I was checking out panda head which is a fashion magazine/ blog site that shows all kinds of different styles from all kinds of different cities. Washington, D.C. actually seemed kind of boring compared to other cities that I checked out like London, Paris, Beijing, Finland, Istanbul, and Seattle (just to name a few). The feeling that I got from looking at the pictures of Washington, D.C. residents was that people are trendy, but not exciting. People don’t push the envelope. Their clothes and shoes are trendy mixing different textures like fur and leather with oxfords, but no crazy haircuts of retro throwbacks that gave them a more individual look- like this is me and here I am.
London, Beijing, Finland and even Seattle residents had more personal style and variety in all the different fashions that they put together. Like in Finland, one girl had the popular stirrup-stretch pants paired with lots of loose layers and belted for a very unique look that wasn’t right off the runway. Beijing was by far my favorite with a very eclectic mix of cultural, hip, vintage, futuristic, and skater mix. Each picture was so different from the next, each person rocked their own individuality to the fullest and even completed their duds with crazy haircuts (long, throw-back mullets from the 80’s but then highlighted and styled to the ultimate coolness). Istanbul showed girls rocking high-top Converse chuck tailors with vintage geometric print dresses and hippies wearing bright and flowing long skirts complete with long dreads and guitars.
I just feel like every other city and country had so many personal fashions that screamed individual. It just makes me wonder, does D.C. have no personality? I mean it’s cool to be trendy but what about different? Washington, D.C. is such a melting pot of cultures and different race’s that I would think it would add come kind of spice to the fashion mix. Even the music that is listened to in D.C. is diverse (techno, Rap, Go-Go, Heavy metal, Rock, and Grunge) that I would think THAT would add some flavor to the fashion scene!
I recommend that everyone check out the website for panda head and maybe it will inspire you to get out there and be different with your fashion. Show your true colors. Don’t just be another bobble-head.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
costs for the country
So recently it has come to light that the GOP party has spent over $150,000 on Sarah Palin’s look; this includes hair, make-up and wardrobe for her campaign trail and appearances across the United States. Of course representatives for the party claim that the clothes will be donated for “charitable purposes” and that they were purchased with that very intention. What a bunch of HOOEY!!!
The costs reported for wardrobe are $75,062 worth of clothing spent at the Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, Minnesota and $41,850 spent in St. Louis. Then there was also another $4,100 spent on hair and make-up. Of course spokeswomen for John McCain named Tracey Schmitt commented, “With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses.” But it’s like, if you’re making such a big deal about what Sarah Palin wears, then why shouldn’t we take notice?
Who knew that fashion and looks affected the campaign trail so much that there’s such an extensive amount of money spent on clothing and hair? Looks are important in everyday life; a nice suit or stylish haircut can make a lasting impression at a job interview or at a work presentation. We all realize what a huge impact fashion has on the world because we live by it, whether people think so or not. Fashion is the reason that you look in your closet and think, “I have nothing to wear! “ But I think that a budget of $150,000 is a little excessive for someone who isn’t even the Vice President yet. And for some reason I think that the American people care a lot more about what’s going on in our economy and with the war in Iraq than what kind of designer power-suit Sarah Palin is wearing. But then again maybe it’s none of our business about how much either party spends on clothing since we are the one’s dissecting their every outfit.
The costs reported for wardrobe are $75,062 worth of clothing spent at the Neiman Marcus in Minneapolis, Minnesota and $41,850 spent in St. Louis. Then there was also another $4,100 spent on hair and make-up. Of course spokeswomen for John McCain named Tracey Schmitt commented, “With all of the important issues facing the country right now, it’s remarkable that we’re spending time talking about pantsuits and blouses.” But it’s like, if you’re making such a big deal about what Sarah Palin wears, then why shouldn’t we take notice?
Who knew that fashion and looks affected the campaign trail so much that there’s such an extensive amount of money spent on clothing and hair? Looks are important in everyday life; a nice suit or stylish haircut can make a lasting impression at a job interview or at a work presentation. We all realize what a huge impact fashion has on the world because we live by it, whether people think so or not. Fashion is the reason that you look in your closet and think, “I have nothing to wear! “ But I think that a budget of $150,000 is a little excessive for someone who isn’t even the Vice President yet. And for some reason I think that the American people care a lot more about what’s going on in our economy and with the war in Iraq than what kind of designer power-suit Sarah Palin is wearing. But then again maybe it’s none of our business about how much either party spends on clothing since we are the one’s dissecting their every outfit.
Thursday, October 16, 2008
TAKING ON TOO-THIN MODELS-REALITY OR DREAM?
TAKING ON TOO-THIN MODELS-REALITY OR DREAM?
On Tuesday of this week there was an article at CBSnews.com that tries to address the issue of too-thin models in the Quebec region specifically. I say “tries to address” because this issue isn’t new and we have all heard this before. Young, teen-age models who are rail-thin are today’s newest supermodels, and you can find numerous little waifs strutting down the catwalk of every top designer’s runway. Fashion and the media have started to pay closer attention to the weight of models after twenty-two year old model, Luisel Ramos, died from malnutrition in 2006. Some major modeling firms began turning away too-thin girls based on their body mass index measurements, which should normally be around eight-teen percent. Other designers and firms like, Marks and Spencer, aren’t as sympathetic and don’t believe that health should be determined by this BMI method.
I think that this article and the issue in general raises a very valid question about today’s society and what we deem as “healthy”. What body image is being projected at our fashion loving little sister’s and daughter’s? Is too-thin beautiful? It seems that way in Hollywood, the cinema and all over the fashion world, but whatever happened to the women like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor who flaunted their curvy size twelve and sixteen figures? We do have the few Beyonce and J.Lo’s in the rich and famous scene, but I have read the snarkie remarks that tabloid writers publish; “Beyonce…is she just a few Oreo’s from being a big-girl?” Fashion has such an enormous influence over young people and women in general that it does have the power to make girls starve themselves or go on crazy celery and diet coke diet’s.
I am just asking where do we draw the line and start to get rid of this taboo subject of body weight and stop harming our beautiful young girls. We are women. We are curvy and have breast and thigh’s and plump asses. And that’s how our bodies are genetically made. We are made to be curvy and thick because WE are the ones that have the babies and rule the world. I just wish that being happy and healthy was beautiful, whether that healthy is a size two or a size ten.
On Tuesday of this week there was an article at CBSnews.com that tries to address the issue of too-thin models in the Quebec region specifically. I say “tries to address” because this issue isn’t new and we have all heard this before. Young, teen-age models who are rail-thin are today’s newest supermodels, and you can find numerous little waifs strutting down the catwalk of every top designer’s runway. Fashion and the media have started to pay closer attention to the weight of models after twenty-two year old model, Luisel Ramos, died from malnutrition in 2006. Some major modeling firms began turning away too-thin girls based on their body mass index measurements, which should normally be around eight-teen percent. Other designers and firms like, Marks and Spencer, aren’t as sympathetic and don’t believe that health should be determined by this BMI method.
I think that this article and the issue in general raises a very valid question about today’s society and what we deem as “healthy”. What body image is being projected at our fashion loving little sister’s and daughter’s? Is too-thin beautiful? It seems that way in Hollywood, the cinema and all over the fashion world, but whatever happened to the women like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor who flaunted their curvy size twelve and sixteen figures? We do have the few Beyonce and J.Lo’s in the rich and famous scene, but I have read the snarkie remarks that tabloid writers publish; “Beyonce…is she just a few Oreo’s from being a big-girl?” Fashion has such an enormous influence over young people and women in general that it does have the power to make girls starve themselves or go on crazy celery and diet coke diet’s.
I am just asking where do we draw the line and start to get rid of this taboo subject of body weight and stop harming our beautiful young girls. We are women. We are curvy and have breast and thigh’s and plump asses. And that’s how our bodies are genetically made. We are made to be curvy and thick because WE are the ones that have the babies and rule the world. I just wish that being happy and healthy was beautiful, whether that healthy is a size two or a size ten.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Empowering Women
Fashion and the world today can be so scary and confusing that I think it’s a good idea to just step back for a moment and look at who empowers women everywhere to do great things, to challenge themselves, but most importantly and above all, to be ourselves; because Heaven only knows, that it is hard to be a lady. So here are just a few top ladies and gents that make my top list of empowering women:
YSL was a fashion god and master-mind and his presence will surely be missed. Women everywhere and of all ages followed his trends that were known to take the fashion world by storm. His designs were all about beauty, confidence, and power that pushed women’s fashions to the very edge of rebellion.
Diane von Furstenberg is another designer who has dressed women since the 1970’s with class and beauty and yes, that famous little wrap dress. Now she had started her own comic book series that is all about the empowered women called; “Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be, Featuring the Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa”, which offers stories about everyday women and the problem they face.
Chanel Iman is a beautiful eight-teen year old supermodel and fashion icon that hails from America and has graced the runways of Dolce and Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dsquared, Hermès, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney (just to start the list). Oh and did I mention that this beautiful young superstar is black? And she is one of the very few black supermodels to walk the runways at big name fashion shows. And this young beauty has only begun to make her make on the fashion world so watch out! Trust me, if she can do it, you can do it.
And finally, Carrie Bradshaw is another fashion icon that has helped women ENORMOUSLY, everywhere!!! I know that she is a fictional character from a book but she is the very epitome of feminine, confidence, and fashion, all rolled into one. She is a real women, with real problems who gives love advice and fashion sense to millions of viewers, all while wearing five inch Manolo Blahniks. I mean really, need I say more about Ms. Bradshaw?
I know that these few people who I have mentioned are small figures, relatively speaking, in the fashion world and they do not even begin to crack the case with people who have given women a sense of confidence and power through fashion, but it would take years to compose a list of fashion-worthy figures that have done women justice!! I just hope that I have made some girl, somewhere, feel a sense of worthiness. All of these people have done great things in the name of fashion and in the name of women. So never forget that you too can empower others to believe in themselves and better yet, believe in fashion.
YSL was a fashion god and master-mind and his presence will surely be missed. Women everywhere and of all ages followed his trends that were known to take the fashion world by storm. His designs were all about beauty, confidence, and power that pushed women’s fashions to the very edge of rebellion.
Diane von Furstenberg is another designer who has dressed women since the 1970’s with class and beauty and yes, that famous little wrap dress. Now she had started her own comic book series that is all about the empowered women called; “Be the Wonder Woman You Can Be, Featuring the Adventures of Diva, Viva & Fifa”, which offers stories about everyday women and the problem they face.
Chanel Iman is a beautiful eight-teen year old supermodel and fashion icon that hails from America and has graced the runways of Dolce and Gabbana, Issey Miyake, Marc Jacobs, Valentino, Dsquared, Hermès, Michael Kors, Oscar de la Renta, Ralph Lauren, Anna Sui, Diane von Fürstenberg, Vera Wang, Jean Paul Gaultier and Stella McCartney (just to start the list). Oh and did I mention that this beautiful young superstar is black? And she is one of the very few black supermodels to walk the runways at big name fashion shows. And this young beauty has only begun to make her make on the fashion world so watch out! Trust me, if she can do it, you can do it.
And finally, Carrie Bradshaw is another fashion icon that has helped women ENORMOUSLY, everywhere!!! I know that she is a fictional character from a book but she is the very epitome of feminine, confidence, and fashion, all rolled into one. She is a real women, with real problems who gives love advice and fashion sense to millions of viewers, all while wearing five inch Manolo Blahniks. I mean really, need I say more about Ms. Bradshaw?
I know that these few people who I have mentioned are small figures, relatively speaking, in the fashion world and they do not even begin to crack the case with people who have given women a sense of confidence and power through fashion, but it would take years to compose a list of fashion-worthy figures that have done women justice!! I just hope that I have made some girl, somewhere, feel a sense of worthiness. All of these people have done great things in the name of fashion and in the name of women. So never forget that you too can empower others to believe in themselves and better yet, believe in fashion.
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