Festival fashion trends continue to boom as festivals become more common around the globe. While festivals date back to ancient times, Woodstock 1969 created a pivotal shift in the culture of music festivals everywhere. Woodstock ‘69 was a festival that represented symbols of love, anti-war, and peace—the message of “love not war" was presented through fashion statements of event goers. After Woodstock ‘69, the popularity of music festivals continued to grow and the fashion trends of each decade succeeding the Woodstock festival are prevalent in today’s current festival fashion trends.

As a long-time glasses wearer, myself and many other pre-teens once sported those questionable, tiny rectangular framed glasses as their first pair. Looking back at photos of myself, I can't help but cringe a little bit at my bold style choices. In those same photos of me, you'll also find me wearing UGGs, headbands, flats, and a whole lot of animal print. Fast forward to today, I am now 21 and in college, and somehow I have managed to wear all these things again — within the last two weeks, no less. That includes my tiny rectangular wire-framed prescription glasses — except this time, I picked them out myself without any help from my mom. It almost feels like I am looking in the mirror at my 10-year-old self, but now, she’s considered fashionable?

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?

Throughout history, women have been told to step on that scale and if you aren’t below a certain number, you are not pretty. If you have too much cellulite, you probably shouldn’t wear that! If you’ve got some acne…maybe consider some concealer. Constant criticism and backlash for simply existing.

The first time I saw a pimple on my face, I was in 6th grade. 11 years old and trying to figure out what this white dot on my forehead was, I ran to my older brother asking, “What’s this huge dot on my face?” “It means you’re growing up.” That didn’t make any sense to me, what does this have to do with me growing up?

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.

So, what’s the point of putting an entire mixtape together? Why go through all the hoops that it entails when it’s so much easier to get with the times and share music the modern way? The answer is simple: the intimacy of it. 

Fiction is way more than just telling a story, it’s a way to explore different worlds, ideas, and emotions. Within fiction, there are many subgenres, each offering a unique experience for the reader. Knowing these subgenres helps readers discover stories they’ll love and connect with. Now, let's break down some of the subgenres of fiction.  

They thrive in the dark and shrink away from the light. These monsters are either depicted as tortured and sympathetic, or cruel and sadistic. Different stories have different rules about their nature, but they all share the fact that they are unnatural, undead creatures of the night.

In the music industry, women are pioneers, constantly reshaping pop culture through their boundless creativity. Black women specifically have made major contributions to the music industry, even though they are historically marginalized, mistreated, and exploited in their craft.

For over fifty years, the beloved character of Hello Kitty has evolved from merely being a simple design to becoming the mascot for one of Japan’s largest entertainment companies. Being a timeless phenomenon, the design has had the ability to consistently charm audiences and serves as a nostalgic figure that inspires contemporary media and trends. As a brand, Hello Kitty uses a blend of cuteness, distinctiveness, and specific marketing strategies to show the intersectionality that can be formed between mass consumerism and online communities.

Snacks and candy are a staple of our lives. We grew up eating these foods, and for a lot of us, this has not changed. People usually have a  select few go-to snacks. Are you into sweet chocolate, spicy chips, or sour gummies? —  Your favorite snack says a lot about you, whether you realize it or not!

One of my favorite pastimes is setting down a blanket in a quiet park and scattering a plethora of craft supplies, a few snacks, and a speaker to keep me and my friends company. Nothing compares to watching my visions come to life through homemade jewelry and painted trinket dishes while being brought closer to my friends through a social outing that helps us all explore our imaginations. This gathering is what me and my friends call a “craft picnic,” and the crafts I've made at these picnics have acted as a creative outlet to me for years. 

In 2024, Monica Barbaro played Joan Baez in “A Complete Unknown,” the Bob Dylan biopic.  However, Dylan wasn’t the main discourse in response to the movie. Joan Baez has been the topic of discussion; where is the major motion telling of her life? Rather than receive that, we ended up with another Dylan movie to add to the pile. However, Baez’s life is truly a marvel — she is a woman that pushes the limits on music and social justice. She attended civil rights marches where she would sing and protest, created her own anti-violence cause, and always spoke her mind in pursuit of human rights and social change. 

When women enter a traditionally male-dominated space, there is a subconscious feeling of difference. It is a typical human experience to feel the need to blend in with the given environment, to camouflage. Whether for safety or the natural desire to conform, femininity is seen as a weakness when put into a space encapsulated by masculinity. However, femininity is not a weakness, but rather a show of resilience for those who utilize it.

For those of us who grew up in the 2000s and 2010s, public media has always been synonymous with educational programming, including Sesame Street, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, and Arthur. However, over the past year, public media has been under a lot of scrutiny, especially from the U.S. government.

As Halloween creeps closer, haunted houses come alive filled with things like bloody zombies, scary laughter, and corn mazes. Though, strangely enough, people flock to these attractions, paying good money for the thrill of being terrified. But what makes this feeling of fear so enjoyable? 

Why are student organizations pushed upon freshman students so heavily in the transition from high school to college? What do you have to gain from them besides academic achievement? Why should you add another obligation to your already long list of responsibilities as an adult and student?