Reflections On The Substance
The Substance is a modern fairytale exploring the painful and isolating reality of aging as a woman in horrifying detail. Its distinctly feminine approach to storytelling sets it apart from other dystopian films; mood and myth drive the narrative, creating an immersive, unsettling experience. Silence dominates, dialogue is sparse, the image is everything…
The Diaper Bag Scale
Turn to the very back of Paul Fussell’s masterpiece Class: A Guide Through The American Status System and you’ll find The Living Room Scale- a humorous assessment of the taste level and status of one’s living room based on the core principles and contemporary expressions of American social class explored throughout the book.
Points are awarded or taken away in relation to how interior design choices align with the living rooms of other upper or lower class households. Living Rooms are excellent proxies for class as they are a balance of public and private, decorative and functional. Each room encapsulates the values, aspirations, and actual lived experience of the owner even if (especially if) no conscious effort to appear higher on the hierarchy is present…
5 Rabbit Holes Worth Exploring
As cheesy as it is, “rabbit hole” is an excellent image for the binge-worthy content we’re sharing today. There’s the initial allure of an idea, and then pursuing it further you realize that there’s actually an entirely different world of thought. You may spend time twisting and turning but eventually emerge from the depths, changed. We long for the golden age of internet content, where you could easily get lost in a blog’s archives…
Process-Striving: A New Form of Status Competition In The Social Media Era
In every creative endeavor, there is a “behind the scenes” component that is less refined than the end result - a messy kitchen before a stunning meal, or the awkward rehearsals before opening night. Beauty routines, diets, workouts, planning/life management systems, and cleaning schedules, are just a few examples of the essential “behind the scenes” aspects of womanhood. These processes are integral to excelling at the roles we play in our day-to-day lives but until recently they were intentionally concealed from public view and open discussion. The allure of well-executed womanhood…
Twin Visions Of Progress: A Symbolic Analysis Of Modern Beauty Trends
Contemporary female beauty standards are, in one word: polarizing. Self-expression, body neutrality, and inclusivity are proclaimed loudly by both businesses and everyday women, while simultaneously filters, plastic surgery, and “looksmaxxing” have captivated a significant portion of the population. These twin visions of progress…
Letter From The Editors #01: Beauty First (July 2026)
Beauty First. This is our guiding principle, and we mean beauty in every sense of the word - skincare and fashion are only the beginning. We are equally inspired by the beauty within the natural world, the beauty of a well crafted story or song, and the beauty of a complex theory that opens our minds to new possibilities. Our greatest thrill is found in…