By Libby Allnatt and Savanah Yaghsezian
Libby Allnatt
I can remember my first Downtown Devil meeting like it was just yesterday rather than nine months ago. (Cue nostalgic background music while looking wistfully up into the sky.) I approached the columns and features editor, Molly Bilker, and told her I was interested in those types of writing. She asked what I was specifically interested writing about, and after quickly racking my brain and having a brief existential crisis, I settled with the stunningly eloquent answer of, “Uh, fashion?”
Conveniently, Molly told me, The Downtown Devil had a fashion column called A Tailored Place that hadn’t been updated in quite some time. Looking back, my eyes probably bulged out of my head out of excitement to tell people that I’m a “fashion columnist.” Downtown Devil? More like Vogue, am I right?
At first, I was a bit worried about where to actually get story ideas. Being a freshman at ASU, as well as being new to Phoenix, I barely knew where my classes were, let alone the inner workings of the city’s fashion scene. With some tips from Molly, and some collaborative work with my fellow columnist Savanah, I found not only things to write about, but things I loved to write about.
All of the articles I’ve written for A Tailored Place have their own meaning to me, from writing about a good cause to striking issues. I’m grateful that during my first year in college, I had the opportunity to write about what I love while getting more immersed in downtown Phoenix. I can’t wait to be back in the fall to write even more stories to keep the community updated on all things fashion.
Savanah Yaghsezian
When I began my freshman year, I didn’t think I was going to be able to write much about fashion, much less get my own fashion column.
After my first Downtown Devil meeting I picked up an education story and felt proud to have had something published so early into my time at ASU. However, I really wanted to be able to write something that gave me a bit more creative freedom. At the end of the second meeting I bumped into Libby, who told me Molly was in need of fashion columnists. I practically ran people over to get to where Molly was sitting so I could tell her I was interested in writing for A Tailored Place (still can’t get over how clever that name is).
I was unbelievably excited to have my own column, especially as a freshman. I loved telling people that I was a fashion columnist for The Downtown Devil. I usually received an impressed look that was sometimes followed by, “Is it hard to find fashion-related stories in downtown?” The answer? Surprisingly, no. I wrote about everything from the opening of vintage stores to a Phoenix Fashion Week event. (The latter stayed in the “Most Read” list for over a week and I almost twisted an ankle from dancing around my room in happiness.)
I’ll honestly remember this column for the rest of my journalistic career. If I ever become a world-renowned fashion journalist I’ll be sure to include my time writing for The Downtown Devil in my autobiography. I learned a lot, greatly improved my writing skills and met some awesome people along the way. Hopefully I’ll be able to come back in the fall and continue bringing all of you lovely readers the ins and outs of the downtown fashion scene.
Contact the columnists at lallnatt@asu.edu and syaghsez@asu.edu
