Expressions of Garments

by Grace Pappadellis ’29 on December 11, 2025

Opinion

While putting away laundry, one of my closest girlfriends asked me a “would you rather” question that left me stumped. She carefully placed her shirt on a hanger in a much neater fashion than I ever do, and said, “Would you rather have no say in your style whatsoever and have someone choose your wardrobe for the rest of your life, or only own the same items forever and never shop for new clothes again?” I was flummoxed and disturbed to hear this question, and suddenly it felt like I had to answer as if my life depended on it.

I absolutely love clothes, fashion, and creating my own sense of style—not just because my mother was a fashion merchandising major in college—but because when I pair my clothes together, when the colors meld and mix and match, when my skirts flow and sweaters rest on my shoulders and my shoes have me skipping down the street, I feel like myself. Clothes are everything! They are direct manifestations of our self-expression. Regardless of the clothes that are available to us, however we place the pieces that we do have together, we are able to display our own sense of style.

Therefore, my answer to the question was suddenly unobstructed, and it all made sense. I could never allow someone to dictate my wardrobe, even if it meant wearing the same outfit every single day. Maybe I am particular with my clothing, or I have an avid interest in fashion, but the thought of having no jurisdiction over my outfits is terrifying to even suggest. Sure, I appreciate variety. I have the privilege of wearing different outfits based on my mood, based on what makes me most comfortable, and I am also able to shop around within reason. In fact, shopping for new clothes is a special thing—especially finding items that I know I’ll wear forever, and they’re unlike anything else.

However, I stay particular when it comes to picking out clothes. The idea of somebody creating my wardrobe not only violates my autonomy, but it also builds a wave of anxiety when imagining walking out of the house in a state of discomfort, helplessly dressed in clothes I hate the color of, or detest the fit of, or simply don’t feel like me. Maybe I’m being a little dramatic, or irrational, but I cannot emphasize enough the power I feel when everything just fits, when the clothing arrangement is effortless and complete. To be frank, there is no better feeling than slipping on the same pair of jeans, weathered, stretched, flawlessly forming to your body, without any hesitation or second thought. This goes for t-shirts with just the right amount of gap for your arms in the sleeves, tank tops with soft straps, denim shorts with slight discoloration, and sweaters that slouch and hang like lush leaves on a strong, sturdy tree.

To adorn outfits with accessories is a beautiful thing—accessories that mean something to you, represent something, reminding you of special parts of life. When my childhood best friend moved away for a spell of time, she gave me her old jewelry box, cherry wood, just the right size, and filled with jewelry that had once meant a lot to her, but she didn’t wear much anymore. I cherished every piece, heedlessly pairing them with all of my outfits at the end of middle school and early high school.

Sometimes I can’t help but wince when I look at old photos of what I once called “my style,” and what I deemed to be the most chic and effortless. Regardless of the quality of the outfit in my eyes today, at the time, the outfit felt great, felt like me, and I can never blame myself for wearing something that once made me feel so comfortable and fashionable.

There’s a noticeable tastefulness in finding the clothes that work best for you, and sticking with them. Sure, I rarely follow this rule—in fact, I prefer to alter my style, attempt to acquire multiple, and embrace variety. On the flip side, I love watching others build their style based on the clothes they find most interesting, creating their own personal patterns that are sometimes only perceptible to themselves. It’s an intimate, exclusive practice that I see as a key component for self-expression.

Five Letters In Bold

by Charlotte Renola ’28 on October 2, 2025

A&E - Fashion

The Power Behind the “PARKE” Sweatshirt

We have never been strangers to trends. In fact, trends are all around us. They come and go, and then come back again. Something about the PARKE sweatshirts being worn on the backs of not only hundreds of Providence College students, but also thousands of young adults across the country, has us buying $135 sweatshirts as if they are a rite of passage. They’re all over campus, and chances are, if you’re reading this, you could be wearing one right now. Chelsea Kramer, PARKE’s founder who goes by Chelsea Parke on social media, is more than a business owner and influencer: she is a marketing mastermind. Cultivating a false sense of scarcity, PARKE utilizes controlled drops to leave consumers setting alarms for drop times, frantically putting items in their cart before the coveted clothing items are sold out.

It’s fascinating how PARKE has created such a loyal and dedicated customer base that will not only buy again and again, but will be outraged if their sweatshirt of choice is no longer available. Fans have taken to TikTok and other social media platforms to display their disappointment, posting different videos “mourning” the losses of their sweatshirts because they did not hit the checkout button fast enough or due to a computer glitch. The trick is that no PARKE drop is the same, as each collection of new drops has its own identity. This makes the superficial loss of a PARKE item that much more detrimental for customers, as the drop might have been their only chance to purchase a style they liked. Whether that style is an ode to an East Coast summer or celebrating the brand’s birthday, customers are addicted and influenced to continue buying.

PARKE’s way of producing consistent products yet maintaining unique themes and variations of their clothing to keep consumers interested is absolutely genius. This all occurs at a rapid rate, too, as Parke is a producing machine. Drops are scheduled routinely, but always sell out. This creates a sense of urgency for PARKE’s customers, causing them to ignore whether or not they already have an item and enabling their desire to win the game of purchasing something and checking out successfully.

That being said, next time you find yourself in the game of buying something—a process that seems so simple—take time to think about how there are so many moving pieces and strategies that brands use to get you to buy their product. You might be surprised by how much money you could save, or even become inspired by a company’s strategic planning.

Get “Hooked” on Crocheting!

by Madelyn Young '25 on March 6, 2023
A&E Staff

Arts & Entertainment

Have you been looking for a new hobby? Try crocheting!

Although it might seem a little outdated, crocheting has been making a comeback, and serves as a great way for people to express themselves creatively.

Crocheting your own clothing is a great way to show off your sense of fashion since each piece is unique. Even if you follow a pattern, no two pieces will turn out the exact same way, because everything can be made with different colors and in different sizes.

In addition to being extremely rewarding, crocheting can help prevent fast fashion. As social media and influencers seem to show off new trends daily, companies rapidly produce clothes to keep up. Not only are these clothes often poor quality, they also tend to get thrown out or donated as trends quickly die. Creating some pieces of clothing for yourself, on the other hand, ensures that you have unique, lasting pieces curated to your taste. And depending on the piece, you can often reuse yarn if you aren’t satisfied with a project (trust me, I do this a lot).

Crocheters aren’t just making clothes. Crocheting is a great hobby to have around holidays and birthdays to make unique homemade gifts for friends and family. You can use yarn to make stuffed animals, tapestries, bags, coasters, and even clothes for your pets (I made a hat for my cat, Quinn, this weekend).

If you want to begin crocheting, but aren’t sure where to start, make use of social media platforms like Youtube, TikTok, and Pinterest. There are thousands of creators that have tutorials on supplies, techniques, and projects. Many people share their progress, which can be encouraging for people who are struggling. These platforms can be very helpful for finding inspiration for a new project.

Taking up crocheting is also relatively inexpensive. All you need to get started is a hook and a ball of yarn, which you can get online or at craft stores. As you gain experience, you can branch out and find different colors and textures of yarn for different projects. There are big craft stores like Michael’s close to Providence, but also many local ones all throughout Rhode Island (such as Skein Yarn Shop in East Greenwich).

I also find that crocheting is a great way to relax. You can do it while listening to a podcast or audiobook, watching TV, or even while talking with friends.

As winter (slowly) comes to an end, this is the perfect time to start working on some crochet pieces to show off when the weather is warmer!

Turning Heads: How the Schiaparelli Spring 2023 Collection Promotes Animal Objectification

by Kaelin Ferland '23 on February 9, 2023
Opinion Staff

Opinion

On Jan. 23, Schiaparelli kicked off Paris Couture Fashion Week with arguably the designer brand’s most controversial show yet. Models strutted down the runway wearing dresses with hyper-realistic lion, wolf, and snow leopard heads made entirely without animal products, substituting them with humane alternatives like foam, faux fur, and resin. Kylie Jenner was photographed in one of these pieces, wearing a black dress adorned with a lion’s head on the shoulder. Schiaparelli posted these videos to their Instagram with the caption, “NO ANIMALS WERE HARMED IN MAKING THIS LOOK.” Many think that people are upset about and disturbed by these looks out of fear that they’re made with real fur and animal products. However, supporters of this collection don’t realize that this isn’t what’s causing such an uproar about these pieces.

Environmentalists and animal rights advocates aren’t angry because they’re worried about real animals being used in these looks. Rather, they’re understandably concerned about how this could promote animal objectification and potentially encourage people to want to use real animal heads in similar ways. As what normally happens during Fashion Week or with fashion in general, looks go viral and people want to replicate them. When designers depict animal heads as haute couture or high fashion, what’s to prevent people from replicating these looks with real animal heads? This is especially a cause for concern as poaching and trophy hunting still remain very prevalent and serious problems.

Lion heads and paws continue to be highly prized among poachers, and this line does nothing but further support this practice. Poaching is a prominent reason for why we’ve seen lion populations decrease by 43 percent over the past 21 years. Snow leopards are also commonly sought for their soft, spotted fur. According to Traffic, a UK organization that monitors the wildlife trade around the world, up to 450 snow leopards are poached every year, but the estimate could be greater as some poaching goes unnoticed. It’s irresponsible to display animal heads in this way, real or not, while endangered species continue to be exploited and unnecessarily killed for fashion and money. While using the heads of any animal as a fashion statement is irresponsible and objectifying, it’s even more alarming that these pieces featured a lion and snow leopard; both species are experiencing dramatic population declines. Many wolf species are also experiencing similar declines.

For some reason, we constantly use animals in fashion, whether that’s through fur coats, snakeskin boots, bags, or even leather. It seems as though we have a blatant lack of respect for animals, as we continue to perceive them as resources to be used and manipulated in whatever way we want. We see them as objects instead of living, sentient beings. While Schiaparelli’s animal heads aren’t real, it still promotes the view that we’re superior to animals, as their likeness is being used as a fashion statement.

It’s undeniable that the attention to detail and realism of the animal heads are unbelievable. The skill level needed to make these pieces is admirable which is why the collection is, understandably, receiving so much praise. You can’t argue that the artistry isn’t impressive; however, to ignore the potential consequences of this collection would be ignorant.

The goal of fashion has always been to push boundaries and cause controversy and conversation, but it seems as though the collection has taken this to another level. We need to value animals and prioritize their safety over the controversy.

A Fashionable Affair

by The Cowl Editor on December 11, 2021

A&E - Fashion

A Fashionable Affair

Style Icon Paris Hilton’s Wedding Extravaganza

Olivia Riportella ’25

Pop culture icon Paris Hilton recently celebrated her wedding with a festivity-filled three-day weekend. She tied the knot with venture capitalist fiancé, Carter Reum, on Nov. 11 at the former Bel Air estate of her late grandfather, Barron Hilton. The ceremony was followed by a carnival on the Santa Monica Pier Friday night and a black-tie event Saturday evening. And, as expected, the fashion of the weekend was off the charts—Hilton revealed that she planned to wear eleven wedding dresses because “It’s 11/11.”

When the couple said “I do” on the first evening, Hilton dazzled in a stunning high-neck, long-sleeve gown designed by Oscar de la Renta’s Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim. The body and sleeves of the dress were embroidered in pressed flower thread work, which gradually faded onto a tulle ball skirt. Hilton’s veil, also designed by Garcia and Kim, featured similar floral details.

According to Vogue, Hilton expressed that she “spent months designing [her] dress to perfection with the amazing Oscar de la Renta designers, Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim.” The new bride emphasizes that she “love[d] how it turned out. I wanted something that was timeless, elegant, chic, and iconic, and I am so happy.” Reum wore a classic Zegna tuxedo to the wedding, and teared up when he saw Hilton in her gown for the first time.

Before walking down the aisle, however, Hilton got glam with her bridal party in a custom floral-patterned silk Agent Provocateur robe that featured an array of beads and sequins. Then, after the ceremony and at the reception, Hilton changed into a princess-like gown by Galia Lahav for her first dance with Reum. The tulle off-the-shoulder dress featured a corset top that flowed into a full skirt, and she completed the look with a tiara and stunning tennis necklace.

Hilton then changed into a second, much shorter, Oscar de la Renta dress at the reception. This one included a bustier top and A-line mini skirt, with 3D floral embroidery along the shoulder, similar to the floral patterns on her ceremony gown. Hilton later switched things up once more, slipping into a stunning custom Pamella Roland gown with sequin and pearl embroidery and pairing it with a dramatic sheer embellished cape.

For the bridal party, the bridesmaids (Hilton’s sister-in-law Tessa Hilton, cousins Farrah Aldjufrie and Brooke Wiederhorn, and the groom’s sister Halle Reum Hammond) were dressed by Alice + Olivia in stunning pink corded lace gowns featuring a V-neck, flutter sleeves and a banded empire waist. Younger sister and Maid-of-Honor, Nicky Hilton Rothschild, was dressed in an elegant, slightly different pink Alice + Olivia corded lace gown featuring long-sleeves and satin ruffles. Each bridesmaid was also given a Tzuri bracelet.

Meanwhile, the groomsmen (Reum’s brother Courtney Reum, Cade Hudson, Oliver Hammond, James Rothschild, Barron Hilton, Conrad Hilton, and Jay Milliken) were dressed in designer Nigel Curtiss tuxedos and bowties handmade by Shawn Christopher.

Friday night, Paris sported a custom Alice + Olivia hot pink high-low dress with bedazzled mesh sleeves to her neon Santa Monica carnival bash. The bride completed her bold look with pink-rimmed heart-shaped sunglasses and a matching pink veil. Nicky Hilton Rothschild also stunned in a custom colorful bodycon mini dress with neon pink stilettos.

The newlyweds ended their extravagant weekend with another star-studded party at her late grandfather’s Bel-Air estate. Hilton sported a floor-length, custom- made Oscar de la Renta gown, covering her in silver stars from head to toe. She completed her fabulous look with a glamorous updo and smokey eye.

Needless to say, the style icon’s wedding extravaganza was quite the fashionable affair.

It’s Called Fashion, Look It Up: BOP Fine Arts Hosts PC Alumni in the Fashion Industry

by The Cowl Editor on October 31, 2019

News

by Sienna Strickland ’22

News Staff

Providence College’s Board of Programmers (BOP) is always busy planning fun events for students around campus. Anne Barbera ‘21, member of the Fine Arts committee, talks about the contributions Fine Arts makes to campus life.

The Arts Committee has had a busy year so far with a myriad of diverse programming, but, until last Thursday, had yet not ventured into the field of fashion. “Style Sophisticated,” an event held in ‘64 Hall on Oct. 24, changed this.

Barbera, one of the main planners behind the event, discussed the event’s origin story, stating, “I have always been interested in fashion, and felt that it was an area PC needed to touch upon more. I was deeply fascinated by the fact that we have successful women PC alum who work in the industry. I felt that more people should know about these talented women and the paths they had to take—as well as receive some fashion advice in the process!”

Like previous Fine Arts events, the turnout was impressive. Students, like Barbera, recognized the unique opportunity to hear from these women working in fashion. “The turnout was great, Kelly Schneider and Sarah Viens [the speakers] were very informative, and overall everything went wonderfully. It was an honor to have them.”

“The Fine Arts committee is one of the ten committees on the Board of Programmers,” Barbera says. “We plan all of the events that have to do with the arts.”

Continuing by listing some events the committee has hosted this past year, Barbera states, “We held a trip to the Boston Arts Festival, put together a tie-dye making event on Slavin lawn called ‘Clear Skies and Tie Dyes,’ and also had a vision board- making event in McPhail’s.” These events have all been massive successes in terms of turnout, often running out of materials within an hour of their start time.

Fine Arts has done a lot of work this year, but they are nowhere near done. “We would like to continue to reach audiences on campus that we have never thought to reach before with our events. This year so far, we have been doing a great job on diversifying our projects, but we are by no means complacent. We are hoping to wow the crowd with the events we have on the horizon for the rest of the semester.”

Barbera gave a quick preview of some of these future events. The Fine Arts committee has two events planned for the upcoming month of November. On Nov. 5 they will be hosting a trip to Providence Performing Arts Center at 7 p.m. to watch the Aladdin musical. They will also be hosting a muse painting event called “Drink and Dabble” on Thursday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.