Rag Report: Red Zone

Rag Report dives under the covers of fashion publications to rant or rave about all the glossy goodness.

Red is a powerful color. It’s bold and expressive. Red lips are attention grabbing; on clothes, the color is downright sexy. "Cosmopolitan" celebrates the crimson hue in this month’s issue with photographer Todd Marshard in the spread “In the Red.” The wood scenery and cool earth tones allows the crimson clothing items to shine.

Even with the tall, imposing tree in the first shot, the reader’s eye is immediately drawn to the model’s bright red trench coat from Mango. The camerawork here is visually striking and the tree seems to be the perfect juxtaposition with the fire engine red trench.

Marshard makes the model look larger than life in this shot. Her figure is long and lean just like the trees in the background. Her face and body language are seductive which compliment her equally seductive clothing. The contrast between the red fur jacket and the surrounding colors commands attention.

The model is the main focus of this picture. Her vivid blue eyes immediately capture the readers. Her hair almost blends in with the woodsy atmosphere of the photo, as does the brown cuff bracelet. Even her skin is a shade of brown, though much lighter than the trees. The twist dress from Dsquared is distinctive because of its blood-like color.

Marshard showcases the clothing in this spread in a unique and interesting way. Photographing crimson hues amongst a forest filled with greens and browns, Marshard makes the clothes the most important part of this spread.

-Jessica Dysart

Fierce+Foreign: A look that says, "Meow"

Fierce+Foreign draws on the fashion experiences of SU students studying abroad.

Tease the lion with a bit of flirtation. 

Underneath your layers this winter, show a little peek of animal print, just enough to lure your prey. The jungle is teeming with patterns, but the classics are still the best catch. Leopard print, in small quantities, is the perfect pattern this season to match a dark solid color outfit.

The key word here: small. Leopard print isn't for everybody; wear it right and you'll be a sexy kitten. Wear it wrong, and you'll be one of Josie's Pussycats.

Learn from Scarlett Johansson, who's right on the bull's eye on how to wear leopard print in Mango's ad this season. 

 

 Mango Fall 2009 ad with Scarlett Johansson

Wear the print as a form-fitting top, and match with a black blazer. Avoid wearing anything too revealing in leopard skin to avoid stepping over the line into trashy. Isabel Marant has a sleek example of this combo in her Fall/Winter collection.

Isabel Marant Fall/Winter 2009

 

But of course, leopard print isn't everybody's cup of tea. It's quite a daring, eye-catching pattern. If it's the first time you're thinking of trying animal print, then you can wear it as a scarf like Amy Jacobson, a junior at SU Strasbourg. 

Junior Amy Jacobson rocking this season's animal print.

Her little dash of leopard print is modestly flirtatious with the black and white. It's just enough to tease and leaves the rest to imagination.

- by Jenny Cheng