NYU Program Board’s Post

In this poignant personal essay, Finn, a 5'10" slim black model from the South, bares her experiences navigating the racial divides and cultural segregation within the high fashion editorial world. Despite possessing the rarified measurements and stature coveted on runways, Finn details the paradox of feeling like an outlier in multiple spheres - too slender for celebrated body ideals in her Southern roots, yet still excluded from elite European luxury circles due to her ethnicity. With searing honesty, Finn confronts the dichotomy of luxury brands readily appropriating urban aesthetics for marketing while gatekeeping who gets embraced as the epitome of sophistication. She questions whether to persist in dismantling biases from within or forge autonomous spaces celebrating underrepresented narratives. The essay is a nuanced exploration of belonging, redefining beauty standards, and Finn's pursuit of advancing an inclusive vision of luxury beyond narrow corporeal confines. #FashionEssay #LuxuryRedefined #BeautyBeyondBinary #ModelDiary #RepresentationMatters #SouthernRenaissance #BlackExcellence #InclusiveEditorial #ExpandingLuxury #BodyNarratives #ModernSophistication #FashionVoices #PeripheralPerspectives #UnboundingBeauty #CulturalCurrency

My illustrated series for #Houbigant explored the Royal theme, setting every #fragrance in a luxurious and opulent background, relating every #perfume to a specific character: https://bit.ly/3Cv92Lu

https://lnkd.in/guxZ8AX8 What do Met Gala looks tell us about our cultural perception of beauty? How does that perception align (or fail to align) with transcendental beauty? Check out my article on Crisis to learn more.

I have mixed emotions about the 2025 Met Gala theme. Fashion has always been personal—taking me back to my childhood days of playing dress-up in my grandmother’s back room, surrounded by her perfume, jewelry, and copies of EBONY and ESSENCE. She used to lay out dresses for my friend Britney and me—some she had sewn herself. Her creativity was inspiring and part of a larger legacy of Black artistry—rooted in resourcefulness, innovation, and a deep sense of community. When the Met announced next year’s show and the 2025 Met Gala theme, Superfine: Tailoring Black Style, those memories came rushing back. The theme spotlights the “Black dandy”—known for his elegant, bold style. Curated by Monica Miller, it also highlights how Black fashion has always been about more than just clothes—it’s a form of expression, resistance, and empowerment. As a fashion lover and Multicultural Communications expert, I’m excited but concerned. This is a chance to truly celebrate Black creativity, but there’s also a huge risk of tokenism and appropriation. We need more than acknowledgment—we need real investment in Black artists and communities. The Cut said it best: “It’ll be interesting to see how a space like the Met…and an industry like fashion, which is not known for inclusivity, will approach this topic.” This is an opportunity for the fashion industry to elevate Black stylists, designers, and creative teams—ensuring they’re celebrated, compensated, and given a lasting seat at the table. https://bit.ly/4eDUXPN What do you think of the 2025 Met Gala theme? How can we ensure this is a movement, not just a moment? #Fashion #BlackCreativity #DEI #MetGala2025

When’s the last time you broke a rule? I once heard Kenneth Downing tell a fashion show audience, “We must wear white with abandon.” This piece of fashion advice is about so much more than fashion. If you grew up hearing, “No white before Memorial Day,” then you know: there are unwritten rules about fashion, about fitting in, about knowing how to project your part of the club (and accidentally projecting you’re not.) Rick Rubin talks about rules in his book on Creativity. “Rules direct us to average behaviors.” I don’t know anybody who sets out to be average. These days I write humorous mysteries with characters that break rules for the sake of solving mysteries in their respective hometowns. (Rule followers generally don’t become amateur sleuths and try to solve crimes.) I don’t think Ken Downing was just talking about wearing white. Wearing white with abandon is about challenging rules that no longer serve us, about doing things people don’t expect us to do. It’s about doing what we want when we want, enjoying the choices available to us, and participating in our own narratives. We should do a lot of things with abandon. You’ve got about a week before Memorial Day to break this fashion rule. Be a rebel and see where it takes you. #creativity #personaldevelopment #whatinspiresme

New York City's fashion business is shrinking. According to a new McKinsey report, the industry employs 50,000 fewer people than it did 10 years ago, and the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services it produces has declined steadily. My colleague and report author, Joëlle Grunberg, penned an Op Ed in the New York Daily News sharing suggested approaches that could help the region's fashion sector bolster its global relevance. Read our full report "At a crossroads - New York’s status as a global fashion capital" https://lnkd.in/eUFJqPU4 #NYCFashionWeek #Fashion 📸 👠 🗽

When your fashion choice becomes the talk of Capitol Hill! 🤣❄️ You know that feeling when you check the weather app, and it says "freezing," but your heart says "be yourself"? That was Senator John Fetterman yesterday at the inauguration, what might be the most talked-about outfit of 2025! Fun fact: While attendees typically opt for formal black shoes at inaugural events, our man chose comfort with style – sporting the same running shoes I wear that too right in the FRONT ROW!! (Great minds think alike, Senator! 👟) Here's what makes this moment golden:  ✓ Freezing temperatures? Check  ✓ Historical ceremony? Check  ✓ Breaking fashion norms? Double check! I've been to my fair share of formal events, but this one takes the cake. Remember the time we all thought wearing sneakers to wedding receptions was revolutionary? Senator Federmann just raised the bar to presidential inauguration level! The big question: Was this a "dressed for success" moment, a "comfort over convention" statement, or simply a "I march to my own beat" declaration? Those #On shoes aren't just any running shoes – they're becoming quite the power move in Washington.  (Trust me, your feet will thank you after those long Capitol hallway walks! 😉) What's your take on this? Would you rock sneakers with a hoodie and shorts to a formal event or Board meeting? Drop your thoughts below! Bonus points if you share your most daring dress code story! #comfortablepolitics #beyourself #powermoves #onrunning P.S. To all my fellow comfort-seekers out there – sometimes the best dress code is the one that makes you smile! 😊

Enchanting-beauty are the only words that come to mind when seeing Madelyn Clines’ dress at the Met Gala this weekend. 🔗 CHECK OUT THE FULL BLOG WITH THE LINK BELOW https://lnkd.in/gRjjbtJE

Our Instagram journey has officially kicked off! Follow us for exclusive insights into sustainable fashion, cultural practices, and beyond. Join the conversation, share your knowledge, and create synergies! #SustainableFashion #CulturalInsights #AssemblageJournal #Recycling #AssemblageJournal #FashionEducation #SustainableDevelopment #ProfessionalExcellence, #FashionIndustry