Game of Life
A Visual & Cultural Commentary on Modern Success
This project is part of the Fashion Forecasting class at VCU under Professor Lopez. It explores how modern life feels like a game—full of risks, fast decisions, and the constant chase for success. Inspired by hustle culture, gambling, and the pressure to “make it,” the concept blends fashion, storytelling, and design to show both the excitement of winning and the fear of failure. Through mood boards, bold color palettes, textiles, and styled looks, we reflect the highs and lows of today’s path to success.
Assignment Brief.
For our final project in FASH 340, we created a short-term fashion forecast for Spring/Summer 2027 menswear. The goal was to predict future trends using research, visual storytelling, and forecasting theories.
Our presentation included moodboards, color palettes, market analysis, key looks, and fabric forecasts, supported by original content and at least 15 credible sources. The project was worth 35% of our grade and emphasized both creativity and research-based justification.
Skills.
The process.
Mood and Theme.
The American Dream once symbolized a slow, steady path to success built on discipline, perseverance, and long-term effort. Today, that vision feels less attainable than ever, leaving many searching for a shortcut to success. The modern zeitgeist is defined by a widespread sense that traditional avenues to success are either closed off or no longer worth pursuing. Instead, people turn to high-risk, high-reward alternatives, hoping to strike it big overnight.
Gambling, both literally and metaphorically, has become a defining feature of our culture, infiltrating entertainment, finance, and even social interactions. From crypto speculation to sports betting, loot boxes in video games to social media algorithms, life itself has become a game, where every click feels like a roll of the dice.
Video.
Research & Cultural Context.
This moodboard is a visual exploration of how life itself begins to resemble a game, echoed by the inclusion of board games like Monopoly and The Game of Life, where strategic moves determine social standing and gain.
The streamers and athlete partnerships spotlight how gambling is advertised in mainstream media. It wasn’t until 2018 that the supreme court ruled sports betting was to be left up to the states (Murphy v. NCAA, 2018).
Books like Rich Dad Poor Dad, The 4-Hour Work Week, and Millionaire Fastlane speak to the cultural obsession with hustle, entrepreneurship, and shortcut strategies to bypass traditional 9-to-5 life. This "get rich or die tryin’" mentality is further emphasized by 50 Cent's iconic album, and films like The Wolf of Wall Street.
These references create a commentary on the modern rat race: a gamified landscape of economic survival, social manipulation, and aspirational delusion. We don't just play to win, we play to survive, impress, and belong.
Target Market Evolution.
In the past, the target market was a 17-year-old gamer, an introvert living in suburbia. As a high schooler, they were tech-savvy, and always up to date with the latest trends in gaming. With plans to possibly attend a local community college, this person wasn't yet committed to a career path but was eager to explore new opportunities.
We created a fictional character evolving over time: from a 17-year-old gamer to a 22-year-old "wantrepreneur", and eventually either a successful entrepreneur or a failed gambler. This arc reflects shifting priorities, from exploration to validation or collapse.
Currently, the target market has evolved into a 22-year-old college dropout. This person is highly competitive and thrives on risk-taking, especially in areas like sports betting and crypto. Their key drivers are instant gratification, financial success, and the validation of taking risks.
In the future, this person has transformed into a successful entrepreneur at 30 years old. Having established financial security, they are now located in a major business city, surrounded by a strong professional network. Their needs have shifted from growth to sustaining their success.
OR it could take a darker turn in the future, evolving into a degenerate gambler who has faced major failure. While working a low-paying job, the allure of quick wins keeps them trapped in a cycle of gambling. As a college dropout, they've gambled away not only their money but their future, investing in crypto schemes, lottery tickets, and whatever the “next big thing” promises. Their key drivers are desperation, the thrill of risk, and an escape from their reality.
Word Bank.
We built our word bank as a crossword puzzle game to echo the cultural language of ambition today.
You’ll notice heavy repetition of hustle and Finance slang along with emotional triggers.
Our lives feel structured like levels, each decision feels like it could cost us everything or earn us everything.
Color Forecast
The main color board was created to show both sides of modern life; the excitement of chasing success and the challenges that come with it. It mixes soft and strong tones, as well as light and dark shades, reflecting how people often feel torn between hope and unsureness. Each color was chosen to bring out different emotions, capturing the idea that today’s path to success is not always steady, it is full of risks and hard work.
The color story of success captures the excitement of quick wins. Colors like Old Gold and New Gold bring together tradition and a fresh take on wealth and status. Bullish adds a bold and confident energy, while Paper hints at the real, physical side of achieving something. Finally, Clarity brings in that clear feeling you get when everything finally clicks.
All these colors were chosen with color psychology in mind; in which gold tones suggest luxury and achievement and green reflects growth and balance. Together, they create a board that feels positive and full of momentum.
The failure color story showcases the risks and unsureness that come with today’s fast-paced world. It leans into darker, moodier shades that feel more reflective. Bearish stands out as a symbol of downfall, while Velveteen and Bespoke show how something that once felt full of promise can turn disappointing. Lastly, Hundreds refers to fast money that you cannot hold on to.
Reds create urgency, while blues and blacks feel more reflective. It is a palette that does not shy away from struggle.
Fabrics, Prints and Textiles.
Street Style Looks.
The Resort Gambler. It captures the feeling of enjoying a vacation in a luxurious, sunny place. These flowy pants and loose shirts give it a carefree vibe, mixing comfort with elegance. It is perfect for someone who wants to feel relaxed while still looking expensive and put together.
Full Grain, Full Wallet. Here we can appreciate high-quality leather, from jackets, to trousers and boots, these looks show effortless luxury and confidence, while reflecting a lifestyle where wealth is not just about appearance, but about living in true comfort and style.
The tattered spirit look speaks to struggle, survival and resilience, where distressed fabrics and loose shapes add to the mood of emotional weight. We can also see how dark glasses and heavy shoes build on the gritty energy. It is for someone who has been through a lot and wears it boldly
Runaway Looks.
This Look is all about capturing attention through dazzling, eye-catching details. It features garments adorned with metallic finishes, sequins, and glittering embellishments, making every movement a statement. It's a look for those who embrace boldness, confidence, and the art of making a lasting impression.
The Bruised Floral look, "Give Me My Flowers," is about the exhaustion and weariness that comes with finally being recognized after relentless hard work. The florals are soft and blurred, like a weary soul, worn down yet still standing strong. The bruised edges represent the toll of pushing through without acknowledgment, until now. The rich velvet and satin fabrics add depth and sophistication, but there's an underlying sense of frustration. You’ve earned these flowers, but they feel more like a reminder of the struggles endured to get here. It's the look of someone who’s tired, having fought hard for recognition but now wearing it with a mix of fatigue and quiet triumph.
The Tacky or Tasteful look is all about the art of mixing patterns, a risky style that can easily go wrong if not executed properly. This look challenges the idea of matching and pairs bold, clashing prints like polka dots with stripes and plaid with checks in a way that demands confidence. It’s a balancing act between chaos and cohesion, where the right mix can create a unique, statement-making look, but the wrong combination can fall flat. It’s a daring move that requires finesse, but when done right, it pushes the boundaries of fashion, showcasing the wearer's ability to take risks and challenge the norms of taste.
Key Items.
These non-mirrored big sunglasses are essential for anyone playing the high-stakes game of life, much like a poker player using them at the table. The dark, oversized lenses conceal any hint of emotion or reaction, ensuring that no tells or weaknesses are visible to others. Just as a poker player must keep a straight face to maintain control, these glasses help the wearer maintain an unreadable, calm exterior while navigating the unpredictable risks of the world around them.
Funky ties are the perfect accessory for standing out in today’s competitive world. Bold, oversized, and playful, these ties serve as a statement piece that demands attention. With their unconventional patterns, vivid colors, and unique textures, they break the traditional mold of corporate attire, showcasing a personality that’s not afraid to take risks. In a sea of conformity, a funky tie signifies individuality, showing that success doesn’t have to be understated, it can be bold and vibrant. These ties represent the audacity to stand apart and make your mark in a world that often favors the safe and ordinary.
Ironic wallets make a bold statement by literally embodying money. With designs featuring fake cash, receipts, or even fast food packaging, these wallets challenge the traditional concept of wealth and status. They are a playful commentary on society’s obsession with money and materialism, turning something as mundane as a wallet into a conversation piece.
“In society today, we often idolize and put people on pedestals who risked it all, put everything on the line, and became successful. Everyone loves the underdog, rags to riches story, but unfortunately, not everyone can be the underdog. But that's what x successful person did. Go ahead, take your chance or try again at the American Dream. It may be advertised as "free to play" but the truth is, power isn't always earned. Sometimes it's bought, sometimes it's manipulated, and sometimes there are cheat codes that let you skip ahead.”
Final Curation.
