In the past, the trend has been synonymous with the sexual objectification of women, accused of merely appealing to the male gaze. However, Di Petsa has given the look a whole new meaning by putting the power back to the ladies who are wearing the looks and highlighting the female form in the most positive of ways. The sensual designs come with a message of self-birth and have been created with the aim of empowering women to take sexy into their own hands—through bold, sexy activewear that encourages them to embrace their sexuality in whatever way they like.”

While for some it may seem a farfetched style that can only be showcased at the most exclusive of events, think Kim Kardashian’s Thierry Mugler wet look at the Met Gala in 2019, this is just not the case. Bella Hadid was spotted casually wearing Di Petsa’s wet look mini on her summer vacation just a few weeks ago, revealing just how versatile the trend can be.

With the likes of Megan Fox and FKA Twigs sporting the latest looks from Di Petsa, the appeal of the wet look dress is ever so apparent. To soak up the style, we suggest pairing your wet look dress with drenched hair (a whole other trend in itself!) and dewy skin to match, that leaves you looking wet from head to toe!

Shop our favourites from Di Petsa below:

£ 2250

Di Petsa Wet-Look Halterneck Mini Dress In White

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£ 350

Di Petsa Wet Dream Mini Dress White

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£ 460

Di Petsa Crop-Top In White

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£ 1690

Di Petsa Wet-Look Long Skirt In White

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Words by Ella Citron-Thompkins

_{Photo Credit: @Dipetsa}

The post The Wet Look Dress Trend Making a Splash appeared first on Voir Fashion.

After her iconic hit “I Like Him” last year, which plastered TikTok and had us all obsessed, Princess Nokia has given us something new to eat up with her major-label debut It’s Not My Fault, released today.

Inspired by OnlyFans, the track carries the same confidence, pride, and unabashed attitude that Princess Nokia oozes, as a woman who proudly takes a place in the narrative destigmatizing sex work and who uses the site herself. An ode to the subscription site, the song is unapologetic, lyrically witty and just an absolute bop.

Not even 20 seconds into the music video, you’ll start to see it pays homage to a certain seminal video of the late 1990s – JLo’s “If You Had My Love”. Much like the subject of “It’s Not My Fault”, JLo’s song and video discussed the topic of Women as the object of the male gaze, Princess Nokia’s explores this with the idea of women in control, something OnlyFans reinforces.

“My video symbolizes my mainstream coming of age, just as it did Jennifer’s. It symbolizes the average millennial woman, taking control of herself as the subject. I control my narrative and I celebrate my beauty. It’s hyper-futurism and almost 22 years later we are moving into a more interactive era.”

– Princess Nokia

On top of its tribute to Jennifer Lopez, the visual, directed by Sebastian Sdaigui, epitomizes the internet’s Y2k trend resurgence, delivering rimless shades, hologram-esque imagery and high thong straps. 

With her last hit so successful, and this one bound to join its popularity with its bold conviction and brilliant visuals, Princess Nokia is headed for even more success.

Words By Daisy Greetham

The post Princess Nokia Gives Us Futuristic Feminism With “Its Not My Fault” appeared first on Voir Fashion.

An inspiration for generations to come. An artist who wasn’t afraid to push boundaries. A bold activist and feminist. This is Frida Kahlo.

Known for her signature mono-brow, her dreamy self-portraits and colourful traditional dresses, Frida is considered one of the most influential and important artists of all time. She is remembered to this day not only for her captivating art but also for her strong and determined spirit which led her to become a symbol of feminism.

The Mexican painter was herself an activist, using her art to heal from her personal traumas – from her physical problems to the miscarriage and her husband’s affair – but to even address cultural, religious and political matters. As a nationalist, some elements in her paintings hinted at her political views: from the clothing to the animals, the jewellery and the mythic references, they all reveal her commitment to her country’s history and beliefs.

Most of her artworks are self-portraits because, as she said, ‘I am my own muse. I am the subject I know best. The subject I want to better.’ Although they represent phases of her life, the messages they hold are universal.

Now a symbol in pop culture, Kahlo is an inspiration in art, fashion and culture. To mark her 113th birthday, we celebrate her legacy with some of her best artworks that will make you appreciate her art even more.

Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird (1940)

Completed in 1940, Self-Portrait with Thorn Necklace and Hummingbird is one of Frida’s most famous paintings which depicts her emotional state following the divorce from her husband Diego Rivera. Betrayal is always a tough pill to swallow and Frida represented it with a necklace made out of thorns adorned with a lifeless hummingbird.

Self Portrait with Cropped Hair (1940)

After her divorce, Frida wanted to reinvent herself: she cut her hair and started to wear men’s clothes. In Self Portrait with Cropped Hair, the painter challenges society’s conventions posing as a man. She expresses the ‘chains of femininity’, explaining how the ideal of beauty for a woman is strictly bond too long hair, flowing dresses and jewellery.

The Broken Column (1944)

In 1925, Kahlo was involved in a streetcar accident that left her with a broken spinal column and other major injuries. In the Broken Column, Kahlo depicts herself partly naked, pierced by hundreds of nails. The artwork is a representation of her physical pains after the accident and consequent surgeries. It was her own way to cope with all the pain caused by her unfortunate events.

The Two Fridas (1939)

Just like her previous artworks, The Two Fridas is in response to her separation from Rivera, but here she shows 2 sides of herself. One is heartbroken while the other has her heart intact. Once again the theme of love and coping with pain is the message of the painting. The struggle with her inner identity brings her to have two distant natures that deal with pain in different ways.

Viva La Vida (1954)

One of the last works Frida painted before her death, ‘Viva La Vida’ is not a self-portrait. It shows some watermelons, some cut in particular ways, with one slice in the centre adorned by Frida’s signature along with the artwork’s title. The message of the piece is simple: despite the deteriorating health of the artist, the title of the work is a tribute to life.

Words by Gennaro Costanzo

Graphics by Georgia Walters

The post Celebrating an Icon: Frida Kahlo appeared first on Voir Fashion.

American actress, author and businesswoman Gwyneth Paltrow has teamed up with Netflix to bring out an upcoming documentary series called The Goop Lab, based on her own lifestyle and wellness company, Goop. The series will examine in depth the various practices of energy healing, cold therapy, anti-aging, psychedelic drugs and how they impact different aspects of female sexuality.

The first trailer was released earlier this month, and promises glimpses into intimate scenes of experimental therapy sessions and spiritual awakenings for a number of women, with one of them confessing ‘I went through five years of therapy in about five hours’. This claim seems to reinforce Goop’s description on their company website which states,

‘We start hard conversations, crack open taboos, and look for connection and resonance everywhere we can find it.’

This six-part series, produced by Paltrow herself, is then shown to centre upon acts of transgression, namely female masturbation, exorcism and intoxication, and doesn’t seem to hold back on their meticulous treatment of these marginal topics and taboos.

The Goop Lab is set to premiere on January 24 on Netflix.

Words by Shir Ariya

Graphics by Katie Janes

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The post Get the Scoop From ‘The Goop Lab’ appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Have you ever wondered what would happen if an iconic sports brand collaborated with an actual real live icon? Well, the result is orange, burgundy, white and inclusive.

The Ivy Park that has graced the Topshops around the world since 2016 was created to ‘support and inspire women’. You only have to hear the drums bashing out the introduction of ‘Run the World’ as you’re getting on the bus on your daily commute. The walk down the aisle to find a seat goes from an embarrassing fumble, as you bash your way down the aisle, apologising after clumsily stepping on someone’s foot, and knocking over another person’s bag… to you strutting down the catwalk in a parade of female empowerment. Because ‘Who runs the world?’ as Bey says herself; ‘Girls!’.

With the sexy curve-skimming A-symmetrical dress, high-leg bodysuits and practical sports bras, there is no denying the message of female empowerment is still deeply rooted in the collection. As Queen B herself reminds us in many of her songs, as females, it is vital we remember our past; Respect and be thankful for what those courageous women have done for us and our rights. We’ve gone from our sex meaning we are literal possessions, to our sex providing the world with Beyoncé, Michelle Obama, Kris Jenner, Britney…to name but a few! The collection celebrates this female empowerment in all its forms. The bootylicious bright orange cycling shorts paired with fierce sock-boot stilettos and a matching cropped vest that clings in all the right places celebrating our girly femininity. The baggy burgundy boiler suit with the orange Adidas stripes spilling down the front, tucked into boots, celebrating the more masculine side some of us have.

Beyoncé modelling some items from her adidas x IVY PARK collection

However, the collection’s significant number of gender-neutral designs is a refreshing type of feminism that we haven’t seen before. Bey explained,

“I focused on designing a unisex collection because I saw so many men in IVY PARK. The way they have embraced the brand is an unexpected gift”.

The athleisure collection includes oversized tracksuits, boiler suits, tops, jumpers and bags that are all made to appeal to both sexes. This is a bold move for the face of female empowerment. But perhaps this is less down to the actual issue of female empowerment and more down to the negative opinions of men that is something that has unfortunately become seemingly synonymous with feminism.

Beyoncé’s inclusion of non-gendered garments proves that you can empower women, and not exclude men from this empowerment; she hasn’t just given her brand a makeover, she’s given feminism a makeover. The empowerment of women should not mean the downfall of men, and Ivy Park donning the three stripes is a step towards this idea of equality fluidity; and Bey, we are so here for it.

Adidas x IVY PARK campaign ad

Words by Ella Winfield

Graphics by Katie Janes

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Set to hit theatres today, Hustlers is one of the most talked-about movies of 2019. It is catching attention for its all-female cast with big names such as Jennifer Lopez, Cardi B and Lizzo, as well as its controversial context: working in a strip club. Loosely based on the New York Magazine article ‘The Hustlers at Scores’ by Jessica Prissier, the film follows a group of strippers who decide to scam unlawful Wall Street clients. Judging from the trailer and the storyline, the movie provides an interesting approach to feminism.

There is female empowerment in how these characters reclaim their sexuality when pole dancing—and that’s exactly how they successfully exploit the clients. This idea comes directly from Pressier’s article which describes Roselyn Keo’s experience of being mistreated by her clients; from the married men coming to cheat on their wives, to the belittling ones who groped or judged her for stripping: “did your father abuse you?” Her case was far from being an exception, and that’s why Hustlers is so important for giving a voice to strip club employees; the stigma around stripping and pole dancing needs to be addressed and changed.

It is not just for stripping and pole dancing either, but for any form of sexual expression that women continue to be shamed and criticised. Cardi B herself has faced backlash— as many other female celebrities have—for exposing her body and twerking in music videos. The internet argues that this behaviour only further incites men to objectify women and sexualise their bodies, but as Cardi B’s clapped back, this mentality perpetuates rape culture. Rape culture designates the normalising of sexual assault and abuse and is an issue that feminism seeks to destroy. Because if a woman chooses to be sexual, it does not entitle men to touch her.

For this reason, Hustlers denies male viewers the pleasure of watching sexualised female bodies, which they usually obtain through a concept known as the male gaze. Rather common in art, such as cinema, the male gaze is the depiction of women for the male audience, through a masculine point of view. When J-Lo’s character Ramona is pole dancing; she appears sexy and powerful because she is doing what she wants with her own body. With pole dancing, the women in the movie can use their sexual side to trap the very men that shame them for showing it.

That is not to say that the women’s revenge is devoid of any complication. To call the strippers’ collective crime an act of feminism would be to ignore the problematic nature of their drugging of men. Despite Hustlers’ spot-on representation of female empowerment through women of all backgrounds, races, sizes and gender identities, the comical and light-hearted tone could lead us to believe that the movie misses crucial aspects to its portrayal of life as a stripper. Working in a strip club entails enduring invasive comments and inappropriate behaviour from clients which, as Roselyn’s story exemplifies, can lead one to grow dangerously distrustful and vengeful.

Perhaps then, Hustlers is more feminist in the moral of the story rather than in the story itself. Because while the female characters well deserve their revenge, the means do not justify the ends, and how take advantage of men is undeniably dubious. On the surface, however, the movie provides a powerful and inspiring image of a diverse group of women working together to take down—as represented by the Wall Street clients—the patriarchy.

Words by Carla Pelosoff

Graphics by Aamir Potrick

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We all remember how crazy we went for Skins back in the day, and how unforgettable character, Effy Stoneham inspired a whole generation of girls.

We were all deliberately ripping up fishnet tights, giving ourselves bed-heads and smearing smudged glitter liner into our water lines. Not the best look for me as an eleven-year-old, I will admit…

In our opinion, no other TV show has had such a specific effect on teenagers, until now.

Euphoria is the contemporary answer – following a similar bildungsroman between a group of high schoolers, it explores all the vices of angsty teenage life: coming to terms with adulthood, sexuality, drugs, identity, and everything in between.

With the series being produced by none other than Drake and Future, Labyrinth as composer, and starring lady of the moment, Zendaya, it promises to be the latest series we’re obsessed with from HBO (now that we’ve mourned the losses of Big Little Lies and Game of Thrones).

It’s already had an enormous reaction over in the States.

However, the reason you may already be familiar with the series is because of the makeup.

Euphoria looks all by MUA @donni.davy

It’s inspired a new look for Gen Z’s and Millenials – makeup that inspires your personality.

We live in a world where we debate for days on end whether a body foundation does more harm or more good. It’s more apparent than ever that the battle between feminism and the beauty industry continues to strive. We often wonder whether their duality can ever truly co-exist.

Ultimately, what Euphoria embodies to the world is how the younger generation is embracing the billion-dollar industry – it’s a means to accept your own identity and creativity.

And this creativity used is being embraced by everyone across the internet, recreating the look which makes you stand out like you, it screams into the void a generation that refuses to conform to a singular look.

Euphoria inspired looks on Instagram

The programme is almost portrayed at times as fever-dream, mixed with the archetypal characters and plots you would typically associate with any teen-drama programme, every character becomes a ramped up exaggerated version of themselves. Thus, why the makeup, by genius MUA Doniella Davy, is used as a stage direction, it gives the audience a glimpse of their story.

‘”They’re like miniature outfits in and of themselves,’ Davy says. ‘There’s multiple eyeshadows, shimmers, rhinestones, eyeliner, fake lashes, all the works’.” – Davy to Refinery 29

Zendaya, who plays the protagonist, Rue Bennet (a 17-year-old recovering drug addict struggling to find her place in the world) uses glitter to her mirror her internalized battles and pain.

Often placed under her eyes, in tear like shapes, or to over-express her dark circles, it serves to both embrace her struggles and hide them behind the glitter.

Jules Vaughn, who’s a new to town transgender woman, often plays with graphic liner and bright colours obscenely bright colours. It marks her movement through her teen years as trans, playing with the boundaries of gender. Her self-expression and uniqueness.

Maddy Perez cannot be missed as the archetypal ‘Queen Bee’ of the school. It’s her look that people have been going mad for on the ‘gram.

Yet, her makeup isn’t used to be appealing, but as a statement of intent, stripped back when she feels down, sharpened liner to ‘cut down haters’, and bejewelled when she feels on top of the world. As Maddy is presented as the girl, who has her shit together with her matching lids and co-ords, it’s juxtaposed by the chaos of high school..

Kat Hernandez (Barbie Ferreira) was once the shy, timid, body-conscious girl who was mocked for her size. However, after a sexual awakening, she’s seen smearing neon green eyeshadow and bright red lipstick.

Makeup to her becomes a means to explore her sexuality and sensuality, as a young woman; alongside rocking her monobrow, her look is more of a f**k you to anyone who tells her she, as she is, isn’t beautiful.

Cassie Howard, played by The Handmaid’s Tale’s Sydney Sweeney is the stereotypical objectively good-looking girl, looking to be loved more than anything, after past traumas with boys.

It’s because of this her looks aim to be sexy and sultry, and show her deep-desire to be adored.

Check out what all the fuss is about. The second episode of Euphoria is out tonight on Sky Atlantic at 9pm, or available to binge watch now on NowTV.

Graphics by Sasha Green

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The post Fairy-Dust & Feminism: Why You’re Going To Be Obsessed with Euphoria appeared first on Voir Fashion.

Earlier this summer it was revealed that the new 007 agent will be portayed by British actor Lashana Lynch. She won’t be replacing James Bond, rather assuming his 007 status as the former agent enters retirement. While it was a shock to many, the casting has caused strong postive reactions, and was a welcomed change, mostly from women and people of colour who are now getting more representation in the franchise. And this recent change in Bond’s representation of women is due to particular behind-the-scenes changes. Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the genuis behind Killing Eve and Fleabag, will become the second ever woman credited with contributions to a Bond script, and was drafted in by Daniel Craig himself.

As we approach a new era of feminist Bond girls, let us remind you of some of the earlier icons of Ian Fleming’s world:

Barbara Bach

The sexy, scary, and completely badass Bond girl from The Spy Who Loved Me co-starred with Roger Moore as the KGB spy, Anya Amasova. Bach is an outspoken feminist who called Bond “a chauvinist pig who uses girls to shield him against bullets,” and she certainly embodied the female go-getter energy the franchise needed at the time. She later married The Beatles legend Ringo Starr, which only makes us love her even more.

Halle Berry

Another icon that can’t go unmentioned is the legendary Halle Berry, who starred as the NSA agent Jinx in Die Another Day alongside Pierce Brosnan. Berry became the first woman of colour to win the Academy Award for Best Actress and was congratulated by the USA’s National Association for the Advancement of Colored People for “giving us hope and making us proud.” Halle Berry has taken the sheer sex appeal of Jinx with her into later films like Kingsman: The Golden Circle and John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, but she’s also kept her standards high and has shown that she won’t settle for anything less than a strong-willed female character.

Michelle Yeoh

Michelle has recently reentered the spotlight after appearing in the hit film Crazy Rich Asians last year, but many know her as the Chinese agent, Wai Lin, from Tomorrow Never Dies with Pierce Brosnan. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Royal Academy of Dance, which may explain why she did all her own combatting scenes and even ended up with a nomination for an MTV Movie Award for Best Fight. She oozes grace and decorum, similarly to the way Bond himself does – a comparison drawn by many as she matches both sex appeal and wit of the title character.

There are still plenty left to talk about, so here are a couple more honourable mentions:

Honor Blackman as Pussy Galore in Goldfinger who ran an all-women crime ring; Louis Chiles as scientist Dr Holly Goodhead in Moonraker; and Carey Lowell as the pilot Pam Bouvier who was physically stronger than the men she fought. For the aforementioned wonderful actors and characters, and to all the rest, we are so grateful to have reached a place where we can see a black woman as 007, taking on the world of Bond and all its cat-stroking villains. The franchise still has a long way to go, but getting Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Lashana Lynch on board are huge steps forward, and we couldn’t be more excited.

By Jemima Brennan

Graphics by Sasha Green

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