So I've been meaning to write about a certain obsession of mine for awhile now. And from the looks of it... my obsession has also become an obsession of the majority population of women-- floppy hats.
Floppy hats were really popular in the 70's and now they're back! On a hot summer day, a big ol' floppy hat is an obvious choice. Whether you wear it to the beach, or in the middle of New York City, the floppy hat can compliment just about any outfit. And that's not even the best part! While you are looking chic and sophisticated with your fab headwear, you are protecting your skin at the same time. Yeah yeah I know we all want to be tan, but at this point I'd rather embrace my natural white girl skin tone than have a wrinkly face by the age of 30.
I don't care how old you are, what nationality you are, or what color your hair is... if you do not already have a floppy hat to put on that pretty little head of yours this summer-- BUY ONE. In any color! You can go simple with a plain tan or black floppy hat, or you could go with a belted floppy hat, or a beaded floppy hat, or a floppy hat with a scarf wrapped around it! Large or small! There are so many styles to choose from, and you can buy them pretty cheap just about anywhere.
I bought my black floppy hat at Kohl's and I wear it nonstop. So spend the $15. It'll be worth it.
Want some more ideas how to create your own floppy hat look? Check out these pics and share your own floppy hat style below!
I am quickly learning that going to fashion museums is becoming a bit of a fascination of mine-- a hobby, perhaps! Today I checked out The Museum at FIT and it's most recent exhibit, Exposed: A History of Lingerie.
Unfortunately, the people at FIT do not mess around, so I was unable to get many pictures of the pieces in exhibit. But I can at least tell you a little bit about what I learned and saw!
Now I don't know about you, but when I think about lingerie, I instantly get a vision of a certain little pink striped bag of the largest intimate apparel brands in the U.S. However, Roy Raymond did not create Victoria's Secret until the 1970's....... So the question is: what did women wear before that?
Again, when I think about lingerie, certain adjectives come to mind. Sexy. Intimate. Erotic. You get the idea. Now this museum exhibit displayed lingerie from as far back as the eighteenth century to present day. When walking through and comparing the old to the new, the difference is laughable! Let's compare.
Below are two pictures, A and B. Picture A represents what typical lingerie looked like in the eighteenth century, and Picture B is a photo of one of our lovely Victoria's Secret models sporting a lace bra and matching panties that are typical of lingerie today. Now I don't believe the adjectives associated with the word "lingerie" have changed over centuries, but the meanings and the standards of these words certainly have. Tell me boys, could I turn you on wearing a tan corset over a cotton nightgown that goes all the way down to my ankles?
This is what made the exhibit so interesting! The relationship between dress and the body has been SO redefined over time. During the eighteenth century, decorative corsets and petticoats were worn as an essential part of a woman's dress! Not to mention all of their undergarments were boring neutral colors until people finally discovered some creativity with color in the late 1890's! Nowadays, you can get different styles of lingerie in the brightest of colors-- that is IF you are wearing any lingerie at all. After all, like Betsey Johnson once said, "If girls dressed for boys, they'd just walk around naked at all times."
Anyway, BACK to the exhibit! Even after the introduction of colored intimate apparel, there were pieces in the exhibit that did not even look like lingerie to me! For example, in the 1900's (and even before then too), women wore full on gowns to bed-- gowns that, to me, looked as if they could be worn during the day (at least during that time period). Suddenly I feel a little less classy in my baggy t-shirt and yoga pants.
The museum is located on West 27th Street and 9th Avenue. Admission is free so definitely check it out for yourself! I learned so much about the history of lingerie, and also the construction of it! This specific exhibit will be here until November 15th, so you have plenty of time to see it! Here's there website for more details:
http://fitnyc.edu/22187.asp
Even though the construction and design of lingerie has changed immensely over the centuries, Vogue DID report something in 1912 that still holds true today:
"No dainty woman wishes to appear untidy or unlovely at any hour of the day."
Until next time,
Fashion Fox
Works Cited:
http://www.pinterest.com/pin/460844974342555210/
www.victoriassecret.com
If you have a passion for photography, fashion, or BOTH, you MUST check out the Bill Cunningham: Facades exhibit at the New York Historical Society Museum & Library in Central Park.
For those of you who don't know, Bill Cunningham is a retired, famous fashion photographer for The New York Times. Cunningham has rode his bike around New York City ever since the 60's in effort to capture the latest fashions right as you see them on the street! He never shot pictures of well-known celebrities, but instead focused on your average person in Manhattan! After doing this all of his life, Cunningham has truly captured the complete evolution of fashion throughout the last 40 to 50 years. Now how many people can say they did THAT?
Cunningham's Facades project is even MORE special. Throughout the 1960's and 70's, Cunningham and his partner in crime, Editta Sherman, photographed all of the oldest builds in Manhattan. Some of the buildings that are still standing today have been here since the 1700's (so cool)! But here's the best part-- for every building they photographed, Editta dressed in clothing that was popular during the time period the building was built. So even though the pictures were taken in the 60's, if the building was built in 1766, Editta posed in front of the building in 1766 style clothing.
The point of the project was to emphasize New York history and remind us of our great city's origins. In many areas of New York, historic buildings were starting to become covered with graffiti. Cunningham and Sherman's efforts were meant to discourage this kind of destruction of property in order to maintain the beauty of New York City. Personally, I couldn't think of a more unique and better way of sending this message.
Here are some more pictures of the exhibit:
If you want to see more photos of this amazing project, check out the exhibit for yourself at The New York Historical Society Museum & Library at 170 Central Park West and 77th Street! The museum is open from 10 am - 6 pm, and students can get in for just $12! But you better go soon because the exhibit is only there until June 15th! Here's the museum's website for more details:
Don't have time to see the exhibit for yourself? Don't worry! You can still learn all about Bill Cunningham in the documentary Bill Cunningham New York, which can be found on Netflix . It is a very fun and interesting documentary (and also where I got all my information from)! And I swear you are going to just fall in love with this sweet old man! Check it out!
CALLING ALL FASHIONISTA'S AND ACCESSORIZING AFICIONADOS!!!
Want to have the most unique look out of your group of friends?
Everyone in NYC that loves jewelry MUST check out PONO's Sample Sale next week (June 9th - June 13th) for the amazing opportunity of getting 50 - 80% off beautiful designer jewelry!
Steph and I are spreading the word and leaving a trail of flyers! Hope to see you there!
Well it's official ladies and gents! I've survived my first week of living in the Big Apple! And I've only got one thing to say..................... I LOVE IT HERE!!!!!
The search for a summer job has been tough (just ask my feet), but my internship with PONO jewelry has been absolutely fabulous so far! Although, would you like to know the first lesson I learned in New York? FORGET THE HEELS. Yesterday I wore a dress to work and I ever so foolishly thought I could handle walking the streets of New York in (very pretty) brown wedged heels. Needless to say, it didn't take me more than 4 blocks before I tripped on a pothole and completely wiped out in the middle of a street intersection. Fortunately for me, a very nice Swedish man was there to help me up before any crazed taxi drivers could run me over.
Full disclosure: I was really nervous about coming here in the beginning. Not only did every single one of my family member's scare the s%#@ out of me with stories of murderers and rapists that lurk the streets of New York at night... but I was also worried that I may not have chosen the best way to spend my summer break (for ME at least). I mean... my ideal summer has always consisted of banana tanning lotion and my very own seat by the pool... NOT overcrowded concrete streets and potential pick pockets every where I turn. I was starting to wonder whether or not I made a mistake accepting an internship opportunity as a Freshman.
But as the days went on... I found more and more things that made me feel at home. First of all, my roommate Lauren is an absolute joy. And then I found a beautiful bike path about 4 blocks down from me that goes along the beautiful Hudson river. I always run there on a sunny day. And Lauren and I are going rollerblading there next week. ;)
Summer has definitely NOT been lost. I can still work out every day, and as I write this post, I am basking in the sun in Central Park, surrounded by hundreds of people tanning, flying kites, playing frisbee and volleyball, and even rolling around a giant human-size inflatable soccer ball..... that seems.. to be... COMING MY WAY!!!!!!!!!!
Ope! False alarm!! Some shirtless man just kicked it away from me. We're good.
*sigh* Oh yes. I really think I'm going to like it here.
Answer me this: who do you find more successful?-- someone who graduated from college..... or someone who graduated as valedictorian? I don't know about you... but I'm thinking that graduating at the top of your class is a little more impressive. But what does a valedictorian have to sacrifice in order to make such impressive achievements? Maybe instead of going out with their friends, they had dinners with professors. Maybe instead of joining fun, new clubs/ sports, they spent all of their time in the library. Or maybe they did it all because they are a super-human being, and they just didn't sleep. No matter what though, striving towards immense achievements is frustrating and stressful. The pressure and demand it takes to reach high goals really takes a toll on a person-- but is it all necessary?
It seems today that the general consensus for the definition of "success" involves someone who goes far above and beyond what others do, or have done. Success seems to be a competition where you are not considered successful unless you make more achievements than anyone you know. Because of this view, we are starting to forget about our own values and definition of what it means to be successful.
I recently read an inspiring article written by actress Zoisa Mamet in Glamour Magazine's June edition where Mamet discussed this issue. She stated:
As women we have internalized the idea that every morning we wake up, we have to go for the f--king gold. You can't just jog; you have to run a triathlon. Having a cup of coffee, reading the paper, and heading to work isn't enough-- that's settling, that's giving in, that's letting them win. You have to wake up, have a cup of coffee, conquer France, bake a perfect cake, take a boxing class, and figure out how you are going to get that corner office or become district supervisor, while also looking damn sexy-- but not too sexy, because cleave is degrading-- all before lunchtime. Who in her right mind would want to do that? And who would even be able to?
Who would even be able to, Miss Mamet? I'll tell you who.... ME!
Don't get me wrong, I agree with a lot that she has said. In the article, she also wrote "I hate that we look at women who choose not to run a country as having given up. I get angry that, when a woman decides to hold off on gunning for a promotion because she wants to have a baby, other women whisper that 'she's throwing away her potential.'" I hate that too. I'm starting to think that we have started to become a little too involved in this whole 'equality of women in the work force' thing. Yeah, it's great that women in power is becoming more of a societal norm as opposed to the idea that only men can "be the boss"......... but that lifestyle isn't necessarily for every woman. Some of us ARE satisfied with a more simple life. And that is fine by me too!
The fact of the matter is though: there ARE people out there who believe that they will only be successful if they do something amazing that sets them apart, and it's not because our society told us that THAT'S the only way to be successful. It's because we are just ambitious people, and that is our own definition of success. Trust me, I know personally how that perspective feels.
I'm not saying that everyone has to live this way. Mamet is right. We should only consider our definition of success-- not others. Because really? In the end, our opinion of our lives are going to be the only thing that matters. Whether we get a sense of fulfillment by being a stay at home mom or a CEO of a major corporation, we are only truly successful when we find happiness and meaning in our lives.
No matter what your ambitions, the important thing is that do something every day that you feel passionate about. Don't let others pressure you into doing what they think you should feel passionate about. Do something every day that you genuinely care about. You've got nothing to prove to anyone but yourself. And those things that you care most about will make your life worth living-- not the approval and praise of others. Like Mamet said, "Success isn't about winning everything; it's about achieving your dream."
MY dream just happens to be to win everything........... ;) The sky is your limit, right? The way I see it.... you might as well learn to fly.
Have you ever thought about HOW companies convince us to buy their products? And no, I'm not just talking about the simple answers like making commercials or advertisements that are thrown into magazines that you won't actually read.... What I mean is, do companies have specific strategies to, perhaps, "trick" us into wanting to buy their products? Think of makeup for example. Today, cosmetic companies are often criticized for preying upon women’s insecurities and self-esteem in order to sell their products. Beautiful spokesmodels like Eva Longoria, who is featured in L’Oréal makeup advertisements, make us feel unnoticeable and inferior in our personal appearance. BLA BLA BLA Fashion Fox... Tell me something I don't know. Well, my loves, the CoverGirl cosmetic company claims that they are doing something different with their campaign. Although CoverGirl commercials still feature beautiful models and celebrities that demonstrate the fresh, natural, and wholesome look that we dream of possessing, the company’s mission is to inspire us with the idea that “every woman is a CoverGirl” (Monae.) In fact, the spokeswomen in CoverGirl advertisements are pointed out to each be uniquein their own way. For example, in January 2012, CoverGirl premiered a commercial advertisement for their Tone Rehab Foundation, which featured Ellen Degeneres and Sofia Vergara (Check out the video below!!) This choice in spokeswomen suggests CoverGirl’s openness and acceptance of diverse personalities, sexualities, and ethnic backgrounds. However, what does acceptance of diversities have to do with makeup, or with women? From a marketing standpoint, it makes sense that CoverGirl would want to develop a sense of inclusivity within their brand in order to bring in the largest market possible. Although the campaign may appear to aim towards making women feel positively about their own beauty, we must remember the company’s true intent: to sell their product. By establishing this image of a global unity among diversities, CoverGirl successfully manipulates women into thinking that makeup directly correlates with the value of accepting cultural diversity. Although these values may be viewed as important, we must decide if wearing CoverGirl makeup is the best means of establishing these values in our society.
Trick #1 Each CoverGirl spokesmodel is selected to fulfill a specific purpose. What, you think they pick just ANYONE? Through their commercials, CoverGirl aims to establish the company’s ethic of diverse beauty. Alongside famous celebrities and models such as Tyra Banks, Queen Latifah, and Taylor Swift, Ellen Degeneres and Sofia Vergara join the unique collection of CoverGirl spokesmodels. All of these women are used to capture and continue the tradition of the CoverGirl image: women of diverse backgrounds, race, and size who share one common ground-- inner and outer beauty. CoverGirl makes it clear in all of their commercials that they believe that beauty is not standardized, but instead comes in a variety of colors. For example, in the Tone Rehab Foundation commercial, Ellen constantly makes jokes about Sofia’s accent. “Thats what I was supposed to say now...” Sofia whispered. “Well. No one can understand you.” Ellen responded nonchalantly. This playful banter not only makes us enjoy the commercial more, but it also highlights Sofia’s Colombian heritage (Ethnic.) Although it is no coincidence that these women are both beautiful and famous, by featuring their diversities in the commercial, the company is not simply advertising their line of makeup. CoverGirl is suggesting that even though these women look differently, they can find powerful unity in CoverGirl makeup. We are then inclined to purchase the makeup because, not only do we want to be as “easy, breezy, and beautiful” as these idolized women, but also because this idea of unity among women encourages us to avoid brands that are designed for more limited selections of women. For example, why buy a makeup brand only for black women if you could be a part of a universal cosmetic brand that unites and empowers women of all races? By convincing us, the consumers, that the CoverGirl brand stands for something greater than just makeup alone, they are able to reel in business and eliminate their competition.
Trick #2 The CoverGirl company is so fixated on establishing this sense of a greater purpose that they have extended their publicized acceptance of diversity beyond where makeup is even relevant. For example, featuring Ellen Degeneres as a CoverGirl makes another statement for the brand regarding diverse sexual preferences among CoverGirl’s. Advertising CoverGirl products with a well-known homosexual spokesmodel is meant to influence women to participate in a positive stance that the CoverGirl brand is proclaiming to have on homosexuality. Lesbians do not necessarily offer CoverGirl a new category of women who can wear their makeup because, homosexual women do not have different makeup needs than heterosexual women. Yet, the brand’s acceptance makes more of a political statement, and encourages women of all sexual preferences to find self-confidence and power as a member of this mixed group of women. This stance is additionally inspiring to our younger generations who have not already established any brand loyalty to certain cosmetic companies. Young women are constantly keeping up with the most current trends, and are particularly easy to inspire to become a part of a “good cause.” Not only do we all want to be considered beautiful, but we love to be a part of groups or buy things that have positive associations with them. By portraying CoverGirl as more of a “good cause” than a business, the company is able to gain a greater brand loyalty among their customers.
Trick #3 Furthermore, pairing Ellen with Sofia in the commercial, rather than just featuring Ellen by herself, physically stresses this concept of the acceptance of differences as well. It is unusual for the CoverGirl company to feature two CoverGirl’s in one advertisement. In addition, their choice of women to feature in this particular case is even more uncommon. We all can recognize that Ellen is a white homosexual comedian while Sofia is a Columbian bombshell and television actress. As if their differences in personality, race, and sexual orientation aren’t obvious enough, even their clothes suggest that they are polar opposites. Ellen is featured wearing a tailored, white-out suit, while Sofia shows off her hourglass figure in a tight, one-shoulder, black minidress. Side-by-side these women physically represent yin and yang; however, despite their obvious differences, they are able to laugh and have fun while in each other’s company. In this commercial, CoverGirl is able to directly compare two of their most diverse spokeswomen, and “prove” to us that the company can unite and transform just about anyone, even us. On the outside, the company may seem to represent a cause that is completely aimed towards making us feel that we can accept our uniqueness. However, is CoverGirl really any different than any other makeup company? In order for us to buy into the CoverGirl “cause” and actually feel better ourselves, we must first buy the CoverGirl product. In a sense, the product is advertised in a way that diminishes our self-esteem before boosting it. We watch these beautiful spokeswomen relish in their differences, and we idolize their values of distinction. However, this causes us to immediately get a sense that their beauty and acceptance of themselves makes them superior to us. Therefore, in order to be more like them, we are inclined to buy the products that they use. CoverGirl makeup may be able to cover up our blemishes, but the makeup itself has nothing to do with our self-acceptance. Yet, we do not consider this fact because CoverGirl has created an image for itself that counters the idea of makeup being superficial. Are you feeling a little bit cheated at this point? It's okay. Me too.
There is no doubt that CoverGirl is changing the way women view makeup. The brand pushes for an image that embodies the general ethics of acceptance of one’s differences and beauty. However, do we really buy into the idea that all of the celebrity spokeswomen are really just average women like us? Certainly. CoverGirl advertisements have captivated young audiences for years, and have transformed the company into one of the top-selling makeup lines in the country. Over time, the company will most likely continue to try and over-accept itself by diversifying their spokeswomen even more. For example, the future CoverGirl commercials may feature other types of diversities such as women with disabilities or illnesses. They may also feature women of different age groups, or even non-celebrities that will literally give audiences the feeling that a CoverGirl is really just a “girl-next-door.” They will try just about anything to make us feel that we can relate to brand’s spokesmodels.
CoverGirl has been very clever in using society’s values on social messages to reel in business, eliminate competition, and gain customer loyalty. Although CoverGirl advertisements make it easy for us to buy into the idea that the company aims toward representing a greater cause, we must remember that this image was specifically designed to cover up CoverGirl’s true intentions. CoverGirl revenue does not actually go towards any woman’s movement. CoverGirl is a business, not a forum for women’s activism. Like any business, the company will do whatever it takes to sell their product, including manipulating women into believing that they can only accept who they are if they use CoverGirl cosmetics. While we may share the values that the CoverGirl company claims to support, should we be disturbed by their tactics to establish these values? Is buying CoverGirl makeup the right means for us to send messages about these values? We all want to adopt this image of beauty in acceptance; however, participating in the CoverGirl “campaign” may not the way to do it. It’s up to you to decide.
Stop and think about the commercials you watch... they may not be what you think ;)
That's all for now!
Xoxo,
Fashion Fox
Resources:
Monae, Janelle. "JANELLE." Janelle Monae, COVERGIRL Model. Get Her Latest Looks Here. CoverGirl Cosmetics, 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2014.
Ellen DeGeneres and Sofia Vergara New CoverGirl Commercial. Dir. CoverGirl. Perf. Ellen DeGeneres and Sofia Vergara. YouTube. YouTube, 17 Jan. 2012. Web. 05 Feb. 2014. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ra7iX-hWbw>.
So I've been meaning to write about a certain obsession of mine for awhile now. And from the looks of it... my obsession has also become an obsession of the majority population of women-- floppy hats.
