PC Couture
On the intersections of ‘political correctness’ and creativity
If fashion designers can and should shock and provoke, isn’t social media outrage not only to be expected, but also...
Alex Esculapio
Operation New Balance
Like a suit, a uniform of jeans, T-shirt, New Balance trainers and sporty jacket relies on invisibility. The person (usually...
Realness With A Twist
Behind these images of ‘real’ people – building, plastering, carrying heavy weights, fixing things or more generally just getting their...
The Antihero’s New Clothes
The Honourable Woman’s Fashionable Armour
The luxurious tactility and visual appeal of silk provide a striking contrast with the panic room Nessa, the star of...
The Antihero’s New Clothes
Set in a white, upper middle-class environment in New York City, the series follows the life of best friends Will...
The Antihero’s New Clothes
The first TV show to feature a transgender protagonist, Transparent's protagonist Mort, and her transition into becoming Maura, sets into...
The Antihero’s New Clothes
While initially the difference in 'UnREAL' between those dressing for the part – the reality TV show contestants – and...
Cult Status
In March 1997 thirty-nine people were found dead in a mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California, an upscale suburb of...
THE SELF ON DISPLAY
Vivienne Westwood's ability to provoke public discussion – both through her fashion and her media appearances – has characterised her...
The Self On Display
Yohji Yamamoto’s autobiography, 'My Dear Bomb' (2010) creates a complex conceptual persona of a designer, that of the ‘insider/outsider.’ A...
The Self on Display
The title 'Shocking Life' alone suggests multiple readings. ‘Shocking’ refers to her life, one of excitement, privilege and excess; it...
The Self on Display
While fashion designers today reach the heights of celebrity status, the roots of the phenomenon lie in fin de siècle...