Category: Uncategorized
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Maxis, Mead, and Misanthropy
In this atomized age, the strive for simplicity can be seen through the adoption of neo-traditionality, which is visible in many unconnected aspects of popular culture. Fashion trends like cottage or Catholic core, lifestyle trends like traditional diets, homesteading, or embracing religion—by grasping at these straws, one may just be able to find a sliver…
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The Aesthetics of Aggression
This is a paper I wrote for my clothing & society class that I figured I should upload here as I’ve been very inactive The combat boot’s rugged construction and aesthetics of aggression have permeated many unassociated subcultures and were crucial in the formation of their infamy. From punks to biker gangs, these aesthetics gave…
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Escapism in Fashion
It is 2023; the future is uncertain, and it seems as though everyone is just sitting around to see how the world will end. Will it be climate change? An irreparable economic crash? Will it be a nuclear war? Is Jeff Bezos going to team up with Elon Musk, Richard Branson, and Bernard Looney to…
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Fashion Kinks
In the last two centuries fashion has moved in a 20-year trend cycle. What is considered to be popular now can typically be traced back to some trend from 20 years prior, and while this cycle has started to speed up (see Accelerationism in Fashion), it’s still a generally accepted rule in the industry. Though this…
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The Death of Subculture
Preface/Disclaimer: This was predominantly written before Vivienne Westwood’s passing. I am in no way trying to discredit her; she has been, and always will be, one of my favorite designers. For decades, subcultures like punk, grunge, and goth have been a muse for high-fashion houses and fast-fashion brands. With the origins of these subcultures being…
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Taking The Ted Pill
Preface/Disclaimer: This is just an observation of what I’ve been seeing culminating over the last five years. I am in no way commending nor defending the actions of Ted Kaczynski, nor am I encouraging others to follow in his footsteps. “The industrial revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race” is…
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Guillotines & Ripped Jeans
Preface: The Idea for this essay came to me during my trend forecasting course; we were discussing how the French Revolution marked the first time in history when the bourgeois class intentionally dressed “down” to blend in with the proletariat for survival, which reminded me a lot about contemporary high-fashion. And with the recent “controversy”…
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TikTok & Shein: Accelerationism in Fashion
It is a widely accepted rule in fashion that the “trend cycle” lasts 20 years; what is popular now is an adaptation (or, in some cases, a bastardization) of what was prevalent in fashion 20 years ago. Today, trends from 15 or even 10 years ago are starting to pop up again, seemingly too soon.…