Oxford's biggest student newspaper, produced by and for members of the University of Oxford, since 1991.
This year’s theme, focussing specifically on “catholic imagination”, did not allow for significant leeway when it came to its interpretations — almost automatically, one thinks of the Vatican and Europe when one thinks of Catholicism. Indeed, the response of most attendees of the Gala seemed to be rather eurocentric — even Rihanna was dressed (albeit […]
Continue Reading
The theme of the 2018 Met Gala – Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination – has had some mixed reviews within and without of the Catholic community, with diverse opinions across the board. The public display of papal artefacts alongside designer outfits might seem disrespectful, reducing Catholicism to a fashion accessory. Celebrities bearing halos, […]
Continue Reading
In the wake of Wadstock and Coachella, the festival season is soon to be upon us. Thus, it seems only appropriate for OxStu Fashion to discuss some key essentials for our favourite season. Festival fashion can be seen through the likes of celebrities such as Vanessa Hudgens as well as a multitude of fashion bloggers, […]
Continue Reading
In the current celebrity cult climate, famous people turning fashion designers comes as no surprise. Established fashion critic Suzy Menkes wrote in 2012 that “the idea that anyone can be a designer is not part of the culture”, and this notion stands truer than ever. Entertainers, socialites and celebrities in general have long had a […]
Continue Reading
Fashion is one of the most basic expressions of art and identity that we can engage with, and crucially we all make style choices every day regardless of where we live or even if we want to. Political tides often play a noticeable part in the cultural landscape of a nation and shifts in culture […]
Continue Reading
So the story goes that the in 1981, whilst on a flight to London from Paris, Anglo-French singer and actress Jane Birkin and Hermès CEO Jean-Louis Dumas were sat next to each other when Birkin spilled the contents of her straw bag all over the cabin floor. Apparently, what followed was a conversation about the […]
Continue Reading
The s/s 2018 runways were filled with artistic references and influences, however collaborations between the fashion and art world are by no means a new thing. The formalization of the relationship between the two likely started with Elsa Schiaparelli. Her designs referenced many art movements: Modernism, Futurism, Cubism and Art Deco, and she worked with Jean Cocteau, […]
Continue Reading
This season’s shows were filled with artistic influences, references and collaborations. However, there was no wholesale appropriation of pretty pictures and prints into this year’s pieces. Instead the fashion houses, and the artists that they featured, approached the idea in a more conceptual, political or thematic manner. It did not seem frivolous, or reductive, rather […]
Continue Reading
Sitting in a hotel lobby in New York, an old engine of a woman steamed into the room, a cloud of flashing cameras in her wake. She sat down in a dark corner, the reporters followed and the dust settled. Two red ocular moons and a tuft of silver hair illuminated the gloom. She was […]
Continue Reading
Consumer consciousness in the cosmetics industry has been on the rise over recent years, with many beauty brands choosing to incorporate ‘organic’, ‘cruelty free’ and ‘vegan’ claims into their packaging; research companies have reported a 100% rise in the number of ‘vegan’ claims for cosmetics in 2017, but what does this shift in consumer priorities […]
Continue Reading
The recent upsurge of political and fashionable protest dressing, which spanned from the Pussyhats at the Women’s marches to the unforgettable crimson ‘Make America Great Again’ caps in 2017, was always going to filter its way into Hollywood, it was simply a question of when. Fast-forward to the Golden Globes on the 7th of January […]
Continue Reading
The fairy lights might have been turned off today, the tree taken down, and all nativities and their tiny wooden baby Jesuses packed away in the attic for another year, but, rejoice! (if you want to) because this year the Metropolitan Museum of Art has chosen the theme “Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination” for […]
Continue Reading
In the past few weeks there has been an influx of American-influenced clothes on the high street. There is suede fringing, double denim, cowboy boots and plaid. So, why is there so much plaid? Why are there cowboys and stars and little neckerchiefs everywhere? Well, to try and answer this question I have scoured runway […]
Continue Reading
Whilst absentmindedly flicking through a magazine, reading a newspaper, or simply walking around the shops, I wonder if you have ever stopped, paused and looked, actually looked, at the adverts. And more particularly, the way in which women are imagined and promoted in these advertisements. Because if you have you might have noticed certain reoccurring […]
Continue Reading
If you scroll through the Instagram feed emerging as well as well-established brands, like Gucci or Prada,it is almost impossible to wonder: has ‘ugly’ become the new chic? From oversized jumpers to tees with catchy slogans. From Birkenstocks and ‘jesus sandals’ to unflattering sunglass shapes, and how could we miss Gucci’s excessive prints. ‘Ugly chic’ […]
Continue Reading
Christian Dior’s s/s ’18 show in Paris opened with a model wearing a long sleeve Breton shirt emblazoned with the words ‘Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?’. The quote comes directly from Linda Nochlin’s 1971 essay about the limitations and difficulties that women who are artists face within society. (I would just like […]
Continue Reading
Each season there are a slew of fashion forcasting and trend spotting articles informing people what clothes to buy and how to wear them. People wait feverishly to be told how to spend their money and what they should look like. However, there is only one look that has emerged from the a/w ’17 catwalks […]
Continue Reading
The use of makeup throughout history has had its ups and downs. It often symbolised prostitution or social class, and even underwent serious legal regulation in England from the 1500s. The makeup we see on the streets today has come a long way from the earliest use by our ancestors. Egypt Our story begins with […]
Continue Reading