9 April 2026

You walk into the bookstore, you immediately turn right! That’s where all the magazines can be found. Who is my style icon based on this quiz? What are the cool things the cover star is saying? What did these celebrities wear last Sunday caught by the paparazzi while just going to grab their coffee in peace? You immediately grab the magazine and flip through, being greeted by the many collages and colourfully filled pages.

Fast forward to me, last week, hoping to recreate this moment, only to be disappointed with the selection in front of me. There seems to be a lack of teen girl magazines. Many of my favourites—M Magazine, CosmoGIRL!, Teen People and Elle Girl—have gone out of print. There are some that have taken to a digital-only format (Teen Vogue and almost J-14).

There’s a resurgence in magazines overall along with the analog trend that’s been rising this year. The legacy of print magazines is fighting to stay alive through dedicated Instagram accounts and YouTube videos of magazine flip-throughs (thank you from the bottom of my heart for these to exist).

There was a highly curated and tastefully done element to these monthly glossy pages. It’s not too late to revive this physical editorial experience to the next generation of young girls, letting them consume culture at a slower, more intentional pace.

Teen magazines were possibly my earliest experience in design education and the beginning of my love for mood boards.

lra ♡

2 April 2026

VIVA LAS VEGAS LA LISA!

This is the title of Lisa’s Las Vegas residency this November with an extremely clever play on words. From the announcement graphic alone, it already hints at some creative elements from her Alter Ego album like the dramatic photography lighting and chrome touches. I’m expecting a luxurious and cinematic experience as the event’s campaign and visual world continue to reveal itself.

lra ♡

26 March 2026

This week, the Hannah Montana 20th Anniversary Special was released on Disney+ and Hulu. This was basically one giant throwback for the fans and I’m thrilled with how it turned out. While watching, between the intense flashbacks and happy tears, I gathered some great creative life advice:

#1 You should promote something before it’s happening, because then, no one can say no. A tip from Dolly Parton to Miley Cyrus, this was how the Hannahversary came to be! Miley started to talk and hint at a special even before it happened. By the time it was announced, the fans were already invested and that’s why it worked.

#2 Hannah’s style had an evolution as she became more successful. Details like her hair and stage persona stayed consistent and reliable to her audience. In order to avoid becoming just another ordinary girl, her brand and visual identity always stayed relevant.

This show defined an entire generation, and it’s finding its way to the next.

lra ♡

19 March 2026

Let’s give a nice, warm welcome to Whimsy.

Growing up to be 2026’s word of the year, she’s charming and has a playful spirit to her. She’s on a mission to change the way we approach our lives and state of mind, encouraging us to be more spontaneous and fun as a response to the burnout culture many of us are experiencing.

Already making herself comfortable, Whimsy has been spotted making friends with the analog trend and being compared to maximalism. Although she isn’t loud and layered, there’s an unexpected and imperfect authenticity about her. As she continues to make her way around, stay open-minded to her willingness to experiment and her memorable tone.

Keep an eye out, she’s everywhere.

lra ♡

12 March 2026

Former mall rats, UNITE!

There’s a new generation of mall dwellers and that makes my teenage heart jump for joy. These are just a few things of mall culture and its endless influence on my life:

MALL MADNESS
TOO MANY TO LIST SHOPPING MONTAGES FROM TEEN GIRL FILMS
MEET ME BY THE FOUNTAIN: AN INSIDE HISTORY OF THE MALL
MALLSOFT AESTHETIC
6TEEN

It’s funny how some of our first creative influences show up long before we know what to call them.

lra ♡

5 March 2026

Excessive Accessories

Accessories are everywhere and for everyone. These extra details of flair just signal an individual’s personalization even more. There are many different examples I can name, but I want to focus on bags, specifically bag charms. The bag on its own is an accessory. Bag charms? An accessory on an accessory. The plus one to your party.

The bag charm is not new and has been around forever. Right now, the trend is functional bag charms. These cute extras are more than just customizations. They are teeny books that you can actually read, or to hold your tampon, or touch up your fragrance with stick perfume, or even another smaller bag to hold even tinier items!

This real life visual storytelling will never be uncool. As these bag charms continue to stick around, I hope to see more functional experimentation.

lra ♡

25 February 2026

We’re two months down. February, you were great and had some fun things cross my feed…

Boy Kibble (not really my thing)
Hannah Montana AND Hilary Duff are back
McDonald’s Japan ‘New York Burgers’ commercial
Charli XCX, the moment
Writing as a performative hobby

Until next month.

lra ♡

19 February 2026

We can have The Best of Both Worlds.

From the recent 2016 vs 2006 trend that passed through our feeds last month, there's a monoculture nostalgia wave happening. We are craving a simpler, more authentic nature that millennials are culturally reminiscing over. The 2000s may have been the last time we all had the same shared experiences. Compared to today, it’s completely different.

The pop culture and entertainment landscape of the mid-2000s had a massive impact on how we view identity and personal branding today. The center of this cultural phenomenon: Hannah Montana. The girl who redefined what it means to be an influencer and have a personal brand. She successfully maintained a second identity, separating her personal life from her public one. From her stage name to her rhinestone-heavy wardrobe and instantly recognizable colour palette, Hannah wasn’t just a character, she was a fully built visual identity.

On the 20th Hannaversary on March 24th, here’s what we should learn from her Rock Star mindset: be consistent with your visual identity and build a persona strong enough to own both the spotlight and the story.

lra ♡

10 February 2026

These are not just winter blues, but…

CERULEAN
COOL BLUE
TRANSFORMATIVE TEAL
COBALT BLUE

With the return of The Devil Wears Prada 2 later this year, these shades will be more than just colours in a pile of stuff. Out of the many hues to choose from, these blues are making themselves known in the room.

As my eye keeps catching what’s next, I’m excited to see frosted looks and chromecore show up again.

(This post is free of Miranda Priestly’s intimidating glances.)

lra ♡

3 February 2026

Analog.

A movement I fully support.

I believe that we as creatives should learn to have a healthy balance of screens to the real world. It’s tough (really tough, trust me, I know.) But I encourage you to take some time each day to be offline and away from the noise. You’ll come back to your station fully rebooted and maybe even more energized then you were before this short break.

Protect your eyes. Do a little stretch. Get a little sunshine.

lra ♡

28 January 2026

We’ve taken one big step into 2026. Here’s some of my fave things so far:

SNOW DAY!
High School Musical turned 20 Years (fellow Wildcats, let mE HEAR YOU!)
I read five books.
Cafe shops in clothing stores.

I’ve saved these in my mental mood board and can’t wait to explore next month’s faves.

lra ♡

20 January 2026

We’ve closed our eyes and stepped back into 2016.

My feed has been filled with everyone else’s 2016 memories and it’s been a bittersweet wave of nostalgia that has me wishing that the popularity of Tumblr never went away. I’ve been reminded of a lot of questionable moments, some that I’m so happy we kept in the past.

But as this trend continues to become more popular, I’m noticing some key differences of THEN and NOW. There was a lot less polish and personal branding in our digital creative world. Low resolution photos and yellow-tinge filters were shared. A lot more imperfections and flaws compared to today’s ultra-curated feeds.

We should continue to be influenced by our humble past (and not imitate it pixel for pixel).

10 years ago I started a new chapter. Now, I’m doing it again.

lra ♡

12 January 2026

Resolutions are not the only thing we love to create when a new year begins. In/Out Lists are another cultural tradition that I’ve been seeing increase in popularity. I can’t help but think of Heidi Klum’s iconic line “one day you're in and the next day you're out” every single time.

This whole tradition goes back all the way to the 1930s! Although it is not a direct resemblance, the original list was shared by fashion editor Diana Vreeland of Harper’s Bazaar. But, it was a “Why Don’t You…” list, sharing advice of luxury and frivolousness (a nice escape from tough times of the world at the time).

The list we do know today gained some sort of fame by fashion editor Nina Hyde of the Washington post in 1977-1978. This was an annual column (just like our modern version) that featured trends and nuances. These lists also warned readers: “Do not keep score. This can only result in smugness or insecurity, both of which are very Out.”

I may not have created a list of my own this year, but I’ll be saving ones that catch my eye.

lra ♡

8 January 2026

The Office Celebrity

I first heard this workplace archetype from Emily Durham (HR Careers Coach, love her), and I felt moved enough to continue to share this term. This is not a role you can apply for, it’s not an official title. But, this is a role that has existed for awhile, we’ve just never put a name to her face.

The Office Celebrity is your best friend’s cooler, older sister that you aspire to be. Everyone knows her and she can do no wrong. She’s made an impact on you and everyone around you. Her reputation is highly influential and any interaction you have with her makes you part of the popular crowd (at least by association).

While researching this term, I connected some of my favourite fictional characters to be Office Celebrities in their own world. The first: Michael Scott from The Office (US). He’s VERY well-known in his company and the office culture revolves around his presence (sometimes by his own doing). He’s just too visible to ignore, and why would we?

A second fictional character I felt paired perfectly to this archetype is Emily Cooper from Emily in Paris. Now, Emily has her good and bad moments, constantly being referenced. Yet, she’s highly visible and a cultural symbol in her workplace.

These characters may exaggerate what it means to be an Office Celebrity (they’re fictional, everything is dramatized), but the patterns are the same in the real world.

You’ve seen her before. She's not going away.

lra ♡

6 January 2026

Hello January and all the wonders you have to offer us as the first month of this brand new year. I've been seeing a lot of mixed feelings around ‘goals’ and ‘resolutions,’ but this hasn’t discouraged me from setting my own this year.

But! I’ve tweaked them a tad so I am a little more excited to stay focused on them these next 12 months. I will still be dreaming and keeping promises to myself, but I’ll be adding non-negotiables and rituals this year to the mix.

Inspired by Pinterest Predicts, here are a few of my favourite predictions turned into creative directions...

**Scent Stacking → Habit Stacking**
I want to explore and try out a lot of new things this year… on top of maintaining the several things I’m currently doing. This year (with the help of my semi-new planner), I’ll be able to stay consistent. I’d love to look back in December in awe at my growth.

**Extra Celestial → Storytelling**
An emerging conversation I’ve been seeing is companies wanting more storytelling. They are seeking creatives to have a more narrative focused perspective to better market to audiences. This is one of my actively growing talents that I hope to continue to strengthen this year.

**Glamoratti → Being a Little Extra (On Purpose)**
I love to be dramatic but always in a creative way. I never want to discourage myself or even my ideas, I always want to push myself creatively and see how far I can go. Trusting my confidence and decision-making will be one of my ongoing responsibilities to myself. This year it’s all about the spotlight and how I’ll lead with confidence.

How are you approaching this year?

lra ♡

5 January 2026

December (and some of January) brings so many exciting highlights in our creative world…

END OF YEAR RECAPS
TREND PREDICTIONS
REVIEWS
TOP LIST CATEGORIES
‘OF THE YEAR’ AWARDS

I look forward to these events with an open mind and welcoming arms. Some brands really go above and beyond each year with this. They are gold-star students that are curious and goal-oriented.

This year, I’ll be consuming these summaries and turning them into a new year outline for myself. I’ll definitely be consuming these but I’ll also be curating my time and energy to grow more as a creative this year.

2026 is a new year to be a little bit more brave.

lra ♡