A Colorful Look into Día de los Muertos written by Morgan Watkins

Known far and wide as the Day of the Dead, Día de los Muertos celebrates death with joyous festivities, ceremonies at cemeteries, and tasty treats. It is a series of days that birthed not only a new way of understanding and appreciating death, but also vibrantly vivid fashion looks and glorious face painting masterpieces. But how did these styles and beauty looks come to fruition in the first place? And how has this holiday withstood the test of time? Read on to dive into the past and promising future of Día de los Muertos!

(Image from https://www.rebelsmarket.com/blog/posts/dia-de-los-muertos-the-history-and-fashion-of- day-of-the-dead)

Dating back a whopping 3,000 years, the Day of the Dead was initially a combination of Aztec ritual mixed with Catholicism. The holiday lasts from October 31st through November 2nd, celebrating the souls of loved ones who have passed. The souls of deceased children are said to come down from heaven on November 1st, while those of adults who’ve passed visit on the 2nd. While most cultures weep over the death of loved ones, the great Aztecs saw mourning as disrespectful towards the dead. Even when individuals would pass, they were still considered members of the community in Mexican cultures, and in that spirit, their souls would be celebrated instead of grieved over.

(Image fromhttp://museumca.org/event/20th-anniversary-days-dead-community-celebration)

Today, Día de los Muertos is widely celebrated all over the world in a myriad of ways. It’s not to be mistaken as some sort of “Mexican Halloween,” but rather appreciated as an occasion of spiritual significance, joy, and deep emotion. So even if you aren’t going all out with a colorful dress or skeletal makeup, be mindful of the beauty of this holiday and the peace it brings to Mexican communities and other individuals across the globe.

References:

Grace, Emily. “Dia De Los Muertos: The History and Fashion of Day of the Dead.” Rebels Market, 29 June 2018, https://www.rebelsmarket.com/blog/posts/dia-de-los-muertos-the-history-and-fashion-of- day-of-the-dead.

Ward, Logan. “Top 10 Things to Know about the Day of the Dead We’ve All Heard about the Day O.” National Geographic, 26 Oct. 2017,

https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/destinations/north-america/mexico/top -ten-day-of-dead-mexico/.

Prints & Why We Love Them by Morgan Watkins

Have you ever slipped into a classic striped sweater and felt an indescribablesense of cheer? Is your favorite silk scarf abundant in paisley print? With designers far and wide dropping collections dripping in patterns, like Carolina Herrera’s Spring 2019 show clad with plaid and bursting with polka dots, it’s safe to say that prints bring out the best and brightest in fashion. But what is it about patterns that make people feel such joy? And where did these staple prints come from? Keep on reading to learn more about patterns in fashion.

For as long as civilized man has roamed the Earth, clothing have served as a sign of wealth and status. The way you dress says a lot about who you are as an individual, and in that same vein, colors speak volumes as well. For example, bright colors, like red or yellow, evoke high levels of energy and happiness. Psychologically, those colors, and a plethora of others, trigger the release of dopamine, the chemical related to pleasure and happiness. Put these colors together into an aesthetically pleasing pattern and boom — euphoric happiness. Something to consider, though, is that prints aren’t for everybody. In a study done by the Psychology of Fashion, it was noted that optimists prefered prints while those with less of a sunny disposition were opposed. “One of the biggest differences was rooted in the trait of neuroticism,” noted TPOF writer, Natalie Ovadia. “Those who loved prints were more optimistic, worried less and found it easier to stay in a good mood, while those who disliked prints were more prone to anxiety and worry, but were more creative and fashion-forward.”

(Image from https://talkingfashion.net/products/copy-of-sail-boat-nautical-figural-whimsical-red-blue- white-beige-vintage-clip-earrings)

Another trend adored by print lovers the world over is the oh-so classic plaid. The oldest remnant of plaid printed fabric dates back 3,000 years, and was discovered with the remains of a mummy that was buried within the western Chinese desert. Fast forward to 1500, plaid was referred to as “tartan,” and worn prominently by the Scottish military. It wasn’t until the British and Americans started creating tartan fashions of their own that the pattern was renamed plaid. The print became really hot in the 60s when the surfer rock band, The Beach Boys, popularized plaid by sporting printed Pendleton shirts. By the 70s, the pattern was pretty much everywhere, from power suits to TV shows like Charlie’s Angels and The Brady Bunch. With the rise of grunge style and music in the 90s, plaid continued to shine as a classic pattern staple for everyone from Kurt Cobain to Britney Spears.

Lewis, Danny. “A Brief History of Plaid.” The Smithsonian, 20 Nov. 2015, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/brief-history-plaid-180957342/.

Ovadia, Natalie. “ Tale of Love & Hate: The Big Print Divide.” The Psychology of Fashion,27 Oct. 2017, http://www.tpof-thepsychologyoffashion.com/features/fashion-psychology.

“The History of Patterns in Fashion.” Artteca, 17 Nov. 2016, https://artteca.com/blogs/artteca/the-history-of-patterns-in-fashion.

Fashion Flashback: Lockets

by Morgan Watkins

An item of sentiment and utility, the locket is truly a dazzling antique to behold. With such a rich history and wide array of functions, lockets carry with them more than just dusty portraits. Keep on reading to expand your horizons on what makes lockets such special accessories.

While the earliest known lockets date back to the 16th century, it is said that they were initially inspired from ancient amulets and pendants from the Middle Ages. Some cultures wore lockets containing special charms to ward off evil spirits and energy, and although we now associate lockets with affection and love, they commonly carried items with less than sentimental value like herbs, perfume soaked fabric squares, and in sinister situations, poison. Locket necklaces were quite popular, but locket rings and brooches were also worn by those who could afford them. Queen Elizabeth I popularized the locket ring in 1575 with her one of a kind style holding portraits of herself and her late mother, Anne Boleyn. This tender display of familial love added significant meaning to the jewelry of this time, particularly with locket styles.

By the 1600s, lockets became symbols of political alignment. With the passing of King Charles I in 1649, supporters far and wide wore lockets containing his portrait to pay homage to his life and death. Some faithful King Charles advocates even managed to snag a lock of the king’s hair from his execution, which they then carried within their jewelry to commemorate his reign. While this may seem like an odd or extreme gesture, carrying the hair of a loved one within a locket was actually common practice in the 17th century, especially with the rise of mourning jewelry. These lockets were characteristically heavy, dark and contained the portrait of a lost loved one.

Commonly made from precious metals and gems, lockets and most other jewelry were primarily sold to those with considerable wealth during the 18th century. It was around this time that the iconic heart shaped locket was born. Ranging from a variety of different metals and finishes, heart shaped lockets, like mourning jewelry, contained locks of hair or portraits of lovers. Some were made of transparent materials, putting their love on display for the world to see. They were a sign of not only love, but also honesty, truth and purity.

After the dust had settled on World War II, all that was left was mourning paired with hope for a better future. Lockets fell out of favor for decades, serving only as reminders of past times and people. But with the rise of vintage and antique inspired jewelry, lockets are slowly but surely re-emerging into the fashion spotlight. In recent years, revered fashion magazines like Elle and Vogue have rooted for lockets within online and print publications. Last winter, the Tory Burch Pre-Fall 2018 collection featured in Vogue displayed the gleaming Walnut Locket Necklace, which paired perfectly with a silky button up and bohemian maxi dress.

(Image from https://www.toryburch.com/walnut-locket-necklace)

Regardless of what you put in your jewelry, be sure to jump on the trend now by checking out talkingfashion.net for the latest and greatest locket styles out there! And if you have a locket of your own you’d like to pass on, we would love to consign with you. But please — keep any poison at home.

References:
“A Sentimental History Of Lockets.” The Artyologist, 14 Feb. 2017,

http://www.theartyologist.com/sentimental-history-of-lockets/.
“Locket History: Heart Lockets & Photo Keepsakes Through the Ages.” With You

Lockets, https://withyoulockets.com/about/history-of-lockets. Phelps, Nicole. “Tory Burch Pre-Fall 2018.” Vogue, 1 Dec. 2017,

https://www.vogue.com/fashion-shows/pre-fall-2018/tory-burch.

Steampunk Style by Morgan Watkins

What do you get when you combine various cultures and subcultures like gothics, sci-fi fans, cyberpunks and more? The answer is steampunk, which is defined by the Daily Dot as “a subculture encompassing fashion, music, literature, movies, DIY model-making, and gaming.” Commonly, these looks encompass both the future and the past, playing off of older designs and styles that’re revamped with an industrial twist. Still a bit fuzzy on what steampunk really is? Read on to learn more about the aesthetics, history and influence of steampunk style.

Although it wasn’t until the 1990s that the movement gained popularity, early influences date back to the 19th century French illustrator, Albert Robida, whose intricate Victorian-esque art inspired DIY fashion fanatics to reinvent 18th and 19th century looks. Around the 1970s and 80s, the growing popularity of sci-fi films and novels made steampunk flourish, along with the help 1990s grunge, goth and cyberpunk mania. Steampunk band Abney Park, who even had a song titled “Steampunk Revolution,” initially rocked futuristic trinkets and edgy costumes in music videos, inspiring countless musicians in a variety of genres to don steampunk ensembles for performances, videos and more.

(Image from https://www.chicagopopculturecon.com/steampunk/)

The foundation of steampunk fashion is, of course, based on Victorian silhouettes and shapes. Leather vests, oversized buckles, metallic trinkets, lace corsets, goggle adorned top hats, and clockwork embellished accessories are just a few staples that pair with a variety of styles and themes, like goth, fantasy, and other popular cosplay aesthetics. While most looks come from a Victorian foundation, steampunk allows individuals to create totally personalized and unique costumes that can help them express a particular vibe or identity. More is more, and the possibilities are endless.

(Image from https://blog.stylewe.com/steampunk-fashion-eccentric-esthetic-style/)

While the steampunk movement started as an underground trend adopted by so-called “outcasts” or “hipsters,” it quickly garnered popularity among mainstream pop culture. By the late 2000s, the quirky style of steampunk was being celebrated widely on television, in music and within film. Steampunk’d , for example, was a TV show featuring 10 contestants competing in challenges revolving around the construction of steampunk looks. Movies like Sherlock Holmes and Series of Unfortunate Events also took on steampunk costuming, as did artists like Panic! At The Disco in their music video for “The Ballad of Mona Lisa.” Justin Bieber even joined in on the trend for his “Santa Claus is Coming to Town” music video.

(Image from https://lieselhindmann.wordpress.com/tag/the-ballad-of-mona-lisa/ )

Steampunk isn’t just a movement in fashion, but rather a niche that allows people of all walks of life to bond over fashion and costuming. Goths, cyberpunks, sci-fi or fantasy fanatics: everyone is accepted under the steampunk umbrella, where individuals far and wide are free to get creative and express themselves however they see fit, even if that means dismantling an old alarm clock for the sake of fashion.

References:
Baker-Whitelaw, Gavia. “What Is Steampunk? A Comprehensive Beginner’s Guide.” The

Daily Dot, 15 Oct. 2016, The Daily Dot, http://www.website.com.
“Steampunk’d.” IMDb, https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4777200/plotsummary?ref_=tt_ov_pl.