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SIGNATURE STYLE
Hamilton College's first and only fashion magazine.
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The Modern Meaning of Tattoos
Author’s Note : My tattoos are a physical representation of the person I am at my core, a manifestation of the kind of person I want others to see in me. They reflect who I am and what I believe in. They show my passions, my admirations and through them, I am able to celebrate my individuality and my identity -- imprinting art on my skin.
Though tattoos have always possessed this symbolism of personal expression they are no longer the epitome of teen-rebellion and counterculture that they once were. They have grown in popularity throughout the generations and today, roughly one in five Americans has at least one, and for millennials that number goes up to a colossal 47%. This is a drastic shift from the generations of the past. As their traction and acceptance continue to grow, the stigma against them in professional settings is also slowly diminishing. Negative stereotyping and workplace discrimination against tattooed employees is phasing out.
Ready to take the plunge? Here are some ideas brought to you by some of our very own Hamilton College students and their friends!
Location: Ankle
Image: Lotus flower
Meaning: “I was raised Buddhist and the lotus symbolizes harmony and purity. I got this tattoo to commemorate my faith.”
Pain level: 2/10
Location: Upper Back
Image: A lion intertwined with flowers
Commentary: “Whoever says tattoo artists aren’t actual artists is lying! I told my tattoo artist to create a design himself using my parents’ favorite flowers and five hours later, this is what he created - so talented.”
Pain level: 6/10
Location: Forearm
Image: Roses and a woman -- the start of a partial sleeve
Meaning: “My grandmother’s name was June and she was a nurse during the war so most of this work was celebrating her. When my mom beat cancer last year, I added another flower and her name to acknowledge her battle. I’m so lucky I got to mark my body to honor the two women most important to me.”
Pain Level: Colored regions - 7/10, the remainder - 3/10
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Martin’s (Run)way
By Katherine Kim ‘22
You might not always pay attention to the strangers rushing past you on Martin’s Way, which is entirely understandable. After all, everyone needs to get to their next class, study session, or dinner on time. But the next time you walk down this path, try to take notice of the different outfits that people wear. Though you might think the cold weather has wrapped most of the campus in downy Canada Goose coats—which isn’t far from the truth— an interesting variety of style definitely still exists.
Rather than constantly sticking to the puffy jacket-and-pants silhouettes most commonly seen in cold weather, Hamilton students love to play up their outfit game. Some students look like they’ve stepped straight off the runway with their asymmetrical jackets and overcoats. Amorphous hoodies also make an appearance, sometimes worn on their own, other times peeking out of casual jean jackets with an occasional fleece interlining. Dark leggings and jeans are the most popular bottoms worn by students during the winter, but this varies as well. Plaid is growing in popularity as a timeless pattern that can give a previously dull garments character. Many individuals also sport lighter shades for pants and the occasional skirt, as if the outfits are joining the students and eagerly awaiting the return of warm weather.
Our student body also plays around with accessories to add some nice accents to outfits. You’ll never see scarves go out of style and for good reason; from monochrome to patterned, transparent to opaque, a scarf adds both style and warmth. More conspicuous accessories can also convey the same amount of personality in a student’s outfit. Whimsical face earrings have become one of the most popular accessories on campus, but that doesn’t mean you don’t see the classic hoops and studs gleaming on Martin’s Way. Headphones have also become favorite accessories, and you can always spot someone with their headphones or their earbuds in as they stroll down the path.
And of course, we can’t overlook the importance and variety of footwear. Do you ever instantly look down when you see a person’s outfit to see what kind of shoes they’re rocking today? If you really take a closer look, you’ll find an endless variety of shoes ranging from knee high leather boots to bean boots to Docs to sneakers to platforms to loafers to even brightly colored Converse.
In a way, Martin’s Way is probably the main venue for showing off the different styles of Hamilton, since students from all parts of campus use it on a daily basis. Take a second to appreciate it! Noticing and complimenting a stranger’s outfit doesn’t take much effort, and who knows? You could even use the styles you see on Martin’s Way as inspiration for your own wardrobe down the line.
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Knitting for Style and the Greater Good
By Tiffany Lopes ‘21
I recently sat down with Alexei Smith, a senior at Hamilton College, to hear about how she uses knitting to positively contribute to the community, as well as pursue her own passions and customize her style.
How does Helping Hands contribute to the community, and what particular charities are of focus?
Helping Hands meets for two hours every Sunday, and we teach Hamilton students how to knit. Everything we make with our yarn is donated to local and national charities. This semester we donated some hats and a blanket to MVHS Center for Rehabilitation and Continuing Care Services. In the past, we’ve donated to several shelters in Utica, as well as some scarves to the Red Scarf project. In Spring 2017, we made several hats for the theatre production’s Antigonick.
What items are usually made in Helping Hands?
We usually start by having people make squares which are later turned into blankets, to help them learn how to knit. After that, people have more freedom in deciding what they’d like to create. Scarves and hats are amongst the most popular items.
What prompted your interest in knitting?
I learned how to knit when I was 11, through a knitting club at my middle school which I began regularly attending with my friend, and I’ve been knitting ever since.
Does your interest in knitting extend beyond Helping Hands, and what pieces do you prefer to create?
I frequently knit outside of Helping Hands. I really like making hats and socks, though lately I’ve been making infant items for my baby cousins, including toys and sweaters. I made two mermaid dolls for my twin cousins’ second birthday, and I made a stuffed bear for my two-year-old brother. I’ve also made blanket animals for my toddler cousin, which is a stuffed animal head on a blanket. I can make baby hats really quickly, regular hats take a few days, and sweaters take longer. Usually I’m able to finish most items within a couple of days or weeks. I’ve been knitting for awhile so I’m able to multitask knitting while doing other things now.
Do you customize your style with your knitting creations?
I don’t wear scarves or hats outside of the ones I’ve made, and I wear a couple of sweaters that I’ve made as well. I tend to give friends the pieces I make more so than keep them for myself. When I began knitting, I really liked to use bright pieces of yarn, so all of my early pieces are very colorful, bold, and a bit in-your-face. Today I prefer using more muted and neutral colors, those are the types of colors I choose whenever I visit Michael’s to pick out yarn. I’ve been experimenting a lot recently with lace knitting, which uses a thin type of yarn which allows you to make different holes in the fabric to make designs depicting flowers or leaves.
How does Helping Hands enable you to pursue your passion for knitting?
It gives me an excuse to knit for two hours per week, since sometimes I’m not able to make that time for myself. It really calms me down as well, being able to sit down and focus on nothing other than knitting. We get most of our yarn through through alumni donations, which means we can see how the colors of yarn progress through time, from the older yarn we receive from alumni compared to the yarn I buy for myself. Occasionally we have faculty members which will give us yarn and needles they pull out of their attics.
What advice would you give to a student who wants to start knitting?
Come to Helping Hands! There are also some amazing tutorials on Youtube that are great for beginners. I think the most important advice I could give would be to not fear it. I taught one of my friends how to knit sophomore year, and she kept thinking that she wasn’t capable enough to really make anything. She ended up making a scarf which she regularly uses now. Many people that come to Helping Hands have never learned how to knit, but so many people who come end up using the items they make with us, and it’s really exciting to see how students can later customize their own style with the pieces they knit.
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How to Step Up Your Self-Care Game during the Winter Months at Hamilton
By Emma Mae Regan ‘22
With exam season and the dark, cold months of winter approaching, it is easy to forget to take proper care of yourself. However, by integrating a few simple practices (outlined below) into your daily routine, you will be on your way to making healthier choices and practicing a more positive and balanced lifestyle.
Use LOTS of moisturizer and lotion. When it becomes colder outside, the air retains less water vapor, which makes the air and therefore your skin drier. Even if you increase the heat in your dorms, that temperature change doesn’t affect the amount of moisture in the air, which means it’s crucial to use more moisturizer and lotion during the winter! By using more of both products, your skin will be less likely to break out and you’ll have a clearer, healthier glow
Drink Water! While you may be tempted to keep a thermos of hot cocoa, tea, or coffee with you at all times, make sure to be drinking even more water. While none of these warm drinks have actually been proven to cause dehydration, they are not substitutes to water. Maintaining a strong hydration regime will also help your skin. If you don’t have a water bottle, there are many options available on Amazon and the Hamilton College Bookstore has plenty to choose from.
Eat lots of fruits and veggies. While many people think they can only get fresh, local produce during the spring and summer, there are actually a ton of fruits and vegetables that are in season during the winter! For a cool climate like the one we go to school in, some options include cabbage, brussel sprouts, winter squash, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions, beets, carrots, and turnips. If you don’t want to eat these foods raw, some healthy alternatives include turning them into a salad or a soup, incorporating them into a pasta dish, or cooking them to be a side for your meal. You can either look for these foods at one of the dining halls at Hamilton or purchase them at a supermarket. If you are in Clinton, there are markets like Hannaford Supermarket and Tom’s Natural Foods, or you can take the Jitney to New Hartford or Utica where there are also plenty of options.
Exercise! Whether you’re a fitness junkie or secretly scared of the gym, there are many ways to keep up your fitness levels during the winter months. Consider going the gym, signing up for PE classes (a great way to fulfill those course requirements!), or joining a club or intramural team. If you’re not convinced yet, exercise is beneficial beyond the obvious physical gains. Your body releases endorphins when you exercise, which are hormones that trigger positive feelings in the body and reduce how you perceive pain by interacting with receptors in your brain. A regular release of these hormones through exercise can help improve sleep and self-esteem and reduce stress, anxiety, and depression, which can be particularly helpful during the upcoming exam season.
Sleep. Although you may be tempted to study for that extra hour, sometimes choosing to sleep instead can be more beneficial. A common mistake that college students tend to make is sleeping less, with 70% of college students in a 2014 study admitting that they do not sleep enough. Incorporating more sleep into you schedule can help you become more immune to illnesses (which are particularly prevalent during the winter months), maintain a healthy weight, perform better in school, reduce stress and risk for health issues, and improve your mood and interactions with others! To get more sleep, consider making a schedule of your academic, hygiene, and extracurricular activities ahead of time so that you can plan naps and a reasonable bedtime.
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