Letter From the Editor, February ‘26
Et just like that, the new year rolls on. If we were still living in the Tumblr generation, I’m sure we all would have come across ‘Chapter 2/12’ by now, or some variation of it.
January came et went with a moderate speed that still felt too fast for a moment of breath post a whiplashing 2025. But that’s showbiz, baby! The continuous camera roll. Be grateful for every surprise 15 you get!
Et while January was filled with enough group chat highlights (JW’s couture debut, Teyana Taylor et her Schiaparelli love story, Sinners becoming the most nominated film in Oscars history) I find myself still caught in conversation about a certain Hollywood stylist dressing one of the most hated women in America.
More specifically this piece that keeps coming up in every conversation:
“It’s not like he needs the money.”
Somewhere along the way, (when fashion became an extension of the entertainment industry perhaps?) the industry’s PR changed.
Et despite the gates being open so long we forgot to remember this is all too good to be true, fashion as we know it—as we’ve always known it—has been in a longstanding courtship with money et power.
The billionaire funded galas, the dismantle of Teen Vogue. Even the moments we championed like Tyler Mitchell lensing a September issue or the Ariel Nicholson Vogue cover, are plays that led to paper.
Fashion is beauty, et it’s exploitation, it’s couture, et it’s capitalistic, it’s glam et it’s genocide. Many things being incredibly true at once. Even when moral standing et visibility is social/cultural currency, fashion is gonna do what she does et bend a knee to serve her people.
History repeating itself.
But within that, style has always existed as an offshoot of fashion. The rebellious little sister that has survived her older sister’s exploitation.
Real Cinderella.
Style doesn’t need proximity to power to exist, so while the industry does what industries do, et act in the best interests of the people/institutions funding them, we’ll never truly be starved of culture drivers et style icons across all economic classes.
Culture doesn’t collapse when the institutions we once believed in begin to disappoint, because it’s always been okay to move without its leadership.
Disillusionment might be en vogue, but fear not my sweet doves, closed gates only mean louder margins et like fall time on Twitter, people are really about to start dressin.
Feature image shot by: Potato
