100 Days is an annual project at New York City’s School of Visual Arts that was founded by Michael Bierut. Each year, the students of the school’s Master’s in Branding Program spend 100 days documenting their process with a chosen creative endeavor. This year, we’re showcasing each student in the program by providing a peek into ten days of their project. You can keep an eye on everyone’s work on our SVA 100 Days page.
“100 Days of Cultural Clarity” is a project by Olivia Grant, a cultural studies and visual storytelling enthusiast, who aims to explore and illustrate 100 distinct cultural trends. Every day, a new trend is featured with an illustration and a brief summary that includes the trend’s name, defining characteristics, and its origins in terms of time and place.
This project seeks to foster a deeper understanding and appreciation of the myriad ways culture manifests in our world by delving into diverse cultural phenomena. Whether it’s a historical fashion movement, a contemporary social media trend, or a traditional practice from a distant land, each entry is carefully researched and artistically rendered to provide clarity and context.
You can discover more of Olivia Grant’s project on Instagram.
Introduced: Mid 2010s
Brazilian butt lifts, also known called BBLs, emphasize the beauty standard of women having big butts and hips with a slim waist. Celebrities like the Kardashians and Jennifer Lopez are one of the contributing factors that led to the increase in buttocks surgeries, along with the acceptance of body diversity, which puts a bigger focus on curvier body shapes.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 200 B.C.
Skin bleaching/lightening involves using cosmetic products containing carbonate and mercury to lighten their complexion and erase facial stains. The country with the highest rates of skin bleaching is Africa, which is recognized as a global health problem in countries such as Nigeria, Congo-Brazzaville, and Senegal.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: Italian Renaissance
Women used the plant as a beauty product to dilate their pupils, making them appear more attractive. The plant in question contains toxins that cause blindness. Today, nightshade is used for medical purposes such as eye exams and surgery. The name “Belladonna” means beautiful woman, in reference to the (Italian) woman who used it for beauty purposes.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 1920s
From the 20s to now, eyebrows have undergone different styles, from the thin and rounded to the thick and natural bush. Although this trend technically started in Ancient Egypt, it became mainstream in the 1920s, when famous actresses inspired the new look of the decade. The styling of one’s eyebrows has become a form of self-expression, with some opting to shave them to give off an alien look or replace them with shapes or piercings.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: Late 1990s and early 2000s
Y2K (also known as “millennium bug fashion”) is a fashion style that began taking shape and became well-defined in the late 90s and early 00s. Its futuristic aesthetic takes inspiration from the developing technology of that time and is characterized by optimism, metallic fabrics, bright, saturated colors, and large logos mixed with maximalist vibes and nostalgia. It became the go-to look for fashion-forward individuals around the world.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Day 45: Free the Nipple
Introduced: 2012
Inspired and named by the film of the same name, Free the Nipple is a feminist movement that aims to challenge the censorship and double standards regarding male and female nudity. The movement has sparked debates, discussions, and protests about body equality and how women’s bodies are represented in society.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 2021
Princesscore, also known as royalcore, is an aesthetic based on the regal style and mannerisms of a princess. The aesthetic usually consists of flowy, loose dresses, pants, skirts, blouses, tights, pumps, and ballet flats. The outfits are often embellished with accessories such as butterflies, flowers, birds, pearls, gold or silver braids, or lace. Common color palettes include white, gold, silver, blush, garnet, beige, nudes, sage, rose, and powder blue. Sources of inspiration include anywhere from cartoons or historical figures like Princess Diana.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 1950s
Beatniks are part of the Beat Generation, which is a literary subculture movement started by authors whose work explored American culture and politics in the post-World War II era. They rejected conformity and consumerism and expressed themselves through art, music, poetry, and literature. They were often stereotyped as wearing black clothing, berets, and sunglasses and associated themselves with “hippie” settings such as coffee shops, bookstores, bars, and clubs. They were involved in political activism.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 2023
The Grimace Shake was introduced to celebrate the birthday of one McDonald’s character, the Grimace, in the summer of 2023. Although the event started wholesome, it took a different turn when TikTok user Fraz pretended to be dead after consuming the drink. Many other people followed suit, and the Grimace Shake trend blew up due to the dark, satirical take on a franchise known for being family-friendly.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?
Introduced: 1990s
Inspired by the desire to throw away the “good girl” image that was standard in fashion, heroin chic was a sought-after fashion style for women in the 90s. The look is known for an extremely waifish waist, pale skin, dark undereye circles, and leaning towards androgyny, sharing the same look as drug users. The popularity of this look came around the time drug use was becoming more acceptable amongst the middle class. Thanks to the influence of celebrities, drug use became a glamorous activity for the rich and famous.
Not only did the trend open the door for glorifying harmful and illegal drug use, but also many women had bulimia as they would binge and purge to keep up with the ideal body image at the time.
What do you think of this practice? Why is/was this trend so popular? Would you ever consider partaking in this?