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Maxis, Mead, and Misanthropy
In this atomized age, the strive for simplicity can be seen through the adoption of neo-traditionality, which is visible in many unconnected aspects of popular culture. Fashion trends like cottage or Catholic core, lifestyle trends like traditional diets, homesteading, or embracing religion—by grasping at these straws, one may just be able to find a sliver…
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The Aesthetics of aggression
This is a paper I wrote for my clothing & society class that I figured I should upload here as I’ve been very inactive The combat boot’s rugged construction and aesthetics of aggression have permeated many unassociated subcultures and were crucial in the formation of their infamy. From punks to biker gangs, these aesthetics gave…
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Fashion Kinks
In the last two centuries fashion has moved in a 20-year trend cycle. What is considered to be popular now can typically be traced back to some trend from 20 years prior, and while this cycle has started to speed up (see Accelerationism in Fashion), it’s still a generally accepted rule in the industry. Though…
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THE DEATH OF SUBCULTURE
For decades, subcultures like punk, grunge, and goth have been a muse for high-fashion houses and fast-fashion brands. With the origins of these subcultures being working-class youth, this inspiration (or appropriation) marked a massive shift in fashion and the way trends are formed. But in the following decades, as more brands referenced punk, any semblance…
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Taking The Ted-Pill
“The industrial revolution and its consequences have been a disaster for the human race” is a phrase that has been increasingly repeated over the past five years. While this phrase may seem innocent, it’s the opening line of Industrial Society and Its Future, the manifesto of Theodore “Ted” Kaczynski, better known as the Unabomber
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Guillotines & Ripped Jeans
Towards the end of the French Revolution, a new trend became very popular among (what was left of) the French aristocrats (bourgeoise). This trend had been growing slowly for years but reached its peak following the Reign of Terror in July 1794
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TikTok & Shein: Accelerationism in Fashion
It is a widely accepted rule in fashion that the “trend cycle” lasts 20 years; what is popular now is an adaptation (or, in some cases, a bastardization) of what was prevalent in fashion 20 years ago. Today, trends from 15 or even 10 years ago are starting to pop up again, seemingly too soon
Digital Lobotomy 