I often wonder if I’ve been born in the wrong era. Minding the politics and controversy in the older years, I fantasize over the fashion, music, and culture.
The clothes in the nineties, with the bright colored windbreakers, mom jeans, and Converse make me so happy.
In the fifties and sixties, the music was roaring, with soft tones and voices being interluded into the songs.
Photo Credit: Pinterest.com
Many people were so much happier in this time and lived their life without restraints. They were carefree, and went with the flow of everyone else.
Nowadays, life is more constricted with people being obsessed with technology and social media, and not finding the fun in life like people used to.
Social media has taken over the world, and don’t get me wrong, I’m still an addict with it , but if it wasn’t in the world, I wouldn’t care. I’d probably be a lot happier.
Though many people tend to argue, times were in some ways simpler in those days, and I wonder if that is why we keep trying to copy it.
Last year Liu Yifei was cast as Mulan, Kelly Marie Tran became the first Asian American lead in a Star Wars movie, Bangtan Sonyeondan – better known as BTS – became the very first K-artist, besides PSY, to ever win a Billboard Music Award and the first K-group to ever perform at the American Music Awards and Dick Clark’s New Year’s Rockin’ Eve. BTS also continue to break their own records in the Billboard standings and seem to only be growing in popularity.
Photo Credit: billboard.com
Only a month into 2018 Asian representation is looking up and just a couple of days ago BTS again made history as the first K-group and second K-artist ever to earn a RIAA Gold CertificationRIAA Gold Certification for their remix of their son “Mic Drop” with Japanese American DJ Steve Aoki and rapper Desiigner; and just today (February 4) Chinese Canadian singer Kris Wu became the first Chinese Artist to ever preform at the Superbowl Half-Time Show.
Photo Credit: nerdist.com
These examples are just a couple of the milestones that have been met in just a short amount of time. Hopefully these two events this year, and several from late last year, are indicative of how the rest of this year, and the future, will go on the Asian/ East Asian Representation front.
One of my favorite things in the world is skincare. Maybe not the most deep or expected of passions but know you know. While I may not have the best skin, I do really love washing and moisturizing my face, plus all the steps in between.
I remember as a kid I never washed my face, or occasionally I snuck some of my mom’s face wash, but that was it. Then when I got older and interested in actually caring for my face, I got whatever I saw show up the most often on drugstore shelves.
The face-wash made my face feel tight enough that someone could play a snare drum solo on my face. Whatever moisturizer I mistakenly picked up was essentially a too strong concentration of salicylic acid (an effective BHA acid in small doses) suspended in a silicone cream; it left my skin sensitive and irritated.
It was a dark time that almost killed any desire I had to take care of my skin.
It was frustrating, what was supposed to help me feel good about myself was instead making me feel like I didn’t even want to try to take care of myself. Instead of feeling relaxed, my skincare was stressing me out, which in turn made my skin freak out.
Photo Credit: Pinterest.com
So I began to actually research skincare. I started with the products that had made me so sad and pinpointed what ingredients didn’t work for me, and ones that could.
I followed obscure internet trails into back alley articles about the difference between moisture and hydration, pressure points to take down face swelling, and that products with pearl powder are known for their brightening properties.
Now, one of my favorite parts of skincare is all the research that goes into learning about different ingredients and their uses. In fact I often become obsessive and go down rabbit holes I didn’t even realize I stumbled into.
For example, did you know that snail mucin, which is exactly what it sounds like, is great for hyper-pigmentation, and that the best way to harvest it, cruelty- free, is to pamper the snails by putting them in a dark room and avoiding stressing them out. It’s like prepping escargot but the snails live in the end.
The more research I’ve done the more quickly I’ve discovered that skincare is an extremely subjective topic; recommendations and “holy grail” items don’t apply to all. While one person could love birch sap another could hate it, plus everyone’s skin is different.
Through all my research I also learned that caring for my skin isn’t about vanity, it is about taking care of myself mentally. It has become a part of maintaining my mental health.
I look forward to it before I go to bed and when I get out of bed in the morning. I use it to decompress at the end of the day or armor up for one. Skincare to me is time I have carved out for introspection and reflection, which helps me feel less anxious and better about myself, inwardly and outwardly.
I’m no fashion designer. In fact I’ve never sewn a piece of clothing in my life, but I feel like I know what fashion is when I see it. I know fashion is supposed to be a statement of art, a piece of someone’s mind artistically constructed into something wearable, but sometimes I wonder how pieces of fabric are hideously sewn together, given a ridiculously high price because of its brand, and called fashion.
“Project Runway” is an amazing TV show which many talented and aspiring fashion designers enter in hopes of getting a spot in New York Fashion Week. I always found it incredible how people were able to construct amazing clothes under extreme pressure in, sometimes, just one day, especially in the unconventional challenges where the designers aren’t even allowed to use fabric.
“Project Runway” has always been my favorite TV show. I would go visit my aunt and curl up in the living room together and binge episode after episode, debating over who’s going to be the winner or who’s going to be out, eventually becoming a tradition during my visits. However, over the years the show has started to disappoint me. That isn’t to say that they aren’t amazing designers, but I feel like sometimes the winners are usually based off of likability versus actual raw talent.
Photo Credit: MMC News
I haven’t watched all of the most recent season, but I did see spoilers from the finale and I was not impressed… at all. The designers had weeks to come up with a fashion line, and the clothes they managed to make in one day were much more impressive than the ones they brought to the runway. The silhouettes of each piece were inexistent and bland, the color schemes were simple, and overall it just wasn’t nearly as mind blowing as the runway pieces from previous years. If I were a judge, I would’ve sent them all home, but I guess there has to be a winner, right?
If you need a good laugh, and want to see more of the most ridiculous “Project Runway” looks, click here
If you read almost any dress code guideline, whether for school or for the workplace, an everlasting rule is that males must have short, groomed hair.
But why?
Obviously there are many double standards, both in the dress code and the real world. But many of these double standards apply to females, policing how much skin they can show or how much makeup they can wear, making sure they don’t “distract” others. These must be addressed, and they often are, even if no changes come from it.
But, many don’t address the fact that males aren’t allowed (whether in society, school, or work) to express themselves, and this goes much farther than just hair. It is considered outside of the societal norm for men to have long hair, earrings, wear “girly” clothing, or express themselves emotionally. If they present themselves in an effeminate way, they are considered inferior or mocked – called “girly” as though that’s an insult, or told that only females can only act certain ways and wear certain things, and vice versa. The reality is, both men and women have emotions and feelings, both want to express themselves, and they should be able to express and present themselves in any way they want. This something that society as a whole has to address and accept.
Recently, Nike launched a plus-size workout gear line, and many “haters” have come forward voicing (aka Tweeting) their outrage. One user Tweeted, “Way to go promoting an unhealthy life style. If people have to go to the extreme to buy over-size clothes maybe it’s time for a wake up call and change their eating habits for the sake of their health.”
How is releasing a workout line that includes all the different body shapes and sizes “promoting an unhealthy lifestyle”? It’s workout gear, not Twinkies. And, for the record, anyone can be healthy at any size, and the same goes for being unhealthy.
First, people were mad at the new Nike campaign featuring Bella Hadid, arguing she wasn’t muscular enough to be a Nike model, and now people have gone to the other extreme, shaming Nike for a plus-size line. When will these ignorant people realize that people of all shapes and sizes workout?
Paris Couture Spring/Summer 2017 Week is over – the runways have been taken down, venues dismantled, the models have jetted off, and photographers are off to their next job.
This fashion week featured sheer and embellished fabrics, top models, and dramatic venues. Dior balanced their collection with light and dark influences, Alexandre Vauthier focused on minis, and Maison Margiela served a fierce, ethereal collection. Social media’s favorite models, Gigi, Bella, and Kendall, all closed and opened shows during the day and partied at night.
But, what also comes with fashion week is the amazing street style. Celebrities, influences, bloggers, and rappers all popped from show to show wearing the season’s best trends and setting new ones. Here are my favorite runway and street looks of Paris Couture Week:
Shoes may in fact be the singular most important thing put on in a day. They affect the way you walk, the way you experience your day. Goodness knows the power of gorgeous, uncomfortable shoes and their ability to change your entire outlook on the upcoming week.
How you see yourself in the morning all comes down to your shoes. Are you a little taller than you were yesterday? A little more fluid, a little more grounded?
Even to those without shoes on, their shoes affect them. They decided not to wear them, and this influences the rest of their day because, simply put, there are certain things you don’t do unless you have shoes on.
While many would argue that they just throw on the same shoes they wear everyday without thinking about it, that is still their decision to have a “usual” action.
Photo Credit: Road and Track
Are you determined to look as good as you can? More laid back? Aiming to be fashionable? No matter the reason, shoes outrank your clothing.
Shoes dress up an outfit or dress it down. Shoes change the way others see you. Yes, people will see your cool bomber jacket, but are you wearing it with heels like a model, so you can feel like the rest of the world is your personal runway Are you wearing it with trainers, making the world your personal path? Or are you wearing it with boots, telling the world to get out of your way ’cause you mean business?
Your shoes are one of those decisions that make you, you.
Yeezy Season 3 Fashion Show in Madison Square Garden — Photo Credit: NY Times
Kanye. Rihanna. Gigi.
Celebrities entering the high fashion arena is becoming a common occurrence. Kanye West’s collaboration with Adidas, Yeezy, has released multiple seasons, each season selling out faster than the last. Rihanna’s collection for Puma, FENTY, just showcased its second season. Model Gigi Hadid also did a capsule collection for Tommy Hilfiger.
But these aren’t like the typical celebrity brands being sold in shopping malls, targeted at the masses. Kanye, Rihanna, and Gigi’s collaborations are all being marketed as high fashion. All three of these shows were showcased during fashion week. Kanye’s controversial Yeezy Season 4 was held in Roosevelt Island, garnering countless celebs and fashion’s elite. Gigi’s show, held during NY Fashion Week as well, was a spectacle to say the least. The show, a full-blown carnival theme, had A-list celebrities sitting front, fashion’s top models walking, and a huge social media presence. Rihanna’s show, however, was held during Paris Fashion Week.
These celebrity’s personal styles are influencing these collections, considering many designers couldn’t get away with a collection that looked like it was chewed up by a pack of wolves before it debuted on the runway, besides Kanye West. These celebrities are also transforming these brands such as Adidas, Puma, and Tommy Hilfiger into not just popular brands, but high fashion brands. Do I agree with this, or the fact that celebrities are now becoming “high fashion” designers? Not very much, but it doesn’t matter, people are still going to buy a $800 ripped up sweatshirt from Adidas, because it was “made” by Kanye West.
While leaving the Max Mara fashion in Milan this week, fashion model Gigi Hadid was attacked by Vitalii Sediuk, a well-known prankster. He came up behind Hadid, grabbed her, and lifted her off the ground. Hadid immediately fought back, elbowing him and trying to get out of Vitalii’s grasp. After this incident occurred, headlines appeared criticizing Hadid’s reaction to the attack. While I never read any of the articles criticizing Hadid for defending herself from an attacker, I did see the controversy on Twitter and it was insane. Many tabloids claimed Hadid lashed out a fan and that her behavior was inappropriate.
Later that night, there were articles about how Hadid flashed her breasts during a fashion show, hours after lashing out at a fan. One headline from The Sun actually read, “NOT MODEL BEHAVIOR, Gigi Hadid aggressively lashes out and ELBOWS fan in the FACE after he tries to pick her up.” Hadid did not lash out at a fan, she defended herself from an attacker. Before these tabloids were criticized for their backwards reaction to the situation, none of the tabloids criticized Vitalii for assaulting Hadid, in fact most didn’t even claim he was in the wrong.
Vitalii is not a fan, he is a man who is known for harassing celebrities. Hadid is not the first celebrity he has attacked, as he seems under the impression he is allowed to grab and violate whomever he likes. Sediuk apparently attacked Hadid because he believes Hadid has no place in the fashion world, and hoped this stunt would encourage companies and magazines to use models with “true talent”. Hadid had every right to defend herself, and Vitalii had no right to grab her and violate her space.
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