#thecraze

[thecraze-y]

THE DOWNFALL OF VOGUE

My dream job was to work at Vogue as an editor. And it’s not that I don’t want to work as an editor anymore, but more that I want to work somewhere else. Vogue used to be the capital of fashion magazines. The best of the best worked there and everyone from teens to adults picked one up to read about the latest culture news. Sadly, that isn’t true anymore. At least not right now.

As time goes on, they have been doing less to keep themselves relevant. Yes, they covered Taylor Swift’s engagement outfit. British Vogue’s article “Are Boyfriends Out of Style?” had a lot of buzz. It went viral on TikTok and now everyone is talking about it. Even if it wasn’t super deep, it was still something people of all ages could resonate and want to read. Sadly, that is the only good thing that has come out of the company recently.

A couple days ago Vogue came out with the cover for a new edition. This is the cover:

There are a lot of things wrong with it. Starting off, it looks AI generated. The pants shadows look sort of too refined, as if they had been drawn on. Next, it’s so out-of-the ordinary for Vogue, and not in a good way. The galaxy is a lot and sort of takes up your attention. The gaze doesn’t have a fixed point to focus on, even if Timothee Chalamet is covering half the page. There’s also words on the side next to him but sadly my computer will not let me download the photo, but they say “The universe according to Timothee” and in smaller letters under it “‘My superpower is my fearlessness.’” You can look it up on Instagram. I’m not the only one who thinks this is a bad cover, though. Here are some comments I found on pages while scrolling through the different magazines and accounts posting the photo.

“Vogue x Canva”

“Is this a real cover?”

“Girl…”

“Is this a Vogue magazine cover?”

I’m not including their usernames for privacy purposes, but my point still stands. It doesn’t look professionally done. I could design that on Canva. Of course I’m aware photography went on behind the scenes but the editing and the end product is the most important part. It’s what they send out to everyone. People like me don’t think about all the behind-the-scenes steps because honestly? They don’t matter to the consumers and it doesn’t have to either. They just are the people who see the end result.

I know this all may seem a little harsh but if I’m being honest this is just so disappointing to see. Vogue used to be a fashion capital. Everyone knew about it and wanted a copy. Now it just looks cheap, even when Chloe Malle herself said in a New York Times article that she wanted to pull back on monthly magazines and start making “higher quality” magazines that the people deserved. This is the opposite. Nice, glossy paper can’t take away from ugly visuals.

On top of this, Teen Vogue recently laid off 70% of their staff. When I was on Substack, I saw posts about this topic there as well. At first, Teen Vogue had been making important articles about politics and the state of the world in a way that teens and young adults could read that would be engaging. Now that they’ve taken the opportunity to keep doing that on a regular basis, they’re failing. Then the New York Times wrote that Vogue announced that they were going to essentially combine Teen Vogue with them, taking out the whole point of it being for teens.

While Chloe Malle has only been there for a couple months, which I can acknowledge isn’t that long, she was in charge of firing all the people at Teen Vogue. This was also after Versha Sharma, the original editor-in-chief of Teen Vogue, left. And, did you know, there are no black women left at Teen Vogue according to Substack (sounds suspicious I know but I promise I looked at the pages of people who worked there)? None. Zero. Nada. According to an article from Business Vogue called Teen Vogue is Joining Vogue.com that “As a dedicated pillar on Vogue, Teen Vogue will focus its content on career development, cultural leadership and other issues that matter most to young people, according to the publication.” There are so many problems with this statement alone. As a teen, I can say this is not what we are interested in. The real problems that they had been writing about like pollution and politics are so much more relevant to us right now and so much more important in this society.

But I’m not only placing this on Chloe Malle. Anna Wintour had a big part of this as well. She is still extremely involved but I am placing the focus on the new leader so you can see what a problem she is becoming. She is being put in charge of everything and Vogue is becoming almost a dictatorship with true censorship, as was shown by the mass firing of the people that made the publication what it was. While those are strong words, what they are doing is also having a strong impact. A negative one, if I’m being honest.

There obviously was a lack of thought behind every single thing I’ve said and pointed out here. Where is the PR? I don’t know much about business, but the amount of backlash they’re receiving can’t be good. Especially when I really haven’t seen a statement released in defense of their company. Even though I’m writing this a day after the firing happened and the day the cover was released, most companies cover their issues quicker than this.

All of this is pushing them into a deeper hole that they need to figure out how to crawl out of, and quickly. They are failing at making people want to buy their issues or engage in their content, whether there are good intentions behind their actions or not. It’s frustrating to see such a successful company that used to bring people so much joy, take away what made it interesting. Maybe I’m wrong about some things but I do know that they need to get it together or they will not be coming back from these mistakes.

[thecraze-y]

[thecraze-y]

WHY IS ‘THE ROW’ SO FAMOUS?

To be honest, it’s kind of boring. There’s nothing special about it. But before I get ahead of myself, let me start with what The Row is.

The Row is a high-fashion brand created by the Olsen twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. It started in 2006. They used to be young actors, namely playing the same girl named Michelle Tanner in Full House. A lot of people might also know their younger sister, Elizabeth Olsen, who has worn a lot of their clothes at events. Others, as it says on 10 Famous Faces in the Row’s Celebrity Fan Club by Alice Cary from British Vogue, like Zoe Kravitz, Gigi Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and more have been seen out wearing their clothes.

So now you know what it’s about. Let’s start with what it says on their website.

In the About Us section, it says “Focusing on exceptional fabrics, impeccable details, and precise tailoring, the house combines a timeless perspective with subtle attitudes which form an irreverent classic signature.” They state exactly why they’re famous. They pay attention to details most don’t, like the stitching or the fabric. It isn’t just about how nice it looks (not that they don’t care about that) but also about how it feels and was made. Things like nice silk, really soft cashmere, and hand-picked cotton are all put into these pieces just so that they can feel better and look good at the same time. All this makes them higher-end than most things because they put so much time and effort into the tiny things, which become the center of attention and force you to appreciate them more.

Another thing is quiet luxury. If you look at the Ready-To-Wear on their website, nothing is outstated. To be honest, it looks like it could just be bought at a local store (no offense). According to Quiet Luxury: Why This Trend Won’t Pass Away from Fashion United, “It is about prosperity and subtle wealth. Especially in times of crisis, quiet luxury is becoming more common.” The celebrities don’t seem to want to flaunt their wealth. They’re okay with not always looking rich. Along with that, I think the reason the article talks about “in times of crisis” is because it just would not be appropriate. If people are struggling out there and they’re out here wearing Chanel, Gucci, and things like that, it might not send out a great message to the public. It would show that they might not care because they still have stuff that others don’t. The Row is subtle enough that people might not notice that these people are wearing luxury items. It shows wealth, but subtly.

Speaking of subtle wealth, this company has mastered that with some rules they set. You’re probably asking ‘What rules could she be talking about related to a fashion company?’ I asked myself that too when I first saw it. To answer, they don’t allow phones at their shows. No, they prefer to give people paper which raises a lot of opinions. From the article What a No-Phone Fashion Show Means in the Social Media Era by Isabelle Truman for Vogue Business, “‘I don’t have a The Row store anywhere near me, there’s no way I could experience whatever it is they do in person. I’d only get that through the internet. They know this,’ fashion archivist Kim Russell says. ‘It’s a move to craft a certain demographic and keep it that way.’”

Judging by this, the rule caught people’s attention. People think that it’s a way to keep it away from the public eye, to lure them in, or to be able to control what people see around the company. Obviously, that has a certain allure. Not being able to see something so important in the fashion industry would make it hard to want to stay away. On top of that it makes it seem high-class in a way. As if only the richest and most exclusive people can see it which makes other people seem lesser-than. The ironic part about that is they are the definition of quiet luxury, but the debate around their brand is definitely not.

Now, let’s make like a burrito and wrap it up! If you didn’t actually pay attention while reading this, I get it. But to make it simple, The Row is important because of three main things, details that normal people wouldn’t notice, being rich but quietly, and being rich, quiet, AND exclusive. Cool, right? I hope you learned something new while reading this because I know I did, and I know quite a lot about fashion.

12/12/24 || @myversionofvogue

[thecraze-y]

WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF CHIC?

People say the word chic all the time. According to the Oxford dictionary, the literal definition of it is “elegantly and stylishly fashionable” and while that is true, there is more to it than that. There’s a history. A story behind it.

The word chic first originated from the French word, well, chic which first meant “subtlety.” It could also be related to German where a similar word meant tack or skill. However, from there it kept evolving. In 1856, Guztave Flaubert’s novel Madame Bovary he uses the word as slang to describe people as stylish. Directly afterwards the word started to be used how we know it now. Then in 1938, Harper’s BAZAAR described Balenciaga, saying, “’Balenciaga abides by the law that elimination is chic’” and then 5 years later the word appeared The Firebrand of Florence someone says, “‘My weakness is chicness.’” After all this, in 1966, Yves Saint Laurent made Le Tuxedo which launched minimalism for women. Finally for the 1900’s, models like Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell defined “model chic” which was essentially when models were off duty. Sub-genres had really started to pop up by then, like “boho-chic” and “minimalist chic” being two big ones.

Now, there are tons of little things about the sub-genres but for the overall idea it doesn’t really matter. Now that you know the backstory, we can get into what it is now and how people, and I, view it.

The word isn’t used much in modern times any more. Instead there have been words like “brat” and “cunty.” This shows that it doesn’t just mean stylish. It could also mean what people consider popular and not just in a fashionable way. Looking up what chic means now, it just presented me with articles like “Latest Fashion and Style Trends from 2025” from Who What Wear and something about the Paris fashion week street-style trends by Vogue.

Obviously its meaning has shifted. Where it used to be minimalist and structured like the Little Black Dress by Chanel or outfits by Yves Saint Laurent, the sub-genres have almost taken over. What once used to have a solid definition is now split up into dozens of aesthetics and almost vibes with less nuance.

Because of that, chic can essentially be defined as what was popular at the time, because now style is considered such a subjective thing. While fast fashion is such a big thing, like Shein and Zara. People can’t afford luxury items, and so the word can’t stay exclusive to big designers anymore. Focus on fashion has shifted over time and especially since the word was the most used. The word doesn’t just belong to French people or designers anymore. It belongs to everyone.

10/23/2025 || @myversionofvogue

[thecraze-y]

ETHICS OF STEVE MADDEN

When I went to Steve Madden’s showroom (yes I did, it was so cool) the whole time I was asking myself a question. How many of these designs were copied? As the meeting with the buyers went on I got some answers. They literally pointed out some of the dupes of bigger designer brands. But then another question arose. How ethical was this?

Designers and their teams spend a lot of time on their collections. It isn’t usually just a quick thing. They have to not only keep up with, but predict, the trends. On top of that, they have to figure out a way to appeal to the public and get their things out there so people will buy them. Especially because they’re so expensive. But effort is put into this. A lot of it.

Now, I'm not saying Steve Madden doesn’t. However, the strategy of his company makes it easier to keep up. You could even call it leverage. Instead of using time to figure out what will become big next, they can look at other companies' designs and go “that one”. An example of that is when they did that with Converse and ended up in a lawsuit with the other company because he “allegedly” copied two of their patented sneaker designs in 2020. His rebuttal was that the tread of the shoe ran the full length of the sole, but the design from Converse had that only covering the rear portion of the sole. The lawsuit settled with Converse agreeing to dismiss all claims, though that didn’t make them wrong. But because he copies, or dupes, their designs so closely, this allows them more time to actually make the shoes. However, he has had a reputation of having troubles with other companies such as Balenciaga, Valentino and even Alexander McQueen, even losing to some of them. Some companies that have similar strategies are ones like Zara and H&M, which are both fast fashion.

If he got into so many lawsuits, I feel like that makes it pretty unethical. Dupes are fine, to a point. His whole thing is that he’s trying to make fashion affordable, which is okay. Not everyone can afford 700 dollar sandals that you could find at a Walmart. But affordability is also relative. His shoes and clothing are still usually around 75+ dollars and leaning more towards the 100-200$ range. Yes, they offer free shipping for most of it and yes, it is better than really expensive things. But realistically? For the average person buying some of these it could still put a pretty major dent in their wallet. On the other hand, this comes back around to my whole thing about exclusivity. What if they aren’t always meant to be affordable? It’s good for people to have access to these things but it dismisses so much hard work from everyone in the other companies. It doesn’t seem morally correct to just copy almost every trend you see.

All of this just goes back to my main point. Maybe it’s not even just about grabbing people’s attention by making cheap things. Steve Madden does have some of his own designs. However, they still rely pretty heavily on other peoples’ ideas. So how is that fair to the original companies?

*Shoes from Converse on the top, Steve Madden’s on the bottom:

09/09/25 || @myversionofvogue

[cardioplus]

#Fitness: #TheCraze #vs.#Reality The pursuit of personal fitness has become increasingly popular in past several decades. Today, there are hundreds of magazines, websites, blogs, books and articles available on every possible fitness topic, from Pilates to paleo diets. Some believe the fitness craze is partially a result of society’s obsession with celebrities and pop culture icons, which has led to unrealistic beauty and body image expectations. Even as fitness industry revenues soar to record levels, obesity rates also soar in the United States. More people have become increasingly sedentary over the past century. Many of us simply spend too much time sitting and not enough time moving. Widely available, unhealthy and inexpensive processed food is another big issue. Poor diet and lack of exercise can be directly correlated to a substantial rise in health issues, from cardiovascular disease to diabetes. Many companies claim to offer the ultimate fitness product, workout routine, diet plan, supplement or solution. The truth is: There is no silver bullet. Getting fit and staying fit takes work and dedication. Millions of people struggle with managing their weight. Many more are unsatisfied with their level of physical fitness. Fortunately, there are many ways to become more active, live a healthier lifestyle and feel more confident. Getting fit is possible for almost anyone with the right attitude and good information. First, it’s helpful to understand why being active is so important for overall health and wellness. (at Cardio Plus+ International) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bp-arMFAm34/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14aag5ynzrju7

[sghost]

SOMETIMES WEARETHECRUMBSSOMETIMESWEARETHECRAZE. BY SLOW GHOST 2012 AND BRIAN SZENTE IN JULY 2018. #brianszente #slowghost #wearethecrumbs #wearethecraze #thecraze #thecrumbs #contemporaryart #contemporaryartist #dcartist #Helldub #newartvision #sometimes #dccrazy

[theqweens]

#theCraze it's Coming!!! 😏😋🤗 #hiphop #rap #music #dance #fashion #nyc #theQweens (at New York, New York)