Never Too Old to Play With Dolls
Never Too Old to Play With Dolls After a brief childhood of being taught to scorn the concept of girlishness, we as a generation are finally ready to embrace and love the color pink. This theme of the childlike innocence of the doll has been highly present in this spring’s couture shows- predominantly with Maison Margiela’s Parisian nod to porcelain dolls and Marc Jacob’s 1960’s paper doll inspiration. The concept of the “doll” not only celebrates all things in cotton candy shades and frilly silhouettes, but speaks to the idea of self autonomy, consciousness, and reclamation of innocence. “With the Barbie movie there’s been a narrative flip where women are coming together to embrace their femininity in their own ways and not caring what society has to say. That’s mainly what I was inspired by when I was concepting this photoshoot in the winter and seeing that [luxury] designers had the same inspiration is very telling of how impactful this almost “movement” was,” said our Creative Director Carolina Gomez. Posing the models at stiff angles with gleaming white smiles, we hoped to convey both the fakeness and the joy of the doll. This shoot illustrated the journey towards the healing of the inner child; learning again to have fun and to remember that, as said by Gomez, “fashion is art.” In lavender silk, knee socks, and Mary Janes, we incidentally pay homage to the couturiers who speak to a larger crowd- reverberating their imaginings of what a human doll may look like. Odd proportions? Chic stilettos? Perfect glass-like skin? Inhuman. Just like the expectation of the little girls who play with dolls and suddenly grow into women. While progress in this front is undeniable, America Ferrara echoes this notion in “Barbie” by saying, “it is literally impossible to be a woman.” But with small things like dressing up how our 8-year-old self would and experimenting with color and pattern, we can reteach ourselves that when it comes to fashion, it can be joyous.
Wardrobe Wednesday: Dyanna’s Designer Dream
Wardrobe Wednesday: Dyanna’s Designer Dream Dyanna Gamarro, the fashion it-girl of Richmond, has a to-die-for collection of kitten heels, blazers, and trendy accessories. This fashion merchandising senior describes her style as young, chic and feminine with a plentiful closet to prove it. The fun color palette in her garments keeps her style playful as she combines them with vintage household names. Drawing inspiration from the one and only Carrie Bradshaw, Gamarro’s shoe collection ranges from thrifted Manolos to almost-brand new Ralph Lauren boots. Gamarro thrives in second hand shops, both in person and online. While some may say a diamond is a girl’s best friend, Gamarro’s go to confidant is second hand designer sites, like the RealReal. Gamarro loves to spend her free time browsing one of a kind pieces and adding them to her wishlist. She’s also a professional thrifter. One of her most unique finds thus far has been two Mugler powersuits from a local Goodwill. One of her favorite 80’s pieces, however, doesn’t come from her hard work in searching, instead a hand-me-down plaid skirt from her mother’s 80s archive. While it may take her awhile to put an outfit together, Dyanna never forgets her accessories and a pair of heels. She can always be seen wearing a statement purse, and sometimes even heard, walking in a pair of her hottest high heels. As she struts down memory lane reminiscing on some of her fashion regrets, Gamarro looks onward to achieving her dream of purchasing her very own Birkin.
Bag Galore!
Bag Galore! From the dawn of time, bags have been used to carry the most vital necessities from coins to phones to the latest Fenty lip gloss. As pockets shrink and expand through trend cycles, bags adapt to carry varying accessories. While bags were originally made for practically, they have turned into an individualistic fashion choice that makes one stand out from others. Over the last couple of years, purse sizes have touched all ends of the spectrum from Louis Vuitton’s micro purses to the extra large slouchy totes made popular by Bottega Veneta and Cult Gaia. Wearability, material, color schemes, patterns, and style are all crucial traits of a bag which could make or break your outfit. Bags, of all sorts, add dimension and texture to a once plain outfit. Although bags are seemingly the smallest aspect to an outfit, they can leave a lasting impression. Not only has interest in thrifted clothing gained popularity, so has the desire for vintage bags. As trends revitalize every few years, thrifting has become the most economical and environmentally-friendly way to source these prized possessions. Lived in, good quality bags have charm you just can’t buy new. There is something special about owning a bag that has lived multiple lives, helping so many people before you carry all their favorite things. Finding one-of-a-kind pieces has translated into creating these bags from scratch. An overall increased demand of crochet and knitted bags has hit the market after the hobby was taken up by many in a time of isolation. Brands, like Lucky Loves, have revolutionized tote bags by creating bow straps, making it an online must-have. Adding charms, ribbons, bows and pins to elevate bags have been a recent trend, heavily inspired by icon Jane Birkin. Clothing is art and accessories are the paint; we are meant to make things our own. While bags don’t define an individual, they can be a bold form of self expression.
Wardrobe Wednesday: Meghna’s Spin On Sleek Style
Wardrobe Wednesday: Meghna’s Spin On Sleek Style Virginia Commonwealth University alum, Meghna Vemuri, proudly shared her meticulously crafted collection of clothes, shoes and accessories. Describing her style as playful, eclectic and sleek, Vemuri checks all the boxes as someone inspired by Bella Hadid and the Y2K Bollywood scene. Mixing textures, styles, and patterns are the key elements to perfecting her day to day look. Every piece hanging in her closet is purposeful, and every shoe displayed holds great value; at least, I think being pretty to look at is valuable enough. Meghna’s closet is full of fun, glitzy pieces, which fit perfectly with her daily basics, and her most cherished jewelry. Encapsulating delicate, feminine energy in her style is something that comes naturally to Meghna. Playing with flirty fabrics and hues of pink is a treasured pass time. With her highly worn black knee high boots, she easily can diversify and add a tone of grunge to any girly outfit. Having an overpopulated closet is not something easily done on your own; it often takes a village, or friends who also have too many clothes. Meghna often shops from her friends’ stockpiles, and finds herself scoring in clothing swaps and student closet sales. Meghna’s wardrobe is full of life and versatility. She has love and admiration for each piece occupying her space, and understands the value of beloved items, such as her leather jacket from middle school. She exudes vibrant cool-girl energy; a modern Carrie Bradshaw if you will, and she does it effortlessly.
Wardrobe Wednesday: Sadie’s Spectacular Style
Wardrobe Wednesday: Sadie’s Spectacular Style Fashion merchandising alum, Sadie Kinzer, took us on a journey through her style evolution in the way of vintage hats, thrifted boots, and classic turtlenecks. From growing up in Kenya to playing dress up with her American girl dolls, Kinzer reminisces on her first memories in the fashion world and how they got her to where she is today. Kinzer has always had a love for unique and antique pieces. She attributes her entry into fashion to her mom’s shared vintage dress collection, as well as her hometown thrift trips. From a young age, Kinzer has had an eye for timeless pieces and the reinvention of older silhouettes. Kinzer describes her style as classic, tailored, and Woodstock-inspired. She exemplifies this by her combination of simple pieces matched with funky, vintage accessories. Kinzer looks to her favorite coming-of-age show, Gilmore Girls, and 90s fashion as her inspiration as she starts her life after college. And what better place to find these special pieces than at thrift stores! Kinzer loves a good thrift haul, especially when she’s back home in Connecticut. She loves venturing through preloved clothes and reimagining their potential in her own wardrobe. Her favorite find thus far has been her Miss Sixty coat that is typically paired with her favorite pair of tall boots. She finishes off almost every outfit with her favorite gold accessories, making the outfit her very own.
Winter in the City
Winter in the City As the air gets colder and the days get shorter, the Carrie Bradshaws of the world wonder: is it time to pull out the fur coat and leather gloves yet? And the answer is always yes! With winter arriving in full force this year, it can be difficult to come up and keep up with varying trendy pieces. This winter, sprucing up winter basics with layers and warm accessories is the way to go. While earmuffs, gloves and scarves are essentials, they can be a practical way to add some dimension to an outfit. Combining patterns and bold colors within these accessories can almost convert an everyday outfit into something that stands out. Fur coats have always been part of a classic winter wardrobe. This year, fur coats have been heavily emphasized in the fashion industry. While nude and black are staple colors for these jackets, leopard print fur coats have been peaking this season as the print becomes a “neutral” for some. Cheetah and leopard prints can be seen in almost all accessories from coats to boots to scarves. This specific print, in addition to a red pop of color, has been a match made in heaven this season. As for shoes, trends have transitioned from fall to winter quite smoothly. Taller boots with a chunky heel can be part of an everyday cozy look. Slingback kitten heels can be warmed up with tights for elegant nights or with leg warmers for a more casual look. This season don’t be afraid to invest in warm winter basics as they can always be used for the next season. Remember the world of pattern and texture mixing isn’t as scary as one may think! You can always start small with accessories and work your way up. The winter season is all about experimenting with clothes as layers are crucial to keep warm. Start off the new year right by having fun playing around in your wardrobe as you never know what outfits you can create!
Wardrobe Wednesday: Caera’s Crochet Craze
Wardrobe Wednesday: Caera’s Crochet Craze Fashion Merchandising senior, Caera Harrison, gives a whole new meaning to maximalism in this digital age of fashion. Inspired by the looks of musician Rina Sawayama and Instagram influencer @saracamposarcone, Harrison uses fashion as a form of self expression as she combines layered pieces and funky accessories. Harrison is all about giving second-hand clothing a new life. Like many in this generation, Harrison counts on thrift stores and second-hand online shopping platforms, like Depop, for her everyday wear. Whether she’s on the hunt for a certain item or just browsing, Harrison will make anything work to her benefit. She thrives in pattern mixing and using varying textures to add dimension to a regular outfit. She loves a solid statement piece to complete an outfit as she emphasizes her love of jewelry and one-of-a-kind pieces. And when she can’t find specific pieces at a local Goodwill, she isn’t afraid to make it herself! Her collection of crochet and knits capture the essence of self expression in her daily life. Harrison has spent hours not only crocheting accessories for herself and her loved ones, but also the environment. In a previous semester, Harrison and others in the fashion department started a yarn-bombing project, making Virginia Commonwealth University more colorful and vibrant. Harrison, with the help of other students, used her unique taste in fashion to make the community a little brighter. Now, how does one replicate this funky and colorful style? Harrison’s style, or as some have deemed “CaeraCore,” is just about exploring pieces to their full potential and getting creative with how one wears a certain piece. Harrison just loves to play around with cl0thing and accessories. As for her current favorites, she loves a pop of color and pattern, especially green and pink.