How science is changing plastic surgery of the future
Cosmetic enhancements led by AI and advancements in stem cell research are about to transform how we think about plastic surgery, deal with the healing process, and feel about ageing forever. In 2025, it’s not uncommon to hear someone say they’re considering getting cosmetic tweakments or aesthetic procedures like Botox,...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
The paradox of vintage fashion hauls
Gen Z may have an affinity for second-hand clothing, but that won’t change their longstanding love of overconsumption. When I was growing up in rural England, second-hand shopping meant reluctantly traipsing around a charity shop with my mum and hoping nobody from school spotted me. The clothes smelt like damp...
Why has eyelid surgery suddenly become so popular?
Statistics from the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reveal that eyelid surgery (officially known as blepharoplasty) is now the most sought after procedure in the US. Why do people want to cut skin from their eyelids? For decades, breast augmentations and liposuction were the two most popular aesthetic procedures...
Iris Van Herpen debuts ‘living dress’ at Paris Couture Week
The Dutch designer’s latest collection Sympoiesis featured a glowing ‘live dress’ grown with 125 million bioluminescent algae, blurring the lines between nature, fashion, and technology. The world of couture has a long-standing reputation for pushing the boundaries of what can be done with fashion. From incorporating unique sewing techniques, creating breathtaking...
Are synthetic hairstyles putting women’s lives at risk?
Reports have found that synthetic fibres contain dangerous and carcinogenic chemicals. A Consumer Reports study has found that the ingredients used in synthetic hair across a range of popular brands – including Magic Fingers, Sensationnel and Shake-N-Go, have the potential to cause cancer. Braids have been the site of care and resistance...
Bianca Censori’s body is still making people uncomfortable
Kanye West’s wife has become somewhat of a living mannequin. But her controversial clothing is raising questions around autonomy and the politics of the female body. Bianca Censori was relatively unknown when she began dating, then quickly married rapper Kanye West. The Australian architect and model has since become a...
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, before we truly understood the social and environmental impact of the fast fashion industry. It’s PrettyLittleThing (PLT). Founded in 2012, PLT...
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 is estimated to require 18 eight-hour visits – that is, if you were to only stop and admire each installation...
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 massive political event in the US and globally with big politicians, activists, and the general public all tuning in. Although all...
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 find ourselves? The rise of social media has had a profound impact on people and their individuality, raising concerns about the...
