ampersand magazine: the fashion issue

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t h e i r s t y l e s e c r e t sT h e m u s i c a l l i f e o f S a n n i B a u m g ä r t n e r

CASUAL& FALL IN BETWEEN

FORMALTO

A P P L Y T O D A Y F O R F A L L 2 0 1 4

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A P P L Y T O D A Y F O R F A L L 2 0 1 4

upgraded computer center @ Lakeside • new leather-style furniture available @ River Mill

great locations to campus • on shuttle bus route • private bedrooms & bathrooms available

furnished apartments available • resort-style amenities • pet friendly • individual leases

A T H E N S S T U D E N T H O U S I N G . C O M

STARTS HEREYOUR HOUSING SEARCH

+ S A V E $ 2 0 0 W I T H R E D U C E D F E E S

Fees & amenities are subject to change.

The Club Lakeside River Mill

2 3

AmpersandMagazine

volume 4 // issue 4

Love Letters

Food

Fashion

Music

Art+Leisure

Features

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8-9

11-12

13-16

18-20

22-23

24-28

31-32

34-38

40-42

44-46

Make Your Own Athenian

Love Letters

Did You Know? Jackets & Scarves

Guest: Bread and Thread Blog

Back to Basics

Sanni Bamgärtner’s Musical Past

A Chill in the Air

Stylish Glasses

A Formal Affair

Aprons Off

Scarves that Buy an Education

COVER PHOTO BY EMILY DARDAMAN

40-4234-38

24-28

22-23

31-32 18-20

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NOVEMBER 2014 AMPERSAND 3

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Managing Editor Grace DonnellySenior Editor

Lauren LoudermilkSection Editors

Chandler JohnstonDiondra PowersDesign Editor

Jake GreenAssistant Design Editor

Julie RodriguezPhoto Editor

Stephanie LennoxAssistant Photo Editor

Christina CannonOnline Editor

Daniel FunkeRecruitment Editor

Kate DevlinSenior Food Writer

Amanda JohnsonSenior Fashion Writer

Kailey ProfetaSenior Music Writer

Jonny WilliamsSenior Art & Leisure Writer

Kaitlin KentCopy Editor

Shannon AdamsEditorial Adviser

Erin FranceSports Editorial Adviser

Cy Brown

EDITORIAL

Contributing Writers Rachel Eubanks

Greyson IkeLaura James

Jianna JusticeJackson Moore-Ragusin

Ally SmithMadison Trapkin

PhotographersCharlotte Bleau

Emily DardamanTatim Kilosky

Emily SchooneCarson TraversSidney WilderDesign Team

Abi LambertKillian WyattIllustrators

Mandy LeStacey Suss

Advertising DirectorWill White

Account ExecutivesJill Armitage

Graham Currie

Danny Jacob

Kelly McLendon

Judson Parsons

Dennis Scullin

Kelly Taylor

Josh Young

Creative DirectorDan Roth

Student Production Manager

Victoria NikolichCreative Assistants

Jessie BonhamMarcella Caraballo

General ManagerNatalie McClure

Executive AssistantLaurel Holland

Office ManagerAshley Oldham

Business Assistant/ Inside Sales

Chandler McGeeClassified &

Promotions ManagerHayley DeBell

Distribution AssistantsIan Carrol

Sarah Hodges

Emily Laramy

Cory SchenckPromotion Team

Russell Abad

Daniel Clifford

Dylan Floyd

Brian Galgon

Alicia Gant

Megan McNerneyCirculation Assistant

John Berrigan

EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stephen Mays

STAFF ADVERTISING PRODUCTION BUSINESS

AmpersandMagazine

A PUBLICATION OF

4 AMPERSAND NOVEMBER 2014

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E D I T O R ’ S N O T E


Ourfirstfashionissue.Wow.Thegravityofthatdidn’tsinkinuntilIstartedwritingthis.I’mnotsurewhywe’veneverdedicat-edafullissuetofashion,butitmayhavesomethingtodowiththesemi-organizedchaosthatcomeswithtryingtoshootmorethanonefashionspread.ItmayhavebeenmoreappropriatetohavenamedthistheAmbitionIssue,butIdigress. Athensradiateswithfashion,andifyoucan’tseethat,thenyouneedtospendmoretimeinpublic.Somanystylescomple-ment,contrastandplayoffofoneanotherintheClassicCity.Forone,chefsdonsomeprettymeanthreadswhenthey’renotinthekitchen(pg.40).Athenslendsitselfashostandinspirationforanysnazzyundertaking,liketheup-and-comingBreadandThreadblogthatcollaboratedwithus(pg.13). Andforthosejustenteringthefashionworld,wehaveafewtidbitstohelpgetyoustartedwithknowingyourbasics(pg.11).Haveyounoticedhowglasseshavebecomemorefashionablyfunctionalthaneverbefore(pg.31)?OrdidyouknowtheSanniBaumgärtner,well-knownAthenianfashiondesigner,hasahis-toryinmusic(pg.22)? Butifitfeelsliketheremightbeajustabitmissingfromthisissue,don’tyouworryyourprettylittlehead.Wehaveaspecialsurprisecomingmid-November.Keepyoureyesopenandstayhungryforwhat’stocome.

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Meanwhile in AmperLand, we:

+ Window shopped across Athens.+ Explained who Ed Sheeran is.+ Found the perfect pumpkin.+ Got overly ambitious about pumpkin carving. + Learned “Don’t” is about Ellie Goulding. + Spent too much time on Pinterest looking for

“inspiration”.+ Found the five Athens must-haves for fall.+ Devoured pumpkin apple muffins.+ Started hating all our clothes.+ Tucked away the summer shorts.+ Dusted off our jeans.+ Broke out the flannel.+ Became even more caffeine dependent.+ Went to Oktoberfest.+ Learned the differences between Oxfords and

loafers.+ Invented an Ampersand hand sign. + Danced the Wild Rumpus in full costume. + Spent 16 hours documenting the The Georgia

National Fair in Middle Georgia.+ Labored through midterms. + Did lots of basic white girl things a la pumpkin.+ Semi-survived midterms. + Spotted Alton Brown in town.+ Attended the world’s largest outdoor cocktail party. + Attempted to define the word “basic”.+ Watched too many Halloween movies.+ Bought and ate more candy corn than humanly safe.+ Visited Atlanta’s High Museum of Art.+ Were consistently confused by Georgia weather.

Look for us online

@ampersand_uga

ampersand.uga


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We took a look at the people ofAthens and noticed a fun variety ofstyles and trends manifesting them-selves in different ways. While it’shard to escape labeling people, wecan find that there is something tobe saidabout the clothesabunchofpeople choose to put on. Wemixedand matched some familiar typeswewalkbyeverydaydowntownandoncampus. Youmayseeyourfavor-iteitemsorrollyoureyesatanother.

The fashion choices you see as swa-galicious may look pretty funny tosomeoneelse.Thatfeelingyougetinyouroversizedtshirtisthesamethatsomeoneelsegets intheirsocksandsandals.

Take this opportunity to make apaperdollthatappreciatesallsensesoffashion,becausehonestly,we’realljustpeoplegettingupinthemorninghopingwelookflyashell.

BY JAKE GREEN & JULIE RODRIGUEZILLUSTRATIONS BY MANDY LE


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I L LUSTR AT IONS BY MANDY LE

Ittooksometimeweighingeachandeveryfauxpasthatsetsme ina rage.Chacos?Uggs?Sperries?COWBOYBOOTS? Iknewfootwearwouldplayanimportantroleinmycriticism,thoughofthestyleorprecisionIwasn’ttoosure.Somethingwasstillmiss-ing;until,whilewalkinghomealongamanicuredandratherchicavenueinMontpellier,France,Ispottedhim:BroMcFratstarwaswearing a Comfort Colors T-shirt, generic, Ralph Lauren khakishorts, a backwards baseball cap, and some mesh Nike tennisshoes. As if the ensembleweren’t enough, a pair of thewhitesttubesocksonearthshotupwardtotheknees,leavingtheamountofexposedskinbetweenshorts’hemandsockalmostnegligible.

Not to be construed as an attack on Athens’ organized Hel-lenism, Imust say— I don’t understand the chosenmediumoftheirconventionalizedtrends.Theprescribedfraternityuniformembraceswhatoughttobeanagreeableand,dareIsayit,sophis-ticatedpresentation.Though,like@tudgirlypls,somethingislostin translation. Your (probably Ralph Lauren) button down shirtneedstofit.Your(probablykhaki)pantsneednotresembleEliza-bethanbloomers(read:again,theyneedtofit).Andunlessyou’replanningonyachting toWatkinsvilleafterclass,Sperriescanbesubstitutedwithanyotherloafer.Andplease,fortheloveofGod,realizethatTUBESOCKSgivetheimpressionthateachofyourlegssharesthesamediameterastheBaobabsofmainlandAfrica.

WhatmovedmethemostaboutthisyoungAmericanwashisconfidence.Usually,onemightapplaudsuchassurance,suchself-possession.Though,parcontre,onemustremembertheconven-tionsthatcontributedtoandencouragedsuchatrainwreckincot-ton,especiallywhensuchblatantdisregardisexhibitedtowardthecustomsofanothercountry.

Iunderstandcomfortandeaseindressing—itrulesmychoic-es.Ioftenadoptthetropesofthesororityuniformforclasstime,minusafewx’sonmyteesize.ButwhenIdressfor“reallife,”shallwesay,Ichoosefromavarietyofdry-landfootwear(that,mayIadd,doesn’treek),aswellasfromacadreofclothingthat,aston-ishingly,fits.Usingcomfort,orignorance,asanexcuseisineffec-tive.YousimplylooklikeanidiotdressedinInaGarten’sshent(notquiteashirt,notquiteatent).

Maybe the cigarette silhouette that theFrench sooften favorhaspollutedmyvision,butthenagain,Idoubtit.Justbecauseyoucan tie a bowtie doesn’tmean you can leave the housewithoutlookinginamirror.


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IamalwayswritingaboutthethingsI lovemostabout fashionandwhatI findfashionable.Buttoday,IwanttotalktoyouaboutonethinginparticularthatIfeelshouldhaveneverbeenintroducedtothefashionindustry–ever.

Let’stalkaboutcrocs.Intheyear2002,3mencreatedafoamclogoriginallyasashoe

towearwhileyouenjoyyourtimeatthespa.Suchagreat,innova-tiveidea,right?Theissuearosewhenpeoplethoughtit’dbeagreatideatowearthemoutsideofaspasalon,hospital,cafeteriaoranykindofwatersportingactivity.Theissuearosewhenpeopledecidedtoweartheminthepublicforalltosee,asifitweresomekindofcasualshoe.

Yousee,whenonepersondecidestowearthesethingswithjeans,sweatpants,orgodforbidadress,anotherpersonisgoingtothinkitisokay.Thenanother,andanother,untilitbecomesachainreaction,andbeforeyouknowit,themassesdecidetohurlthemselvesintoafashionsuicide.Andy’allhavetounderstand–Iamprobablyoneofthemostopen-mindedpeoplewhenitcomestofashion.ButI’msorry:crocsareoffensiveandanembarrassmenttoeverythingusinfashionlivefor.

And as if their senior citizen natureweren’t enough, someonethoughtit’dbefunnytocreatecharmsyoucanstickintheholesonthefrontoftheshoe.Doyouseemelaughing?IfIhavetolookdownandseethewholecastofSpongebobonyourfeet,knowthatIamjudgingyou.

People, where do we draw the line?! Where is your dignity?Where is your PRIDE? And for those of you who could care lessabout fashionanddressmore for comfort,hey, that is completelyfine. People alsowear snuggies, bunny slippers, and sleep in thenudeforcomfort...andtheyseemtoknowwhatshouldn’tleavethecomfortoftheirownhomes.I’dactuallyprefertoseewalkingdownthesidewalkinbunnyslippers–that’showdeepmydisdainforthisshoeruns.Iamanall-aroundadvocateforthephrase“Youshouldn’tcarewhatpeople thinkofyou.Live foryourself.”That’s fair.But Ithinktheoverallmessagehereishowyoudressisanembodimentofhowyouthinkofyourself.AndifyouthinkofyourselfasCrocs...


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When it comes to men’s jackets, there seems to be a lot of uncertainty about the distinction between suit jackets, blazers and sport coats. Hopefully, this quick rundown of the different types of men’s jackets will dispel some of the con-fusion surrounding them.

1. Suit JacketAccording to Kevin Bell, employee at

George Dean’s men’s store in downtownAthens,“Thesuitjacketandthepantsarealltogether. It’s awhole ensemble. You’ve gotthecoatandthepanttogowiththem.”

So, the defining characteristic of a suitjacket is that it’s a single piece of a largersinglesuitensemble,and,attheveryleast,iscoupledwithaspecificpairoftrousers.It’simportant to note that mixing and match-ing suit jacketswith different suit pants ispositivelyverboten.Furthermore,Suitjack-etscanbeeithersolid-coloredorpatternedandaregenerallyconsideredtobethemostformaltypeofmen’sjacket.

2. BlazersAt first glance, blazers actually bear a

striking resemblance to suit jackets. Ulti-mately, however, this type of men’s jacketis entirely distinct from its slightly moreformal counterpart. A blazer ismade fromcoarsermaterialsthanasuitjacket,issolid-colored, and has nomatching pair of trou-sers.Often,blazerswillalsobestyledwithdecorative–usuallymetalandnavalthemed–buttons.

3. Sport CoatsLastly,thereistheverycasualsportcoat.

Likeblazers,sportcoatsarenotmadewithamatchingpairof trousers.But thismen’sjacket is patterned, rather than solid-col-ored,andlacksthemetalbuttonswhichdis-tinguishablazerassuch.

BY JACKSON MOORE-RAGUSIN

I L LUSTR AT IONS BY STACEY SUSS


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In honor of recent drops in temperature, we’ve compiled our own personal ode to fall’s favorite accessory — the scarf. Whether worn in cable-knit wool or cozy cotton, scarves are a one stop shop to add that perfect touch of casual chicness to any cold weather ensemble. We’re amping up the volume, and transforming this practical piece into a full-on fashion statement with our five favorites ways to tie a scarf.

BY JIANNA JUSTICE


1. The DIY Infinity ScarfMake your favorite long hanging scarf

infinitely cooler by tying the two endstogethertoformacircle,thendoublewrap-pingitaroundyourneckwiththetieintheback.Whypay forAmericanApparel’s $30version,whenyoucanDIY?

2. The PretzelFold your scarf in half length wise and

hang it around your neck. You should endupwithoneloopedendandtwolooseends.Stick one of your loose ends through theloop, then twist the remaining part of thelooped end and stick the other loose endthrough.Voila!Twistedandtrendy.

3. The BandannaWild West meets Classic City with this

freshtakeontying.Foldyourscarf,cornertocorner,onadiagonalsothatyouendupwithalargetriangle.Then,takethetoptwoendsandtiethemtogetherbehindyourneck,let-tingthefront,triangularhalfhangloose.

4. The Tie the Knot Stepupyoureverydayscarfgamebyfirst

hanging a longer, drop-down scarf aroundyourneckandlettingbothendshangloose.Then take hold of the middle section ofbothendsandformaloop.Stickbothendsthroughtheloopandpullthemdownwardsuntilyou’releftwithatightknot.Perfectforyourknotsoaveragegirl!

5. The Braid Savvyandsimple.Startwiththescarfon

thebackofyourneck,thentiealooseloopwiththetwofrontends.Then,crossoneendover theother andpull it backup throughthecentralloopofthescarf.Repeatthisuntilyougettotheend,thencapitoffbytyingthetwoendstogether.

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I L LUSTR AT IONS BY STACEY SUSS

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For this issue, Ampersand reached out to the writers of Bread and Thread, a local blog dedicated to the synergy of food and fashion,

created by recent University of Georgia graduates Ally Smith and Madison Trapkin.

wenear theendofourcollege careers, wereflect on the manyfacets of our lives thus

far. In retrospect, it seems thatthings have come full circle — thedenimdaysof ’90spasthaveresur-faced, and once again we find our-selves clad in those faithful blues.We’vesampledeverythingfromkaleto quinoa, but nothing fills our bel-liesquitelikethemelty,cheesyloveofagrilledcheese.

In our travels, we’ve both dis-covered that it’s important to haveportableanchors.Allynestlesinthewarmth of furwhileMadison feedsonthecrustof freshlybakedbread.

Our passions keep us grounded inthepresent,nomatterwherewego,sothatwecanmoveforwardtothefuture.Werevelinnostalgiatocreateasenseofcomfort;ourgrilledcheesememorieswarmusinsidewhileourcozyknitstakecareoftheoutside.

Our moms always told us, “Seetheworldandcomehomefor love.”The beautiful thing about growingupanddevelopingapassion is thatwherever we are, we can take ourhomeswithus.BreadandThreadisa collaborative blog project by AllySmith and Madison Trapkin, whichstemmedfromtheirpersonalblogs,individualpassionsandtheoverlapsthatmayensue—fashion&food.

BY ALLY SMITH AND MADISON TRAPKIN

FEATURED RECIPE Grilled cheese sandwich

with blue potatoes from Lazy Willow Farm & wholegrain bread from Luna Baking Co.

HAIR STYLING Model Citizen Salon

LOCATION Creature Comforts Brewing Co.

PHOTOS BY TATIM KILOSKY


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Left:

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Left: Rhys May rings, C

omm

unity.Right: Sunglasses and kim

ono, Dynamite.

Left: Fur coat and snakeskin clutch, Dynamite. Jeans, Pitaya.


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For potatoes:Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Using a pair of tongs, arrange po-tato rounds in a single layer covering the en-tirety of the pan. Cook on first side for about 2 minutes, then flip using tongs and cook for an additional minute on the second side. Re-move potatoes from oil and place them on a paper towel to absorb excess oil. Sprinkle lightly with salt while potatoes are still hot. Repeat until all of your potato rounds are pan-fried to perfection!

For yogur t-chive spread:Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Refriger-ate until you’re ready to assemble your grilled cheese.

For grilled cheese:Melt butter in large skillet over medium heat. Place each piece of bread in the skillet indi-vidually and remove quickly in order to but-ter one side per slice. Using two pieces of bread, add a layer of yogurt-chive spread to the non-buttered side of one piece. Arrange a single layer of potatoes on top of the spread, and finally add a layer of Fontina cheese. Place the second piece of bread un-buttered side down on the other half of your sand-wich. Cook for 5 minutes on the first side (or until golden brown), and then carefully flip us-ing a spatula. Cook second side for the same amount of time. Remove from heat, let cool and serve it up however you like — with your favorite soup, alongside your extra yogurt-chive spread, or all by itself. Enjoy!

2 potatoes, washed and sliced as thin as you can get them

3 tbsp olive oilSalt to taste

17 oz. container plain Greek yogurt2 tbsp chives, finely chopped

Salt & pepper to taste

4 slices of bread1 tbsp butter

Fontina cheese

INGREDIENTS DIRECTIONS


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Sometimes, less is more. The line between feminine and masculine aesthetics is blurred with simple shapes and classic textures. Understated outfits create modern inspiration for any casual outing.


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STYLED BY CHANDLER JOHNSTON & KAILEY PROFETAPHOTOS BY EMILY DARDAMANMODELS CAROLINE CIEZ, CONNOR GRUVER & LAURA PENDLETON

ON LAURA, LEFTSweater, $25, Community.

ON CAROLINE, ABOVEBra top, $8, Pitaya. Jumper, $25, Community.

ON CONNORJacket, $26, Dynamite.


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ON CONNORShirt, $16, Dynamite.

ON LAURAJacket, $88, Leotard, $26, Jeans, $18, Dynamite.

ON LAURATop, $19, Pitaya. Coach fanny pack, $65, Agora Vintage.

ON CAROLINE Sweater, $25, Community. Bottega Veneta backpack, $299, Agora Co-op.

ON CAROLINESweater, $35, Community.

ON CONNOR Leather Jacket, $65, Community.


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magining Sanni Baumgärtner, the owner of Athens’ young but notorious boutique, Com-munity, pursuing anything other than fashion

ischallengingformost.Herstoreandfashionline,thefittinglytitledCommunityService,havecaughttheat-tentionofprettymuchanylocalpublicationthatyoucould think of, aswell as the likes of TheNewYorkTimes, Southern Living andMTV.Most people knowherstorytoo—orsotheythink.

Ashasbeenstatedinnumerousprofiles,Baumgärt-ner first came to theUniversity ofGeorgia as an ex-change student, moved back and forth between herhome inGermanyandAthens foranumberofyearsbefore finally settling in the latter, andopenedCom-munity in2010.That’sthetimelinethat isall tooof-ten settled for, butwhat it fails tomention iswhereBaumgärtner’saspirations formerly laid— inmusic.Considering the variety and esteem of eachmusicalprojectsheled,it’snothingshortofashamethatthispart of her life seems almost forgotten. As husbandandformerbandmateDonChamberspointsout,“sheseldommentionshermusicalpast.”

HerbeginningsinthefieldresideinGermanywhenatthelateageof18shebeganplayingguitar.Afterde-velopinghermusicalearandwritingherownsongs,Baumgärtner briefly performed with some friendswho already had a group before moving to Athensforthefirsttime,bringingherdevelopingpassionformusic alongwithher.Butwhat shedidn’t anticipatefromtherelocationwastheinspirationtoseekitoutasaprofession.“IthinkthatwhenIstartedplayinginGermany itwasareally funandexciting thing todo,butIdon’tthinkIeverthoughtofitassomethingthatIwantedtodoasacareer,”saysBaumgärtner.“Itwasmoreof…Idon’twanttosayahobbybecauseitwasmoreimportantthanthat,butIdidn’tconsiderthatIwouldgetsoseriousaboutitthatIwouldpursuealifeasamusicianuntilImovedtoAthens,andIsawotherpeopledoingit.”

ShefirstmadeanameforherselfinthescenewithherpremiereAthensgroup,Frangipane.IthadasoundinspiredbyEasternEuropeangypsymusic,withsongsfeaturingbothEnglishandGermanlyrics,atrendthat

I

a musical history lost in the fabric

PHOTO BY EMILY SCHOONE

BY JONNY WILLIAMS


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wouldstaywithBaumgärtnerfortherestofhermusi-calcareer. Itdidn’t last long,however.Afteronlyhalfa year of the band’s existence, Baumgärtner brieflyreturnedtoGermanytofinishschool.Uponreturningto Athens, she was shocked to find that Frangipanehaddissolved inher absence. “IwasworkingonmythesisandIhadtogobackonemoretimetoGermanyfor three months to finish my final exams and dur-ing that time somehow thebandkindofmovedon.”saysBaumgärtner.“TheyallhadotherprojectswhenIcamebacktotown,andIwasalittlebitheartbroken.”

Havingtorestart,Baumgärtnerdecidedtoradicallyshiftdirectionfromgypsyto20sand30sGermancab-aretwithhernextmusicalventure,AuditionwithMax. “ItjustspoketomeinawaythatIdon’treallythinkany other traditional German music speaks to me,”says Baumgärtner of the genre. In a town clutteredwithmoreofthesameindierock,Auditionwasasty-listic relief with its unorthodox band instrumenta-tion,foreignlyricismandespeciallyitsexuberantliveproductions.“WereallyenjoyedvampingitupfortheAudition shows, feather boas and all,” saysmulti-in-strumentalistAmyBramblett.Whatwasonlyintendedtobea “funsummerproject”endedup lasting threeyearsbuteventuallyconcludedafterit’snoveltyfadedaway. “WehaddonetheGermancabaret thing,and Ifeel thatwe had covered allmy favorite songs fromthatera,andsowestartedtokindofstrugglealittlebitto findmaterial,” saysBaumgärtner. “Imusicallywasreadyforsomethingelse.”

That something else was Baumgärtner’s attempttotrulypursueherartasacareer—her finalmusi-cal endeavor, Dancer Vs. Politician. Before movingbacktoBerlinforwhatshehadthoughtwouldbethefinaltime,Baumgärtnerworkedon“ACityHalf-Lost,”Dancer Vs. Politician’s only album. Though consid-eredcompleteuponherdeparture, theLP’s tracklistwas further expanded through musical connectionsmadeinBerlinandtweakedwitheachofherfrequenttripsbacktothestates,makingitinternationalbothinlyricismandlineup.“WeprettymuchrecordedwhatIthoughtwasthefullalbumhere,buttheninBerlinweaddeda couplemoresongs,” saysBaumgärtner. “But

thenitbecamethiskindofmixtureofrecordingsomethere, bringing it back here andmixing it. So itwaskind of a collaboration really between the people inBerlinandthepeoplehere.”Theresultwasanautumnsoundtrack that stylistically fell between Nico, Belleand Sebastian and The Postal Service, all of whomBaumgärtnercitesasdirectinfluences.

AndthoughthiswasBaumgärtner’sstrongesteffortyet, the appeal of theprofession inhernewmusicalsettingquicklybegan towane. InBerlin, she learnedtheunfortunatetruthofhowlittletheindustryhastodowiththeartitself,somethingthatmadeherques-tionplayingmusic at all. “Iwanted to livea life as amusician,andIthoughtIwaspursuingthatbymovingtoBerlin,”saysBaumgärtner.“Itjustbecamesomuchaboutpromotingmyselfandpromotingthemusicthatitreallytookthefunoutofitonareallydeeplevelforme. Itmademeunhappytoanextentthat itactuallymademesick,andIjustwantedtostepawayfrommu-sicaltogether.”

Soshedid.Aftermovingback toAthens forwhatappears to be a permanent residency, Baumgärtneropened Community, a project she has widely be-come known for, though previously impossible dueto the spontaneity of touring. Her work in clothingmightseemlikeadrasticchangefrommusic,but forBaumgärtner,it’sasupplementtothechannelherpre-viousexertionofferedbeforetheindustryinterfered.“IthinkthatinthestoreandintheclothinglineandinthefashionIhaveadifferentcreativeoutlet,butIthinkthecreativitycomes fromthesameplace.Like, it’sadifferentexpression,butit’sthesamekindofcreativ-itythatIusedformusic,”saysBaumgärtner.

Shecurrentlyshowsnoimmediatesignsofreturn-ing to her previous passion, but the potential of ithappeningsometimeinthedistantfuturestilllingersfaintly.“Idon’tmissit,andsorightnowIdon’tknowifI’llgobacktoplayingmusic,”saysBaumgärtner.“ButIcouldimaginethatoncemylifeisalittlelessbusywithwhatitisnowthatmaybeI’llpickitupagainoneday.”Andwithamusicalbackgroundasrichashers,wecanonlyhopeso.

Audition with Max Reinhardt

PHOTO BY SHAWN FOWLER PHOTO COURTESY SANNI BAUMGÄRTNER


24 25

STYLED BY CHANDLER JOHNSTON & KAILEY PROFETA

PHOTOS BY CHARLOTTE BLEAU HAIR AND M AKEUP BY AMANDA COOPER

MODELS JASMINE BEVERLY BOBBY BURRES NIKITA MEKA KAREN POWELL ISHANA RATAN KODIAK SAUER

Fall is the perfect time for outdoor entertaining. Plaid, autumnal patterns and soft textures create looks ready for changing weather. An intimate party with close friends is the perfect way to show off rustic fall clothing and outerwear.


24 25

On Ishana: Top, $39, Agora Co-op.Sweater cape, $48, Dynamite.


26 27

On Karen: Marc Jacobs top, $20,The Pope on Prince. Snakeskin skirt, $60,

Sweater, $20, Community.

On Kodiak: Button-down, $22, Leather jacket, $38, Dynamite.Boots, $22, The Pope on Prince.


26 27

On Nikita: Top, $12, The Pope on Prince.Leather skirt, $65, Community.Bag, $42, Dynamite.


28 29


On Bobby: Shirt, $26, Community.Boots, $38, The Pope on Prince.

On Jasmine: Trousers, $18, The Pope on Prince.On Nikita: Blazer, $22, The Pope on Prince.

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30 31

BY GREYSON IKE

ememberwhengoingtothedoctor’sforaneyeexamwasasdauntingandunex-citingasgoingtothedentist’sforacavity

check?Wearingglasseswas something reservedforthebrainykids,thelibrariansorperhapsyourgrandpa.Recently,however,eyewearhasbecomeanewanduniquewaytoaccessorize.Glassesare

increasinglyprovidingawaytoexpresspersonalstyle.WalkingdownBroadStreetyoumight seepeople sporting thick frames, thin frames, blackframes,coloredframesandmanymayownmorethanonepair;italldependsonthelooktheywantfortheday.Eventhosewhodon’tneedglasseswillwearthem—simplytomakeafashionstatement.


33

So when did this happen?Whendidapairoflensesmeanttoimproveyourvisionbecomesomethingtoaugmentyourap-pearance? Jim Adams, ownerof Adams Optics in downtownAthens, explains, “People don’tlook at your Chuck Taylorswhenpassingyouby.Theylookatyourface.” Adams,whohasbeeninthebusiness forover30years,hasseentheunfoldingevolutionofeyewear from function to fash-ion.He says the industry grewwhen manufacturers neededways to keep customers buy-ingandbegantointroduceandchange different optical styles.Having started at a high-endeyewearstoreinAtlantabe-fore starting his own busi-ness in Athens in 1975, hehas witnessed how expen-sive these constant changescanbe. That’swhy the approachatAdamsOpticsisalittledif-ferent,keepingeverypairofqualityglassesatarelativelycheap,fixedprice.“For$99,youcan come into my store andchangeyourlook,”saysAdams.Itwillstaythisway,too;Adamsis adamant about continuingwith the same, no-strings-at-tachedpricepolicy thathehashadforyears. “It’s a pride thing,” he com-ments. Pride in keeping anopenandfairrelationshipwithhiscustomers,sothat theycanleavethestorecontentthatthepairofglassesthey’veboughtistrulythebestfit.Adamsismoreconcerned with giving you a

pairofglassesthatyoulikeandwant rather than just havingyoubuythemostexpensivesetofglassesandturnbackoutthedoor. Inhis store, youcanpickanyofthemanystyles;itallde-pendsonwhichoneyouwanttosport—andwhat’smore,he’llhelpyouachievethatatAdamsOptics. “I’ll tell you the truth. If theglassessuck,I’lltellyou,”Adamscomments, describing his pro-cess of finding theperfect pairofframesforeachindividual.Ascustomers come in, theymightbegiven five, seven,maybe tenvarying pairs of glasses to tryout.Adamsputsasmucheffortinto finding a style that fits as

onemightputintofindingapre-scription that fits,making surethat anyone – even the collegestudentonabudget–achievesthelooktheywant.Theframesfill thestoreas individualenti-ties, each one unique and abletobepairedwithanyprescrip-tionlensneeded. Adamshas even gotten cre-ativewithhiswork.AdamsOp-tics can create unique glassesby taking clear frames and dy-ingthemdifferentcolors,rang-ing fromblue, to red, to green,to fading combinations. This

careful,passionateapproachtohelping his customers build a“look”iswhatkeepsthemcom-ing back. Countless studentsandAtheniansstayloyaltoAd-ams Optics, and some remaincustomersevenoutsideofAth-ens — one, Adams mentions,nowlivinginBrooklyn. Though Adams Optics hasstyles ranging from basic toretro to futuristic to funky,Adams mentions that the lat-est fashion trend leans towardthrowing itback.Tortoiseshellisoneofthemostpopularpicks,alongwithwooden framesandbig, plastic glasses that, in thewordsofAdams,“tenyearsagowerenerdglasses,”areincreas-

ingly becoming the framesofchoice.Maybepeoplearetaking some fashion tipsfrom old pictures of momanddad. What it boils downto, however, asAdamspre-viously stated, is personalstyleandexpression.Peopleare more willing to don a

pairof thick-framed, attention-grabbingglassestodaybecauseit’ssomethingtheywantotherstolookat. No longer arepeople tryingto hide the fact that they needglasses with contacts or thin,basic frames. People are tak-ing that set of frames and us-ingthemjustastheywouldanyotheraccessory—asaway toexpressyouruniquestyletotheworld.Adamsisrightinsayingthat the face is the first thingyoulookat;sowhynotdecorateit?

People don’t look at your Chuck Taylors when

passing you by. They look at your face.

“”


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34 35w


34 35w

ith the stress of finals and the pressure of picking the perfect present for each person on

your list, it can be easy to resort to dull LBDs and sequined miniskirts. In the spirit of giving, we’ve provided you with inspiration to help you transition from drab to fab this holiday season.

Add some luxe to party dresses and gowns with furs, evening gloves and retro silhouettes, channeling your inner Grace Kelly with these holiday fashion finds.

STYLED BYKailey Profeta

Chandler Johnston

PHOTOS BYCarson Travers

MODELSCaroline Ciez

Anastasia GraceDemi Smith

Jaci Soukhathivong

LOCATIONSouth Kitchen + Bar

formalaffair

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W


36 37

ON CAROLINE:Dress, $75, Agora Vintage.

ON JACI:Vintage fur, $49, Agora Vintage. Rebecca Taylor dress, $88, Earrings, $14, Dynamite.


36 37

ON DEMI:Sari top, $49, Vintage fur hat, $35, Agora Vintage. Culottes, $16, Community.

ON ANASTASIA:Dress, $75, Agora Vintage. Faux fur shrug, $38, Necklace, $22, Dynamite.


38 39

ON JACI:Gown, $42, The Pope on Prince. Faux fur coat, $48, Agora Vintage.

ON DEMI:Gown, $58, The Pope on Prince. Faux fur coat, $72, Dynamite.

ON CAROLINE:Gown, $29, Vintage fur, $49,Gloves, $15, Agora Vintage. Necklace, $22, Dynamite.

ON ANASTASIA:Christian Dior gown, price upon request:contact Agora Vintage, 706-354-7303. Gloves, $15, Agora Vintage.


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40 41

BY RACHEL EUBANKS

He’softenthefirstpersoncustomersseewhenwalkingintoSeabearOysterBar:silvery-grayhair,afullblackbeardand a classic combination of fitted denim, leather workboots,andplaid flannel.Whetherhe’sbikingdownBoule-vardorservingupapintofCreatureComforts,localculinaryprofessionalRyanSimsrevealshisimpeccablesenseofstyle.

HavinglivedinAtlantaandNewYork,Simsexpressesastyle that encompasses the boldness of his urban lifestylewithhisindependentidentityintheculinaryworld.Asastu-dentatUGA,hegothisstartintheAthensfoodscenewhileworkingatthebelovedMama’sBoy.SimsthenmovedontoHughAcheson’s5&10,experiencedtheallureofworkinginupscalediningandcommitted tohisculinarycareer.Afterletting goof anyhesitation topursuea full-time career infood, Sims says, “Iwanted towork ashard as I could andlearnasmuchasIcould.It’scooltokeepthefoodieculture,forwhateverit’sworth,alive.”

Aftertheupsanddownsofhispersonalandprofession-al life during his 20s, when Sims approached his 30s, hislifebegantosettle.Simsexplainsthatatthattime,“IreallystartedtofeellikeI’munderstandingwhoIam.IthappenedwhenIdecidedwhatmycareershouldbeandwhat Iwasafterinlife.”Withtheserealizations,Simsalsocameintohisown style. Beforemoving to New York, he struggledwithfeeling like he needed towearwhat otherswerewearingratherthanwhathewanted.Inhighschool,thatmeantSoCalstyle fromAbercrombie. In college, Sims snaggedworn-inteesfromlocal thriftshopsbecauseofhisdevotiontoTheStrokes. Eventually, Sims settled on being himself: a manwhocaresabouthispersonalstyleandtakesprideinbuyingclassicAmericanmenswear.

PastryChefShaeRehmelgotherstartinoneofAthens’favoritecasualdiningspots,BigCityBreadCafe.Atseven-teen,shestartedherlong-termrelationshipwithdoughbycutting,weighingandshapingthebakery’sstaple.Afterreal-izingthatatypicallifeatcollegejustwasn’tforher,RehmelleftUGAtoworkforHughAchesonat5&10,whereshefoundtherightenvironmentforhercareerpathtounfold.

After prepping cold menu items as Acheson’s gardemanger,Rehmel left her hometownofAthens for culinaryschool at the New England Culinary Institute in Vermont.There she completed internships inworking kitchens andhopped from Vermont to Colorado to Boston, eventuallyreturningtoAthenstostarthercareerinthekitchen.

Nearlyayearago,RehmelstartedworkingforChefMimiMaumusathome.made,whereshenowcreatesdessertsforthe company’s catering business andweekly lunch hours.BackintheirBaxterStreetkitchen,shefindscomfortinthesimplicityofherstyleandthechoiceofwearingauniform.Rehmelbelieves in theprivilegeofwearingwhat somanytalentedchefshavewornbeforeher:“There’ssomethingalittlebitfashionableabout[uniforms]becauseit’swhatalotofpeoplehaveworn formany,manyyears.”Chef’swhitesdon’tstripindividualsoftheirstyle;theyactasabadgeofhonorforwhathasbecomeaculturally-valuedprofession.

Underneath her prep shirt, Rehmel most often wearssimpleblacktopswithminimalaccessoriesandclassicGapjeansthatfithertallframe.Nomatterifshe’sinthekitch-enorbackathomewith fianceRyanSims,Rehmelchoos-esclothingthat is“clean,streamlinedandsimple.”Rehmelthinks of her style theway she thinks of a concept in thekitchen:neveraddsomethingtotheplate,ortheoutfit,thatjustdoesn’tfit.Everypieceshouldhavepurposeandprovidecohesion,whetherit’sinanafter-workoutfitordetailsonacakebeingprepped forcatering.AsRehmelexplains, “justusinggoodingredientsandkeepingitreallysimpleisanicewaytoenjoythepurityofsomething.”

Three Athens chefs take us through their closets to show how to balance comfort with style in the city’s best kitchens.


PHOTOS BY SYDNEY WILDER

40 41

Three pieces he can’t live without:• Red Wing Heritage boots• A red flannel button-up he’s worn paper-thin• His favorite pair of jeans: J. Crew 484 Selvedge denim

Style icons & inspirations:• Christopher Bastin, creative director of clothing brand

Gant Rugger• Chris John Millington, model for Apothecary 87, a

brand that makes “grooming products for real men” • Ricki Hall, professional model

Biggest piece of style advice: “You can pull off anything with confidence.”


42 43

Pastry Chef Jo Nicol started her culinary career in anunexpected place–snacking onwarm cookies in the backofaSchlotzsky’sDeli.Althoughshehasmovedontomoresophisticatedkitchens, fromthat first jobNicolknewherdrawtofood,sayingtoherself,“youcouldreallydothis.Youcouldhangout in akitchenandmakedelicious treats allthetime.”

Nicol foundher first realposition in thekitchenasanassistant pastry chef at home.made. Having onlyworkedfront-of-house, Nicol made the jump to learn about des-serts, soon moving to The Branded Butcher, where sheworkedonherowntodevelopmenusandformulatenewrecipes.Now,asthepastrychefatHeirloom,Nicolfeelsfreeto express herself as a professional, acknowledging that“maybeIreallyamapastrychef.”

WithhercurrentworkatHeirloom,Nicolspendsnearly40 hours aweek in the pint-sized kitchen on the cornerofBoulevardandChase.Shemaintainsherpersonalstyleby choosingmenswear-inspired button-ups and comfort-ableleatherClarks.AsNicolexplains,“Ireallylikebutton-downshirts,whicharegreatforworkingwithflour.”Whilet-shirtsabsorbflour,thecrispnessofbutton-upskeepstheessential ingredient from covering her while also beinglooseenoughtofeelcomfortableduringa9-hourday.

Betweenherfavoritet-shirt–acomfydeepv-neck–andapairofblackJoe’sJeansshescoredoffasalerackatAnthro-pologie,Nicol’s style isall about comfortandpracticality.By pairing a few simple pieces with unique accessories,Nicolexpressesherpersonalstyle,bothinthekitchenandaroundAthens.

Three pieces she can’t live without:• Laurel Hill silver Crop Circle hoops - “They’ll go with

anything, without a doubt.”• Clarks leather Faraway Field shoes• Tortoise-shell patterned glasses from Adam’s Optics

Style icons & inspirations:• Menswear-inspired clothes with a feminine touch• The slightly female version of Daniel Day Lewis in

There Will Be Blood- rugged, durable, and turn-of-the-century, but with a crisp and minimal overall aesthetic

Biggest piece of style advice: “Always go for comfort and always make sure your

laundry day clothes aren’t terrible. The bottom of the barrel should not be the bottom of the barrel.”


42

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44 45

PHOTOS COURTESY BENÉ

BY LAURA JAMES

ScarvesEducationan

Buythat

A scarf makes a fashion statement and so does a woman’s education.

Michelle Blue and Sasha Matthews are making statements.

Blue and Matthews are best friends and together own Bené — a company that sells fashionable scarves and uses their revenue to support, educate and empower girls in marginalized communities in Ghana.


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44 45

Blue, who graduated in 2013 from theUniversityofGeorgiawithadegreeinmar-ketingandaminorinfashionmerchandising,originally thoughtof the idea tostartBenéaftershestudiedabroad inGhanawiththeCollege of Family and Consumer Sciences.SashaMatthews,Blue’sbestfriendthrough-outmiddleandhighschool,decided tobe-comeherbusinesspartner.“Sasha’smybestfriendandbusinesspartner.It’sgreat!”Bluesays.BluewasinspiredbythegirlsshemetinGhanaandwanted to findaway to giveback.Matthewsalsohasaheartforhelpingothers. AlthoughMatthews grew up in At-lanta, shewas born in Jamaica. “My familymovedtothiscountryforbettereducationalopportunities. This whole [idea] about be-ing able to giveback towomenand younggirlsinacountrywhereyouhavetopayforeverything,I’vealwaysconnectedwiththat,”Matthewssays.Matthewsgraduatedin2013fromFloridaA&MUniversitywithadegreein mathematics. Matthews works as a se-nioranalystatacompanyinCincinnati,butworksonBenépart-time.

Matthews and Blue did not build thiscompanyovernight, though.The twoorigi-nally wanted to launch an entire clothingline, but in the two years between Blue’s

study abroad trip and the actual launch ofBené,theyfoundtheirfocus.“Wedefinitelyhadalotoftrialanderror,”Bluesayswithalaugh.“Yeah,peopledon’treallyknowaboutall of that — how long it actually takes.WhenIwasinNewYork,Iwasmeetingwithpatternmakersandmanufacturerstotrytogetthatonitswayandwejustrealizedthat’snotwhatwedo. Iwent to school for busi-nessmarketingandfashionmerchandising.Sashawasamathematicsmajor,soneitheroneofusaredesigners.”Thetwohadafewsamplesofscarvesthattheylikedandtheydecidedtonarrowtheirclothinglinetoonlyscarves. “With the scarves, you don’t havetoworryaboutsizeorfit,”Bluesays.“Everywomancanwearascarfandit’sastatementpiecewithinitself.”

Bené offers a variety of styles and pat-terns of scarves. Customers can customizetheir scarf on their website from style ofscarf,thefabricandthetrim.Thecompanyiscurrentlyonlineonly.

The co-founders of Bené decided topartner with SISTAWorks, which standsfor Stay-In-School Tuition Assistance Pro-gram. SISTAWorks, Inc., is a non profit or-ganizationthathelpsgirls fromruralareasin Ghana complete their secondary school

education.BlueandMatthewschosetopart-nerwith SISTAWorksbecause theywantedan organization that would allow them toshow their customers exactly where theirmoneywasgoing.“Wereallywantedtopro-videtransparencytoourcustomerssotheycould learnmoreandmoreabout thegirlswesupport,heartheirstories,youknow,getafacetoitall,”Bluesays.“SISTAWorkswasgreat.Italignedwithourmission—womenempowerment,providinganeducationandan opportunity.” Bené’s website featuresthe five girls that Bené has pledged to putthroughschoolforonefullyear.Theypayfortheirtuition,booksanduniforms.Theweb-siteshowcasespicturesofallofthegirlsandtheirindividualstories.

As a start-up company, Bené has notturnedaprofityet,butBlueandMatthewshavepledgedtoputthesefivegirlsthroughschool no matter how much revenue theymake.“Themorewegrow,themorewecansupport,” Matthews says. “When we saidwe’re committing to these five girls, theygettheirsupportregardlessifMichelleandImake$1inprofitor$1,000.Theycomefirst.Theygetwhatwe’vepledgedtogive.Aswegrow,wecantakeonmoregirls.”


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46

Temporary Leasing Office Coming Soon: 162 West Clayton St | Athens, GA 30601 | 800.784.3033

Everything you need, everything you want and a few extra surprises.

Visit us online to stay updated on our progress and sign up for the latest Georgia Heights news!

GeorgiaHeights.com

• 1, 2 and 4 Bedroom Apartments• Contemporary Furniture Package• Premium Finishings• Convenient Inclusive Rent Package• Located in Historic Downtown Athens• Resort-Inspired Amenities• Private Parking Garage• Private Washer and Dryer

47

AutumnAdams,aUGAstudent,thinksthecharityaspectofBenéisappealingtoalotofcustomers.“Ithinkit’sawesome.Idon’tthinkenoughpeopledoit.Alotoftheirproceedsgototheircharity;it’snot,youknow,just20percentoranythinglikethat.Theyreallyaredoingitwithagreatercauseinmind.They’renotjusttryingtomakemoneyforthemselves,”shesays.

AdamsmetBlueandMatthewswhentheyreached out to her through The Agency, amodeling organization on campus, to modelfortheirfirstscarfcollectionatBené.ShehassincemodeledfortwomorephotoshootsforBené. Adams says she thinks the scarves arecute—somuchsothatsheboughtoneforhermomforChristmas.

Withthepricesrangingfrom$55-$85,thescarvesarenotexactlycollege-budget-friendly,butAdams says it’sworth it. “I just think it’skindofhardrightnowsincewe’recollegestu-dents,”shesays.“Eventhougha$35scarfisnotthatbigofadeal, tous, thatcanbuygasandfood for theweek. If Ihadasteady income, Iwoulddefinitelypurchase it. Idon’t think it’stoo overpriced, especially with what they’redoing.Youhavetopriceitatacertainspotinordertobeabletogiveback.”

MatthewssaystheircustomershavebeenveryreceptivetoBené’smission and their product. “When they hear the story,theyfallinlove,andevenmoreso,thecausebehindit,theyactu-allylovetheproducttoo,”Matthewssays.“They’reattractedto

thepatternsandthewaythefabricfeelsandthewayitlooksonthem.Outsidethefactthatthey’regettingtohelpthesegirlsandputpeople throughschool, they’regettingreallygreat scarvestoo. I think people see both aspects of that, and that’swhat’srolledintotheirpurchasedecision.Andthat’swhatmakesthem

wanttobeapartofsomethinglikethis.Theylovethegirls,andtheylovethescarves.”

Like with any start-up company, risk is afactor.ButforBlueandMatthews,thedesiretoseetheirvisionthroughoutweighedanypos-sible risks. Matthews says that even thoughthere are risks, she is in the best position totakethoserisksthanshewouldbeatanyothertimeinherlife.

“If not now, then when?” she asks. “Nowis the time that I don’t have a family. I don’thave‘realresponsibilities.’Yes,therearerisksinvolved, but I’m in a position to take thoserisksnowmoresothanIwouldbeat35withamortgage.”

Blueagreeswithherbusinesspartner.“Af-tercollege,IknewIwantedtodothisfulltime,soit’skindoflikeit’sariskwithanythinglikethis thatyou try todo,” she says. “There’snosteady income. There’s a lot of uncertaintywithentrepreneurshipandstartingabusiness.

We’reinvestingourownmoney—that’salwaysarisk.Wecouldloseit.Therearealotofrisks,butwe’resoinlovewiththisandso excited about it that the risks really couldn’t keepus awayfrommovingforward.”

“Being able to give back

to women and young girls in a country where you

have to pay for everything,

I’ve always connected with that.”


— Sasha Matthews

46

Temporary Leasing Office Coming Soon: 162 West Clayton St | Athens, GA 30601 | 800.784.3033

Everything you need, everything you want and a few extra surprises.

Visit us online to stay updated on our progress and sign up for the latest Georgia Heights news!

GeorgiaHeights.com

• 1, 2 and 4 Bedroom Apartments• Contemporary Furniture Package• Premium Finishings• Convenient Inclusive Rent Package• Located in Historic Downtown Athens• Resort-Inspired Amenities• Private Parking Garage• Private Washer and Dryer

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ampersand magazine: the fashion issue

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