by Olivia Waldorf | Aug 25, 2017 | News Slider, Opinion
A biology major on track for dental school, senior Graysen McConnell also keeps busy by managing her style and beauty blog and Instagram account “a hint of gray.” McConnell said her double passions in science and fashion make her feel like a walking oxymoron, but it has never bothered her. Fashion is something she shares with her friends, family and faith. “I try to allow my test scores and work ethic to talk for themselves,” McConnell said. “I enjoy marrying together my two passions even though it is unconventional.” Some forms of self-expression haven’t always come easily to McConnell — growing up she noted that she struggled with trying to fit into a “perfect mold,” or what others expected her to be. However, this crushing weight of perfectionism finally began to crack as she discovered the liberation of fashion. “In my opinion, fashion is the free expression and visual representation of someone’s personality,” McConnell said. “To be honest, I have to remind myself that it’s OK not to be 100% put together all the time. I remind myself that I am a human who deserves to roll out of bed and go to class sometimes. The stigma has definitely been a tough one for me to overcome, but I am getting there.” Once the new blogger started to give herself this “fashion leeway,” a new world opened in front of her. McConnell began to experiment more and started to receive feedback from her online community. However, McConnell noted that one of the best parts about her blog is being able to affect the lives of fellow believers. “The ways that...
by Olivia Waldorf | Aug 6, 2017 | News Slider, Opinion
If you’re a little tired of Nashville’s beloved Fido, Edley’s or Hattie B’s, then there’s good news: fabulous (and mostly affordable) new eateries have been popping up all in the Nashville area. Springing from East Nashville and spreading to Germantown and other parts of the city, these experimental restaurants have caught the eye of trendy taste-testers and locals alike. Recent Lipscomb graduate and resident foodie Kayla Ford suggested Plaza Mariachi as not only a great place for food, but also as great retail and entertainment options all at one central location. This Latin American shopping environment is being called a “city within a city” for its many diverse offerings. “Plaza Mariachi is the most unique and interactive food environment I have experienced in a long time,” Ford said. “It’s only 10 minutes from downtown and includes entertainment, cultural art, shopping and food.” With new diet fads like Whole 30, it can be difficult to go out with friends and share a meal without health qualms. However, many of these new places in Nashville cater to those who dine under dietary restrictions. One of these bistros is AVO. Located in Midtown, this vegan restaurant is devoted to healthy, raw options. From their Kimchi Spring Rolls to the Zucchini Pasta Verde, anything consumed here will leave you feeling full and fit. If you’re not in the mood to diet, there are still plenty of places that will meet your needs. “I am in love with Butcher and Bee,” Ford said. “Their feta and honey dip is life changing. But if I’m feeling less hungry, I always go for Barcelona with friends.”...
by Erin Franklin | Aug 2, 2017 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
The touring production of Disney’s The Little Mermaid has made its way from under the sea to the Tennessee Performing Arts Center this week, captivating both young and old audience members alike. Diana Huey stars as the irresistible Little Mermaid. This is Huey’s first national tour, and her perky, enthusiastic nature shines through in her performance. She has a strong, powerful voice and maintains a continuous mermaid-like presence on stage. Huey swims across, up and down the stage via a flight harness, making it a physically demanding role, yet Huey appears to do it with ease. Melvin Abston is also brilliant as Sebastian, the calypso-singing crab, and his rendition of “Under the Sea” is delightful, big and colorful. The cast has some impressive Broadway credits, including Jenniffer Allen as Ursula and Steve Blanchard as King Triton. Notably, Blanchard is recognizable in another Disney princess movie for his role as the Beast in Beauty and the Beast. The great surprise, though, is Jamie Torcellini’s portrayal of Scuttle (the seagull most famously known for revealing to Ariel that a fork is called a dinglehopper). Torcellini flies around the stage with a flight harness for most of the show before landing to perform an amusing tap-dance of “Positoovity” after Ariel gets her legs. The costuming by Amy Clark and Mark Ross is intricate and vibrant, and Charlie Morrison’s and Kenneth Foy’s Lighting and Scenic Design, respectively, is captivating as well, mesmerizing audience members. While this production does pay homage to the 1989 Disney film version, there are a few deviations from the film, such as Flounder’s awkward crush on Ariel, and King...
by Olivia Waldorf | Jul 28, 2017 | News Slider, Opinion
Nashville is a vibrant city known for having the full package: music, upbeat night life, top universities, unique dining options and, of course, style. Not only does Nashville have infamous chain clothing stores like Urban Outfitters, Madewell and Lucky Brand, but it also houses hole-in-the-wall thrift stores like Buffalo Exchange, Music City Thrift and Hip Zipper Vintage. “Two of my favorite places to shop are luckily close to campus,” Lipscomb senior Emily England said. “Native + Nomad and Castilleja have definitely changed my personal style. They’re both pretty affordable shops and have something for everyone.” Within recent years, the Nashville skyline has been expanding and, along with this expansion, street style has evolved as well. Campus style varies between the big three schools in Nashville: “hipsters” at Belmont, “preppy” at Vanderbilt and “southern granola” at Lipscomb. But the manifold shops around the city unite everyone. With all the gentrification taking place within the city, some of the best places to shop are hidden gems and involve leaving the Green Hills area. Some of the hottest, best-kept vintage secrets are Goodbuy Girls, Hang the Moon and Star Struck Vintage. Most people are gravitating towards thrift stores rather than full-priced shops to save money and acquire a unique sense of personal style. Once bigger chains like Urban Outfitters started to match this vintage look, but with full prices, people started going straight to the source. “As a college student, it’s obviously harder to maintain a certain look when you’re shopping at expensive stores in the mall or on 12 South,” England said. “Which is why I switched to mostly shopping at...
by Olivia Waldorf | Jul 16, 2017 | News Slider, Opinion
With long days in the classroom quickly approaching, one of the best things about school starting back is the new clothing. Ever since the first grade, back-to-school fashion has been a beacon of hope for students. Over the years, style has changed, returned and changed once again. For fall 2017, DIY (Do-It-Yourself) fashion has made a reappearance with the help of websites like Pinterest and Instagram. From new accessories made from old jewelry to plain white shoes used as a canvas to express personality with paint, this fall is already seeing how individualized style has become. “I think guys are able to have more of a voice in fashion now, which is exciting with the coming of a new school year,” Lipscomb senior, Daniel Collier said. “I’ve been cutting old jeans to make shorts, so I’m excited to try those out.” Along the lines of bespoke fashion is vintage clothing. Shopping at thrift stores like Goodwill has become a favorite pastime of most millennials. This allows shoppers to find unique and one-of-a-kind fashion statements, which is important especially among students. Current trends include anything denim (especially overalls), ironic sayings on baseball caps and T-shirts, leather backpacks, anything Warby Parker, Adidas Superstar Shoes and, of course, the Converse comeback. Style has become so broad and has broken off into so many sub-cultures that it’s hard to pin-point one set trend. People have attached to their signature “vibe” or “item” and have run with that, pulling everyone’s look apart from each other. One main style that is predicted to come back in full force with the start of the school year...
by Erin Franklin | Jul 10, 2017 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider, Opinion
The third time really is the charm with the latest Spider-Man saga. Spider-Man Homecoming is just what the fans wanted. It’s the nerdiest, and best, Spider-Man film to date, reaching $117 million at the box office opening weekend. Only Beauty and the Beast and Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 have made more this year. The story opens right where Captain America: Civil War left off. This Spider-Man retelling doesn’t start from the beginning with Peter Parker’s legendary spider bite, but rather it covers a very specific time in Peter’s life as a 15-year-old highschooler, specifically during Homecoming season. Tom Holland is the Spider-Man comic book readers know and remember — epitomizing the kid inside the suit that made Spider-Man the unique superhero that he is. Robert Downey Jr. as Tony Stark also brings a solid performance, serving as somewhat of a father figure to Peter Parker. Although the new souped-up Spidey suit Stark gifts Peter with is a little off-putting, as it seems the suit’s technology simply makes him into a mini-Iron Man, Holland still manages to show Spider-Man as his own, unique hero. Marisa Tomei, on the other hand, is quite different from the Aunt May readers will remember in the comic books. She’s more like a big sister to Peter, and Peter a kid brother. But it works. Gwen Stacy will forever be Peter Parker’s true love, and Emma Stone’s performance as Gwen opposite Andrew Garfield in The Amazing Spider-Man (2012) is still the best portrayal of Spider-Man’s infamous other half, but Michelle (Zendaya) looks like a promising potential love interest in the next chapter of the Spider-Man...
