Okay, so this whole “We need to re-imagine the entire modelling landscape” argument has really come to the fore-front of my mind lately. Whilst I could blame the fact that I’m reading Crystal Renn’s autobiography, Hungry, for the re-emphasising of this long held belief, I think my resurgence in interest actually came when Company Magazine announced they were going to publish another Reader Issue this year. (more…)
Such were the screams that could be heard ringing around the staff room as I idly flipped through Grazia magazine on my lunch hour and chanced upon this advert. With this double page spread of grinning Barbies, all dead behind the eyes, I had been plunged unwittingly into the valley of the dolls. But why did it freak me out so much? (more…)
Running around London Fashion Week last week there were plenty of fantastic collections to write up (something I’ve been doing here)… but very little in the way of feminist happenings to report on. That was until I bumped into the All Walks Beyond the Catwalk campaign in the Vauxhall Fashion Scout venue at the opulent (and slightly creepy) Freemason’s Hall. In a little make-shift photography studio the All Walks team were snapping away at willing participants, each holding a letter that would later spell out ‘Every Body Counts’. (more…)
By now I’m sure we’ve all heard about the devastating earthquake that hit Haiti this week. The news is tragic, and rightly, there have been a multitude of money raising efforts started subsequently. Perhaps the oddest one though, can be found here, where a Manhattan plastic Surgeon has pledged to donate all proceeds from Botox and Filler treatments to the Haiti Earthquake Appeal.
I’m slightly torn on this one. Clearly, Haiti is in need of Aid, and the fact that so many people have forwarded what they are able to is admirable. I don’t want to seem for a second that I’m shooting down the notion of fund raising for Haiti, nor am I denying that the Plastic Surgery industry makes big bucks..
… so perhaps I am just being cynical in highlighting the potentially offensive correlation between beautifying, anti-aging plastic surgery in the glamour capital Manhattan, and the altogether different type of surgery that has been abundant in Haiti this week: limb amputation.
As has been reported widely across our news media, Haiti hospitals are struggling to cope with the huge influx of seriously injured people needing imminent treatment, with some medical facilities having to be assembled on the streets in order to cope with the huge numbers requiring medical assessment. Botulinum toxin just doesn’t seem appropriate.
To make a donation to the Haiti Earthquake fund, please visit The Red Cross or Oxfam.
V Magazine January’s issue is the latest fashion magazine to embrace larger sized models entitled, rather obviously, the Shape Issue, it features models all sorts of shapes and sizes. “Big, little, pint-size, plus-size —every body is beautiful. And this issue is out to prove it,” says V editor Stephen Gan. Erm, I think we may already know that Stephen. But you’re right, a few stragglers in the back may still be berating themselves for eating that extra mince pie, slice of Christmas cake, bowl of trifle or Christmas pudding.
In a somewhat refreshing take on the plus size issue, V’s Size Issue has opted to celebrate the female form in two of the shapes that mother nature bestowed on us. So, we have not only women with rolls and curves, but also women with small boobs and bones. In one editorial entitled One Size Fits All (shown below), Crystal Renn (the former category) and Jacqulyn Jablonski (the latter category) are pictured in identical outfits on adjacent pages. Not only does this simple technique highlight how unattainable certain Karl Lagerfield-esque ideas of the figure are, but also allows the viewer to decide what counts as a healthy figure. The other editorial that has been released, called Curves Ahead, features 4 plus sized models photographed in a various stages of dress, further beautifully proving V’s point. (more…)
Just a few days left to catch Fashion Revolution, the SHOWstudio exhibition, at Somerset House. If you are a follower of fashion, then you’ll kick yourself (with your shiny new Vivienne Westwood Melissa shoes) if you miss it. The entire exhibition acts as a unique sneak peek into a world that is often presented as elusive, exclusive and somewhat mystical. The fashion is so close you can almost taste it but, as a mere exhibition goer, there is the feeling that it will always be out of reach. (more…)
Just had to stop and take a picture of this awful poster (above) for the film Funny People, and the wonderful graffiti that some admirable soul took the time to scribble on it (below).
I don’t think anyone would seriously stop and think “Hmm that particular character obviously has a beautiful personality, with a warm heart and a kind soul!” The message is clear; If you’re a woman, it’s all about ‘appearing’ rather than ‘doing’ or ‘being’.
Interesting how different it is from this poster for the same film (aimed at an American audience, maybe?). Why was the other female actress omitted from our version? Couldn’t they think of a suitable ‘personality’ to give her?!
Andrew Huang’s beautiful short film ‘Doll Face’ wonderfully captures the futile struggle for unattainable beauty standards set by the media. Spooky, in more ways than one…
Beauty is in the post production, as this video from Room demonstrates. Here are some stills, just in case you have trouble viewing it…
Room are (or were, since the link to their original site no longer works) a Californian post-production company. This show-reel of their work on music videos might act as a bit of a revelation to some (it was to me when I first saw it!) since, whilst we are becoming increasingly aware of the ‘Photoshopping’ of still images, the re-touching of film is still a bit of a mystery.
Warning: this video will lodge ‘So Fresh, So Clean‘ into your head, where it will play on repeat over and over for hours. Not necessarily a bad thing, and how appropriate a pairing is that song with this video? Look at all those ‘fresh’, pore-less faces! And, is it just me, or does this video tarnish Pharrell’s mystique a teensy bit…?
To mark the first annual Anti Street-Harassment Day, Dearbhaile Kitt reports on a growing movement that is aiming to put a stop to this most anti-social sexist practise.
Stephanie Phillips, of Don’t Dance Her Down Boys blog, went along to the launch event for UK Feminista to see what prospects the site might hold for the advancement UK women’s movement.
