Tag Archives: Tips

Hangouts and Whereabouts

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My Train to FIT

My Train to FIT

Saturday, what a great day, it just so happens to be my favorite day. My day to myself, and my day to do what I want, when I want; everything else can wait until Sunday.  On Saturday mornings I start my best day off right. There’s no waking up on the wrong side of the bed on Saturdays when my alarm clock goes off at 7:24! Getting up so early in order to arrive FIT in time and also have the time to grab a coffee with my friend that travels with me by 9:15 isn’t always easy, but so worth it. Coming from Queens, I get dropped off at a small train station by my house; sometimes this is where I grab my first cup of coffee. As an avid coffee drinker, there is no such thing as too much coffee.

As soon as my train pulls into Penn Station, I go into mad dash mode; got to get that coffee. The hustle down to my favorite spot around FIT is one of excitement.  If you’re looking for the best cup of coffee on all of 7th avenue, head to Gregory’s Coffee. Better than Starbucks (which is also en route to FIT), Gregory’s sells all different types of coffee, from Macchiato to café Americano.  My personal favorites from Gregory’s are the caramel macchiatos, and their to die for chocolate chip cookies.

Gregory's Caramel Macchiato

Gregory’s Caramel Macchiato

On my first day of class at FIT, having an art supply store (Barnes and Nobles) on campus came in handy. A great tip that may come in handy before your first class at FIT would be to check your student FIT account to make sure that any and all supplies required for the class are in your possession, beforehand. Something as simple as having all the supplies you need as soon as you need them is so rewarding and beneficial because you could focus on your artwork, without the hassle of have to pick up the supplies late. My Professor was very understanding and did not require me to visit Barnes and Nobles but, if you can while at FIT, make use of the on campus supplies.

Breaks at FIT are about 15 minutes long, just enough time to make it across 7th avenue to buy more coffee (usually  where I end up going), or to buy a snack. Usually during breaks, my friends Sofia and Rachel and I make our way down to Dunkin Donuts on the other side of the street.

A restaurant that is worth trying near FIT is called Brgr. A healthy alternative to junk food, with the same great taste; Brgr only serves grass-fed meat. Known for not just their grass-fed cow jokes hanging across the walls, Brgr serves the best shakes around FIT. If you are a student taking two classes at FIT and you are wondering where to try for a great lunch, visit Brgr.

These are my favorite chill out spots this spring at FIT. I hope these come in handy; whether you’re in the mood for a burger or just some early morning coffee.

Thank you for reading this week!

Yours Truly,

09Kathleen

How To Make Friends At FIT

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Hello readers! Happy Thanksgiving! As this holiday comes closer and closer, I am thinking about everything I’m thankful for. One of the things I am most thankful for are my friendships. My friends are so important to me and they inspire me so much! In the past weeks at FIT, I’ve bonded with my classmates over having to lay low on Friday nights so we can wake up early on Saturdays, our love for New York, and our passion for the fashion industry. I now consider my classmates as my friends because of this. When I started at FIT, making friends was what I was most nervous for, but it was actually very easy! Here are some of my tips for making friends at FIT (and in other situations too):

Complement Outfits

  • If you like what someone is wearing, tell them! We’re all fashion students here so we all dress pretty nicely and from my experience, most people are willing to share where they shop or how they style their outfits. Complements in general often spark conservation which could lead to a friendship.

Exchange Social Media Accounts and/or Phone Numbers

  • Follow your classmates on Instagram, Twitter, Snapchat, or whatever social media site you use! This helps you connect with them during the week and is also helpful if you have a question about an assignment. Exchanging phone numbers is good too because you can keep in touch with your classmates even after the semester is over.

Hang Out During Break

  • At some point during class each week, we have a break that lasts about 20 minutes. During that time, my classmates and I walk down to the cafeteria, have a snack, and talk about anything and everything. Throughout these short conversations, we’ve gotten to know each other well. Without hanging out during our break, we wouldn’t know each other that well at all.

Be Open To Everyone

  • Don’t judge a book by its cover- meaning don’t judge someone by their outfit! It doesn’t matter what someone is wearing, it matters who they really are. Even though someone’s outfit may not be your style, they might be one of the best people you’ll meet at FIT. My classmates all have individual styles, but we all get along great. Being different from your friends is often what makes a friendship.

I wish I would’ve known all of these tips before starting FIT, it would’ve been a lot less intimidating. All the people I’ve encountered have something in common with me: we love fashion! This main common interest makes it easier than you would think to make friends.

Have a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thanks for reading,
Kenzie Davis

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Hey everybody! It’s Emily, the blogger from last fall with the chickens and the hurricane. I actually just moved back home, and the chickens are back in their coop in the backyard.

Putting together a fashion design application portfolio is not the easiest task. Especially while juggling AP classes, homework, fine arts portfolios and costumes for two plays at school at the same time. Thankfully, I have my own room with a desk to work on everything, and the portfolio class on Saturday mornings, where I can work on projects specific to the application.

But putting together a portfolio is also a chance to reflect on my work from the past four years of programs, and while there isn’t much of a change to the feeling conveyed by my drawings, there is a definite improvement in technique. Before I came to class, I worked only in watercolor, and I couldn’t get the proportions right or really show that the clothes were separate from the figure. When I had to use the art markers, I was scared of them. I didn’t like the way I couldn’t control them, but it was easier to render the different fabrics.

By now, the fall 2013 semester, I have learned a lot of little tricks that add up to more accurate renderings, like having a tucked shirt bulge where it meets the waistband, or showing the different layers of fabric when pockets have been appliqued on. Another big thing is showing shadows- don’t be afraid of contrast! Fabric doesn’t lay flat on a body, it has curves and bumps and hills and valleys that all catch light and cast shadows. Folds happen too. Try to draw them, especially if an elbow or knee is bent. It adds another dimension to the drawing. Wrinkles happen when fabric is gathered, and all that is is an extra shadow. And all that’s just from asking questions and observing what was fixed in my drawing classes!

Sewing is another beast entirely, because with fabric, you can’t really force it to do something it’s not capable of without working with it. Soft, flowy  fabrics aren’t going to stand up straight without being fused to a stiff backing, and stiff fabrics aren’t going to drape like a softer one. Wovens will not stretch as much as knits will. Zippers are an ordeal to set, and hemming a circle skirt is not the easiest task in the world. I think everyone’s made the mistake of forgetting to add their seam allowance at least once, and ended up with a garment half an inch too small on all sides. Or had a one-way print and accidentally had it upside-down on half their garment. I actually just did that one on a flare skirt. But that’s the process. You make mistakes, learn from them, and then move on to other mistakes. Eventually, you just don’t make those mistakes anymore.

I would say the most important thing I’ve learned from taking all these classes (I’ve taken 7 so far!) is there’s always something more to learn. Coming into portfolio, I thought I was set, but the proportions on my figures were still not correct, and I was having trouble with leg positioning. But everyone in class has something to teach you, even if they aren’t the teacher. I learned how to render pockets from the girl in the row ahead of me in the fall of my sophomore year. I’m helping the girl next to me right now with shading.

Are there any tips/tricks you’ve learned that help you in class? Share them in the comments below!

Thanks for reading!

Hugs,

Emily