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.
Semhar Woldeyesus is writer whose primary reporting interests include design, music and culture.
Cristina reports for The Genteel from Rome. She is a professional freelance journalist with ten years of experience.
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.
Amanda is a photographer and writer with a love for travel, fashion, design and adventure.
When Daniele Tamagni, a young Italian photographer, went on an assignment to Congo in 2006, he encountered a surreal sight that he did not expect to see. Against the backdrop of a Brazzaville shantytown, in a country ravaged by civil wars, bombings and suffering, he saw groups of spectacularly dressed men (and few women) in the streets.
Although we may not consider the Middle East as the most erotic place in the world, poet, translator and cultural crusader, Joumana Haddad knows better.
According to fashion historian Caroline Cox, "handbags are the most silent and loyal of servants", carrying, protecting and transporting some of our most precious cargo. Today, with the rise of fashion blogs and magazine articles focusing on the bag and its contents, the handbag can be viewed as central to the construction and communication of identity.
When I first met Sheikha Hend al Qassemi through a mutual friend in Doha, she wanted to show me some of her favourite art in the city. Unfortunately, the gallery that held the art was closed, but no matter; with a few kind words and a persuasive smile, we were soon admiring the works she was so keen to share. If Hend really wants something, she makes it happen.
Here comes the bride, all dressed in - black? Designer collections over the last two seasons have struck an unconventional chord in bridal wear. From Vera Wang's gothic gowns to short hemlines at Oscar de la Renta, nothing seems sacred anymore in the highly traditionalist world of puritan romance. Do these unconventional dresses reflect changing attitudes about women and marriage; or are they merely another trend in the fashion turnstile? Sabrina Maddeaux examines the history of bridal wear for some answers.
Margaret Thatcher's wardrobe, like her political career, was conservative and carefully constructed. Inspired by the upcoming release of The Iron Lady, Sabrina Maddeaux examines Thatcher's attitudes towards fashion throughout the years, and shows that in politics, fashion really does matter.
Katarina Kuruc deconstructs the popularity of personal style blogs by linking them to contemporary notions of self expression and individualism.
More than just being an aesthetic eyesore, bathroom design flaws have become a political and civil rights issue in the fight for "potty parity." Sabrina Maddeaux discusses the push for "porcelain privilege".
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.
