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