Whatever Wednesday: Lagerfield, Missy Rayder, Stacy Lomann and more...

Karl Lagerfield

I've mentioned before that I am not a huge fan of some of the things that come out of Lagerfield's mouth, but there is no denying the man is talented.  The European House of Photography in Paris is currently hosting an exhibition of his photography. "Karl Lagerfeld, parcours de travail" is being billed as the largest exhibit ever of his work: over 300 of his shots are being shown.  More information on the exhibit, which runs through October 31st, can be found here.  I'd love to see this in person.

     

Growing Blogger Influence

There is a nice piece on the ever-growing influence of fashion bloggers in Reuters today.  Reporter Michelle Nichols focuses on New York Fashion Week and the significant increase in online media coverage resulting from the changing blogosphere. 

Colleen Sherin, Saks Fifth Avenue fashion market director, is quoted in the piece: 

“We do pay attention to it … It’s important to be aware of what they are blogging about and what’s inspiring them.  Some of the things we might have been seeing on the street are perhaps now brought to us by the Internet.”

Check out the rest here.

Off the Runway

Except for this post about Tom Ford's new collection, I have stayed away from New York fashion Week coverage on my blog.  There is so much great coverage out there already, I don't feel the need to rehash here.  I AM going to post two quick tidbits, though.  

1. I can't stop staring at this Vera Wang dress.  LOVE the color and LOVE the design.  Gorgeous.
   
   
2. The Huffington Post published this great video interview with designer Stacy Lomann.  She discusses her new line and how she used crowdfunding to raise her funds and get it off the ground.
   
   
   

Guess the Mystery Model

Can you tell who the latest model for trendy Italian clothing line Fornarina is?  Truthfully, I found her quite unrecognizable!

Finally, a couple of doses of inspiration

I am still on my boot kick from the guest post yesterday.  Boots... I love boots.  Missy Rayder for Beyman:

Photoshoot Details:

Beymen Fall 2010/2011 Campaign

Photographer: Koray Birand
Stylist: Murat Turkili

Images courtesy of:  Fashion Gone Rogue, fashionising, The Daily Mail UK and The Associated Press

Whatever Wednesday: Versatile Blogger Award, 5 Things Project, Lanvin and more!

First off, I want to thank the beautiful Jen from Sprinkled Dreams and Casee Marie from The Girl Who Stole the Eiffel Tower. I am absolutely honored that these two lovelies have both shared their Versatile Blogger awards with me. Thanks, ladies! The rules dictate that I share 7 facts about me with each of you, and then pass on the award to 7 new bloggers.

The Fun Facts

Big Bird, an English teacher?

I learned to speak English by watching Sesame Street.  It's true.  As I've mentioned on the blog before, both of my parents are originally from Europe. When they first moved here they could each speak very limited English - "broken English" as most call it. As a rule, we didn't speak English in the house when I was growing up. We still don't. So how did I learn to speak English? Sesame Street. Big Bird and Ernie and Oscar the Grouch were my teachers. On the flipside, I think my mother perfected her English by watching Days of Our Lives, Dynasty and Dallas!   

It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown!

I am seriously addicted to all things Pumpkin Spice. One of my favorite days of the year is the day that Starbucks start serving Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I can't miss Pumpkin Spice Latte Day! What do I do when it isn't that time of the year? My fix comes from Philosophy's Pumpkin Spice Muffin Lip shine. I use it year round even though I often find myself licking my own lips. Then, of course, there are actual pumpkin spice muffins. *Love*

   

A photographer, me?

I love being behind the lense of a camera. In my spare time (ha!) I am an amateur photographer who specializes in two niches: nature and concerts. I've never sold any of my photography, but I have found others making a profit from it on Ebay in the past. That's what I get for being naive and sharing Hi-Res concert imagery online! Since then I have learned my lesson. Quite recently, a fairy-godmother approached me after seeing some of my work and offered to help me set up a photography exhibit. I was stunned, but also extremely excited. We are meeting soon to discuss it in more detail! (5 images below taken by me).

 

So many men, so little time...

My first TV crush was on Wally Cleaver.  As I grew older it changed to Bo Duke. I loved Bo Duke. I still think actor John Schneider is handsome to this day! Then of course there was also Buck Rogers and his plastic hair. *sigh* Most people my age don't know who Buck Rogers was - they just don't understand.  Regardless, Bo Duke was always tops!

I have no porn name...

I don't have a middle name. It's extremely uncommon for individuals of my heritage to have a middle name, and I am no exception to that. It's caused all sorts of issues for me. Most significantly - I can't use name generators. For instance, your "porn name" is supposed to be your middle name combined with the name of teh street you grew up on. My street name would be Norwood.  Norwood.  There was SUCH potential there, you see?!

Bzzzzzzz

I don't like bees. Actually - to be more accurate - I am absolutely TERRIFIED of them. Bumblebees, wasps, yellow jackets, hornets, etc. You name it - I run like a screaming baby from it. And they tend to follow me as I run (must be my hair products).  The funny thing is I have only been stung once. Two years ago, I was vacationing in North Carolina and got stung outside of a Panera Bread. I panicked but luckily didn't have an allergic reaction. But it wasn't fun. And I still hate bees.

The Silence of the Lambs

You know how some people can never decide what they want to major in? Well, In college I ended up with a double major in English and Psychology. Pretty common, I think. My minors, though, were in Biology and Film. Interesting mish-mosh of topics.  My senior year, I did a semester-long study of The Silence of the Lambs (you know, Anthony Hopkins, favva beans) for an English class that was just fascinating.  It was also somewhat disturbing, given the topic.  I also lived for my genetics classes.  I could have happily worked in a genetics lab my whole life. Instead, I am a non-profit fundraiser. How does THAT happen?

Now, my picks for 7 VERSATILE BLOGGERS:

A Brit Greek

Daily Dose of Aloha
dash dot dotty
Intrinsically Florrie
ModlyChic
Nubia's Nonsense 
Vogue Gone Rogue

Grechen Blogs "5 THINGS" PROJECT

Back in August, I participated in the "5 THINGS" PROJECT on Grechen Blogs. It is a wonderful, yet simple, idea: Grechen has asked bloggers to list 5 things they have learned about blogging.  Thanks, Grechen for including me!

Participants include both seasoned and new bloggers, and the answers are really interesting and often helpful. V of Grit and Glamour recently posted her own responses which got me thinking about my own blog and some concerns I have had with it. 

Check out the project if you haven't done so already - there is a wealth of information available! (and I totally stole the screencap idea from V.  Thanks V!)

Last chance to help Wendy Brandes raise funds on Kickstarter

I spoke briefly about Wendy Brandes' Kickstarter project in this post last week. This is just a reminder to anyone who may have been interested in supporting her that the project ends in 3 days!  Wendy has now raised $9,825 of the $10,000 she needs to move forward with the project!   If you want to take advantage of the free shipping she is offering on her jewelry, or just support the project with a donation, you have a few more days to go! (Image courtesy of Wendy Brandes Jewelry).

Currently Coveting 

Gah, I want this studded leather cuff by Lanvin. Oh, Lanvin - I can't wait to see what the collaboration with H&M brings! (Images courtesy of net-a-porter)

 

What are you coveting right now?

Finally - two Doses of Inspiration

I love the ethereal quality of this photo. 

Magazine: Marie Claire Italia, September 2010

Model: Bo Don

Photographer: Johan Sandberg

And she is just gorgeous:

Magazine: TUSH #3, 2010

Model: Ann Kenny

Photographer: Signe Vilstrup

All images from Google Images unless otherwise noted.

Whatever Wednesday: Princess Diana, Wendy Brandes, Miranda Kerr and more.

Princess Diana...Remembered?
There are certain moments in your life that impact you in such a way that you always remember exactly what you were doing when they occurred.  I have had a few of these.  The first was probably the Challenger explosion.  Another was 9/11/01.  Another was Princess Diana's death in a tragic car accident on August 31, 1997.

Yesterday was the anniversary of that tragic accident.  While people around the world, especially those in London, were remembering her, a company in China began exploiting her image.  Jealousy International, a Chinese lingerie company, launched the campaign for their newest lingerie line, simply entitled "Diana."  The slogan?  "Feel the Romance of British Loyalty."  The images?  Disrespectful.  They hired a Diana look-a-like to pose for these photos in an attempt to gain notoriety and cash-in on the memory and popularity of Princess Diana.

There is nothing right about this.  

 

First of all, based on what we know of Princess Diana, she wouldn't have been caught dead in a lingerie campaign. Second, there is nothing right about an image of a woman wearing lingerie, playing a cello, with a little boy in the scene. Is that supposed to be one of her sons? Ick. 

The UK Daily Mail ran an article about the campaign and, needless to say, people are in an uproar.  In the UK it isn't legal to use likenesses of the Royal Family in ads without their permission.  Too bad that rule doesn't apply abroad.  #Fail.

Miranda Kerr: "A Vision of Femininity"  

Last month, Vogue Italia made waves with Steven Meisel's controversial "Water & Oil" photoshoot.  How do you top having an oil-soaked Kristen McMenamy?  With Miranda Kerr.  Half-naked. 

In 3-D.


Click here for the rest.

Steven Meisel shot these images of Kerr during a regular photoshoot and they were then converted to 3-D.  A spokesperson for Vogue Italia stated that, with this shoot, "[the magazine] escapes its own pages to become real in the hands of its readers...It reinvents itself and — first among fashion magazines — challenges, once again, the strict schemes of printed paper."

Personally, I think 3-D is highly over-rated.  I feel like it's become a gimmick to sell movies while adding nothing to the value of the film (don't tell James Cameron, but I preferred the 2-D version of Avatar!).  Now it seems it's become a gimmick to sell magazines as well.  

I don't doubt the issue will sell well, it is something different, and she is beautiful.  Being that the images are also online, I can see it now - young boys everywhere busting out their 3-D Avatar glasses and "admiring" Kerr in all her 3-D glory.

Which magazine will do 3-D next?  Playboy?
 
F@#! Yeah, I ♥ these rings...
Question One: How many of you are familiar with Kickstarter?  If not, check out this IFB article profiling the website.  

Question Two: How many of you have heard about Wendy Brandes' Kickstarter project?  You can help her raise some much needed funds by pre-ordering her Fall 2010 Swear-Ring Collection! 

For anyone who may not be familiar with her work, Wendy Brandes is one of the most talented jewelry designers out there.  These are some of my favorite pieces (All images property of Wendy Brandes):


And this, of course, is my future engagement ring.  I just need to find the right man to buy it!


This swear ring (F@#!) is amongst her most popular sellers:


Now she is introducing three new rings (LOLZ, NYC, and OMG) to the collection for Fall 2010. Note: the GaGa ring is not available for purchase.


In order to keep the cost of these rings down for buyers, Wendy also has to keep the manufacturing costs down.  In order to do that, she has to manufacture the rings overseas instead of locally.  She explains more about this here. 

Wendy turned to Kickstarter to help her raise the factory minimum needed to move forward with the production of these new rings.  She was able to reach her initial Kickstarter Project goal of $7,000, but now with the introduction of the NYC ring, the factory minimum needed for the project has gone up to $10,000. 

She is currently at $8,745 of the $10,000 needed and has ten more days to raise the rest of her funds and kickstart this project.   

Pre-order any of these new rings today, or check out the other ways you can help her reach her goal!  I used this opportunity to finally buy my F@#! rings.  Can't wait to get them!

Random Product Rave:
I have been getting compliments on my hair all morning.  "Did you get it done?"  Nope.  "Did you color it?" Nope.  "Did you wash your hair?"  Ha ha.  Funny.  "New haircut?"  Nope.  

So, what is different today, you ask? 

I used my newly purchased Moroccon Hair Oil Treatment for the first time.

 
Quite simply: this stuff kicks some serious you know what.  

Moroccan oil is derived from the Argan Tree which grows in Southwest Morocco.  If you've heard of Argan Oil, you know that it is extremely moisturizing.  It's also ultra-light and non greasy.  I have tried other Argan oil products, like Josie Maran's Argan Oil, and am a fan.  

I had never tried the Moroccan Hair Oil Treatment, though, until today.  After just one use, I have already decided that it will be a permanent fixture in my hair routine.  My hair feels wonderful.  It's shiny, bouncy, smooth, and much more manageable than usual.  I have really thick yet fine hair, and the oil didn't weigh it down at all.  

Plus, it smells like the Caribbean.  *love*

Now - what are you thinking about this Whatever Wednesday? 


All images from Google Images unless otherwise indicated.

Whatever Wednesday: ANTM controversy, DVF does hospital, True Blood nakedness and more!

What better way to start this Whatever Wednesday than with some controversy?

The Girl With the Disappearing Waist

Disclaimer: I am not a huge Tyra Banks fan, nor am I a fan of America's Next Top Model.  I respect Tyra's stance on body image, and I'd be lying if I said I had never seen an episode of the show, but generally speaking I have only watched out of sheer and utter boredom. Project Runway is more my style.  I am loving this season of PR, especially hometown girl Valerie Mayen's work to date! 

But I digress.  Back to ANTM.  This latest controversy fits in perfectly with the size/weight debate which has been dominating lately.  The source of the controversy is the newly released promo below:

As you might guess, it's Ann's body - specifically her tiny waist - that is causing the stir.   

Critics are saying that the ad promotes poor body image and I have seen the words "skeletal," "unnatural," and "anorexic" attributed to Ann by various sources.   New York Magazine printed a piece on the story which included a statement from Tyra.  Her response seems to indicate that Ann does not have a healthy body image:

"...During this season of Top Model, you will see that Ann (the woman featured in the trailer) provided another opportunity for me to support a young woman struggling with her own body image issues (she's 6'2''; and is the receiver of countless stares and ridicule). Helping young ladies, like Ann and countless others that have confided in me, furthers and supports my core mission."

Although the ANTM judges appears to be taken aback when they first see Ann, there is no question that the promo makes it seem that the panel is ultimately approving of Ann's figure.  This is where the concern lies.  Based on Tyra's comments above, it appears that the show will delve into Ann's body image issues this season.  I would also infer, from that comment, that Ann may be completely healthy and perhaps just has a very unique body type.  The concern is - again - what will impressionable young women think when they see that type of body being promoted?  What if they don't watch the show, and just see the promo, and come to the conclusion that must be the ideal body shape?  For the majority of women, it certainly is not.  

This is essentially the flip-side of the plus-size debate.  Shouldn't both sides be represented?  In theory, yes.  I would argue, however, that in my experience I have seen countless plus-size women, and very few that have Ann's proportions (actually, none).  Hopefully Ann is a healthy, unique young woman and ANTM can use this controversy to help promote a positive body image.

What are your thoughts on the subject? 

 

Angelina Jolie as Marilyn Monroe?

The past few days rumors have been flying that Angelina Jolie has signed on to play Marilyn Monroe in the adaptation of Andrew O'Hagan's novel The Life and Opinions of Maf the Dog, and of His Friend Marilyn Monroe.  According to The Daily Mail, Angelina had beat out both Scarlett Johansson and Christina Hendricks for the role.  

Although I have always loved Angelina Jolie, I don't know if I like the idea of her playing Marilyn.  Physically she just doesn't seem voluptuous enough.

 

I was relieved when The Los Angeles Times confirmed that Angelina is not attached to the project after all.

Who would you cast in the role?

   

DVF's newest creation
Now for some news that hits closer to home: Diane Von Furstenberg has helped to design a line of hospital gowns!  According to Jeanne Ryan, the Cleveland Clinic staffer overseeing the project, the redesign has been underway for 3 years. The Cleveland Clinic finally began piloting the new prototype-gown design in May, and so far the reviews are good.

"The current model is a full-coverage, reversible design, incorporating the Cleveland Clinic’s diamond logo into von Furstenberg’s signature repetition pattern. Other changes include an elastic waistband, wrap-around closure, and a wide V-neck to accommodate chest monitoring and stethoscopes.

Most important... the gown is functional while preserving modesty: "Physicians can open the gown to expose the part they need to access without exposing the patient completely.""

Not something you would generally expect to see from a designer of Von Furstenberg's caliber, right?  Well, they may not be high-fashion, but they are DVF!

COACH Poppy Project redux

If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have noticed that I have removed the COACH Poppy project from my side bar.  There is a great conversation going on at IFB on the project and what it's true benefits (or lack thereof) may be for bloggers.

If you haven't done so already I encourage you to check it out.  The post and subsequent comments really made me take a look at the perceived "benefits" I was getting and I decided - for myself- that it didn't make sense to participate.  That may not be true for you, but it's worth looking into!

The good news is - no more annoying Grow, Poppy Grow tweets from me! 

Is that a *collective sigh of relief* I hear?  :)

Nakedness

Finally, in other jaw-dropping news.... I bring you the True Blood Rolling Stone cover.  I would probably think it was genius if I wasn't too busy wondering how - um - revealing - shooting it must have been for Anna Paquin.  Wow.

What is on your mind this Whatever Wednesday?

All images courtesy of Google Images or Rolling Stone magazine.