In a paper otherwise obsessed with freshers, the first article here covers fashion for old women. It's a book review on "a street style book documenting the eccentric and elegant styles of older women in New York." Seemingly originally a blogger, this woman is selling books about what people are wearing. I like it. The idea, that is, not the photos of strangely dressed old women on the blog. The article is reasonably well written, by Roisin Sweeney, though it could be a bit more critical. This is getting a bit meta here -- I've just realised I'm reviewing a book review.
Next up is a piece on the magazine Vogue. A nice bit of history. I didn't know much about the magazine and assumed it was targeted at people who actually have money so I searched for reader demographics and found them for Australia: 26% of readers are 18-24. Vogue is 120 years old (not the Fade Street one), hence the article. Lauren Tracey, the article's author, unironically slips in a quote from one of Vogue's editors, “Most people haven’t got a point of view; they need to have it given to them.”
A paragraph on Daphne Guinness tells us how privileged she is and influential she is. She does have an enviable life and I just learned about haute couture. It's a protected term controlled by the Paris chamber of commerce and only top class fashion houses are offered membership.
Niamh Kelly tells us about two billionaire teenagers who dress well and... I don't know. I thought maybe the article might delve into the psychology behind the cult of celebrity but it just tells us who the latest cool rich kids are. I'm sure I'll fall prey to it all myself soon. Watch this space.
These fashion pages didn't fit as part of a freshers' guide. I would've preferred a vox pop outside the Arts Building and the prices of a few trendy items in River Island. They're fine for a student newspaper and I'm sure I'll learn lots from reading them through the year, but you'll have to come here to find out what's really in fashion in UCD.
Does anyone know where I can get a pdf of Vogue?
