The Spectacle of Art vs the Art of Spectacle

Words Ayokunnumi Macaulay

In a time where virality rules the air waves, it seems that many designers are shifting their focus from creating revolutionary fashion to social media sensation. So now, we are left with no choice but to dissect the difference between The Spectacle of Art and The Art of Spectacle. Let us begin.

Spectacle. A visually striking performance or display.

At face value, I don’t necessarily have an issue with this idea of spectacle but as the performative nature of fashion and runway is increasing, it’s becoming ever more prominent and ever more lacklustre.

I say this because, after all the fanfare, the designs that are revealed are often rather mediocre and seem to be showing little thought in design and craftsmanship. Let’s take Coperni for example, a favourite of mine, Vaillant and Meyer do generally create gorgeous, well-designed collections, not to talk about the iconic Swipe bag. However, I find that when they venture into the fanfare (spectacle) side of fashion, the designs just seem to fall flatter than the debacle that precedes it.

To be specific, the most famous white spray-on dress as assembled on Bella Hadid. Yes, it was ground-breaking and revolutionary in that it was s dress that was spray-painted on… but that’s literally about it. In the moments after, when the stars and awe have left your eyes, your left looking at a white off shoulder midi dress. No fine tailoring, amazing craftmanship or innovative design elements or features, nothing note-worthy. And again, they demonstrated the same thing with their AW23 show where a robot dog ripped a cloak off model, Rianne van Rompaey, but only to reveal a simple ballerina style dress. Not ugly or terrible but just not note-worthy.

Coperni is just one of the brands that have taken to social media sensationalism, other designers such as Heliot Emil, Collina Strada, Sunnei with its crowd surfing models, have also sought to create viral moments in their runway shows. However, with Heliot Emil sending a model engulfed in flamed down their runway, I wasn’t left feeling let down as with other brands. The model set the catwalk on fire donning an all-black ensemble consisting of layers of distressed, torn hoodies and zip detailed baggy pants. In this display, we don’t lose out on the element of design, and I think this is what shows a clear distinction between the clothes being the spectacle rather than the display being the spectacle. In this case, the spectacle is an addition to an already exciting and cohesive presentation rather than it being the main storyline. 

The spectacle doesn’t begin and end with the fashion houses as we see musicians, such as the Estonian Tommy Cash, attending shows looking like they just rolled out of bed. Literally. His outfit included bedroom slippers, a duvet with matching pillows, dishevelled hair and even the application of a face mask mid-runway show. Although this was a fun and camp demonstration, I do still feel like it takes away from the purpose of the fashion shows.

Call me a purist but I love the feeling of awe and delight that you get when you see a piece of clothing with an amazing silhouette or perfect tailoring or a reimagined design. That is the feeling I look for when watching a show, I want to feel the joy and inspiration bubble up from the depths of my fashion soul and fill my every being. So, watching the spectacles go on can be novel and surprising in the moment but if I’m not left with that true feeling of excitement about the clothes, then it’s a major miss for me.

So, you can see my issue isn’t necessarily the social media propaganda itself but it’s more so what is it alluding to or revealing, that should be as astonishing and flamboyant as the spectacles. This is where I say that designers should veer more towards, The Spectacle of Art, meaning how visually striking the actual creations are, as opposed to The Art of Spectacle, how big of a display that can be created surrounding the actual art. 

I bid you adieu with the question, does performative art really have a space in true fashion?

Celebrating Women in Leadership: Sofie Dolva, Director, CIFF

Words Bethany Berkeley

Sofie Dolva, the new Director of the Danish fashion and accessories fair CIFF is a force to be reckoned with. Although the fashion industry wasn’t where her journey began, Sofie has over ten years of experience in business.

We sit down with Sofie as she shares her story, the recent acquisition of Revolver, celebrating 60 years of CIFF and how she plans to take the fair to the next level.

As Sofie begins sharing her story, I’m already in awe of how sincere and passionate she is. She divulges that being in the fashion industry was not what she was aiming towards at the start. Having studied Economy and Law in school, she aimed to become a lawyer, “I love numbers and Excel spreadsheets, I’m not very creative, but the business side of the industry always fascinated me.” She stumbled into the beauty industry through her mother who opened a salon whilst Sofie was studying at university. “I come from a family where they’re mainly entrepreneurs. So, when my mum opened her salon, I would help her with the administration and financial side of things.” She was immediately struck, not just by the products but by how good she was at handling the business side of things, whilst her mum handled the creative side.

Sofie started her own business whilst studying with the aim of taking what she was learning and applying it to real-life situations. After doing a lot of reading and research into the beauty industry she then acquired the products she needed and became a distributor of beauty products. The business blossomed through sheer hard work and drive mixed in with a little luck. “I was invited on to the Good Morning Denmark show as a Beauty Expert and this really helped with publicity, which in turn helped open a lot of doors.” Building her business to a success point, Sofie then decided to sell it to one of her competitors. It was whilst in this role she began her transition into the fashion industry.

Though her work often threw her into the luxury fashion market, her main focus was beauty. Through several projects and opportunities she began learning more about the industry and building relationships that she would need in the future. “When I started working for L’Oréal as their Sales Director, I consistently built up my network and relationships in the industry.” When she was contacted by the group that owns CIFF, they were looking for someone with fresh ideas, having worked in both the corporate world and in a start-up, Sofie was the perfect choice. Sofie lets me know that relationships played a big part in her getting to where she is now. “My track record in the industry and also luck had a big part to play, being connected to the right people at the right time is something that helped me get to where I am now.”

For a long time, both CIFF and Revolver were competitors, and it was ingrained in their DNA to fight for a space in the Danish fair industry. Though CIFF has been the forerunner of the fair industry for a long time, Revolver became better at adapting post-pandemic. The two giants then decided to join hands to solve the bigger problems the Danish fashion industry was facing. Utilising the resources once wasted on fighting, to now build a better hospitality system that helps the brands participating in the fairs. Sofie shares that she wants to make sure their brands get a return on investment and show them that their time is valuable. Since CIFF partners with Copenhagen Fashion Week, the brands participating in the fair must undergo strict requirements regarding sustainability and CIFF with the leadership of Sofie now aims to help them and provide the resources they need to meet those requirements. “A lot of brands don’t have the resources or know-how to make their supply chain better, so we aim to provide them with experts who can help them with this.” She explains that CIFF wants to provide help for its brands not just during fashion week but also in the months in between.

Sofie’s resilience has always been a driving force. She sees the business as a start-up and decidedly never takes no for an answer. “I have always been able to see possibilities and solutions in every problem.” Having been through her own start-up she gained a more holistic approach to business and it’s no secret why she is now in such an awe-inspiring leadership position today. When asked for her three leadership tips she said this “Be able to adapt. Create clear frameworks. Create trust!”

Red Carpet Looks From the 2023 SAG Awards

WOTC Magazine

The women at the 2023 SAG Awards didn’t disappoint. Some, even changed twice!! See the full looks below.

The 2023 SAG Winners

WOTC Magazine

The 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards honoured the best of film and television on Sunday night at 8PM ET. The 29th annual awards ceremony was held at the Fairmont Century Plaza in Century City, California, however nominees were announced ahead of the evening via Instagram by Emily In Paris's Ashley Park and The White Lotus's Haley Lu Richardson. See the full list of winners on the night below.

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Sam Elliott (“1883”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Television Movie or Limited Series

Jessica Chastain (“George and Tammy”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series

Jeremy Allen White (“The Bear”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Comedy Series

Jean Smart (“Hacks”)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series

“Abbott Elementary”

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Drama Series
Jason Bateman (“Ozark”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Drama Series

Jennifer Coolidge (“The White Lotus”)

Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
“The White Lotus”

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role

Jamie Lee Curtis (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role

Ke Huy Quan (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role

Michelle Yeoh (“Everything Everywhere All at Once”)

Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role

Brendan Fraser (“The Whale”)

Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture

“Everything Everywhere All at Once”

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture

“Top Gun: Maverick”

Outstanding Action Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Television Series

“Stranger Things”

5 Must-Read Books Every Boss Woman Should Have in Her Library 

WOTC Magazine

As women continue to break the glass ceiling and become the blueprint for the next generation of female leaders, whether it’s navigating their career path, climbing the corporate ladder, starting their own business, or juggling freelance gigs and kids—here are the 5 books that every hustling girl boss navigating her career needs to put on her 2023 reading list.

Manifest, Roxie Nafousi

Author and self-development coach, Roxie Nafousi has been called the “manifesting queen.” Spread across 7 chapters, Manifest shows readers how they can harness the power of manifestation to attract anything they believe they desire and deserve.

The Light We Carry, Michelle Obama

A follow-up to her debut book Becoming, Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles--the earned wisdom that helps her continue to "become."

The Bomb Life: My Brand. My Terms, Claire Sulmers 

Claire Sulmers is the Editor-in-Chief and Founder of FashionBombDaily.com, one of the top 50 most influential style blogs in the world. In her memoir, she speaks about what she had to do to get to the top and offers aspiring bloggers and digital influencers tips on how to monetize their sites, build an audience, and ultimately live the Bomb Life.

Power Your Happy, Lisa Sugar 

The founder of POPSUGAR, Lisa Sugar dives into the beginnings of how the successful digital lifestyle publication all started and what it has taken to start a company and make it grow. The book is filled with bite-sized advice about how to create your dream job while making hard decisions like ditching relationships that aren’t working and being available for your family.

#GIRL-BOSS, Sophia Amoruso 

Amoruso makes it to most of our WOTC reading lists simply because you cannot think of being a girl boss, without thinking of the former Nasty Gal owner. The part-memoir, part-business biography recounts Amoruso’s life as a fashion entrepreneur, who made her start selling vintage clothing on eBay while working security at an art school in San Francisco. Since the takeoff of Amoruso’s book, the Girlboss movement has now spun off to include an online publication and a Netflix series starring Britt Robertson.

London Fashion Week 2023: Yuhan Wang AW23

Words Bethany Berkeley

Yuhan Wang’s AW23 collection was about the beauty of women’s resilience, with references to Quentin Tarantino’s Kill Bill the first look was a biker jacket transformed into a puff sleeve doublet overlayed with yellow and black lace. An ode to Uma Thurman’s iconic leather jacket in the movie. This season's collection saw a mish-mash of the feminine and the warrior with models strutting down the runway to retro lounge music, holding Japanese Katana swords. All whilst wearing Wang’s signature draped lace pieces.

Stepping into a woman’s dangerous side seemed to be the focus of the collection, delicate froufrou dresses were slashed up and knotted back together over the body. Meanwhile tailored suits were patched up, some with printed Gogo Yubari chains intertwining with ribbons on them. Wang wanted to express the resolve of a woman as both feminine and strong, delicate, and dangerous.

Although the collection was inspired by Kill Bill; Wang shows that the collection is not just about revenge but of restoration and overcoming obstacles in life. Checks, tweeds, and florals were also present on the runway. Other looks to note were Tops and skirts embellished with timeless cross-stitch florals and striking sequins. Also, a series of denim pieces containing mesmerising candy-coloured chrysanthemums. Wang’s collection was as fierce as it was beautiful.

Here’s What Happened at Moncler’s ‘The Art of Genius’ London Fashion Week Event

Last night, tens of thousands queued outside Olympia London hoping to be granted entry into Moncler’s insanely creative The Art of Genius event which showcased the brand’s new vision for its Genius division which combined a night of art, design, entertainment, music, sport, and culture.

The event included an extensive line-up that featured the likes of Alicia Keys, Pharrell Williams, Mercedes-Benz, Palm Angels, FRGMT, adidas Originals, Jay-Z’s Roc Nation, and Rick Owens, who each presented an independent collaboration with Moncler, and get this, guests were also able to enjoy an open bar. It was almost hard to believe that the event had been completely free.

A stand-out moment of the night: Mercedes Benz’s “The Art of Imagination,” which was introduced by Canadian filmmaker Cole Walliser at 8:30 pm GMT. It welcomed dancers to the stage who performed in a low-gravity chamber whilst frozen visuals flowed across transparent LED screens. This followed, Pharrell Williams’ “The Art of Terrain” show which revolved around the idea of camping.

adidas Originals’ “The Art of Exploration” was centered around stepping into the unknown, whilst Salehe Bembury’s debut collection was presented in the form of a spinning rock that featured his signature grain motif. 

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, Alicia Keys, performed shortly after 10:30 pm GMT with well-known songs which included “No One,” and “Girl on Fire.” The singer also brought on British musicians Little Simz and Cleo Sol, alongside an array of dancers all wearing the upcoming Moncler x Alicia Keys collection. 

Rounding things off, Rick Owens’ “The Art of Design” allowed visitors to experience Owens’ sleek version of design. Guests were invited to an outdoor afterparty dance floor, where a roster of DJs played. 

Images provided by Moncler

London Fashion Week AW23: CompletedWorks

Words Bethany Berkeley

The CompletedWorks AW23 presentation was certainly one to be remembered. The collection, presented in a deliciously creative way saw Pearl strands set in sea green jello. Models opened the presentation, with a jello smashing session extracting their treasured goods as they went along.

Statement jewellery was the focus of the collection this season. High glam earrings, necklaces and bracelets were paired with sumptuous pearls. The pieces were placed on models dressed natural tones, as though art on blank canvases.

Standout pieces included a pair of large knotted Pearl studs with a matching ring, a gold and Pearl set ring and a stunning gold arm cuff. The presentation was filled with a feeling of relaxed luxury, as models glided through the room at a leisurely pace seeming to be set apart from the everyday hustle and bustle of life. A reminder to admire the beauty there is in taking in slowing down and taking every day as it comes.

Credit: @completedworks

Credit: @completedworks

Credit: @completedworks

Daniel Lee, Burberry’s New Chief Designer Made His Debut at London Fashion Week

Words Phadria Prendergast

1. Held in a tent in Kennington Park complete with hot chocolate, thick blankets for the seats and hot water bottles for the FROW, the much-anticipated collection which boasted plaid, fur, roses, ducks and COLOUR (something the brand steered far from under its previous creative successors, namely Tisci), marked Lee’s debut as chief creative officer at Burberry and was attended by a diverse array of British stars from actor Jason Statham to rapper Stormzy. 

With the British brand said to have fallen into a rut, with a slump in sales and consumers not entirely understanding what the brand stood for under Tisci, the pressure was certainly on for Lee to deliver.

Did Lee disappoint? You decide. Our favourites from the collection below. 

Natasha Zinko's Ready to Wear Collection at London Fashion Week 

Words Bethany Berkeley 

Natasha Zinko’s AW23 show was short and to the point. Set in the theatre meeting hall of Friends House, the show gave off a feeling of the first dramatic and impactful act in a play. Keeping onlookers on the edge of their seats wanting more.

The show opened with a black skirt suit boasting bold shoulders which unveiled a six pack chest imprinted on Lycra, frayed hems and a pair of slightly crooked reading glasses. Pronounced shoulders became more impactful as the show went on and fraying seemed to be an integral detail in almost every design. The collection featured everyday essentials, tailoring and denim pieces. 

Drawing inspiration from Marvel’s She-Hulk, Zinko’s collection was a celebration of inner strength and embracing the monster within. Distressed ruching and deconstructed denim and frayed hems were ever-present in the collection of tailored herringbone suits, maxi length puffer coats and oversized T-shirts. Models spotted dishevelled grooming and green paint on their arms and necks, almost made to look like monsters transforming back to human form. The show was all in all monstrously exquisite!

London Fashion Week: Mark Fast Autumn Winter 2023

Words Bethany Berkeley 

In his signature style, Mark Fast’s AW23 collection boasted colour, colour and more colour — this time embracing the underground race scene.

Drawing on a fusion of dark and night, sounds of pounding rave music engulfed the onlookers. Models stomped down the runway in an array of both everyday essentials, featuring panels of embossed monogram leather. Daytime looks transitioned into nighttime looks of sequins, body on knitted dresses and ruffles crafted to look like flowers. The collection was filled with the alluring calamity of underground rave scenes. Standout pieces included puffer arm warmers and leg covers, hooded jumpsuits made from traditional knits and an all white cutout knitted dress with tassels flowing at the ends.

Trailing neon highlights paired against fresh whites and tie dye denim sets, give the collection a sportswear chic feel that Fast is known for. He takes us on a journey into the night where day filters into night, and working hard and playing hard can be embodied in one look.

London Fashion Week 2023: KWK by Kay Kwok FW23

Words Bethany Berkeley

Amidst a storm-like runway, KWK by Kay Kwok presented his AW23 collection for his eponymous brand KWK. Show goers were sat in an underground industrial space with minimal lighting, whilst the atmosphere was filled with a smokescreen giving the effect of a sand storm. The collection itself reflected this as models were classed in distressed and deconstructed designs in muted hues. The techno-inspired designs were made up of slouchy metallic thigh-high boots, low-waisted trousers and oversized coats with strong shoulders. Mesh played a big part in the collection in panels, sheer tops and draped around overshirts. Balaclavas, a trending favourite of recent also made an appearance in the collection paired with hooded maxi dresses. Standout pieces included a brown leather jacket and trouser two piece, monogram denim jackets and a jumper dress with mesh overlays.

The Women at the 2023 NFL Honors 

Words Phadria Prendergast 

The 2023 NFL Honors took place at Symphony Hall in Phoenix, Arizona and recognised the league’s best performances, plays and athletes from the past season, but on a night typically dominated by men, who were the women present? 

The evening was hosted by singer-songwriter Kelly Clarkson who was the first female to do so in the ceremony’s history. Clarkson wore two bold sports-themed looks. The first; a long sleeve black velvet Adidas x Gucci gown complete with a train and Rick Owens platform boots and later that night changed into a custom-made blue-and-white Dallas Cowboys jersey-inspired gown. 

Also in attendance:

Zuri Hall

Taylor Rooks

Cara Delevingne

Tiffany Haddish

Taylor Bisciotti

H.E.R

Rihanna is Almost Ready to Take the Stage at the Super Bowl LVII Halftime Show On Sunday After 7 Years Away From the Stage 

Words Phadria Prendergast

Bajan billionaire Rihanna took part in the Apple Music Super Bowl LVII halftime show press conference on Thursday morning at the Phoenix Centre where she stunned in look 33 from Alaïa’s SS23 collection, custom-made Gianvitto Rossi snake-print strappy heels, custom MARIA TASH earrings and a custom Chrome Hearts bracelet. 

Rihanna joked about not yet being able to sleep in preparation for Sunday’s show, whilst shamelessly plugging her FENTY BEAUTY brand (which propelled her into billions), claiming that her highlighter was “definitely helping.” We don’t blame you Rih. 

“I’ve been so focused on the Super Bowl, I totally forgot that my birthday is coming up,” the singer and businesswoman also revealed during the interview. 

With less than 2 days to go, her long-awaited performance had possibly garnered far more excitement from fans who wanted to see the self-acclaimed bad gal take the stage than there was for the actual game itself. 

“The Super Bowl is one of the biggest stages in the world so, as scary as that was because I haven’t been on stage in 7 years, there’s something exhilarating about the challenge of it all. It’s important for me to do this, this year. It’s important for representation. It’s important for my son to see that,” she admitted. 

On putting the show together, she commented “the setlist was the biggest challenge.” It wasn’t the easiest of tasks to maximise a 13-minute performance slot when you’re Rihanna. “It’s going to be a celebration of my catalogue in the best way that we could have put it together.” Overall, she felt that she had done a good job alongside her team in narrowing down her 17-year catalogue — even amongst a whopping 39 different set list changes.

The Kansas City Chiefs will face off against the Philadelphia Eagles at State Farm Stadium when Super Bowl LVII kicks off Sunday at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT. 

New York Fashion Week is Back.. But First, Christian Siriano and Victor de Souza

Words Phadria Prendergast 

NYFW officially kicks off from February 10 until 15 on the calendar; however, Christian Siriano and Victor de Souza’s off-calendar Thursday shows wasn’t to be missed.

Siriano’s pre-calendar catwalk show at Gotham Hall was an ode to Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn — think roses and diamonds!! Opening and closing the show with model and muse Coco Rocha, first in a floral suit and oversized hat and then in a stunning, two-toned asymmetric gown. 

Whilst multi-award-winning writer, actress and producer Quinta Brunson and actress Lindsay Lohan sat FROW at the show, with All American’s sweetheart Greta Oniegou, also found amongst the stars in attendance on Thursday evening. Lohan, whose siblings Aliana and Dakota modelled in the show, played the doting sister role as her brother and sister walked the runway. 

The designer who first garnered the industry’s attention after winning season four of Project Runway back in 07 and becoming the series’ youngest winner, is known for not only being a red carpet favourite, but also for regularly designing for a diverse selection of women, albeit celebrity women of different shapes and sizes and his AW23 runway show certainly brought diversity with a handful of plus-size models donning his collection.  

This collection for me embodied Hepburn to the t and I was swooning from the first oversized hat. It also didn’t hurt that many of the pieces featured my go-to colour; black. And, just like the timeless style icon who Siriano drew inspiration from for his AW23 collection, I could easily picture several of his pieces in my closet years from now. You certainly couldn’t go wrong with a staple black dress. 

You can find my personal favourites (which was pretty much the entire catwalk) below. WHEW!

Elsewhere, Victor de Souza gave modern Victorian with his catwalk at Room&Board Chelsea with lace, plaids and checked tweeds. Some of my faves are below.

Rodarte will be the first of 74 labels to officially present a runway show, kicking off New York Fashion Week on February 10. 

Phoebe Philo’s September Return to Fashion, This is Not a Drill!! 

Words Phadria Prendergast

Philophiles unite. The minimalist queen has finally revealed an official date of return. 

British fashion designer Phoebe Philo OBE who is best known for her coveted CELINE era, first announced that she would be returning to fashion back in July 2021 however, Philo has since been quiet, leaving fans wondering when that would actually be. 

But fans needn’t wonder any longer as the designer has officially given the fashion world a date for the reveal of her inaugural collection, putting the cherry on top by allowing fans to register for the collection from as early as July. 

Earlier this afternoon as the news spread through the industry, we watched as the brand’s dedicated Instagram account’s follower count went up by the hundreds, by the second.

Philo, who stepped down as CELINE’s creative director back in 2017 has as much power as she does pressure to perform, but we’d expect nothing less as being coined the “woman who knows what women want” is no easy feat.

French conglomerate LVMH is a minority stakeholder in the cult designer’s eponymous brand. 

An Afternoon with Susan Fang: Her Journey, Inspirations & Successes 

Words Bethany Berkeley

Photo Credit: Yaoyao Ma Van As 

As I sit down to interview Susan Fang via Zoom, I’m immediately struck by how bubbly and confident she is. Her background filled with paintings (which she confesses are her mother’s work) immediately shows how much of an inspiration her mother is to her. “I like to have her artwork all around me because they bring good energy." I speak with Susan about her journey into fashion, her story and where she draws her inspiration from. She begins by reminiscing about the art classes she took at age four and her love for all things art related. “I loved art and art classes growing up and used to draw cartoon girls in dainty dresses. Then one day, my mum suggested that I try fashion design as a way of bringing those drawings to life.

Susan’s love for storytelling, fantasy and cartoons can be seen in all her pieces. Her background in art plays a significant part in her design process, and she expresses that going to different art schools in China, Canada, and the U.K. helped her hone her skills and develop her creative mind before going to study at Central Saint Martins. “I enjoyed my time in art school before Central Saint Martins. It gave me a diverse perspective and a chance to embrace different design concepts.” Studying at CSM provided her with the freedom to transfer these concepts of design she learnt to fashion design. Susan was able to experiment with fabrics and the way they moved on the human body, from 2D to 3D, and so she began reimagining what types of fabrics could be used to make a dress or a blouse. Developing her world of fantasy and storytelling with the use of fabric began to take centre stage in her life. “Before you create something, people never know what it will be, but once it comes to life it’s beautiful.” For her final year, Susan created pieces that moved in different directions, inspired by nature and the rhythm of nature. Nature to Susan conveys beauty and is an essential part of her culture. She lets me know this is the reason why all her collections start with the word “Air.”

After graduating from CSM, she went on to intern at CELINE and Stella McCartney, two leading brands with very different brand Identities. “Interning at both brands gave me creative balance as CELINE was more focused on developing pieces that fit their brand identity and design codes, whereas at Stella it was more about sustainability but also about how the products would sell. So, it was nice to obtain an insight into both worlds.” After two years of gaining experience in established fashion companies, Susan decided to branch out and her eponymous brand Susan Fang was birthed. “We hit the ground running and won the ‘Ones to Watch’ award from Fashion Scout, which included a sponsorship from them, so we were able to show on their runway during fashion week.” Each piece was crafted from air-weaved materials weaved by hard showing just how definitive her design process has been from the beginning. “it’s a nine-layer weave that can lay flat or be 3D, one metre takes 21 days to make, and I even persuaded my art teacher to help me. Susan set out to be innovative with her brand from her very first show by expressing a new method for fashion which focuses on the fabrics using mathematics to make them move differently on the body.

Showcasing at Labelhood in Shanghai, Susan and her brand started wholesale by selling her renowned bubble bags at the show and then later in stores. “We initially produced two bags which sold at the Labelhood runway show and in two months we made five, which got us into our first two stores. After we were contacted by Selfridges, it was absolutely fascinating for us to learn what the market was interested in.” Concentrating on adapting and responding to the market's needs, Susan’s brand began to grow and started doing its own independent shows, developing footwear, and doing campaigns across the world. She speaks to me about a campaign she did in Mongolia where the locals were her models, making the campaign down to earth and relatable. ‘We wanted to show the clothes using relatable people embarking on their daily lives and interacting with each other. It was in a remote place where there are barely any phones or signal, there’s a sense of purity in that which we loved.”

Throughout her journey, Susan mentions that she received lots of support from platforms in the industry built to support young and new designers. She was shortlisted for the LVMH prize and selected for Forbes 30 Under 30 2019 and 2020. She touches briefly on the pandemic and how it affected her saying that being in lockdown for so long nearly stifled her creativity, but she found relief in looking towards the future and nature. Susan then showed her AW22 collection in Shanghai before ultimately moving back to the U.K. where she began her fashion journey for her SS23 collection last year. The show, set against the walls of a 1920s leisure centre in the heart of London delivered a message of positivity amidst many societal woes. Onlookers were met with vivid and dynamic shades of colour, experimental silhouettes utilising her uniquely put-together fabrics and of course fantastic femineity in each design. Showing the combination of different cultures, Susan and her team created a giant piece bomb which sat in the middle of a swimming pool that became the runway. The show was an awe-inspiring one and has only set the standard for others to come.

We come back to the present for the latter part of our interview, as she speaks on her upcoming AW23 show taking place this month in London. ‘It’s stressful but also exciting to see the process of the things created from the toiles to the final fabric!’ Fashion was something Susan stumbled into but was also inevitably part of her journey, taking art classes at a young age opened up her creative mind, which remains today to be seen in each piece in her collections. Her clothes transport onlookers to another world — a world of fantasy and hope. A world where peace reigns intrinsically. Once you arrive there, you won’t want to leave.

LeBron James has become the NBA's all-time leading scorer, passing Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's long-standing record

Words Phadria Prendergast

Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James hit 38 points in a 133-130 defeat against the Oklahoma City Thunder’s, surpassing former basketball player Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's mark of 38,387, set in 1989, almost 40 years ago. James finished the game with 38,390 career points, which leaves only 7 NBA players within 10,000 points of his record — one of them being Shaquille O’Neal.

The accolade is the latest and probably the greatest in James’s career, especially after becoming a billionaire last year and being the first active NBA player to do so. Abdul-Jabbar initially broke the scoring record in April 1984, just eight months before James was born. "To be able to be in the presence of a legend and great as Kareem, it means so much to me, it’s very humbling," said James in a speech on the court after a break in play for a ceremony.

On Tuesday 7 February, an emotional LeBron lifted both his arms in celebration while 75-year-old Abdul-Jabbar, who was at the match, stood with the rest of the arena and applauded.

Abdul-Jabbar then handed over the ball to new record holder, Bron. Attendees who paid thousands to witness history first-hand included Jay-Z, LL Cool J, Corey Gamble, Bad Bunny, boxer Floyd Mayweather and actors Denzel Washington and Woody Harrelson. LeBron’s two sons were also in attendance to watch their father break the record. Friends of the billionaire basketball player who included Steph Curry, Rihanna, Drake and Kendrick Lamar shared kind words about him in a tribute video.

It is widely believed that Bron’s record is unlikely to ever be beaten.

Here’s What Happened at the 2023 Grammys

Words Erika PR

Pictured: Lizzo

Music’s most prestigious night of the year, the 65th Grammy Awards show was held in Los Angeles at the Crypto.com Arena on Sunday 5th February 2023 and hosted by the Daily Show’s former host, Trevor Noah. 

Pictured: Crypto.com Arena

The televised ceremony featured several performances from acts including Harry Styles, Bad Bunny (who kicked off the night), Mary J. Blige, Steve Lacy, Lizzo, Kim Petras, Sam Smith, Brandi Carlile, Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson, Chris Stapleton, DJ Khaled, and Luke Combs.

Pictured: Stevie Wonder

The first award of the night for the best pop vocal album was won by wonderboy Harry Styles, who first shot to fame as one-fifth of the boy band One Direction. The’ As It Was’ singer credited his best friends for being part of the album-making process. We couldn’t be happier for Harry! 

Congratulations were in order for the two women who made history on the night; none other than Beyoncé and Viola Davis.  

Beyoncé picked up 4 awards (for best R&B song, best dance/electronic recording, best dance/electronic album and best traditional R&B performance), earning her the title of most awarded artist in Grammy history, with a total of 32 awards. 

Davis earned herself EGOT status, becoming the 18th person and the third black woman to have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award. She completed her collection by winning “best audiobook” for her autobiography Finding Me. She now joins the legendary Whoopi Goldberg and Jennifer Hudsonan in an extremely exclusive club of award winners who have each won the top four American entertainment awards. We just love women who win!! 

Quavo took the stage with Grammy-award-winning gospel group Maverick City in a heart-moving tribute to his nephew Takeoff, who passed away in November. Emotions were high as Quavo dedicated the song “Without You,” to his late group member, followed by a beautiful rendition of Charlie Puth and Wiz Khalifa’s ‘See You Again,’ backed by Maverick City. The hairs were standing at the back of our necks at the perfect execution, which truly paid homage to one of the hip-hop industry’s greats. 

The ceremony also honoured other musicians who passed with a segment which featured Kacey Musgraves, Sheryl Crow and Bonnie Raitt playing songs popularised by Loretta Lynn and Christine McVie. 

Whilst Lizzo (everyone’s favourite bestie), paid tribute to Prince and Beyoncé. “When we lost Prince, I decided to dedicate my life to making positive music,” she mused during her acceptance speech after winning record of the year, and similarly gushed as she also thanked Beyoncé and described her as “the artist of our lives.”

Congratulations to Samara Joy, who won the best new act award which has previously been awarded to Billie Eilish, Lauryn Hill, Adele and Chance the Rapper. We can't wait to see what comes from Miss Joy here onwards. She’s definitely one to look out for.

Other notable winners of the night included Kendrick Lemar who won the best rap performance, best rap song and best rap album. In his acceptance speech, he thanked the culture for allowing him to ‘evolve.’ 

This year, the Recording Academy introduced a new award to celebrate those who have made a significant contribution to black music named The Dr Dre Global Impact award, which Dr Dre himself took home. The Academy also hosted a celebration of hip-hop’s 50th anniversary. LL Cool J, Big Boi, Busta Rhymes, Spliff Star, De La Soul, DJ Drama, DJ Jazzy Jeff, Missy Elliott, Future, Glorilla, Grandmaster Flash, Grandmaster Mele Mel, Scorpio, Ice-T, Lil Baby, Lil Wayne, the Lox, Method Man, Nelly, Public Enemy, Queen Latifah, Rahiem, Rakim, Run-D.M.C., Salt-N-Pepa, DJ Spinderella, Scarface, Swizz Beatz, and Too $hort joined the Grammys in tribute to the genre.

And last but not least, the greatest meme to come out of this year’s Grammys: Ben Affleck's exasperated look on his face throughout the show. Twitter came through with the tweets and we have been cackling ever since. Keep scrolling for some of our favourite tweets and stay tuned for our best-dressed list. 

Just remember, nothing is a bad as it looks like Ben Affleck feels at the Grammys. pic.twitter.com/D348cyfBG8

— Amee Vanderpool (@girlsreallyrule) February 6, 2023

Ben Affleck is all of us when music is playing and you don’t know what to do pic.twitter.com/N5AQK9XaEA

— Brian Moote (@MootePoints) February 6, 2023

Ben Affleck at the Grammys is me any time I have to be on a zoom call. pic.twitter.com/V2eZZ14qos

— jennifer (@themissjenn) February 6, 2023

Ben Affleck is every man who has to go to his wife’s work party rn

pic.twitter.com/ETfw7acoAW

— AZ_Golfer (@AZ_TeeTime) February 6, 2023

Ben Affleck is how every man dragged to a couples baby shower looks pic.twitter.com/sTqdt8oE9n

— Angie G (@MomAngtrades) February 6, 2023

Ben Affleck is me as a kid being dragged somewhere I didn’t want to go. pic.twitter.com/YJRgB7eoPR

— Dr. Jebra Faushay (@JebraFaushay) February 6, 2023

Street Style Favourites From Copenhagen Fashion Week AW23

Words Phadria Prendergast

Long gone are the days where Fashion Week was solely about the clothes the models wore on the runway. Now, we eagerly awaited seeing our favourite content creators, influencers, bloggers, insiders, journalists and editors put together their best looks to hits the streets. As Copenhagen wrapped up on Friday, we said goodbye to the effortlessness that came with Scandi street style from metallics right through to double denim, and with that, keep scrolling to see our favourites from Copenhagen Fashion Week AW23.