Exploring the cost of the pursuit of beauty
In an era where people are willing to do anything to fit in, health has become a secondary priority. If you are a woman, you may have heard the phrase 'beauty is pain'. This phrase is usually accompanied by a comment suggesting we change something about our physical appearance to 'look...
Current in Style
Dupe culture still isn’t going anywhere
Knockoff fashion is an increasingly popular way to take a stand against overpriced products. Once upon a time, buying a designer knockoff was probably something you kept under wraps. Today, however, dupes are becoming something akin to a badge of honour. Thousands of TikTokers are building dedicated followings by proudly sharing...
Digital clothing tags pose a solution to fashion’s sustainability crisis
Garment care labels could soon be a thing of the past as some environmentally conscious brands and retailers pivot to using QR codes for better supply chain transparency. Unless you have the patience of a Buddhist monk, then chances are you’ve cut (or more likely torn off in a...
The Met Gala’s latest theme is timely and necessary
The Met Gala’s 2025 theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, marks a rare moment of clarity for an event more often consumed by its own pretensions. After years of abstract, at times baffling, themes – Camp and Heavenly Bodies come to mind – next year’s Met Ball will focus on the history...
Opinion – we look at ourselves too much
Before mirrors and smartphones were invented, the only way to see our own face was to use nature. Nowadays, we’re faced with our reflection on so many occasions throughout an average day that it’s no wonder we’re all so preoccupied with our appearance. Not to be dramatic, but in...
The dangers of gymcel culture
As the worlds of incels and gym nuts collide, the impacts of this are not only concerning for women, but for the susceptible men whose wellbeing is at stake as a result of these trends. By now, I’m sure you’ve heard of the infamous red pill community, whose members...
Gloucestershire’s ‘Wear Not Waste’ campaign is encouraging clothing reuse
The organisation wants you to think twice before tossing that jumper. As far as environmental catastrophes go, your wardrobe may not be the first culprit that comes to mind. But Gloucestershire Recycles, a coalition of the country’s councils, is here to remind us that our favourite fast-fashion impulse buys are part of the problem. Their latest campaign, ‘Wear Not Waste’, is encouraging people to start thinking of clothes as renewable...
Is the hype around adaptogenic drinks too good to be true?
As Gen Z abandons beer and tequila for non-alcoholic drinks, ‘functional’ beverages containing plant-based adaptogens are hitting the market at rapid speed. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll know that mushrooms are having their moment in the realm of wellness as of late. Scrolling on social media, you’ve probably seen advertisements for mushroom supplements, mushroom tea, or even mushroom coffee. If not in the form of hot drinks, you...
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 thought, or a protest can be a simple statement or expression of ideals. More regularly, we use this word to refer...
Is dopamine fasting a wellness trend actually worth trying?
Feeling nothing for a day in order to feel more later on is all the rage on TikTok, but does it actually work? Over the last decade, ‘wellness’ has become such a ubiquitous part of mainstream culture that in 2024, it’s pretty hard to imagine life without it. A term coined in the 50s when people started realising that there’s more to health than simply treating illnesses reactively, it involves conscious...
