Chez La Modiste

Maeve O'Connor

Columnist

Maeve O'Connor is a columnist whose work delves into the 'why' of what we wear. With a master's degree in Visual Culture, she approaches fashion not as an isolated industry, but as a key protagonist in cultural discourse. Her column, 'The Social Fabric,' examines everything from the semiotics of a particular silhouette to the influence of a new art exhibition on textile design. She is known for her witty, incisive voice and her ability to make complex academic theories feel immediate and relevant to the modern wardrobe.

Expertise

Fashion TheoryContemporary ArtCultural CriticismSemiotics20th Century Design

Coverage Areas

Culture & Art
Art de Vivre
Style Guide

Latest Articles

AI constructs walking a haute couture runway, blending technology and high fashion with a discerning audience watching.
Culture & Art

AI's mixed impact on haute couture's creative process

Gucci, a titan of Italian craftsmanship, recently faced public scorn for using AI-generated images to promote its Milan Fashion Week show.

Jul 2, 2026 · 2 min read

Woman in a stylish orange dress with a powder blue accessory, embodying chic summer fashion on a sunny street.
Style Guide

How to Style Orange Clothes for Summer

For warmer months, ELLE Canada Magazine suggests pairing powder blues with apricot or tangerine tones, revealing orange's surprising versatility.

Jul 1, 2026 · 3 min read

A surrealist haute couture fashion show featuring a model with a shoe as a hat and another with a bone-adorned dress.
Culture & Art

What Is Surrealism's Impact on Haute Couture and Fashion?

At the height of Parisian haute couture, Elsa Schiaparelli presented a shoe as a hat and bones on the outside of a dress, radically redefining fashion.

Jun 27, 2026 · 3 min read

Stylish individuals wearing unique, customized sports jerseys in a vibrant urban street-style photoshoot, showcasing fashion-forward fan gear.
Style Guide

Styling Sports Jerseys for Everyday Wear: Trends and Tips

Rysa Ruth has sold over 200 custom knitting patterns for women's sports jerseys, revealing a burgeoning DIY movement that directly challenges traditional sports apparel.

Jun 23, 2026 · 4 min read

A sophisticated living room featuring clean lines, layered textures, and soft natural light, representing the 2026 trend of curated elegance.
Art de Vivre

Curated elegance: The new 2026 standard for refined leisure.

By 2026, the most coveted living rooms won't scream luxury; instead, they will whisper 'curated elegance' through clean lines and layered textures, a deliberate shift from overt opulence.

Jun 20, 2026 · 3 min read

Diverse individuals confidently wearing playful, voluminous summer outfits, highlighting the trending bubble hem skirt in a vibrant, sun-drenched street style scene.
Style Guide

Emerging Summer Style Trends You Need to Know

Online searches for 'bubble hem skirts' surged by 300% in the last month, outpacing even 'quiet luxury' items and signaling a dramatic shift in summer style, according to Google Trends .

Jun 20, 2026 · 4 min read

A modern, minimalist living room featuring a natural essential oil diffuser emitting a gentle mist, surrounded by plants and soft natural light.
Art de Vivre

Choosing Natural Home Fragrance Diffusers for 2026

Approximately 20% of the general population and 34% of individuals with asthma report health problems directly linked to common air fresheners, according to respiratory-therapy .

Jun 18, 2026 · 4 min read

Model wearing a sophisticated midnight blue technical fabric swimsuit on a serene beach during golden hour, embodying Summer 2026 swimwear trends.
Style Guide

Top 10 Swimwear Trends for Summer 2026: Animal Prints to Technical Fabrics

For Summer 2026, the most impactful trending color in swimwear is midnight blue, not a vibrant neon or pastel.

Jun 6, 2026 · 6 min read

Models on a runway wearing contemporary fashion inspired by Art Deco geometric patterns and luxurious fabrics in a grand ballroom.
Culture & Art

What is Art Deco influence on contemporary fashion design?

In 1926, a tennis dress designed and worn by Miss Hepburne Scott showcased radical geometric precision: a square neck, neat pleats, and a chequered pattern.

Jun 5, 2026 · 3 min read

A surrealist fashion model in a dreamlike cityscape wearing an avant-garde gown inspired by Salvador Dalí's lobster motif, with melting clocks and floating eyes.
Culture & Art

Surrealism's Influence on Fashion in 2026

In 1936, Salvador Dalí placed a bright red lobster on the front of a white evening gown, transforming a simple dress into a wearable piece of art that shocked and delighted the fashion world.

Jun 4, 2026 · 4 min read

A person effortlessly transforming their professional office attire into a sophisticated evening outfit, showcasing the versatility of 2026 fashion trends.
Style Guide

Day to night dressing implications: Your wardrobe needs a 2026 update.

In 2026, a Global Fashion Insights survey revealed that 70% of office workers wear the same outfit to a casual dinner as they do to their workplace.

May 29, 2026 · 4 min read

A futuristic residential tower featuring a state-of-the-art Longevity Spa, designed by Luca Dini for Visionnaire and Longevity Suite.
Art de Vivre

Longevity Suite, Visionnaire Tap Luca Dini for Design Partnership

A new 100,000-square-foot residential tower, complete with a 14,000-square-foot Longevity Spa offering 'advanced life-extending protocols,' is being designed by Luca Dini Design & Architecture.

May 26, 2026 · 2 min read

Exterior view of the new Veronica Beard boutique in Paris, showcasing its elegant storefront and window displays on a sunny Parisian street.
Art de Vivre

Veronica Beard To Open First Paris Boutique in Luxury Expansion

Despite a challenging global retail climate, Veronica Beard, a brand with over $350 million in annual sales, is making its boldest international move yet.

May 18, 2026 · 2 min read

BTS member Jung Kook poses confidently in a Calvin Klein outfit, marking his first major fashion collaboration.
Style Guide

BTS's Jung Kook launches first fashion collab with Calvin Klein

On May 19, fans will have their first chance to own a piece of Jung Kook's debut fashion collaboration with Calvin Klein: a limited-edition capsule featuring around 20 items.

May 18, 2026 · 2 min read