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queensfp · 9 years

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Mackenzie Holden for QFP

[PHOTOS AFTER INTERVIEW]

QFP

Last week, we met up with Queen’s Dance star Mackenzie Holden for a photoshoot and talked dance, fashion, and life as a star. Mackenzie is a 3rd year Health Studies Student who is a hip-hop teacher and choreographer with the Queen’s Dance Club. She also has an awesome style around campus! Check out our interview with her below where we get some insight into what it’s like being a campus dance celebrity.

Q: How long have you been dancing? Tell us about your fondest dance memory. A: I have been dancing for 15 years and counting. Honestly, I just love every time I get to perform.

Q: Which genre of dance is your favourite and why? A: Jazz for sure. It is a genre that has many different styles within it. It can be soft and sultry, or hard hitting and sassy, which gives everyone an opportunity to perform it in their own way.

Q: How limiting is fashion in dance? What is the most difficult clothing article you have had to dance in? A: Fashion in dance varies for each vision or concept the choreographer is going for. Where costume design can be limited is considering the flexibility of the costume. However, it is very effective when a choreographer can incorporate the costume into the choreography. The coolest, and perhaps most difficult costume to dance in was one that included a big black cape. Although challenging, it was incredibly effective for the performance.

Q:How much do costumes contribute to a dance performance? A:Costumes are a huge part of dance. I like to think of it like a cake: the choreography is the recipe, the dancers are the ingredients, and the costumes are the icing on the cake. Without the costume, the dance is incomplete. That being said, the costume does not have to flashy and extravagant to be effective, sometimes a simple black bodysuit works for the piece. Whatever the costume, it makes the whole concept come to life.

Q: Does your artistic insight in dance reflect your own personal style? A: I think the confidence I have with being able to switch from genre to genre in dance gives me the confidence to try new clothing styles. I kind of have two sides to my style: I can look chill in my boyfriend jeans and flannel, or dress up – lipstick and all.

Q: What are your three favourite places to shop? A: Brandy Melville for its simplicity, American Apparel for pieces that never seem to go out of style, and Lululemon – because a dancer can never have enough Lulu.

Check out our shoot below!

(Photography by Tyson Clark)

(Photography Assistant: Jia Zhang)

Make-up and hair by Alixandra Glance)

#queensfp #queensu

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queensfp · 9 years

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Carmentricks X Queen’s FP

We caught up with Carmen Alonso, a stylish Arts Student at OCAD in Toronto, Ontario. Carmen’s style is a combination of chic, simple, and classic pieces that give her a great well executed personal style. Check out our interview with her below, as well as the exclusive interview!

www.instagram.com/carmentricks

1. How would you describe your personal style?

I consider my style to be quite minimalistic. My wardrobe is built around neutral-toned ( more often than not, black ) pieces that are functional, comfortable and representative of urban, youth streetwear, with an emphasis on simplicity and elegance.

2. Does your drawing and painting extend over and influence your style?

As an artist, creative thought permeates all aspects of my life and I think that, yes, aesthetically, my personal style is influenced by the way I think about beauty in all things. In some respects, I would say that my style is more simplistic, because there is so much going on in my mind creatively, that I find my own aesthetic often combats with that of a designer or even opposes the way a colour looks on me. This may explain my tendency to wear a lot of black.

3. What are your three favourite brands?

American apparel, Club Monaco, Guess

4. Do you follow anyone in particular that you consider your influence in style?

I follow a fashion blogger/model named Chaira Ferragni. Her style influences the risks that I take with own looks and her over-all image, as a model and fashion icon is one that I really respect and admire.

5. What advice would you give to those looking to improve their style?

I would advise anyone who is looking to improve their style, to just focus on simplifying their wardrobe and letting unadorned, yet elegant choices, speak for themselves. It is easy to get seemingly lost in the construction of a look. As someone who struggles with composing presentable and noteworthy looks, I find the best defence is to keep it simple.

Photos by Jia Zhang.

Directed by Hanzhang Zhang and James Lappin.

#carmentricks #queensfp

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queensfp · 9 years

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“BLACKMERLE” - Sitting down With Queen’s Grad Terry Shin

BLACKMERLE [blăk-mûrl] noun. - A black coated dog with irregular streaks and speckles of black.

www.blackmerle.com | @blackmerle | @iamblackmerle | www.blackmerle.com/shop

(Full Interview, Visuals after article)

Queen’s graduate, Terry Shin, was interested in fashion from a young age. Classic streetwear labels like Billionaire Boys Club, Stüssy, Bape had peaked his interest, and discovering Japanese streetwear labels such as Number (N)ine, Undercover, and Hare, initiated his journey into the fashion world. He ventured further; exploring classic menswear styles while at Queen’s and eventually working his way into perfecting the high-end avant-garde styles of Boris Bidjan Saberi, Julius, and Rick Owens – the advancement of menswear today.

“I started gathering ideas and themes since the early summer of 2014. Sampling took months after months because I kept on switching materials, dimensions, designs around.”

He has continued further after graduating from Queen’s Life Sciences program in 2014 by designing an extremely meticulous collection entitled “BLACKMERLE”.

“The collection was based around the idea of simplicity that can be infinitely complex.”

Terry’s brand is a solemn, minimal, and monochrome collection composed of both Raw Cut Short and Long Sleeve Tops, Tailored Drop Crotch Cargo Shorts, Side Lampo Zip Hoodies, and 2-way Lampo Zip Bomber Jackets. All of the pieces are handcrafted with an unmatched attention to detail using only the highest quality of materials and components.

“I spent countless hours sourcing fabrics and comparing them to see what worked and what didn't. Each piece was sampled and altered multiple times to achieve the best fit and the proportion. I took my time to not allow even the smallest details to be left unpolished.”

The design process Terry took was not a brief road – over five months of sketching, experimenting, and improving the cuts and fits of each piece until all were impeccable in quality and aesthetic. He went on to direct look-books, editorials, videos, develop a top-notch website, as well as complete various business aspects of the launch, which was August 31st, 2015. Each piece is cut and sewn from raw fabric until the piece is perfect. Terry is an extremely dedicated mind in all aspects of life, as he completed the full process of BLACKMERLE while preparing for and currently attending post-graduate studies for Management at the University of British Columbia.

The full collection can be ordered at www.blackmerle.com/shop with worldwide shipping and excellent price points. Check out our full interview with Terry below:

1. Tell us about BLACKMERLE’s debut collection; are there any themes or inspirations behind the pieces?

The first capsule collection, "BLKMRL", consists of 5 unique custom cut pieces that come in either black or white. The collection was based around the idea of simplicity that can be infinitely complex.

2. How would you describe your BLACKMERLE designs?

BLACKMERLE integrates minimal grunge look with complex and utilizable details. Engineered seam works and custom cut patterns contribute to its superior and unique fit.

3. What went into deciding the materials and construction of your garments?

I spent countless hours sourcing fabrics and comparing them to see what worked and what didn't. A LOT of elements were taken into account in selecting the right materials, not just for the garment itself, but also for the perfect harmony and balance with other garments in the collection. I am a very meticulous person. Each pieces were sampled and altered multiple times to achieve the best fit and the proportion. I took my time to not allow even the smallest details to be left unpolished.

4. What was the timeline like in the creation of your label?

I started gathering ideas and themes since the early summer of 2014. Sampling took months after months because I kept on switching materials, dimensions, designs around. Went through a lot of change and finally went into production. I barely did anything but worked on the brand for a long f-ing time and I enjoyed every bit of the process.

5. Did attending Queen’s help drive the execution your collection?

Even though I majored in a completely different field, I still believe that my science background helped shaping myself into an analytic and detail-oriented person.

6. Do you have any words of advice for those looking to create their own label?

Be meticulous and RECORD EVERYTHING. Set up a strong foundation of concept and theme first. Lastly, do not rush and sample many many times because you will always want to modify details and you will never be 100% satisfied.

-QFP

(Words by James Lappin)

(Visuals supplied by BLACKMERLE)

(Edited - Bradley Dobson)

#blackmerle terryshin queensu queensfp

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