Sunday, October 2, 2011
Fast Fashion
Colorlines featured the number of models at 2012 S/S New York Fashion Week who were models of color. The bottom line: more than usual, less than should be. Also, rock on Miss J.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Fast Fashion
Fast Fashion will be posts on the blog that are quick links to
stories. Sometimes I will not have time to fully address an issue, or
more likely someone else will have done a much better job addressing it
than I ever could. So here goes:
A wonderful and creative woman named Nancy Upton decided to enter American Apparel's "plus size" modeling contest as a joke. She then proceeded to win by a freaking landslide. Her story is here.
A wonderful and creative woman named Nancy Upton decided to enter American Apparel's "plus size" modeling contest as a joke. She then proceeded to win by a freaking landslide. Her story is here.
A Model Life
It's Fashion Week in New York, so the internet is abuzz with stories of fashion shows, models, bloggers and more. This story popped up on Life Magazine's Tumblr today.
That is some snarky slut-shaming and pre-Second Wave nostalgia goin' on there. First of all, I find it pretty preposterous to think that all models (every! single! one!) have hair extensions, or wear "skimpy" bikinis or want to be Tyra Banks. Some models have extensions and some don't. Some like to wear bikinis and some like to wear one-pieces and some don't like to wear anything at all.
As far as post-career talk shows are concerned, I think it is safe to say that models should have other plans for their lives besides just modeling. In an industry that values youth to an extreme degree, models do not get as many jobs past the age of 30. It wouldn't be wrong to imply that someone else in a youth-centered field (like professional sports) should look outside their current situation and prepare for a time after they can no longer compete professionally. Sure, there are a few celebrated models that are 40 or older, but those are few and far between. Modeling as a profession isn't the end-all be-all for most models. Many models go on to do many different things, such as designing clothes or photography or acting or singing or entrepeneurship or science or technology or starting a family or non-profit work or writing or literally every other possible life choice out there. Guess what, Life Magazine? Models are people too, and people have diverse interests. (gasp!)
Finally, we have the good ol' modesty to look out for. Remember the days when all ladies wore dresses and covered their stomachs and looked like Betty Draper? Remember when models would just sit there and shut up and never have an opinion or a personality and really loved squeezing into painfully uncomfortable undergarments? Gosh, those days were perfect and nothing bad ever happened and no one was ever unhappy. The gendered language in this story is difficult to ignore, implying that today's models have gotten out of control and no longer act like Ladies. Using words like modest and quaint and diva, words that are very culturally gendered, makes us as readers understand that Life Magazine is specifically focused on female models and their behaviors. Not to mention that out of 35 pictures in the slideshow, only one featured a male model.
Come on models, get it together. You're only there to look good and be nice and stay quiet.
 |
| photo via Life Magazine |
"It wasn't always hair extensions, skimpy bikinis, and post-career talk shows. Back in the day, fashion models were about (gasp!) the clothes, and having a made-for-TV diva personality was less important than looking good in the client's outfits. See the fashion runways of yesteryear -- modest, quaint, and not a thrown BlackBerry anywhere in sight."
That is some snarky slut-shaming and pre-Second Wave nostalgia goin' on there. First of all, I find it pretty preposterous to think that all models (every! single! one!) have hair extensions, or wear "skimpy" bikinis or want to be Tyra Banks. Some models have extensions and some don't. Some like to wear bikinis and some like to wear one-pieces and some don't like to wear anything at all.
As far as post-career talk shows are concerned, I think it is safe to say that models should have other plans for their lives besides just modeling. In an industry that values youth to an extreme degree, models do not get as many jobs past the age of 30. It wouldn't be wrong to imply that someone else in a youth-centered field (like professional sports) should look outside their current situation and prepare for a time after they can no longer compete professionally. Sure, there are a few celebrated models that are 40 or older, but those are few and far between. Modeling as a profession isn't the end-all be-all for most models. Many models go on to do many different things, such as designing clothes or photography or acting or singing or entrepeneurship or science or technology or starting a family or non-profit work or writing or literally every other possible life choice out there. Guess what, Life Magazine? Models are people too, and people have diverse interests. (gasp!)
Finally, we have the good ol' modesty to look out for. Remember the days when all ladies wore dresses and covered their stomachs and looked like Betty Draper? Remember when models would just sit there and shut up and never have an opinion or a personality and really loved squeezing into painfully uncomfortable undergarments? Gosh, those days were perfect and nothing bad ever happened and no one was ever unhappy. The gendered language in this story is difficult to ignore, implying that today's models have gotten out of control and no longer act like Ladies. Using words like modest and quaint and diva, words that are very culturally gendered, makes us as readers understand that Life Magazine is specifically focused on female models and their behaviors. Not to mention that out of 35 pictures in the slideshow, only one featured a male model.
Come on models, get it together. You're only there to look good and be nice and stay quiet.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
I love you madly, madly Madam librarian
In the last few months I have been freakishly lucky while shopping thrift stores. Look at these:
While visiting my parents, one thing that frequently happens is that my stepmother and I go thrift/vintage shopping. (My stepmom is the only person I know who has a shopping stamina to match my own and she is really good at finding cheap, gently-used cashmere. She's magical.) While out, we saw these shoes:
While convincing myself to buy them, I said something along the lines of, "If it looks like a librarian would wear it, I will probably buy it." One of those anal-retentive but ultimately sassy and lovable librarians.
These are so dorky, and so comfortable:
I didn't have a pair of blue heels until these bad boys, which are begging to be worn with obnoxiously colored and/or printed tights:
Now I can live out my hidden wish to be a librarian all day, every day.
P.S. Yes, I have orange walls. They are spectacular.
*all photos by me
While visiting my parents, one thing that frequently happens is that my stepmother and I go thrift/vintage shopping. (My stepmom is the only person I know who has a shopping stamina to match my own and she is really good at finding cheap, gently-used cashmere. She's magical.) While out, we saw these shoes:
While convincing myself to buy them, I said something along the lines of, "If it looks like a librarian would wear it, I will probably buy it." One of those anal-retentive but ultimately sassy and lovable librarians.
These are so dorky, and so comfortable:
I didn't have a pair of blue heels until these bad boys, which are begging to be worn with obnoxiously colored and/or printed tights:
Now I can live out my hidden wish to be a librarian all day, every day.
P.S. Yes, I have orange walls. They are spectacular.
*all photos by me
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Today in great things that will inevitably tempt my bank account:
1). Yesterday Fair Trade USA launched it's certification program for apparel and linens. This is a good step for ethical fashion, and it encourages those who produce apparel and linens to commit to (and be rewarded for) things like using organic materials and treating workers with dignity and respect. Here are some FAQs about what this entails. I hope to see more and more designers and companies working towards creating ethical fashion as this initiative grows.
2. I've signed up for Pure Citizen. There are a lot of member-only online shopping sites that sell deeply discounted and sometimes very well-known designer fashions (as well as other things), like Gilt, RueLaLa and ideeli. These boutique sale sites have a company selling certain items for a specific period of time (usually a day or two) at much lower prices than one would find at a store. So, why is Pure Citizen so cool?
"Pure Citizen is a place where you can save daily from a featured company that is making our world a better place. Each sale lasts only 24 hours. What you will find every day are products that are organic, fair trade, sustainable, recycled, biodynamic, natural, handmade..."
Unfortunately, clothing that falls under the category of "ethical" or "conscious" can also be frustratingly expensive sometimes. This is a great way to save some money if you want to attempt to add some sexy, sexy ethics to your wardrobe.
2. I've signed up for Pure Citizen. There are a lot of member-only online shopping sites that sell deeply discounted and sometimes very well-known designer fashions (as well as other things), like Gilt, RueLaLa and ideeli. These boutique sale sites have a company selling certain items for a specific period of time (usually a day or two) at much lower prices than one would find at a store. So, why is Pure Citizen so cool?
"Pure Citizen is a place where you can save daily from a featured company that is making our world a better place. Each sale lasts only 24 hours. What you will find every day are products that are organic, fair trade, sustainable, recycled, biodynamic, natural, handmade..."
Unfortunately, clothing that falls under the category of "ethical" or "conscious" can also be frustratingly expensive sometimes. This is a great way to save some money if you want to attempt to add some sexy, sexy ethics to your wardrobe.
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Childhood, Meet Disappointment
Forever 21 has apparently joined forces with Disney to create line "designed" by Minnie Mouse, called Minnie Muse. Look what they did to her:
Remember this?
Photo found here
The clothes themselves aren't that great, but I can see how someone in their tween years or so would like them, and therein lies the problem. This line is showing young girls that to be "modern and glamorous", you probably shouldn't eat. The old, normal sized Minnie is not cool or hip enough. This new, "sexy" Minnie is fashionable and skinny and everything you lazy 12 year-olds aren't.
For those who are older, I can imagine the nostalgia or possible cuteness of Minnie being attractive, but personally I don't want some new, weird looking Minnie all over some cheap-ass clothes. Not like Forever 21 is some bastion of ethics and creativity or anything, so this just seems to be one of those "what is Forever 21 doing NOW?" things.
Photo found here
Remember this?
Pretty cute, right? Well that's just too darn bad. In order to be adorable, you also need to weigh literally nothing. Say hello to your new fashion muse.
Photo found here
The clothes themselves aren't that great, but I can see how someone in their tween years or so would like them, and therein lies the problem. This line is showing young girls that to be "modern and glamorous", you probably shouldn't eat. The old, normal sized Minnie is not cool or hip enough. This new, "sexy" Minnie is fashionable and skinny and everything you lazy 12 year-olds aren't.
For those who are older, I can imagine the nostalgia or possible cuteness of Minnie being attractive, but personally I don't want some new, weird looking Minnie all over some cheap-ass clothes. Not like Forever 21 is some bastion of ethics and creativity or anything, so this just seems to be one of those "what is Forever 21 doing NOW?" things.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Style Spotlight: SWINTON
In light of my recent post on the awesomeness of Helena Bonham Carter, and because awesome ladies usually wear some awesome clothes, I'd like to start a recurring post on such a thing.
A few days ago the world celebrated the birthday of one Tilda Swinton:
I'm pretty sure if you look up fantastic in the dictionary, ol' Swinny here would be the photo. LOOK AT HER. She's wearing a giant black velvet curtain, and she is OWNING that shit.
I remember that Conan O'Brien made a joke about her playing him in a Conan biopic, and you know what her reaction was? "Yes, yes, yes, absolutely!".
She is unafraid to play interesting and controversial characters, and she is one fine actress. Lady is also in an non-monogamous relationship (husband and boyfriend) and talks about it openly, giving those who look up to celebrities a great representation of a "non-traditional" family and relationship structure.
Happy Birthday Tilda! You look fantastic.
A few days ago the world celebrated the birthday of one Tilda Swinton:
Photo found here
I remember that Conan O'Brien made a joke about her playing him in a Conan biopic, and you know what her reaction was? "Yes, yes, yes, absolutely!".
She is unafraid to play interesting and controversial characters, and she is one fine actress. Lady is also in an non-monogamous relationship (husband and boyfriend) and talks about it openly, giving those who look up to celebrities a great representation of a "non-traditional" family and relationship structure.
Happy Birthday Tilda! You look fantastic.
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