Bathing Suit Trends

Are you trying to look trendy at the beach and pool this summer? I got you! Bathing suits are very hot on the market right now for obvious reasons. Some people struggle with finding the right ones for themselves; I know I do all the time. The goal is not just to feel physically confident, but emotionally confident as well. This summer, nothing is standing in our way from achieving that. I know I get immensely insecure about my stomach when I head to the beach. However, I try to find bathing suits that make me feel beautiful inside and out but are still trendy.

One of the trendiest bathing suits that you could get right now is high waisted bottoms, which I'm obsessed with. It just covers all the right places for me. If you're feeling bloated that day, you won't have to worry about it! It looks beautiful on all body types and I see girls everywhere wearing them. There are so many pretty patterns that you could get them in. Tie-dye and animal print are two that I wear all the time. You can get a strapless top to match, so when you tan, you won't get awkward tan lines! It creates a perfect combination.

Another one is a one-piece! They are incredibly chic and so stylish right now. You can get ones with slits or ones that cover up more. There's a lot of different options and I love it! They come in so many different colors. I have two in black and one in light pink. It's a great suit to wear for a beautiful pool day. You can find reasonable priced bathing suits at Target, Kohls or Amazon! No matter what bathing suit you decide to wear, you are going to rock it! Strut your stuff, girl.

*Photo credits to Target and Kohls website*

Report: Anna Levitus

Ib Kamara Celebrates "Future, Community, Beauty, and Blackness" in Browns' "Family Affair"

London-based retailer Browns launched its “Family Affair” initiative back in April, and now it revisits the project with help from the Sierra Leone-born stylist Ib Kamara.

Kamara has guest-edited, styled, and shot the latest series of photos for Browns, creating imagery that celebrates “future, community, beauty, and Blackness.” The result of the series is stark yet stunning, as the only limit was the boundaries of the current pandemic. Despite this, Kamara captures “a portrait of the future as it should be,” as Browns says.

“For every contributor I shot, I wanted them to feel their most beautiful; their most comfortable and most importantly, to let them speak to the camera. After all, with all that we have collectively gone through, there are so many questions I can ask,” said Kamara, adding that, “This project felt like a community of people coming together to have a celebration, to reconnect and to find a middle ground for love and acceptance. To re-tie the beautiful bond we all have and share.”

Browns added, “When we launched ‘Family Affair’, our aim was to champion our creative communities in the times we need one another the most. Ib’s work is a true testament to this goal. It is thus timely that in the midst of this project’s execution, we witnessed the dawn of the largest civil rights movement in recent history;” referring to the Black Lives Matter movement.

The photography spotlights numerous young Black people in pieces from JW Anderson, Alexander McQueen, Jacquemus, Martine Rose, Off-White™, and even headpieces from Ib Kamara himself. Take a look at the fourth and final “Family Affair” series captured by Ib Karama for Browns in the gallery above, and find out more about the project on Browns’ website.

Report: Amanda T Lou

Kylie Jenner Faces Criticism for Not Crediting Black-Owned Brand

By now, you’ve probably heard about Kylie Jenner’s Instagram controversy when she neglected to tag black-owned buesiness LoudBrand Studios in a recent Instagram post. Once fans started calling her out for seeming to only ever tag highly recognizable brands like Gucci or Dior, Kylie clapped back by claiming she had nothing but support for the brand-- and later went back to add LoudBrand’s tag to her original post.

Loudbrand Studios is a London-based brand owned by Judidiah Duyile. The brand, as its name might suggest, works to empower women and push traditional beauty standards by embracing one’s curves. Duyile was quoted in Vogue UK, saying, “We want Loudbrand to reflect a confident Black woman, her talent, and what she has to offer to the world.” Kylie’s casual promotion of this brand did wonders for the business, even without the explicit tag. All items on loudbrandstudios.com are now completely sold out, and the dress Kylie wore in her post is only available for preorder. Duyile is reportedly already working to restock pieces and tweeted to express her gratitude to both Kylie and her stylist, Jill Jacobs.

People’s criticisms of Kylie crediting Loudbrand Studios come on the heels of a great social push for consumers to support Black-owned businesses as a way to combat racial and economic inequalities. In light of recent protests against police brutality globally, now more than ever conversations are being sparked about how to eradicate racial injustice. Supporting Black-owned brands is one of the many ways positive change can be made, and from the looks of this story, it’s clear that promoting independent, Black-owned businesses has the potential for success—especially when coming from beauty mogul Kylie Jenner.

Photo Credits:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8499499/Kylie-Jenner-slams-accusations-refused-support-black-owned-brands.html

https://www.instagram.com/p/CCbuHfJFlJU/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CALdJA0JIlq/

Report: Grace Carlos

Masculine While Feminine

French womenswear designer Simon Porte Jacquemus has ventured outside of his comfort zone by branching out to men's fashion. Not only will he be designing clothing for a different gender, but he will also be diverting from the more extravagant styles that defined his female garments. Jacquemus understands that menswear prioritizes utility above fashionability, as exemplified by his own wardrobe. Dating back to his humble beginnings as a farm boy in southeastern France, his own everyday wear has since often consisted of casual articles of clothing like ragged hoodies, unbuttoned shirts, and baggy shorts. Now, he has translated his personal style into a menswear line dominated by rolled-up shirts and cozy hoodies.

Jacquemus added one more personalized touch to his new male fashion: his own gayness. Despite the emphasis on durability, he has been rather liberal with his use of floral patterns and bright colors for his clothes. These design choices are simultaneously reflective Jacquemus’s own tastes while, intentional or not, defiant of toxic masculinity. This new line has the potential to set a trend, as it is respondent to men’s typical shopping habits while tacitly encouraging consumers to embrace their femininity. Better yet, Jacquemus’s menswear may prove that masculinity can be colorful and flowery.

Photo credit:

https://hypebeast.com/2020/7/jacquemus-menswear-collection-masculinity-design

Report: Nia Hunt

How Romeo Hunte Is Quietly Redefining What It Means to Be an American Brand

Romeo Hunte’s journey since launching his namesake label in 2013 may have been impressively considered, but even he wasn’t prepared for the challenges that the current pandemic would bring. Hunte says, “There were a lot of ups and downs over the past few months. My grandfather passed, and a few other members of the team had family members pass too. We just kind of huddled together, working from home, working very odd hours, and I think it built us up to be a stronger team—as a family, we understood everyone's going through this, and were always checking in on each other.”

After all, if there’s one thing that defines Hunte’s ascent since launching his label in 2013—aside from his signature deconstructed outerwear—it’s the strong sense of community he’s developed. This doesn’t just include the illustrious list of celebrities, from Beyoncé to Zendaya, who have stepped out in his pieces, but the regular clients for whom he makes custom looks on a made to order basis. “We really don’t like to waste, so that on its own meant we weren't sitting on stock,” he says. “We started asking, what does our customer actually want right now?” The natural answer, aside from the more flamboyant pieces still available on his website, was a range of face masks—a product that, for Hunte, fulfilled more than just a practical need. “The feedback from the masks has simply been that they’ve brightened up their day when they come in the mail, and I felt that’s the best thing I could do at this moment.”

As Hunte and his team began to plan their next steps post-lockdown, however, another national tragedy occurred; namely, the killing of George Floyd. Throughout the Black Lives Matter protests that followed, Hunte has been keenly observing the fashion industry’s reckoning with its historic underrepresentation of Black designers and creatives. “I think there’s a lot more work to be done,” Hunte says. “When I was a child, fashion was something that I always dreamed of doing, but it's challenging to step into an industry and feel like there aren't that many people that look like you, or share the same inspiration, to feel like you’ve been in the industry delivering each season and it’s overlooked. A lot of things are not so inclusive as they're promoted, sometimes it feels like, as a designer, you only really get noticed during Black History Month on those things. It can be frustrating, but I think I’ve learned to try not to bring emotion into the business. Hunte says, “I'm just hoping that it opens up doors for younger designers to feel like there's a place for them. Not just me, but the Kerbys, the LaQuans, the Victors, and the Telfars of the world. We can inspire a whole generation of designers to feel like: Wow, I could actually do it. When I was a young designer, I didn't have that many designers to look up like to really inspire me.”

Shopping For Your Maternity Wardrobe

When shopping for maternity clothes, the number one priority is to make sure you’re comfortable in what you wear. As the weeks go on there will be more discomfort due to weight gain, bloating and your body just overall changing. It's nice to have clothes that hug your body, but in all the right places. The key to finding a great outfit is to find something that will grow with your cute baby bumps. Try to buy items that you can mix and match with other pieces of clothing so that you can wear with other pieces you have. Jeans While it is very comfy to wear leggings while you're pregnant because of the elasticity, sometimes a girl just wants to wear a cute pair of jeans.

Bloomingdale's and A Pea in the Pod are great places to buy a good pair of maternity jeans. A Pea in the Pod Frame Secret Fit Belly LE High Skinny Triangle Raw Maternity Jeans $104.98

Bloomingdale's Nom Maternity- Soho Over-the-Belly Skinny Jeans in Dark Blue $128.00 Shirts Do not hide your bump! Show off those beautiful curves and adorable belly! This is the time to get away with it without feeling weird about it!

Loft Maternity Clean Cami $24.50 Maternity Floral Ruffle Mixed Media Shell $54.50 Maternity Ruffle Split Neck Top $59.50

Being pregnant is such a beautiful moment where you are holding so much joy inside of you, but it can come with a lot of body insecurities. It can get stressful for mothers to wear something that makes them feel good while they are going through such big changes in their lives. Don’t lose yourself or your style. Plus your children will look back on pictures of you while you were pregnant to see what a cool and stylish mom they got!

Photo Credits: Pinterest, Bloomingdale's, A pea in the Pod, Loft

Report: Melissa Adragna

TikTok Has A Whole New Look.

TikTok is mostly known for doing viral dance trends and making funny videos. But TikToker, Wisdom Kaye, has a bit of a different approach. Kaye has more than 2 million subscribers on TikTok, and has become known for his sense of style. Kaye is often seen wearing 1970's fashions, but with his own modern twist. “There is something I love about looking like I am from a different time period,” he tells Vogue. “I think it stems from my love for surrealism—the juxtaposition of the contemporary world against the classic ’70s aesthetic just sits right with me.” Kaye says his love of fashion began during the beginning of his high school days. "I wanted to change my appearance to fit in, so I thought the best way was through conformity." However, Kaye's mindset quickly changed. "As the years went by, I just stopped caring what everyone thought about me, and I started experimenting more."

Kaye names Saint Laurant, and designer Heidi Slimane as big influences. Kaye first joined TikTok at the beginning of the year, and began posting complications of his outfits. “I posted a couple on TikTok and Twitter, and they actually blew up on Twitter first," he says, "After a while, they racked up over a million views. At that point I saw potential and started making more creative content on TikTok that went beyond just a standard outfit compilation.” Today, Kaye posts at least once a day, and says that he is never short on ideas. Kaye is mostly known for his "style challenges." Every so often, he will find comments challenging him to come up with an almost impossible to create outfit, like a red and green outfit without making it look like Christmas. Then, Kaye will respond and make the outfit in a video. He also offers fashion tips for men.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Fashion Education's Diversity Issue

On June 29, 2020, Vogue Business News Editor Annachiara Biondi, wrote an article entitled, “White staff and a white curriculum: Inside fashion education,” which highlighted the fact that “black students and faculty remain underserved and underrepresented in the field.” This story is one that I very deeply resonate with as a fashion student and graduate teaching assistant at one of the top fashion schools in the nation. The fashion education systems diversity issue is one that is now starting to be acknowledged by the industry and is far from separate from what’s going on in the fashion industry.

The cultural and artistic references that many fashion brands pull from are rooted in black culture. However, these influential black fashion figures are not integrated in the fashion curriculum, across disciplines such as design, merchandising, fashion studies and journalism. This is especially problematic due to the fact that there are many black fashion students who change their majors because their work isn’t embraced by their professors. A while back, I had the opportunity to speak with the black undergraduate fashion students on campus about their experience at The Fashion School and by the end of the event, they were all in tears. Academia has to do a much better job and the task forces and conversations are beneficial. But it really comes down to hiring black, tenure-track faculty members so that students can feel free to see themselves in their work.

Fashionista: Alain Jocard/Getty Images

BoF: Shutterstock

Report: Julian Randall

Time to Take a Stand for Garment Workers!

Although we all rely on fast-fashion brands like H&M, Forever21, or Fashion Nova, we all might be forgetting how these brands manage to make all these garments and accessories for such affordable prices. These brands depend on large factories or “sweatshops” in order to keep racks filled in their hundreds of stores and online. In Bangladesh alone, there are over 4,800 garment factories whose workforce is predominantly women. Often these factories have terrible conditions that are not safe, leading to job injuries or factory fires. Garment workers in these factories are also paid way less than a livable wage. Working long 14 to 16-hour shifts for less than 3000 takas (approximately $35USD) a month.

There are many alternatives to fast fashion brands for fashionable and affordable clothing. And by buying elsewhere we are standing in solidarity with the garment workers all over the world that face unjust conditions and pay. One alternative to fast fashion is thrifting. Stores like Plato’s Closet and Buffalo Exchange are an example of chain retailers that buy and sell trendy clothes. I live in Upstate New York so there aren’t many of these chains around but there are many local thrift shops that can offer you the same experience. As online fashion continues to grow, so does the resale market. Apps like Poshmark, Thredup, or Letgo allow you to shop from home with a wider variety. These alternatives are also environmentally friendly, ensuring that no clothing goes to waste.

During my research, I also searched for Fair Trade retailers. Fair Trade certified companies create their products in factories that have safe working conditions and pay a fair wage for the jobs being done. Some well known Fair Trade certified companies are OBEY and J. Crew. I discovered a brand named Pact that offers athletic and casual wear as well.

We all have to take our stand to ensure garment workers are working in safe environments and getting fair wages. Here’s a link to a petition to sign which is only the first of many steps to make changes

Photo Cred: 1000logos.com

Report: Lauren Tucker

Black-ish’s Marsai Martin sets trolls straight after criticism on her BET Awards Look

This year’s virtual BET Awards was hosted by Comedian Amanda Seales. The Black Entertainment Television Network has celebrated and honored Black achievements and culture for 20 years.

This years show was pivotal, due to the racism and injustice that Black people face around the world. Amanda Seales shed light on two of the most important realties that we face in this world, systematic racism and police brutality in the U.S.

Although the famous award show was held virtually due to the coronavirus pandemic, that did not step celebrities from flaunting their stylish looks in the comfort of their own homes.

Black-ish star Marsai Martin was not having it after receiving criticism over her awards look. On Monday June 29, the 15-year-old took to instagram, posting an epic clap back for all of the trolls who had words to say on her look.

“So, I was on Twitter, and a lot of people have been addressing my hair and talking about my hair and how it looks like a grandma’s wig,” she said as she held back fake tears and pulled at her strands. “And they’re talking about my veneers,” she added, pulling out a retainer. “These don’t look like a veneer to me.”

She continued in a saddened tone, showcasing her brilliant acting skills as she apologized to “anyone that I offended or haven’t gotten to your expectations about how I’m supposed to be.”

“I never want to hurt anyone’s feelings,” she said. “Or have anyone worry about what my decisions are.” She took a pause as if she was going to break down and was handed a $100 bill that she in turn blew her nose with.

At the end of the clip, Martin expresses her disappointment in people for not focusing on more important and relevant things, rather than how someone looks when doing their own awards show hair and make up at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Y’all, we are in quarantine and we’ve got more things to focus on than just my hair,” she says. “Justice for Breonna Taylor.”

Martin received a lot of praise from fellow celebrities in the comments.”My cousin is better than y’all,” wrote Janelle Monae. “I wouldn’t cross her y’all. She’ll chew you up,” wrote her fellow Black-ish actor Jeff Meacham.

“Oh man I was so upset. You are just brilliant. Holy crap what a turn. You got the stuff. No one is qualified to be you BUT YOU. And you know it. So rad,” wrote comedian Sarah Silverman.

I think it’s safe to say that you don’t want to mess with the clap back queen.

Picture Credit:

1. https://toofab.com/2020/06/29/black-ish-marsai-martin-hilariously-claps-back-at-trolls-bet/

2. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/marsai-martin-clapback-video-bet-awards-2020

3. https://www.teenvogue.com/story/marsai-martin-clapback-video-bet-awards-2020

Report: Juana Norales

Instagram: @juana.n_

Recreating Celebrities Outfit Choices

We all wish we had a closet filled with extravagant, lavish and expensive clothing, especially ones like our favorite celebrities. Here you will find some ways to recreate Meghan Markle and Madison Beer’s cutest outfits. The beautiful Meghan Markle is known to be a global style icon. Now many of the pieces she wears will be quite expensive, but there are plenty of cost effective ways to shop for these styles. Places like Etsy, Zara and tons more.

Meghan always finds a great middle with wearing something that's comfortable, sometimes casual, but always elegant. Like this striped shirt that she is wearing here. Not only is it easy to mix and match with several other pieces but it is super trendy and cute. You can find the exact shirt for a much cheaper price on Ebay for $59. What a steal. This double-breasted beige trench dress from Banana Republic is one of my favorites. It’s classy, sophisticated and can be worn for so many different occasions. You can find it online for $139 at Banana Republic.

Madison Beer is best known for putting some very cute outfits together. Even when she is bumming it, she’s killing it. As many of us know, tie-dye outfits have made a comeback. Here Madison Beer is styling this sweet light pink tie-dye sweatsuit outfit. Etsy is a great place to shop for everything tie-dye for a great price. This sweatsuit will go great with a pair of plain white sneakers. These belted leather cargo pants from Guizio, are to die for. They also are pretty expensive. So if you’re looking to find a pair to match with a cute white top, then check out Missguided US for a pair that are much cheaper! Now while these are only a few outfits, there are plenty more these lovely women have worn that you can also find for much cheaper prices. You can recreate any celebrity look if you just put your mind to it! One does not have to pay thousands of dollars to mimic their looks. So get to styling!

Photo Credits: Pinterest

Report: Melissa Adragna

The Gap Collaboration That Never Was

Kanye West’s announcement of his upcoming partnership with Gap led many to wonder about the company’s previously announced collaboration with the brand Telfar. Much to their disappointment, Gap officially confirmed that Yeezy Gap will actually occur in place of the originally planned Telfar x Gap. Gap has clarified that Telfar will be financially compensated for the cancellation, but the schedule change is a missed opportunity all the same.

Interestingly, many have applauded Nigerian-British designer Mowalola Ogunlesi becoming design director of Yeezy Gap as a victory for black creatives. Telfar is also a black-owned brand, a fact that opens itself to speculation about whether or not the same praise would be elicited from the public if the partnership with Gap had actually transpired. This conjecture is further substantiated by the brand’s fan base’s anticipation for the prospective collaboration and eventual letdown when it did not come into fruition. Nonetheless, the possibility of a future partnership with Telfar has not been completely eliminated, as design samples for the intended unification are still in Gap’s possession. More importantly, Gap continuing to ally with black-owned brands will bring black creatives the mainstream prominence that they deserve.

Photo credit:

https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/news-analysis/kayne-west-yeezy-gap-collab-telfar http://www.telfar.net/collections/SS2018/lookbook/4

Report: Nia Hunt

Sustainable Y/Project

The cancellation of the Paris Spring/Summer 2021 menswear shows has not stopped the Parisian high-fashion label Y/Project from continuing to innovate. A brand already lauded for its inversion of gender norms, Y/Project is now making the revolutionary shift towards more sustainable products. Y/Project’s “Evergreen Collection” is a recreation of its most famous looks, each of them constructed entirely of environmentally-friendly materials such as organic and recycled fabrics. Additionally, the brand plans to use a percentage of the collection’s proceeds for ecological philanthropy.

Moving forward, the Evergreen collection will be sold each season with new pieces added monthly. The eco-friendly ensemble has already been featured in Y/Project’s SS21 collection overall, and it will be sold in stores and on the brand’s website later this year. The mastermind behind these changes is none other than Y/Project creative director Glenn Martens, who has been revitalizing the brand since 2013. His eccentric deconstructions of masculinity and femininity in his works have earned Y/Project a multitude of accolades, including the coveted 2017 ANDAM Grand Prize. Now he has expanded his horizons toward sustainability, declaring, “We have the luxury of time to think, which entitles us a responsibility. Y/Project wants to take part in the change, building a better future.”

Photo credit: https://www.yproject.fr/page/about

Report: Nia Hunt

Gucci and Prada Will Show Their New Collections Virtually

Milan’s governing body for fashion, the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, has announced the schedule of designers that will be presenting their latest collections as part of a digital fashion week in July, as a replacement for the traditional fashion shows that have been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The schedule includes some of the most heavyweight Italian labels: Prada, Gucci, Ermenegildo Zegna, Missoni, and Salvatore Ferragamo are among the brands who are confirmed to present. Some brands will present Spring/Summer 2021 collections, while others will focus on Cruise and pre-collections.

However, many of Milan’s most revered names are also notably absent. At the time of writing, Marni, Fendi, and Giorgio Armani are absent, while labels including Bottega Veneta typically opt out of the men’s Summer shows in favour of presenting in September.

Since lockdowns were enforced as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, all of the major fashion capitals have been forced to find new ways of allowing designers to present. London Fashion Week was replaced by a digital portal which was met with a lukewarm response from press and buyers, though some designers did find ways to create excitement.

The Paris menswear shows, which should have taken place last week, will be replaced by a virtual event titled Whispers of Paris, due to take place from July 9-13. As of yet, the list of participating designers has not been confirmed. The Milan shows run from July 14-17, with the Prada show taking place at 14:00pm CEST on July 14 and the Gucci presentation at 14:00pm CEST on July 17. The full schedule can be viewed at the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana website.

Y/Project is the most recent brand to share its SS21 collection, alongside its plans to pivot to a more sustainable approach.

Report: Amanda T Lou

Chloe x Halle Show Us How Stylish a Virtual Performance Can Be in Reflective Fabric

Chloe x Halle performed at the 2020 BET Awards in not one but two expertly crafted outfits constructed by their stylist Zerina Akers. Zerina tapped TLZ L'Femme for some white reflective fabric that seemed to be her favorite out of the two polar-opposite looks.

The girls started the performance singing "Forgive Me" in black latex and fishnet stockings (Chloe in a cutout minidress and Halle in high-waisted shorts, a bralette, and blazer), but "Do It" brought out the low-slung cargos and crop tops with sashes swinging every which way. The mood was very early 2000s for the latter ensemble. Even though these looks were different by design, Chloe x Halle accessorised with sparkling jewels in both scenarios — chunky silver hoops in scene one and crystal-encrusted combat boots in scene two.

"The Girls Next Door vs. The Girls Around The Way. I've been dying to use this 3M reflective fabric in a look," Akers wrote on Instagram, thanking Derek Milton for his expertise in directing the virtual snippet, which was rather flawless from an aesthetic perspective.

Report: Amanda T Lou

The Kelly Initiative

The eruption of protests against racist police brutality across the world has incited changes within various industries to become more inclusive of black talent. One such institution, the Council of Fashion Designers of America, has attempted to rectify the rampant racism in the fashion industry through a new series of mandates. These efforts include mentorships and internships, as well as another in-house program dedicated to employing exceptional black creatives to esteemed brands. Black designers, however, feel that these changes are too little, too late.

Thus, 250 black creatives signed the Kelly Initiative, a petition that would effect greater change than the proposals of the CFDA. Named after black fashion legend Patrick Kelly, the initiative demands that CFDA affiliates report the racial makeup of their staff, managers enroll in racial sensitivity training, and CFDA members sign a pledge that assures career opportunities for black creatives. The Kelly Initiative was the creation of editor Jason Campbell, creative director Henrietta Gallina, and writer Kibwe Chase-Marshall, and it has since been signed by such industrial authorities as designer Martine Rose and fashion publicist Kevin McIntosh, Jr. Now it is the CFDA’s responsibility to heed the words of an underrepresented section of fashion professionals and implement the proper changes to build a more inclusive industry. As stated by the Kelly Initiative itself, "There is no time to waste much work to be done. We assert that engaging dedicated Black fashion professionals in its architecting will ensure its enduring impact for Black talent pursuing newly equitable access to bright professional futures.”

Report: Nia Hunt

Flaxen Summer

There are plenty of reasons for the popularity of flax. Fabric is easy to care for, never loses its relevance, is most comfortable for hot weather, and is one of the most environmentally friendly materials.

The history of flax dates back to time immemorial. According to historians, in ancient Egypt and the Middle East, linen was a luxury item. The priests wore clothing made of natural material, and the canvases in which the mummies of the Egyptian pharaohs were wrapped were preserved to this day.

Flax is considered to be one of the most environmentally friendly materials. In the process of growing, it needs only long daylight and a small amount of water and pesticides. Thanks to non-waste production, flax was again able to compete with cotton for the title of the most environmentally friendly material and claim the status of the material of the future.

Despite the characteristic density and inelasticity, flax perfectly passes air, absorbs moisture, and removes heat, which is why it is gaining unprecedented popularity in the warm season. In addition, it is completely hypoallergenic and durable. A linen outfit is able to serve its hostess for more than one year while maintaining a presentable appearance.

Report: Olha Dzharyha

The Fashionability of the 2020 ESPY Awards

The 2020 ESPY Awards transpired as an unexpected tribute to black designers, born from the show’s commendation of black athletes and their racial equality activism. Athletic power couple Megan Rapinoe and Sue Bird hosted the event from their cozy abode wearing various garments of black-owned fashion labels, their most noteworthy attire being that which honored the late George Floyd.

Rapinoe and Bird began the show with their most overt symbol of support for racial justice, Black Lives Matter t-shirts by black, female Phenomenal founder Meena Harris. Even their shoes were subtle signifiers of racial solidarity, with Rapinoe having laced up sneakers from Colin Kaepernick’s Nike collection and Bird outfitted in a pair from the black-owned Fear of God.

Next, they flaunted complementary pantsuits, Rapinoe in white and Sue in black, both of which were accented by t-shirts emblazoned with George Floyd’s initials.

As the night progressed, the couple switched to evening wear, courtesy of Pyer Moss’s Haitian-American designer Kerby Jean-Raymond. Rapinoe was positively radiant in her silky, ruffled yellow dress, and, Bird was draped elegantly in a satin lavender gown. Their following outfit changes drastically differed from one another; Rapinoe’s bright yellow blouse and pants ensemble by Christopher John Rogers contrasted with Bird’s darker-hued Off-White blazer and pants.

They ended the 2020 ESPY Awards wearing t-shirts of each other's faces, their last salute to black designers being their Off-White and Fear of God sneakers. Photo credit: https://www.today.com/style/megan-rapinoe-sue-bird-espys-t184954

Report: Nia Hunt

Coach Unveils their Newest Collection for Pride Month

June was Pride Month. During the month, many corporations have new campaigns that are traditionally in the rainbow pride flag, to support the LGBT community. The fashion brand, Coach, recently released their new Pride collection. The collection features Coach's logo, two C's facing each other, in rainbow colors. It includes bags, shirts, and hats.

Coach also launched a new campaign to show off the collection, called the "We C You" campaign. It included several celebrities and public figures in the LGBT community, including, singer Kim Petras, social media personality Rickey Thompson, and drag queen Bob The Drag Queen. The campaign features a video of these figures talking about what it means to them to be seen, and what makes them feel seen. The video was shot with Go-Pros and iPhones, and was put together by Christelle de Castro.

Coach has also announced that it will be making donations to several different charities, including the Hetrick-Martin Institute, the Albert Kennedy Trust, and GLSEN, encouraging others to do the same. While many corporations will show support for the LGBT community during Pride Month, many people believe that it is just a marketing tool, since they only do it during June, and some companies support some anti-LGBT policies and groups. However, Coach seems to be the real deal, since they are highlighting different queer experiences and are committed to donating.

Report: Anna Bechtel

Burberry Announces it's First Post-Lockdown Fashion Show

The COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown has caused several businesses to close and events to be cancelled, over the past four months. However, with cases decreasing, many things are starting to reopen, including the fashion industry.

The fashion brand, Burberry, recently announced its first fashion show since lockdown began. The show is scheduled for September, and will feature its Spring/Summer 2021 line. However, a specific location has not been announced yet, with a representative from Burberry stating they are planning the show to be in the "British outdoors." The show will also be able to be streamed digitally, similar to other events from the fashion industry. Burberry’s chief creative officer Riccardo Tisci stressed that the show will be “open for all to experience”, adding that “we have all yearned to reconnect again." Tisci describes his vision and hopes for the show as, "I wanted to celebrate these feelings by bringing our community together in a creative experience that takes place within the beautiful, natural landscape of Britain.”

There are currently no plans on how Burberry plans to maintain social distancing guidelines in Britain for the show. British residents are currently forced to stand two meters apart from each other, while in public. Although, we have no idea what the pandemic will be like in September.

Burberry's fall 2020 collection was not streamed digitally, however, images were released on the Internet, and it has recently landed in stores. The collection is a reworking of classic pieces.

Report: Anna Bechtel