Your everyday go-to handbag is most likely your best friend. It’s a bag where you carry all your essentials, from your wallet to a piece of gum you’re saving for later. It’s your going out bag as well, like to the mall or to the club. Even with every outfit you put together, you always make it work with your handbag — a handbag can basically be your ride-or-die. It’s like love at first sight when you first see your handbag at either a thrift store, a boutique, or a high end store like Coach.

The past decade has seen many revivals of retro accessories from scrunchies to statement belts, but none as timeless and classic as the bolo tie. Once reserved for Western wear and cowboy culture, bolo ties are making their way back into the accessory scene as a unique touch to any outfit. Whether you are getting ready for a night out on the town or a formal event, bolo ties are sure to lasso their way into your heart and your closet!

Suns out, thighs out. This summer brought back the once 90s-owned trend of low inseam bottoms. Particularly, “Aftersun” and “Normal People” star Paul Mescal had a hand in this resurgence coming to play. After continual paparazzi photos were released of the Irish actor wearing low inseam short shorts, the conversation around men wearing shorter bottoms has since populated the internet. 

Known for their famous casual and everyday wear, Calvin Klein is one of the most recognized fashion brands, expressing style through minimalist pieces. The brand is notable for its underwear marketing campaigns, which recently starred Jeremy Allen White from FX’s “The Bear” on Hulu.

Brands like Adidas, Nike, Converse, and New Balance all have one major aspect in common: at one point over the last 40 years, they have dominated the shoe industry in some way that made them the most talked about company. They have all created shoes that are not only timeless, but fashionable.

Animal print is back and instead of seeing it on “Jersey Shore,” we are seeing it on the runway. Known as the ‘it’ print for 2024, leopard print is popping up everywhere from runways to brands like Adidas with their recent release of the leopard-printed Sambas. Prints like these add an expensive flare to outfits and a pop of fun to any neutral base.

"Saltburn," directed by Emerald Fennell, quickly gained popularity since its release in November of 2023. The film's stylistic choices as well as plot, characters, costumes, plot twists and many more have been a big rave since its premiere.

Hop in! Let us take a drive through time and style. Rev up your engines and buckle up, we are embarking on a style road trip like no other! Today, we are cruising through the heartlands of America to uncover the stories behind some of the nation’s most timeless pieces. So, grab your shades and your favorite playlist because this journey promises to be both educational and stylish.

In the eerie glow of the silver screen where nightmares come to life lies a hidden realm where fashion meets fear. Since the first female-centered hits of the 70s, “Black Christmas” and “The Texas Chainsaw Massacre,” horror movies have not only captivated audiences with their bone-chilling tales, but also serve as unexpected trendsetters in the world of fashion. The 1970s also saw the rise of one of the most popular tropes in the horror genre: the final girl.

With the release of albums like Beyoncé’s “Cowboy Carter” and Lana Del Rey’s “Lasso” on the horizon, Gen Z is excited about country music more than ever before. Friends of mine who I never would have imagined donning a Stetson hat are now excitedly chittering about their plans for “cowgirl spring.” Whether they realize it or not, this enthusiasm for cowboy culture is a reclamation of sorts, with young minorities embracing styles that, for decades, have been hallmarks of conservative culture.

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. 

Get out of here clean girl aesthetic! It is time to make room for the unconventional. I am talking colored mascara, geometric eyeliner, asymmetric haircuts, and thin eyebrows. “Ugly” is starting to become the new pretty. Gen-Z is completely redefining the idea of beauty- we see makeup being used more freely instead of adhering to traditional styles.

The French bob haircut creates a beautiful silhouette and adds an element of elegance to any look. This style is a short bob, typically falling around the jawline. Many people have been shortening their bobs and leaning into the French hairstyle. Vouge UK states that this haircut is particularly easy to style and maintain. They also claim the French bob suits any face shape, hair texture, and age.

Successful luxury brands and entrepreneurs like Coco Chanel and Tom Ford have concocted ways to create their best-selling perfumes. Fragrances and perfumes are what provoke one’s confidence, memory, and even their lifestyle. Perfume combines complex elements to develop alluring scents, enhancing any lifestyle. 

In modern media, fashion, and beauty content, it is rare to see diversity in age. Unless it is an advertisement for makeup that will make you look younger or take away wrinkles, older people show up less in beauty-related media. This diminishes representation for a large portion of the population. There is so much beauty in the aging process, and this photoshoot was designed to show this beauty in a raw, unfiltered way. 

Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, is a traditional Mexican holiday celebrated on Nov. 1 and 2. It honors deceased loved ones and celebrates their lives through a blend of Indigenous and Catholic customs. The holiday is a time to communicate with the dead and to entice their spirits to return to celebrate with the living. 

A man stands on a lonely French stage, his face concealed beneath a gray hood, the audience silent and thrumming with anticipation. He embraces a weeping woman as she sobs over an end that is soon to come. The man puts a hand to her cheek with the softness of a lover and says, in a voice like honey, “No pain.” The woman’s eyes soften, and she eases into the complete understanding of this embrace, this promise. As the man's canines elongate through his tender smile, it becomes apparent to the audience that he is no man at all; rather, he is Death, come to hold her in her last moments, to see her, love her. Do you know what it means to be loved by death?

A brand that promotes sustainability, creativity, and ethics within the world of design may seem harder to find nowadays than it once was. With so many brands pushing fast fashion practices or showing a lack of transparency regarding the production of their clothes, most consumers are at a loss with where to purchase clothing that is honest. However, some brands, such as Oddli, are providing its shoppers with a breath of fresh air within the fashion industry. 

A Brat Summer is all about embracing messiness, passion, and unapologetic authenticity. This concept, inspired by Charli XCX and her album "Brat," encourages living life on your terms with confidence and flair. The tracks on the album exemplify her evolution into hyperpop and exploration of self-discovery. However, “Brat” is an introduction to the massive hyperpop space. This genre dates back to the early 2010s and is characterized by its experimental production and artists. The music is coined by its unconventional beats, auto-tuned vocals, and excessive dissertation.

If one gets close enough to Springfield, Missouri’s campus-strewn center , they will likely encounter a wide array of bumper stickers adorning tinny cars and trucks belonging to some sardonic limb of a student body. Often, these are quick gags: “If you ride my tail, you’re ugly,” said one sticker on a car parked downtown. A sticker on a different car read, “My son plays guitar in Pomfret, and I am so proud of him.”

Hispanic Heritage Month offers an opportunity to honor the heritage and significant contributions of Latinos and Hispanics. Often, we don’t give ourselves enough credit for the hard work required to achieve success. Even in what may seem like small milestones, such as graduating from college or receiving a promotion, negative stereotypes can sometimes lead us to doubt our accomplishments or feel unworthy of pursuing greater goals.

For many Latinx immigrants, the journey to the United States is fraught with unimaginable challenges and sacrifices. In honor of Hispanic Heritage Month, this story is about one of Springfield’s own, a Honduran man who will be referred to as Josue in this story, as he wishes to remain anonymous to protect his privacy.

"The music genre, drums n’ bass, has been on the rise thanks to PinkPantheress and her recent explosion of popularity. You may know her from her 2021 hit single, “Break It Off,” but the PinkPantheress debut album is long overdue. Having released only a couple of singles each year for the past three years, while also leaking music on Soundcloud, fans have been desperately waiting for this time to come."

Photos, scrap paper, old receipts, pressed coins, plane tickets — hell, maybe even some old notes your best friend wrote you in eighth grade. These are the components for a great junk scrapbook page.

On September 13, 1969, a pop culture giant was born. Four teen detectives and their talking dog hopped into their psychedelic hippie-mobile for the first time, set up a couple of traps, and unmasked their first phony villain. Immediately upon release, audiences across the United States were absolutely wild about Scooby-Doo. Since then, we have seen hundreds of iterations of this story.

Closing the Miu Miu runway show at the end of Paris Fashion Week was the last place I expected to see Willem Dafoe — but that’s his charm. Dafoe, whom Unknown Vlog stumbled upon in the streets of Soho, surprisingly appeared in one of their “What are people wearing in New York City?” YouTube videos. In it, he describes what he is wearing: a Prada Sweater, blue jeans, and some shoes from Mexico.

I remember applying for my first job when I was 16. My hairstyle at the time was what the African American community calls a "messy fro." There are many ways to achieve this look, but I used a hair sponge, which gave my hair a spiky or bumpy texture, and I liked it because it made me feel like Sonic the Hedgehog. I thought it was great, but my mother warned me that it might come across as unprofessional to potential employers.

“In the 1920s, the modern world saw the rise of women’s independence alongside economic, political, and artistic revolution. A century later, the same is true. Amidst a fast-paced sociopolitical scene, we are seeing minority groups (namely women, people of color, and queer people) revolutionize what it means to free oneself through radical self-acceptance.”