The Scripps Voice

By Stephanie Huang ’16
Fashion Columnist

With wave after wave of blogging websites emerging, fashion blogs these days are not uncommon. However, what is uncommon is The Coveteur, created by best friends Erin Kleinberg and Stephanie Mark, a blog dedicated to revealing what makes the people of fashion (including bloggers) who they are—their closets. The Coveteur showcases covetable clothes, accessories, artwork, and quirky collectibles that make fashion stars who they are. Though it seems promising, Coveteur has recently fallen into relying upon commercial practices that perhaps jeopardize the original intentions and integrity of the website.

Photos by Stephanie Huang ’16

Two best friends, Kleinberg and Mark, feel that someone’s closet is a window into what the person is like. The site’s motto is a quote from designer Dries Van Noten: “It’s more interesting to have just a picture of a small detail—then you can dream all the rest around it. Because when you see the whole thing, what is there to imagine?”

“We love street-style blogs, but we wanted to take it a step further,” explains Kleinberg. “This is kind of like deconstructing it; let’s see all the items these people have that help make up all those outfits.” Visitors can take a peek at the closets, homes, drawers, hangers, and shelves of fashion insiders—editors, stylists, curators, and designers, from stylist Rachel Zoe to actress Khloe Kardashian.

The site got 20,000 hits on its first day live in January 2011. So far, Kleinberg and Mark have documented over 350 wardrobes, working from Kleinberg’s living room with photographer Jake Rosenberg. Yet the job is not all glamour—each shoot takes about three hours and involves a lot of traveling.

Despite the site’s success and innovation it’s the one recent add-on that has disappointed me is the notion that you can “shop” each of these covetable closets. What had started out as something completely about originality has become yet another opportunity for cloning and consumerism. While I understand that such a site would need profit to keep running, it seems contradictory that the closets that are so-called “distinct” to each person can now be replicated by browsers. It just seems like a glorified shopping experience now.

Is it too much to ask for one business to remain untainted by profit-motives and financial-gain? If “Ms. Magazine” can do it, I’m sure fashion publications and websites can, too.

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

Coming to California for school, I had formed all the assumptions, interpretations, and idealized versions of what life here would be like. I thought that I would be frequenting festivals and flea markets, and driving down endless, limitless deserts. This may be possible, but I don’t happen to own a car, rendering my fantasies impossible. I planned on tackling the Rose Bowl Flea Market, Santee Alley, and most importantly, Coachella in my first year—in fact, I thought I would have become a regular at the Rose Bowl by now. Yet here I am, having almost finished a whole year of college, and I have not been able to cross a single destination off my bucket list.

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

Due to upcoming finals and Coachella’s hefty price tag, I’ve found myself near tears over the ceaseless stream of Instagram festival photos, blog posts, and the lineup. However, I have found that because of Coachella’s popularity, the same trends tend to repeat themselves, with only a select few bringing something new to the table. Though the Huffington Post headlines read “Coachella Style 2013 is All About High-Waisted Shorts, Crop Tops, Neon and Tattoos,” there is really nothing new about these trends. In fact, we’d probably see the same trends in the headlines back in 2012.

To find the innovative and exciting looks among the throng of monotonous denim, fringe, and flower-crowns is a difficult feat, but worth it. To name a few, bloggers from Song of Style, Trop Rouge, and Snakesnest struck a balance between structure and fluidity, scanty and sweaty, all the while incorporating simplicity and prints. Introducing new materials like silk, these girls brought a refined air to their outfits. While their ensembles are completely new, they somehow still manage to encompass the essence of festivals. Hopefully, by next year, these refreshing looks will finally catch on, and the cycle will continue to repeat.

Despite my inability to attend Coachella, seeing No-chella was gratifying. Unlike Coachella, No-chella goers seemed to be much more about personal-style rather than conforming to the homogenizing notion of what festival-wear is supposed to be about, with guys in snapbacks and plaid, and girls in overalls and tropical floral prints. Perhaps it is only without the pressure of what a festival is supposed to be like can we truly see the individuality of fashion at work. Just as the “No” in “No-chella” can be seen as stimulating style-wise, the trailblazing bloggers succeed in their festival looks because they have chosen to deviate from standard festival apparel.

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

I have not written a single article for this column about the amalgamation of trends that have been circulating the fashion world. I feel like these trends are often an acquired taste, and while I personally may appreciate them, I know a lot of you may not. However, I finally realized that many of you might still want to be informed of the bizarre things that intrigue us here in our little bubble.

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

Trend #1: Overalls/Short-alls, or dungarees, if you’re British. These ‘90s inspired one-pieces have been revamped to vary in length, textile, and shape—from Phillip Lim’s leather overalls with a tapered leg to Topshop’s pinafore-inspired overall-dresses to renewed vintage denim short-alls. There’s something effortlessly enticing about the slouchy, utilitarian vibe that these pieces induce when layered over cropped sleeveless turtlenecks and topped with a beanie.

Trend #2: Holographs. With Burberry, Jonathan Saunders, Stella McCartney, and Proenza Schouler jumping on board, it’s hard to ignore this iridescent beauty of a trend. I know you’re probably feeling another wave of nostalgia, reminiscing about your old sparkly Pokémon cards, or those metallic stickers with optically confusing patterns. Before the turn of the millennium, around when I was born, I’m pretty sure this is how everyone thought the people of the future would dress. To overlook this new spin on reflective metallics that catch the light would be to say no to one of spring’s perfect complements. These silvery, rainbow-tinted textiles have a buoyancy and lightness to them that go hand-in-hand with spring whites.

Trend #3: Obnoxious Text. There’s something appealing about letting what you’re wearing literally speak for itself, especially if it’s a tad obnoxious, or a little witty. Some of my favorites this season are Jac Vanek’s beanie, embroidered with “BRAT” right across the front, Dope Couture’s DOPE snapbacks, and Brian Lichtenberg’s t-shirts with word-play on designer logos, replacing the Hermès’ logo with Homiès, South Central (a reference to the decayed urban area in L.A. where many homies presumably live), and Céline with Féline, Meow. Because everything looks better with an accént, right?

So, while I’m sure most of you are thoroughly convinced by now that the fashion industry is becoming increasingly ridiculous, I am unashamed to say that I absolutely love it.

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

A few weeks ago, I received an email from adidas NEO inviting me to become a “NEO blogger ambassador” and help put their show together in New York. My task was to help choose the final looks that would be walking down the runway, and of course, offer social media coverage as well.

Along with preparing for and attending the fashion show, adidas NEO organized for us a blogger’s styling event, touristy trips to the top of The Rock and NBC Studios, and three-course meals at classy restaurants with odd names like “Toy.” I was obviously beyond grateful to be able to be a part of, no matter how big or small, the Holy Grail of all fashion events: New York Fashion Week.

Photo by Stephanie Huang

While I was there for a short-lived three days (and it goes without saying that I wish that Nemo had delayed my flight leaving me with no option but to attend more shows), I discovered many of the myths that are true about NYFW and other bloggers.

Truth #1: If you group a gaggle of bloggers together for dinner, they are going to do the inevitable: A) bring their phones as their plus-ones to the dinner table, and B) feel the need use their digital SLR cameras, complete with multiple lenses of different apertures, to take attractive photos of food.

Truth #2: Cross-cultural bonding between bloggers is going to happen. I arrived on the bus, utterly confused at the lack of English being spoken. Sitting alone in the back row of the bus (cool kid, I know), I thought to myself, well, this trip isn’t going to be very fun. I really didn’t know how I was going to manage small talk if it was going to be in German, Russian, or Japanese. Yet upon the dawning realization that the other bloggers did in fact speak English, it was almost impossible for us not to feel connected by certain habits that pertain to bloggers, such as those stated in Truth #1.

Truth #3: You are going to get the stink eye and unflattering photographs if you’re sitting front row. Honestly, it was very intimidating. There are many who are envious and probably thinking, “Why isn’t that me in the front row?” Subsequently, they proceed to judge your outfit. And then there is also the fact that I was sitting very near Selena Gomez. With all the cameras pointed in our direction, I knew that I obviously wasn’t the subject of the lenses, yet would most likely be in the photos. That’s when I attempted to look like I didn’t notice the camera was there at all. What resulted is this: with the magic of Google, I can now find pictures of myself blinking repeatedly next to Ms. Gomez.

Truth #4: Selena Gomez is a lovely person. This is probably the most common question I was asked when I returned from the Big Apple (along with what the deal was with her and Justin Bieber – but that’s irrelevant). She asked me how I was, and definitely came off as very genuine!

Truth/Myth #5: The life of a blogger can be very luxurious—emphasis on “can.” Obviously there are also times when there is a lot of pressure to succeed in this industry that have you near tears. There are women out there who are in their early twenties, or even at a young eighteen or nineteen, who have made blogging a full-time career, making $5,000 per post or getting paid $10,000 to wear a certain designer. I know 19-year-old bloggers who are working with Mulberry designing their own bags. This profitability is obviously not the reason why most of us choose to get into the industry, but building connections, working with the designers you most admire, and truly letting your viewpoint come across are all goals we, as bloggers, strive towards. We must balance this pressure to succeed in our creative endeavors with the fact that there are very few successful bloggers over 30, or even 25. There is the very blatant truth that you must race against time’s effect on your age to make something of yourself. And so, there are a ton of bloggers who feel distressed at the lack of recognition and acknowledgement they receive, and cannot help but compare themselves to other bloggers their age. However, it wouldn’t be right to neglect the payoff that often accompanies hard work and dedication to your passions. I honestly did not expect to have a room in Times Square with two beds to myself.

Truth #6: Time scheduling during NYFW is crazy. One day is going to feel like one week. While I could only focus my time on the one adidas NEO show, I speak on behalf of other bloggers and people in the fashion industry when I say that there are so many places to be and people to see during these few days. In between all the events and tasks that were scheduled for me, I barely managed to slip in late-night meals with friends, quick shopping at SoHo and 5th Avenue, and make-up work for class.

My brief encounter with NYFW had definitely confirmed most of the preexisting notions (or myths) that I had about it, but in many ways, NYFW exceeded my expectations as well.

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

With my upcoming trip to New York Fashion Week, I thought it would be fitting to give some coverage on one of my favorite bloggers! 20-year-old Alyssa Lau is something of an internet phenomenon. The Ordinary Peoples, which she shares with her cousin Kurtis, is her personal style blog. The aspect that separates Alyssa’s blog from others is that she not only embodies her aesthetic through her clothing, but through her photographs (which are minimalism at its best) and the design of her blog as well (her knowledge of coding could give a CS major a run for their money). Alyssa is a chemistry major who hails from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.

While I never asked her the meaning behind her blog name, I do think it is fitting. She is genuine and relatable, which has often been hard to come across in the blogosphere these days. As somebody who finds inspiration from street style and blogs rather than designers and runways, Alyssa truly epitomizes what fashion blogging should be about.

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

In her recent post, she declares that “fashion blogging should make people feel better about themselves.” She urges readers to take a step back from the recent invasion of negative feelings attached to the constant “sitting, waiting, wishing that you were somebody else.”

Although blogs used to be about sharing personal style that could inspire others, many blogs nowadays have been evolving into conventional consumerism. Despite it all, Alyssa stays true to herself and dresses according to her mood—from her laid-back ensembles of boyfriend jeans and baggy Aztec sweaters to grunge-inspired accessories like spiked loafers and body-chains. She may insist that “everybody else seems to be” cooler than her, but she really is far from ordinary, contrary to what her blog name suggests.

SH: You have said previously in other interviews that you cannot describe your own style—but can you describe how your style has evolved?

AL: My style story is a pretty boring one, I’ll tell you that. In high school, my fashion taste had barely evolved. I did not appreciate fashion the way I do now, and you could definitely tell by the way I dressed. Throughout University, I guess you could say that I embraced fashion for what it is. I cannot tell you how many hours I’ve looked at fashion blogs for. I was so inspired by the way real people dress, and I guess this is when my style ‘evolved.’ I’m what I like to call a late-bloomer.

SH: I know you’re a chemistry major, but I really feel like I can see you becoming something bigger in the fashion industry—do you see yourself switching career paths?

AL: If given the opportunity, I would absolutely love to do something regarding fashion in the future. There’s no doubt about it. However, my lack of experience in that general field I guess makes it a little implausible. But who knows what the future holds!

SH: Why are you inspired by street-style rather than designers?

AL: I really enjoy looking at how everyday people dress. Not only is the clothing cheaper, more affordable, and accessible, it also looks just as good as any designer piece when assembled appropriately (not that there is a ‘right’ way to wear anything)!

SH: And finally, what are your tips for aspiring bloggers?

AL: This may be a bit overemphasized, but perseverance is key. If you keep posting, you never know where it might lead you and what opportunities may open up for you. I can personally say that blogging has been one of the best decisions I’ve made (albeit the fact that I didn’t tell family and friends until after a month due to pure embarrassment). Don’t take for granted the future possibilities that await you! Also, this one is a pretty boring one, but be yourself. If people want to read your blog, it’ll be for you and not for someone else.

You can check out Alyssa’s blog at www.ordinarypeople.ca.

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

I often feel that the line between dressing for fashion and dressing for appearance is blurred, and people rarely understand the difference. I can’t help but feel offended when people confuse the two, though I rarely feel so opinionated about other issues.

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

Some people claim to have an ardent love of fashion yet dress solely to make themselves more attractive. Sometimes it seems like all we see is an endless array of bandage skirts and crop tops. As blogger Jennifer Wang from Art in Our Blood aptly puts it, “People have lost track of a sense of balance. You can flaunt whatever body part you like tastefully,  as long as you don’t flaunt everything else at the same time.”
People no longer seem to care about the aesthetics of proportions or modification. Similarly, makeup is often used as a tool to enhance one’s appearance rather than to serve as an art. Gone are the days of Twiggy lashes.

The truth is, fashion is not at all about making yourself look better. It’s about expressionism and creativity, playing with proportions, textures, patterns, colors, and ultimately, creating the kind of compelling juxtaposition that can become embedded in the fashion world as a movement.

Take the runway’s sports luxe trend for example: Isabel Marant’s juicy wedge sneakers and Joseph’s silk sweatpants, for instance, work to abolish pre-existing notions about what sportswear is typically used for. In this sense, fashion is about overturning the norms, pursuing the unexpected, and taking a gamble.
It’s not that I have anything against clothing that exists purely to flatter one’s assets, but I wonder—what’s the point?  What’s the point of form-fitting or revealing clothing other than to influence how others perceive you?

Hence, there is no significance in highlighting your attributes and concealing your flaws other than to make yourself look more attractive. While magazines may suggest what to wear for your body type, be it “ruler,” “pear,” or “curvy all over,” these suggestions don’t really belong in the “fashion” section, because they are tailored for people who lack confidence in their own skin. This lack of confidence is often the result of harmful cultural ideas in the media about how people, especially women, need to look.
Rather than suggesting that people avoid horizontal stripes, magazines should be instigators of confidence and choice to create art without guidelines.

Here lies the difference between fashion and consumerism.  Popular media, like magazines, portray trends that reflect the current-day consumer-oriented society. Yet the fact is, what is popular among the masses, like dressing for one’s figure, is not always popular in the fashion industry. It is a distinction I find myself making often. But it would be empowering and refreshing to see more people dressing to create art.

By Stephanie Huang ‘16
Fashion Columnist

Photo by Stephanie Huang ’16

As the fashion industry becomes increasingly competitive, the importance of building a laundry list of unpaid internships before actually securing a paying job is becoming a necessity.  While it is great to gain experience from major publications, media moguls, and online retailers, these companies have also been accused of exploiting interns to obtain free labor.  Former Harper’s Bazaar intern Diana Wang recently filed a lawsuit against Hearst Corp. for a violation of state wage and hour laws, claiming that her internship was the equivalent to the job of a full-time employee. Wang stated that she was even paying out of her own pocket for company commuting expenses.

Recently, I was called in to be a guest stylist for an online retailer’s photo shoot. Needless to say, I was excited to have the opportunity to share my aesthetic with a brand that seemed to appreciate it.  Though I was expecting nothing in return, the fact that I had skipped lunch, struggled to find a friend from at least one of the 5Cs that could actually give me a ride, and worked for five hours straight should have at least warranted a “thank you” from the  bosses that I had pitched my stylings to.  Instead, there I was feeling like a completely pathetic employee when they shot down my idea, demanding more variety and “color,” even though I happen to be a very neutral and pastel person.  Not only did they want me to compromise my aesthetic, they did not even formally introduce themselves to me.  After five hours, I felt used.  I’m a blogger, not an intern, not an employee, and I was there as a favor to them—it was not the other way around.  So whether they were looking for free styling, free labor, or another unpaid intern to boss around, I was eager to return home to Claremont.

Of course, this is not how all people in the fashion industry are.  I met amazing graphic designers and a photographer at the styling, who were much kinder than their employers.  I can happily say that every other unpaid fashion internship I’ve been a part of has paid off in both experience and perks—and thankfully, with fantastic bosses.  Alexander Rosario,  (PZ ‘15), who interned for Teen Vogue this past summer said, “I think it’s based on the company itself.  I had a very positive experience with my internship. Although it would be best if you had a better stipend if you came from out of state, because living expenses aren’t cheap.”  While Rosario does not think that these internships are mandatory to entering the fashion industry, he stresses the way that “they put you in connection with a lot of people” and how they can be used “to help get you further to where you want to go.”

By Stephanie Huang ‘16

Fashion Columnist

While it may be easy to envy the lives of bloggers through digital-SLR pictures taken by doting boyfriend-photographers, the fact that many bloggers have become walking advertisements and corrupt businesswomen is hard to deny.  As a personal-style blogger myself, I can only say that there are many among us who unfortunately, don’t blog for the right reasons.

Photo by Stephanie Huang

Before we delve into the details, I’ll explain the logistics.  After a certain threshold of credibility is reached, and bloggers have built both a reputation and a sizable fan base, they begin to acquire business offers to collaborate for sponsored items and even money to feature particular brands in their posts.  While this is a great way for bloggers to introduce their readers to new brands and get inspired to style new items in their closet, some tend to take advantage of this practice.

As 18-year-old blogger Gloria Sanchez said, “What has been bothering most in the blogosphere has been the disconnection between bloggers and their followers—it’s not a secret that there are bloggers out there who are blatantly blogging for the whole reason of gaining sponsors.”  Having worked before at a company that sponsored bloggers, I can vouch for the number of bloggers who sent incoherent, and sometimes laughable, emails with content along the lines of, “You send me free stuff?”

It is not easy to discern righteous bloggers from questionable ones, which is why I hope that readers will be able to at least have a sense of when they are being manipulated.  Often, readers invest trust in bloggers, and look to them for inspiration.  “The fact that readers are very impressionable to what their favorite bloggers have to say is a huge reason why if a blogger is not dedicated to fashion and [does not have] a true passion for blogging and inspiring readers, they should think twice about what they are really doing,” said Sanchez.

Obviously, there is not a clear answer to alleviate this problem, but luckily, readers still have the power to support the bloggers that are deserving of support.  17-year-old Jennifer Wang, blogger from “Art in Our Blood,” said that if we want to see change in the blogosphere and on platforms like Lookbook, “then the change has to start with you, and what looks you hype, and similarly, which blogs you will support with your readership.”

For more reflections on fashion by Stephanie, check out her block “High-Stitched Voice” at highstitchedvoice.blogspot.com

Our last article on Scripps’s stylish women was a hit! We’ve decided to keep up the good work by featuring one of your fashionable classmates in each issue.

Chelsea Carlson, 18
First-year
Helena, MT

PHOTO COURTESY OF CHELSEA CARLSON

Have you always been conscious of fashion/how you dress?

I’ve been rocking some variation of hats, bows and dresses since a very young age. There was a rough patch in middle school (yikes!) but I would say I’ve pretty much always been very interested in developing personal style and observing the larger world of fashion.

Have you changed your style since you came to college?

I have been embracing sun hats, floral prints and peep toes lately, but I think that’s mostly because of this lovely weather! Montana has a bit more intense climate, so mostly I’ve been glad to leave the not-so-glamorous bulky layering behind.

What are your sources of inspiration?

Alexis Mabille, Scripps gardens, Mad Men, Jackie O, California, old advertising, Pushing Daisies and Carey Mulligan… need I say more?

What is your spring 2011 staple?

Big sun hats, bright lips and my yellow cruiser bike.

What is your favorite item of clothing in your closet?

I’m quite certain I can’t pick a favorite, but I do love a little cropped printed silk jacket I have. It has the most beautiful subtle pattern on it and goes perfectly with probably half my wardrobe!

What is your favorite accessory?

A thrifted pair of golden bow earrings with hanging mirrors. Not only do they add awesome to almost any outfit, I also like watching narcissistic people (okay, pretty much everyone) try to check their reflection in the tiny mirrors!

Which trends do you like/dislike this year?

I can’t say I’m a fan of this not wearing real pants business; jeggings are not one of those “best of both worlds” situations people…

Where do you like to shop?

Pretty much everywhere. I’ve found that some of the greatest things come from unexpected places. I especially love vintage, so raiding your grandma’s closet can be an excellent shopping trip. I also love to shop while traveling, which is great since I love having unique items with a story mixed together with more basic department store fare.

Have you had to alter your style to the Claremont climate?

I’ve been inspired by the climate—being able to wear a dress every day of the year is amazing!

Theresa Iker ’14
Staff Writer