Unpaid bills!!

Photo:

Kai Huntoon & Sofia Calderon

Kaihunt@iastate.edu & Sofiac@iastate.edu

Styling & BTS:

Lucille Roelle & Phi Le

lbroelle@iastate.edu

In the early 2000s, a seismic shift in fashion culture unfolded, epitomized by a fervent embrace of designer items that transcended traditional expenditure norms. This burgeoning subculture saw fashion aficionados redirecting their financial priorities toward coveted designer pieces, often at the expense of fundamental needs like sustenance and bill payments. The allure of exclusive labels and opulent accessories became a form of self-expression and identity, fueled by media representations that glamorized this lifestyle. Icons like Carrie Bradshaw, as exemplified by her infamous declaration - "Sometimes I would buy Vogue instead of dinner. I just felt it fed me more" - encapsulated the ethos of a generation for whom fashion was not merely a commodity but a means of sustenance for the soul.