters, we put our polaroids in the capsule to see if we looked different. We then put some snacks and two shots of a mysterious concoction from her parent’s liquor cabinet. And the last thing we put in it were thongs to wear when we graduated. The best things to put in a time capsule are definitely meaningful things like what we did. After creating it, we securely closed it with all the duct tape, boxes, and bags we could find in the house. We then dug a massive hole in her backyard and placed it in carefully. Soon enough, our first-ever time capsule was finished.
Throughout the four years of high school, our friend groups did not last; the boys we liked changed, and the colleges we once wanted to attend were out of our reach, but one thing stayed the same: our friendship. As high school progressed and our friendship grew, we became like sisters. It was almost as if making that time capsule solidified our friendship forever and held us together through those coming-of-age years.
Over the course of senior year was when our friendship was truly solidified. We knew at the beginning of the year that we would open the time capsule, and our excitement and anticipation only grew closer and closer to graduation day.
The day came when we finally got to open our time capsule: graduation day (be prepared because we got insanely emotional). We got ready in our white dresses, wore matching flower hair pins, and finally went to her backyard to get to digging. After ten minutes, we hit the box and removed it from the dirt. Putting it away inside is definitely a smart idea, but digging it up was part of the fun! The letters were the best because we had forgotten the friends we once had, the boys we liked, or the colleges we once thought we could get into. While reading, we realized we were so glad that somehow, through all the drama, we stayed together. After reading, we ate the snacks we had put in, threw down the shots, put on the thongs, and were finally ready to graduate high school.
As I sit here reminiscing about the time capsule Margot and I had, my heart fills with warmth and gratitude. I feel so lucky to have met someone who makes me truly understand friendship. And it really all started when we made that time capsule.
The time capsule I made with Margot is a memory I will always cherish. It’s incredible how a simple activity like creating a time capsule had such a profound impact on our lives. It’s a testament to the fact that true friendship lasts forever and that feeling cannot be forgotten. So whether it’s to store precious memories or just for the fun of it—make a time capsule; our future self will be forever grateful.
I never understood the idea of manifestation. I want positive change in my life, god knows I could use it, but if I want change, why not just go for it? Why sit and hope for things instead of doing everything in your power to create your reality?
At times, my nostalgia for past moments in my life consumes me. I daydream of simpler times, times of excitement; those moments that leave a warm feeling in my chest. For a long time I just sat in these feelings. I went on with my days with my head in the clouds, letting the present disappoint me and not fully living in the moment. But, after gaining more life experiences – and years of therapy – I stopped letting my life pass me by, and it truly changed my life.
Now, this may sound crazy (and maybe it is), but when thinking about your past, try to take yourself “out of it.” Pretend you are a fly on the wall observing the situation. Notice all aspects of your memories; the sensory experiences, the traits of the people that you attract to – think of them as the little puzzle pieces that build up your reality.
Using your past to create your future.
words: Rachel Musman | design: Rhea Srivastava
Instead of thinking about something specific you miss, whether that be an ex-partner, era of your life or a friend you aren’t close with anymore, pick the aspects of those memories you want to apply to your present and even future. A simple example of this is the craving for summer during wintertime. Instead of wasting your days, think about what it is about summer that you miss. Was it the carefree mentality you had? The ability of flexible days? Whatever it is, create these things in your life. Set your scene! Sensory experiences are huge. Listen to your summer playlists, eat the foods you enjoyed; you decide what your life looks like.
This can even apply to your romantic life. Instead of reminiscing on a person you may miss – what about the relationship (or even “situationship”) was special for you? Separate the person from the relationship. View your past experiences as lessons that teach you more about what you want. A failed relationship is not a failure. It is something that you can take notes from. Lessons that bring you a step closer to building a relationship that is satisfying to you. If you are feeling like there is something missing in your relationship, think of what made you happy in the past and try to think of ways to bring that into your current relationship. This can look like increased dates, a change in the bedroom, a conversation about communication styles; whatever it is that will make you happy. My favorite quote says “I am a mosaic of everyone I have ever known, loved, and touched. I find fragments of them in my playlists, my speech, how I make my tea. We may not know each other anymore, but we will stay connected like this.” We grow from each person we meet. Use what you have learned about yourself in your past and allow it to seep into your present and future.
The next time you see “manifestation” something pop up on your TikTok feed, I urge you to scroll past it. Screw sitting around wishing for something. Take action, initiate conversation or even play your serenity song (if you didn’t get that Anyone But You reference… cmon) to set your scene. Create the version of life you want to live.
Belle Kornberg is a senior at Syracuse University, but her newly launched jewelry brand was inspired by her time abroad. Jewelry pieces in Florence, London, and the south of France made Belle realize there was an untapped market in America for unique, maximalist jewelry. Thus, thedirtychic was born.
I love your branding of the kind of dirty, kind of chic, are there any other examples of this that you can think of?
Dirty I feel like is waking up hungover one day, feeling terrible. Like going to the diner with your friends, putting [the necklace] on. Because honestly, like I said on the website, everyone’s dirty, and everyone’s chic, it’s true. Everyone has their messy moments, rather than hiding it, I think embrace it. Because that’s what it’s for. Obviously, I’ve had my disheveled days and I don’t feel my best but one way you can always feel better is by accessorizing, dressing up.
How has being a business owner changed your experience as a college student?
I think it’s helped me be more organized in school because I know I need to get the schoolwork done. But, I also need to work on my business, so I can’t procrastinate with work anymore. I need to get it done so I can focus on this and put all my energy into it. But I also think it made me a better student. I was worried about that too, like how is there going to be a balance? But it’s so rewarding.
Hearts and stars are pretty common throughout your designs, what made you return to those shapes?
When I was in Europe, I kept seeing all these things that they didn’t have in America. Then I started thinking about the bold statement necklaces they do have here and I felt like they were mostly circles and different shapes. I wanted to go into the stars and the hearts with the pendants because they are just unique and different. And I don’t know, I’ve always loved hearts. Growing up, whenever I signed my papers in school I would write a heart at the end of my name.
How long did it take to launch your brand?
I started in July, and we launched in January, so six months. I thought it was going to be like I start in July and launch this July. I was not expecting how fast it went. But, even though it does feel fast, it felt like a lifetime when going through it. I didn’t get my first samples of the product until November. So it was like July to November waiting to get my hands on a visible piece, and then from there I made corrections to things, and then got them made.
What inspired you to make a product that is so versatile?
I for one like to dress more casually, you will see me going to class in a sweat set every single day. But, instead of looking dirty and messy and disheveled, I feel like it is a way to build up the outfit and make it a little more exciting. A plain black sweat set can be built up through a fun piece of jewelry, but they’re also versatile to the point where if you’re wearing a blazer and a t-shirt you could wear it with that as well and it would look chic. So I wanted it to be like any
occasion, not just like, “Oh I like this necklace for this dress, I’m going to wear it! I’m going to wear it for this event!” It’s for any event, any day, anything.
So would you consider your consumer, anyone? Are your pieces easy to style because of this?
I feel like my target consumer is Gen Z. But, if a seven-year-old wants to buy a necklace, she should embrace it and wear it whenever she wants, you know? My social media is very targeted towards Gen Z with the things I post, and what I think they would like because I’m in my target audience. So I would know what I would like to see. Yeah, I would consider them easy to style because I wanted the first collection to be like colors that aren’t just for a specific season. So they’re very much like burgundy, blues, black, navy, all of that. They are very, not bland, but your more versatile colors that can not just be summer, like hot pink.
What does sustainability in the fashion and accessories industries mean to you?
Sustainability in the fashion and accessories industries means a lot to me and this is why I created pieces that were not “trendy,” I wanted to create something that could last years to come. I do not want my pieces to be something that is “cool” for a 2-month craze and then not be touched again for years to come because it is “out of style.” I look at my mom’s pieces from when she was my age and they’re still in great condition and tell their own story, which is exactly what I wanted.
words: Bella Tabak | design: Abigail Galrao | photos: Izzy Madover
Let’s face it, we can’t do it all in 4 months.
words: Ellie Batten | design: Rhea Srivastava
I’m writing this article at the tail-end of spring break — as every adult in my life has told me within the last week, it’s my last spring break before I “enter the real world.” If I had a dollar for every time I’ve heard that, I could probably retire from my real world job (that I don’t have) before I even start it. But I’m used to it. Any senior is used to it by now. In August, it’s “the last year before you enter the real world,” and in December it’s “the last holiday break before you enter the real world.” And it’s not just the well-meaning adults saying these things…we do too. The way I see it, it’s the last time we get to thrive in a familiar lifestyle before the unknown, the daunting real world, hits us like a bus. It’s scary and rightfully so. With that fear comes the feeling that we need to do everything before we graduate. What is everything? It’s going out, spending time with friends, planning weekend trips, and going to games… with the added pressure that this year is our last chance to do any of it. It kind of sucks.
Before my freshman year, my mom said something along the lines of “do it all.” Like all 19-year-olds, I only partly listened. What I mean is that I did things that made it look like I was doing it all to convince myself that I was living life to the fullest. And, as all COVID kids will understand, our first two semesters of college were weird. The social scene was extra hard to navigate. I felt like I was confined to my bubble of people, and I was only close-ish to three of them. It sounds cliché but during my first two years at Syracuse, I didn’t know who I was. I was searching for a version of myself that was more confident, more
outgoing, and had a close group of friends to do all the fun college things with.
I found that version of myself eventually, only now it seems that I found her too late. I have a tight-knit group of friends to do fun college things with, and I can’t help resenting the fact that I didn’t have them sooner. I feel like myself and I feel completely comfortable here. That’s been my great dilemma this year. I’ve been going out, planning day trips to Skaneateles and Ithaca, running a magazine, going to birthday dinners, and dutifully attending every bar crawl. Every time I embark on one of these activities, I think “f*ck it, it’s senior spring.” And, honestly, I’m tired.
I wish I could sit here and tell you that making the most out of college for all four years is easy. It’s not. No matter what I write, there will always be that pressure to “do it all” before it’s too late. What I can tell you is this. The good, bad, and mediocre parts of college make up the entire experience. If you put too much pressure on making one year perfect, it loses its value. During my first two years, when I felt like I was failing at “doing it all,” I took for granted the people and things around me. I’m still learning — I’m trying to enjoy what time I have left with my close friends instead of resenting the fact that I only had a short amount of time with them. I’m trying not to over-commit myself for the sake of senior spring. But most importantly, I’m just trying to enjoy my last spring break.
words: Katie Hill & Olivia Boyer design: Rhea Srivastava & Tess Cosgrave Either is acceptable, as long as you follow some of our cardinal rules.
TO MIX:
For those of us who can’t make up our minds, mixing metals is the perfect solution for accessorizing. It’s like having a buffet of style options–nothing is off the table, and I’m the girl who loves to mix and match (even if it confuses my friends). Mixing metals is the fashion trend that keeps us all on our toes. As a self-proclaimed lazy girl, I can’t be bothered to find a matching purse, but mixing metals instantly elevates my outfit, adding a unique twist to even a simple sweat set.
Personally, I wear my jewelry 24/7, changing it up every week or so. My rings, necklaces, earrings and bracelets match every outfit because they match nothing; it’s perfect. Brands are picking up on the trend as well, with Mejuri’s Reneé Rapp mixed metals campaign and Ganni collaborating to make a mixed metal clover launch. We should consider ourselves blessed to be alive in this era of jewelry.
The hottest celebrities have embraced the trend, with Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Hailey Bieber leading the charge. The style translates from the queen of the clean girls, Mrs. Hailey Bieber, to sexy colorful outfits with Dua. The style is for everyone, and with a huge influx of options, how could we not follow in their footsteps?
However, mixing metals is a science. Doing it wrong is possible, so taking precautionary steps is important before starting. The key is balance, ensuring the different tones don’t overwhelm or outshine the others. While it’s fine to have more of either silver or gold, you have to make sure they match. A good way to care for this issue is to use two-toned pieces, evening out your stack. Once you’re a pro, throwing in pearls or even colorful beads is in your future, so get ready to be the coolest girl anyone’s ever met.
Best of luck mixing your metals; just be sure you’re only using silver or gold. We respect you either way, but please leave your rose gold at home. It’s time to let it die.
If you ask me, every day is either a gold or silver day, certain clothing colors are clearly oriented to one metal over the other, and the hardware on belts, shoes, and purses does count. Sorry, not sorry. I have never been and will never be a metal mixer when it comes to fashion. Maybe it’s my constant need for perfection, but something about mixing metals makes my insides turn.
Don’t get me wrong, when I see other people pulling it off, I’m happy for them and I usually think it looks good–I totally have mixed metal rings and earring combos saved on my Pinterest. That being said, I’ve tried it on my own body before and I simply could not wait to change back. Seeing two different kinds of metal on my fingers gives me the biggest ick–it just clashes to me.
I would guess that I’m wearing silver jewelry 40 out of the 52 weeks in a year. So yeah, I’m a silver girl. Between me and you, the only reason I ever take out all 12 of my piercings and switch over to gold is because I have Converse with gold hardware and I have a few pieces of priceless gold jewelry. I have gold bangles and a gold pendant that were my great-grandmother’s, and a gold ring that I got for my 21st birthday. I also have countless gold earrings that I style flawlessly in earscapes — if I do say so myself — and I refuse to let them go to waste.
Maturing is realizing which metal — gold or silver — suits you best. But, if you still want to switch from silver to gold or vice versa every once in a while, let me give you some tips on which outfits call for gold and which outfits call for silver. For starters, black and navy can go either way, but brown is always gold. White can go either way, but lighter colors such as baby pink and baby blue sway silver. Grey should always be silver and red can go either way as long as you’re careful. Sometimes red paired with silver can scream “Christmas party,” and we don’t want that unless it’s December.
Whether you agree with me and would rather die than mix metals, or you mix them every day, I still love you. But just remember, there’s a right and wrong way to do both, and keeping our suggestions in mind can help you master whichever jewelry style you prefer.
Not just a trend, but a lifestyle.
Let’s face it, we all get a little bored playing it safe and sticking to the rules. We are constantly encouraged to cling onto what we know and put out what is expected of us, and for the past few months, fashion trends have done exactly that. The once popular minimalistic “clean girl,” “soft girl,” and coquette aesthetics have leaned into quiet luxury, emphasizing neutral tones, simplistic pieces and dainty accessories. In this era, less was more.
Yes, we can all admit that having some time to crawl back into our comfort zones and romanticize girlhood has been nice, but being a woman is so much more than that. The sweet, innocent little girl in you is ready for a hardcore makeover. Get ready to take risks, color outside the lines and simply not give a f*ck. The hot word on the street: maximalism is kicking its polar opposite minimalism to the curb, and with it comes a whole new line of strong, audacious women.
Maximalism exudes an unwavering pride that commands attention. It celebrates funky prints, luxurious statement coats, chunky jewelry, powerful stilettos, and the all around sophisticated “it-girl,” maneuvering through life as if they are the main character. Maximalism
allows us to dress-up in a mature and glamorous manner, not just by way of physical expression through style but rather by way of personal expression.
In today’s world, being a woman can mean a variety of things, but letting society design our fates is certainly not on the list. It is up to us to turn the tables, speak our truths, select our own futures and accept what womanhood throws at us. Through adopting the maximalist aesthetic, we can do just that while looking like we play the part.
Unlike any and all other fashion trends, there are no rules in maximalist dressing. There is not one defined way to dress. Instead, we can be adventurous in our fashion choices, defy creative limitations and have fun while doing so. In maximalist dressing, there is also no room to question ourselves. To accomplish the movement correctly, we must make it our own. We get to decide what feels natural and what looks best on us.
Maximalism comes and goes, similar to how our self-assurance comes and goes. We might have been the most confident we thought we could ever be, then go through a toxic relationship and start to struggle with our self-esteem. We
might have gone into an audition thinking we nailed it, then not receive a callback and start to doubt our capabilities. We might be in a room full of women, then look around and start to find ourselves insecure. I want to emphasize that although the trend brings out our daring, ambitious side it’s normal not to be fearless all the time. We all have our ups and downs, our highs and lows, our successes and failures. That’s life. We are practically bound to crack under the constant societal pressure, norms, and expectations we face on a daily basis, and let’s be real, we don’t always have it together. But, rest assured, when we get our rhythm back, we can utilize maximalism to translate our confidence into our style.
Of course, it can be intimidating going into the world and presenting the revamped you, especially if it is your first time experimenting with the trend, but trust me, you can pull it off. I will let you in on a little secret: the only way to pull off the maximalist style, and any trend for that matter, is with confidence. In fact, the only way to go about life is with confidence. So don’t take no for an answer, don’t second guess yourself and most importantly, don’t let anyone tell you you are less. Get out there, look fierce and be unapologetically you!
Outdated is up to date, and vintage is the vibe.
words: Chloe Rudnick | design: Rhea Srivastava & Romy Mindich
Designer brands are bringing back vintage pieces and everyone’s scrambling to get their hands on them. The aesthetic may or may not be for you, but we can assure you’ve encountered it. Whether stalking Deuxmoi’s Instagram posts, going to that concert you’ve been dying to attend and obsessing over the artist’s wardrobe, or contemplating the Prada bag your mom generously offered you years ago–a choice you dismissed as too outdated–vintage is back. Here is how you can find it, admire it, and take part in the trend.
Old clothes are the newest thing ever since the 2023 Met Gala. Themed Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty, this went down in history as the year with the most archival looks and started the trend that has taken over the world ever since: vintage. The most fascinating thing about the whole vintage epidemic is that it’s not that things stopped selling or went out of style, they were never not cool, they just slipped out of the public eye. Vintage pieces seem to be coming back whether that’s by designers reintroducing archival pieces on the runway or selling them in stores. You’ve seen it yourself – don’t pretend you didn’t want one of the Prada 2005 re-edition totes last summer, we know you did – especially the pastel rhinestone ones. But, it’s not just Prada…
From punk to pearls: Vivienne Westwood is still taking over the world. Let’s face it, Gen-Z made Vivienne Westwood cool again. After going viral on TikTok, her layered pearl necklaces
are likely what come to mind when you hear her name, but it’s not just her jewelry that’s making a comeback. You’ve seen it this year whether you realized it or not: Hidden in Adele’s music videos, Olivia Rodrigo’s tour wardrobe, Billie Eilish’s red carpet outfits, or the statement pieces in Taylor Swift’s night off outfits, Vivienne Westwood’s designs are recirculating and becoming the most searched for vintage pieces on the market. Her designs are one of the many prominent examples of vintage resurgence and another great example of designer items becoming not only affordable, but approachable.
But, it’s not about new trends, it’s trend revival. By reintroducing vintage pieces, brands can capitalize on nostalgia by reliving past eras, and so can you. It’s all about putting a modern twist on classic designs. One of the coolest ways of doing this, my personal favorite, is through limited editions. There’s no better feeling than feeling special, you can admit it, obviously you want to be different from everyone else, don’t we all? Everyone looks for that one thing in an outfit that sets them apart. Timeless investments are worth it as even years down the line, this item will still be just as trendy.Whether that’s a one of a kind limited edition seasonal color of a classic bag, limited editions will always be in. But maybe for you vintage isn’t designer, or something you go out and buy, it’s everywhere and the best place to find it is probably closer than you think, maybe even a few rooms away in your moms closet. Like we said, what’s old is new, give it a chance… it might be for you too!
words: Bella Tabak | design: Revati Mahurkar & Rhea Srivastava
1. Oh no, you are running late! What pants are you throwing on?
A. My patterned bell bottoms, of course!
2. Who is your style icon?
Anything high-waisted.
Low-rise, flared jeans go with anything.
MOSTLY A?
You are a ‘70s girl!
Jane Birkin Madonna Jennifer Aniston
3. You have to build an outfit around one pattern, which are you choosing?
A colorful paisley.
An abstract moment, with squiggly shapes, and bright colors.
Leopard print, nothing else.
4. Shoes are a girl’s best friend, which ones do you need?
Platform heels are my best friend!
5. What’s your go-to accessory?
A handbag decorated with fringe.
The only right answer is a classic pair of Chuck Taylors.
A denim jacket, to wear with my denim jeans!
A glittery pair of Jelly shoes!
MOSTLY B?
You are an ‘80s girl!
MOSTLY C?
You are an ‘90s girl!
A claw clip.
Trend alert, overconsumption is out!
Are you a “clean girl,” or are you a “mob wife?” You could be an “eclectic grandpa,” or a “coastal grandma.” Find a label, and fill your closet. Wait – a new aesthetic is trending now, throw all that other stuff out! Are you tired yet? Social media has undoubtedly influenced the speed of our fashion trend cycles. When aesthetics are cycling in and out of trend within weeks, trying to find your identity through fashion can easily make you prey to fast fashion companies. Then comes the endless loop of overconsumption: chasing a trending aesthetic, purchasing, wearing it until the next aesthetic trends, and throwing it out. You have to be tired of this by now, right?
Let’s face it, the excess speed of our current fashion system is exhausting. This problem inspired Heather Hurst, a fashion creator on TikTok, to create a metaphor to simplify slowing down fashion consumption. She described participating in trends as picking off of a sushi conveyor belt, only taking what you are hungry for, or what you like. I quickly became obsessed with this theory on trend consumption. It made perfect sense to only participate in trends that inspire you, instead of feeling pressured to commit to every trend. This is also the formula that created many of the aesthetics that social media pushes onto consumers. They are based on people who have spent years curating their identity within fashion, which is seen quite literally within the “eclectic grandpa” aesthetic. So, are you ready to curate your own identity within your closet?
Do you like crop tops and baggy jeans? Or maybe low-waisted skirts and turtlenecks. Are you more into neutrals or bright colors? Find which basics you gravitate towards and invest in some durable ones. You should be able to wear these for years! This is also known as keeping a capsule wardrobe. In my opinion, the
best way to find pieces that will last a lifetime is to shop vintage. My mid-rise, vintage Levi’s will never leave my closet. If you want to buy a new piece, do some quick research before purchasing. Try and find pieces that are produced with natural fibers, like cotton, and thoughtful design.
What trends are you seeing that you love? Save TikTok, Instagram, and Pinterest posts from fashion influencers and brands that truly inspire you. Don’t just pick up a fur coat because everyone else does it. If you couldn’t see yourself wearing it in a year, I would advise against the purchase. Instead, plan on finding those loafers because you could see yourself wearing them to a job interview, or to brunch with your friends.
This is the fun part! Add pieces to your closet that remind you of the inspiration you picked off the conveyor belt of online trends. There are many ways to test out new trends in your closet, but thrifting is my favorite. You can search for that big belt. You can find a once-in-a-lifetime vintage leather jacket. You can try out those square-toed, platform boots for under forty dollars. And if you end up feeling uninspired by the new piece, you can always donate it back. Experimentation is vital when finding your style, you may as well participate secondhand for less, or try out a clothing rental service!
It makes perfect sense that specific aesthetics cycling in superspeed within the fashion industry would make the average consumer feel the need to fit into a box. In my opinion, this is the exact reason why you should do the opposite. Trends will cycle so fast, you might as well create your own. At the end of the day, if you like it, it will never go out of style.
With just short of ten million TikTok likes, influencer and upcoming Syracuse graduate, Hannah Krohne is bringing new meaning to college style.
words: Charlie Wenig | design: Revati Mahurkar & Tess Cosgrave
Hannah Krohne, more notably known as Hannah Lizzy (or @hannahlizzy_ on TikTok), knows the rules of fashion and isn’t afraid to share them with her 150,000 followers. Rule number one, utilize your basics to create a capsule wardrobe. Rule number two, ditch your Urban Outfitters corset top. Syracuse University senior and Indiana native, Hannah has been able to build her personal style and brand over the past four years by staying consistent, appealing to an engaging audience, and taking on opportunities that help her grow.
CW: What made you realize that you wanted to prioritize creating a personal brand instead of following the trends that everyone else was doing?
HK: I didn’t want to go with what everybody else was already doing. In my own personal journey with my style, once I learned how to dress in a way that reflected who I am, I realized I didn’t have to constantly stress about or keep up with trends. That’s when I found the most confidence within myself. The whole point of my platform is to show people that you can feel confident through fashion and the way that you express yourself. It felt pretty organic to make content about how to build a wardrobe not based on trends.
CW: How did you discover which aspects of fashion made you feel best?
HK: Honestly, a lot of trial and error. I always struggled with wanting to be really overdressed, but it takes a lot of confidence to do that. Once I got rid of that insecurity, that’s when it all fell into place. I was able to start wearing what I actually wanted to wear. I also started taking
note of pieces that I would wear one time and then it would just sit in my closet. I focused on the pieces that I’m continually wearing and just using those as the basis of my style. That’s how it all came together for me. In the past, I was spending so much money on clothes that I would wear one time.
CW: Has there ever been a time where backlash or hate comments have affected you? How did you overcome it?
HK: There are always comments that will get to me. I will always click on the profiles that comment and I’ve noticed that the type of people who leave hate comments are hiding behind a private account with a generated username. It’s very obvious that they are commenting out of insecurity and I would never associate with people like that over TikTok or in real life. I just try to brush it off. I do delete them a lot of the time because it is my page that I get to curate and I don’t want that energy on it.
CW: What would you say to your sophomoreyear self who just started posting content?
HK: I would tell her to keep posting like your life depends on it. Act like it’s your job because one day it will be. But I think I’ve done a good job with that. Since my first post, I’ve posted three times a day, every day. So I would tell my sophomore-year self to just keep going.
CW: A lot of your content is college-centered. How do you see that shifting post-graduation?
HK: I’m really excited to start posting about corporate outfit inspiration. I know the postgrad wardrobe transition can be really hard but
I’m excited to start creating those videos and sharing my journey of how my style evolves. I think that my audience will still like what I’m doing, especially because I’ve talked about graduating before.
CW: What is your dream partnership or personal goal for your brand?
HK: I would love to have my own line on Revolve, that’s my ultimate dream. I would also love to be like Camilla Cohelo who has consistent collections on Revolve. I’ve also been working with Free People a little bit and I would love to keep working with them. I also want to partner with the Alo gym in New York City.
CW: What is your favorite thing in your closet at the moment?
HK: My Norma Kamali black mini dress. It’s a perfect black mini dress that cinches in the back to make it extra flattering. I feel like this is a good post-grad transition piece. It’s sexy and classy at the same time, which is always what I preach.
CW: What is one piece of fashion advice that you think everyone should take with them?
HK: Wear whatever makes you feel most confident. I would not have my platform if I was wearing what everybody else was wearing. In general, don’t neglect your basics, because that’s going to be the foundation of every single outfit. Once you secure a good collection of basics, that’s when your wardrobe is going to come together.
Redefining what it means to be a sister, adult, and friend.
word: Ali Rosenberg & Rachel Musman | design: Lilly Kleinhandler
In the sixth grade I spent half of my time watching Youtubers such as Bethany Mota and Alisha Marie. The other half of my time was spent filming and editing my own Youtube videos, ranging from a “D.I.Y. BB Cream Tutorial” to a “Valentine’s Day Makeup, Hair and Outfit” (despite the fact that the only Valentine I had at the time was the candy getting passed out at school). Although the term “influencers” was not widely-known at the time, that’s exactly what these girls were to me. They influenced me to do quite literally anything–even wear an owl pendant necklace (if you know, you know). I wanted to be just like them, so I tried to do just that and create my own videos. I may have only had around 300 subscribers, but I felt more empowered with each video I created, as they were the first snippets of me connecting with my girlhood.
As the years went by, getting busier and busier with the expectations of our fast-paced society, I stopped making these videos. But girlhood is absolutely IN for 2024, and its popularity dates back to avidly watching Alisha showcasing her life hacks, Amanda Steele teaching me how to do liquid eyeliner and of course Bethany Mota’s fall outfit guides. YouTubers like these have been a major player in the upbringing of girls in our generation, laying the foundation for major social media empires like Alix Earle.
Alix represents everything girly. She is the it girl. Watching her “Get Ready with Me” videos that started in her college bedroom and have grown into a global phenomenon has been nothing short of exciting. Experimenting with trending makeup products and looks has brought me back to my younger self wanting to have every
Bath and Body Works hand sanitizer. It sounds surface level, but the feelings run deeper. Millions of girls are bonding over TikTok and supporting each other–I mean just look at the comment sections on these videos. Even if this bond may have started over something as silly as Charlotte Tilbury contour wands, it has transcended into something much more meaningful. Girlhood is a shared experience, a memory – a process of growing up. However, it doesn’t just end when you become an adult. Girlhood is slowly revolutionizing the way society views getting older and is proving that you can always bring out your inner little girl.
This semester I have had the opportunity to create content for makeup brands – Jason Wu Beauty and KimChi Chic Beauty. When filming “GRWM” videos with the products I received, I have never felt more full circle in life. Getting to connect my passion for makeup with my professional interests has shown me how similar and how different I am from my sixth grade self. My videos have improved so much, yet the joy I have felt creating these videos is the same as it was in the past.
Whether it’s through filming your own videos like me, or just watching them on TikTok, think of your younger self. Think of how much you have grown, but how your sense of girlhood is a constant. Growing up and becoming older is scary, don’t get me wrong, but find comfort in the fact that you can
reconnect with your inner child; whether that brings you back to Bath and Body Works, or just the simple joys of being a kid.
Finding beauty in the present.
words: Hailey Roy | design: Rhea Srivastava
As I’m babysitting two 11-year-old girls, and they rant about their problems, which consist of their recess getting taken away for the rest of the year, I sit and desperately wish, as a 20-yearold girl, that was my biggest problem. They want to wear my makeup, try on my shoes, listen to my music, and look through my social media so they can somehow morph into a young woman for the day. Bring It On, Mean Girls, and Clueless (to name a few) were all movies that made me desperately want to grow up, so I understand where they’re coming from. The freedom, the parties, and the little outfits all seemed so glamorous despite the drama around friendships, boys, and the all-around problems of being a teenage girl. I wanted to hit the fast-forward button on life. Today, I wish I could go back to my youthful days when we played outside with wild imaginations, not scrolling inside for hours. As we’re living in a time of 10-year-old Sephora girlies, the emergence of young women rocking hair bows with every outfit, and the whole mantra of reconnecting with your inner child, it’s clear we all wish we could switch places.
Although it is abundantly clear that many of us struggle with wanting to be at an age that we’re not (or the privileges attached to a certain age), it blocks out the opportunity for self-growth. The first step of detaching from this toxic mindset of wanting to be something, in this case, an age that we’re not, is taking
this discomfort and facing it head-on. Accepting those uneasy feelings, which we all want to ignore, helps us in two ways. It enables us to recognize the beauty in our current age and life stages. It also helps create a sense of self-acceptance within us.
After acknowledging the craving to be in a different time frame, it’s important to emphasize living in the present moment. Where you are is where you’re meant to be. We have had milestones in the past–high school graduations, sweet 16s, getting your driver’s license– but they don’t come to a halt. Every age we step into comes with fresh new opportunities and opens up more paths. But this is your sign to press pause on constantly dwelling on your past and future. It’s natural to dream and stress about the future, especially being a college student. We worry about internships and stress about our careers and networking, but as much time that we spend on those endeavors should equally be spent embracing and appreciating our present. We should enjoy our current relationships with friends and family. Bask in the fun times that come with being a college student. Fate will take its course, and life will work out the way it should. After all, life isn’t about reaching your destination but rather going through and enjoying the journey it takes to get there. Cheers to living in the moment.
Sorry Cuse, my dream life is waiting for me.
words:
If you couldn’t already tell from the title, I’m excited to graduate college, not sad. I had rough roommate experiences, joined a sorority I hated and ended up disaffiliating from, and started during the time of mask mandates and tedious online classes, all of which have contributed to my feelings. Yet, the real reason I’m excited to leave this place is because I know exactly what I want to do when I get out.
My life has been revolving around fashion since birth. Ask my grandma for a funny story about me and she’ll tell you of the time I was holding up the whole family for dinner at Chili’s. She yelled up to me from downstairs telling me we needed to leave, to which I responded, “I’m accessorizing, Grandma Teresa!” Classic 2-year-old Katie.
Flash forward 15 years, and I’m lucky enough to participate in Seventeen ’s Summer Fashion Experience as a rising junior in high school. To put it lightly, this program changed my life. I spent two weeks in a hotel in New York City touring fashion brand headquarters, meeting with executives in the industry, and casually strolling down the halls of Hearst Tower. (If you don’t know what Hearst Tower is, we can’t be friends.) While this may no longer be the case, back in 2019, Seventeen ’s digital headquarters were in a separate building from Hearst Tower. Picture the office vibe from the movie The Intern : a warehouse with floorto-ceiling windows, open-concept desks spread out on the hardwood floors, and comfy couches placed sporadically around. In other words, my dream office.
A mere five minutes into the tour, I had full-body chills and my eyes were watering with pure joy. I knew without a doubt I would do anything it took to return to that feeling; I would do whatever it took to work in a place like that.
Flash forward once again and I’m a senior at Syracuse University. I am a candidate for the Fashion and Beauty Communications Milestone, the Managing Editor for the coolest magazine on campus (wink, wink), and I spent a semester in New York City interning in the fashion industry at Hermès. While I may not have a job yet, I realize now that I am closer than ever to the life and the job of my dreams. When I go to bed at night, lying below my framed Elle magazines, I don’t doze off thinking about the next frat party or college event. Instead, I imagine the bed I will lie in every night in my New York City apartment after a long, amazing day in Hearst Tower — or 1 World Trade Center or Brookfield Place — you get the point.
I’m beyond ready to graduate from Syracuse, not because of the negative experiences I’ve had here — although there have been a few — and not because I didn’t make amazing memories with my friends — because I have. But, I’m beyond ready to graduate because I know the life I’ve dreamed about for so many years is just mere months away. The life I’ve worked towards for years and will continue to work for until I make it a reality is right down the road and I simply can’t wait to turn the next corner.
The ultimate ‘90s cocktail.
words: Mia Rosenzwig | design: Lilly Kleinhandler
The espresso martini truly gained popularity in the 1990s but had a comeback in 2020. It’s the perfect caffeinated cocktail. According to Bradsell, a young Kate Moss sidled up to his bar to ask for a drink that would “wake me up and then f*ck me up.”
If you’re craving a drink and need an energy boost, look no further!
Ingredients:
Martini Glass
Cocktail Shaker
1.0 oz Ketel One Family Made Vodka
–
1.0 oz Mr. Black Coffee Liqueur
1.0 oz Espresso or Cold Brew
0.5 oz Simple Syrup (optional)
– 3 coffee beans
Steps:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a mixing glass.
2. Shake with ice and strain your mix into a martini glass.
3. Top everything off with 3 coffee beans.
4. Enjoy! I hope you love this drink as much as we do!
words: Ceci Brown | design: Logan Keyes
I was hanging out with this guy in my hometown when I was back for Thanksgiving break. Naturally, after going out for dinner, we went back to his place and started hooking up. When we finished having sex, he ran to the bathroom, leaving me naked in his bed. While I was waiting, I took some sexy photos and texted them to him while he was in the bathroom, letting him know I’m ready for round two. He came out ready to go but stopped mid-way, seeing that the door had been cracked slightly open. He asked if anyone had come in. Not even a second after telling him no, his dad barges in screaming, telling him he can’t have girls over in his room while he’s living under this roof. I am absolutely mortified and even worse, naked. I start looking around for my clothes and throwing my clothes on as quickly as I can so that this grown adult male doesn’t see my naked body. I look around the floor for my bra while his dad continues to scream at him. I awkwardly grab my bra — which is of course sitting at his dad’s feet — and throw it underneath my shirt. The guy grabs my hand, storms out of the house with me and drives me home in silence. When he drops me off, he tells me to just forget about this and continue dating him like everything’s fine. The next time I went over to his house –HIS BEDROOM DOOR WAS TAKEN OFF THE HINGES
When I was a junior, I started hooking up with this senior. One night, I went back to his room after a frat party. We walked back to his apartment and started having sex as we normally would. His roommate stormed into the room and started screaming at us, telling us to leave because he wanted to go to bed. These two grown men are bickering as I lay there butt-ass naked. The guy I was hooking up with got so angry he punched his roommate in the face. This turned into a full fistfight as I sat there naked in shock. I quickly threw on his t-shirt and ran out. The next day, both of them texted me a long apology. UGH MEN.
I was hooking up with a Newhouse kid and he told me I couldn’t give him hickeys because he was on TV. I started riding him and then he pushed me off and made me give him head. This happened twice in a row.
My situationship came over after a night out and, of course, we hooked up and decided to fall asleep. He then wakes me up at 4am and tells me he has to go to the bathroom. Half asleep, I told him okay and dozed back off. I woke back up to the sound of him peeing in the middle of my room ON THE FLOOR. I got up immediately and dragged him to the bathroom by his arm. He then proceeded to gaslight me into thinking I was the one that peed on the floor…then begged me to hook up with him again! We ended up going back to bed and in the morning, my friends came over for the morning debrief and laughed at me as I cleaned up his pee. Long story short, we stopped talking and I am forever scarred. Guess he was never potty trained.
Over winter break, my friends and I went out to the bar for one last time before going back to school. We get to the bar, and of course, I run into the guy I had the biggest crush on in high school. So we start talking, we drink, and the vibes are amazing. Then he leans over and whispers in my ear asking me to meet him in the bathroom. We start hooking up; one thing leads to another and we are having sex in the PUBLIC STALL. We finish having sex and I grab my friends and run out of the bar. We get in the Uber and I am giving my friends the full debrief. There I am, drunk in the back seat giving DETAILS, telling them how he bent me over against the bathroom door and how I hope I’m not pregnant because I am not on birth control. I look down to see that my mom has been on the phone for three minutes, listening to every single detail. I frantically pick up the phone and ask if she is still there. She doesn’t answer, so I hope for the best and hang up. I get home and she is in my room waiting for me. There I sit with her and she proceeds to ask me how my night was. I lied and told her it was just a girls night out. She begins to question me, asking me if I was with boys from my high school. Long story short, she heard every little detail and I am mortified. Thankfully, I flew back to Syracuse the next day and handled my Sunday scaries on a plane far away from that boy and my mother.
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