Plus Size Representation At NYFW 2023, And Why We Need More.
Plus Size Representation and Why We Need More With another New York Fashion Week in the books, we saw a multitude of exemplary collections, inventive shows, and endured yet another season of failed plus size representation. The comeback of early 2000s fashion has not only brought back low-rise waistlines, micro-mini skirts, and high-contrast color pallets; the Y2K body has returned and is more sought after than ever before. Being unattainably tall, and impossibly thin are the two main traits of the “ideal” runway body, and while there are a plethora of models who naturally look that way, we need to embrace other bodies as well. Over the last 20 years, our society has evolved in nearly every other capacity; it’s time we ditch a 20 year old beauty standard. Each year that goes by, it’s more apparent that most designers want bodies that fit their clothes, they don’t want to make clothes that fit every body. Brands should not be ticking an ethical box of inclusivity by only including one or two plus size models; they should want to rewrite the fashion industry narrative. After all, they set the rules. During this year’s NYFW, Selkie delivered the most diverse show, and arguably the most entertaining. Not only did they highlight plus-size bodies, they also held space for models of all ages, genders, and abilities. Instead of bodies being used simply as garment racks, it felt as if the clothing items were made for every model, making the pieces even more alluring. Throughout the show, there were a number of almost theatrical performances, and even a touch of burlesque. Selkie deserves its applause for another year of progressive runway casting. Christian Siriano similarly embraced more plus-sized models during his 15th anniversary show this season, sporting a collection full of “ballerina chic” looks. Siriano has been a lead trendsetter in making his runways and collections more size inclusive. He told Elle Magazine in 2018, “Adding plus sizes to my line tripled my business. Why wouldn’t you do that?! Do we not want to triple the business? Do we not think these women should wear our clothes? Do we not want these women to have beautiful things because we’re afraid they’re not beautiful? What is going on here?”
VCU Becoming: Fashion Show Review
If there’s one thing VCU has in abundance, its beautiful and talented students. This fact was best on display at this week’s Homecoming fashion show, “Becoming”. Helmed by VCU organization Heels Inc, this show was a vibrant display of fashion and culture in the VCU and greater Richmond communities.
Last Minute Valentine’s Day Outfits For Any Occasion
Last Minute Valentine’s Day Outfits For Any Occasion By: Caitlin Thompson Love is in the air this Valentine’s! Whether you are staying in or going out this Valentine’s day, it’s the perfect excuse to dress up. With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, we have curated cupid-approved last-minute Valentine’s day looks. Kate is making a statement in her lipstick kissed white blouse. She paired the blouse with fuchsia pants and light pink pumps. Sticking with minimal makeup and a pink lipstick completes this adorable look. This Valentine’s Madelyn wants to be bold. She is styled in an oversized white shirt with an equally oversized red leather jacket. To keep a romantic feel she added white lace tights and red heels. We all love to hear drama that isn’t our own and Dyanna is definitely receiving interesting info this Galentine’s. In her pursuit to be in the know Dyanna is styled in a mouth graphic tee and a cardigan with the collar and cuffs in a fluffy fur. The bright red pumps with ruffle socks and black mini skirt tie the look together. Keeping it classy Kate is styled in a minimalistic black dress with pink piping at the top. Paired with pink pumps and big pearl bracelet. Choosing the cutesy route, Madelyn is styled in an adorable pink bear sweater with ribbon bows along the sleeves. Paired with a white skirt, lace tights, and leg warmers gives her an angelic feeling. Spending Valentine’s at home by yourself can be so freeing. Indulge yourself in all of your favorite things like chocolate or even Sex in the City. Having a fun night in with friends is always a good option for Valentine’s. Wear your cutest and softest pajamas and maybe even have a heart pillow fight. Photographer: Carolina Gomez Stylist: Sydney Robinson Models: Madelyn Carter, Dyanna Gamarro, & Kate Gaudio Editor in Chief: Caitlin Thompson Creative Director: Carolina Gomez Fashion Director: Madden Cook
Transitional Fall Must-Have’s
Transitional Fall Must-Have’s By: Bria Roberts November 2, 2022 Fall has always been a favorite season for many reasons, one being the endless possibilities of new and innovative Fall fashion fits it has to offer. Autumn sets the tone for stylistic trends in the new school year and incorporates clothing pieces from each season. So how do you create the perfect transitional fall fashion outfit? Here are some tips! When choosing what to wear at this time of year, keep in mind that the shifting autumnal weather and mood allow for the most versatility and exploration in styling. Fall is all about comfort, bring some of your favorite comforting Summer items like a breezy skirt or a playful tank. Everyone has these fashion basics in their wardrobe that can easily be buildable for those cooler Fall days. Swapping your colorful platform sandals for comfy furry boots or darker-toned platform shoes are easy ways to start incorporating fall trends into your wardrobe, as well as incorporating textured pieces into your outfits, like faux leather and fuzzy accents. Another tip is when in doubt, layer it out. Some of our favorite layering pieces this season are chunky, knit cardigans and cozy leg warmers. Accessories are also another essential part of any outfit. Opting for more elegant and classic jewelry, like pearls and gold accents can completely change the vibe of any outfit. When all else fails, denim and earth tones are the go-to transitional fall wardrobe essentials. These stylistic factors never go out of style and are easy communicators of incoming colder weather and comfy vibes. Fall fashion is all about experimentation. Make sure that whatever you wear is an extension of your personal style that makes you feel confident and ready to take on the day. Editor in Chief: Caitlin Thompson Creative Director: Carolina Gomez Fashion Director: Madden Cook Photographer: Mary Rushforth Stylist: Sydney Robinson Models: Jada King, Madelyn Carter, & Maddie Martin Follow us on Instagram!
Sustainability Spotlight: Kotn – For Lasting Ways of Life
Kotn has comfort and practical use in mind when creating all of their designs. They want to create clothes that let customers buy less and enjoy more. Kotn has a variety of products including womenswear, menswear, accessories, and home styles; all of which can transform any wardrobe and home into a sustainable, minimalist one. Kotn’s promise of sustainably made and sourced clothing does not mean they compromise on quality. Kotn sources their cotton from Portugal and Egypt from family-run farms to get the best quality fibres. Kotn also works directly with the family-run farms to ensure the workers are receiving above fair pay and constant safe working conditions. When looking for sustainably made stylish and quality clothing look no further than Kotn.
Top 5 Looks From the 94th Oscars Academy Awards
Jada Pinkett Smith: Jada Pinkett Smith showed up and showed out in this gorgeous emerald green haute couture gown by Jean Paul Gaultier and stunning Jimmy Choo pumps. This particular dress was made by Belgian designer Glenn Martens for the Jean Paul Gaultier Spring/Summer 2022 collection. The look features a ruched zip-up bodice, fitted to Smith perfectly, leading into a deep sea of green ruffles that engulfed the skirt. The vibrant green platforms compliment the gown perfectly, along with the simple jewelry and makeup to add touches of femininity to the bold energy of the dress. This gown definitely left a powerful statement, complimenting her Oscar award-winning husband’s charcoal black suit. Lily James: Channeling the bombshell energy from her role as Pamela Anderson, the Pam & Tommy actress Lily James graced the Oscars red carpet in this seductive yet elegant pink Atelier Versace dress from their Autumn/Winter 2021 couture collection. The cotton candy-colored dress was adorned with embroidery and lace and featured a high-thigh slit that led into a frothy fairytale skirt. James is known to draw style inspiration from her roles; this look is no exception as she utilizes the oozing glamor and sexiness of the Versace brand to pay homage to the alluring Pamela Anderson. Demi Singleton: Demi Singleton arrived at her first Oscars in this youthful yet classic lavender gown from Miu Miu. The King Richards actress, who is only fifteen years old, wanted this look to symbolize a new beginning for her as an actress. The strapless, elegant dress is simple and age-appropriate in its silhouette, while also fun and fashionable with its jewel appliques and soothing color. Through this look and her role as the iconic Serena Williams in King Richard, Singleton wanted to inspire all little girls who look like her to follow their dreams. Kodi Smit-McPhee: Aiming for a look that was formal, beautiful, and daring, The Power of the Dog actor Kodi Smit-McPhee sported a monochromatic baby blue Bottega Veneta suit with matching blue booties at the 2022 academy award show. Smit-McPhee wanted to reference the Oscar-nominated movie he was in by telling a story through his outfit. He opted to steer away from the stagnant black and white suit to solidify his spot as one of the up-and-coming menswear style icons. This intricate look was amplified with the addition of the luxurious Cartier diamond watch he sported on his wrist. Renate Reinsve: Renate Reinsve, the breakout star from the critically acclaimed film The Worst Person in the World, walked the 2022 Oscars red carpet in this unique and daring Louis Vuitton Spring 2022 black and nude dress. The classic gown utilized various design elements to portray a very modern and edgy vibe, definitely casting Reinsve as someone to look out for in the fashion world. This effortless look was complete with the addition of a Louis Vuitton necklace and a bold red lip. Written by: Bria Roberts
FASHION MEETS FESTIVAL
Story by Briana Thornton Coachella may have already wrapped up its two weekends of desert fun, music festival is in full swing with quite the line-up for the upcoming summer. Music festivals have blown up over the last decade and the rush kicks off in March with South by Southwest in Austin, Texas. The fever pitch comes a month later with Coachella, a flashy two-weekend event in Indio, California that’s known for its desert weather that calls for pretty much as little clothing as possible, its middle-of-the-day, booze-filled, fashion brand-sponsored pool parties, and its high cost that weeds out the crowd till all that’s left are a high concentration of wealthy, beautiful people, with lots of celebrities and fashion bloggers among them. So we, at River City Fashion Uprising, have put together three outfits to inspire your style at three very different summer festivals: Coachella, EDC and Warped Tour. Because we all know, when it comes to these events, it’s all about what you wear. Coachella Let’s start with every fashion girl’s favorite! Coachella practically guarantees you that you’ll see a slew of different Instagram-worthy looks, but the winning formula seems to be an ensemble that exudes both bohemian and laid-back West Coast vibes. The ensembles worn by Coachella attendees are usually reminiscent of what their parents, and in some cases grandparents, wore to Woodstock decades ago. This year, the styles were a little different than in past years as neon tops were replaced by bralettes, bardot tops and swimsuits worn as bodysuits; gladiator sandals were tossed aside in favor of brand-name sneakers; and flower crowns have become a thing of the past having been nearly wiped out by baseball caps and fedoras. In past years, Coachella has breathed new life into the idea of “festival fashion”. No longer are looks seen at festivals simply trendy but poorly made garments. Instead they invoke a much more fashion-forward aesthetic as we see more outfit combos that look as great in photos as they do in everyday life. You can always expect to see flowy frocks in lace, floral and fun prints, matching separates and a blinding amount of the ivory white pieces that compliment that summer glow. Our stylist chose to the dominating hue with a lace-top bodysuit and flowy, tiered skirt. A Western style belt is the perfect piece to break up a monochromatic outfit and a denim jacket is perfect for when it gets chilly at night in the desert (yes, it happens). It’s best to opt for easy, slip-on shoes in a dark color because you will be doing a lot of walking in sand and mud and therefore, it’s best to dress for occassion! The makeup and accessories you wear to Coachella are almost as important as the full ensemble. Coachella makeup essentially means glitter, face paint and metallic flash tattoos adorning your face so don’t be afraid to go for something that’s out of your comfort zone. Warped Tour Warped Tour is pretty much on the complete opposite end of the spectrum from Coachella. Let’s just say if Coachella was the music industry’s love child, Warped Tour would be its rebellious, angsty teenager. Here are some rules you can follow to ensure that your look is Warped Tour-ready: Dare to go bare. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Represent your favorite artists. When in doubt, a band tee is the perfect way to go. web link Dare to go bare. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. . Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Warped Tour lasts throughout the hottest summer months, not to mention all the sweaty bodies that will be packed into the venue. Dress accordingly. Represent your favorite artists. When in doubt, a band tee is the perfect way to go. Support yourself. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. Support yourself. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. While a lot of people in the audience will be wearing bikini tops and midriff-baring crop tops, and rightfully so, make sure that yours provides you with enough support to stay on as your jumping around to the music or crowd surfing, if you dare. if you dare. Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) If you’re attending EDC, you can pretty much get away with wearing whatever you want: tutus, sequined or studded bras, fuzzy boots, hats that look like a furry animal died on your head and tons (and I mean TONS) of glitter. The outfits sported at this rave are the grown-up version of playing dress up and allow the attendees to express their individuality and freedom. Honestly, there aren’t a whole lot of rules for dressing at EDC and chances are, whatever you choose to wear, whether store-bought, handmade or custom-ordered from Etsy, you probably won’t see anyone it on anyone else. The outfits sported at this rave are the grown-up version of playing dress up and allow the attendees to express their