PrettyLittleThing’s ‘quiet luxury’ rebrand is confusing consumers
The brand known for its bubblegum pink unicorn aesthetic is adopting a more grown-up look as it claims to be moving ‘away from fast fashion’. But will its products and practices live up to its new image? It’s the brand millions of us bought as students with little disposable income,...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
The Louvre’s first-ever fashion exhibition is arriving next month
It may have taken 231 years, but Paris’ iconic Louvre Museum is finally hosting its first-ever fashion exhibition this March. The Louvre in Paris is one of the world's most famous museums, boasting a collection of over 600,000 objects of which 35,000 are artworks. Visiting each of the museum’s 400 rooms...
What are the hidden meanings of First Ladies’ inaugural outfits?
In light of US President Trump’s recent inauguration, let’s review the history of First Ladies inaugurations outfits and what they really foreshadowed about their partners’ presidencies. Between seventy-three and seventy-nine days after a presidential election a president-elect takes the presidential oath of office, otherwise known as their inauguration. This is a...
Opinion – social media is stifling our style and individuality
We now live in a time where the term ‘microtrend’ doesn’t suffice to describe the short lifespan of social media trends. ‘New year, new us’ right? And with that, new conversations online about how we’ll improve our unique style and find our identities this year. But are we truly trying to...
Indigenous craft is still being co-opted by the fashion industry
Actor Lily Gladstone has called out Valentino, the latest brand to copy Indigenous designers. Protecting these cultural crafts from the capitalist machine is a longstanding – and often exhausting – battle. By now, it’s a familiar cycle: a fashion house unveils its latest collection, the press fawns, social media unearths its problematic...
Cosmetic vagina surgeries are hugely popular among Gen Z
‘Designer vagina’ surgery is one of the fastest growing cosmetic procedures among young people worldwide. Recent research has uncovered that this is due to a lack of education and diverse representation. It’s never been easier to look at a vagina. In the digital age – unless parental controls are active –...
Gen Z’s latest accessory? Ear plugs
The unlikely trend has made ear safety stylish. What’s the harm? The soundtrack of your teens and twenties usually involves crowded festivals, loud nightclubs, and headphones dialled up to high-volume. But Gen Z are starting to reject this cacophony with help from an unlikely accessory: the earplug. Studies have shown that for many young people, noise exposure poses a serious risk to the health of the ears and can even lead...
New California law requires companies to recycle unwanted clothing
The legislation intends to reduce the amount of textile waste going to landfill. California is widely considered a harbinger of progressive legislation, leading the charge in areas from emissions control to consumer privacy. The state’s latest step is a decisive push against textile waste. Under a new law, manufacturers of clothing, footwear and textiles sold in California will be required to take back and recycle unwanted items at no cost...
Opinion – does ‘luxury’ fashion still exist?
Luxury fashion has gone from being revered for its high quality, to now being coveted for its exclusivity. It's no secret that luxury brands have abandoned value for money and traded it for an exclusivity-price ratio. Many consider this a marketing strategy, especially in an era where social media incentivises us to try to demonstrate our status through what we wear and buy. The fewer people have an item, the more attractive...
Chappell Roan’s merch highlights the true cost of fashion
The singer has faced backlash for high prices, but sustainable clothing comes at a cost. Chappell Roan has established herself as a no-holds-barred, unapologetic breed of celebrity. Despite being only 26-years-old, the singer has made headlines for speaking out against harassment and candidly sharing her struggles with mental health and fame. This kind of boldness isn’t without consequences, of course. The media have jumped on Roan relentlessly since she entered...
