Fashion Yearbook: Lady Gaga

28 Wednesday Apr 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Arts & Entertainment, Fashion, Music, Published Works, The Quad

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Photo by Stephen Carlile

As we wrap up the spring 2010 semester, we have the opportunity to reflect and measure our lives–no, not in love–but in Lady Gaga’s best and worst ensembles.

The “Poker Face” princess has certainly become a cultural phenomenon: who else could both be voted Best and Worst Dressed at the Shockwaves NME Awards and inspire fans to create cookies showcasing her shocking ensembles? Whether you absolutely adore Gaga and pump up “Bad Romance” on the treadmill or detest her growling “rah rah roma mah mah, gaga ooh la la,” you have to admit when it comes to fashion, Gaga is fearless. This article is dedicated to the Fame Monster in all her freakish, pants-less glory.

BEST:

I have a major soft spot for the early Lady Gaga looks—midnight black, hooded leotards, David Bowie lightening bolt makeup, and those unmistakable banged, platinum blond tresses topped with a mini-mouse hair bow. Here are some of my favorite looks:

Pretty in (Hot) Pink: Gaga put her own twist on the feminine pretty in pink look in this bubblegum pink, structured cocktail dress for the 2007 Brit Awards. In true Gaga style, the dress boasts a super deep, daring V-neck and its accentuated hips make this girly ensemble a little bit more naughty than nice. Her neon pink lips and white-topped sunglasses also edge out this look.

Charity, Whiskey, and Rock’n'Roll

12 Monday Apr 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Multimedia Journalism, Music, Published Works, The Quad

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a cycle, alabama, backgrounder, better, birmingham, breathe out in black, charity, columbia records, five chance remain hers, ijm, inspiration, international justice mission, interview, lyrics, man-made machines, matthew mayfield, maybe next christmas, message in a whiskey bottle, moses mayfield, multimedia journalism, music, next big sound, pledge music, renee trilivas, rock'n'roll, sxsw, the fire, whickey, you're not home

Photo by Nicole Zwicker

Holed up in his Birmingham, Alabama apartment, singer-songwriter Matthew Mayfield sits up sifting through lyrics scrawled on bar napkins and melodies at three in the morning, accompanied only by a guitar, his computer, and of course, whiskey.

Despite being an unsigned artist, Mayfield has an exceptionally wide range of fans. He recently played in one of the largest music American festivals, SXSW in Austin Texas, where he scored the number six spot list of the top ten artists with the fastest growing buzz at the festival on music analytics website Next Big Sound.

Since the break-up of his major-label band, Moses Mayfield, in December 2007, Mayfield has gone solo to self-release six EPs entitled The Fire, Five Chances Remain Hers, Maybe Next Christmas, Better, Breathe Out In Black, Man-Made Machines, and You’re Not Home.

The musician discussed his inspirations, challenges and his own twist on charity-giving in a phone interview.

Life In Technicolor

31 Wednesday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Beauty, Published Works, The Quad

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andy warhol, aquamarine, balenciaga, beauty, beauty advice, beauty rush, benefit, black satin, blush, chanel, cheek tint, color, covergirl, cyan, electric, eyeshadow duo, fashion, fuchsia, georgia, giambattisa Valli, Ginta Lapina, gloss, hair, jade, karl lagerfeld, Kasia Struss, les pop-ip de chanel, lip gloss, lip stain, lip tint, lipstick, lustreglass, mac, makeup, marc by marc jacobs, marilyn monroe, midnight blue, modern, nail polish, nanette lepore, nars, nouvelle vague, orange crush, outlast, pale lavender, pop art, prada, proenza schouler, purple, purple haze, renee trilivas, revlon colorbust, runway, Sara Blomqvist, sephora, spring 2010, style, Styleite, tarte, trends, urban decay, vamp, versace, vibrant, victorias secret

Sara Blomqvist photographed by Greg Kessler for Style.com

Fuchsia:

Looking to update your classic cherry red lips? A bold fuchsia mouth is a modern alternative. The hue adds a distinct youthfulness to your look. To recreate this look seen in at Spring 2010 Marc by Marc Jacobs (pictured,) try Revlon Colorburst Lipstick in Fuchsia, $8.99. For less of a matte look, top with NARS Lip Gloss in Easy Lover, $24, or wear the gloss alone for a sheer hot pink.

Also offer yourself a quick fuchsia flash, just swipe Victoria’s Secret Beauty Rush Lip & Cheek Tint, $7, in I Pink I Can over the apples of your cheeks for an instant beauty refresher. I like to use this cheek tint as a pick-me-up whenever my skin looks a bit paler than usual, it always brings a healthy glow to my face.

Orange Crush:

Kasia Struss photographed by Greg Kessler for Style.com

This sunny shade lit up at Prada‘s (pictured) and Giambattisa Valli‘s Spring 2010 runways. This divinely summer shade was painted on the pouts in both shows, and you too can simply slick on the orange-y goodness of Tarte Natural Lip Stain, $24, in Joy. This lip pencil may look like those chubby crayons you drew stick figures with in grade school, but Crayola has nothing on these fool-proof pencils. The lip pencil is super easy to use and leaves a lasting apricot hue on your lips. Also check out Benefit Georgia Blush, $28, for a soft, feminine peaches and cream glow.

Fashion Advice from Joaquin Phoenix: Reptiles are a Fashion Don’t

29 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Fashion, Published Works, The Quad

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catherine zeta-jones, christian louboutin, cole haan, exotic animals, fashion, fur, h&m, jessica simpson, jimmy choo, joaquin phoenix, lindsay lohan, lizards, luxury, nike, overstock.com, paris hilton, peta, renee trilivas, reptiles, sarah jessica parker, snakes, snakeskin, victoria beckham

Phoenix circa 2005: Photo by Tony Shek

Actor Joaquin Phoenix, better known for his bizarre appearance on Letterman and busting out rap rhymes with hobo hair and hipster shades, emotionally looks into the camera in the latest Peta promotional video and proclaims:

“Did you know that mother snakes keep their eggs warm by wrapping their bodies around them and then shivering to generate heat?”

Although he has since cleaned up his look–and his act, initially, I could not take Phoenix seriously. My head overflowed with images of grizzly bear bearded Phoenix wavin’ his hands in the air like he just don’t care until the camera pans off of luxury snakeskin shoes and handbags and onto the twitching, severed head of a snake.

Spring 2010 Trends: Eco-Friendly Edition

24 Wednesday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Fashion, The Quad

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I instinctively associate eco-friendly fashions with hemp sweaters, tee shirts with universal messages of peace sprawled across the chest, and boring canvas trousers.

Let’s face it, they’re not know to be the most fashionable garments to ever walk the runway. But for a trendy alternative, check out this head-to-toe guide on how to wear Spring 2010 trends with an eco-friendly twist.

H&M’s Sustainable Garden Collection: Image copyright H&M

TRANSform Me—Beauty in the Transgender Community

15 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Arts & Entertainment, Published Works, The Quad

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beauty, lgbt, renee trilivas, social issues, transform me, transgender, vh1

Image courtesey of VH1.com

We’ve all seen those ridiculous makeover shows where perfectly manicured stylists educate the less fashionable by telling them not to wear grungy, oversized tee shirts, make their little makeover project cry because they’ve “never felt this beautiful before,” and make the audience laugh with snappy remarks about glitter eyeshadow.

TRANSform Me is VH1’s attempt to put their own fresh spin on that overdone makeover show.

But what makes this show different? No, the Flavor of Love girls are not directing the makeovers and the Tool Academy kids are (unfortunately) not the makeover candidates. The twist is that glam squad consists of three transgender women, the main host: Laverne Cox, the Tyra Banks look-a-like with a pillowy, lacquered lips and a huge horse-like weave who specializes in “heart-to-hearts” (aka making girls cry,) Jamie Clayton, the quirky redhead who acts as makeup guru, and Nina Poon who rounds out the trio acting as the closet-raider.

This Charming Man: The Legacy of Morrissey & The Smiths

15 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Arts & Entertainment, Music, Published Works, The Quad

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bigmouth strikes again, Boston University, hipster, icons, indie 103.1, janice whaley, johnny marr, jose moldonado, lyrics, manchester, morrissey, musical icons, pete yorn, radio station, the smiths, the smiths project, this charming man, twitter, uk, WTBU, years of refusal

Unless you’re lacking in some serious musical education, you know who Morrissey and The Smiths are. But just in case, I’ll humor those of you who just furrowed your brow thinking “Who?!” The Smiths were a terrific Manchester rock band in the early to late 1980s. They released four studio albums from 1984 to 1987: “The Smiths,” “Meat is Murder,” “The Queen Is Dead,” and “Strangeways, Here We Come.” After their breakup in 1987, lead singer and lyricist, known simply as Morrissey, went solo to release nine studio albums, most recently, 2009’s “Years of Refusal.”

Why are we so still so obsessed with the man? The sometimes profoundly depressing lyrics? The sometimes gut-wrenching hilarious lyrics? The jangly guitar riffs? The enigma that is Morrissey? In 2002, British music magazine NME named The Smiths the most influential artists of the past 50 years. But why exactly does Morrissey still enrapture us?

Haute for Haiti Fashion Show: Great Cause, Eh Clothes

01 Monday Mar 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Fashion, Published Works, The Quad

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betsey johnson, boston, Boston University, carnival, cassie loscin, charity, criticism, fashion, fashion show, haiti, renee trilivas, runway

As part of the Boston Stands with Haiti relief campaign, Boston University’s Hillel House co-sponsored the lackluster “Haute for Haiti” fashion show Sunday February 28th. The designers featured were Kat Schamens, Betsey Johnson, Tom’s Shoes, and two BU student designers: Emily Gasda and Cassie Locsin. Hilary Rappaport for HMR Designs provided the jewelry.

Some of the designs may have looked a unquestionably familiar if you attended the Fashion & Retail Association’s Fall 2009 “NUDE” fashion show November 14th. The burst of fresh air in the runway show was Kat Schamen’s carnival-inspired line.

Betsey Johnson Fashion Show in Boston

26 Friday Feb 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Boston, College Fashionista, Fashion, Published Works, The Quad

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6one7 productions, betsey johnson, bond, boston, fashion, renee trilivas, the langham hotel

Betsey Johnson is known for her youthful party dresses in delicious shades like baby pink and soft teal, and her finale cartwheel and neon pink shopping bags. February 7th, I was lucky enough to attend a Betsey Johnson Fashion & Trunk Show at BOND lounge at the Langham Hotel. Here’s the lowdown for when BJ took over Beantown:

Drink Me, Eat Me, Wear Me: The Fashion Inspired By Alice in Wonderland

26 Friday Feb 2010

Posted by Renee Trilivas in Arts & Entertainment, Fashion, Published Works, The Quad

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alice in wonderland, disney, fashion, jewelry, lobe, opi, renee trilivas, stella mccartney, sue wong, tim burton, tom binns, urban decay

Alice took a wrong turn in wonderland and ended up on the runway! Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that Tim Burton is sure to take us all on a psychedelic ride in his highly anticipated remake of Lewis Carroll’s beloved nonsensical story Alice in Wonderland. which is set to be released March 5th.

Designers have been tripping over themselves to join the tea party and design Alice in Wonderland-inspired products—everything from nail polish to wedding gowns. So, lose yourself down the rabbit hole that’s been transformed into a high-fashion runway.

The Collected Works of Renee Trilivas (as of yet)

~ The official website for New York-based journalist Renee Trilivas

Category Archives: The Quad

Fashion Yearbook: Lady Gaga

Charity, Whiskey, and Rock’n'Roll

Life In Technicolor

Fashion Advice from Joaquin Phoenix: Reptiles are a Fashion Don’t

Spring 2010 Trends: Eco-Friendly Edition

This Charming Man: The Legacy of Morrissey & The Smiths

Haute for Haiti Fashion Show: Great Cause, Eh Clothes

Betsey Johnson Fashion Show in Boston

Drink Me, Eat Me, Wear Me: The Fashion Inspired By Alice in Wonderland

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