Must Read: Jennifer Coolidge Covers the Director's Issue of 'W,' The Pros and Cons of Viral Fashion

Plus, the truth about fashion's waste problem

These are the stories making headlines in fashion on Wednesday.

Jennifer Coolidge covers the Director's Issue of W
Jennifer Coolidge, cultural icon and star of "The White Lotus," covers the final Director's Issue of W Magazine, in a shoot directed by "Everything Everywhere All at Once" directors Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert (also known as the Daniels). Coolidge stars in a campy, supernatural photoshoot where she embodies a Godzilla-esque monster wreaking havoc across town. For the cover, Coolidge wears a Bad Binch TongTong bow dress, a MAM headpiece and Proenza Schouler shoes. {W Magazine}

The pros and cons of viral fashion
This past year has seen an influx of viral fashion moments. From faux taxidermy gowns at Schiaparelli donned by Kylie Jenner to Sam Smith's inflatable pants at the Brit Awards and animal prosthetics sported at the Collina Strada show, the industry is leaning towards bigger and more attention-grabbing stunts for media attention. However, some brands are not so easily swayed by this trend. Fashion houses like Balenciaga and Gucci have returned to toned-down collections that tell their heritage story this season. After all, virality comes at a price, and oftentimes, that is unwanted controversy. {Business of Fashion}

EU report uncovers the truth about fashion's waste problem
In a newly released report, the European Union declares that recycling has not alleviated the fashion industry's waste problem. Rather, it's simply shifting where the waste ends up. More than ever, companies are exporting dramatic volumes of textile from wealthy nations in Europe to places like Asia and Africa, while continuing to overproduce. This has resulted in the accumulation of waste, but no signs of slowing production, leading to increased environmental damage. {Vogue Business}

HauteLeMode is this generation's new kind of fashion critic
As the fashion landscape continues to shift, a new tide of Gen-Z critics is cropping up. Luke Meagher, also known as HauteLeMode, is one of this generation's most prominent self-made fashion critics. With no previous experience at a traditional company or publication, Meagher relies on frank and humorous fashion commentary on Youtube, which he believes aligns more closely with modern tastes. This type of unfiltered, direct-to-consumer criticism is gaining traction and legitimacy, with casual fashion observers and industry veterans alike watching his videos. {Vogue}

Homepage photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images

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