Medha Verma – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com Breaking news from the Farm since 1892 Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:04:28 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://stanforddaily.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-DailyIcon-CardinalRed.png?w=32 Medha Verma – The Stanford Daily https://stanforddaily.com 32 32 204779320 Beyond the t-shirt: Perks of dressing up https://stanforddaily.com/2017/04/04/beyond-the-t-shirt-perks-of-dressing-up/ https://stanforddaily.com/2017/04/04/beyond-the-t-shirt-perks-of-dressing-up/#respond Wed, 05 Apr 2017 05:04:28 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1125188 Why do we forget or choose to not participate in the power apparel has to change our outlooks? Just looking at my personal experience, I recognize what incredible transformations fashion has allowed for.

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As I get ready to go to my 9:30 classes, I aimlessly put on the Bay Area uniform — a plain tee, jeans and a pair of sneakers — ready for another uneventful day. As I leave the building and look around, I find myself in every person around me, wearing the same blank clothes and expressions. In this very moment, I realize that there is a simple savior to the monotony of my life: a change of clothes.

Don’t get me wrong, I am all in for the Bay Area’s focus on minimalism and comfort. It definitely does add productivity to my day and takes one more thing off my never-ending list of to-do’s. Yet amidst this trend catered towards efficiency, I think it’s incredibly easy to fall into the trap of following trends mindlessly without self-expression. I know this all sounds fuzzy and somewhat unreasonable, but it’s surprising how this is a hidden truth in our lives. Just think back to the last time you dressed up in your favorite outfit, whether through those snazzy pair of shorts that show off your rebellious side or the long olive green dress that shows how earthy-chic you are. Think about the confidence you exuded, the power you held, the belief that you were invincible and the assurance you had about who you are. Why do we forget or choose to not participate in the power apparel has to change our outlooks? Just looking at my personal experience, I recognize what incredible transformations fashion has allowed for.

For me, one of the most eye-opening ideas dressing up has shown me is that it allows me to express myself in situations where I believe that I can’t use my voice. I can recall multiple occasions where I felt the need to express myself, but nerves kicked in, I didn’t have an opportunity to speak or I felt like silence was more powerful. But knowing that the clothing I was wearing represented me and my beliefs gave me assurance that my core character was being seen.

It has also served as a motivating factor to getting my life back together on multiple occasions. Looking at the past quarter I realize there was an incredibly strong correlation between when I felt like my life was going to shambles (because of the incredible amount of work that I had to accomplish in an absurdly short amount of time) and when I was wearing my ketchup-stained, oversized sweats. To me, the clothes I wore on days like these were an active symbol of my state of well-being. But with time, I have come to realize I can reverse the process in which I allow my mindset to affect the clothes I wear. What if instead of wearing sweats on my roughest day, I wear my best outfit? I would use it as a symbol of motivation toward where I want to be in my life: healthy and happy.

Surprisingly, dressing up has also added a lot of productivity into my life as well. It might seem a bit counterintuitive if you think about it, but dressing up actually creates a strong divide between work and fun and allows me to maximize my focus on whichever activity I’m participating in. Just like how the environment I’m in affects my mindset, so does my clothing. For instance, if everyone was quiet and working around me, I would know to concentrate on my work and try to get all my work done. In the same way, if I were wearing business casual clothing that pushed me to feel studious and confident in my abilities, I would feel more inclined to work with more focus. On the other hand, if loud music was playing and people around me were chattering, I would definitely be in a lighter mood and feel more relaxed. Simply wearing fun and crazy rally would add to the mindset.

But at the end of the day, though all of these are definite pluses of dressing up, the reason I choose to express myself through the clothing I wear is because it serves as a constant reminder of my character and how dynamic I am. How? Because each article of clothing I own symbolizes a part of my story. My favorite outfit is my bright orange shorts, a plain shirt and a pair of sporty black chucks. Each of these items may represent completely different ideas and symbols to every person, but when they come together they create a surprisingly cohesive outfit or story. Outfits like these are what remind me and those around us that we are incredibly unique human beings whose experiences intertwine into one beautiful story and outfit.

Contact Medha Verma at medhav ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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A quick chat with Floravere founder Molly Kang MBA ’15 https://stanforddaily.com/2016/11/28/a-quick-chat-with-floravere-founder-molly-kang-mba-15/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/11/28/a-quick-chat-with-floravere-founder-molly-kang-mba-15/#respond Mon, 28 Nov 2016 17:09:41 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1120343 Any bride knows the struggle of wedding dress shopping. Making an appointment takes months, and when you finally book an appointment, finding the perfect dress you pinned on Pinterest is nearly impossible. And top it all off, waiting for months for a delivery really doesn’t help with all the stress. Luckily, there’s a new addition […]

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Any bride knows the struggle of wedding dress shopping. Making an appointment takes months, and when you finally book an appointment, finding the perfect dress you pinned on Pinterest is nearly impossible. And top it all off, waiting for months for a delivery really doesn’t help with all the stress.

Floravere founder and CEO, Molly Kang MBA '15. (FLORAVERE)
Floravere founder and CEO, Molly Kang MBA ’15. (FLORAVERE)

Luckily, there’s a new addition to the fashion-and-tech world that tackles these exact problems: Floravere, a digital shopping experience which removes much of the burden associated with looking for a dress in-store.  Launched just a few weeks ago, it is already turning heads at big luxury bridal companies and magazines such as InStyle, Brides, Tech.Co, Women’s Wear Daily, and Cosmopolitan.

Molly Kang MBA ‘15, founder and CEO of Floravere, said that she got the idea for her company when she was shopping for her own wedding gown. “I had a pretty miserable experience when I was shopping for my own dress. Every step was an obstacle and to add to that, the prices were ridiculous. I created this website to make the process more easier, efficient, and cheaper for women who are looking for bridal gowns.”

The multiple styles and silhouettes of the gowns, designed by previous designers for Monique Lhuillier, Dior, Zac Posen and Reem Acra, are all priced under $4000. Brides can pick up to three styles of dresses to be shipped to the comfort of their homes for only $45. Kang hopes this will help bring the fun back to looking for bridal dresses, through brides having “try-on” parties at their own convenience or in the comfort of their own rooms, rather than waiting months for an appointment at inconvenient time. After trying on the gowns, all the bride has to do is return the dresses in the prepaid shipping material, log on to the website to make any customizations necessary to her favorite style , and the gown will be made to order in 10-15 weeks.

A quick chat with Floravere founder Molly Kang MBA '15
On the Floravere website, you can choose up to 3 dresses to sample and try on. (FLORAVERE)

As successful as Floravere has been in capturing the attention of tech-savvy millennial brides striving for efficiency, Kang says it has been a rough journey to getting to the point they are at today. As I asked her about some of the struggles, she candidly replied, “At times, it feels like the entire world is against you. Getting a product out has been one of the most difficult tasks I have ever faced, especially here in the luxury bridal industry. There [are] so many obstacles along the way.

“From facing constant critique because my company does not follow traditional methods, to getting the website built … to looking for talented members to join the team, I’m not going to lie: It’s been a difficult process. But I’m learning more in my life than I ever had. And believing in my idea and realizing that it can help brides has really helped me push past these obstacles.”

Kang advised future or current entrepreneurs at Stanford to keep this point in mind when starting a business. The power and passion behind your idea are what will help you overcome obstacles. Ensure that you aren’t simply starting a business for the sake of starting a business, but rather have an idea that you are truly passionate about.

Kang followed her belief and only applied to Stanford’s MBA after having this business idea in mind, even writing about it in her application. “Going to Stanford definitely gave me an edge in starting my business. There were so many classes catered towards people who have an idea in mind and want to further develop it. One of my favorite classes was called “Start-Up Garage,” in which we designed and tested business concepts. The professor in this class ended up becoming my first investor.”

But that was not the only benefit Kang has gained from going to Stanford. Having an incredibly powerful network has definitely propelled Kang’s business in a better direction. She says, “I made some incredible relationships at Stanford, and whenever I need help my peers have the capability to help me, whether it’s reaching out to one of my friends who works with Facebook ads to asking questions about Google analytics.”

Kang ended the interview with one last piece of advice for Stanford students who are interested in starting their own companies. “There’s this quote, ‘Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can,’ and I’m a firm believer in it. You will always feel like you can be in a better position, but if you have that passionate idea, the best time to start is now.”

Contact Medha Verma at medhav ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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The many faces of Instagram https://stanforddaily.com/2016/11/09/the-many-faces-of-instagram/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/11/09/the-many-faces-of-instagram/#respond Wed, 09 Nov 2016 18:24:15 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1119318 Almost exactly a year ago, 18-year old social media star Essena O’Neill, with a little over half a million followers, told the public she would be leaving Instagram because it was promoting “contrived perfection made to get attention.” Two months later, Ed Sheeran joined her, stating that he wanted to stop seeing the world through […]

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Almost exactly a year ago, 18-year old social media star Essena O’Neill, with a little over half a million followers, told the public she would be leaving Instagram because it was promoting “contrived perfection made to get attention.” Two months later, Ed Sheeran joined her, stating that he wanted to stop seeing the world through a screen. The portrayal of social media, especially Instagram, as an “evil” is one that many of us have already experienced, whether it’s through celebrities like the ones aforementioned, or through our relatives who are constantly lecturing us to “get off our phones and interact with real people” at the dinner table. And in all honesty, we probably should get off our phones more often and take the time to participate in dinner table discussions. But in spite of all of these notions, I’m here to say using Instagram is not a bad thing. And so yes, if you want, please do post that overly edited picture online.

I recognize that we have a tendency to constantly villainize social media without taking a moment and putting arguments into perspective. A few nights ago, I overheard a conversation about the Internet being “too narcissistic” and arguing that nothing on it is really “real.” But as I think about it, I realize that there are so many platforms that promote the same “narcissism and fakeness” that are never questioned. What about all those albums on your shelves with pictures of you? Would they be considered narcissistic? What about those photography companies that took your yearbook pictures and politely asked you if you want to spend more money to erase your acne? Aren’t those options still available?

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not trying to say that because x and y are narcissistic and fake, it’s okay that Instagram is as well. But what I’m pointing to is, like those photo albums and photography companies, the main purpose of Instagram is not to be self-centered. Instagram itself labels its purpose as one that can “allow you to experience moments in your friends’ lives through pictures as they happen. We imagine a world more connected through photos.” And as a user, I can say that is exactly what it is.

The majority of the time that I spend on this platform is to browse through and keep up to date with the lives of my peers. As a college student, I know it becomes difficult to keep in touch with friends from home because of homework, extracurricular activities and my social agenda in college. And when I do stay in touch, it is only possible to with one or two of my friends, regardless of being interested in seeing how most of my friends are doing. However, through Instagram, I can be informed of what most of my friends are up to in a span of minutes.

In order for this sharing to be possible, there is no denying that self-image comes into play when presenting our own lives. But having an online profile with some of our best pictures does not translate into narcissism. For instance, many people use Instagram as a method to build up their reputation and express their passions. Take any make-up artist. At first glance, their profiles might seem incredibly egotistical with an array of close ups. But anyone can quickly recognize that it can serve many other purposes — whether it’s to help others with ideas for makeup looks, serve as a portfolio for employers or simply express to the world their love for make-up.

But for most users who are not spreading a cause, Instagram also serves a purpose other than narcissism: to help identify ourselves when networking. Rather than being all about how great the Instagrammer thinks they are, it prompts the question: How can I best represent myself online so that those who don’t know me can get a glimpse of who I am? For those interested in design and art, that might mean having a well planned-out Instagram theme filled with color edited pictures. For athletes, it might mean sharing photos of themselves playing multiple sports. For some, it might even serve as a way to find themselves. According to an article in The Guardian, Carmin Fishwick states that Instagram “allows people to test different identities and find a comfortable place in society” without any repercussions.

However, I do think there are a few aspects of Instagram we should be wary of. As O’Neill constantly emphasizes, we shouldn’t try to emulate what we see online. Instagram is meant for sharing, not for comparison. What we need to recognize is that we do put time and emphasis into our profiles. We do in fact “up the brightness and contrast” in our pictures to make them more visually appealing. We also need to recognize that changing brightness or living in a certain VSCO edit, is simply not possible in the real world. Instagram is about appreciating other people’s work or maybe being inspired by it, but not to duplicate it.

As for O’Neill’s argument about the “contrived perfection” that Instagram promotes, I would question how much Instagram plays into ideas of perfection versus the influence of society’s standards. We have the freedom to follow who we want on Instagram. We have the power to make anyone “Instafamous.” We have the power to choose what we like or dislike. Instagram is simply a platform through which we can do so.

So does that mean that Instagram promoted this “contrived beauty” and body image standards, or we did? I think the answer lies in O’Neill’s use of Instagram as a platform to spread the message that her photos took time to create. This shows that while Instagram can be used to promote this idea of “contrived perfection,” it can also serve to refute this message.

So where does that leave us? I personally believe that we should continue posting the content that we love and our best versions of ourselves, whether it’s an overly edited picture of a tree, a picture of the dinner you just spent hours making or a nice photo of yourself. But be honest about whatever you post, and just like any other piece of work: Applaud the creator for their work and effort, but don’t try to recreate it.

 

Contact Medha Verma at medhav ‘at’ stanford.edu.

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Don’t take 12 shots before Eurotrash: The steep learning curve as a Stanford freshman https://stanforddaily.com/2016/10/31/dont-take-12-shots-before-eurotrash-the-steep-learning-curve-as-a-stanford-freshman/ https://stanforddaily.com/2016/10/31/dont-take-12-shots-before-eurotrash-the-steep-learning-curve-as-a-stanford-freshman/#respond Mon, 31 Oct 2016 19:19:57 +0000 https://stanforddaily.com/?p=1118425 It’s currently 1 a.m., and I’m curled up in bed with my ugly-but-so-satisfying tomato sweatpants on and my laptop propped at a convenient angle so the screen is parallel to my face.  Finding me might prove to be a bit of a challenge as throw pillows, tissues, problem sets, and a water bottle of EmergenC shield […]

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It’s currently 1 a.m., and I’m curled up in bed with my ugly-but-so-satisfying tomato sweatpants on and my laptop propped at a convenient angle so the screen is parallel to my face.  Finding me might prove to be a bit of a challenge as throw pillows, tissues, problem sets, and a water bottle of EmergenC shield me — or more accurately, imprison me — from the outside world. However, if you do find me, I’m what you would call a hot mess. Hot, because I have a fever, sore throat and a nasty cough. And messy? Well, that you already know. Welcome to my fifth week at Stanford University.

Contrary to the not-so-hot day my roommates and I have been having — highlights include taking my first econ midterm in my current state of well being, losing an expensive family heirloom, crying over the mediocrity of a PWR essay and the imminent doom of the F that is to come and craving junk food but only finding fruit in the fridge — college has been everything and more that I hoped it to be. Every day I find myself learning or growing in one way or another, as I am immersed in a range of knowledge from listening to people’s crazy life stories, to a professor’s passion over a subject, to figuring out how to get from one class to the next in the span of 10 minutes. Needless to say, as a freshman here at Stanford, there is a pretty steep learning curve.

I was talking to one of my dorm mates, Peter Guzman ‘20, and he definitely agreed with me about the need to learn how to “adult.” “For me, as cliché as it might be, it was figuring how to work the laundry machine,” he said with a grin. “I was attempting to put the detergent into the laundry, but instead I dropped 16 washes of Tide over my clothes, my white shoes and all over the floor. I guess it’s a good thing my mom gave me 92 washes worth of Tide.”  

Like Peter, I realize that the moments when I learn the most important lessons about how to function in college are not my finest. It took many mornings spent in a towel outside my dorm room as I got the “what a freshman” look  from upperclassmen to learn to never forget my keys when I went to the shower.

However, for other friends, the learning curve was a bit more serious: learning to not cross their limits when it came to alcohol. One of them asserted, “Drinking was fun, and it definitely let me let loose a bit. But there was a point where I realized I was just testing my limits. And that was definitely something I regretted later in the night. But at least through this experience, I have learned that 12 shots before Eurotrash is not something I plan to do again.”  And that is one of the best mentalities that you can have as a freshman in  college. If something works, keep doing it. But if something or someone is hurting you in any way, drop it or them from your life.

But not all of the learning moments are bad. For instance, another one of my close friends, Hailey Wilson ’20, told  me about how the food is almost as unique and varied as the people at Stanford. “Guess what they have at The Axe and Palm? Bacon on a Stick. Only at Stanford could they have bacon on a stick.”

Like bacon on a stick, there are so many incredibly small niches to learn about Stanford and make your own. Whether it’s finding a spot in the GSB where you can study, or finding a quicker bike route to make it to your classes on time, learning about the school itself can make the place feel less like a summer camp and more of a home.

We are blessed to go to such an incredible school with D1 athletes, math geniuses, published authors and so much more. But as freshman that makes it easy to forget that you are only starting to learn how to “adult,” and that college is a time when everyone is learning how to “adult” too. Learning to live on your own and with your own responsibilities is a constant trial and error process.

So don’t beat yourself up if you end up getting a 10% on your first midterm that you spent weeks studying for. Take it as a positive learning experience and tell yourself that you learned what doesn’t work for you when it comes to studying. But also, give yourself a pat on the back if you learn how to Caltrain back and forth from Stanford to San Francisco. It might not seem like a big deal, but these are the types of lessons that teach you how to survive in the world as an adult.

The most important lesson I learned as a freshman so far? Yes, we go to Stanford, a school filled with mind-blowing athletes, intellectuals and future politicians. Yet like you, all of them also are learning how to assimilate into this entirely new environment.

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