Nerds of Today: Fashion and Gamers.

Video game character outfits have evolved from the blue overalls and red shirts we’ve grown familiar with.

Pocket protectors, jam jar glasses, and ill fitting clothing - retro nerds weren’t exactly on the cutting edge of fashion.

But today you might think twice when seeing a self-identified gamer. Contemporary gamers are beginning to carve out a more stylish name for themselves. Conventions are full of all black outfits, designer bags, and even influencers.

Harper’s Bazaar attributes this to an actual shift in mentality regarding gaming. No longer are teenaged boys the face of modern gaming; Women, seniors, parents, working professionals all can bond over the interactive narratives that videogames have evolved into. Former Harper’s Bazaar contributor Lucy Yeomans has this to say about the direction of games:

”Gaming feels like the next step in the content evolution. People are taking it seriously. All you need is to look at the numbers to know that gaming is where it’s going.”

Gaming is getting bigger, more artistic, more accessible - but what does this mean for gamers themselves? The social acceptance surrounding games is giving gamers confidence in themselves, going outside the bubble of comfort and into a more fashionable scene.

Widely known pro-gaming group FaZe Clan has gamers-turned-models in their flock. One, Nate Hill of the FaZe Clan has modeled multiple times at New York Fashion Week. Another professional gamer and influencer Ben Lupo explained to Wired the contrast between the now-fashionable modern gamers and how he viewed himself starting out in gaming.

“Before Fortnite and all that stuff blew up, I never really considered myself as someone who tried to maintain some level of fashion sense whatsoever, if you look back 10 years, being a gamer was very unfashionable. I wore jeans and a t-shirt and that’s that. Now, I have nice shoes,”

The combination of the rise of e-sports, influencer culture, and gamers releasing their own merch has propelled the gamer style into what it is today: Modified and fashionable athletic wear, largely. Comfortable clothing that can be effortlessly been paired with high price tag luxury items like a Gucci t-shirt is what makes up the top influencers’ wardrobes, projecting this uniform onto their fans.

As the gamer demographic grows, so too does the marketing strategies of many companies. You can pick up a Play Station 5 at Shoppers Drug Mart, and Fortnite logo-adorned clothing is available at Wal-Mart. The growing market of nerds with disposable income and a new desire to look good is hard for any company to ignore. In 2016 Louis Vuitton created campaign with virtual model Lightening, a character from Final Fantasy. The Sims have collaborated with high-fashion brad Moschino for in-game clothing, and even fashionista Kim Kardashian created her own mobile game - Kim Kardashian: Hollywood.

Gaming has come a long way from being inaccessible, expensive machines only playable at home to massive powerful computers, portable systems, and captivating mobile games. The scope of games is widening each year, and so is the culture of gaming. Having media recognition, brands sponsoring e-sports, and more representation and acceptance of gamers, means more confidence this group will have. From being collectively bullied by society to being one of the fastest growing industries, both for developers and influencers, don’t count out gamer’s sense of fashion - and the road it will take.

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Cassidy Shea

Cassidy is a second year student in Algonquin College's Professional Writing Program. Her interests include fashion, activism, and digital art. Passionate to work in a field that directly helps people. If you're looking for a debate or a gaming partner look no further.

2020’s Five Best Dressed Celebrities

As 2020 winds down, we can only hope that with the turn of the clock from 11:59pm to 12:00am on January 1st, comes a fresh start for 2021. Although the beginning of next year will be far from perfect (we’ve still got a long way to go) we must do the best we can to start it on the right foot. Meanwhile, lets reminisce in celebrity styles in 2020 and acknowledge the years top fashion icons, garment gods and goddesses, wardrobe warriors, and outfit Olympians.

5. Normcore streetwear maven, Shia Labeouf

At first glance, Shia may appear to have a style that says, “I don’t give a sh*t.” And while that is partly true, Shia is the epitome of personal fashion—finding exactly what you like and sticking to it. In a 2020 interview with Sean Evans, he mentions that he’s “big into shapes” and is not concerned about trends. LaBeouf can be spotted wearing anything from oversized Patagonia fleece sweaters, skinny jeans, combat boots, Uggs, and even tights on some occasions. Although not evident to most, Shia is a streetwear maven. For an entire Instagram dedicated to archiving Shia’s looks, click here!

Photo courtesy of upscalehype.com / no copyright infringement intended

4. Preppy colour God, Tyler the Creator

Tyler has been heavily involved in fashion since the inception of his career more than a decade ago. Evolving from OFWGKTA branded tees and hoodies, to creating his own majorly successful label Golf (Wang/La Fleur), he’s become known for his prep-inspired street style. Usually seen donning cropped pants, vests, a cornucopia of different hats, cardigans, loafers, the list goes on. Tyler is always evolving, and it’s very interesting to watch and see what he comes up with next. Check out PopSugar’s slideshow of Tyler’s Best Style Moments.

Original image source unknown / no copyright infringement intended

3. Relatability queen, Emma Chamberlain

YouTube and Instagram personality Emma Chamberlain probably has the most relatable wardrobe of any of these celebs, and she kills it—every. Damn. Time. Her wardrobe is a welcome mix of luxury pieces, thrifted threads, and DIY items. Her looks are diverse enough that it’s difficult to label her style as anything concrete. Some of her past looks are inspired by workwear, streetwear, high-fashion, and lazy Sunday vibes. Emma often posts her outfits on her personal Instagram account—check it out here!

Photo courtesy of dressthenines.com / no copyright infringement intended

2. Mr. sophisticated and refined, Jeff Goldblum

When he isn’t Dr. Ian Malcolm, he’s Jeff Goldblum: master of sophisticated menswear. Goldblum is often cloaked in loud Prada camp collar shirts and Yves Saint Laurent two-piece suits. What Goldblum does better than almost any other celebrity (save maybe for Johnny Depp) is rock a nice pair of glasses…and he has many of them. The day that Jeff Goldblum isn’t looking dapper, is the day the world will end. Click here for a compilation of Goldblum’s best outfits curated by GQ Magazine.

Photo courtesy of GQ.com / no copyright infringement intended

1. Boundary breaking wardrobe warrior and 2020’s king of fashion, Harry Styles

Harry Styles. Harry Styles. Harry Styles. Say it once, then say it again. Styles is majorly responsible for the progress we’ve made thus far in tearing down gender norms in fashion. Just last week, he graced the cover of Vogue Magazine donning a blue and black ruffled Gucci ball-gown underneath an elegant black tailored blazer—and I’m here for it. Knits, animals prints, suits—Styles wears it all, regardless of gender labels or social norms—and he’s the most fashion forward celebrity because of that. He’s one of the few people that looks good in virtually everything he wears. For a comprehensive archive of Styles fits, click here!

Photo courtesy of whowhatwear.com / no copyright infringement intended

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Chad Hetherington

A fashion enthusiast and leisurely, self directed pupil of philosophy, Chad loves nothing more than love itself. In his free time, you’ll probably find him playing video games, spending time with his tight knit friends and family, or browsing for clothes.

Fashion and Working Women: A Tale of Two Trials

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From heels to hair, how does professional attire harm the working woman?

Workplace equality has come a long way: women are able to work, men are able to take maternity leave to help their families, and diversity action plans have made it a priority to employ people from all walks of life. Still, in Canada and globally, we see how greatly our culture of beauty affects all things, the workplace included. Beauty standards create unsafe, unproductive, and uncomfortable work environments for women. Our cultural view of what women’s beauty has infiltrated the professional standards we hold women to.

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  One of the ways beauty standards and misogyny rear their ugly heads in the workplace is when policies take issue with women of colour wearing their hair in its natural state; an issue predominantly experienced by black women in North America. A survey conducted by Perception Institute concluded that, on average, black women perceive a level of social stigma while wearing their hair naturally (not straightened or relaxed).

This bias that black women’s hair is less “professional” (according to Perception Institute) is considered detrimental to their professional development and their overall comfort in the workplace.

The harmful beauty standards the West is perpetuating are increasingly obvious when we see what people like Leila have experienced. Leila (an alias used for protection) works in a consultancy firm and recalls her experiences with harmful beauty standards:

            "I am West African, and I work at a consultancy firm in London. I am always being made to feel that my natural hair gives the impression that I am unprofessional…A few years ago I had my hair styled in cornrows and I was asked quite blatantly by my boss how long it would be before my hair was back to 'normal'.           

This example, unfortunately, is far too common in Western countries.

Companies perpetuate the idea that natural afros, locks, and braids are unkempt and unprofessional. In 2010, Chasity Jones experienced a similar incident to Leila, when a job offer came with an ultimatum –“Cut off your locks if you would like to work here.” Upon refusal, Jones lost her job offer.

The grasp of beauty standards extends into uniforms as well. Internationally, women are often required to wear dresses, high heels, and makeup for their uniforms.

A staple of feminine “professional” attire is well-kept hair and makeup. Often, dress codes differ for men and women –men are encouraged to wear suits which are generally more versatile and moveable than the restrictive skirts and dresses women must wear. The Ontario Human Rights Commission affirms these experiences by stating: “Sexualized and gender-specific dress codes are all too common in some restaurants and bars and can be found in other services… These kinds of dress codes reinforce stereotypical and sexist notions about how women should work and may violate Ontario’s Human Rights Code.” However, the general rule is that “female employees should not be expected to meet more difficult requirements than male employees.”

High heels in the workplace, are specifically proven to be extraordinarily detrimental. James Hill, the president of the Ontario Podiatric Medical Association states “Clinical evidence demonstrates that wearing high-heeled shoes causes a much higher incidence of bunions, musculoskeletal pain… Podiatrists treat foot pain and deformities in women twice as often as foot disabilities in men, often due to having to wear high heels in their workplaces.”

High heels, something seen as so universally fashionable and professional, are known to cause lasting damage. Women here are the ones left to deal with the lasting health concerns.

I leave you with these thoughts:

How can we unpack the idea that women do not need to have a certain look to be professional?
Why are comfortable clothes considered unprofessional for women?

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Cassidy Shea

Cassidy is a second year student in Algonquin College's Professional Writing Program. Her interests include fashion, activism, and digital art. Passionate to work in a field that directly helps people. If you're looking for a debate or a gaming partner look no further.

Designer Showcase: Emily Bode, Bode NYC

Diane Helentjaris, Unsplash / Please note that images used in this Blog are not affiliated with Emily Bode or Bode, NYC in any way

This wouldn’t be a fashion blog (albeit an amateur, student run-one) if we didn’t showcase at least one extraordinary designer. And who more deserving than Emily Bode of Bode, NYC—one of my absolute favourite brands as of late. Bode—who put together her first runway show for Paris Fashion Week in June of 2019—started her brand on her own terms. She’s become known for crafting one-of-a-kind garments from the ground up using a variety of vintage textiles and fabrics. Whether she’s patching up new garments using those tired fabrics or creating entirely new pieces with them, she brings new life to both the textiles themselves, and the fashion industry. 

An instant inspiration and loved by many, Bode became the first female designer to show at New York Fashion Week (NYFW) in the men’s category—which came only three years after her brand's inauguration in 2016. The collection consisted of colour-blocked shirt/pants sets, corduroy work jackets with hand-drawn images, striped trousers, knit sweaters, a unique penny-lined transparent jacket, and much more. She describes Bode as follows: 

“Bode is a luxury menswear brand that expresses a sentimentality for the past through the study of personal narratives and historical techniques. Modern workwear silhouettes united with female-centric traditions of quilting, mending, and appliqué shape the collections. Each piece tells a story and is tailor-made.” bodenewyork.com

And Bode is certainly a luxury. With prices ranging anywhere from $86 (CAD) for a hand-crafted face mask to $2,000+ (CAD) for some of her hand-tailored, vintage quilt work jackets—it’s important to know why such a high price point is justified. 

The first and most obvious reason for Bode’s luxury price tags is the fabric itself. A vast majority of their pieces are crafted using actual vintage textiles, which are sourced and acquired from many different markets, attics, barns, and sweet grandmother’s across the globe. After the fabrics are acquired, they are cut, sewn, and tailored by hand in countries that have a rich heritage in garment fabrication. To boil it down, when you buy a piece from Bode, you’re buying a rare, hand made, high-quality garment that you most likely will not find anywhere else on the planet—unless you’re sourcing and sewing yourself!

You can find Bode’s one-of-a-kind pieces on their website (linked above). If you see something you like, you better scoop it up quick because they don’t sit for long. Rest assured, new unique pieces are added pretty regularly—so keep your eye out!

With a brand this young, the future can only look bright. I’m extremely excited about Bode’s future collections and to see how it evolves over time. Congratulations to Emily!

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Chad Hetherington

A fashion enthusiast and leisurely, self directed pupil of philosophy, Chad loves nothing more than love itself. In his free time, you’ll probably find him playing video games, spending time with his tight knit friends and family, or browsing for clothes.

Children’s Fashion: Reflecting on Respectful Halloween-wear

I love Halloween.

Growing up in small-town Nova Scotia, I would cling to any social “holiday” that I could. Dressing up and being the little mermaid was a highlight of my childhood. I didn’t blink when some of my classmates were wearing costumes such as “Mexican” or “Indian Princess”.

As an adult living in 2020,

I am so blessed to have access to so much information. Learning about a new culture is literally a click away. This ease of access to information and other people has allowed us to uplift the voices of people who historically, have not had a voice. A concept that a lot of people are getting used to, in the form of racism that appears as cultural appropriation.

As the Oxford Dictionary defines it, cultural appropriation is:

The unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one person or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.

Immediately, the costumes of my childhood peers come to mind.

The cheap, burlap poncho from the Wal-Mart costume section coupled with an exaggerated, inaccurate sombrero. Sat on top of blonde curls and pale skin, a child who has probably never even met a Hispanic person in his life. 

Thus lies the crux of cultural appropriation at Halloween.

Of course, children would likely not understand how to appropriately appreciate other cultures, and that wearing a cheap stereotype is harmful, but how do you explain to your child who isn’t Chinese that they cannot be Mulan for Halloween?

Parents-Together.org had great insight on levelling with your child to avoid cultural appropriation on Halloween.

“White children in particular have plenty of white characters in pop culture to choose from—and recognizing that is one way to begin informing kids about their privilege. In an opinion piece, the Redbook editors agreed that Moana isn’t the best costume choice for a white child: “This isn’t about putting a damper on your kid’s creativity; it’s about exercising sensitivity towards anyone who doesn’t get to choose how the world at large sizes them up.”

Understanding cultural appropriation and how it affects you and your family is a massive win for deconstructing any bias you may have.

It isn’t about limiting your options, just empowering yourself to choose the right ones. For some, it can be so easy to be lost in the nostalgia for days where you didn’t have to worry about a costume. For others, those times were plagued with minimal costume options, seeing their culture as a gag in a costume shop, and their sacred cultural pieces being capitalized for a few hours of trick-or-treating. 

Hopefully, next Halloween we will see more little heads on the streets, all dressed up in costume. Using this year to reflect and recharge on your influence as a parent, or even to hold yourself accountable, is incredibly valuable.

The world of fashion and costume is ever-expanding and as bottomless as a human’s imagination, let’s not disrespect others in the process.

Cassidy Shea

Cassidy is a second year student in Algonquin College's Professional Writing Program. Her interests include fashion, activism, and digital art. Passionate to work in a field that directly helps people. If you're looking for a debate or a gaming partner look no further.(edited)

What a Moth Eats: The Resurgence of Vintage Garments

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user: Mikoto.raw, Pexels

Within the last couple of years, fashion’s corner of the internet has seen a tremendous rise in the popularity of vintage fashion. Not just vintage-inspired looks, but the actual curation and sale of garments from as far back as the 40’s and 50’s, all the way through to the 1990s. The result of this growing interest in vintage apparel has contributed to a massive boom in vintage fashion resellers.

With so many of these retailers popping up, many specialize in specific garments, eras, brands, or cultures. In my time spent browsing many of these shops, and even buying some pieces for myself, it’s evident that a majority operate exclusively online—whether it be on their own website or through third party resale platforms like Depop, Grailed, or Etsy. In addition to these sites, you’ll find almost all of these outlets marketing and conducting business on Instagram as well. Scattered throughout the glut of shops are some that have garnered greater success, opening their own store-fronts or warehouses where vintage-inclined shoppers can examine the carefully curated wears in person.

While some curators have been successful in building a large customer base here in Canada (like Whitby, Ontario based shop Vintage 905), almost all the shops that I tend towards are based in the USA—specifically Los Angeles and Portland, OR. Both of these cities seem to have quite a large vintage fashion community of enthusiasts. Some of my favourites right now include Mothfood, Unsound Rags, and No Maintenance, all based in LA; and Hellmart and Suite Zero, based in Portland. All five of these shops sell things like: denim, graphic tees, trousers, hats, footwear, sweaters, etc. all ranging in era.

To develop a deeper understanding of the community and business of vintage fashion, I spoke with co-founder of LA-based vintage shop No Maintenance, Sebastian Moraga, to get their perspective:

When and how did you guys get started with No Maintenance?

No Maintenance began [as a] conversation back in March [2020] between the two of us (Sebastian and Roe). We had both been involved in the archival fashion market for the past two years. This brought us familiarity with e-commerce. We both had an interest in vintage clothing, we both wore it and had collected a few pieces, so it seemed like an easy start. But, No Maintenance didn’t really evolve into what it has become today until about July [of this year].

With the vintage fashion market booming in popularity over the past few years, how might you explain the continuous, rising demand for vintage garments? 

Like I mentioned before, we came from [a] background of designer goods, which was a very small niche that exploded. I believe the success of vintage clothing, to the point, that there are thousands of online shops, can be attributed to Instagram. [It’s] a combination of the right influencers and a rapidly changing menswear scene. Vintage has always been very popular. It has historically appealed to people in their 20’s and up. If you walked around San Francisco, New York, LA, etc. 5 years ago, the styles we see in vintage today are the same. In fact, I believe they are the same timeless looks that [trace] back to the 70’s when these garments were first being made. But, I believe when something catches [on] with the next generation, […] that’s when the trends explode in popularity. Pair that with [the] global phenomenon of social media, and you have kids all over the globe hungry for American vintage.

How much work goes into sourcing and acquiring garments for resale, and what does that work generally look like?

We work a ton. We have partnerships we have developed that help us with the workload. But generally speaking, work looks like this: source X amount of goods > wash/steam them > photograph/edit > measure > post on website > post on Instagram. That’s our workflow. There is a lot of work involved, but we can’t complain. It’s part of what we love.

How might you respond to criticism about inflating the price of garments that some people may argue can be found at thrift stores themselves?

Personally, I don’t feel that criticism necessarily concerns what we do. We want No Maintenance to be accessible and affordable. High prices are part of the game when you have a ton of demand. Thrifting can be quite difficult (especially during COVID-19). [Going] to a place and sorting through tons of used clothes to find one gem [is hard]. People are willing to pay a premium for the ease of having an item show up at their door. For me, it’s about finding the balance between accessibility and affordability while maintaining a certain standard. For example, we don’t do band tees too often, or many typical ‘vintage’ pieces you may see at upscale thrift stores. We try to shine a light on new styles, aesthetics, and general visual ideas.

What are some of your personal favourite eras or styles?

Personally, my interest in clothing and fashion goes beyond vintage. In terms of influence right now, it’s hard to ignore the 90’s. I think it’s just far enough away to feel distant, but an aesthetic that also fits into contemporary life. Some aspects of 80’s Japanese fashion appeal to me as well, and 70’s Americana. But generally speaking, it comes down to seasons (although LA is pretty warm year-round). I like to think we both incorporate elements of vintage Americana and vintage designer, and [when combined] they create their own distinct look.

October 28, 2020

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Chad Hetherington

A fashion enthusiast and leisurely, self directed pupil of philosophy, Chad loves nothing more than love itself. In his free time, you’ll probably find him playing video games, spending time with his tight knit friends and family, or browsing for clothes.

Sustainability and You

Sustainability is seemingly on everyone’s mind. As more and more youth flock to thrift stores - what else can we consider while buying secondhand?

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image: depositphotos.com

In recent years, there has been a shift in favour of affordable, sustainable fashion. Thrifting has become a treasure hunt for people who don’t want or have the means to purchase clothing from expensive brand names. Finding a pre-loved brand name shirt that would cost $50 in a store for $4.99 at a consignment is a win for both the environment and the shoppers’ pockets. However, where does the ethics of thrifting fall short? Can we tweak our habits to be more conscious shoppers?

Understand that sustainable brands exist.

Thrifting isn’t the only option if you’re interested in fashion outside of used clothing. Brands like tentree. , Amour Vert and OrganicBasics are a few of many sustainable, eco-conscious brands that offer varying styles. Purchasing basic, classic staples from eco-conscious brands will ensure that you are keeping your carbon footprint small. Avoid buying trendy items from fast fashion brands, as these will more than likely end up in a landfill.

In an interview conducted by zerowastebystander.com, thrift store owner Meag had this to say about keeping sustainable fashion in mind:

Rubber, leather and textiles make up about 9-10% of municipal solid waste in the USA according to EPA estimates. That means the average American throws out 80-ish pounds of clothes every year. It’s gross. Looking up the stats will blow your mind – it definitely made me look at my consumption & what I choose to throw away vs. donate differently.

Be mindful of the community.

If you can go without a winter coat, consider leaving items you already own for people who may need them, or buy in off-seasons. Purchasing your fifth winter coat from a thrift store in January isn’t keeping sustainable to the people in need in your community. Try to remember that other people also are in need of these clothes, potentially more-so than yourself. Leah Wise, an advocate for sustainable fashion, sums up popular misconceptions on how we as a community can be mindful when thrifting.

I’ve heard the argument, “well, homeless people will wear it” from a variety of donors over the years. And that’s problematic for a few reasons: Practically speaking, homeless people need clothing that is durable and in especially good condition because housing insecurity means they have fewer options to avoid difficult weather and living conditions. It does NOTHING for a person’s dignity to tell them they are stuck wearing the clothes no one else was willing to wear or buy. (Leah on GreenDreamer’s Podcast)

Thrifting is not inherently wrong or morally reprehensible, but it can be when you are not being mindful of the people around you. Buying for personal use and buying for the purpose of reselling should all be prefaced with the notion of community well-being in mind. That is the spirit of thrift, after all.

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Cassidy Shea

Cassidy is a second year student in Algonquin College's Professional Writing Program. Her interests include fashion, activism, and digital art. Passionate to work in a field that directly helps people. If you're looking for a debate or a gaming partner look no further.

What can you expect from MASQUE?

At MASQUE, we are dedicated to publishing relevant stories and information from across the fashion and beauty industries, focusing on the contemporary, ethical, and cultural. In a time when everything seems to be fleeting, honest information remains our priority. We are enthusiastic about bringing you creative, fun, and interesting articles covering current and anterior trends—and are equally devoted to unmasking some of the industry's unethical practices. With virtues in mind, fashion is an amazing outlet for creatives and enthusiasts alike, and a great opportunity to express yourself in innovative ways. We look forward to sharing exciting and important information with you!

—MASQUE Team