The ‘taser skirt’ uses fashion as a form of protest
Beyond our need to cover our bodies both for modesty and survival, fashion can also be used as a medium to diffuse power. A protest can have multiple definitions, but all of them follow the same line. A protest could represent a strong opinion against any issue, situation, or even...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
Should fashion brands make pro-Palestinian clothing for profit?
Fashion companies using the emblems or slogans of social justice movements to sell clothing is nothing new. With support for the Palestinian cause growing globally, are brands treating the conflict as an opportunity to make sales? What happens when supporting a cause becomes ‘cool’? More often than not, companies move...
Pre-loved luxury items grace London Fashion Week’s runway
Secondhand fashion is continuing to find its place on the catwalk at global events. This week, eBay will showcase pre-loved clothing collections at London Fashion Week – bolstering its presence in pop culture. This evening, eBay will stage the second round of its ‘Endless Runway’ campaign at London Fashion Week. This...
Is tackiness having a moment?
Judging by a few of the latest fashion trends, we appear to be in an era of unapologetic bad taste. Here’s why we should be celebrating the end of aesthetic and welcoming in tacky with open arms. When you hear ‘tacky’ what springs to mind? Is it the cheap nick-nacks...
Are our beauty routines making us miserable?
While taking care of ourselves is essential for our self-esteem, the pursuit of beauty in the age of social media is starting to have the opposite effect on many. Today, the bar for being considered aesthetically beautiful has risen significantly. Past generations may have felt pressure to acquire the look of...
Fake Botox is poisoning cosmetic patients across the United States
Several people have reported negative health reactions after being injected with botulinum toxin in the US. It’s a worrying trend that emphasizes the importance of finding reputable clinicians before getting any type of cosmetic work done. A worrying trend is taking place across the US, raising the eyebrows of health...
Opinion – Nike’s Olympic kits are an emblem of sports sexism
The sporting giant has come under fire over its women’s Track and Field kits. The backlash is long overdue. With the Paris Olympics just months away, major sporting brands are revealing their Olympic kits for the first time. But Nike got more than it bargained for this week when it shared images of the Team USA Track and Field uniforms. Far from online hype, the launch triggered a swathe of...
Swedish retailer bans children from buying anti-ageing skincare
In a bid to protect young people from being influenced by beauty trends online, a popular pharmacy in Sweden has decided to ban under 16s from purchasing anti-ageing skincare products. While the societal pressure to be perfect has never been more intense, no natural human process has been vilified in recent times quite like ageing. Across the internet, beauty gurus and unqualified content creators are constantly sharing endless (and often...
Opinion – Viral beauty trends on TikTok have gone too far
Social media is adept at consistently making us question whether or not our appearance meets an extremely high standard, all while continuing to shove algorithmic ‘sameness’ down our throats. Isn’t it time we stopped letting the Internet dictate the way we perceive our facial anatomy? Ever since TikTok took over during the pandemic, it’s bolstered the influence of already-problematic beauty standards, bringing a slew of hugely unattainable ideals with it. Whether...
Is shopping for skincare now more complicated than ever?
The rise of no-nonsense, ingredient-focused skincare lines promised to streamline our self-care regimes. But with new product lines, formulas, and beauty trends popping up every month, has taking care of our skin become over-complicated? The beauty industry has seen massive growth over the last few years, especially in the skincare department, which is expected to have a market value of over 185.5 billion USD by 2027. Since 2020, its e-commerce sector...
