Portland - My ‘Eat, Pray, Love’

I moved out to Portland for a breath of fresh air. To get out of my hometown which I was no longer growing, but festering in. Portland seemed like a good place to go, and things lined up for me to finally get out of the desert.

But after a few months in Oregon, I began to feel homesick. Don’t get me wrong - Portland is amazing and definitely more my speed. But feeling like an outsider, the new girl, in a totally different place in all aspects of the term - it has been hard.

For starters, Portland is incredibly inconvenient to drive around and get to places. Streets are narrow, you have to “turn right to go left”, potholes are abundant, everyone owns large SUVs despite the small streets, it’s not quite safe and car theft is HUGE here, and well, parking lots don’t really exist. Portland has been a complete polar opposite experience from my life in Phoenix that I was accustomed to.

Mount Tabor, Portland, OR

Multnomah Falls, OR

In Phoenix, familiar chain restaurants and parking is abundant. Everything is a grid. It’s hot but at least the weather is reliable. I’ve found myself reminiscing and romanticizing even the simplest night drives around Phoenix, while I laid in my Portland apartment with earplugs in, trying to tune-out my noisy neighbors.

Portland was not what I thought it would be for me. 

I’ve had a wonderful experience up here. I’ve grown a lot. It has been hard and scary at times, but I am thankful for my time up here. I am thankful for this experience and that - hey, I moved out of state and lived alone for a while and learned from it. And that’s okay. I moved up here thinking it would be permanent, but quickly found it was just a learning experience needed for my personal growth.

I no longer loathe Phoenix, and miss it dearly. I have a whole new appreciation for my hometown. Mind you, I have learned a bunch from this time of isolation and solitude, and will be returning to the desert with a clear head and open mind, much wiser and stronger than before. I will always look back on my time in Portland fondly, and I will visit often. 

It’s okay to think you had a plan for your life, and then once you follow that plan, realize it isn’t for you. It’s okay to start over. It’s okay to go back home.

Lorraine

Haystack Rock, Cannon Beach, OR

Fremont Bridge, Portland, OR

Witches Castle, Forest Park, Portland, OR

How the Pandemic has Affected Fashion

2020 has been a mess for many aspects of life. Public health, mental health, and the economy have gone down the tubes. Let’s just throw this whole year away. 

But instead of dwelling on the negative this year has brought us, let’s focus on how society has changed. Let’s focus on how our priorities have changed.

For starters, the fashion industry has taken a huge hit. Because our priorities have changed. We are not going out to events, we have hardly anyone to impress besides our online friends, so the demand of buying new garments has plummeted. I can’t tell you the last time I dressed up for work or a business meeting. I actually ordered some nice work clothes at the beginning of the pandemic because they were on sale, thinking I would have some nice new pieces when I returned to work in person…. But I’m still working from home 8 months later.

Indeed, the pandemic has truly affected the fashion industry. We are no longer shopping for the latest trends, nice work clothes, or cute outfits to wear to the club. But I will say, the pandemic has halted the fast fashion industry quite a bit. Our priorities are no longer meant to impress our peers in person with the hottest trends spotted on instagram. We are now donning sweatpants and fuzzy socks and effective hair scrunchies as our daily attire.

The first items listed on The Urban Outfitters Women's Clothing page inspire coziness and home comforts.

Instead of shopping every other week for a cheap item that falls into the same genre as the latest trend, we are now online shopping for the coziest garments. Outfits that will bring us comfort physically and mentally. 

Shopping is still about lifestyle, but the lifestyle we are aiming to achieve now when we search for new outfits is one that brings us comfort and peace.

Besides our work from home attire, fashion has evolved even for the brief moments we are out in public. One thing to notice is that many popular garments worn by the masses and trend-setting influencers and teens are baggy, oversized clothing. The theme of comfort is still not lost when we dress up to go run errands at our local Target.

Perhaps wearing baggier clothing is not just a comfort trend that this year has brought on, but also a safety trend. The more fabric that covers our body, the safer we feel from this invisible, airborne virus that plagues the world.

Long ago were the days we were shopping every other weekend for the skimpiest, trendiest fast fashion pieces. We are now hunkering down and spending our dollars wisely, only shopping for the most essential, coziest, and safest outfits to wear.

How do you think the pandemic will affect the fashion industry and fashion trends long-term? Is baggy, cozy, safe clothing the new normal, or just another adaptation to our current crisis? Do you think fast fashion will resurrect itself after this is all said and done, or do you think that society has finally adopted sustainability and will start only shopping for long-lasting pieces, with less trips to the mall?

These are uncertain times, but only time will tell how this all plays out with the fashion industry. For now, let’s enjoy our cozy sweats and fuzzy socks as we sit in our makeshift home offices, and wait out this health crisis virtually together.

-Lorraine

The Evils of Fast Fashion: How To Fight Racial Oppression With How You Shop

Hey guys! It has been a while since I’ve made a blog post, and while I feel like now is not the time to be promoting my own content, I feel like making this post is important to inform everyone on how to shop ethically and to stop feeding into racial oppression caused by the fast fashion industry. I have been kind of quiet with my own thoughts on the harsh realities and changes in this world because I feel like I do not have the right experience or knowledge to inform people. However, I AM educated and knowledgeable in the realm of fashion and would like to educate y’all on what actually happens behind the scenes in the garment construction industry.

I have spoken numerous times on how evil fast fashion is and how it is a cesspool of poor sustainability, worker exploitation, and feeds into the raw evils of capitalism, but I would like to go more into depth on how the industry affects people of color around the world.

For many developing nations, the garment industry is the main trade citizens work straight into. The working conditions are poor, but it is all those folks know. Many factory workers in newly developing nations make about $100 USD a MONTH from their sweatshop jobs. And the sad fact is most of the groups who are part of this system are people of color. Systemic racial oppression runs deep in the fashion industry and it is so dirty.

Buying into fast fashion just keeps these forms of business alive and keeps these groups oppressed. If you would like to stop contributing to global racial oppression and choke out these industries that exploit workers, stop shopping from fast fashion companies. Here are some examples with links on fast fashion’s dirty laundry:

Bangladesh is one of the worst nations for worker conditions in the garment industry. But this is all the citizens know. They work countless hours for minimal pay and minimal housing, and this is normal for them. Fast fashion companies take advantage of citizens in nations like Bangladesh because the labor is cheap, thus making the garments cheap, which makes customers consume more, which gives the companies who are oppressing these workers even more money. It is imperative you read this article, even if it is the only article you read out of this blog.

Seeing through transparency: H&M is being transparent about where garments are made, assuming that is enough. Yet most garments are made in Dhaka, Bangladesh, one of the worst places for factory conditions and workers. Is transparency the same as being ethically sound? Click here for the article describing H&M’s “transparency” on garment production as part of their movement towards sustainability. The fact that their garments are mostly sourced from the country with the worst factory conditions for workers is masked by them being “transparent”. Don’t let this fool you.

This article explains how US garment workers are being paid $4/hour for Forever 21. This is right in our own backyard! A lot of US sweatshops go under the radar by the FDA, and these shops exploit undocumented immigrants.

On top of Forever 21, Fashion Nova also exploits immigrant workers in sweatshops in LA. Click here for that article.

Besides exploiting garment factory workers, Zara has been under fire for being racially insensitive with their products and also with their personnel, company, and employees. Here is that article.

And Dollskill? Don’t even get me started. If you are unaware of their numerous offenses, a quick google search will give you a nice list on why to not support them.

Just remember, if a garment is a “good deal”, or “cheap”, think of the true cost it took to make it. Speaking of the true cost, The True Cost documentary about exploitation of factory workers is currently streaming on Tubi. Please check it out.

Please be thoughtful about how you shop. If you are looking for change in this world, a good place to start is your own closet and wallet.

Thanks for reading!

Lorraine

How Your Outfit Influences Your Mood

I know that the ‘Tine has been rough for all of us, and I’m sure many of you aren’t feeling yourselves or lack motivation to even get out of bed some days. I sure feel that way sometimes. But how can we remedy that feeling while in isolation with nowhere to go? How do we make ourselves feel better and motivated when there is nothing to do?

I’m not sure about y’all, but how I dress and look determines how I feel and how my day is going to go. The best remedy to the Quarantine Blues that I’ve discovered is dressing up even if you have nowhere to go. 

For the days I am on the clock and working from home, I try to dress as I would if I were going into the office. I feel motivated, professional, and ready to go when I am wearing professional attire, even in the comfort of my own home as I wrangle three hyperactive cats in the morning while on the clock. 

If I need to work out and eat better, I will put on my attire I would normally wear to the gym, so when I have a moment I can feel free to do some at-home workouts to stay motivated and get the blood pumping. Wearing workout clothes also encourages me to eat healthier and drink more water and be more productive.

Putting on a full face of makeup may not be the most cost-effective thing to do when you have nowhere to go, but I will say not getting done-up and going out to show off how I look really has done a number on my self esteem during social distancing. I miss my lash salon, nail salon, I’m due for lip fillers, my roots are two inches long, and don’t even get me started on how much I miss the gym. But even if I don’t feel like myself in full glam, the best I can do is put on a nice face of makeup, take some selfies, and relish in online praise and attention. 

Back when I used to do costume design for theatre, I quickly learned that what someone wears determines how they feel and who they are as a person. Are you going to let 24/7 pajamas dictate your personality and livelihood?

Wearing sweats may seem like a great idea, but two months of loungewear can really bring a person down. My examples above are just ways for me to break my social distancing norm and feel just a tad bit closer to normal life. Dressing the part for your daily activities really does wonders, and I encourage y’all to try it during these weird times. We must cling to things that make life the most normal it can be. 

Thanks for reading, we’re all in this together.

Lorraine

How To Stay Busy When The World Is Frozen

Hey all!

I wish I had a more inspired post to write about here, but with the world at a stand-still, frozen in fear, nothing has piqued my interest to write about. Perhaps my next post I will brush up on my art and fashion history textbooks and blog something more educational, but for this post - let’s talk about something every creative I’m sure is struggling with: staying productive and creative when no inspiration is coming through.

I’ll admit - I have not been blogging as much because life really did hit me hard the last month. Before going into COVID-19 lockdown, I ran into some pretty serious health and interpersonal issues that put my life at a standstill, and now our current international quarantine has made that standstill even more profound.

I create this blog to educate and inspire others, so let me lead by example on what I have been doing.

So, how have I been staying busy during “social disty”? I am a big fan of lists, schedules, and calendars, and utilizing those organizational tools has been even more important during today’s monotonous times.

My best advice to other creatives out there is: We have had our few weeks of mourning, of relaxing, of accepting. It is now time to create and contribute, for our own sanity.

I have been treating this time as an extended and much needed vacation. I am reading books I have intended to complete, I am finishing up my clothing collection, and catching up on films I have not seen. I am trying to keep a steady mix of assertive and passive hobbies in my daily rotations (see a couple blog posts down on my theory on different types of productivity) so that I am equally producing and consuming.

I intend to use this time to learn more, to try to maintain my social life through social media (unfortunately) and Animal Crossing, and to work on projects I keep putting off.

Raine 2.0 will have a soft launch within the coming weeks online until I am able to ship and deliver. I am going to attempt to make face masks for local hospitals as my contribution to helping with the world’s pandemic.

Basically, us creatives need to stay busy. Follow my example and make short term goals to complete and reach during this time. Make a daily schedule to get yourself moving and out of a mixed-up-sleep-schedule funk. It is PERTINENT that us creatives create during struggling times like these. When the economy has crashed and the world’s health is in the toilet, all we can do is create art. All we can do is provide creature comforts for others and ourselves to keep spirits high. The Netflix shows we are watching and the books we are reading were all created by artists and creatives. Those essential products made by creatives like us are what is keeping the world’s morale up.

So the least we can do is contribute. It may be hard to get out of that pandemic funk, but make a small step to making a daily schedule for yourself to create at least one thing a day. To express yourself once a day. To learn once a day. Your future self will thank you for it.

Love you all! Thank you so much for reading. Stay safe, healthy, and sane.

Lorraine

Historical Fashion - Brothel Creepers

Hey guys! This week’s blog post is going to be a tad educational, about a topic I love to cover most - how historical fashion circulates into modern trends years later. One of my favorite trends that has stayed strong in the underground and alternative subcultures but has come back into vogue are creepers. 

Creepers are typically known for their suede bodies, platform soles, and D-ring grommets for laces. Creepers have remained popular in the alternative and goth subcultures for decades, and sales of the shoes have risen the past decade after years of being a dormant expression of fashion aggression. 

But what if I told you creepers have an even older history than the days of the Velvet Underground and Vivienne Westwood?

Brothel creepers originated from the days of World War II, where British soldiers would wear suede boots fashioned with repurposed rubber soles from tires to “better navigate the climate” (Rebel Circus). They were deemed “Brothel Creepers” because troops would creep into shadier venues when returning from war in London. 

Brothel creepers were then appropriated with the Teddy Boy style in the 1950s - the first of the “goths”. The rest is, for a lack of a better term, history.

Creepers are any goth’s staple statement piece, offering height and malevolence to the wearer. I remember my dad once calling them “Frankenstein shoes”....

Well, there you have it. Many modern styles have vast and interesting history and stories behind them, and creepers’ history is one of my favorite stories to tell.

Hope this post was interesting and educational! Thanks for reading, 

Lorraine

Here are some more reading materials on the history of creepers:

Rebel Circus Article on Creepers

TUK Shoes Article on Creepers

The Story Behind Brothel Creepers

How To Stay Inspired

Hey guys! Sorry about the break in post during the holidays. I am back with new posts about fashion styling, art history, and creative advice for 2020!

Sometimes life can get you down and everyday chores and responsibilities can get in the way of your creative juices. Right now, I am struggling with just that. A lot is going on with my life at the moment and big life events are moving very rapidly. I do not have the energy to be innovative, creative, or charismatic about projects. I am trudging through finishing up my clothing collection, and the cold weather has me feeling like a hermit. But in order to move forward in life, one must push through any obstacle, and I am trying my best to still create during these winter months.

One thing I want to touch on in this blog post is my theory on productivity. I tend to go through two different phases of productivity and alternate back and forth. The two phases of productivity I experience are assertive and passive.

During the assertive productivity phase, I want to constantly create. I am always inspired and want to do ALL of the things. I tend to agree to too many things and overextend myself, but I feel so good about it. While feeling assertive, I am drawing, writing lyrics, making more blog posts, just DOING things.

During the passive productivity phase, I want to kind of draw inward and evaluate my life. I lean towards activities like yoga, reading, and shopping. In this phase I am still remaining productive but I am taking information in instead of exerting information. While I feel guilty in the passive phase that I should be doing more things, it is also important to take that time to reflect and slow down.

Both of these productive phases influence how I stay creative. If you, the reader, also resonate with these, let me offer some advice to keep alternating between phases and not being stagnant with your growth as a creator and human being.

• Always try new things. 

• Go out with friends, but alternate your friend groups and what you do with them to keep a healthy balance and to always be learning from them and making new memories.

• Make some time for yourself to learn something new! 

• Even in the passive phase, try a new restaurant or place to shop at.

• Listen to new music.

• In your assertive phase, try making something everyday, whether it be a sketch, a poem, meal prepping

• Never be afraid to take risks and say YES - just make sure you have the energy for it.

These things I do to keep myself moving forward. It is healthy to alternate between being assertive and passive with your habits and hobbies to keep your creative juices on their toes and flowing! Inspiration can come from anywhere - and it’s okay if you hit any roadblocks, writer’s blocks, or just need some downtime to reassess your needs. Do not force creativity and productivity.

I hope this blog was helpful to read! It is definitely something different than what I typically write up but sometimes we all just need a boost, especially since we creatives are always so hard on ourselves and our productivity. 

Thanks for reading!

Comfy Yet Trendy - How To Style Athleisure-wear

Hi guys! Today’s blog has been inspired by my good friend Michelle’s suggestion: How do you stay stylish while wearing comfortable workout clothing? With athleisure-wear on the rise, it is always good to brush up on styling tips for this new trend to stay looking put together while being comfortable.

Athleisure-wear and streetwear has taken over the fashion industry. Many people opt for stretchy yoga pants and comfortable Nikes on a daily basis. Breathable materials and comfortable clothing are the main focus of many modern consumers, but the trick is, how does one stay on trend while sporting activewear?

A top styling tip no matter what you are wearing is to show off your best assets. Activewear can definitely accentuate certain parts of your body, but activewear can also be bulky and unflattering. My top tips and garment must-haves for athleisure-wear include at least one pair of heather grey yoga pants and one pair of black yoga pants for women, and men should have at least one pair of heather grey joggers and one pair of black joggers to be set for success with activewear. 

But beyond these basic pieces, I highly recommend mirroring your active wardrobe to what your normal wardrobe looks like. If you look better in brights, keep bright clothing consistent with your comfortable clothing. If slim-fitting neutrals is your thing, you probably do not want to dive out of your comfort zone with a neon orange bulky Nike hoodie. 

Another thing to consider is textiles. How do certain textiles make you feel? If dri-fit materials make you itch, try wearing light-weight cotton apparel instead. If you tend to sweat, dri-fit may be for you. Also, basic cotton tee shirts or band tees could suffice to pair up with some active outfits. Cotton is a breathable material and is quite versatile. Dressing down cotton tees to go with a workout outfit is always an option.

Silhouette is a HUGE thing I always discuss with people asking for styling tips. Referencing back to when I mentioned to show off your best assets in this blog, activewear for women should consist of long yoga pants and tighter-fitting tops (possibly a sports bra layered with a loose and breathable tank or tee). Capri active pants cut off legs at an awkward length and tend to make the wearer look bigger and shorter than they are. And even though bike shorts are a fun new trend, they tend to accentuate the thighs and make them look larger, and also stunt one’s height. Keep tops tight or small when compared to other garments you are wearing - it’s all about the booty right now, so that needs to be the part of your outfit most highlighted (keep your tops simple and less bulky). For men, long basketball shorts are officially no longer in vogue. Long shorts for men make the wearer look really short and larger. “Short shorts” that were once all the rage in the 1980s are back! Flaunting your thighs is encouraged now, men! Wearing well-tailored and well-tapered joggers is also a must to look put together while remaining comfortable in your athletic clothing. Lastly, most men want to accentuate their arm and chest muscles, so bulky hoodies or intricate windbreakers are definitely encouraged for your athleisure-wear ensemble. 

Lastly, if you do not intend to go to the gym in your fun, new activewear wardrobe and just want to remain comfy and trendy, try pairing up some practical jewelry and accessories or a full face of makeup with your fun Lulu Lemon outfit. Smart watches and simple chain necklaces add a nice finishing touch (you don’t want too many accessories for an outfit that is supposed to be deemed “relaxed”). A fresh face or a full face of makeup paired with your athleisure-wear outfit also do wonders for your appearance (if you are headed to the gym, PLEASE skip the makeup).

Athleisure-wear is such an exciting yet relaxing fashion trend to hit the runway and the streets, and it can be quite flattering if worn properly. I hope these tips help you remain relaxed and trendy within the evolving fashion world.

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine

How To Style Dark Attire

Hi guys! 

If you are anything like me, you love wearing mostly neutral colors, especially black. Today I will be giving styling tips on how to look put-together and on-trend with all-black and neutral outfits.

First of all, my own personal wardrobe consists of some tans, some pastels, fifty shades of grey, and black on black on black. The age-old fear of blacks not matching is pure nonsense to me, and I actually encourage not matching your blacks exactly - you just have to know how to style them currently to successfully pull it off!

One thing I highly encourage if you are to wear a mostly dark-colored wardrobe is to mix textiles and textures! Keep your outfit interesting; do not wear a plain black cotton tee and plain black cotton leggings (you will look like you rolled out of bed and didn’t think through your outfit past the color scheme). Mix a ripped shirt with a smooth cotton legging or smooth black denim. Wear a black faux fur coat while wearing black pleather pants. Keep your outfits interesting! monochromed outfits do not have to be boring.

Another tip for wearing all black is to play with silhouettes! What proportions for clothing and outfits look best on you? What are your best assets? Highlight those while playing with clothing silhouettes. An example: I personally like wearing a-line dresses (tight on top, flare on the bottom) because I have broad shoulders and am bigger chested in comparison to the rest of my body. Wearing a garment that is the opposite of my own body’s proportions helps even things out. (Also it helps that black is a slimming color anyway). Do not keep your daily outfits looking the same either; wear tight garments one day, wear a long and flowy dress another day. Mix up your wardrobe choices, and the all-black closet will not seem so boring.

Another thing I really encourage for wearing all black is adding layers! Again, mismatching blacks can be a good thing! Try pairing a long charcoal cardigan with a tight black ripped top and a black acid-wash pant. Layering your outfits will give it more dimension, just as mixing textures will.

And lastly, do not be afraid of adding color! Now, I do not mean wear some random shocking orange accessories with your drab attire, but style yourself with some thought. Adding in neutrals that do not clash too much with black is a wise choice. Wearing colorful makeup or a black tee with fun colored graphics are great ideas to spice up your outfits. If you are to add pops of color to your outfits, make sure they are the centerpiece of your look and bring the whole outfit together. Bad example: Bright orange shoelaces on lace-up black vans and an all-black outfit. Good example: Fun and bright graphic on black tee shirt with all black outfit, head-to-toe.

I hope this blog inspires you to have fun with your wardrobe (even if you like to keep it dark like me). Thanks for reading!

How To Style A Dad Bod

Today’s blog is going to offer styling advice for dudes. Dad bods, specifically. This blog post was requested by my good friend John, and I will be explaining how men can style themselves to look put together with flattering outfit choices.

First of all, I am a big advocate for people knowing what silhouette proportions and color proportions look best on them. A key to dressing one’s self in their favor is featuring one’s assets while hiding not-so-desired parts of one’s body. Dad bods typically consist of a dude with possibly some nice facial hair, a beer gut, and skinny legs. In this case, legs are the best feature here.

For styling dad bods, I recommend wearing clothing and garments with vertical lines to seem thinner and longer. Clothing of the same color also helps keep this illusion. An outfit to successfully show off the best assets of a dad bod would include dark straight or skinny pants, smaller looking shoes with not much structure (think Vans, Toms, Converse, anything made of canvas), a dark-colored lightweight top (no heavy textiles), and a straight and somewhat structured denim jacket. Keep your colors cool and monotoned, wear light textiles, and wear vertical lines (denim jackets typically have stitching that run up and down, straight pants keep the movement flowing). 

TLDR; 

Pro-tips and takeaways for styling dad bods: Wear lightweight materials, less-bulky designs and stitching, vertical lines, dark colors, and monotone outfits for illusion of length and height.

Remember, all bodies are beautiful, and even having a dad bod is something to be proud of. Dress with style and knowledge of proportion, and your confidence will be boosted even more.

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine

Fashion and Style on a Budget

This week’s blog topic was inspired by my dear friend Abel, who asked how to style outfits and be on trend on a budget. I have definitely touched on this topic before, but I am going to go a little more in-depth on tips on how to be stylish on a budget.

Contrary to what many think, it is definitely possible to be trendy while not spending an arm and a leg on clothing. There are numerous methods for shopping to build a stylish wardrobe, and I am going to touch on shopping techniques that can help build anyone’s closet successfully.

Firstly, if you are like me and love unique pieces and high-end designer items, shop like I do; I treat clothing and shopping as a hobby and act of collecting. I buy one nice garment or piece each paycheck, and from there my wardrobe grows and becomes full of more quality pieces. Shopping and building a wardrobe does not have to mean you have to spend an entire day at the mall and look for three new outfits at once. Do not force shopping for clothing - simply purchase things you like when you come across them. Also, if shopping for less items at a time with more high-end labels, do your research on the brands to make sure they are durable and you are getting your money’s worth. You do not want buyer’s remorse on an expensive item that you do not really like anyway.

Of course, another method for shopping on a budget is to thrift. You can find some wonderful goods at local shops. I highly recommend Buffalo Exchange, because they encourage shoppers to purchase items that are on-trend. I also see a bunch of higher end pieces at Buffalo Exchange, you just have to do your research on brands to know what you are purchasing. I once found a Ted Baker blouse for $32 that is normally about $119 at Buffalo (of course, the employees there told me that is still a steep price in comparison to their other merchandise, but it was quite the steal). 

And again, you do not need to venture out and try to find a whole new wardrobe in one trip. You will come home with items you do not even like. Always take your time and hunt for quality items.

Online stores and even smaller indie brands that run most of their marketing through Instagram are also wonderful ways to save money on finding new garments. These indie shops will run sales quite often to keep traffic up. Keep an eye out for up-and-coming brands through instagram, handmade brands through Etsy, and any small business garment retailer that runs clearance and sales often.

Also, most brick-and-mortar department stores post new clearance sales about once a month, and digging through those racks is always worth it.

My overall argument when it comes to being stylish on a budget that can work for any shopping method is to take your time when clothing shopping. Do not force yourself to purchase garments you do not really like just for the sake of having another garment. Style and fashion are modes of collecting, always keep your shopping experiences enjoyable.

Thanks for reading!

Lorraine

How Pop Culture Affects Fashion

Hi all!

This week I am going to discuss how pop culture (mainly focusing on musical artists) have a strong influence on fashion, and the bottoms-up theory.

Life imitates art, and art imitates life. Years and years ago, when fashion originally became dubbed as a marketable art, most trends were birthed by new designers and high-end fashion houses. But as creativity took hold of the everyday population, and music started booming past the crooners of the 1940s and 50s, creative icons started to influence fashion trends more than expensive designers. (I.e. Twiggy, Andy Warhol’s pop art movement, and the influence of disco and punk through multiple artists).

Skip ahead to modern times, and fashion trends come and go so quickly, and they are often created by online influencers and oddball musicians. (I.e. Lady Gaga, goth subculture and music).

Vivienne Westwood is a fashion designer that brought the punk and new wave fashions into the mainstream with her designs. Working with creative musical acts of the underground, she made those fashions come into vogue. Vivienne Westwood is the reason of the genesis of the term “bottoms-up theory” in relation to the fashion industry. She popularized trends from everyday creatives and made them fashionable for the masses.

I like to compare my designs to Westwood, and aspire to bring pop-cultural inspirations into my own work. By grabbing inspiration from other avenues of creativity in the world, fashion can be more accessible and understandable to more people wanting to express themselves.

I hope this quick little history tidbit has enlightened y’all. Fashion is not just a business, but a form of expression, as seen in many alternative subcultures. I encourage everyone I know to express yourselves through your appearance and what you decide to wear.

Thanks,

Lorraine

The Design Process - Raine 2.0 Update

Hi all! Today I will be briefly discussing the design process when it comes to culminating a clothing collection, and using my own clothing lines as examples. I would like to educate people on the time and hard work it takes to get clothing out on the retail sales floor or online site; producing clothing is not as easy as it seems.

For my undergraduate capstone, I emulated the entire design process and created my original menswear collection through that experience, and thus marketed the collection online and in an in-person exhibit/mock store-front at ASU. While my new womenswear collection - Raine 2.0 - will not be presented in a physical form as I am not fortunate enough to have an exhibit to present the pieces in, I will be releasing that collection online. I want to be as transparent as I can about the design process to further educate my peers on the fashion industry, and show how passionate I am about what I create.

Firstly, a clothing collection starts with an idea. Like any major project, a theme and purpose must be decided upon. Raine is about streetwear clothing curated from breathable and athletic textiles so musicians can wear the pieces on and offstage. My clothing is geared towards performers and an edgier audience.

After deciding on a “why” and a target audience, the design process then leads me to creating a mood board, or a big photoshop document with clip art and inspiring images that give off the idea or “mood” of the collection. A mood board gives the designer a steady direction for where the designs will go.

I then move on to my original rough sketches, where I sketch out silhouette and design ideas for my pieces. Most of the time these concepts come to me at the most random of times and I store the ideas in notes on my phone and then sloppily transcribe them into my sketchpad to keep the idea. From here I create a color board, which is a digital picture showcasing the color scheme and tones I want to use for my collection. I will look back at this color board throughout the rest of my design process.

From here, I create stylized fashion illustrations with water colors as well as graphic Adobe Illustrator renderings of my designs, called “technical flats”. Fashion illustrations are great for showing the attitude of the garment as well as showcasing the movement and everyday function of the outfits created. Technical flats are precise graphic images of clothing made typically through Adobe Illustrator or CAD to show where seams will go, specific technical details, and how the garment will ultimately be designed and built.

So far with my Raine 2.0 collection, I have come this far. I have also rendered some graphics for printed tees that will accompany my handmade pieces for my sophomore collection.

After the pre-design work is finished, I then will source patterns and fabrics that will best suit my designs, and then I will go to work at building them. Building garments is a long process but is quite rewarding. From cutting patterns, cutting fabric from the patterns, pinning, sewing, pressing, and serging, building a garment is no easy feat.

After my garments are built, I typically like to market them. Typically, in the big leagues, prototype garments created and designed by the designers will be sent off to mills to mass-produce (once they are approved by a board of designers for whatever company it would be for). For me, I have no formal retailer to mass-produce for and most of the time, my garments are one-of-a-kind pieces. With the help of my supportive friends, my garments market themselves across the local scene I create and network in, and I am incredibly thankful to get such opportunities.

Maybe one day my designs will hit the “big leagues”, but until then I will remain creating and writing about it in this blog. Thanks for reading! I hope you learned a bit about the fashion design process because of my words.

Designing in the Entertainment Industry

I just want to explain a little bit of the “how” and “why” of what I do, and give a big thank you to all of my creative friends who have helped me along the way with building my business. 

I am extremely thankful for the creative community I am a part of in the valley; we all lift each other up and help each other reach our career goals. As a fashion designer, there are specific routes you can take to build one’s business, and I got lucky enough to be surrounded by other wonderful creatives in the local music scene to help bolster my career path.

Many fashion designers start out in the music industry, and that is exactly what I aim to do as well. Jeremy Scott, who is now creative director of Moschino and his own namesake label, started out designing in Paris and then moving into the entertainment industry, and to this day still designs Katy Perry’s costumes for performance and videos. An extremely inspiring story, it has motivated me to support my local scene by offering fashion advice, styling services, and by selling my own creations that are tailor-made for musicians. 

Being a young designer in the music industry is quite informative and rewarding and I am extremely thankful for the opportunities that have come my way because of it. 

My tip to any creative of any media and avenue is to branch out and support other creatives of different mediums, it will pay off in the end and give you an outlook on other creative industries to inspire your own approach. 

Thank you, again, for everyone who has supported me in my journey as a young fashion designer. My dreams of clothing musicians are coming true and it is quite overwhelming.

Lorraine

Models and Body Image in the Fashion Industry

Hi all! Today my blog post is going to be discussing a fairly controversial topic and opinion of mine. If you disagree with what I have to say and offer, please let me know and we can discuss. But I at least want to offer my knowledge and viewpoint from someone with experience in the industry to educate further on this topic.

It has been of growing concern for the major populous about the exclusivity of size diversity in the fashion industry. Criticism regarding companies like Victoria’s Secret and their models have been abundant for many years, and the majority of the consumer market wants to see more “realistic” models wearing their lingerie to make shoppers feel more included. Hence, Savage x Fenty emerged to address this concern. ...But is size inclusivity on certain models appropriate for certain avenues of marketing in the industry?

Don’t get me wrong, I believe models should be of more diverse sizing to relate to target markets, but there are different times and places when diverse sizing is appropriate. Models of different shapes and sizes are totally acceptable, in the appropriate marketing environment. I absolutely believe companies should be inclusive to different walks of life for their audiences, but certain body types are needed for specific fashion marketing avenues.

Let’s talk runway models for a moment. The reason runway models are tall and thin is because they’re literal hangers for clothing to walk down the runway. If models were varying sizes the audiences would not focus on the garments. I understand Fenty and their goal towards inclusivity for their market, but diversely-sized models for runway shows are distracting because models are not uniform; when models do not look similar, the attention is driven away from the garments being showcased and more on the models themselves. Whenever I watch a Fenty runway show, I am never paying attention to the garments but more on how beautiful and differently-shaped each model is. The Fenty garments always come as an afterthought for me as a viewer, and that simply hurts business in the long run. Runway models should remain uniform in sizing to not distract from the garments being showcased and sold. And most runway models are tall and slender to best show off the assets of the garments without any distractions; runway models are literal walking hangers and nothing more, and should not be a standard for beauty of consumers. (However, if a clothing line was targeted at plus sizes models, then models on the runway would ALL be plus sized. Models would still be of uniform shape.)

Clothing is meant to be marketed, not attacking body image. The models and their bodies aren’t important, it is the clothing they are wearing and presenting.

As for PR marketing, television and print advertisements, and direct-contact of relating to consumers, companies should absolutely, 100% be using models to relate to the general populous. Clothing is easier to market and show off on various body shapes and sizes through other forms of advertising outside of runway models, and I firmly believe clothing advertisements, even visual displays within stores, should always be inclusive to sizing of everyone shopping those items. 

To address controversy regarding Victoria’s Secret and their bombshell models, their models are also uniform - tall, slender, and fit. That is their “fantasy” target market, and their runway models looking a certain uniform way is valid. What is not valid is the fact that they continue to use the same types of body shapes and models for their in-store advertising. The “fantasy” is okay to a point, but people of all body types want to feel sexy and good in their undergarments, and walking into a store with nothing but bombshell models wearing the lingerie is rather intimidating. I respect shops like Aerie that are more inclusive with their visual advertising and merchandising. 

I hope this topic was not too controversial to discuss in this post, but from a fashion insider, I can positively tell you that the fashion industry is not purposely trying to exclude certain shapes and sizes. Fashion is a business, and companies want everyone possible to shop what they have to offer. Runway models are not meant to belittle others’ body image or show what a person should look like, they are just hangers moving the clothing across the room. PR and advertising for clothing should be the more inclusive side of the industry where the models can relate more to shoppers. If a company is acting exclusive to shoppers and their size diversity, simply do not give them anymore business. 

Thanks for reading,

Lorraine

Fashion Trends Do Come Back

Hi guys! Today’s blog is about historical fashion trends coming back into style, and modern trends today that are inspired by older fads.

If you didn’t know this already, fashion repeats itself. A lot. There is only so much people can do within the confines of clothing on bodies with arms and legs and necks, and fashion ultimately brings back past trends as time passes. Typically, trends in the fashion industry are introduced, accepted, and then phased out (as seen in this infographic below from josbd.com). But after sometime, trends can come back with modern twists, once the trend has been quiet for a while among influencers and consumers. 

Some fantastic examples of trends today that were popular before are leggings, statement hair clips, and platform shoes.

Leggings were the ultimate go-to in the 1980s, with bright colors to complement and complete outfits with large, oversized sweaters (another up and coming trend, i.e. Billie Eilish influence). Now they are worn to accentuate bodies and show off assets, and are a comfortable alternative to skinny jeans (which, funnily enough, are on their way out of being on trend - hello, bell bottoms revival!) This image below from Who What Wear sums up the resurfacing of leggings throughout the decades, as it has made several comebacks.

Statement hair clips is a fairly new trend to come back, and is definitely on the rise amongst consumers. Statement hair clips are most remembered from the 1990s and early 2000s (i.e. butterfly clips). Now they are rebranded and marketed as a form of jewelry. The most beautiful assortment of jewels can be adorned via hair clips, and can dress up any everyday look. Hair clips are back in style and not just meant to keep hair out of your face.

Lastly, my favorite trend to make a comeback: platform shoes. The hottest platform shoe on the market right now is the Doctor Marten Jadon boot. Platform shoes give the wearer height, edge, and also help keep the body proportionate by adding extra volume to the feet. “Dad shoes” are another form of platform shoes being flexed around; tennis shoes with funky colors and cumbersome soles are all over the ‘gram at the moment. Fun fact: platform shoes were pretty popular during the disco era. Even men sported platform and heeled boots for that extra edge.

Trends and fads in fashion ALWAYS come back. Remember that before you think about throwing away some neglected clothing - they may come back in style if you have the patience to wait. 

Thanks for reading!

Photo credits and resources: 

http://www.josbd.com/what-is-fashion-cycle-explain-fashion-cycle-with-the-graph/

https://www.whowhatwear.com/history-of-leggings-trend/slide25

https://www.elle.com/beauty/hair/a19301993/90s-snap-clip-barrette-hair-accessory-trend/

https://www.bloomingdales.com/shop/product/dr.-martens-jadon-platform-booties?ID=1807406

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/262475484511735284/

Flex... Within Your Style

Hi all! Today is a short but sweet blog post regarding how to flex expensive and designer goods within the means of your own style. Designer goods have become a status symbol as of recent years and I just want to educate y’all on how to actually shop these items while maintaining your style so you can be happy with your purchases because they actually fit who you are, and you don’t just buy these things for the clout.

I have touched on shopping designer and luxury clothing before, but I want to dive a bit deeper. Names like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Balenciaga may sound familiar to you, and you may even own items from these famed design houses… but are you happy with how much you spent on those pieces? Do the designer/luxury goods you own make you happy and fit in with the rest of your wardrobe and who you are as a person?

The whole idea of wearing designer and luxury clothing as a form of status or clout has been on the rise the last few years. These goods are now social assets; getting one’s hands on anything that says “GUCCI” in giant letters across it is an important means of social status in 2019. Unfortunately, designer and luxury items are quite expensive. And just to get that label and logo to appear in your outfit comes with a hefty price. Many people will buy the simplest, oddest items from these designer brands just to say they own something from that house, even if it is not necessary, practical, or does not even fit their style. 

And that is just plain stupid.

I see so many people sporting Gucci slides when I am out and about, but to be honest with y’all, those things are ugly, and I am pretty sure if those slides were any other brand people would not be wearing them. Also, Gucci slides are one of the least expensive items within Gucci’s product arsenal, which makes them easier to acquire for the everyday person.

Look, I understand wearing a designer name is important nowadays, but the point I am trying to get across is to flex, but within the means of your own style. Even if it means purchasing something a little bit more expensive, if that item will satisfy you more in the long run it will be the better purchase than some stupid pair of $210 Gucci slides.

I do not like to skimp out on my clothing and always stay true to my style, and I want others to start being more weary of what they wear as well. When I buy designer, I consider the color palette that looks best on me, as well as my personal wardrobe colorings. I consider my style (dark and clean and a little bit slutty). I consider how many wears this particular item will give me (price per wear = how many times I will use the item divided by the price. So, a Gucci belt is $450, and if I wear that 50 times within the next year, it will be $9 per wear).

If you are going to shop designer, at least buy something you like, something you will actually wear, and something that will go with numerous pieces in your wardrobe so it will get fair usage. Do not buy into stupid clout trends like Gucci slides, and possibly splurge for some velvet Gucci loafers instead that will go wonderfully with at least 5 outfits you own.

Be smart, and be happy with what you buy so you will have less buyer’s remorse in the long run. Flex responsibly. 

Always Buy the Real Real / Say No to Knockoffs

Over the past few years, buying and wearing designer clothes has been on the rise as a form of clout, assets, and social status. Many figures in the public eye like to flex their designer and luxury goods to show that they may be “ballin’” to their fans. Because of the rise of designer goods being purchased by public figures, everyday people want to follow suit even if they cannot afford these items.

This situation makes room for counterfeit designer items, and the market for fake clothing has grown immensely, just for the “flex”.

But let me tell y’all something. You are not flexing if you are not wearing real designer. Period.

People who shop fake designer did not save their money and earn those pieces. They did not purchase the real real out of respect for the designer. They just wanted to flex the brand and chase the clout.

I am extremely against this practice and I am going to explain here the reason why buying fake designer is a real issue.

I have discussed before how the fast fashion production industry exploits their factory workers for the cheaper products, and the counterfeit luxury goods industry does the same. By purchasing real designer goods, I know that those products were made ethically, and the price point of the garment is justified by textile quality, thought of design, and ethical manufacturing. The counterfeit goods industry does not care how a product is made, just as long as it is marketed to those clout-chasers on a budget and the manufacturers receive that profit. Buying fake designer hurts the economy, plain and simple.

Counterfeit designer is also illegal. Let me get that through y’all’s heads. It. Is. Illegal. It is infringement of intellectual property.

To add to this, these luxury and designer brands work years to gain the prestige they hold today. You are going to pay $450 for that Gucci belt for a reason. It is an insult to purchase a fake item that uses those hard-earned reputations and designer names for a cheaper price. Many people are all about crediting and paying the artists for their work, and buying designer should be no exception. When one is purchasing a designer item, they are paying for years of hard work and branding and art.

Bottom line of my argument: Do not purchase fake designer items. It is not worth it. If you want the real clout, then buy the real designer items.

Thanks for reading!

Lorraine

How To Shop Off-Price

Hi everyone! As what is already firmly established from my other posts, it is a goal of mine to educate others and spread knowledge about the fashion industry. This blog post is about how to be a smart and wise consumer of fashion goods by correctly shopping off-price and discount stores. In this post I will explain brand licensing and third-party manufacturing, how outlet and discount stores are not always giving you the better deal, and how to properly shop these stores for the actual best deal and goods.

Most of my friends prefer spending their money at off-price and outlet stores like Nordstrom Rack and Ross. These stores offer a variety of affordable prices of name brand goods. Sounds like a great deal, buying expensive brands for reasonable prices.

But there’s a secret to why these off-price stores and goods are so affordable that many consumers do not know about, and I am writing this blog to inform y’all about how to correctly shop on a budget.

Many off-price stores will sell products that may have a name brand label, but are not actually a part of that real brand. Big clothing companies will license out their name to third party manufacturers, and these manufacturers will receive most of the profit while the big clothing company receives a percentage of royalties. These manufacturers will produce goods that are not as great of quality as if the actual brand were to produce them. And these said products made by third party manufacturers are what fills up most of the Nordstrom Racks, Ross’s, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx’s, you name it. These brands and products with “such great markdown prices” are not made as well, and do not last as long, and by slapping a label and a name to a product not officially from that company, these manufacturers and discount stores are basically ripping off the general public without them even knowing it.

This may sound confusing, so let me give you some examples I’ve encountered when shopping discounted and outlet prices while looking for a good deal.

Sometimes the difference in quality and manufacturing comes from the textiles. When I walk into a Macy’s department store, and shop for Betsey Johnson handbags, the leather is a soft and durable pebble leather that is easily malleable and well worth the $100+ the handbag is priced at. Walking into a Stein Mart, however, and finding Betsey Johnson bags there for a fraction of the price than found at Macy’s may seem like an amazing deal, but those handbags at the discount store are made with a stiffer hatched leather and the stitching is not as well-enforced. This is a perfect example of real name brand manufacturing and retailing and third-party licensing sold through an outlet retailer for a cheaper price.

Sometimes brands will just produce off-names or lines from their original clothing line to offer cheaper prices and cheaply-made garments while still keeping that name and brand royalty. Good examples of this are CK by Calvin Klein, Z by Zella, alexanderwang.t, and basically anything that has an association with a big name but has a change of label. This even occurs in department stores when luxury designers are trying to appeal to regular shoppers (i.e. alexanderwang.t). All of these brands may officially stem from those big parent clothing companies, but they are not truly that brand, and more people need to understand this.

So, how do you shop for a good deal on that real real? Watch out for off-brand labels stemming from parent companies and look for official clothing labels. Another good tip is to shop the “clearance racks” at outlet stores. More than likely, these one-of-a-kind goods were not created specifically for that discount store and were shipped there from their full-price store as clearance items and are true markdowns (Nordstrom Rack has a whole fixture for Z by Zella, which is a discount brand, while actual Zella workout pants may be found on the sales rounders with only a couple pairs of one style).

Thank you for reading through this rather lengthy blog post of mine, there was a lot of information I wanted to express this week and I hope these tips help you guys to be better shoppers and start getting your money’s worth out of the items you shop for.

Lorraine

Art History Is Actually Pretty Cool

Throughout my education I have had the privilege and opportunity to take numerous art history courses, and for this week’s blog post I want to share with others my favorite and most memorable pieces I have learned about and have come across. 

When people think of art history they think of stuffy Baroque paintings or Greco-Roman sculpture or possibly the over-hyped Surrealist works of Dali. *Yawn*. Indeed, much of historical art consists of pieces under those categories, but I want to introduce and discuss a few of my favorite paintings that are quite different from the norm and have inspired me and my own works.

The first painting I want to discuss was created by Francisco Goya and finished in 1823; “Saturn Devouring His Son” is an oil mural transferred to canvas and is one of fourteen paintings from Goya’s Black Paintings. This collection of paintings was created during a dark time for Goya, as he was of old age and recently overcame two life-threatening illnesses. The Black Paintings were all originally painted upon Goya’s own home, and “Saturn Devouring His Son” was one of six of the collection that was in his dining room. The painting at hand is extremely gruesome. The subject matter is hard to swallow (ha ha) and the technique and mark making is rough and suggestive, giving the painting an entire moody and scary theme. The lore behind this painting is the titan Saturn chomping away at one of his sons out of remorseless fear of being overthrown by his own offspring. This painting is one of my favorites because it is just so different from other paintings created around the same time, and it proves that older pieces of art do not have to be stuffy or conservative but can be dark and terrifying and gross. I even recreated this painting in my undergraduate oil painting class last year out of pure fascination of the piece. 

Saturn Devouring His Son by Francisco Goya

Oil on Canvas

Another favorite painting of mine is “Dante and Virgil” created by William-Adolphe Bouguereau in 1850. The medium is oil on canvas. The subject matter is inspired by Dante’s The Divine Comedy, and the particular setting is in Inferno. Definitely one of my favorite pieces of classical literature, the subject matter of this painting has always been intriguing to me because of that fact. In The Divine Comedy, Dante (the writer of this piece) is taken through a journey through Inferno and Paradiso with his guide Virgil, the ancient Roman poet. The particular subject matter of this painting is when Dante and Virgil journey through Hell (Inferno) and view different circles and facets of human sin and divine rejection, and the scene depicted is in the eighth circle of Hell, of falsifiers and counterfeiters, where they are viewing two prisoners of the realm fighting and biting at each other. I am particularly fond of this work because of its striking and contrasting use of color, and its depiction and display of intense emotion with all of the subjects represented. Art can be dark and grotesque, which is really cool.

Dante and Virgil by William-Adolphe Bouguereau

Oil on Canvas

The last piece I want to discuss is a little different from the previous two; “Las Meninas” by Diego Velazquez is an oil on canvas painting created in 1656 and depicts the Infanta Margaret Theresa surrounded by her Spanish court and help in an activity room during the Spanish Golden Age. This scene is extremely meta, and there is a large canvas in the frame, as if the characters onlooking the scene are currently being painted. There is a lot going on with this painting and it is quite fun to view and revel in the story being told. The coolest detail about this work is the mirror on the back wall, which is rumored to reflect the Infanta’s royal parents looking on towards the scene at hand, or perhaps the onlookers being the subjects of the painting in the scene. 

Las Meninas by Diego Velazquez

Oil on Canvas

Thanks for reading, and I hoped you learned a bit about art and how cool and fun it can actually be! I always am open to educate others on my passions and inspirations, so I hope this tidbit of my favorite classic works sparked something within you.