STEPHEN SATARINO

Daily Arts Writer

After 
scouring 
through 

the perfectly aesthetic and 
thought-out Instagram feeds of 
fashion icons and style bloggers 
from across the world, I often 
think to myself: What is my 
personal aesthetic? How do I 
stand out and speak about who 
I am through the way I appear? 
This is a question that puzzles 
many of us, especially as young 
adults who are still learning to 
navigate the complex maze that 
is the world of fashion.

Before delving deeper into 

the semantics of style, it is 
essential to understand what 
it means to have a personal 
style. Does it equate to having a 
quasi-uniform that defines you 
by being the only theme in your 
closet, or is there something to 
more to it? It has often been seen 
that having a personal style is 
associated with a patterned use 
of a particular fabric, type of 
dressing or silhouettes, to name 
a few. As a result, some would 
say that their style is more 
athletic, while some would call 
theirs denim-oriented. But it 
really boils down to having that 
one thing which clicks for you. 
Taking the example of Victoria 
Beckham, her style is not 
limited by colors, fabrics or even 
the type of garment but does 
indeed have one overarching 
theme: 
minimalism. 
More 

importantly, 
one’s 
personal 

style is regularly thought to be 
clothes-centric when the truth 
of the matter is that it could 
encompass any part of the 
overall physical image. Thus 
accessories, makeup and even 
shoes are all fair game when it 
comes to labelling something as 
a “style.” To put things simply: 
Having a personal style means 
having a theme that is constant, 
and it can take multiple shapes 
and sizes.

While it’s not very hard to 

grasp the concept of having a 
personal style, defining it for 
oneself is an entirely different 
ballgame. Most of us youth 
today tend to explore a variety 
of trends and are constantly 
striving to be in the know, 
hence seldom do we consciously 
recognize the pattern in our 
choices. Understanding what it 
means to have a personal style 
and then defining it greatly 
complement one another due to 
the fact that they are influenced 
by the same set of factors. Both 
involve an understanding our 
own self and identity in terms 
of not only what suits our body 
the best but also what truly 
reflects our personality. This 
is then followed by finding 
the signature pieces that rule 
the dynamic of our closet to 
eventually 
building 
around 

the mood projected by those. 
It sounds like an awful lot 
of things need to be done 
when most of it is actually 
subconscious. However, it does 
require time. In many ways, the 
theme of our image needs to be 
isolated from factors such as 
seasons and trends, though this 
does not mean that it is to be 
frozen in a set frame.

As ideal as it sounds to be 

able to ignore other factors, 
it isn’t always reality. This is 
something that we are more 
than well aware of. In a world 
that 
is 
so 
fast-paced, 
the 

fashion industry is not one 
to be left behind with trends 
changing as early as a fortnight. 
Inadvertently, 
stability 
and 

consistency are not always 
available. In the past decade, 
the fashion industry has seen a 
dramatic rise in the number and 
the diversity in trends, be it the 

pairing of graphic t-shirts that 
have a ’90s vibe with something 
more chic or the return of 
pastel colors and fanny packs. 
We want to belong to each niche 
coterie but still remain true to 
the image of ourselves that we 
have constructed.

The 
next 
question 
that 

arises is how one finds the 
balance between exploring this 
constantly expanding galaxy 
but still retaining an individual 
sense of style. I believe a big 
part of answering this question 
comes from the ability to 
visualize what our ideal closet 
looks like. Is it one that is 
dominated by a single theme and 
does not deviate, or is it one that 
is constantly evolving but can 
yet identify with a consistent 
trope? With factors such as 
fast fashion and social media 
having such a huge presence 
in our life, the scope of a trend 
cannot be predicted. Some 
brands churn out collections 
as per micro seasons that 
usually last anywhere between 
two to four weeks while social 
media propagates the next big 
thing. Speaking from personal 
experience, the width of the 
choices available regarding all 
facets of style, ranging from 
clothes to accessories, baffle 
me. For a person who prefers 
dressing in basics with a touch 
of professionalism but also 
enjoys exploring new ideas, 
I am often at a loss of how to 

find the best of both worlds. 
However, what I am coming 
to learn is that it isn’t as hard 
as it seems. Instead I see my 
approach to my wardrobe as a 
threefold process.

The 
first 
might 
sound 

overused, but it is indeed simply 
learning to be confident in my 
choices. It is unsettling to see 
everyone around you look a 
certain way and even if that 
does not call to you, there is an 
underlying pressure to conform. 
However, Carolina Herrera — 
classic fashion designer — put it 
very aptly: “If everyone follows 
trends, then we will all look the 
same, and what fun is that?” 
Recognizing what works for 
you is integral and if you don’t 
feel it, that piece of fashion is 
never truly yours.

The second step in defining 

one’s style is understanding 
what the core trend is — 
whether it is the fabric, style, 
cut or even the embellishment. 
Taking the example of bomber 
jackets, they have been a hit 
with the masses for a while now 
and each store has a different 
take on them. However, at 
the core, the trend isn’t really 
the jacket itself. Rather, it is 
the touch of masculinity that 
it provides which could be 
achieved through a biker jacket, 
or the way you accessorize or 
even the shoes one wears. This 
allows me to find the same 
thread in my theme and join the 
dots.

Finally, the last step in 

finding this balance is being 
OK with the fact that personal 
style can change with time. It 
is not permanent — instead, it 
should evolve and grow since 
the version that you are this 
moment is not permanent.

As we explore new avenues, 

attempt 
to 
understand 

our image — but moreover 
ourselves, especially as we 
enter adulthood — we question 
the importance of having a 
personal style. Having one can 
definitely have its advantages 
— it lends a certain sense of 
uniformity to one’s image but 
still leaves space for creativity 
and varied expression. Ideally, 
it makes you feel better, since it 
tends to be the embodiment of 
pieces and ideas that give you 
happiness. Furthermore, one’s 
personal style often reflects 
what inspires them, which can 
be motivating because when 
you feel good, you end up doing 
better. However, not having 
been able to identify one or 
choosing not to have a particular 
style is not something bad 
either. At this point in our lives, 
we are still figuring out what 
we want to do and who we want 
to be — answers often reflected 
through our image. Not having 
those is perfectly OK. 

One’s personal style is not 

limited to the clothes or the 
way he or she looks, but it 
is 
an 
encompassing 
theme 

in our lives. And not having 
one gives us the freedom to 
be 
more 
adventurous 
and 

grow with time instead of 
trying to restrain ourselves by 
boundaries we create. Everyone 
works differently, and having 
a personal style is just another 
choice that can either be a 
good fit or not, but it shouldn’t 
have the power to define our 
reflection instead of the other 
way around.

The journey of finding 
my own personal style

PRIYARDARSHINI GOUTHI

For the Daily

NETFLIX

“When the Night 

Comes for Us”

Netflix

As ideal as it 

sounds to be able 

to ignore other 

factors, it isn’t 

always reality. 

This is something 

that we are more 

than well aware 

of. In a world 

that is so fast-

paced, the fashion 

industry is not one 

to be left behind 

with trends 

changing as early 

as a fortnight. 

The fall cold and rain was 

more than obvious, both from 
the natural lighting set up of 
the Forum at the University 
of Michigan Museum of Art 
(UMMA) and also from the chill 
that rushed in every time doors 
flew open as people poured in 
for MUSIC Matters’s “A Night 
at the Museum” concert. But 
perhaps the point was coziness; 
the audience was laid-back but 
grooving as they danced and 
sipped on their fizzy drinks 
under dim, yellow lighting to the 
sound of the performances.

“A Night at the Museum” 

followed the more extravagant 
SpringFest, an annual MUSIC 
festival 
hosted 
every 
April 

at the University by MUSIC 
Matters. The proceeds from the 
event were used to fund MUSIC 
Matters’s first social venture 
with Books for a Benefit, a 
nonprofit organization founded 
on campus. “A Night at the 
Museum” delivered the same 
level of ambition as SpringFest 
to unify the campus with music, 
sparking social change on a 
microcosmic level. It operated 
on a smaller scale, at a more 
compact venue with special 
attention to some of the local 
performances from SpringFest: 
The Kelseys, Andrea Doria and 
OSSI MUSIC. The effect was an 
event unlike anything else I’ve 
encountered at past concerts as 
three completely unrelated, yet 

equally as impacting, acts took to 
the stage.

Each act had a sound and style 

that was distinctly their own. 
The Kelseys, a band consisting 
of a lead singer, guitar player, 
bassist and drummer, had an 
alternative rock sound that was 
undeniably peppy even when 
lyrics veered into a more somber 
realm. It gave me the same effect 
as listening to Young the Giant 
or Vampire Weekend. I was 
especially drawn to the stage 
presence and personality of the 
members as they each grooved 
to the music in their own distinct 
way: The bassist was intensely 
focused on his playing, the 
drummer’s smile was contagious 
as he broke into silent fits of 
laughter, the guitarist’s dance 
moves were wide and smooth and 
the lead singer was deliberate in 
his close-eyed singing.

Andrea Doria can also be 

described 
as 
an 
alternative 

rock band that consists three 
members: a drummer and two 
guitar players who alternate as 
lead singers. Each of their songs 
came as a pleasant surprise, one 
psychedelic and sticky, the next 
truer to the alt-rock sound we all 
know and love. The bandmates 
frequently implemented different 
instruments 
throughout 
the 

performance, swapping them 
in and out and between one 
another, allowing each member 
to play to their strengths.

My 
favorite 
performance 

of the night was that of OSSI 
MUSIC. 
Composed 
of 
eight 

members, I found myself losing 

track of who played what as some 
of the members managed to play 
more than one instrument; I 
was especially amazed by the 
member who’d switch from 
keyboard to trumpet, sometimes 
in the same song. Despite a wide 
variety of elements to their 
music, it never felt crowded; 
their sound was meditative and 
subtle, luminous in its sway over 
the audience as each instrument 
and sound was strummed on in 
an as-needed basis. Each lead 
singer also brought forth a style 
and story that was all their own 
when they grabbed the mic, 
their voices bright and emotions 
palpable. I was mesmerized.

Despite having to shift from 

one act to another, the transition 
was seamless. MUSIC Matters 
skillfully facilitated a social 
environment for its audience 
members. From an informal 
introduction to the purpose 
and goals of MUSIC Matters 
to 
DJing 
psychedelic 
music 

between performances, a laid-
back element was prominent and 
well-orchestrated. The obvious 
ease and mingling between the 
members of MUSIC Matters and 
band members in the audience 
only 
added 
to 
the 
casual 

atmosphere of the event.

Overall, “A Night at the 

Museum” was a memorable 
display of the talent of local 
music acts. Though not as 
grand as SpringFest, the event 
achieves MUSIC Matters’s goal 
of unification through music by 
making its expression on campus 
the focal point of the event. 

MUSIC Matters draws 
attention to local talent

DIANA YASSIN

For the Daily

EVENT REVIEW

MICHIGAN DAILY

STYLE NOTEBOOK

“The Night Comes for Us” 

turns the gore setting up to 10 in a 
martial-arts showcase, with more 
corn-syrup blood than a Midwest 
corn-maze on Oct. 26 (not everyone 
can go out on a Wednesday). 
And along that line of thinking, 
“Night Comes” might be the best 
Spooktacular option this skeleton 
season, dropping ghosts and ghouls 
in lieu of Indonesian gangsters 
drop-kicking each other. 

Writer/director 
Timo 

Tjahjanto’s (“May the Devil Take 
You”) film follows an ex-Triad 
enforcer Ito (Joe Taslim, “The 
Raid: Redemption”) who, after 
an abrupt moral epiphany, turns 
against the organization to save a 
young girl, Reina (Asha Kenyeri 
Bermudez, 
“The 
Doll”). 
The 

ensuing power-struggle as the 
Triad tries to tie up their loose 
end brings the brawl to a night-
club, a high-rise, a warehouse and 
a human meat locker, evening out 
to be one of the best installments 
of splatter-cinema in a long time. 
“Night 
Comes” 
is 
low-in-the-

throat, involuntary-yelp gory — 
the type of movie that is perfect to 
watch with a group of friends, but 
one that might raise questions if 
you enjoy it a little too much alone. 

The 
focus 

on the story 
and characters 
is light — a 
new 
fighter 

will 
appear 

and 
throw 

themselves into the foray with no 
need for introduction or purpose 
or explanation before they are 
impaled on a meat hook or thrown 

from a building, never to be seen 
again. It’s a movie light on plot, 
and it only could have improved by 
going lighter. Is the aim of everyone 
with a gun in the movie comically 
bad? For sure. Should all martial-
arts movies have a Batman ban 
on firearms? Absolutely. Does the 
Triad seem to have an unending 
supply of goons willing to throw 

themselves 
at 

the good guys? 
Think “World 
War Z” with 
machetes. 
No 

one should go 
through 
the 

trouble of HDMI-ing their laptop 
to their living room TV to watch 
this film if they want a Netflix 
distributed picture with plot. Don’t 

even turn on subtitles, actually. 
Just sit back and watch heads roll.

And 
there’s 
an 
important 

distinction 
to 
be 
made 
here 

between a film that is just so 
candidly gory that it can be made 
out to be fun and a film like “Night 
Comes,” which seems to have been 
specifically crafted by a technical 
hand. The choreography and the 
camera work of the fight scenes 
is second to none, Tjahjanto 
finding ways to incorporate the 
battleground of each scene into 
the action itself. The individual 
characters aren’t as stylized as 
characters in a film by someone 
like Tarantino, but the feel of the 
action — leaving logic at the door — 
is strikingly reminiscent. 

Tjahjanto, 
a 
director 
with 

more than a couple of thrillers 
in his filmography, has a terrific 
understanding of what to show 
in a fight scene. He begins a scene 
by gliding his camera around his 
brawlers, giving the audience a 
sense of where the fighters are 
and what tools in the environment 
might later be at their disposal. No 
stone is left unturned, each of these 
props eventually put to murderous 
use as Tjahjanto bounces through 
the progressing engagement. He 
cuts away very sparingly during 
the fights, giving the action a sense 
of spectacle that disappears when 
each kick or punch gets its own 
shot. The last movie with action as 
impressive as “Night Comes” would 
be “Ip Man,” a lofty comparison in 
terms of martial arts films. 

‘Night Comes’ is a violent 
romp through Indonesia

FILM REVIEW

 Tuesday, October 23, 2018 — 5
Arts
The Michigan Daily — michigandaily.com

