Archive

“my summer wish list” Young women across TikTok have taken to the platform to express their summer wishes. Whether they’re realistic or not, there is one consistent factor amongst almost all of these posts. They seek to either lose weight or appear to fit a certain standard, many of them using the phrase “ozempic allegations”

It’s no secret that the bar for men is tragically low. And while I’m not yet making a grand statement about the social expectations of men, I will assert that the benchmark for men’s fashion may as well be non-existent (ex. the boring suit epidemic at the Met Gala). I think it useless to make

If you do a quick search of Roberto Cavalli you’ll likely see that he is listed as both a designer and inventor. It is for this reason that he exists as one of my favorite Italian designers. Only two days ago, Cavalli was announced deceased, but his time as creative director had ended over a

The creator Data, But Make It Fashion presented an interesting observation earlier last week: Florals are out this spring. While it is backed by data, the logic behind it is far more interesting. The popularity of florals has decreased by 15 percent over the past month — a trend we generally shouldn’t see this far

2024 is ushering in the era of maximalism, accompanied by loud colors, pattern mixing, and chunky, stacked necklaces. With the rise of maximalism, we’ve also seen an influx in bold accessorization. Now I personally don’t partake in this type of accessorization, but I do believe it’s a valuable method of expression. Some of the most

Willi Smith had a problem. Even as a fashion pioneer he suffered from “the problem of getting dressed”, which he categorized as a disconnect between fashion and control. Smith sought to remedy this dilemma, and did so by outfitting fashion with the capacity to deliver individuals from stereotypes. In an attempt to reclaim control of

January 2024 saw the introduction of a new trend: Ins and Outs. While I know it’s no longer January, February 5th offers the first anniversary of Raison! In recognition of Raison’s first birthday, and the welcoming of a new year (which I am affectionately referring to as Raison’s sophomore year), here are my ins and

As much as we all hate to admit it, baby boomers changed the game. While now they’re often subject to criticism for their often traditional perspective, they were once not too different from modern teenagers. The baby boomers came to adulthood in the 60’s and brought calls for change with them. Emboldened by their innate

Baker, Luna, and Baldwin all found themselves enveloped in the European sphere, discovering professional success unlike anything they ever witnessed in America. They were celebrated artists, credited with genius and beauty, seen as they wished instead of how the world chose. They all found Europe to be a singularly beautiful respite from the harsh racial

*warning: mild references to Nazism (more specifically, anti-Nazi sentiment) Art and activism are often synonymous, intertwined by both intention and action. From Banksy’s famous street art to Ai Wei Wei’s criticism of Chinese communism, art holds meaning, and that meaning is often political. Some of the oldest examples of political art can be seen in

Rory Gilmore is undoubtedly the it-girl of fall. And while usually I’d find no issue criticizing Gilmore…today I won’t. The reason is simple: I love her. Rory Gilmore is a complicated character. She tends to body shame, she’s self-centered and upholds exclusionary ideals of beauty. And if she were real I wouldn’t even attempt to

If you look up “what defines style” the most common answer is something along the lines of a distinctive pattern of dressing. Commonly used as a synonym for ‘aesthetic’ style is known to shift from year to year. Because it exists on such a personal level, style is destined to be idiosyncratic. Finding one’s personal

Venus, the Roman goddess of desire, was revered for her beauty. Saartjie was ridiculed. Though during a significant portion of Saartjie’s life, the two shared a name, they did not share the same level of admiration. Saartjie Baartman was subject to social mockery and kept as various forms of circus attractions until her death. Most

As a collective we all seek some form of art. We crave creation and perceived originality. Artists are held to a certain standard, expected to be raw while catering to the mainstream market. The starving artist stereotype is losing traction, the romance of the idea fading. Now its not enough to just be an artist.

Although the MET Gala has already passed, it’s never too early or too late to start predicting future themes. Often paying homage to an influential figure or period, the MET Gala theme is a clear indication of where mainstream fashion is looking. We’ve seen themes such as Haute Couture, Christian Dior, and Cubism and Fashion.

American society can thank the 40s for the creation of the teenager. They were the pinnacle of materialism, designed to be cool, rebellious, and most importantly, lucrative. The entire category, designed by marketing executives cemented the up-and-coming youth culture and created the modern-day teenager. Teen culture has sought to exist separately from the world of

Self Perception is a strange thing. Most people are able to perceive themselves, even if only in relation to other people. The majority of us suffer from some form of comparison, wishing we looked like someone else or had a skill that someone else does. While self-perception and self-awareness are different, the two are often

Have you ever wondered just how beautiful someone would have to be for them to be regarded as the definition of beauty? How beautiful in every sense did the Queen of Sheba have to be to command such adoration? To be the image of legend even now. How beautiful could a woman be that she

To put it plainly, there is no such thing as “the pretty girl”. She simply doesn’t exist, acting only as a figure of our fantasies, serving only one purpose. Our own delusion. The pretty girl is more of a reflection of our desire than it is a reality. That’s not to say there are no

A few weeks ago I wrote a relatively critical article about Gen Z and aesthetics. I have complicated feelings about the limitation that comes with aesthetics, and the struggle of self definition. All that being said, I have to admit. I love Barbiecore. Barbiecore is the height of the color pink. Never before has pink

With the massive increase in globalization thanks to social media, the world has become more aware of fashion and beauty trends in other countries. Styles we wear on a day-to-day basis, now have a clear origin, with wearers more aware of where their clothes and style influences come from. While we’re all hyper-aware of the

The fashion world is beginning to move away from strict trends and towards originality. We fear being basic, and revere individualism. However, two questions remain in my mind: what does it mean to be original? and who’s allowed to be? Fashion enthusiasts love to know what the next big thing is. Are we bringing back

In my experience, I’ve discovered that for many people, the idea of gender neutrality is a difficult one. I’ve found that many people struggle with the absence of gender or the lack of binary restriction. After all, gender has been a fundamental aspect of human society for centuries, and it continues to play a significant

Ushering in a new season means we’ll see the continuation of trends and the emergence of new ones. Here are seven trends, a little bit of analysis, and of course, my opinion. Sustainable fashion: The trend of the century Sustainable and eco-friendly fabrics like linen, organic cotton, and hemp will be everywhere this season. The

From grunge and cottage-core to dark feminine and coquette, Gen Z is obsessed with having an Aesthetic. Expression is often limited to highly curated images that fall within a specific category. At various points in time, I’ve identified with several of them and aspired to many more. I found myself constricted to the “E-girl” subculture,

Recently I was asked to imagine the future of American fashion. One of my classmates told me she thought the future was bound to be lazier. She believed the American populace was obsessed with comfort to the point that we would discard beauty. I find this a gruesome future. The prospect of the death of

TikTok and its social media associates have become obsessed with the feminine gaze. Videos discerning what characters were written by a man versus a woman permeate BookTok, the part of the platform dedicated to book-based content. On FashionTok, videos comparing one’s style while dressing for the male gaze, versus the female gaze are produced en

Opulent sequins and feathers enchant guests as they prepare to witness the most breathtaking fashion showdown of their lifetimes.