Growing up in the digital age of the internet had one golden rule: clear your search history. Whether you were looking at some not-so-PG content, googling symptoms of a health concern, or creeping your ex, the bottom line was to delete and leave no trace for anyone else to find.  We’re a bit older and wiser now and our Google search history is far more interesting—so we’ve decided to share ours every week. Below, find answers to questions about music, pop culture, entertainment, and news.

Paris Fashion Week 2022

The fashion traveling circus has made their annual trip to Paris, bonjour! The AW22 runways and digital shows have taken off and we’ve been sinking our teeth deeply into them. From Nigo—the godfather of streetwear—making his Kenzo debut, to Matiussi’s biggest Ami Paris fashion show to date, to Benji B and Tyler, the Creator’s involvement in Virgil Abloh’s final show, Paris Fashion Week ‘22 has not disappointed and we have major FOMO. If you’re not interested in the ins and outs of the fashion industry—we understand, it’s a lot to keep up with—that doesn’t mean there isn’t something in it for you! If you’re not here for Jonathan Anderson’s thought-provoking futurist Loewe’s AW22 show, maybe you’re here for Kanye West and Julia Fox’s attendance to PFW in double-denim. Or is that quad-denim, accounting for the two of them as a pair? Nonetheless, the appearances from some of your favourite celebs like Rosamund Pike and Cara Delevingne will be enough to peak your interest.

What is Wordle? Will I get hooked?

Before reading any further, we have to warn you: you will get hooked, so proceed with caution. For me, my Wordle journey started when my sister asked me to play and I got the word in 3 guesses. It took a little boost of dopamine from succeeding that day for it to become a daily habit of mine. So, let’s lean into this Wordle domination. Wordle is a free game where you have six tries to guess a five-letter word, one word for every day and it is the same for everyone globally. To succeed, you must use deductive reasoning. With each word, letters will be highlighted in different colours: green for a letter in the right position, yellow for a letter in the word but in the wrong position, and grey for a letter that isn’t in the word at all. There are plenty of strategies that will arise naturally in you. Do you start with the same vowel-packed word every day? Do you choose the most common consonants—R, S, T, L, N—that we’ve learned from decades of ‘Wheel of Fortune’? We implore you to find yours and to avoid the taboo hint look up online of now commonly Googled terms like “what words end in ‘ome’?” that have skyrocketed recently. Ultimately, Wordle is a fun, non-committal, way to exercise wordplay and deductive reasoning and flex in your family group chat.

The Rise of the Balaclava

Baklava? No, that’s the nutty, honey-filled filo pastry you’re tempted to get after a big meal at a Greek restaurant. Remember those craft core knitted pieces that we fought tooth and nail to not wear as children, despite our parents insisting that we’d catch a cold if we didn’t put them on? Yes, those! Well, after years of wearing masks and realizing that they offered additional protection from the cold and the rise of colourful Instagram-friendly knitwear, it’s only natural we re-introduce balaclavas as a must-have fashion trend. The balaclava originated during the Crimean War in the 1850s, designed to protect soldiers from unforgiving Russian winters.  Thanks to brands like Miu Miu and Paloma Wool, who have showcased their spin on vibrant, bejeweled balaclavas, they have reclaimed space on the trend radar. Balaclavas and knitted hoods, both full-face and open-style have soared with a 64% increase in searches this past year. In tandem with the full-coverage Balenciaga looks that took over at the 2021 Met Gala, the revival of balaclavas claim their presence across TikTok, with DIY crochet and styling tips. We’re no strangers to the cold and have reached that point in adulthood where we embrace the warmth and have the tools to make it cool. Whether it’s bringing some colour to a monochrome outfit or adding another pattern to our already maximalist style, we are excited to see what continues to come from this trend wave.

Is Microsoft’s Acquisition of Activision a Metaverse Play?

If you’ve managed to escape the onslaught of headlines regarding the biggest news in tech so far this year, you’re being faced with it now! Microsoft acquired Activision at roughly $69 billion, the largest deal in Microsoft history, and has framed it as a metaverse play. Though Activision does not currently have the necessary technology to insert itself into the metaverse, gaming will be a major contributor to the larger picture of the metaverse, and it would make sense for Microsoft to leverage their leg up in cloud computing and VR. Either that, or it’s a PR tactic to escape regulatory scrutiny, but I digress. Once the deal is completed, Microsoft will have control over some of the biggest games in history, such as Call of Duty and Overwatch. Until then, it’s business as usual. Tech-heads everywhere are contemplating whether this acquisition is “good or bad”, with antitrust and privacy concerns arising. Ultimately, there is no conclusive evidence yet but we will find out as the many intriguing possibilities unfold.

Manfred Thierry Mugler

Innovative, iconic futurist Manfred Thierry Mugler has sadly passed away at age 73, confirmed in an Instagram post by his fashion house on Sunday, January 23rd. Mugler’s sculptural designs and trailblazing vision has been celebrated for decades and will continue to be long after his passing. From his early fashion shows in the ‘80s to his Boy On a Dolphin inspired-design showcased on Kim Kardashian at the 2019 Met Gala, we will marvel at Mugler’s craft for eternity. Since the announcement on Sunday, various fashion friends and fans have flooded the internet with warm messages, honouring the late French designer. Among the many messages from people such as Kim Kardashian and Tracee Ellis Ross, Cardi B’s heartfelt passage really captures Mugler’s character and positive impact. She took to Instagram to share that “Mr. Mugler was one of the FIRST designers to take a major chance on me, allowing me to wear one of his ICONIC archive pieces for my Grammy red carpet look in 2019,” which ultimately opened many doors for her. As she puts it, “Mr. Mugler was still putting his foot on necks at 73 years old!” We couldn’t agree more. Rest in paradise, Mandred Thierry Mugler. Thank you for sharing your art with the world.

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