MODA Lookbook Episode 6: A Zoom of Your Own
Welcome to Episode 6 of MODA Blog’s Lookbook series! We wanted to offer our wonderful team the opportunity to create and direct more editorial content for your viewing pleasure. Completely student styled, modelled and produced, the MODA Lookbook hopes to inspire, empower and challenge the talent of our community. Keep your eye out for more lookbooks coming soon~!
Spring Quarter has always been MODA’s most experimental quarter - which, I guess, is the understatement of the year given the circumstance we’re in. While social distancing, it seems like many of us across MODA have been reflecting on the history of our RSO and what led up to this era of self-isolation and remote communication. In my meditations, I came across a string of emails between my former EIC and myself that traced a very touching timeline with MODA Blog that all started in Spring Quarter. Two years ago, I joined the blog as a freshman in my first spring quarter, anxiously writing (and deleting) draft after draft; one year ago this quarter, after mustering up enough confidence to publish content at last, I was appointed Editor-in-Chief and I certainly did not expect my Junior anniversary with the blog to be celebrated quite like this, yet in many ways, I’m happier than ever that this is how I got to celebrate these past years with MODA Blog. Between writing articles about Peppa Pig and Balaclavas, I dreamed about launching a project that would respond to the blog’s demand and encouragement for creativity, individuality and resourcefulness: that project became the Lookbook Series. Keeping up with the spring trend of experimenting with innovation, this spring’s Lookbooks will challenge our creativity in ways we could never imagine. Adhering to social distancing and self-isolation is our number one priority, and perhaps even our impetus for inventiveness.
For our sixth Lookbook, I wanted to explore the challenge of shooting editorial content while remaining socially distant. I was curious about the content that some of our bloggers had published about remote fashion photography, while also equally curious by the rise in digital consumption during this time. Within weeks, many of us migrated to incredibly tech-heavy lifestyles both in our free and school time, and my mind fought against the idea that this was our new normal. Right when the mass migration of students took place, I was on a call with a friend (and yes, it was a zoom call), who relayed to me his own experiences navigating remote learning. I distinctly remembered a discussion on how Zoom and this type of digital communication could potentially become a site for escapism, and in some ways a new form of surrealist art worth exploring creatively - my interest was immediately piqued. I wouldn’t say this shoot leaned towards a super specific theme: though my pdf brief did read something along the lines of “Y2K-apocalyptic-Zoom-AliceInWonderland-digital-fantasy(3)”, so take that as you will.
I owe much (if not all) of this shoot/art project/photo dump to my amazing team who conducted their individual shoots completely on their own, with camera timers, makeshift tripods, and of course completely self-styled, and self done hair and makeup. I think it was probably the most nerve wracking thing to put so much trust in my team, and also the biggest relief (and cry of excitement) in seeing those first photos drop into our drive, and I really couldn’t be prouder of the wonderful women who helped me put together this project. In a time where we’ve began to rely on technology and creatives to lift our spirits and take us to new places, I hope that my team and I can transport you to somewhere new, even if for only a moment.
Thank you and Happy Spring Quarter.
MODA Blog EIC, Andrew Chang.
Click on photos to enlarge
Light saver: Model and Blogger Elizabeth Winkler finds her light in the Chicago sun (wearing Chicago-sourced vintage and Forever21).
Starry Knight: Model, Blogger, Photographer Livia Miller brings Glam to Goth in Urban Decay’s Moonshine Palette on eyes and Urban Decay’s Vice Lipstick in ‘Venom’
Fear No Colors: Blog EIC Andrew Chang spends Self-Isolation reflecting on years past. NOFEAR Top by Andrew Chang from his first MODA Collection. Jeans are H&M, Belt Thrifted, rings from Vitaly, Chain from Sannyra.
Stroke of Jean-ius: Model/Blogger Laura Sandino sits pretty at home in Miami, wearing Vintage Harley Davidson T-shirt from Depop, UNIF jeans, and socks from Art Institute.
No Filter: Blog EIC Andrew Chang will fix this glitch.
Trial and Error: Blogger/Model/Photographer Livia Miller glitches and glides n H&M Mesh top, Beats by Dre Headphones, Adidas Track shorts and Candi Girl Roller Skates
Digital Life Cycle:
New Horizons: MODA Blog EIC has taken up a very popular new digital hobby in Toronto. Top is Uniqlo, Trousers from Tommy Hilfiger, Belt is Champion, Hat is Puma.
Lightning in a Bottle: Model and Blogger Elizabeth Winkler has been exploring Hyde Park’s many gardens…and bringing pieces of them back to quarantine with her. (Take a peek at our previous lookbooks to find out where this Coke bottle came from.)
Flying Colors: Model/Blogger Elizabeth Winkler shines bright in Forever21 mesh turtleneck, Victoria’s Secret bra, and thrifted earrings, shorts, and tie (as a belt) out of frame. For additional pop try using the same eyeshadow color for both eyes and lips (this one is from a random Amazon palette…low price, high pigment, highly recommend).
UltraViolet: Model/Blogger Sophia Carino channels a Pastel Purple Y2K Atmosphere from X. Wearing pink lace crop from Forever21, belt from Topshop, pants from GAP,,, pink camo case has a pink Nintendo DS lite in it, panda earrings from claire's
A Bright Future: Pink scrunchie from Forever 21 and Blue scrunchie is from Papa Pique et Maman Coud. On eyes: Glamlite taco palette, on lips: glossier holographic lipgloss
Logging Off: In featured photo at top of page, Laura wears Adika sweater and UNIF Jeans
Cast and Crew:
Director: Andrew Chang
Models: Elizabeth Winkler, Livia Miller, Andrew Chang, Laura Sandino, Sophia Carino,
Makeup: Elizabeth Winkler, Livia Miller, Andrew Chang, Laura Sandino, Sophia Carino,
Styling: Elizabeth Winkler, Livia Miller, Andrew Chang, Laura Sandino, Sophia Carino,
