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.

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.

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.

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. 

The Ozarks is a vast geographical region spanning much of the southern half of Missouri and northern Arkansas, with small parts reaching Kansas, Oklahoma, and Illinois. Like the Appalachian region, the Ozarks is a cove of unique folk traditions and culture, the most prominent being folk music.

Being a member of the LGBTQIA+ community can come with the fear of not being accepted by family, peers, or your local community members. Luckily for us, Springfield has begun to tackle this problem by providing a safe place for anyone facing discrimination due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. The GLO Center, located on Commercial Street, has warm and welcoming members of your community who can be a shoulder to lean on, a helpful hand, and a resource center for anyone who may need support.

Picture this: You’re at a loss for words while talking to a friend. You can’t seem to collect a simple thought to form a satisfactory sentence. Your friend then says, “What, cat got your tongue?” To those of us that may not be familiar with this wacky phrase, a head scratch would only be natural. You might think to yourself, “Why would a cat have my tongue? I don’t even know what that means.” This is because the human language is a complex and intertwined form of expression. That might be hard to wrap your head around, but it’s true! 

Before there was Halloween, there was Samhain. Samhain (pronounced SOW-win) is a holiday with Celtic origins. The length of the celebration has been debated, but it’s generally said to be around three days and three nights, starting at dusk on Oct. 31. In 2024, it’s being celebrated from Oct. 31 to Nov. 1. Samhain marks the halfway point between the fall equinox and winter solstice, a time believed to be where the veil between the human and spirit realms is lifted.

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.

In the last decade there has been a substantial shift in how we consume our media. Currently, most Americans consume news on social media, entertainment on streaming services, all at the tip of our fingers. Between 2002 and 2020, revenue for DVDs decreased by 88.5%, magazines fell by 40.5%, and newspapers by 52%. This decline of physical media is unfortunate because there is so much opportunity for connection across all types, from music and movies to newspapers.

The album debuted at No.1 on the Billboard 200 on Sept. 3 and is her first album to debut within the top 10. The airy nu-disco track “Espresso” was the first single to be released from the record, and it became an instant summer hit. The witty lyrics — a Carpenter signature — are a large part of what made “Espresso” so intoxicating. The rhyming phrases “Is it that sweet? I guess so” and “That’s that me espresso” made for an instant earworm.

Throughout the last couple of years, I have noticed an insane amount of rhetoric about overconsumption and the right or wrong ways to navigate through consumerism. Social media is one of the biggest contributors of spreading so much contradictory information. It can be exhausting to even open your phone sometimes as there seems to be a new TikTok video, Instagram infographic, or news article telling you a different narrative every day.