Zipped

In the library last night, I was delighted to discover the spring 2008 issue of Zipped magazine.  I make it a point to pick up student publications I see around campus--I'm curious as to what people are writing about and eager to see how student magazines designed.  To be honest, however, even in Newhouse, I'm usually a little disappointed.  Most magazines I see are full of shoddy reporting, weak writing and a lot of the lay-out is pretty poorly executed. 

 

But such was no the case with Zipped.  This issue of Zipped (which I think is its first) is full of great illustrations and the lay-out and design are very clean and professional looking.  The writing is succinct--clearly done by individuals who know a thing or two about fashion.  And the photography and photo spreads are great!

My favorite thing about Zipped, however, is the content.  I was excited to see that Zipped's approach to fashion was through long-form feature type pieces rather than just photo spreads accompanied by blurby sound bites.  I was drawn to Zipped because the articles in magazine looked really interesting and well-researched (the letter-from-the-editor said that Zipped had polled 100 SU women for a story).  Zipped featured a piece on one of the fashion industry's toughest debates: racial diversity among runway models as well as a piece with a local, SU angle: how sloppy dressing in the classroom can hurt a student's performance and attitude. And while I am personally not terribly interested in men's fashion, I was really impressed to see Zipped reaching out to men by including an article on men's clothing. 

The piece on classroom dressing I thought was especially well-done, timely and important.  I am just as guilty as the next person of wearing ratty jeans and my favorite hoodie to class--although I have never owned a pair of Uggs, a personal fact in which I am beginning to take some pride.  But every time I show up to class with no make-up and wearing an old t-shirt, I catch myself thinking, "I should really look nicer."  There are colleges and universities that do have dress codes.  Sewanee, The University of the South, requires students to dress business casual to class and frankly I think it's something more universities should give some thought to. Clothing is important.  Clothing communicates--both to yourself and to others.  Gross sweatpants and bar stamps on both hands say something very different about you than dresses, slacks and a tucked in shirttail.  When you look nice you are telling yourself and others that you care about what you're doing enough to get up early and get ready.  I was really pleased to see this issue addressed in Zipped--I think it's an important one.

But in addition to the longer form pieces, I really enjoyed the shorter, quippier stuff in the front of the magazine on Natalie Portman, superheros and Agyness Deyn.  And I especially liked the section 13210 about fashion on campus--I love seeing what other people are wearing and hearing what they have to say about their own style.  I also thought that the inside back cover with the well-priced accessories was a nice touch and well designed.

The only thing I didn't care for about Zipped was the cover.  I like the clothes and I think the models look great.  That dress is perfect for this spring and it fits her soooo well.  I felt like the photo was a little tight and that the type on the left side of the page was jumbled and hard to read.  But the back cover I thought was so sophisticated and original and went really well with the other fashion illustrations throughout the magazine.

AND the clothing selection for the photo spread Popular agriCulture is totally brilliant.  I love how Zipped mixed higher end pieces such as dresses from Showoffs with  funky Salvation Army finds and Jovovich Hawke swimwear for Target and locally made jewelry from Way Off The Beaten Path.  Really hip and creative and really appeals to a variety of tastes!   

I know Michelle in our class is a co-editor for Zipped--so great job!  I think this magazine is really RAD!