FASHION

March 23, 2021 Cover photo by Brittany Morrison CONTENTS

04 Thinking outside the binary box

08 The artists behind the ink

10 Threading a path from classes to careers

LEADERSHIP Emma Spainhoward Creative director 12 Back to the basics

Rylee McKee Writing editor

Brittany Morrison Photo editor 14 The closet upgrade plan

Ashlyn Crawford Design editor

Eric Vazquez Video coordinator

Sam Oldenburg WRITING Adviser Hannah Crisp Marshall Dees MULTIMEDIA Brian Kehne Advertising manager Olivia Harden Cristina Betz Téa Jones Allie Cornwell DESIGN Will Hoagland Josie Keeley Keilen Frazier Katie Ulrich Advertising adviser Abbey Norvell Emra Mehmedović Kayla Worden

02 | FASHION Dear reader,

Fashion is deeply ingrained in our culture, media and everyday experiences. Ultimately, the way we dress impacts who we are, how we feel and who we want to be. Fashion is more than just the clothes someone wears – it can be a vital element of EDITOR’S self-expression (pg 4), an arduous and permanent art form (pg 8) or a cutting-edge LETTER career path in an exploding industry (pg 10). Fashion is about forging an identity, and that’s something Cherry Creative is still doing in our third year. Our staff is excited to deliver our fi rst-ever fashion guide, a special section dedicated to helping you forge your identity.

Thanks for reading,

Emma Spainhoward Cherry Creative director THINKING OUTSIDE THE BINARY BOX Story by Abbey Norvell | Photos by Allie Cornwell

Clothing is expressive. Every day, people make conscious decisions about what to put on their bodies.In doing so, they decide how to present themselves to the world. These WKU students tailor their style to fi t their expression while challenging stereotypes and expectations. Nicholasville sophomore Dylan Winter, who identifi es as nonbinary, chooses their daily outfi ts depending on how they feel about their gender that day. “I like looking ambiguous, so people can’t guess my gender,” Winter said. “You can’t really assume. If I’m not feeling particularly masculine or feminine that day, it’s just a way to express myself in a way that makes me feel comfortable. For me, it’s not always about challenging gender norms. Since I’m nonbinary, it’s a way for me to express my gender so that people know that I don’t always have to present one way.” Winter said there are limited fashion options that match how they want to present themself. They feel they only have the option between “obviously feminine” clothes or oversized men’s clothes. After their experiences, they wish society’s perspective would shift in terms of fashion and clothing. “For me personally, I wish that there weren’t fashion gender norms. I wish they weren’t like, ‘If you wear feminine clothes, that means you’re a girl. If you wear masculine clothes, that means you’re a guy,’” Winter said. “That’s another reason I really like gender neutral clothing — I don’t have to conform to one or the other. I can just kinda exist.” Lexington sophomore Alex Smith identifi es as female and dresses to avoid sexualization and being uncomfortable. “I can’t be sexualized if you can’t see what kind of body I have, so that’s a big reason for me that I wear baggier clothes and men’s clothing,” Smith said. “I do like to challenge social norms. I don’t wear your typical ‘frat boy’ outfi t. But, I like the button-ups and the baggier shirts. I really like Billie Eilish’s style — not that extreme, but that kind of vibe.

Nicholasville sophomore Dylan Winter pairs a black button-up with gray plaid pants. “I wouldn’t say I have a particular style. I kind of just wear whatever I want,” Winter said. “Being nonbinary, dressing gender-neutral often helps with my gender dysphoria, as well as helping me express my identity.” Winter is a sociology major with an English minor.

04 | FASHION Lexington sophomore Alex Smith has a relaxed vibe with her oversized, long-sleeved button-up and corduroy pants. “I have many diff erent aesthetics I like to dress in, but for the most part, I wear men’s tops,” Smith said. Smith is a psychology major with a gender and women’s studies minor.

When Smith considers her presentation in fashion, she doesn’t choose clothing solely as a gender identifi er. “That’s another reason I “I identify as female, but my expression can be androgynous at times, and I like that,” Smith said. “It doesn’t affect my gender identity, really like gender neutral but I like presenting myself that way.” Smith notices the infl uence that society has on fashion in terms of clothing — I don’t have to genders. She noted that all genders are penalized for dressing outside of what’s expected of them, whether that be dressing like the opposite conform to one or the other. sex or in a revealing manner. Similar to Winter, Smith hopes that one day, fashion won’t be seen as binary. I can just kinda exist. “I don’t think that there should be a gender put on clothing,” Smith ” said. “That’s mainly my view on it, and I wish other people thought -Dylan Winter, Nicholasville sophomore that way as well.” FASHION | 05

THE ARTISTS BEHIND THE INK

Story by Josie Keeley | Photos by Cristina Betz A lot of hard work goes into creating a good tattoo; inspiration and natural talent are only part of the equation. Tattoo artists spend years apprenticing before working professionally, and their mastery of skills only continues after that. They work in a variety of mediums from painting to digital art, and constantly explore new ways to create something beautiful. These tattoo artists of Bowling Green pride themselves on crafting art that their clients will carry with them for a lifetime.

GarrettGarrett Morrell always Morrell wanted to be a tattoo artist, but didn’t know it BenBen Butts Butts originally went to college for art education but decided school was an actual job until he joined the Marine Corps. He was offered an wasn’t for him. Through his art background, he was able to gain a tattooing apprenticeship when he left the service. After working at a few different apprenticeship. shops across the country, he opened his own shop — 31 Ink Tattoo. Later in his career, he met and traveled with Frank Armstrong around Morrell sees tattoos as art. Almost everything he creates is a custom piece the country exploring different tattooing styles. Eventually, they settled in created for a client. He occasionally does Bible quotes or infinity symbols, Bowling Green where they opened Tattoo Heartland together. but he still tries to give each tattoo some personal flair. Both Butts and Armstrong are fans of American traditional style. “The fun part of tattooing is the ability to make yourself unique,” Morrell “It looks good. It ages the best and it’s a little more graphic, stylized,” said. “The whole point of tattooing is to customize your body to the way you Butts said “It doesn’t look like someone just spilled ink on you.” want it to look.” Butts has turned people away before when the design they requested was Morrell’s personal style is drawn to the dark and abstract. He credits not something he felt he could create or would look good long-term. It’s Picasso, Dali and the surrealists as artistic inspiration. Rather than just important to him to create something that is aesthetically cohesive with his reproducing images, he chooses to give each tattoo a dose of originality and Armstrong’s styles, but also fulfills the customer’s wishes. while incorporating his customers’ perspectives. “I want someone to leave with value,” he said. “I try to design a tattoo in a “‘Memento Mori’ is a phrase I’ve always gone by — remember your death,” way that someone doesn’t waste their time or their money. We work hard for he said. “The more that you realize everything is temporary, the more you your money because you work hard for your money.” enjoy it. I like to throw a little darkness in every tattoo.”

08 | FASHION FrankFrank Armstrong Armstrong has liked tattoos since he was a kid, and his creative interest grew after seeing people with them. “I always saw people on the lake with tattoos, and it was very obvious that they did their own thing,” he said. “They played by their own rules.” Armstrong compares a good tattoo to building a house — in the same way a strong foundation is important to a house, he believes strong lines are essential for a tattoo. “I just like when stuff is built the best it can be,” he said. Armstrong and Butts both believe tattoos are collaborative, and they will advise customers on what will look the best and last the longest. They want to create something the customer will be happy with, even if that means tweaking the original idea. Armstrong currently works five days a week at Tattoo Heartland, spending hours at a time researching, looking at pictures and sketching. This allows him to be confident in his ability to create quality work. “We’re image makers,” he said. “To me, that’s the job. You wanna give people what they want, but sometimes you have to dig into your experience and say, “You know what, man, it’s not going to look the way you think SaraGrowing up,Strange Sara Strange thought tattoos were “stupid,” but that changed it will.” when she met some tattoo artists through friends. The “chill vibes” of the Armstrong is dedicated to his craft. Having traveled extensively, his style tattoo shop environment appealed to her. As a natural people person, Strange is influenced by what is popular nationally. He and Butts want to offer world found it easy to converse with clients and artists alike. Eventually, one of the class tattoos that you don’t have to leave town to find. artists she’d met offered her an apprenticeship, and she now works at Age of Reason. “It’s the only job I want to do,” she said. “I want to do it ‘til I can’t anymore.” THE ARTISTS BEHIND THE INK Strange uses words like cartoony, bold lines and colorful to describe her personal style. Although she likes realistic art, her specialty tends to be more whimsical. In addition to tattooing, Strange works with both traditional and digital mediums to further develop her artistic skill set. “Not every drawing can be a tattoo, so working with my tablet, I’m able to make something into a tattoo design a lot easier,” she said. Artistic integrity is important to Strange; she strives to make each tattoo original. “Why would you come to me specifically for something someone else has done?” she said. “If you’re getting a tattoo from me, it’s between you and me. Who wouldn’t want something unique for them?” Ben Butts The best way to get a tattoo you’re happy with is to choose your artist Ben Butts originally went to college for art education but decided school carefully. Each tattoo artist has their own style and specialty, and each one wasn’t for him. Through his art background, he was able to gain a tattooing wants to create a piece that will make you happy. Take the time to explore apprenticeship. their work, collaborate on your tattoo and trust in their skills. This will allow Later in his career, he met and traveled with Frank Armstrong around them to create a lasting work of art that you’ll love. the country exploring different tattooing styles. Eventually, they settled in Bowling Green where they opened Tattoo Heartland together. Both Butts and Armstrong are fans of American traditional style. “It looks good. It ages the best and it’s a little more graphic, stylized,” Butts said “It doesn’t look like someone just spilled ink on you.” Butts has turned people away before when the design they requested was not something he felt he could create or would look good long-term. It’s important to him to create something that is aesthetically cohesive with his and Armstrong’s styles, but also fulfills the customer’s wishes. “I want someone to leave with value,” he said. “I try to design a tattoo in a way that someone doesn’t waste their time or their money. We work hard for your money because you work hard for your money.”

FASHION | 09 THREADING A PATH FROM

CLASSESStory by Olivia Harden | Illustrations by Kayla Worden TO CAREERS

Priceless history and daring innovation exist harmoniously on the students to become leaders in the same semester I took a marketing industry,” according to the and you're ready to go into any job technology classes, and degree is studying are limitless to graduates as they

10 | FASHION “By the time you graduate ... you're ready to go into any job in the fashion industry.” -Maddie Sennett, Louisville senior

“ Watching slides and talking about it is informative. Touching history is transformative.” -Carrie Cox, fashion merchandising assistant professor

FASHION | 11 BACKBACK TOTO THETHE BASICSBASICS

Story by Hannah Crisp | Illustrations by Katie Ulrich

The phrase “capsule closet” has been trending in the fashion world over the past few years. What is it, you might ask? At its core, a capsule closet is a small collection of wardrobe basics that can be mixed and matched to create simple outfi ts or to pair with pieces that refl ect your personal style. The beauty of capsule basics is that they fi t into every wardrobe seamlessly. Here are fi ve clothing pieces that every well-rounded closet needs. BASIC TEES BUTTON-DOWN SHIRTS

Every closet needs short and long-sleeve T-shirts in black, white and gray. Everyone needs a trusty button-down shirt! You can half-tuck it into They go with nearly every pair of pants and make great layers under jackets jeans for a casual outfi t, or you can pair it with slacks or a skirt for a more and cardigans, and they can be found at stores like Target, Gap and Old Navy. polished look. This is an especially handy piece to have in your closet for job It’s important to look for high quality shirts in slim cut, relaxed fi t or whichever interviews. White button-downs are best when keeping things classic, or you style you feel most comfortable wearing. can spice up your ensemble with patterns to make things interesting.

12 | FASHION DENIM JACKETS BACK TO Denim jackets are so versatile! You can pair one with a dressier outfi t to give it a more casual feel, or throw it on with a tee and jeans for an instantly put-together look. Levi’s men’s denim jackets are great, and Old Navy has some nice distressed options if that’s more your style. Plus, if you want more fl exibility within your wardrobe, you can keep both light and dark wash jackets THE BASICS on hand.

JEANS

A go-to pair of quality, well-fi tting jeans can be among the most functional items in your closet. The right pair of jeans can be dressed up with heels and a blouse or dressed down with a tee and sneakers. The possibilities are endless! You can do some research with your favorite brands and fi nd a fi t that fl atters you specifi cally.

BLACK PANTS

Another uber-versatile piece! Black slacks are especially handy for business casual events or job interviews. Throw on that button-down and a blazer (a knit blazer is another good basic), and you’re all set.

There’s a wealth of information about different kinds of capsule closets out there. Some people like to have one full of basics that can be worn year-round. Some have a capsule for each season along with timeless pieces they love that are made to last for years. However you design your closet, all that matters is that it refl ects your unique personality and style! Have fun!

FASHION | 13 THE CLOSET UPGRADE PLAN

Story by Téa Jones | Photos by Cristina Betz

We’ve all been in the situation where we rifl e through our drawers and nothing seems exciting. You might even get fed up, want to get rid of everything and start over. But why get rid of clothing when you can enhance it? It’s easy to take the items that are already in your possession and make them look entirely different. Here are fi ve ways you can customize your clothing and update your wardrobe.

TIE-DYE & BLEACHING PATCHES It’s safe to say that most college students enjoy their fair share of Iron-on patches are the perfect way to upgrade an old jean jacket that loungewear. An easy way to spice up your wardrobe while maintaining has found its way to the back of your closet; plus they’re quick, easy and that comfy look is to give your old sweats some new color. cheap. Here’s what you’ll need: gloves to protect your hands, the color of dye Pay a visit to your nearest craft store such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby you desire (or all-fabric bleach if that’s more your style) and rubber or even Walmart to pick out your favorites. For this project, you’ll need bands. patches, an iron and a towel or cloth. Start by dampening the fabric and scrunching it into the design of First, set your iron to its highest temperature and iron out the places your choosing. Then, use the rubber bands to secure it in place. on the jacket where you want to attach your patches. Next, prepare the dye and apply it to each of your rubber-banded Then, place the patch in its desired location and lay the cloth over it sections. After you’ve used an appropriate amount of dye on one side, — this protects your patch from burning or melting. Keep pressure on fl ip the fabric over and repeat the process on the other side. After the the iron and move it over the patch three or four times to ensure that color has been applied, secure the sweats in a plastic bag and let them the adhesive sticks to the jacket. Repeat this step with each patch and sit for 6-8 hours. let the jacket cool. If you’d rather bleach than dye your clothing, mix equal parts bleach Once fi nished, you have an updated and stylish new piece! and water in a squirt bottle and apply depending on where you want the bleach spots to be. Bleached clothing will only need to sit for 5-10 DISTRESSING minutes before the next step. Adding a couple rips to a pair of jeans is sure to put an entirely new Once the time is up, take the clothing out of the bag and rinse with spin on your outfi t. To distress your own jeans, you’ll need a pair of lukewarm water to wash away excess dye. Then, remove the rubber scissors and some tweezers. bands and pop the clothes into the washer (separate from your other To make your fi rst rip, pinch the jean leg together around the knee laundry). Be sure to also dry them separately in case there’s any leftover area and make a 2 inch long horizontal cut with the scissors. Make dye from washing. another cut about a half an inch below the fi rst one. Ta-da! Your old sweats have transformed into a fun and trendy look. Jeans are composed of blue threads that run vertically and white threads that run horizontally, but you’ll only want the white threads to

14 | FASHION show. So, once you’ve made your two cuts, take the pair of tweezers and EMBROIDERY start plucking out the vertical blue threads. Repeat this process until all This one might seem a little daunting, but it’s just another simple of the blue threads in your allotted area are gone. customization you can make to take your piece to the next level. For this Continue until you’ve reached the level of distressing that your heart one, you’ll need embroidery thread, a needle, scissors, tracing paper, desires! straight pins and the design of your choice, which can be found through a quick Google search. CROPPING To start, trace your design on the tracing paper and cut around it. With warmer weather just around the corner, it’s time to put away the Then, place your design on top of your chosen piece of clothing and pin winter coats and reintroduce crop tops. This one is simple — the only it in place. supplies you need are the top you’re cutting, a pair of scissors, a straight Next, thread the needle and double knot the end of the long piece edge and something to write with such as chalk or a marker. of fl oss. Beginning underneath the clothing item, pull your needle Start by trying on the shirt and marking where to cut depending on through to the top. Repeat this motion of going down into the fabric and how cropped you want it to be. Because the hem will roll itself up a then pulling back up, leaving a tiny space in between the holes. couple centimeters after cutting, make sure the mark is a little lower Once you’ve traced your entire design, double knot the fl oss on the than you want the shirt to hit on your torso. inside of the clothing and cut the excess string. Finally, you can remove After making the initial line, lay your shirt down on a fl at surface. the leftover tracing paper from the design and voila! You now look and You’ll want to draw a straight line around the shirt to ensure that your feel like an artist. cut will be even. Flip the shirt over and trace the line on the back side as well. Then, cut evenly along the line. After making the cut, you’re ready to throw on your transformed top.

FASHION | 15