Is Meta poised to free the nipple?
After a decade of campaigns against the discriminatory ban, Facebook and Instagram’s parent company has called for an overhaul to a policy it says impedes freedom of expression for women and trans and nonbinary people. For years now, social media’s blatant censorship bias has come under increasing fire, especially its...
Current in Style
Exposure to body positive content can help aid mental health
A new study has labelled the viewing of diverse figures on the internet as an effective ‘micro-intervention’ for self-esteem that prevents or limits the adverse impacts of social media. For decades, body positivity has lived comfortably in mainstream media. Acting as a remedy to idealistic, unattainable beauty standards we’ve long been...
The fight to end hair discrimination
What’s being done to address the racist policies and unfair judgements targeting Black people for wearing their natural hair? With issues such as criminal justice reform currently dominating political discourse, confronting hair discrimination may seem inconsequential to some. What it represents, however, is another hurdle to overcome in our quest...
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...
SHEIN named the year’s most popular fashion brand
Overtaking ZARA and Nike as the world’s most Googled clothing brand is SHEIN. Founded in 2008 and gaining serious popularity during the pandemic, it looks like the fast-fashion giant is here to stay – regardless of its poor reputation. Yikes. According to a report compiled by Money.co.uk, SHEIN has become the...
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 with being ‘less-than-perfect’ can be, especially on social media. Almost a decade later, it goes without saying that the modern-day standards...
Balenciaga’s quest for redemption has had the opposite effect
The luxury brand’s brush with accusations of paedophilia has united haters and fans in shared concern. But the controversy also points to systemic issues of exploitation and power within the fashion industry. Publicity stunt? Mindless oversight? Elite satanic conspiracy? Whichever best explains Balenciaga’s latest controversy – triggered by two campaigns that featured disturbing associations between children and sex – finding an answer to the whole fiasco has become somewhat of a...
New report links global fashion consumption to inequality
A new fashion report by Berlin’s Hot or Cool Institute presents data on how fashion consumption exposes global inequalities, reveals how many outfits we really need in our closets, and makes suggestions for improving sustainability within consumer behaviour. Whether you already live by the advice of sustainable fashion advocates or not, there’s no denying that making simple changes to our shopping habits will play a significant role in fighting the...
Social media ‘weight loss’ trend causes Ozempic shortage
The Ozempic injection, which keeps blood sugar levels in check for patients with Type 2 diabetes, has been in shortage for months following tenuous claims online that celebrities are using it to lose weight. In 2022, social media inspired many of the ways we sought to improve our wellbeing – but not always for the better. Some began self-diagnosing themselves after being bombarded with mental health content...
