EFFORTLESS AESTHETICS: STYLE AT THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF ROMe
Spring 2015
When she’s not in class at New York City fashion merchandising school LIM, Visual Merchandising major Allison King can often be found interning in the city’s retail arena. Since the 20-year-old Ashburn, Va., native moved to New York City as a freshman, she’s worked as a stylist, associate and later, a Visual Merchandising Assistant for the brand Free People. She has also interned for the 2014 Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Awards. Although no one within the small group of LIM Visual Merchandising majors has ever studied abroad, King is spending the Spring 2015 semester of her junior year at the American University of Rome because she was told that studying abroad “completely changes your life.” But King is preparing to make a professional transition: after interning with Rag & Bone’s Visual Merchandising team last semester, she will be working as a freelancer for the brand this summer. On what she did as a stylist, and then as a visual merchandising assistant for Free People: When we got new merchandise I was responsible for changing mannequins and making my version of the perfect outfit so customers would want to shop [for] that look. I was a stylist and associate until I became a Visual Merchandising Assistant there. It wasn’t a full time position until I turned into a Visual Merchandising Assistant for the New York City area. Honestly, it made me grow as a person because I feel like I grew with the company. It was like a family...[But] I’ve been with them all through college, so I’m not gonna go back. I’ve just grown out of it. On what she did as a Rag & Bone visual merchandising intern last semester: I helped my supervisor with floor sets for stores. Every other Friday we would go to the Soho store and create a table or visual merchandise...and take pictures. This merchandise had not been in any other store besides the flagship store in Soho. So we took the pictures back to the office and did design, layout, and communicated the direction for visual and creative directives using InDesign and Photoshop. On what she will be doing as a freelancer for Rag & Bone this summer: Creating store window displays for Rag & Bone stores. This includes designing window display concepts using Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator, which will be presented in meetings with vendors, senior managers and managing partners. [The displays will be] put together in stores in and around the New York City area, and [I will] create directives for stores to follow when they set up their own window displays. On how she made the transition from Rag & Bone visual merchandising intern to freelancer: Rag and Bone is very different from anything I’ve ever done, but it’s my absolute favorite. Going into it, I didn’t know I was gonna get it. Honestly though, it was an internship, and I think I realized and my supervisor realized [that] it came easily to me. I think that’s why she asked me to come back. On her advice for other students trying to make similar professional changes: Trying to find yourself and find out what you want to do is important before you go into any job- or you’ll just be eaten alive. On other experiences that molded her professionally: Moving to New York was the biggest obstacle and the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I traveled from this small town to a big city...and I had to be independent….I lived in the dorms my first year. When I moved to my apartment, it was a whole a different New York. On her dream career: Either a Visual Merchandiser for store window displays or a prop designer (like set design, props, etc.). I can’t sit at a desk. I need to be doing something with my hands. On if this semester in Rome (including weekend trips to international locations) has changed her perception of fashion: Oh my god yes...Morocco was probably the most amazing place I’ve ever been. It’s amazing to see how people live and interact with one another [there]...Everything’s just so beautiful. Traveling and different places have definitely inspired me and my work.
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As I walked across Piazza Venezia on Easter Monday 2015, my jaw almost hit the pavement. It seemed like the population of the entire world had Via Del Corso in mind for shopping that day. I inched through the body-to-body crowds with a friend, hoping we wouldn’t lose each other in the sea of photo-obsessed tourists and brisk locals. After venturing into a few less-pricy shops, I came across upon Twin-Set Simona Barbieri, a brand among the creme-de-la-creme of Italian women’s fashion. The building is right down the block from an almost equally-as-spacious H&M, but it seems to stand on its own. Twin-Set Simona Barbieri is a must-see shop for anyone interested in the delicate fabrics and distinguished accessories a classically Italian woman would wear in an ideal world. But a word of caution: I wouldn’t recommend going in if you get sticker shock easily. Two-hundred-euro tops are casually sprinkled throughout the store. But back to my visit: as crowds rushed by outside, few broke through the invisible barrier that seemed to separate the store from clothing-hungry masses. Other than the shopping attendants and managers, the shop appeared relatively empty. Stepping into Twin-Set Simona Barbieri on Via Del Corso 122/125 was like entering a palace. The high ceilings, light music, color scheme of cream and gold (and even the icy stares from some clientele) made it clear that hushed tones are a must. After taking in the lush environment for a few more moments, I decided to take the plunge and made a beeline for the expansive clothing display on the back wall of the first floor. Pastel-colored leather handbags caught my eye as I hunted through the racks and expensive- yet discreetly placed- price tags. The fine cloth shirts and black sequined shorts added a whimsical touch. I climbed the carpeted staircase to the second floor and as I gazed at the entrance below the white bannister, I realized what the essence of Twin-Set Simona Barbieri truly is: a strong commitment to detail in every top and accompanying item. Twin-Set Simona Barbieri echoes this in its mission: “Above all TWIN-SET means knitwear, produced entirely in their own factories in Italy, characterized by a never-ending search for technological innovations while remaining sensitive to the value of craft skills such as embroideries, hand-made appliques and unconventional printing and dying techniques.” The brand expanded beyond Italy during the 1990s. Today, loyal customers can pick up signature pieces in international locations such as Barcelona, Dubai, and Montreal. The second floor had range of feminine pieces, from the edgy leather jacket thrown over a floor-length printed gown, to a delicate, red flower-petal-shaped necklace listed at 60 euros. The mannequin towering in high heels and blue-sequined pants presented a distinct look as well. I was also greeted by frilly bikinis and dainty coverups of white and red, wedge sandals, flowing sundresses, and more. As I flipped through lookbook on a nearby table, I thought about how it seemed like Twin-Set Simona Barbieri’s summer section is dedicated to making buyers appear to be dripping in luxury.
However, as much as I enjoyed the clothing, I did feel pressure of some kind. I couldn’t escape attendants’ lines of vision- especially on the second floor. But overall, visiting Twin-Set Simona Barbieri reminded me that a truly stunning outfit is all in the details- even if it comes at a price. |
AuthorHey! I'm Jane Burnett and I'm studying abroad at AUR in Italy during the Spring 2015 semester. Stay dazzled by campus fashion with me here! CategoriesArchives |