Posts Tagged ‘ ralph lauren ’

Fall Fashion Trend: Naked with a Burberry Umbrella and a Diet Coke

October 21, 2009
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“Our ability to accessorize is what separates us from the animals.” – Steel Magnolias

runwaymodelI am an accessories girl. So this season I have my eye on the Verdura cuff The House of Chanel is releasing in honor of the famous jeweler’s 70th anniversary. Chanel will issue a limited edition collection of 70 cuffs, 35 of which are signed and numbered. The price tag is around $29,500 –each. I love the Fulco cuff. Love it. But I refuse to buy one. Because this season I am banning Chanel. (Unlike every other season when I just can’t afford Chanel.) Verdura ivory enamel cuffs (small)

Why? Because last week, German fashion magazine, Brigitte, said it was no longer going to use professional models in its editorial. Instead, the magazine is looking for “real women” with whom who readers can better identify. Apparently the editors are also tired of photo shopping the models to camouflage their protruding collarbones.

 
Well, in response to the Bridgette team’s news, Karl Lagerfeld, head designer for Chanel, told another German magazine, Focus, that “No one wants to see curvy women,” and, “You’ve got fat mothers with their bags of chips sitting in front of the television and saying that thin models are ugly.”

So while some in the fashion industry are working to promote healthier body images, others, like Lagerfeld, are not. And speaking of Photoshop….

When it comes to accessories, shoes are my absolute favorite. This season I have my eye on the Carminda boot from Ralph Lauren. These boots are fabulous: brown burnished leather, pointy toes and 4 inch heels. But alas, I will not buy them. No, not because they cost $1200. Nor is it because there is no way this fat, chip-eating, TV-watching mother can get them over her calves. It is because this season I am banning Ralph Lauren.
Ralph Lauren, you see, doesn’t use Photoshop to plump up its models. No, they use Photoshop to distort their models. Apparently size zero women are just too fat for their campaigns. They prefer size physically impossible. RL Photoshop

The company did apologize after this photo shopped image (Eds. note: Images will not appear on Hello Ladies homepage. Click story headline to see the picture.) caused an outcry on the Internet. But now there is news of another retouched image causing a stir.

I am tired of these men dictating what is fashionable to women. So, next time you see me, I will be naked, holding a Burberry umbrella and drinking a Diet Coke.

FTC Regulates the Red Carpet

October 7, 2009
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BlogHer Voices of the Year Finalist

Following immediately on the heels of The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) new guidelines aimed at better transparency in the blogosphere, the government agency once again took steps to regulate full disclosure, this time from celebrities regarding the clothes they wear and the beauty products they use. The new guidelines, expected to be published later this week, will mandate that celebrities who dress for the red carpet, more accurately reflect results typical of the average American woman.

It is common practice in Hollywood for fashion designers to give celebrities couture gowns to wear to awards ceremonies, movie premieres and parties. The commission has determined that the stars and the designers must disclose if the dresses were given to the celebrities for free and that the disclosure must be “clear and conspicuous.” They did not, however, specify how the disclosure should happen.

One famous Hollywood stylist/reality television star said, “We will determine how to best to reveal that information on a case-by-case basis. If my client is wearing a classic dress –perhaps a Ralph Lauren –we may monogram the information onto the dress. After all, monograms are so preppy and 80s. And the 80s are back baby! If my client is wearing Versace, we will probably advertise on her chest because most of it will be showing.”

The commission also said celebrities often convey an unrealistic image on the red carpet. These images and the resulting photo spreads in tabloid magazines, give false hope to American woman that they too can look like their favorite star. When the new guidelines go into effect, the stylists who dress the stars will have to better reflect what the average woman can expect if they were to wear the clothes. Entertainment news hosts will no longer just ask, “Who made your dress and where did you get those diamonds?” during pre-awards show interviews. Now they will also ask, “Are you wearing Spanx? Do you use double-sided tape to lift your breasts? When was the last time you ate? How much foundation are you wearing? And, is that a wig?”

The new guidelines have the industry on edge. Celebrities are concerned they will be forced to reveal too many trade secrets. “What will they want next,” says one two-time Oscar winner. “For us to stop airbrushing our magazine covers?”

But some insiders see this as a positive move. “The fashion world, and the red carpet in particular, hasn’t seen any real innovation since Bjork’s swan dress in 2001. I think we will see some new trends emerge as a result of the FTC guidelines,” said Nigel Kipling, fashion director for Runway magazine. “I predict back fat, bat wings and lipstick on teeth, will be hot looks on the runway next season.”

Finally, 14 will be the new 6.

Full Disclosure: This is not a true story. But it should be.

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