Friday, August 29, 2008 Abercrummy: 'say no to Ugly? POST A COMMENT 'Might need to change that to name to Abercrumbles -- with slumping profits 'sounds like that pricey-preppy-chain might need it's own fashion makeover: "As allowances dwindle and parents fret over their jobs and home values, the 'fresh, clean, simple and optimistic' look of American Apparel's hipster gear is gaining appeal," says the NY Post. And it just might get uglier... Speaking of Ugly, 'found this article on the 'Hierarchy of hotness' rules at Abercrombie & Fitch. Which basically says, 'You're either Abercrombie hot – or you're not. Hmmm... Makes ya wonder if there are enough hot people to wear their clothes; And does this exclusion on the average Joe-buyer affects their bottom line? Opps, I guess it does. One girl 'was pulled from a sales position on the floor...and shoved back to the stockroom to fold clothes. In its defense the company says 'it is important to uphold the brand's image and maintain diversity in its stores.' -- "It's a hierarchy of hotness," says the Morning Dallas News. "There's no real problem to discriminate against 'ugly' people," said one Lawyer. "The problem is when you define beauty to incorporate white, which it essentially does at Abercrombie." Source: Dallas Morning News Labels: Business-101, capitalism, Clothes, College Students, Culture, economy, Fashion posted by Henry Cruz at 10:33 PM Saturday, July 26, 2008 Fashion Police makes a booty-call? POST A COMMENT 'guessing the police down in Flint, MI. don't have much crime to worry about if they're wasting time cracking-down on how-much-Crack-you-have-in-your-Fashion -- (no, 'not talking about a new illegal-crack-drug craze here) -- it's about how much booty-crack -- should be allowed when wearing those sagging pants -- ('usually by teens in low-riding pants) -- 'exposing some rear boxers. "I don't know why they're wasting time on fashion," offered Delon Williams (14), of Flint. Others call "the policy stupid and a waste of time." One dude said: "saggers are unwittingly emulating a fashion based on a negative lifestyle born of gangs and jail." - yeah, maybe some kids seen the style in a Hip Hop video...but, should it be outlawed? "(Stopping) saggin' is not going to lower the price of gas," said one Woman. Some sensible minds are prevailing however: Lawyers with the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan, proclaimed the policy unconstitutional, saying "Cops have taken the city's ordinance too far." I'm Sure, there are a few unsightly things that could be illegal...'put me down for saggy balls on display; or too much bikini-camel-toe on the beaches...but, don't ya think our streets are pretty safe by attacks of some low-riding pants? For more proof on how safe...'Just look at this video clip -- from an overseas TV station -- clearly they're all just having some fun: Source: Newsweek Labels: Fashion, Flint MI, Hiding in Hip Hop, Police, Saggers, Stupid Laws, unjustified verdict posted by Henry Cruz at 5:01 PM Sunday, September 30, 2007 MILAN: black women missing from the runway? POST A COMMENT Interesting article talking about the very blond fashion runway trend (Source Washington Post): "At the Jil Sander show, for example, the models were so homogeneous that they were virtual clones: overwhelmingly tall, thin, pale and with hair ranging from platinum blond to honey blond to the occasional warm brunette....one wonders whether anyone at Jil Sander has noticed that brown people actually exist." The article entitled "White is the New White" talks about the racial divide -- (or exclusion of blacks) -- among fashion houses: "Similar whiteouts occurred on the runways of Prada and Marni in Milan and at Calvin Klein in New York. The explanation for these choices always comes down to aesthetics, which is a designer's prerogative. The models have been chosen because they fit easily into the samples. Because they have a certain look. Because they convey a single, uninterrupted message on the runway. Because they do not distract from the clothes." So should a black girl complain that she doesn't get to sashay in expensive clothes before an audience... -- the author puts it this way: "We put beauty on a pedestal as something admirable, desirable and valuable. Beauty -- unfairly or not -- has its privileges. And by defining which people are beautiful and which people are simply invisible, the fashion industry helps determine how much cultural currency someone has at his or her disposal." -- 'guess, based on this article, black women have very little cultural clout...'somebody should start a new culturally diverse line called: Invisible. Labels: Fashion, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 2:04 PM Tuesday, September 25, 2007 Death...the ultimate Fashion Statement?!! POST A COMMENT That new Italian Vogue' -- 'wants to bring sex-y to the war in Iraq -- 'instead, seems to be ruffling a few media feathers - called: Make Love, Not War -- um, it's really trying to push the erotic edge alright -- along tasteless lines -- 'guess they'll try anything to sell some magazines -- 'sorry Steven Meisel -- (the otherwise talented photographer) --even in parody, sexing up the senseless death and realities of War -- (while our armed forces are still dying everyday) -- is just not cool: Labels: Culture, Fashion posted by Henry Cruz at 3:42 AM Thursday, September 20, 2007 New Money helps Fashion Grow! POST A COMMENT 'crazy that the English prudes regard any high fashion taste as "a kind of ghetto..." -- but, that's quickly changing...with new money infusion in the form of Russian immigrants (source NYTIMES): "some 200,000 Russians (now) live in London, many of them affluent and well informed about fashion. Indeed, among English retailers, there has been a general broadening in outlook toward Russian and Arabic luxury shoppers, driven in part by the speed of information. No longer is there the temptation to regard taste as a kind of ghetto.." Yea, Fashion is about looking good...but ultimately it takes social integration of immigrants -- in other words that New "Money" to transform itself into a business -- and allow people to spend "with a vengeance." “It’s made us more confident that we can sell a $10,000 dress by a young designer,” said one boutique owner. -- so, folks...don't be afraid of change...it's possible immigrants will someday save us all! Labels: Culture, Fashion posted by Henry Cruz at 1:42 PM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .