“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. 

Fashion in the queer community has had a long and storied history, much longer than that of the modern queer movement. Androgyny has also been an important part of this history — gay men frequently wear outfits seen as more effeminate and lesbians may dress in more traditionally masculine clothes. However, one important thing members of the community have in common is the need to subtly flag their queerness to each other. Being queer is something that was and is still often dangerous to be, with persecution of the LGBTQ+ community being a common occurrence across much of human history. With that in mind, flagging (signaling your queerness using some form of code) has become a vital part of both queer fashion and queer communication.

The year is 2014. You’re scrolling Tumblr, imagining how great it would be as a 20-something-year-old in New York City — to wear those American Apparel disco shorts your mother says are too revealing, to finally see the Arctic Monkeys live. But sadly, you’re stuck in the Midwest and you have a reading journal due third period. While I’m sure we all thought we were unique in having these aspirations, the FOMO teenagers and pre-teens experienced during this time was quite universal — old enough to go online, yet too young to experience the things Julian Casablancas and Karen O described in their music. Luckily enough for us, this era is coming back into vogue.

In the heart of downtown Springfield lies a wonderful little store filled with unrivaled clothing designs, funky art, and two adorable cats. Carl’s Bad Designs is a shop operated by Carlea Badolian that opened in spring 2024. This store highlights the importance of sustainability through its upcycled vintage pieces, local art, and thrifted clothing. The store is a hub of creativity, with every corner beckoning exploration. 

Music and musicians have been shaping pop culture and fashion for decades. Fall is a uniquely-aestheticized season, conjured by a variety of fashion styles that were highly  popularized by musicians. Particularly, Fleetwood Mac's boho-chic looks and the heavy, classic looks popularized by Alice in Chains have overpowered fall fashion and fueled the specific aesthetic that tends to rule the season. Pieces such as sweaters, bell bottoms, plaid, and boots work so well in the autumn weather.

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. 

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.

“Elliott Smith used his melancholic existence to craft intimate lyrics that reflect the complex existential qualities of life. In Søren Kierkegaard's philosophy and Elliott Smith’s music, there are two ways of living: the aesthetic life, which seeks pleasure above all else, and the ethical life, which lives for the greater good. Yet both paths carry emotional despair — they are pain in the extremes and even more so in the indecisions. The answer, however, lies in simplicity: Happiness is found in lowering extremes. Elliott Smith’s album “Either/Or” grapples with these probing questions, exploring the delicate balance between these two ways of living.”

Maya, aka @Stolenbesos on Instagram, is a 20-something-year-old photographer gaining traction on the internet and social media for her “lobotomy-chic” photography. She recently worked with Emma Chamberlain, taking photos of her lying on the ground, fridge, and staircase of an abandoned building as she sported Adidas Japan Shoes.

The rise of muscle cars, sports cars, and luxury sedans during the 80s and 90s wasn’t just a cultural phenomenon; it was a statement. Cars like the Ford Mustang, Chevrolet Corvette, and Dodge Charger defined entire generations, becoming symbols of youth, rebellion, and a unique American spirit.

This is just one of many examples on how literature has acted as a voice for women and feminist movements for thousands of years. Through the ages, authors such as Virginia Woolf, Sylvia Plath, Roxane Gay, and Margaret Atwood have all made feminist contributions through fiction and non-fiction writing, and women’s literature has always been closely connected with women’s activism.

What do you think about stickers? If you walk through downtown Springfield, Chicago, New York City, Seattle, St. Louis, Rome, and Florence, you’ll notice that each city shares at least this one aspect: stickers. On every corner, lamppost, road sign, electrical equipment, trashcans, or benches, you will see these objects covered with few to many stickers. Some showcase art while others highlight different groups, artists, and ideas — many of which may be unfamiliar. 

Music has a profound impact on the human brain and our emotional responses. This belief is rooted in the ways music interacts with our neurological and psychological  processes. I wanted to explore how music affects the brain and our emotions in detail. The first thing I found was that music engages multiple areas of the brain simultaneously. 

In an era of overconsumption, cheap labor, and cheaper products, finding trendy yet ethical accessories can be incredibly difficult. Discovering a small business with products that are both incredibly well-made and absolutely adorable feels like striking gold.

“If you have ever lived with multiple people you'll know the feelings of chaos, unsettledness, packed schedules, and the fun stage of life called “college.” As a fourth year student closing out one more chapter in life, I have recently spent so much time reminiscing on the memories I have made. The good, the bad, the ones we will not talk about… College is truly one of the most unique experiences that life has to offer, especially the college lifestyle. I live with three roommates, or four and a half if you count the dog and the lizard... Maybe even five and a half if we count the curious mouse that sometimes wanders in. We have a full house!”

In 1987, the United Nations Brundtland Commissions placed a much needed definition on the concept of sustainability. Sustainability is defined as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” Though the concept of sustainable development is abstract, this definition clears a path for understanding.

All around you, every day, there are people fighting for your rights, but you might not know who they are. Do you know what they look like or where they work? Did you know these individuals are dedicating their lives to ensure you have rights in the workplace, as a tenant, as a person of color to love who you love and be who you are?

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.”

“Midnight Cowboy,” directed by John Schlesinger, is a classic must-see film. If you were to search for the movie, you would find numerous awards, including a BAFTA award for best film in 1970. This film, according to Britannica, was “the only X-rated …movie to win an Academy Award for best picture (the movie’s rating was later changed to R).” These awards are well-deserved as this film is widely considered to be ahead of its time with presentations of heavy topics such as fragile masculinity, queerness, and male sexuality. Despite being released in 1969, the film's cinematography and soundtrack are incredible and ahead of its time..

Fame is something most everyone has wanted at one time or another. Looking at celebrities on social media, in movies, or on TV, it’s easy to think that they are living the perfect life: lots of money, lavish parties, and seemingly never-ending success. What’s not to envy? However, our modern obsession with these celebrities comes at a high cost for the people behind the glamorous images, and we are seeing the impacts of this now more than ever.