Alissa Nardini

Drag Academy • 4th June 2022

Drag: The Face of Pride

Each year drag artists sashay to the front of Pride. Between activism, main stage performances and brand collaborations, I think it is safe to say that drag is the face of Pride.

Throughout history, Drag has been rooted in activism - before corporations took to slacktivism, drag queens were at the frontlines of fighting for queer rights.

The first Pride march after Stonewall, NYC, 1970

Fed up with harassment against 2SLGBTQ+ people, the NYC gay community fought back when the Stonewall Inn was

Tonitruale • 23rd February 2022

Monster High: 2010 vs 2022

In 2010 the world was taken by storm with the release of the first Monster High (MH) dolls. The initial release of the Mattel subpart included 6 dolls, 3 of which went on to become the most popular and main characters in Monster High films and TV shows. Frankie Stein, Clawdeen Wolf and Draculaura have remained staples in the MH world, and this year they’re getting a revamp with collectors’ edition, modern dolls.

When Monster High dolls emerged, there was nothing like them in the market, making

Tonitruale • 12th January 2022

Barbie Goes High Fashion with Balmain

This week the world of fashion got exciting news: Balmain and Barbie are collaborating to create exclusive NFTs, a ready-to-wear collection and accessories.

The three NFTs are being auctioned off Tuesday, January 11th (that’s today!!) on the Mattel Creations website. Each NFT features Barbie and Ken dolls wearing pieces from the ready-wear-collection. The highest bidder will receive not only the purchased NFT, but also a Barbie-sized version of the dolls Balmain outfit.

A look at the three NFT

Tonitruale • 17th November 2021

Buffy the Fashion Slayer

Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a show following a teenager chosen to kill vampires and her band of friends, displays peak 90s and early 2000s fashion. Vampires may suck but this fashion sure doesn't, let’s take a look at some outfits inspired by the main characters.

Willow is the most experimental with her dress throughout the series, exploring colour and pattern combinations along with her character developments. In season 2 and 3 especially, Willow is seen in a variety of bright colours, bucket ha

Tonitruale • 22nd September 2021

Dragula: These Contestants Slay More Than Just the Runway

Last week, the world of horror got some exciting news: The Boulet Brothers’ Dragula is back with another season, yet again bringing the drag, filth, horror and glamour to our lives. Season 4 of the competition show tasked at finding the worlds next drag supermonster, will air October 19th on Shudder.

Dragula has attracted a cult following of drag and horror lovers around the world. Mainly known for its dangerous “extermination” challenges where contestants have been seen jumping out of planes,

Tonitruale • 7th September 2021

Back to School With The Craft

The Craft, a witchy teen movie following a group of girls trying to invoke a spirit, embodies back to school spirit. With fall on the horizon (and Halloween trailing close behind) and school starting back up, there’s no better time to talk about this classic with dark themes and even darker fashion.

One of the most iconic aspects of this film is its wardrobe, filled with plaid skirts, knee high socks and rosaries to create witchy school uniforms.

First up, the perfect back to school outfit ins

Tonitruale • 24th August 2021

Beetlejuice, but Make It Fashion

Some of my favourite things include fashion, horror and collectibles, and this last Friday the 13th, all three of these worlds collided with the release of this year’s Monster High Skullector dolls, with the spook-tacular theme of Beetlejuice.

In 2020 Monster High released the first of their high-end collectors’ dolls, Pennywise (IT) and the Grady Twins (The Shining), shortly before Halloween as the start of their Skullector collection. And now they’re back with another twist on horror icons, t

Populus Music • 13th August 2021

The Band Behind the Phineas and Ferb Theme Song

Most of us born in the late 1990s to early 2000s can not only recognize the Phineas and Ferb theme song, but can likely sing it word for word. Surprisingly though, the band who sang the iconic song is widely unknown.

The theme song, titled "Today is Gonna Be a Great Day", was originally written and performed by Bowling For Soup, a pop punk band started in 1994. They went on to reach mainstream success in the early 2000s with their fourth album, Drunk Enough to Dance with a Grammy nominated song

Tonitruale • 13th July 2021

The Influence of Heathers

Even after 32 years the film Heathers has been inspiring the world of fashion with pleated skirts, plaid, structured blazers and coloured tights. The 1989 dark comedy follows the story of two teenagers who accidentally make suicide popular amongst their high school (or the idea of it anyways). Trench coat wielding J.D. takes popular girl Veronica on a killing spree, staging the murders as suicides. His thought process, much like the loud 80s fashion, proves that, “The extreme always seems to mak

Tonitruale • 15th June 2021

Chucky: A Look Into the 1980's

One of the most iconic, yet potentially least fearful slasher killers, Chucky, emerged in 1988 with the film series Child’s Play. The film follows a possessed Good Guys doll seeking a way to return back to a human body, while leaving murder in his every step. One thing that makes the Child's Play franchise work is the recognizability of Chucky. Because of this, I thought it would be interesting to do some digging to see how this doll represents its generation.

Chucky is a Good Guys doll, posses

Tonitruale • 26th January 2021

I Kept an Outfit Journal for a Year and This is What I Learned

In my first year of University, my fashion professor challenged the class to keep an outfit journal, logging what we wear each day and why. This idea really resonated with me as I enjoy a sprinkle of introspection throughout my days, so, I did it. For a year I carried a notebook on me wherever I went in an attempt to stay on top of the task at hand. Each day on my commute to school I would stand in the crowded subway, inch the book out of my bag and note what I had adorned my body with that day

Populus Music • 8th April 2020

Jumping In - Overcoming Moshing Anxieties

“OPEN IT UP” the singer screams on stage as they spin their finger in a circular motion. The crowd is sent into a fit of movement, each individual being pounded back step by step closer to the wall, the middle of the room becoming occupied by a large empty circle. People are pushing, stepping on one another's toes and frantically moving backwards; some appear terrified, while others have a crazed look in their eye and smile plastered on their face.

At a metal or pop punk show moshing is inevita