Closing thoughts on the semester

Being able to reflect on my work at Ball State University is a pleasant experience. Over the past three years, I have been driven to do well and succeed.  My learning has been a process and I hope to continue that process once I graduate. Starting out my college career three years ago was exciting. Though I did not fully know what I wanted to do after I graduate, I am now able to recognize my goals and aspirations. Getting to where I am today required patience and motivation. I have become more disciplined and I am certainly very proud of all that I’ve accomplished.
                The fashion program at Ball State University has given me the opportunity to become more familiar with the fashion industry as well as gain hands-on experience through my class work. One of the most rewarding experiences at BSU has been being able to complete future job search materials which exemplify some of my hardest works from the variety of classes that I have taken.  Building a portfolio has allowed me to see how far I have really come; this made me understand that taken as a whole, my works demonstrate my hard work and dedication to my field of study.

It’s been fun and sometimes challenging to study as a fashion student at BSU. I never thought that I would ever participate in putting together a fashion show. This was one of this last semester’s highlights. Traveling to different stores and participating in visual display decorating was also something that I surprised myself with.  There hasn’t been a class that I’ve taken where I don’t see benefits to me as a person and as a future fashion professional. I’m very happy with the way things have turned out for me so far.  I'm also pleased to see that I've been keeping a blog about fashion and I hope to continue updating whenever I can.

What's Your Accessory?

It’s always great to get another person’s opinion on fashion topics. Blogs, in particular, are great examples of how one can explore the different outlooks on fashion. With so many attitudes about styles and trends, it’s easy to sometimes get carried away and browse other fashion blogs.

One of the really nice and interesting blogs in my class belongs to my friend Ashley. Her blog, titled The Fashion Accessory, shares some very refreshing thoughts on today’s popular fashions. From Katy Perry’s fun red carpet styles to Rihanna’s 80s inspired latest daring looks, to ways one can properly pull off a business casual look, The Fashion Accessory has is all: variety, style, fun, and most of all – it’s a great read for anyone interested in getting the scoop on this season’s trends. I highly encourage you to check it out.

We Took Care of Business

On Sunday, November 7 the "Taking Care of Business" fashion show was held at the Student Center on Ball State's campus. Finally, all the hard work that was put into the event by my promotions class has paid off. The show featured business attire and was put together by my class along with the Career Center.

As the day started, I arrived at the Student Center at 8 in the morning. This is when the entire class set up the Cardinal Hall rooms - runway was set up as well as the elevator door, chairs were arranged with brochures and newsletters for each person, the lights were put up, VIP talbes were decorated, and dj and lighting crew prepared for the show. This was a joint effort between the class, the professor, and the Student Center employees. Everybody had something to do, whether it was helping prepare models backstage or providing dj and lighting crew with directions before the show.

Of course there were some setbacks as the day continued. For example, one of the male models that was supposed to arrive at 10, mistook the show for being held next Sunday and it was going to take him two hours to arrive. Also, one of the live video feeds at Cardinal Hall was blurry and finding the problem with the projector seemed a nearly impossible task.

As the show starting time approached, we grew anxious to see how the event would turn out. We practiced a run-through of the show at 12 when we discovered that the runway, which we earlier covered with "office paper" was being tripped over as the paper was being torn when the models walked out. This needed to be fixed immediately, so people started using tape and tacs to attach any and all loose corners that were visible.

People started to show up around 12:40 and as the seats in Cardinal Hall were filling in, I saw that my classmates were getting more and more excited. Julie, the leader in charge of house and tech activities was going to be backstage, while Micole would view the show as the audience does, telling backstage when to open and close the elevator door. This was a very important task that needed to be flawless. And it was; once the show started, the audience was very impressed by how the model that was seen in the preview video walked right out of the elevator wearing the same outfit.

Here, a model show off her business-casual look.

The elevator door made a great transition from the office-theme environment to the fashion show. It was clear that the audience members were very impressed by the models and looks that were featured. By the end of the show, I realized how proud I was of myself and my classmates. It had been a very long and exhausting two months, but seeing people's reactions to the fashion show made it all seem worthwhile.

The lighting and music were perfect, the models were fabulous, and I was left happy with the way the fashion show turned out.

Press Event

The press event for the "Taking Care of Business" was held on Tuesday, October 26th at the Simpson Lounge. Many students showed up in support of the fashion show. Quite a few still had not heard about it but were able to get more information. Tickets were also available for sale.

Ashley Meyer did a great job putting the event together. There were snacks available and I was impressed when I saw last year's fashion show displayed on the TV. Seeing my classmates there in our T-shirts made me realize how soon the fashion show was approaching. Less than 2 weeks were left until the big day.

Trent and Kirsten were also at the press event, they were taking pictures and it seemed like they were just as excited about the show as everyone else was. I knew that the next few weeks were going to be filled with endless work and planning. The press event foreshadowed a great fashion show to come.

Zoolander Flaunts It Right

This week I’d explore some of the fashions featured in one of my favorite movies of all time – Zoolander. After recently learning that the sequel to this fashion-themed slapstick comedy in the process of being developed, I have been reminiscing about the insane outfits worn by the movie’s characters.

The film’s main character, Derek Zoolander, comes off as a self-absorbed male model. Known for his quirky poses and silly facial expressions, Derek’s attire throughout the movie is not only filled with over-the-top, silly designs but complements his personality and intense stares very well. Whether he’s giving his “Blue Steel” or “Magnum” poses, Derek’s use of bold patterns and shiny fabrics reminds me of the 1980’s.

Hansel, Derek’s opponent in the movie, is a newbie to the modeling industry. His style can be described as a bohemian, carefree maverick who reveals his inspiration to become a model to be Derek himself.  Hansel’s laid-back personality is translated through his use of flower prints, fringe, and leather.

And of course, the main villain in the film, Mugatu, conveys a distinctive style which incorporates using eccentric applique pieces, glossy textured fabrics, and branding his name on everything he owns. Besides also being recognized for his unusually-styled hair, Mugatu is also credited as to be the creator of the piano key men’s tie.

Sources:

http://michaelnorthrop.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/zoolander-school1.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGV0nuaq580dQWN2vZrCkXgTnL3hVEeqhTjt4pTruwlooOxVJNZueXye6ohTxBRws7bV9lM0i_Cg8NLjdapKrVzYTLRKIAELj-bi59GNl8jg4kZQJ3tXQPz28ARjT4JT8_QhTpTx7EMG4/s400/17132__zoo_l.jpg

http://www.starzlife.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/zoolander.jpg

http://media.photobucket.com/image/zoolander/kirshpgh/trueblood/Alexander%2520Skarsgard/zoolander2.jpg

http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/vikram_zoolander.jpg

http://www.stardusttrailers.com/gallery_film/(movie_wallpaper_pictures_photo_pics_poster)()zoolander_1.jpg

http://static.reelmovienews.com/images/gallery/mugatu.jpg

http://atlanta.metromix.com/content_image/full/1213972/560/370

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/092009/1252480151_mugatu.gif

http://www.funtrivia.com/en/Movies/Zoolander-4006.html



Put a Dollar Sign on It

Let’s talk about Ke$ha. She has recently emerged onto the pop scene as a party girl with gritty makeup, messy hair, and wearing trashy "garbage-chic" clothing.

According to Ke$ha, the dollar sign in her name represents how broke she was when her hit single “Tik Tok” started getting airplay on the radio. I find this funny and ironic. Although today’s economy is in a somewhat better state than it was a few years ago, I still think that Ke$ha’s style may be imitated by some, considering how it is very cheap and easy to recreate. And you don’t have to brush your teeth with a bottle of Jack Daniel's whiskey every morning to get her look. All you need is enough make up for only one of your eyes, and some body glitter.

Rock influence can be heard from Ke$ha’s music; some of her songs sound crazy, her voice is even auto tuned in “Tik Tok” – a music trend we’ve been seeing for a while now. While her lyrics seem honest and fun, Ke$ha’s fashion reflects a specific youthful, edgy style.

Here is Ke$ha looking like trash - literally, at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. As you can see, the garbage bag dress is a cheap and creative way to stand out from the crowd. I can't imagine what she'll come up with next. Ke$ha gives a whole new meaning to "looking trashy"!!

 Sources:

http://www.aceshowbiz.com/celebrity/ke_ha/biography.html

http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.sugarslam.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/597241

On the Street

Ball State campus can get a little boring sometimes. This week, however, there were a few people whose styles I thought stood out. With their help, I am happy to report to you some of the styles that help make our streets a little more exciting!!

Like many, Bobby likes to dress comfortably; he prefers his clothing to be functional and loves lots of pockets to carry some of his essentials. Bobby mentioned that his favorite accessories that he never tries to leave home without include his fedora hat, his chain wallet, as well as his buddha bracelet. He enjoys wearing black, red, and white clothing the most and considers Hot Topic to be his favorite place to puchase clothes.

Bobby prefers to follow his own style and while he observes the popular trends on campus, he chooses to ignore most of them. Since it's fall already, Bobby is anxious to start wearing his favorite combat boots, along with his trench coat, and hoodies. I think that most people would agree that with every fall season, comes a wide range of warm apparel. This is an exciting time to start shopping for fun styles.

Bethany is also a fan of comfy clothes and prefers dressing up for special occasions or spontaneously every once in a while. Her favorite colors include purple and teal, especially when they are worn together. She also does most of her shopping at Charlotte Russe and occasionally at the Wet Seal.
Bethany likes to accessorize with her special set of star earrings that come with matching hoops to wear as additional earrings. Like Bobby, Bethany prefers not to follow fashion trends; however, she mentions that she's very excited to start wearing leggings and boots this fall season. This is a common campus trend that I think we'll start seeing more of for the next four months. Being on campus daily requires for proper walking attire - while comfortable and easy to wear, boots and leggings can be seen as a very stylish way to play up a girl's look.

According to Matt, he is all about looking good without putting much thought into it. He describes his personal style as quick with no special accessories.

While he doesn't follow trends either, Matt enjoys wearing basic styles of apparel that may be popular during a season and using them over and over again throughout the year. Being a college student, I think that this is a smart way of keeping yourself on a budget. Some of the most popular fashion trends each year can be quite costly, but it is possible to look stylish from year to year with very little essentials.

In addition, Matt prefers wearing green, blue, and khaki color. This fall, he will be seen wearing some of his favorite jackets and sweaters.