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News -
Recent News
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Written by Katherine DiMaggio
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Tuesday, 09 March 2010 04:57 |
Willard Hall was bursting with beauties last night at UDress's model training session. Models who will be featured in the upcoming issue, including some of our cover model contestants, were in attendance to learn the ins and outs of modeling from our Model Consultant, Julia Sczaniecka.
The evening started out with the models-in-training giving a brief introduction and declaring, I am a model. After everyone got a bit more familiar with each other, Julia was ready to whip these models into shape.
Julia began by sharing some of her early modeling stories and explaining the difference between commercial and high fashion modeling. Then, editor-in-chief Jessica Lapidos took over with some breathing and muscle relaxation exercises to get the models loosened up and ready to go.
Lesson 1: Strike a Pose - With Julia's help, a few of the cover model finalists demonstrated how to pose. All the ladies were quickly instructed to put their heels on, and they learned how to work their best angles for the camera. Thomas Barranca, men's style editor, took the guys aside and explained the less exaggerated "guy's pose."
Lesson 2: Runway 101 - Next assignment: work the runway. With music playing and Julia's instruction, models paired up, strutted down the catwalk, and posed. Each model had several turns to hit the runway and perfect their pose and pivot.
Lesson 3: Fierce Faces - The models' last exercise was to practice certain techniques for capturing a confident facial expression, including the "I'm better than you" look and the "I've got a dirty secret" look. Then, they were instructed to make faces while making noises, like "ooh" and "ahh.
After two hours and countless Lady Gaga songs, the models finished their training session.
And as for our potential cover models, the competition isn't over yet. Each model will get to be in her own shoot in the upcoming issue. Judges, model coordinator Alisha Pilipshen, men's style director Thomas Barranca, and model consultant Julia Sczaniecka will use these images in determining a fabulous cover model winner!
So who has what it takes? Keep checking UDressmag.com to find out!
L-R: Mara Pfeffer, Cherie Grimm, Senka Haveric
Images: Katherine DiMaggio
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Real Wide World -
Real Wide World
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Written by Leah Sininsky
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Monday, 08 March 2010 03:34 |
Alexandra Bloom is a sophomore at Binghamton University in New York. In addition to being my closest confidante, Alex is a style icon on the rise. She has the unique ability to make seemingly un-workable clothing and accessories blend together seamlessly. The staple of Alex's style is without a doubt the hand-made hair-clips that she sports everyday. Her creations are diverse, fabulous, and most importantly, a product of her own labor. Here, Alex gives us the inside scoop on the crafting hobby that caters to her self-described "daring" style.
1. What's the first thing you ever made that you were proud of?
The first gummy bear and Swedish fish bobby pins brought me a lot of pride because people would compliment them and be astonished that it was actual candy and that I had made it myself.
2. What is it about crafting that you love so much?
My favorite thing about crafting is that it gives me a wonderful sense of accomplishment, self worth, and enjoyment. I love looking at my collection and reflecting on the exciting moment when I had the idea to create each one of them. Crafting is something that I can do when I need to change my focus, and be creative. On top of the therapeutic experience of crafting, I have something concrete to show for my time and effort. When I wear a handmade hair clip I feel great pride and joy in showing it off to the world.
3. Do you have aspirations of selling your pieces? If so, how would you go about it?
I have often considered selling my creations, yet since each one is an original item, I have a hard time imagining parting with any of them. But, think at some point, I would bring my creations to an arts fair, or post them online.
Image courtesy of Alexandra Bloom
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Real Wide World -
Real Wide World
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Written by Leah Sininsky
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Saturday, 06 March 2010 15:33 |
On Thursday, February 25th in the Trabant multi-purpose rooms, Whitney Thompson, the cycle 10 winner of America's Next Top Model, shared the following statistic: "More young girls are afraid of being fat than they are of nuclear war, cancer and their parents dying."
This is just as true as it is shocking. Thompson's claim to fame is the celebrity status she gained as the first plus-size winner of the popular reality show. However, the message she relays to crowded rooms as a spokeswoman is much more important than her strut down the catwalk. "Healthy is beautiful," is the philosophy that Thompson both lives by and hopes to ingrain in the minds of impressionable young girls.
Thompson is not an advocate for "being fat," nor does she insist that there is only one way to live a healthy lifestyle. Quite simply, she wants to change the diluted perception that anyone can attain the "perfect" bodily proportions of the women who fill the pages of fashion magazines. "No one looks like that," explained Whitney.
Recently, Victoria's Secret released their "Swim 2010" catalog. In the past, the company has been known to feature models with reasonably realistic feminine bodies. However, the model used for the cover of this particular catalog was so prepubescent looking that her picture has circulated in child pornography. As a result of this single photograph, Thompson says, "I will never wear Victoria's Secret ever again." Though she claims to like their clothing, Thompson recognizes that the only way to change the fashion industry is to stop endorsing products that perpetuate the idea that a size 6 is "plus size."
During the week of February 21st, National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (NEDAW), NEDAC, the University of Delaware's National Eating Disorder Awareness club, sponsored several events to teach students about the gravity of this issue and to promote positive body image. If you or someone you know is struggling with an eating disorder, HELP IS AVAILABLE. Contact the Wellspring Student Wellness Program at (302)-831-3457. And, always remember that healthy is indeed beautiful.
Whitney, with our Executive Editorial Assistant, Samantha Antopol
Image: Leah Sininsky & Samantha Antopol, thanks to Kayla Mantegazza
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Real Wide World -
Real Wide World
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Written by Samantha Tharler
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Friday, 05 March 2010 01:11 |
Over the long Winter break, I used some of my free time to practice my sewing skills. I am proud to say that I successfully constructed three garments. Here, I share my experiences with all of you sewing savvy UDressers!
1) My first project was a skirt (see below). I used a blue, printed silk fabric that I got as a gift from Italy. Since taking my first sewing class at Delaware last semester, I felt I had the necessary skills to succeed. This was my first experience sewing silk, and since the fabric moves as you cut and sew, I found it challenging. I had to use several glass head silk pins to hold the fabric down, (which are recommended for silk because they are sharp ,thin and don't leave a mark). I tried doing the Hong Kong finish, (wrapping ribbon around the inside of a seam to leave an elegant finish), but it ended up being too bulky for the fabric. I also constructed my first visible, elastic waistband to add a casual flair to the fancy fabric.
2) My second goal was to create my first dress. I used a fuchsia cloth that I got at a sample sale on 7th Avenue in New York City for $1! Although the pattern said that it would only take two hours, I worked on it for seven. In the end, it was worth the time I spent, because the dress looks great and fits perfectly. My dress is a perfect example of how you can get nice clothes without spending a fortune.
3) My last conquest was a tie, which I made for my father. I ripped apart an old tie for the pattern, and used the podcast "Threadbangers" for directions. I stumbled upon the podcast on iTunes, and since then I've been watching it for great ideas for DIY projects. It was a fun challenge to figure out what to do. Making a tie is harder than it looks. It involves 3 pieces, a lining, and about an hour of hand sewing. I even sewed a tag on the end with my name on it! My dad seemed impressed and no one knew it was handmade when he wore it.
What I love about sewing is the gratification I feel when I finally finish a project. Though it can be painfully frustrating, seeing the finished product makes all of the work I put into it worthwhile and that feeling is irreplaceable.
Samantha models her skirt |
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News -
Recent News
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Written by Katherine DiMaggio
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Thursday, 04 March 2010 01:51 |
Announcing our TOP FIVE contestants in the UDress Spring 2010 Cover Model Search! Congrats ladies!
Mara Pfeffer
Cherie Grimm
Sable Boykin
Senka Haveric
Sigrid Williamson
After five hours of casting, over a hundred photos snapped, and days of waiting patiently, the top five have been handpicked by our panel of judges and officially announced… so now what?
This Sunday, these beautiful ladies will be attending a model training session, led by UDress’s fabulous model instructor and former cover model Julia Sczaniecka. They will learn the ins and outs of what it really takes to be on the UDress cover. The agenda includes lessons on photo shoots, runway walking, and posing. In short, these gals will be formally trained in fierce… and as always, you’ll be getting a sneak peek into every minute of it.
So what does the future hold for Mara, Cherie, Sable, Senka, and Sigrid? Who do YOU think will be our grand winner? Stay tuned to find out who has what it takes to be UDress’s next cover model!
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