In 2020, I’ve noticed clothing hitting the runways becoming more flexible, sporty, and very “utility” like. The clothing mimics something a character of a science fiction movie or video game would wear. Womenswear specifically is becoming more silhouette focused featuring designs that enhance the curves of the body such as a corset design. Designs are very simple and geometric but include details such as utility pockets, chains, rings and detachable straps. This trend appeared around the mid 2010’s but advanced as we headed into the 20’s.
A great example of this trend would be Dior’s Pre-Fall collection. In 2019, Dior collaborated with artist Hajime Sorayama to create a men’s collection that would include different masculine pieces described as “futuristic.” This collaboration included pieces such as shirts and shoes that feature robots with and natural cherry blossoms, designs that enhance the male body and accessories with metallic colors.
Dior Models
Above is pictured some of the Dior Fall 2019 Men’s collection
Dior Bag
This bag is also part of the collection. It is made from metal. The accessories are also metallic with a cyber/robotic style to them.
Not only is this trend present in fashion but we can see it in music and technology as well. In November 2019, Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, came out with the concept of the cyber truck. The design of the automobile itself as the name suggests is very futuristic, minimal and advanced. The car almost looks as if It was fake or a prop out of a science fiction movie. It is definitely very different in design from the average American pick up truck. The car just like the new clothing trends emerging, are more focused on simplicity, metallic colors and functionality challenging what is normal. I personally am very excited to see the outcome of this trend in this decade.
Cybertruck
Above is a picture of the cyber truck rumored to appear in late 2021.
Phone calls and video calls usage have risen since in person contact is limited. With these tips, I can help you make your next phone or video call a success!
- Each video call, or phone call, should open with a proper greeting. Especially, if it is someone such as your professor or boss. Saying “Hello” is always the perfect way to start any conversation.
- After saying “Hello”, ask the person “How are you?” They will appreciate you taking the time to know their current status before jumping straight into the conversation. Also, by doing this you are being considerate of the person’s time. This is a very important part of initiating a conversation. Usually in this stage of the conversation the person will let you know if it is a good time to talk before you proceed with a request.
- Once you have greeted each other and know the person is available to talk, state the purpose of your call. You can say something such as, “I am calling to invite you to my party” or “I am calling because I was wondering if you can pet sit for me?”
- State important details related to your purpose for calling. This helps the other person understand as to why you are calling.
- End the conversation with a proper closing. Although there is nothing wrong with saying “bye!” sometimes it can leave a post awkwardness and can seem rushed. Try saying something such as “Thank you for your time, talk to you soon!” It all depends on the topic of the conversation as well.
- Another part of ending a conversation that is not in person is knowing when to hang up. There can be some awkwardness when hanging up such as who should hang up first. My personal rule is: the one who calls should be the one who hangs up. I also have the 2 second rule, that is, after you have exchanged farewells, count to 2 then hang up.
- In general, a conversation should be fair. Each person should be allowed to have their own time to talk. Do not talk over a person. Let them finish their sentence then respond. If you happen to accidently interrupt, apologize then let them finish.
- For phone calls, sit up straight even if no one is watching. By doing this, you become more focused on the conversation, your tone changes and your voice is heard easily.
- For video calls, record in a place that is well lit and has neutral tones. This helps so the audience is not distracted by what is going on behind you.
- Be aware of your environment. Go to a place that is distraction free that won’t cause background noise.
I hope with these tips you can make your next phone call or video call flow more naturally!
No, YOU hang up first! https://cheezburger.com/769961216%5B/caption%5D
To be clear, I wasn’t a “shopaholic” to the point I would max out my cards and got into debt (thank God), but I was a shopaholic in the sense that I would sometimes overspend on the things I wanted. Over the years as I’ve matured, I’ve come to develop some useful advice for myself when shopping and want to share it with you. I feel as consumers, we’ve all asked ourselves whether something is worth buying. Even more annoying, I feel we all have purchased something then later regretted it. If you’re like me, you probably have something in your closet you’ve never worn, and it has been sitting in your closet for weeks, months or even years. Don’t feel too bad. I feel we’ve all been a victim of impulse shopping at least once in our life.
Even if your shopping habits are good, this article still offers advice and can help with decision making. I wanted to write this article to help you save your money and keep your closet or home from flooding with too much or unnecessary items.
First things first, consult your budget. A responsible shopper always makes sure they have enough before purchasing a product. If you decide to make a purchase on a credit card, make sure you will set aside enough to be able to pay it back in the future.
Now that we got an idea of your budget, I’ve come up with some questions you can ask yourself before making a purchase.
- Do I really need it?
Although the item sparks joy at first glance, you probably already have something similar or enough of it at home such as shirts, shoes or jewelry. Do you really need another?
- Can I see myself using this item for 3-5 years or more?
Be honest with yourself. If you don’t see yourself having this item for a long time, its probably not worth it. Also remember, trends come and go quick.
- Am I buying it just because it is on sale?
Who can resist a sale? There is nothing wrong with buying a discounted item. Even if you think you are getting an amazing deal, ask yourself: am I only buying it because its discounted? If it wasn’t on sale would you still want it?
- Does this item compliment any other pieces in your home or wardrobe?
If the item does not, it’s probably best not to purchase it. It will not match your style or disrupt a certain theme in your home.
- Is it worth it?
Even the littlest bit of doubt in the moment is a good chance you will probably regret buying it. From my experience, it is best to save your money. There is always something better. Another way to look at it is: would you rather have your money or something new?
These questions can apply to any purchase. Don’t get me wrong, I am a strong believer in self-care, and understand buying yourself something nice can be therapeutic. I believe a person should treat themselves every now and them if the budget allows. Try asking yourself these questions next time you shop, and I guarantee you will notice a difference.
In 2020, the world economy was negatively affected by the coronavirus pandemic which led to many Americans losing their jobs and many companies to suffer financially. In order to stimulate the economy, the government passed the Cares Act, a 2.2 trillion stimulus package, that will send stimulus checks to qualifying Americans. (Friedman) “Stimulus checks are intended to stimulate the economy by providing consumers with some spending money. When taxpayers spend this money, it will boost consumption and drive revenues at retailers and manufacturers and, thus, spur the economy.” (Halton)
As the curious person I am, I wanted to find out more about the different ways people used their checks given the situation we are in. I was inspired by the casual conversations I’ve had with my friends about what we did with our stimulus checks. After hearing all the different responses, I wanted to dig deeper, so I decided to conduct a survey.
I conducted an open-ended survey using the convenience method, by asking the people around me, and using my social media such as instagram and snapchat to attract participants. I first informed people this survey is only for people who received stimulus checks. In the survey I conducted, I asked for a person’s demographics such as name, age, gender (optional), and occupation. The reason for asking for demographics is I was hoping there would be a difference among certain groups. I was predicting females would spend more on shopping compared to males, older age groups would save their money and people working higher paying occupations might use the money for personal reasons rather than financial. I then asked the golden question, “What did you do with your stimulus check?”
I took my responses, recorded them and categorized them:
This pie chart represents the data collected from the survey.
The pie chart above represents the data recorded and categorized. Responses were sometimes mixed, for example some people put the money towards savings and towards investings. I used the majority of how they used to money to put it into a category. 50% of participants said they saved their stimulus check. This category mainly consisted of college students who said they were saving the money to pay tuition. I noticed the rest of the participants who saved their money were of older age groups (50+). 25% of participants use the money to pay off some form of debt. This included using the money to pay off credit cards, a car payment, utility bills and rent. 12% invested the money either into their own businesses and careers or bought stock. And lastly, 13% said they used the money for personal reasons such as shopping, taking a trip and getting a medical procedure.
Overall, there wasn’t too much of a difference in demographics when categorizing the data. Everything seemed even. I was surprised by my data and happy to see most people making responsible decisions with their money during a time like this. What did you do with your stimulus check? Comment Below!
Pages Cited:
Friedman, Z. (2020, April 19). Everything You Need To Know About Your $1,200 Stimulus Check. Retrieved September 07, 2020, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/zackfriedman/2020/04/13/stimulus-check-everything-need-know/
Halton, C. (2020, April 16). Stimulus Check Definition. Retrieved September 22, 2020, from https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/stimulus-check.asp
Imagine a place where you can find what you are looking for, whenever you want all at the tip of your fingers. Sounds cool right? Any idea where this place is? The Internet! Online shopping has become popular over the recent years and the number of worldwide users continues to grow daily. Who would’ve thought years ago that ordering items from an electronic screen would become so popular and would create one of the largest markets globally? So, what is it about ecommerce that is attracting more and more consumers? Here are the top reasons online business is growing:
- You can find anything on the internet. Literally anything. Many websites offer search engines with filters that allow you to choose item specifics to make finding what you are looking for easier, fast and accurate. You can simply type into a search engine “gold sequin gown” and thousands of results will appear. The variety is endless.
- Online shops are open 24/7, 365. Compared to brick and mortar, you can browse through all of a shop’s products any time of day without having to actually go to the store. You can browse on your pc, tablet or phone anywhere you want and for as long as you want. Plus, you save gas, energy and time. How convenient?
- You have access to items all over the world. I find this reason the most exciting one. Ever wanted to try snacks from Japan? There is actually a business who dedicates themselves to providing their consumers with monthly subscription boxes which include items like candy and ramen only sold in Japan. Definitely not something you can find at your local grocery store. It’s like shopping abroad but without having to pay for the expensive travel fees.
- The joy of receiving your package! It is like opening a gift except you already know what it is and it is from you. One of the most exciting feelings in the world is finally getting to open that package of that blouse or shoes you ordered. The wait is over, it is finally here and all yours.
- There is always a sale! Every customer’s favorite four lettered word, sale. Online prices tend to be cheaper than in store prices. Many websites as well offer special discount codes for online shoppers and exclusive perks which cannot be redeemed in store. You will often find too that shipping is almost always free. Another word we as consumers love to hear, free.
Ecommerce is evolving every day. Many companies as well are expanding their business to online to reach more customers worldwide. It is for sure that ecommerce is here to stay and is only going to keep growing. We are truly living in the future.
