The document profiles various fashion trends and styles seen on campus and in the industry, including culottes paired with a cropped jacket, cozy loungewear sets, the rise of brooches as accessories, chunky knit sweaters under parkas for men, and streetwear looks incorporating thrifted and branded pieces. It also features interviews and photo spreads highlighting up-and-coming models Grace Cheng and Luke Gernert discussing their experiences in the industry.
2. 4
6
a word
from the editors
runway to
martin’s way
10men’s
streetwear
14katherine wang: living
the dream at opening ceremony
16model
spotlight
18tattoos
& piercings
20
24
70’s
boho
the rise and fall
of american apparel
2 SS3
3. TABLE OF
CONTENTS
26
28 caitlyn jenner:
a new fashion icon
coats
29 vintage
vibes
30
alumni highlight:
cam gibbar
31 edward foster
clothing
32 isla:
behind the cover
SS3 3
4. ryan ong & hannah morse
editors-in-chief
creative director danielle nelson
editorial director samantha donohue
layout directors julie lin & kaitlin dunne
stylists cameron dunne, jean shim,
jon carkeek & maggie riordan
beauty director rachael kane
contributers
photographers
olivia fuller, cornelia smith, tina mangelova, sandy wu
writers
rachael alatalo, sindy chen, ali gay, anne homans, cassie howard, tracy
jiao, dillon kelly, danielle nelson, gwyn sise, diana suder, ali zildjian
models
yassine dahlek, tulia day, saige devlin, petra elfstrom, jamie granskie,
anne homans, henry johnstone, emily magruder, alexandria mavis
medellin, isla ng, kureem nugent, angel pichardo, brad prevel, kelsie
sausville, xenia tiajoloff, katherine wang, charlie wilson, jenna wilson
founders taylor healy, emily malter, ryan ong
4 SS3
5. letter from the editors
When we started to create a guiding theme for this issue
we were drawn to the relationship between contemporary
and vintage style. We wanted to incorporate modern
fashion into the playfulness of thrifted clothes. Our cover
girl, Isla Ng ‘16, embodies this idea with the combination
of her own vintage coat and a sleek Burberry scarf. With
her unique style and work as an activist for women and
queer people of color, Isla is the perfect poster girl for
the current aesthetic of Signature Style. From Runway to
Martin’s Way to our 70’s Boho photo spread, each and
every article is a visualization of this connection of old and
new.
Not only have we seen the appearance of this trend
through our own shopping and styling habits on the hill,
this issue also shows how the current state of the fashion
industry reflects this trend towards the newest, and often
the least expensive, fashions. The fashion landscape has
evolved drastically over the past few years with the advent
of instantaneous social media and constant connection.
With the rise of fast-fashion such as H&M and Zara and the
presence of e-commerce, all retailers are trying to keep
up with the even faster pace of the industry. We love the
article on the controversial past and the unpredictable
future of hyper-sexualized fashion line American Apparel.
Cam Gibbar ’13 gives us an inside look of his experience
as a merchandiser at American Eagle Outfitters.
Additionally, Katherine Wang ’17 talks candidly to SS about
her summer with Opening Ceremony as a production and
design intern (you’ll have to keep reading to find out the
best part!).
By the time this issue is published there will be one month
left in 2015. We’ve had a blast putting together the third
issue of Signature Style and identifying the voice of this
publication as we move into our second year. We hope
you enjoy reading SS3 as much as we have enjoyed
working on it, and as always, we look forward to spotting
new trends on Martin’s Way!
SS3 5
7. One way to wear culottes
is with a cropped, slim
jacket. This juxtaposes the
wide-leg of the pants.
jacket: nasty gal,
$88
jumpsuit: club
monaco, $269
sandals: jeffrey
campbell, $205
model: jamie
gransky
culottes
Runway-inspired
sleepwear meets street-
wear with a flowing,
patterned matching set,
worn with monochromatic
sneakers and a reversible
bomber jacket for a pop
of contrasting color.
Absolute comfort is the
goal of this low-key look.
matching set: thrift
store
sneakers: adidas, $65
bomber jacket: alpha
industries ma-1, $135
model: kelsie sausville
jean shim ‘17
cameron dunne ‘16
sleepwear
SS3 7
8. brooches
Serving as either an accent accessory or the final piece of a perfectly crafted
ensemble, brooches are making a strong entrance into the fall fashion scene of 2015.
overalls: free people, $98
workman shirt: madewell, $88
brooch: vintage
wellies: tj maxx, $40
model: saige devlin
maggie riordan ‘19
8 SS3
9. Menswear is moving
towards a looser body
silhouette, especially
on the top half of the
body. Although a
chunky knit sweater
under a parka may
seem like a heavy outfit,
it will keep you warm
and in style. Invest
in a parka this winter
and wear it with all of
the sweaters you own.
parka: eastern
mountain sports,
$125
chunky knit
cardigan: american
eagle, $80
shirt: lee valley
(ireland), $60
model: brad prevel
knitwear
jon carkeek ‘17
SS3 9
15. It’s 6am on a July Monday morning
in Bayridge, Brooklyn, and
Katherine Wang ’17 is already lacing
up her running shoes and hitting
the pavement for her morning jog
before grabbing some slices of apple
dipped in peanut butter and heading
to the office – all before nine o’clock.
Sounds pretty ambitious for the average
college student’s summertime, right?
But that’s where Katherine “Candy”
Wang‘s story is far from ordinary. Wang,
an Art and Economics double-major, led
the fast-paced New York lifestyle as a
Production and Design Intern for fashion
label Opening Ceremony this past
summer, whose style Wang describes
as “street style…a little eccentric,
but at the same time very high-end”.
Wang admits that the fashion world
can indeed be an intimidating one:
“Working in the fashion business is very
stressful in some ways,” she concedes.
“Everyone looks fabulous, and you meet
all these models very frequently…
you’re working in an office, so you have
to look good. You can’t be sloppy!”
Despite the intensity and high expectations
of her work this summer, there’s no
doubt that she rose to the occasion. As
an intern working in two departments,
Wang’s days on the job were replete with
a number of important responsibilities.
In the mornings, she helped the Design
Department with sketches on Adobe
Illustrator and Photoshop, worked on
graphic design tasks, and researched
and swiped photos for design inspiration
that were then presented to her boss.
Afternoons included trekking around
the city, conducting field research for the
Production Department. Wang explains,
“Because we’re in the city, a lot of the
times we would have sample rooms or
fabric places where we needed to go
in Midtown…that would usually take
at least three to four hours.” Opening
Ceremony’s corporate office is located
in SoHo, which Wang mentions was
convenientforpickingupsamplesatlocal
stores for design experimentation and
mock-ups. It wasn’t unusual for Wang to
continue working through lunch or bring
work home with her to finish off the clock
–shewasdevotedtomakingherworkthe
best it could possibly be, and established
herself as one of the most capable
interns at the company, though she was
the only intern not attending art school.
While Wang had numerous stories to
tell me about her time at the label this
past summer, perhaps the most exciting
detail about her summer experience was
her own design’s appearance in Spring/
Summer 2016 New York Fashion Week.
“My best experience was that I was able
to design some of my own stuff and see
it actually come out in the fashion show.
That was one of the best things – to see
it being produced and approved by my
bosses.” Not many college students, let
alone people in general,can say that they
sentoneoftheirdesignsdowntherunway
at fashion’s most anticipated event!
What’s the next step for Wang after such
a remarkable experience? When asked
whether she is planning on returning to
OpeningCeremony,Wanganswers,“Iam
hopingtoreturn.Ithinktheylikedme,and
itreallyshockedthemwhenIlearnedand
illustrated in less than two weeks. They
didaskmetocomebackattheendof my
internship.” Wang hopes to eventually
get a job offer with the company.
If you don’t know Candy, you can find
her serving creamy mocha lattes (her
favorite beverage) at the Opus counters,
or sketching around campus. Look
for the girl with the awesome Bart
Simpson sweater and a look that she
refers to as “street style…a little varsity.”
Wang’s wardrobe and accomplishments
definitelymakeherstandoutinthecrowd.
SS3 15
16. Where are you from?
Pound Ridge, NY in Westchester.
What’s your current agency?
RED Model Management
How were you discovered?
During the summer of 2013,before my sophomore year at
Hamilton College, I was on a
Metro North train with my girl-
friend and her friend, eating
a Magnolia cupcake that we
had previously purchased at
Grand Central, when this guy
came up to me and asked if
I was with an agency.When I
said “no,” he emailed me for
months and one day, I finally
replied with interest.
What has been your most
memorable modeling
experience so far?
Meeting Kanye West at his
casting for his Fall/Winter
‘15 show was very exciting.
However, he didn’t select me
to model because he didn’t
want anyone taller than him
in the show; I’m 6’1” and he’s
5’8”.Napoléon complex?
Do you think models are
treated well in the industry?
Within the “new kid” tier,made up of
those who have potential but haven’t
really established themselves yet,the treatment
isn’t bad or upsetting.But it’s less glamorous than
you would envision. For example,during fashion week,everything
is paid for by the agency,so you’ll most likely get the bottom-bar-
rel,cheapest hotel room.I don’t have any trouble with the treat-
ment,but some people get fed up with things like long waiting
times for castings.For me,I just leave if I’m sitting around for
more than half an hour.When I’m in the actual shoots,I’ve always
had nice buffets with coffee and really good food.However,you
may get a much different answer from female models in this re-
gard because there is a weird culture of anorexia and withholding
food from female models.It’s just a reality of the industry.
Why have you continued to model?
It’s a fun side job.I’ll do it until I get sick of it,but it’s not a priority.
I could be going to the city every weekend for jobs,and I still
get casting emails,but it’s low on my list of
priorities.Once I graduate,whether or not I
will continue to model will depend
on if it will affect a stable job.Most
models hold a few jobs at the
same time.Ideally,when
I graduate college,I want
to work in a more secure
position.
When was the first time
you remember having
your photo taken?
In my earliest photograph,
I am sitting on a rock with
my brothers and sisters
outside of a house that we
would go to in the sum-
mer.I was probably less
than a year old.It’s funny
because I have a repu-
tation among my family
members for looking
really horrible in photos.
I hate posing because it
doesn’t come naturally to
me.Every time my mom
would take a picture I
would always make a face.
She was pretty blown away when she found out I was modeling.
What comes to mind now when someone asks you to pose?
I think I’m someone who needs more direction in that sense.My
agent didn’t tell me anything at the first shoot.They put some
clothes on me,took a couple of photos,and then they asked me
to move around.I didn’t know what to do.Once photographers
tell me what they want though,I’m pretty good at doing it.
16 SS3
17. Where are you from?
Los Angeles,California,but born and raised in Diamond Bar, a
suburb of LA.
What’s your current agency?
Wilhelmina Model Management
How were you discovered?
I was shopping at Urban Outfitters in Irvine
Spectrum in California and was scouted by an
agent.I then went to an event in
Orlando,Florida for two days.On
the first day we were taught
about the industry,and on
the second day each girl
walked for various scouts
from about ten different
agencies,including Fox
Models International,IMG,
Vision,and Ford.
What was your first
editorial shoot like?
My first editorial shoot was
for a magazine.The photos
were taken at Far Rockaway
Beach in New York City for
a Fall/Winter collection
during the summer.It
was extremely hot and
everyone,including myself,
was sweating profusely.I
even remember having to
use baby power on my legs
to get the leather jeans on!
The shoot started at 7am
and wrapped up by 6pm;
needless to say it was a long day.
How did you decide on your signature blonde hair?
I was shooting for a Wild Fox campaign and all of the models
were able to experiment with crazy wigs and makeup.To this
day,some of my best photographs came from that shoot, and as
a result,I decided to go blonde because I realized that it helped
me stand out.
Do you think models are treated well in the industry?
Sometimes we are treated really well,but it depends on the
brand. For example, Nordstrom treats their models well,and
they give us breaks and food for breakfast and lunch.However,
other companies treat us poorly.They sometimes only give us
crackers and expect us to work through the shoot without a
break.
Why have you continued
to model?
I keep modeling because
I am striving for my dream
job.I would love to walk
for one of Chanel’s runway
shows.You only need that
one job to get you exposed
to the right people and
open up certain doors.It’s
completely a mental thing.
You have to be strong and
believe in yourself because
you will get rejected a lot,
which can be discouraging.
If you weren’t modeling,
what would you be
doing?
I currently attend USC
Marshall School of
Business.Modeling may
not be something I do
for the rest of my life.I plan to
finish school and start a business
because I come from a family of
entrepreneurs and business owners.
When was the first time you remember
having your photo taken?
From what I can remember, my first picture was taken when I
was little. I was the super tall and skinny girl.As a result,I was
always told to model,but I was a tomboy back then and wasn’t
into it.After being scouted, I thought that modeling was cool
and glamorous and eventually I began to love it.
Models are typically photographed, but we rarely hear them speak.For this feature,Signature Style interviewed two up-and-coming models
about their beginnings and their opinions on the industry.Grace Cheng and Hamilton College’s own Luke Gernert ’16 are both models in
their twenties who have succeeded in walking runways and posing for magazines,all while remaining in school.
danielle nelson
SS3 17
18. Henry has tattoos covering his arms and extend-
ing over his collarbone. These are noticeable plac-
es for tattoos, but he doesn’t mind people looking
at the artwork. In fact, he finds it rewarding when
unexpected people start conversations about
them. Henry gets each tattoo as he imagines it and
half are music related, with Kanye and Nas making
frequent appearances. His favorite tattoo, inspired
by a Miyazaki movie, is in a more discreet place on
his hip.
Alex sees her tattoos as a gift of
art from her friend and tattoo art-
ist. The sugar skull on her leg re-
lates to her home of San Antonio.
Medusa and Lilith, strong
women from mythology, grace her
upper arm. In terms of piercings,
Alex began stretching her ears in
high school, a common practice at
home due to the punk influences
there. The piercings connect to her
Indigenous Aztec heritage and she
also loves the way they look.
18 SS3
24. Founded in 1997 by Dov
Charney, the aesthetic of American
Apparel is simple: cotton, demure
prints, and standard outfit pieces—
essentially, the basics. Their
clothes are sleek, sophisticated,
and polished, yet still relaxed,
appealing to a wide range of
tastes. What sets American Apparel
apart from the crowd, however,
is the quality of the clothing, the
hipster appeal of its aesthetic,
and of course, the philosophy of
morality and raunchy sexuality
tied up with the brand’s name.
In 2003, the company
expanded rapidly due to a quick
burst of popularity and financial
success. Its success could have
easily been a function of Charney’s
upstanding labor philosophy: He
infused his passions for workers’
rights, manufacturing integrity, and
environmental sustainability into
his startup. As proudly advertised
on the website, “garments are
created by motivated and fairly-
paid employees who don’t just
have jobs— they have careers.”
American Apparel hopes to lead by
example in their ethical approach
to factory production and prove
that exploitation isn’t the only
path to success in the fashion
industry, even when overshadowed
by big name brands that exploit
poverty and inhumane labor in
sweatshops on a regular basis.
Despite its honest labor
practices, the company has been
the subject of bad press numerous
times. Its unnecessarily sexualized
marketing has been consistently
criticized over the years. While
people argued over whether the
ads are sexist or empowering, soft-
core porn or excellent marketing,
sex and American Apparel became
nearly synonymous. Charney
himself has been accused of sexual
harassment and assault by several
of his former employees. Despite
the controversy, the company
was thriving— until recently.
The early success of the
brand led the company to expand
the rise and fall of american apparel
diana suder & ali zildjian
24 SS3
25. rapidly and open dozens of stores
in just a few years, borrowing
many millions of dollars to do
so. Even though the brand was
wildly popular in its early years,
American Apparel hasn’t made a
profit since 2009, losing more than
$300 million in the past five years,
and leaving the company $311
million in debt. American Apparel
filed for bankruptcy in October
of 2015. The new CEO, Paula
Schneider, declared a plan to repair
the failing business, by changing
management structure, reinventing
the look of retail stores, and most
visibly, ditching the sexually
charged advertising. The goal is
to make the brand more “positive,
inclusive, and socially conscious.”
After the Great Recession,
consumers quickly turned
to cheaper, more financially
accessible fast fashion, less
willing to pay American Apparel’s
infamously high prices for basic
clothing items. This is part of a
larger shift in teen and young-
adult culture away from the subtly
conforming look (represented by
brands like Aeropostale, American
Eagle Outfitters, Abercrombie &
Fitch, GAP, etc., all of which are
declining) and toward more of a
trendy, celebrity-emulating look,
catered to by fast-fashion retailers
such as H&M, Zara, Forever21,
and ASOS, which can take styles
from the runway and copy them
into affordable, accessible
clothing items of questionable
quality and production practices.
American Apparel’s
downfall, although often reported
on, is not unique. Fashion trends
change quickly in the modern
culture. Companies start, thrive, fail,
and end, all within a few decades
or less. Many clothing brands are
losing money and closing down,
just to be replaced by newer, shiner,
more trendy and affordable brands,
all of which will go through their
own life cycle in the coming years.
SS3 25
26. coatsThis winter’s long coat trend features a versatile navy
peacoat for men. This classic Club Monaco piece is a must-
have because it goes perfectly with both a casual street
look and a more formal style. For women this season,
menswear-inspired coats are combined with a feminine
twist. This Club Monaco Collection coat showcases its
feminine side with its oatmeal color and a-line silhouette.
sindy chen
coats: club monaco
photography by cornelia smith
models: petra elfstrom & angel
pichardo
26 SS3
28. You all remember it: the iconic moment when Caitlyn Jenner stepped into the light, revealing
her true self on the cover of Vanity Fair. Dressed in a Marilyn Monroe-esque white bustier
with her long brown hair falling in curls around her shoulders, she was the image of grace and
femininity. The moment was monumental for the visibility of the transgender community,
as Caitlyn joined the ranks of the pioneer celebrities who came before her, including Laverne
Cox, Isis King, Janet Mock, Carmen Carrera, and so many more. After the first showing on
the cover of Vanity Fair, news about Caitlyn immediately grabbed the headlines of all major
media. Jenner became one of the judges of the Miss USA Pageant, stars in her recent reality
show “I Am Cait,” and encourages people to stand up and be themselves. Caitlyn Jenner uses
her influence as a rich and attractive celebrity to inspire people with all gender preferences.
In addition to her controversial yet epical history, Caitlyn’s style is just as outstanding. On
the day that Vanity Fair cover came out, the fashion world gained a star, as Caitlyn’s look set the
stage for many more stylish outfits to come. Perhaps one of her most iconic outfits to date was
the dress she wore to accept the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2015 ESPY ceremony on
July 15th. Jenner’s stylist, Jen Rade, worked with Donatella Versace to create the perfect look - a
floor-length, long-sleeved, cream gown with ruching at the waist and train. Jenner paired the
gown with Beladora earrings, a diamond bracelet, heels and a clutch custom-made by Stuart
Weitzman. Unlike typical celebrities with perfect petite figures, Caitlyn Jenner has to cultivate
her personal style with her previous body type as an athlete. Looking at her style in 2015 ESPY
Awards, how can we continue to complain that our body types restrict us from looking fabulous?
However, as all fashionistas know, street style is almost as important, if not equally important,
as award ceremony outfits are. In Caitlyn’s latest street snaps, her curvy body type became her
forte and she continues to inspire us each time she steps out. Simple figure-hugging dresses
have definitely made the most frequent appearances in Caitlyn’s street pictures. Her blue
lace dress, animal-print wrap dress, bodycon navy dress, leather wrap dress and classic little
black dresses all match perfectly with NYC’s vibe. Caitlyn Jenner proves that the combination of
dresses and high heels will never go out of style. Jenner also pulls off all-white looks on many
occasions. In addition to her most famous white gown in ESPY awards, she effortlessly topped off
white pants and T-strap sandals with a striped white blouse while going out and about in the city.
Caitlynteachesusthatnomatterwhatpronounyouuseorhowyoulookphysically,youcanalways
boostyourconfidencewithafashionstatement.Fashionhelpsusallfeelthefreedomofbeingourselves.
tracy jiao & gwyn sise
caitlyn jenner
a new fashion icon
28 SS3
29. Anyone who has ever been thrifting knows that stylish vintage pieces can be
hard to come by, especially those that also fit the current season. Thankfully
for us Hamiltonians, there’s an easy way to wear lightweight vintage finds in
the long winter months - by simply layering them with the rest of our win-
ter clothes. The combinations are endless, ranging from midriff-displaying
crop tops with oversized bomber jackets, to quilted, natural-toned halter
tops and high-waisted jeans, to cut-off shorts with sheer tights and chunky
boots, and the juxtaposition of both seasons and fashion eras keeps each
outfit fresh and exciting.
anne homans
intage
ibesV
photography by tina
mangelova
model: jenna wilson
model: anne
homans
SS3 29
30. alumnihighlight:cam gibbar
Can you explain what a typical workday looks like for
you?
It is kind of cliché but no two days are exactly the same.
Do you get to work with a lot of different people in
the industry?
Yes,every team comes
to a merchant when they
have a question about a
product.I work with people
who manage the website
as well as the visual
merchants who set up the
store.
What are your
responsibilities as a
merchandiser?
I track all the sales and
report to my bosses and
the cross-functional team.
On a weekly and seasonal
basis,we see what is
working and what is not
working. We create long-
term strategies for each
season and then design
based on those goals.
There is not much space in
each store,so we have to
make sure that every square foot of the store is productive
and profitable.I work with the production team to get the
best costs as well as increase the marketing.I also make
sure the clothes are made properly and then shipped on
time.
What is your ultimate career goal?
At the moment I’m most interested in the way people
shop and how that has been changing over the
years.I just want to really feel like I have ownership
in my business,whether that’s being one of the top
merchandisers at the company or pursuing the ultimate
dream of owning my own brand.I have a little bit of that
spark,but it’s kind of a pipe dream.You never know what
will fall in your lap one day.
What advice would you give students interested in
a career in the fashion
industry?
I would emphasize and
encourage that if people
want to be involved
in retail and aren’t
designing,there are a ton
of jobs that need to be
filled that don’t involve
design.I love being a
merchant,and there are
some jobs that are more
numbers-driven that need
people too.Reach out,use
the Hamilton network,
and use Linkedin–it’s a
great way to find people
who work in whatever
industry you’re looking
for.
Hamilton doesn’t have
a fashion or business
major.What do
Hamilton students interested in the fashion industry
need to be aware of?
Start with networking and be assertive because these
brands aren’t seeking you out.They go to a giant
school’s job fair and write down the names of hundreds
of students.These companies don’t know what they’re
missing.Spread the good news about NESCAC schools
and get your name out there.Don’t be afraid to cold call,
cold email,and find some connection like a Hamilton
alum.
Cam Gibbar ’13 grew up in Littleton,Colorado.At Hamilton,he studied History and Creative Writing and was a
member of the Men’s Ice Hockey Team.He never pictured himself pursuing a career in the fashion industry,but when
his best friend’s dad,the head of Human Resources for American Eagle Outfitters,offered him an internship at the
company,he decided to take it.One job offer and three years later,he is now a merchandiser in the Women’s Graphic
Tees Department for AE.Cam spoke with us over the phone from New York City about fashion,building a career,and
advice for current Hamilton students.
rachelalatalo
&cassiehoward
an american eagle
outfitters merchant
30 SS3
31. edward
foster
clothing
Edward Foster Clothing is a company that exclusively manufactures and sells button
down shirts for the typical college guy. Duncan Cock Foster and Edward Ryan Walsh
came up with this idea during their freshman year at Emory,hoping to create clothing
to match their ambitions as hardworking students. Their goal was simple — to provide
the best looking,best fitting,and most reasonably priced shirts in order to reflect the
greatness in each man. The shirts are made with 100% cotton fabrics with a high
thread count and unique modern tailoring. From the company’s inception,Foster and
Walsh have worked closely with manufacturers to ensure a quality product.
dillon kelly
Althoughtheseshirtshaveacertainpreppinessto
them, it is very easy to include an Edward Foster
shirtinamoreedgylook. Forexample,bypairing
an Edward Foster shirt with a wool jacket, black
skinny jeans, a black bucket hat, and Chelsea
boots, the shirt serves an entirely different
purpose. Instead of a preppy look, you now
have an edgier look that is still put together and
streamlined. The overall look could have gone in
amorerebellious,punkdirection,butinstead,the
combination of items such as the jacket, boots,
and shirt make the look much more simple and
subtly edgy. This look proves that Edward Foster
Clothingisnotlimitedtoatypicalpreppylookbut
can be utilized in diverse ways.
shirt - edward foster
clothing
boots - timberlands
jeans - levi’s 511
jacket - all saintsphotography by brennan smith
model: charlie wilson
visit edwardfosterclothing.com
SS3 31
32. behind the cover
I S L A :
By Hannah Morse
b e h i n d t h
by hannah morse
behind the cover
photography by olivia fuller and ryan ong
32 SS3
33. h e c o v e r
t’s 2 PM on a Saturday and I am
rifling through the closet in Isla
Ng’s Eells double, searching
for the perfect pieces for her
cover shoot. Hailing from Staten
Island, Isla, a senior philosophy
major, points out her favorite items as I
pull out a Vivienne Tam embroidered
camisole, a geometric button down,
and a gorgeous tan coat. As we move
onto shoes (and I spy the perfect pair
of chelsea boots), Isla shares that she
has the same birthday as model Cara
Delevingne and loves watching BoJack
Horseman. While we assemble outfits
and snap reference photos for the
upcoming shoot, Isla and I chat about
some of her interests and favorite things.
I
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34. What are you involved in on campus?
I spend most of my time doing activist
work through the Feminists of Color
Collective. Our organization was
originally created as a space for women
and queer people of color who felt
that they didn’t have a voice in existing
activist groups at Hamilton. So we’re
principally concerned with promoting
intersectional perspectives, as well as
creating opportunities for creative,
identity-based expression through art
and poetry.
What did you spend your past
summer doing?
Working on the American Prison
Writing Archive. I read and processed
essays written by incarcerated people
in the US.
Favorite item in your closet?
My full-length 80’s vintage faux fur coat.
My grandmother gave it to my mother
who never wore it because she thought
it was gaudy. I happily took it off her
hands.
Lips or eyes (makeup wise)?
Bold lips without eye make up >>>>
Dream brands?
Marc Jacobs, Balenciaga, Givenchy,
Versace, Vivienne Tam
Shopping tips for finding cool, unique
items?
Most of my interesting items are second
hand. I love thrifting, especially when I
travel. Thrifting in NYC is split between
overly expensive consignment stores
and cheaper places where it’s hard
to find interesting or vintage items.
Thrifting is a lot better in Boston and
Philadelphia in my experience. Also,
Etsy.
Favorite models?
Kiko Mizuhara, Winnie Harlow, Aya
Jones, Mona Matsuoka , Buhmika
Arora, Damaris Goddrie , Xiao Wen Ju
What’s one song you would listen to
for the rest of your life?
Thinking of only listening to one song
stresses me out so I’ll have to go with
Sister Ray by the Velvet Underground.
It’s 17 minutes long so I could break
it up into several sections and spread
them out over the years.
Current trend you’re loving?
Crop tops,because they’re a declaration
of confidence and self-love. No one
looks bad in a crop top.
New York or London?
New York
34 SS3