Coexist - What to do when a brand’s original designer no longer designs
Why is it fine for other designers to take control over fashion brands/houses after the original designer has passed away? Why is the McQueen brand still around even though Alexander McQueen is no longer with us?
The World is Yours - Hatsune Miku
I don’t think there’s been many people in the past 10 years that haven’t heard of or at least seen Hatsune Miku. I mean, she performed at Coachella this year. Have I been thinking about writing an article about Hatsune Miku since I started PERSPEX? Absolutely. Am I just getting to it now? Yes, but better late than never.
The End of Personal Style
There’s been something happening to fashion recently, something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. But I think I’ve figured it out - personal style is dying. There’s a lot of different reasons for this, big and small.
Famous for being Famous - Angelyne
Angelyne is obscure, shrouded in mystery and eccentric. We still don’t really know who she is or why she's famous, but she is. And I think that’s the whole point. Angelyne is purely Angelyne. She’s famous because she’s famous.
Enough is Enough - Shein
Shein has streamlined the fast fashion process – a direct correlation to their immense success. Utilising different online algorithms, Shein identifies nascent trends and sends small orders to suppliers, to produce 100-200 units of each style in a manner of days (the maximum being a week).
The History of Bratz Dolls
When Bratz launched with a racially inclusive quartet of dolls, this revolutionised the fashion doll market, with each doll featuring different skin tones, hair colours and facial features. It was also important to note that no character was the leader, unlike Barbie and her friends, each doll was equal.
Inside - The Work of Bo Burnham
After Make Happy in 2016, Burnham returns to comedy specials in 2021 with Inside. It’s release date in 2021 provides context before you even watch it, this is a special about COVID and lockdown. It’s created by Burnham all on his own, filmed in the months of lockdown in 2020 and 2021.
The History of Barbie
I don’t think there’s one person since 1959 that hasn’t heard of Barbie. Now the epitome of the Mattel brand, Barbie has a long, influential and somewhat controversial history. So, why don’t we have a look the long life of Barbie?
Harajuku Fashion is Dead
It's hard to find someone who hasn't heard of or even seen Harajuku fashion. It's practically become synoynmous with Japanese culture at this point, an eye-catching postcard for everything Japan has to offer.
Danny La Rue - The Most Glamorous Woman in the World
Danny La Rue was a genuine star. It was never complicated, never crude, never excessive. Simple, genuine, funny, talented and glamourous. He never missed a performance in his 60 year career, and critics never denied his likeable and grand nature off-stage.
"I am still human" - Marilyn Monroe
She was a sex symbol, a ‘blonde bombshell’, a figure to represent the sexual revolution of the late 50s and early 60s. Her signature blonde hair and feminine figure has become synonymous with 50s fashion and femininity - becoming a muse for many people to come.
The Hunger (1983) and the Bauhaus Movement
Now I will be honest here, is the film good? Not really. It failed in the box office upon its release in 1986, but has grown to become a cult classic over the past 3 decades. It most loved aspect is the aesthetic, it’s combination of 80s cool, 40s noir and an underlying goth attitude. For what it lacks in depth, it makes up the visuals.
The Space-Age Tale Never Told - Halyx
Take the Cantina Band from Star Wars, combine it with KISS, and you’ll find Halyx.
The Fashion of Stranger Things - Fact Check
It’s the perfect combination of teen drama, horror/sci fi and iconic 80s fashion. It capitalised the Millennial/Gen Z nostalgic fascination with the 80s aesthetic and did it incredibly well. But, was the fashion really accurate to 1980s mid-America? Let’s find out.
Fashion Nova and Racism in the Fashion Industry
The contrast between appropriating black designers and black culture while simultaneously creating an environment which makes it impossible for black individuals to find traditional success is a significant yet underlying issue in the fashion industry.
Don't Stop Me Now - The Fashion of Freddie Mercury
Freddie Mercury was constantly reinventing himself. He is the symbol for constant reinvention. He was a free spirit, wanting to capture the gaze of others and look good while doing it.
Do androids dream of electric girls? - Hajime Sorayama
Sorayama’s work explores the ‘limitations of desire’, which he explores through erotic and hyperreal fembot sculptures and paintings. He combines pop culture references with 1950 playboy covers, sci-fi and visions or AI and robotics. It’s sort of like the exploration of sex in the digital age.
How Covid-19 is Impacting Fashion Manufacturing
Now, I am admitting that what is happening in the fashion industry can’t be compared to the severe impact that COVID-19 is having on those directly affected. But there is something really despicable happening at the moment, especially for fashion manufacturing.
Final Fantasy And The History Of Video Game Fashion
Fashion plays the same role in video games; without meeting a character in-game, we can already begin to understand them by looking at what they’re wearing. And, you can also begin to understand the world around the character and the society they live in.