The rise in niche cosmetic surgeries sparks debate online
The ever-growing list of available cosmetic surgeries continues to generate new ways for us to dislike ourselves, but online narratives prove that some are just too ridiculous to buy into. ‘What do you want for your birthday?’ my mom asked when visiting me last year in London. Turning away...
Current in Fashion + Beauty
Keke Palmer gives her audience a beauty standards reality check
After a makeup-free photo was posted of her online, Keke Palmer was hit with a wave of hateful comments about her appearance. Her response to the criticism should be a wake-up call for how we measure beauty today and how we value women in general. The internet is a ruthless...
Will this year see our beauty habits simplified?
Amid a growing number of people choosing to ditch complex makeup and skincare routines in favour of a more pared-back approach, 2023 is all about embracing our au naturale selves. In 2015, Em Ford sparked debate with You Look Disgusting, a YouTube video highlighting how damaging the shame associated...
Opinion – beauty’s attempts at sustainability are misguided
So-called sustainable beauty products are everywhere. But with a new beauty line coming out almost every month, is less production the only way to achieve more in terms of true sustainability? It seems counterintuitive to say that the beauty industry is becoming more complex, especially when our understanding of which...
Is the Met Gala’s 2023 theme problematic?
He may have been one of the most talented and influential fashion figureheads of the 21st century, but like most in positions of power, Karl Lagerfeld’s fame wasn’t without controversy. Is the Met Gala wrong to idolise him at next year’s event? Last year, I wrote about the Met Gala...
Do we really need gender-specific skincare products?
For decades, skincare routines and other beauty regimes have been viewed as rituals carried out solely by women. But as the boundaries of gender become further blurred, gender-neutral skincare products are increasing in popularity. Was the concept of gender-specific skincare ever legit to begin with? Despite the fact that...
Could sustainability make a bigger impact at next year’s Fashion Week?
Although the fashion industry is not blind to the worsening climate crisis, only a handful of designers have shown serious commitment to utilising sustainable materials in their collections. From next year, things could look quite different. According to CFDA reports, New York Fashion Week emits around 48,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per event. As soon as this information was made public, demands flew in for London, Paris, Milan -...
The sustainability potential of Bella Hadid’s Coperni moment
Proving just how far fashion’s relationship with tech has come in recent years, a viral video of Bella Hadid being sprayed into a dress marks the next step in environmentally-friendly fabrics. For the last few weeks, as models have sauntered down runways in the fashion capitals of the world, online commentary about the offerings presented by designers both burgeoning and iconic has been rife. From criticism towards Kanye’s controversial ‘White Lives...
The resale market is fast fashion’s latest greenwashing ploy
We’ve a long way to go before the fashion industry can be deemed sustainable. Is the option to resell our fast fashion items back to retailers a step in the right direction or a novel way for business as usual to continue behind the scenes? Buying second-hand clothing has never been easier or more common. Depop, Vinted, and more recently, eBay, have soared in popularity for providing users with a seamless,...
The Love Island to fast-fashion influencer pipeline is far from over
This summer, the UK’s favourite reality dating programme clothed its stars in second-hand threads from eBay to promote circular fashion. But following their exit from the villa, contestants have already secured record-breaking deals with fast-fashion companies. Love Island season presents the opportunity to witness good-looking people argue, neck each other, and regurgitate lines like ‘you’re my type on paper’ on national television while wearing multiple outfits a day – all...
