Nature has always been a favorite by many creatives through mediums like painting or photography. With nature surrounding us, we’re bound to pull inspiration from it and integrate it into culture and customs. This is especially true in the world of fashion. Nature provides all sorts of visuals like vibrant colors and textures that could be translated into fabric or garments.

“College is about self-reformation. Many of us are figuring out who we are as people, what our interests are, who we want to surround ourselves with, and how we dress. It's safe to assume that many of our wardrobes have been assessed and revamped since our younger adult years. We may not wear the same pieces we once loved when we were teenagers. There is a social expectation to dress more mature or “of age,” but this doesn't necessarily mean we need to rid our closets of previously cherished pieces.”

Imagine this: It’s laundry day, and you’ve just pulled your fresh clothes out of the dryer. As you’re folding them up, though, you find an odd spot on your favorite pair of light colored clothing. So you scrub and scrub at it, trying every stain remover in your arsenal, only for it all to be of no use. This exact situation happened to me, and to my favorite pair of pants.

Sex appeal is something women have mastered over decades and continue to do. As we age, we start to hear more and more people tell us to embrace what we’ve got. Many immediately think that embracing what you have equates to promiscuity, but this doesn’t always have to be the case. Of course, many use their confidence to flaunt their looks or physique, but there are so many other ways of feeling sexy while also leaving room for the imagination.

“Today we know Dr. Martens as the versatile shoe brand that makes its appearance in nearly every aspect of modern day culture. But where did the stylish shoe we know and love today originate and what makes it so culturally impactful?”

Ever looked at an outfit and thought something was missing? It’s hard to style yourself differently each day — outfits start to look boring or overdone, and you’re left wondering what to add to spice it up. Don't give up just yet! Keep that outfit on and build.

At the 2024 MTV Video Music Awards, Chappell Roan made her VMAS debut in a plum gauze gown, an embroidered velvet robe, armored accessories and a medieval sword — presumably used to kill Gracie Abrams in the Best New Artist category. The look was straight from the Winter/Fall ‘24 runway of Y/Project, a now defunct Paris-based clothing label. While the look was iconic, it was definitely not the first time medieval fashion has been revived, and it certainly won’t be the last. 

For many who live in areas with frigid winters, we long for an exciting selection of winter accessories. Yes, puffer coats and knitted beanies do the job, but some may be in search of more. What better to satisfy this craving than fur accessories? Although we can argue the timelessness of fur in fashion, we have seen a rise of these materials in recent years, but why?

Catherine Tramell, the dangerous novelist from “Basic Instinct”; Selina Kyle, the antihero and alter ego of Catwoman; Xenia Onatopp, the villainess bond girl from “GoldenEye”; Jane Smith, the skilled assassin from “Mr. & Mrs. Smith.” These characters are beautiful, mysterious, dangerous and most importantly, intelligent, and they use these traits to further their goals. Some common names to call these ladies are sirens.

Myra Magdalen is a name you might not have heard, but after seeing her style once, you will never forget her. Magdalen is a fashion designer, content creator and visual artist — a fashion icon that has changed the game forever. Her innovative style has consumed the TikTok world, gaining her over 940,000 followers. 

We have all been told that beauty is much more than skin deep. Who we are is much more important than what we project. We are encouraged to strengthen the content of our character and strive for a well-rounded personality. Personally, I do believe this is true. Vanity, rarely warranted, is a slippery slope towards arrogant, inconsiderate, selfish action. 

If you thought a throne was a cool chair, imagine if your throne was in the sky, floating on a bed of clouds. The described throne belongs to Zeus, the King of Gods, and is located on Olympus, the notorious home of the Greek Gods. Greek mythology is an important part of our society. Its reach spreads to various areas of our lives, whether it’s art, literature, or ways of life.

Have you ever been in a room where no one looked even remotely like you? Where no one has the same skin color as you, let alone the same hair texture? That is the reality of many young people of color. You grow up seeing people who don't look like you, and then you start to ask the question, “Am I different?” Why am I different?

For a long time, Latinx women have had a large impact on beauty standards and trends, both in their communities and globally. Particularly in south Florida, we see that the beauty standard consists of Latinx women who appear White, light-eyed, and wealthy. Other Latinx women have been and continue to redefine beauty standards and trends in this area with their range of golden brown skin tones, high cheekbones, almond-shaped eyes, and long, dark hair. Their influence is seen in their vibrant, creative approaches to makeup and beauty, as well as the products and techniques they bring to the beauty industry and makeup community. 

Every year, approximately 500,000 animals die due to cosmetic animal testing. Sadly, too many companies are still unnecessarily using cruel animal testing practices instead of cosmetic recipes that have already been tested. It’s hard to truly feel beautiful when your beauty is coming at the suffering of innocent animals. Luckily there are many brands across all price points that don’t test on animals. Makeup should be a fun way to express yourself, not something that inflicts pain on animals.

Consistently styling your hair with heat can lead to hair damage. To protect your hair, try using heatless curling methods.  Heatless curls are timeless and have been a thing since the 1920s.  With the significant rise of heatless curls in the 2020s, the benefits speak for themselves: the curls last longer than heat curls, save your hair from heat damage, are very convenient since the curls form overnight, and give good results most of the time. Here is how to curl your hair without heat to see the best results!

What do you find beautiful about painting and drawing? Is it the delicate sketches, the vibrant colors? Is it the intricate details, the realism? While all these characteristics represent the beauty and dedication that goes hand in hand with art, it can still be something that anyone can pursue. Whether you are doing it for fun, trying to learn a new skill or just simply using it as an escape, these circumstances do not denounce the value of the art process.

The continuous cycle of hair trends comes and goes; however, some manage to capture and redefine their audience by leaving a powerful impact. Micro bangs, or “baby bangs,” are a unique and daring hair trend that dates back to the 50s. This hairstyle consists of bangs that sit above the eyebrow or even on the middle of the forehead. This hairstyle reinvents the famous bang and adds a new layer of edginess to the cut.

To some, there is nothing more humbling than comparing your looks to the flawless social media models that appear on our screens every day. With 9 in 10 children and adolescents being exposed to toxic beauty standards for an average of four hours daily, it can feel impossible to accept yourself for who you truly are when your body does not always match what you see on social media.

What does your hair say about you? When you do your hair in the morning, are you making a statement? Within the punk movement, that is exactly the point. The punk movement started in the 1970s with the intent to go against societal norms. From 70s rock to fashion to challenging government authority, the punk movement was about rejecting the rules imposed by society. 

20-year-old Alyssa Lee is an artist and entrepreneur working and living in Springfield, Missouri. She is a tattoo apprentice at Dreamland Tattoo company, under mentor Maddie Bates, and recently started tattooing clients. Lee’s journey as an artist has been a long one. Growing up, her whole family loved art, her mother specifically was an art teacher, which fostered a highly creative environment in her home. Lee has said on her Instagram and TikTok that she can’t pick a favorite art medium, which is evident through her featuring creations of all kinds.

In a world of so much violence and unrest, many people forget about the ideas of peace and justice. Many don’t know that we don’t need to live in a world full of nuclear weapons, inflated military budgets, and mass displacement of communities.

For generations, women have been carrying the weight of the world, literally and figuratively. From societal pressures and household responsibilities to physical objects and emotional labor, women have to juggle it all. They do so, often without recognition, without compensation, and sometimes without even being thanked. This strength, though admirable, is born not from choice but from necessity.

By Mikayla Buneta

This is not the first time you’ve heard we’re in an age of overconsumption. Run, don’t walk, to your nearest thrift stores, overrun with briskly out-of-style trends, lovingly made with 100% synthetic polyester. Although supply is at an all-time high, demand starts to dwindle once the hype ends. Perhaps scattered about your apartment are six or so Sonny Angels, longing for their mother’s attention. 

So picture this, you’re getting ready for the first day of classes and notice you will be heading off campus, to a different campus, one called Brick City. Once you arrive, you come to a cluster of brick buildings right in the heart of Springfield, laid out in front of a set of train tracks. You certainly weren’t expecting to be traveling that far from the dorm on the first day. You realize the people around you are all there for the same purpose: this is the arts campus. How exciting, it’s so diverse and so playful, everybody there wants to express themselves through creativity. Fast forward to the end of the semester, you’ve spent countless hours at Brick City, logging who knows how much studio time. You register for the next semester’s classes and realize, I’m going to be here for a while.

Creating a cost-effective bouquet only requires a few supplies. You will need scissors, something to fasten the stems together such as string, tape or rubber bands, a vase or wrapping paper, and an optional supply of ribbon. 

I’ve been stressed — I’m sure many of you have been, too. Between student debt, deadlines, trouble with family or friends, and the general state of the world right now, it can be hard to find moments of peace. Oftentimes, I want so badly to just escape and get away from it all. As Paul McCartney so aptly put it “I want a horse, I want a sheep, I wanna get me good night’s sleep, living in a home in the heart of the country.” But I’m not Paul McCartney, and I’m pretty sure you’re probably not either. We can’t afford to just up and move out to a farmhouse, and leave it all behind. That’s why we play Stardew Valley.

It’s no secret that to make an impact as a new artist in the music industry, you need to be smart about cultivating your sound to be new yet classic, revolutionary but appealing, and personal but not too preachy — an impossible standard that few have the ability to come close to.

The album “Girl” was created by the artists Coco & Clair Clair in 2024, making this their third album. The two artists met through mutual friends on X, formally and widely known as Twitter. Since then, they have become a triple threat bringing in bits of light electro-pop, hip-hop, and rap into their music.

Due to how our society currently functions, growing up queer is inherently an unconventional experience. Because information about the LGBTQ+ community is so stifled by many political and religious groups in powerful positions, a large number of queer children grow up without access to knowledge about this part of themselves, leading to feelings of emptiness, uncertainty, and even shame. This is why queer media is — and always has been — so important.

It’s hard to find a portrayal of living as a trans person more accurate than “Castration Movie Anthology I: Traps.” There are several examples of media which attempt to or even directly show something akin to the trans experience; be it through allegory, innuendo, symbolism, or more to explain the pain, fear, disgust, and joy that comes with being transgender. Some are better than others, such as “I Saw The TV Glow,” providing a direct view of how being born in the wrong body and living in a fake world can cause a person to slowly shrivel and die over the course of their lives

“Somewhere out there right now, someone just made $600 in just a day while sitting on their couch. That’s roughly $4,200 a week that someone is making while you work a 9 hour shift everyday slaving away for minimum wage. The internet and social media is one of, if not the biggest gold rush of our time, except miners don’t need shovels and health issues, they just need consistency, a plan, and a little bit of luck. $36.15 billion is the total advertising revenue that YouTube alone brought in 2024.” 

Normally when people create an album, the songs flow linearly. Artists normally produce albums with the intention of the audience listening to the tracks in order, instead of shuffling the songs. Many tend to frown upon those who shuffle an album, especially on the first listen. Very rarely do artists create an album to break the linear staple. Me Rex, a British indie rock band, went against this grain. In 2021, they released their 52-song debut album "Megabear," which is meant to be listened to on shuffle. Seven years earlier, DJ Rozwell released the album “NONE OF THIS IS REAL.”