Arts The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com Friday, September 25, 2015 — 7A TV REVIEW HULU Am I culturally relevant yet?. LONDON FASHION WEEK RECAP Burberry was the final show of this year’s London Fashion Week, and they did that role justice. Stakes were high for many reasons: the star studded front row, the national Snapchat story and just the simple fact of it being Burberry in the heart of London. The label could not have done a better job of encompassing every aspect of what a true fashion show is. Burberry CEO Christopher Bailey, in an interview during the show, said explicitly that above all else, it was a show. This was done in many ways. First, there was the unbelievable music. A 32-piece orchestra sat in the center of the arena playing music for Alison Moyet while these models walked down the runway wearing the latest Burberry looks. Next there were stars — everywhere. Cara Delevingne sat in the front row along with Kate Moss and actor Benedict Cumberbatch. But the show wasn’t complete until world-renowned fashion queen Anna Wintour walked in to support the show. The looks modeled on Monday were all impeccable. They had different vibes, but all of them carried on the traditional Burberry feel. Whether it was a soft white lace dress or a dark black leather jacket, all of the pieces were finished delicately and simply allowing for the typical Burberry class to shine through. This show was absolutely fantastic. From the music to the people in attendance to the clothes, Burberry yet again proved themselves as an absolute powerhouse brand. - JULIA DOYLE Pringle of Scotland remains an anonymous brand to most of us here in the States, which comes as such a pity considering it has the flare, boldness and eccentricity to comete with any fashion risk taker. Some of the key looks were embla- zoned with structured patterns that use both shadows and tricks of the eye to create a living piece of wear- able art. The colors were very true to the season — many creams, golds and whites gave off an ethereal feel as models strutted down the runway with a summer glow. Who said knitwear and crocheted patterns were for the winter? Prov- ing to be a huge trend in the spring and summer collections this year, Pringle of Scotland was not one to hold back with the knitted vibes. Showcasing skirts, dresses and a tunic or two with the bold pattern — there’s nothing wrong with bringing a bit of warmth with you during your summer holidays. -MARIAM SHEIKH Sunday, Sept. 20 was a busy day for LFW between Topshop and Vivienne Westwood. With Topshop’s Unique show bringing back looks from the ’80s with sophisticated twists, com- bined with Westwood’s societal mes- sages, it was a fun-filled occasion in London. Topshop Unique brought back quintessential ’80s looks this Sunday. From bright colors to faux stolls to big patterns, it felt as though they were on the set of “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” The designers took this show to the next level though, and they did so by adding a twist to what could have been any ordinary ’80s apparel. Sexy. Whether that meant an extremely high slit on a dress, or a plunging neckline on a blouse, every look had a sexy and revealing aspect to it. This allowed for the whole show to be eye-catching from start to finish. The show closed out with a series of lace gowns, continuing on the com- bination of ’80s and sexy. Each gown was either embellished with pops of bright color or finished off with a discreet yet extremely high slit on the leg. These gowns were my favorite looks of the show, as they pulled off being discreetly sultry with a girly feel. I give Topshop an A+ for the execu- tion of the show. It was trendy and memorable, combining old looks with wearable twists. It fit my expecta- tions for Topshop, of always being a brand that is ahead of the time but doing so in a way that allows people to wear looks straight from the runway. Vivienne Westwood’s show could not have been more different from Topshop’s if it tried. The show itself didn’t blow me away. Every look seemed tired, outdated and frankly bland. I saw it as a try-hard attempt to push the bar … but a failed one. The looks seemed simply all over the place. The single most memorable part of the show itself was the makeup. The makeup was the only part that seemed to work in conjunction with the clothes well. It had a dark, omi- nous, look. It complimented the tired clothes in a way that allowed for the designers to somewhat reach what I believe they were going for. But obvi- ously this is a fashion show, not a makeup show, so it’s safe to say that I was disappointed. Of course this wouldn’t be a true Vivienne Westwood show if it wasn’t topped off with some sort of activ- ist message. Vivienne led a group of protestors marching together to end climate change. Westwood was at the front, speaking on how even activ- ists downplay the severity of climate change too much. I respect Vivienne Westwood for her attempt to make a change in the world. But all I have to say is that there is a time and a place for every- thing. If she was going to do this, she should have made sure her clothes were incredible, because now all any- one remembers from this show was her protest. Though I am not entirely sure that forgetting her looks is a bad idea … -JULIA DOYLE Issa’s Creative Director Jamie O’Hare proved that the whole “no wearing white after Labor Day” myth is in fact just a myth as the opening looks for ISSA’s SS16 col- lection were paraded through LFW in troves of elegant and refreshing whites. Issa is known to be a brand that is somewhat more accessible in design, as well as more readily available for the everyday person to work with. Sleek and bold designs from white jumpsuits to textured dresses, the theme of this show was a mix of knitwear-inspired looks and layered ensembles. Paired with bold shoes and accessories, the clothes still man- aged to stand on their own. O’Hare took a risk with this collection and experimented with both crocheted patterns and different textures. What could’ve undoubtedly been seen as a catastrophe of a design manages to look both posh and tea party ready — and by that of course I am referring to his series of lay- ered dresses, tiered like a perfect wedding cake. The collection isn’t all elegance and grace, however. Issa can have a bit of grunge and edge to it as well — with stand-out designs with plunging necklines — so be prepared to show off some serious summer skin. Versatile and accessi- ble, Issa’s SS16 LFW has something in it for everyone this season. -MARIAM SHEIKH BURBERRY BURBERRY TOPSHOP AND VIVIENNE WESTWOOD VIVIENNE WESTWOOD ISSA PRINGLE OF SCTOLAND PRINGLE OF SCOTLAND By HAILEY MIDDLEBROOK Daily Arts Writer There are two types of peo- ple in the world: those who love Mindy Kaling and every- one who’s not hanging out with her. For her fans, “The Mindy Proj- ect” star, who first stepped onto the TV scene in “The Office,” is a sort of magical hybrid between Amy Schumer (“Inside Amy Schumer”) and Tina Fey (“30 Rock”) — an honest, oversexed pop culture queen and witty genius. But for her haters, Kaling is a bit whiny and self-absorbed — and judging from her memoirs, “Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?” and “Why Not Me?” — or her character’s insistence in season four that a “Southpark” pinball machine deserves floor space over a grand piano, they have a fair argument. But despite her mixed recep- tion among the public, critics adore her. Kaling was named in Time Magazine’s “Top 100 Most Influential People” in 2012, as well as one of Glam- our’s “Women of the Year” for 2014. In 2012, Kaling wrote, produced and starred in “The Mindy Project” on FOX, about an OB/GYN’s personal and pro- fessional struggles at Shulman & Associates, a New York City medical clinic. The show was an immediate success, winning the Critic’s Choice Award for Most Exciting New Series. It came as a shock when FOX cancelled the show after its third season last May. Despite critical acclaim and Kaling’s cult-like following, viewer- ship was too low — probably because Millennials comprise the show’s core audience, many of whom prefer not to pay for cable TV. What 20-somethings do watch, however, are their computer screens. So, Hulu’s adoption of “Mindy Project” season four, switching the show from screen to stream, might be the best thing that’s happened to Mindy yet. So far, Hulu doesn’t dis- appoint. Season four begins dramatically: Mindy Lahiri (Kaling) and her cowork- er-boyfriend, Danny (Chris Messina, “Vicky Christina Bar- celona”), are expecting a child, but Danny has fled their shared NYC apartment for India to confront Mindy’s parents about his negative feelings toward marriage. Meanwhile, frus- trated by her boyfriend’s stub- bornness and abandonment, Mindy slams down his picture on their nightstand and falls asleep alone. But when she wakes, she finds herself in a “13 Going On 30”-like dream — cuddled beside her rich “Real Housewives” producer-hus- band (“My favorite franchise of shows!”), played by none other than Joseph Gordon- Levitt (“Don Jon”). It gets weirder (or, for Mindy, more fantastic). After her ini- tial shock — “Oh no, did I break into Mariah Carey’s penthouse and fall asleep again?” — she’s swept up by her new life, where her pinball machine is promi- nently on display and her rela- ‘Mindy Project’ new season pleasantly odd A- Mindy Project Season 4 Premiere Hulu tionship with Danny is back to their frenemy-ship of the past. Though the real Danny has a less-than-perfect scenario; Mindy’s Red Sox-obsessed parents have decided that an arranged marriage is fit for their daughter, so they enlist Danny to pick a prospective husband for Mindy. Both Mindy’s and Danny’s situ- ations soon spiral downwards, as Mindy realizes that she doesn’t want an open (fantasy) relation- ship and Danny comes clean about his relationship with Mindy, sans- marriage. Still dreaming, Mindy barges into Danny’s date with “Slumdog Millionaire” actress Freida Pinto — to whom she blurts, “You know, people tell me that we look so much alike. You must hear that, too, right?” — hoping to win him back. She jolts awake, then the real Danny materializes beside her, fresh from India with a surprise. Where “Mindy Project” shines is with its whip-smart lines, cut- ting into the core of pop culture and tradition. Talk of arranged marriages intermingles with Red Sox fandom, and Mindy’s guilt for cheating on her fantasy husband is quickly brushed off, as Gordon- Levitt advocates open relation- ships and encourages Mindy’s lingerie line, “slutty girdles for the sexually active obese.” The quick banter floats the show, allowing us to forgive its flaws, like cliché plot points (i.e., is Mindy really kiss- ing Danny in the pouring rain?) and the characters’ overinflated quirks. But really. Whether you like her or not, it’s about time to start hanging out with Mindy. Despite her mixed reception among the public, critics adore her. Like her or not, it’s about time to start hanging out with Mindy.