When it comes to nudity in fashion magazines, North Americans continue to dig their heels while the Europeans continue to dress down in the name of art and style. American-born yet London-based editor of PETRI(E) Inventory 66, Zadrian Smith, weighs in on this controversial subject to help The Genteel get to the bottom of North American's apparent fear of nudity.
In a bid to win hearts (and votes), Parisian politician Natalie Kosciusko-Morizet has published proposals to revamp the city's abandoned railway stations if she is elected mayor later this month. Speaking with Manal Rachdi, one of the local architects behind the designs, Elizabeth Neep discovers how the neglected underground stations may soon become the hottest go-to destination.
It is often said that "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder", and yet rarely does society live up to this adage. With the billions spent globally on cosmetics each year in our attempts to recreate modern ideals of beauty, Katie Aske wonders how much we actually understand about the concept of beauty and how it ought to be redefined moving forwards.
by Katie Aske
In the final instalment of her look Beyond Central Saint Martins, Elizabeth Neep explores how the demanding expectations at ESMOD Berlin push its students to achieve their creative potential whilst upholding the ESMOD community's world-renowned reputation.
Alina is the editor of frank by The Genteel, freelance writer and occasional portrait painter.
Mona is founder and CEO of Geeky Chic, Inc. and Editor in Chief of The Genteel.
David is an East to West coast Canadian currently skulking through the streets of Vancouver.
Chere contributes lifestyle editorial to The Genteel from Paris.
Cristina reports for The Genteel from Rome. She is a professional freelance journalist with ten years of experience.
Semhar Woldeyesus is writer whose primary reporting interests include design, music and culture.
Grace is Associate Editor at The Genteel and a contributing writer from London, where she has recently graduated with a First-Class degree in English from Loughborough University.
Erin hails from the San Francisco Bay Area, but has called Madrid home for the last four years.
Katie is a Ph.D researcher studying at Loughborough University. She has a flare for fashion and loves writing.
How do high-end designers and fashion houses influence the collections of high street brands? Why do many low-priced pieces look strikingly similar to last season's designer-wear? David Walmsley sheds light on these questions by discussing several permutations of the "trickle-down theory".
Mumbai's Dharavi area is famous for being one of the biggest slums in Asia (and the setting of Danny Boyle's Slumdog Millionaire). But do you know about its thriving leather handbag industry?
In the era of the dilettante, the specialist truly is king. While many individuals make purchases based on convenience and prevalence, a burgeoning international collective of connoisseurs are attuned to the old world values of craftsmanship, detailed design, sincerity and knowledge. These values allow them a deeper level of involvement with the items, sounds, scenes and comrades they choose to surround themselves with.
Loewe has long been a cornerstone of the Spanish high-end fashion market, yet it remains relatively unknown elsewhere. Not only is the brand surviving the serious economic troubles in Spain, but it seems poised to gain global popularity due to its under-the-radar appeal.
Eco has become fashionable, and the public appears to be buying it - in more ways than one. But with the concept of fashion essentially depending on the turnover of tastes, is sustainable fashion here to stay or will it just move to the back of our closets?
When it comes to nudity in fashion magazines, North Americans continue to dig their heels while the Europeans continue to dress down in the name of art and style. American-born yet London-based editor of PETRI(E) Inventory 66, Zadrian Smith, weighs in on this controversial subject to help The Genteel get to the bottom of North American's apparent fear of nudity.
It's hard to believe that only 20 years ago, the concept of a fashion industry was not applicable to Russia at all. During the Soviet era, talented Russian fashion designers were working their craft under a centralized system, unwittingly laying the foundations for a next generation of fashion designers that would be operating in a capitalist society. Today, Russia is a country with its own fashion houses, churning seasonal prêt-à-porter and haute couture fashion weeks.
In a formidable social climate, ravaged by economic and political hardship, ladies, I'm pleased to say it has been officially confirmed that our minds are often focused on what's important in life - fashion, of course.
Parisian women have long been regarded as the ultimate symbols of elegance and chic. But is this, in fact, a reality? Photographer Baudouin (yes, a one name wonder) sets out to uncover the world of Parisian women, resulting in the eclectic photo series, 75 Parisiennes.
Couture designers will go to great lengths to tell a story. On the runway, sky-high heels routinely help deliver whimsical plotlines - no matter how impractical they appear. Meanwhile, outrageous, experimental archetypes are elevating street style around the world. But could you withstand the pain?
F. Scott Fitzgerald, Vladimir Nabokov, Jackson Pollock, Alfred Hitchcock and Man Ray: men who have shaped the arts in the 20th century. But look closely at their shadows, and you'll see their unsung partners, better halves, and, in many cases, worst enemies - in female form.
When we consider the tumultuous time of World War I (WWI), our thoughts naturally gravitate towards the grief and conflict that plagued the lives of those involved. But what has yet to be universally noted is that the war also brought one of the most fruitful art movements of our time.
With the recent release of the Yves Saint Laurent biopic we reflect on the brand of today with this video promotion of Saint Laurent's new ballet shoe.
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The Genteel unearths the forces shaping global fashion and design through the lens of business, culture, society and best kept secrets.
A worldwide collective of contributors currently form The Genteel. On a daily basis our team dispatches thought-provoking and insightful articles from the streets of Oslo, Toronto, Beirut, Moscow, United Arab Emirates, Seoul and beyond.
