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 Style
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...
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...
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...
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...
The Fashion Pact establishes new renewable energy agreement
After a quiet two years, the CEO-led coalition has announced the launch of a promising sustainability initiative that seeks to accelerate the industry’s green transition. By now, I’m sure you’re well aware that fashion has an acute sustainability problem. If you’ve somehow missed out on the details, however, allow me to remind you that the industry is the largest global consumer of water and generates more greenhouse gas emissions than all...
Is egg freezing really a golden ticket to delaying parenthood?
The option for women to freeze their eggs is now regularly recommended by doctors, promoted in popular culture, and marketed to the masses via social media advertisements. But should we be wary of depending on its success? A new world record was broken last month, with two twin babies born from human embryos frozen over 30 years ago. The embryos had been stored inside liquid nitrogen at -128C back in 1992....
British doctors can now suggest surfing as a mental health remedy
Young people experiencing depression and anxiety will be prescribed surfing, roller skating, and dancing before being offered medication by doctors. Let’s face it, feelings of being stressed, burnt out, and sad are bound to pop up in our hyper-aware and overloaded era of modern life. Under these circumstances, the most tempting activity is to lie in bed and shut off with a ten-part Netflix series. But the truth is, over time,...
