A-LIST: Amazing Masters and Muses

As a designer, I know how the power of a person that inspires you to create. Friend, fellow creator, beauty, and brain, junior advertising design major Anya Dabroski filled that role for me and made me curious about the world's more famous inspiration-creation connections. Consider my list of the Top Seven Masters and Muses of all time:

7. Karl Lagerfeld and Claudia Schiffer

6. Jean Paul Gaultier and Madonna

5. Gianni Versace and sister Donatella

4. Paul Poiret and wife Denise

3. Ann Demeulemeester and Patti Smith

2. Coco Chanel and Coco Chanel

1. Christian Dior and Mitzah Bricard

PROFILE: Big Papi's Favorite Lid-Maker

Wearing that Yankees or Red Sox hat makes you about as standout stylish as wearing an orange t-shirt from Marshall Street to a basketball game. But 21-year-old senior illustration major Chris Giorgio is transforming team pride into a signature fashion statement that gives sports lovers statement-status toppers, and his designs have attracted one high-profile hitter in the process.

Giorgio started drawing at the age of three and carried this artistic passion with him to S.U. “Everyone always says ‘oh you’re an illustration major. So what, like books?’” says Giorgio. But contrary to common assumptions, Giorgio plans to use his illustration education at S.U. in a future career in fashion.

When he was a sophomore, a friend suggested Giorgio use his drawing talent to customize hats. The friend knew a girl who used her artistic talents to create one-of-a-kind headbands and bracelets. Giorgio acted on the suggestion and bought a white hat from Lids and some Sharpie markers. He illustrated his first Boston Red Sox themed hat in honor of his favorite baseball team. Just last week, Giorgio completed the third hat in a series that he sold to David Ortiz, the home-run record holding hitter for the Sox.

Giorgio estimates he’s produced about 30 hats (all one-of-a-kind), and he has five orders to create by Christmas, which, with finals coming up, won’t be an easy feat. Each wearable masterpiece starts with a plain white hat from Lids, a box of Sharpies, and a computer file of images and information about various sports teams’ histories, players, and logos that Giorgio keeps on his laptop. Each hat takes about 15 hours and costs $150.

Giorgio is still searching for a brand name for his designs and says HeyZeus remains a contender. “I just didn’t want to call it ‘Chris Giorgio,’” he says. “I don’t know why, but I just don’t think it’s cool. Everyone’s always like, ‘that’s such a designer name!’ but there’s already Giorgio Armani.” Even so, Giorgio’s new website still stands as chrisgiorgio.com, but it too remains in the beginning stages.

In the future, Giorgio says he wants to find a way to mass-produce his designs, but the detail and the personality of his hats might make that an impossibility. He also wants to expand beyond hats. Over the summer, Giorgio hand painted several Marie Antoinette themed leather handbags for a store on Newbury Street in Boston. “I don’t know what I’m going to do when I graduate, but I would definitely do something like that,” says Giorgio. “Anything in the fashion world.”

EXPERIENCE: Origins to the Rescue

After six hours of classes, I head to Carousel Mall for a little afternoon delight. I wear sweats, a sorority tee, and my Ted Baker glasses. My body aches and my eyes feel as heavy as the doors of Macy’s. Inside, I dig through my purse to find some chap stick. My lips burn and sting. I lick my lips as I dig through my large satchel. Just as I walk by the Origins counter, I drop my large leopard bag, and my whole life explodes onto the tile floor.

A young sales woman in a little green Origins apron runs over. She helps me pick up my life. “Missy! You look a little worn out today,” the cute little brunette says as she helps me. “What’s wrong?”

I explain my stressful day and how I couldn’t find my chap stick. I’ve never been an Origins fan with one major exception: their chap stick became a minor addiction in high school. “Honey, I’m gonna give you a little makeover,” the Origins helper says. “I think you deserve a little pampering.”

Em, the saleswomen, sits me down in director-style chair and grabs a cotton ball, pours a little A Perfect World Liquid moisture with White Tea ($21) on it, and then sweeps it against my makeup-free face. She tells me it helps to hydrate my dry skin during this cold winter weather.



She grabs the Lip Remedy Soothing Lip Saver ($12) and exclaims, “I am so sorry I didn’t get you this first your lips must hate me.” I giggle a little as she runs it over my lips.



‘So now that your skin feels a little better is there anything else that you might need this winter season” she asks.

I reply: “Well my eyes get really puffy in the cold air. I’m from California and I still don’t think that my skin likes it here.” She runs over to her counter of goodies and grabs the No Puffery cooling mask for puffy eyes ($21). She places it next to me and explains the direction on the back.



She walks back over to the counter and grabs a few makeup essentials. She quickly covers up my dark circles under my eyes with concealer then covers my face with powder and bronzer. She adds some mascara and screams, “Wah-laah!’

I give her my Visa to buy the liquid moisture, lip remedy, and puffy eye mask. I thank her for brightening my day and walk out into the rest of the mall with a little skip and a little less schlump.

TRIPLE THREAT: Logo Lust

Varsity Pizza on Marshall Street isn’t the only place on campus that serves up genuine Americana and iconic school spirit these days. The Syracuse University Bookstore now sells vintage inspired collegiate fashions through T.Dalton’s Varsity Club clothing line. With The Express in theaters immortalizing Ernie Davis’ time at Syracuse and his quest to become the first African-American to win the Heisman Trophy, consider sporting a piece of clothing that captures a time when SU had a winning football team. Everything from cozy knit sweaters and scarves in ‘Cuse colors, to rugby tees, and hoodies feature the historic block S logo that Davis proudly wore while charging down the field to glory. Sure, the sweaters cost some coin, but that’s the beauty of a bookstore SUpercard account.

1. Zip Up #44 Knit Hoodie ($52.99)




2. Vintage Rugby ($54.99)



3. Ripped Block S Thermal ($39.99)