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Picture this: it’s mid-July, the sun is beating down on your warm skin and you’re getting ready for a long-awaited night out with the girls. Temperatures are beginning to rise and lockdown restrictions have been lifted. For many of us, the promising prospects of a summer to remember will give us the opportunity to wear clothes that show off more skin. However, because of the … Continue reading The Problems with Hot Girl Summer
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It has been 14 weeks and 13 separate trays since I started my Invisalign course on the 11th of January. After my first article about beginning the process, I thought I’d update anyone whose interested in undergoing treatment themselves (or just curious) on my thoughts and experiences. Continue reading How Invisalign is Going: Reflections from the Middle of the Process
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What do an astronaut, Tina Turner’s former saxophonist, a former convict, and a congresswoman have in common? They all have a piece of clothing to which they connect a defining moment in their life – and they all feature in Worn Stories. The Netflix production based on Emily Spivack’s eponymous book launched on April 1st and was created by Jenji Kohan. If her name sounds familiar to you, you might remember it from the opening credits of Orange Is the New Black, which she produced. Continue reading Review: Worn Stories
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Society’s toxic body politic has transformed the human form into a site for unscrupulous judgement during the 21st century – worsened by the over-saturation of toned ‘influencer’ bodies on our social media feeds. Sadly, it’s becoming all too common for young people to feel uncomfortable in their own skin. As Psychology Today states; “there is a societal body-shaming that is so ingrained that it can feel like the truth”. Indeed, being self-critical has become almost ‘second-nature’ for a lot of people – myself included. Yet, this shouldn’t be something that is normalised. Continue reading Shame and the Body: Reducing Anxiety about the Body that Sustains You
As part of RAZZ’s SHAG Week, Caitlin Barr had the privilege of interviewing creator Kia, the founder of the queer owned UK business Nudes By Kia, which turns “people’s own nudes into wearable art”. Caitlin and Kia spoke about the genesis of their business, and why they think that reclaiming and celebrating your body is so important. Their discussion follows: Continue reading Interview: Kia from Nudes By Kia
Despite asking the dentist, some of us skipped the braces experience many go through at school. Ongoing lockdown seemed an ideal time to undertake an alternative process, so, after saving up furlough, I have taken the plunge and started a 15 week course of Invisalign. After finding online information conflicting and overwhelming, I decided to share my own experience to help others make an informed choice. Continue reading Starting Invisalign: Everything you Need to Know About the Popular Treatment
The December issue of Vogue US saw Harry Styles grace its cover, making him the first solo male to front the magazine in Vogue’s 128-year history. Whilst it may not be surprising that Styles was chosen for the cover of Vogue magazine considering the success that 2020 has had in store for him, the shoot instantly became a defining moment in fashion history. The cover photo shows Styles wearing a classic double-breasted black Gucci jacket over a custom-made baby blue, lace Gucci dress (designed by Gucci’s Creative Director and Styles’ close friend, Alessandro Michele). Naturally, an image of a man wearing a dress on the cover of the world’s most notorious fashion magazine drew headlines and ruffled a few feathers. The most famous quote that this image bore was Candace Owens’ tweet “bring back manly men.” This controversial quote lead to an onslaught of praise in support of Styles, as well as some right-wing commentators supporting Owens. Whilst it is evident that 2020 has proven that masculinity is no more than a concept formed by societal norms, it is also worth considering if Styles deserves the praise that he has been given. Continue reading Challenging Fashion Boundaries and Showcasing Minority Creators
When Emily Ratajkowski’s interview with French Marie Claire in 2018 went viral this year, I don’t expect many women were all that surprised by its contents. The writer Thomas Chatterton Williams was shocked to learn that the now 29-year-old model and actress was writing a series of essays about the modelling industry and commodification, because apparently you can’t have boobs AND brains in the twenty-first century. Ratajkowski is sadly not the only victim of the sexist trope, that conventionally attractive women are not intelligent, and any signs of intelligence are merely a ploy to seem even more attractive to men. Time and time again, famously beautiful women are mocked for having an interest in politics, literature or anything other than material items. But this issue doesn’t end with just the famous ladies out there, it trickles down even more potently to all levels of society. Continue reading Boobs and Books: How Women Often get Told They Can Only Have One or the Other
Reality, sadly, is not always attractive. Contrary to what television and media may suggest, life is not always on a good day, from the right angle, or with good lighting. We do not always look our best, and the worst part is that we imprint this illusion of perfection onto ourselves and our expectations. Selecting and altering the best photographs. Feeling like we are not doing well if we are not looking good. The endless, vicious comparison of ourselves against those we see on social media and in film. Continue reading The Dangers of Face Changing and Body Morphing Filters on Social Media
Being a woman on the internet is well known for its dangers. As a space where those who identify as women have freedom of expression, more often than not, they become targets of those who might oppose such freedoms. Continue reading How to Cultivate Positive Online Spaces where Women can Support Women
