This issue takes the concept of “form follows function” and applies it to fashion. Purpose Dressing is all about the inspirations and motivations behind clothing choices, whether it be the communities we belong to, the interests we hold, our work, and even the natural influences that we draw from. Our clothing can go beyond functionality to demonstrate our values, passions and beliefs, and can even distinctly eschew functionality for a different purpose altogether.

social media has taught us that everyone can be categorized, understood and either written off or accepted based on certain criteria. Now, we see a carabiner and matcha latte and we think, “yes, I know who you are.” The categorizing allows us to make sense of the real world the same way we make sense of the internet.

At the root of the office siren trend is the desire to express oneself in the workplace. For Gen Z, the transition to the workplace has been fraught. From online classes weakening our social muscle to remote internships robbing us of an introduction to the office setting, many young people struggle to not only figure out how to express themselves at work but also how to be themselves as a working adult. Work life balance and the 5 to 9 are on many folks' minds, especially with the economy forcing many to take on jobs that are not well aligned with their goals or interests. 

Somehow by removing the taboo placed on exposing the body, more room is created to use the body and the self as a vessel for self expression rather than something to cover or uncover as an act of defiance. I saw this in the way that Berliners used texture, color and cut to create interest in their outfits that I felt was more akin to art than fashion traditionally.

Somehow by removing the taboo placed on exposing the body, more room is created to use the body and the self as a vessel for self expression rather than something to cover or uncover as an act of defiance. I saw this in the way that Berliners used texture, color and cut to create interest in their outfits that I felt was more akin to art than fashion traditionally.

A theory for the purse-obsessed.

The purse is a vessel. It’s up to its owner the items and therefore energies that they cultivate within it.

when did the private space of the purse become a public spectacle? And why are we so curious to know what’s inside?

To adorn is to appreciate beauty and to desire to be close to it at all times.