VCstyleU: Erica Thompson ft. 7:77SALU
Story by Jacynth Serrano Rodriguez Photos by Solomon Bullet and Wanyeh Digital Illustration by Ammor Dennis Bullet BulletTell me who you are? ET: Creative that’s creating. ET: Creative that’s creating. Talent that’s trying in trials and a Talent that’s trying in trials and a masterpiece made from mistakes. masterpiece made from mistakes. What year are you and what are you studying? ET: 2019 and I’m studying Business Administration! And I just chose it to get through school honestly, not really a deep thought into it. ET: 2019 and I’m studying Business Administration! And I just chose it to get through school honestly, not really a deep thought into it. Can you tell me a little more about your brand, as it just launched? Or is it in the process of launching? How exhilarating has the experience been so far? ET: My brand has been out since the summer. ET: My brand has been out since the summer. I do releasing in increments, meaning I have my Spring/Summer releases, Fall/Winter and then back to Spring/Summer again. It’s been a stressful experience honestly. Makes me anxious lol! I do releasing in increments, meaning I have my Spring/Summer releases, Fall/Winter and then back to Spring/Summer again. It’s been a stressful experience honestly. Makes me anxious lol! Bullet Bullet What drives you to create? ET:I can’t say really, it’s just in my blood, in my purpose, my destiny. It was written in stone of what I’m supposed to be and do in this world, and I’m doing it or at least attempting ET:I can’t say really, it’s just in my blood, in my purpose, my destiny. It was written in stone of what I’m supposed to be and do in this world, and I’m doing it or at least attempting it. Are there any specific designers you really admire? ET: I really admire the designer Briana Shaneè. Her @ name on Twitter is: @eenahsanairb & she is the owner of THE MATTE BRAND. From my knowledge, she started off as an online boutique owner and look at her now. Everyone knows her name. ET: I really admire the designer Briana Shaneè. Her @ name on Twitter is: @eenahsanairb & she is the owner of THE MATTE BRAND. From my knowledge, she started off as an online boutique owner and look at her now. Everyone knows her name. Tell me where and when readers can get their hands on your pieces? ET: more info here ET: 777salubrand.bigcartel.com 777salubrand.bigcartel.com is where people can buy everything. is where people can buy everything. My site, My site, icyoue.com icyoue.com is mostly going to be pictures of my models, updates/announcements on upcoming releases, interviews and DIYs! is mostly going to be pictures of my models, updates/announcements on upcoming releases, interviews and DIYs! I loved your shoot featuring some stunning VCU ladies, Is that suede or a suede like material that you chose? Can you tell me more about what goes into your selection process? ET: Thank you love, and it’s ultra suede. Very durable, very stretchy. Made to fit any body shape. With the selection process, I go into a fabric store, see fabric, buy it on a whim, and then go home and make an outfit! ET: Thank you love, and it’s ultra suede. Very durable, very stretchy. Made to fit any body shape. With the selection process, I go into a fabric store, see fabric, buy it on a whim, and then go home and make an outfit! Wanyeh Wanyeh What do you plan to do post-graduation? ET: Honestly, the plan is to pursue my purpose. Have faith in this fashion stuff. Take it to L.A. Take it to New York, get my name out there. And if all else fails… the Marines. ET: Honestly, the plan is to pursue my purpose. Have faith in this fashion stuff. Take it to L.A. Take it to New York, get my name out there. And if all else fails… the Marines. Do you have an ideal client in mind? ET: I target more towards 16-30 year olds. ET: I target more towards 16-30 year olds. What can you share about your creative and design process? ET: Honestly all there is to share is that it’s a lot of hard work. I can’t be lazy, I can’t be disorganized, and can’t fall short on anything. I have to stay on top of everything, always! There’s no slacking! ET: Honestly all there is to share is that it’s a lot of hard work. I can’t be lazy, I can’t be disorganized, and can’t fall short on anything. I have to stay on top of everything, always! There’s no slacking! How would you categorize the style of 7:77SALU? I can’t because it’s a category, trend, style, and brand all in its own 😉 If you could get any celebrity in one of your fits, who would you choose and which piece would they wear? ET:Once I start doing men, I would LOVE to see Big Sean & Kid Cudi in my stuff. Women wise: Zendaya, Kendall Jenner. ET:Once I start doing men, I would LOVE to see Big Sean & Kid Cudi in my stuff. Women wise: Zendaya, Kendall Jenner. Biggest supporter? ET:My brother Dominique. Everytime I come up with an idea, or I’m having difficulties I text him immediately. He knows everyday he’s going to get a text from me, lol. Whenever I get discouraged, he’s there. He even said that I inspire him…. and for him being 26, and me being 19 + 1 (I never say “20” lol), it’s an honor. Also my friend Morgan that goes to GMU. She was the first person to interview me, the biggest supporter besides my brother, that has been there since day 1. Definitely when I’m famous, they’ll be sitting courtside with me at the basketball games, like other celebs! Haha ET:My brother Dominique. Everytime I come up with an idea, or I’m having difficulties I text him immediately. He knows everyday he’s going to get a text from me, lol. Whenever I get
Lonely Pine Gives Mother Nature a Sense of Style
Story by Briana Thornton Story by Briana Thornton Story by Briana Thornton try this web-site Melody Milleker leads a busy life. By day, she teaches 8th grade art students at a middle school in Prince George County, a job she describes as “exhausting but awesome.” And by night, she creates beautiful jewelry that repurposes nature’s rejects, perfect for those whose personal style lean towards the “non-traditional” end of the spectrum. When Melody first started out, she would collect fallen leaves, evergreens, bugs and flower petals on walks with her dog, alluding to the name she later developed for her jewelry line, Lonely Pine. “I pulled the ‘pine’ part of the name from the wintertime; I was using a lot of evergreens. The ‘lonely’ aspect of it came from the solitude of me walking on my own, picking up these things. The only being with me was my dog and I was the only person making them. It was all just a very personal process.” Much of her knowledge in jewelry-making came from Google, but she also credits her growth as an artist to the VCUarts school, where she majored in art education, allowing her to learn about various aspects that made up the arts program. When asked about her biggest inspiration, Melody said, “Just nature itself; that’s where it all came from. I don’t ever like to use things that I don’t like because it doesn’t inspire me. I just want the plants and nature to speak for itself.” She takes pride in showcasing nature’s beauty rather than fabricating something fake or plastic, which is why much of her jewelry uses resin which preserves the natural delicacy of the plants and creates a lightness that she says is always present in her designs. Although Melody does not yet have a storefront, she has been successful at selling her jewelry in local boutiques including Ashby, The Orange, and the Valentine Museum Gift Shop, as well as at many local events which allow her to network and get her designs out there. “Making nature’s treasures your own.” Not only is this Lonely Pine’s Instagram bio, but it’s how Melody would describe her brand. She’s using something that’s naturally gorgeous and letting it speak for itself, which is why many of her pieces are simplistic. A pansy flower fits perfectly into a circular shape so why would someone try to force it into a square mold? “I don’t like forcing things into a mold that doesn’t fit or putting things together that don’t make sense; I like to stick with the natural essence of the pieces,” Melody said. I asked Melody what her ultimate piece of advice would be for students also interested in turning their creative interests into cash, to which she responded, “Really put your everything into it; don’t just see it as just a side hobby. Make sure that if it’s something you’re passionate about you’re giving it the attention it deserves.” And to VCUarts students, her word of advice: sleep! “If you’re frustrated with something, take a break. I found that my most successful moments in AFO was when I was able to walk away from something and come back to it with fresh eyes,” Melody said. I know I could definitely get on board with that! But the key to turning your passion into success is giving it the time and attention it needs to grow and flourish, just like the beautiful blooms Melody works with.
Lonely Pine Jewelry- Winter (Video)
Modeled by Katelyn Eagle Styled by Solleyha Mathurin Video by Monica Seagle Stay tuned for the Lonely Pine lookbook launching tomorrow! Modeled by Katelyn Eagle Styled by Solleyha Mathurin Video by Monica Seagle find out this here
Lonely Pine Jewelry- Fall (Video)
Modeled by Stephanie Lugus Styled by Katelyn O’Neal Video by Monica Seagle Stay tuned for the Lonely Pine lookbook launching this Friday! Modeled by Stephanie Lugus Styled by Katelyn O’Neal Video by Monica Seagle wikipedia reference
Lonely Pine Jewelry- Summer (Video)
Modeled by Tamarah Clayton Styled by Daniela Osuna Video by Monica Seagle Stay tuned for the Lonely Pine lookbook launching this Friday! Modeled by Tamarah Clayton see this page Styled by Daniela Osuna Video by Monica Seagle
Lonely Pine Jewelry- Spring (Video)
Modeled by Makaela Pratscher Styled by Aysia Ward Video by Monica Seagle Stay tuned for the Lonely Pine lookbook launching this Friday! Modeled by Makaela Pratscher Styled by Aysia Ward Video by Monica Seagle content
Fashion Staples
Story and Styling by Solleyha Mathurin Photos by Mia Navarro Fashion: a popular trend; staple: a basic or necessary item. We can assume a fashion staple is an article of clothing, or accessory, worn on various occasions during different seasons, that enhances an outfit when layered. Everyone has their own style, but we all know that feeling of running short on time and not having an outfit picked out yet. For me, it helps when all my staples and everyday items are sitting on my clothing rack and are readily accessible. Rule of thumb: the simpler the pieces, the easier it is to pair. Having too many patterns and colors to choose from can be very overwhelming, especially when you are running late. So, keeping it simple can help you in the long run. I’m not saying turn your whole wardrobe into a monochromatic fortress, just the staples you decide to pick out. A staple should be something you know you’ll want to have for a while, so choose wisely. First in the bunch is bralettes; they have numerous upsides. They are comfortable, breathable, and come in many different styles and sizes, making it easy to find the one that suits you best. You can wear them with high waisted pants if you’re daring, or tucked under a V-neck shirt so you only get a sneak peek. Either way, they are one of the easiest items to upscale an outfit with. We all should own a pair of black jeans for those days when we want to wear that denim shirt, but feel like the denim on denim look is a little too risky to tackle. This article of clothing allows the other pieces of your outfit to pop, unless you’re going for that all-black look. And, if you feel like going a step further, why not add a knee slit to the mix. Knee-slit jeans add just the right amount of edginess to any outfit. The layered necklace trend has made a statement in the past year and has now become a ritual of my everyday wardrobe. It gives the outfit an effortless look without trying too hard by simply mixing necklaces of different lengths and styles. You can even take a long necklace and wrap it two or three times and it still looks like you know what you’re doing. This trend can tend to look a little misplaced over busy prints, so try to stick with solid or minimal patterned pieces. Whether it’s fall or spring, we all love a good outerwear piece to throw over our shoulders. From the edgy vibes of a leather bomber to the urban feel of the utility jacket and the classiness of a trench coat, each plays their own role in fashion, and each piece can transform any outfit it touches. These clothing items allow you to keep a fashionable look while roaming the streets, because we all know how that puffy jacket can take away from the vision. Everyone needs a good pair of booties whether they’re one inch tall or three, suede or smooth leather, or chelsea-styled. They add a level of chicness to a variety of outfits while elongating the legs. Style them with a pair of cuffed jeans and you’ve got half of your outfit ready. Although, if you’re one that chooses comfort over cuteness, you can’t go wrong with a pair of white sneakers. Even though they make an outfit more casual, pairing them with something dressier, such as a bodycon dress, allows you to reach an equilibrium. Take what you can from this article, but make it your own. Like Ralph Lauren says “Style is very personal. It has nothing to do with fashion. Fashion is over quickly. Style is forever.” Story and Styling by Solleyha Mathurin Story and Styling by Solleyha Mathurin Photos by Mia Navarro on sale Fashion: a popular trend; staple: a basic or necessary item. We can assume a fashion staple is an article of clothing, or accessory, worn on various occasions during different seasons, that enhances an outfit when layered. Everyone has their own style, but we all know that feeling of running short on time and not having an outfit picked out yet. For me, it helps when all my staples and everyday items are sitting on my clothing rack and are readily accessible. Rule of thumb: the simpler the pieces, the easier it is to pair. Having too many patterns and colors to choose from can be very overwhelming, especially when you are running late. So, keeping it simple can help you in the long run. I’m not saying turn your whole wardrobe into a monochromatic fortress, just the staples you decide to pick out. A staple should be something you know you’ll want to have for a while, so choose wisely. First in the bunch is bralettes; they have numerous upsides. They are comfortable, breathable, and come in many different styles and sizes, making it easy to find the one that suits you best. You can wear them with high waisted pants if you’re daring, or tucked under a V-neck shirt so you only get a sneak peek. Either way, they are one of the easiest items to upscale an outfit with. The layered necklace trend has made a statement in the past year and has now become a ritual of my everyday wardrobe. It gives the outfit an effortless look without trying too hard by simply mixing necklaces of different lengths and styles. You can even take a long necklace and wrap it two or three times and it still looks like you know what you’re doing. This trend can tend to look a little misplaced over busy prints, so try to stick with solid or minimal patterned pieces. Whether it’s fall or spring, we all love a good outerwear piece to throw over our shoulders. From the edgy vibes of a leather bomber to the urban feel of the utility jacket and the classiness of a