Up Magazine Blog
Miami's Fashion Magazine
Fall 2010 Preview
May 1st
Up Magazine Fall 2010 Preview from Lindsay O’Hara on Vimeo.
Behind the scenes from Up Magazine’s fashion shoot at Oxfest on April 24, 2010. The shoot will be featured in Up Magazine’s 5th issue which will be released November 16, 2010!
Zac Posen for Target
Apr 21st
This Sunday, April 25th, the Zac Posen for Target collection will debut.
While Posen’s namesake line is traditionally known for his glamorous red carpet gowns, this cheaper Target line seems to focus more on dressier, everyday clothing.
Here are some of my favorites:
My thoughts: there are certainly lots of bright colors and a few touches of 90s style throughout. The price range seems to be a little high for Target‘s typical collaborations, especially $200 for a leather jacket. Yet the selection of pieces is very diverse. The collection offers t-shirts, dresses, skirts, swimsuits and even a few scarves.
On a different note, those who wait in anticipation for Target collections like Posen’s are confused with the random nature of each collection’s availability. With each designer, the selection of stores carrying the collection varies widely. While the majority of larger stores carried the Rodarte for Target collection early this year, the more recent Jean Paul Gaultier line was nowhere to be found. Further, it certainly doesn’t help that target.com only stocks a limited selection of any entire collection, and finding out exactly which retail stores are carrying the line is next to impossible.
That said, I think it’s still worth a trip down to the nearest Target!!
–Mari Teasdale
images: http://fashionista.com/2010/01/first-look-zac-posen-for-target-lookbook/
MUCFD: Sustain the Runway- a job well done
Apr 21st
All the hard work has finally paid off. The MUCFD team successfully completed their annual fashion shows with outstanding reviews. There was a slightly larger crowd than the previous night, and even though Friday’s show brought cooler weather, those in attendance were far from disappointed. Like Thursday night, the clothes looked fabulous, the room looked chic, and the models owned the runway.
“Everyone looked great, the clothes were amazing and I cannot believe that they weren’t professionally made! It goes to show how talented these designers are!” said audience member of the second night, Megan McGann.
Backstage after the show, the designers sighed with relief once their collections were off of their models and back into their garment bags for retirement. There was excited chatter about some designers making a comeback for next year’s show. As well as returning designers, many others who were involved in the show, plan to make their designing debut for 2011’s show.
So, the questions remain: Who will model? Who will design? What will be the extravagant theme for MUCFD’s 2011 runway show? You will have to wait to find out! Until next time…
–Anne Kash Dobbins and Jacklyn Apostolik
MUCFD: Sustain the Runway opening night
Apr 17th
Opening night was a success!
Last night, as the designers placed finishing touches on their pieces, the Aveda hair and make-up team meticulously teased and braided each strand of the models’ hair. The club members straightened up the many rows of chairs and tested music and lighting. A large group of excited people waited for them to be ready outside the doors of the Oxford Community Center. Models and designers waited nervously in line by collection, while club members worked quickly to organize them in a timely fashion.
“It was hectic backstage making sure everyone and everything was in perfect order, but luckily, the feedback from the audience showed no knowledge of the chaos,” said MUCFD event planner, Anne Kash Dobbins.
Seven collections, each with twelve pieces of student-created clothing, graced the catwalk at the “eco-chic” runway show. Audience members raved about the professionalism of the designers’ impressive, high fashion pieces. Nicola Ording, club president, showed her collection last and received overwhelmingly positive reviews.
–Anne Kash Dobbins and Jacklyn Apostolik
MUCFD: Sustain the Runway update
Apr 15th
Preparation for MUCFD’s Sustain the Runway fashion show has not been easy. Designers have been working around the clock to perfect their pieces. Models have been meeting a couple times a week for the past three weeks to meet with their designers, get properly fitted into their garments and practice their cat walk.
On the day before the show, MUCFD members have worked from the early morning to build the set and decorate the room in the Oxford Community Arts Center Building. The show’s models met in the early evening to have their first dress rehearsal.
“Having a good song to walk down the runway really helps motivate you to release your inner model,” said Jacklyn Apostolik, a model for the show. They were critiqued by MUCFD members to help perfect their walks and poses.
After the models were dismissed, the members of the MUCFD stayed, and continued working to embellish the room.
The first show is today, April 15th at 7 pm. Seats will fill up quickly so come early!
MUCFD: Sustain the Runway
Apr 13th
Fashion lovers, glitz and glamour are coming to Oxford, OH, April 15 and 16. Miami University Club of Fashion Design will be hosting its annual fashion show on these two exciting nights. Seven collections of student created clothing, inspired by the movement to “go green,” will walk down the runway at 7 p.m. in the Oxford Community Arts Center.
All proceeds from the runway show will go to support Talawanda High School’s Fine Arts department, as this program has recently suffered budget cuts. MUCFD has worked with Talawanda students through workshops, encouraging them to utilize eco-friendly materials. During fashion show’s intermission, the Talawanda students will be modeling their homemade clothing created completely from recyclable materials. The show does not have a set entrance price, but suggests donations of $10 per person at the door. In the past years, MUCFD has proudly raised over $2,500 for its different philanthropies. The club members hope to do the same for Talawanda High School this year.
The doors open at 6:30 p.m. both nights, so come out and support MUCFD and Talawanda High School’s Fine Art department!
– Anne Kash Dobbins and Jacklyn Apostolik
Florals, The Rolling Stones, and my 70s Funk
Apr 10th
My dad’s a huge 70s fanatic, always telling me stories of when he was young, and living the life of the kids we see in the movie My Girl. His favorite saying—“The 70s was the best time, today is nothing compared to the 70s… remember that.” As I plug my ears and walk away, I couldn’t picture the 70s being that fun. But lately, I’ve been stuck in the 70s, and with the H&M Garden collection releasing, and the new bold accessories at American Eagle Outfitters, looks like I’ll be stuck there all summer!
This isn’t a bad thing. It’s giving me the chance to be experimental and tap into a different fashion era. Over Spring Break, I found myself watching Soul Train every day, trying to locate a place where I can find a vintage bike, and saying words like psychedelic, groovy, and right on! I even bought leather vintage American Tourist boxed luggage. Don’t judge me, when I’m into something, I live it! This summer my friends better be ready, I’m preparing to bring the 70s to 2010.
The H&M Garden collection got me really excited after I saw fashion blogger, Karen Blanchard, (Wheredidyougetthat.blogspot.com) post pictures of herself in both red and ivory, chic dresses, trying to figure out which one to purchase. They both looked amazing to me, so I decided to inspect in the collection. I found awesome pieces, which I’ll be spending my hard earned cash on. Forever 21 also has a myriad of fun and affordable, floral dresses! This summer I’ll be riding the bike (that I’m going to find), with my iPod in my ears, listening to my massive play list of The Rolling Stones, Earth Wind & Fire, and Elton John, accessorized with my brown-tint aviator shades, in floral of course!
If you’re in the same 70s funk as me, or you’re just excited about summer (we all should be), here’s some fun summer suggestions:
Summer Playlist:
- Sympathy for the Devil- The Rolling Stones
- Love Rollercoaster- Ohio Players
- Brown Sugar- The Rolling Stones
- Hearts a Fire- Earth Wind and Fire
- ABC- The Jackson 5
- Play that Funky Music – Wild Cherry
- Bennie and the Jets- Elton John
- Me and Mrs. Jones – Billy Paul (My grandparents all time favorite!)
Funky Accessory:
AE Colorful bead Bracelet 12.50 (www.ae.com )
Fun Flirty Floral:
H&M Garden Collection 19.95 (http://www.hmthegardencollection.com/still-life-4/)
Peace and love everyone!
–Keiana Smith-McDowell
Lessons Learned: Continued
Apr 7th
Lauren Kreiser wrote an article for this spring’s “Then/Now” issue about the things she wished she had known as a freshman. Now that she is graduating, she imparts her wisdom on the rest of us.
You can read more of her advice here.
Lesson 6:
People say that volunteering is selfless act.
I think they are wrong.
There is nothing more rewarding then helping other people.
A lot of the moments I will cherish occurred while I was volunteering.
I’ll never forget the people of Ocean City, Mississippi, a small town that was obliterated by Hurricane Katrina. After a hard day of building homes, our volunteer group went to a local bar. We began talking to the locals and told them why we were in Mississippi. They thanked each one of us for our service to their community and bought us beers. We talked about the hurricane and how it changed their lives. They told us how we were making their home a better place. It was probably one of the most heart warming moments of my life.
When you give up your time to help someone else, your also helping yourself. You are making yourself a better person. And if you believe “what goes around, comes around,” then you are only enriching your Karma.
Lesson 25:
Buying your friend a drink at the bar will make your drink taste better.
More drinks, more happy
Lesson 75:
One of my favorite things to do is to commit random acts of kindness. When you are having a bad day, it somehow gets better when you do something nice for someone else.
If the meter next to yours is about to expire, throw a quarter in there. Not only did you save that kid $65, you have defeated parking services.
If the person in line behind you looks like they are going to die if they don’t checkout in the next 10 seconds, let them go in front of you.
You’d be surprised how good altruism feels.
To be continued…
H&M Garden Collection
Apr 1st
This past Thursday I went to Kenwood, unable to wait until the weekend to see if the much anticipated Garden Collection would live up to its hype.
Here’s a quick explanation behind the collection from the H&M press website:
“Romantic, exotic, glamorous or abstract: this spring’s floral patterns provide an injection of creativity and a love of fashion into your wardrobe…The romantic garden collection is made using organic and recycled materials. All the garments have been produced using sustainable materials or using recycled PET bottles or textile waste.”
My discoveries are as followed:
- As a whole, the collection is very well put together. All of the pieces look like they belong and most complement each other.
- The fit on a few of the items is questionable, especially the shorts and dresses.
- The quality of the fabric is surprisingly wonderful. Most of the fabric was softer and more durable feeling than regular cotton or polyester, which says a lot for the sustainable materials. So far, they’ve held up pretty well in the washer and dryer.
- The Kenwood H&M’s selection is pretty good, but is definitely missing a few of the more standout pieces… namely the gorgeous red dress pictured below. I almost considered sending my sister on a hunt around the H&M’s at home. I’m sure the Pasadena store would have had it.
- The best aspect of this collection is almost every single piece is to-die-for. I love the effortless, summery looks of the pieces, as well as the overarching nature theme: colorful floral patterns combined with earthy tones.
Here are a few of my most favorite pieces…
It’s obvious this is a huge improvement from past sustainable clothing lines we’ve seen with reasonable prices and attractive designs. It’s a perfect formula for those wanting to be more eco-friendly, but certainly not willing to sacrifice style or their wallet to get there.
–Mari Teasdale
images from: http://www.hmthegardencollection.com/look-book/