"You know who you should style? Hilary. She needs to get out of those ugly-a** pants suits. You'd make a million dollars," said my boyfriend's co-worker.
While I doubt that you are in the market for a wardrobe stylist and that you'd pay a cool million, after seeing the African inspired jacket in the Huffington Post, Fashion Funhouse Emporium feels compelled to give free, unsolicited advice via this open letter.
We understand you are in a man's world, and need to be taken seriously. At the same time, you still want to keep your femininity. Hence, ill fitting rainbow array of colored suits are your tactic. We know you don't want people talking about your clothes, but instead focusing on your policies (but they are talking about the clothes). We know that being in the shadow of Big Bill is difficult. You are your own strong, smart and beautiful woman.
This is why we have put together those pants suits that you love in a way you can wear color and prints, but done right. Oh, and if you so choose to hire a million dollar stylist, we are for hire.
This morning I came across a story about schools in Scotland buying straightening irons to help girls with their self-esteem. You may think that this type of expenditure would be low on an educational facilities' priority list, however the move is getting praise from--an Olympian?
Liz McColgan, the Scots Olympic pride, believes it would help more girls to participate in physical education. She said: "It's difficult to get young girls into sport. Half the reason is peer pressure from the boys and wanting to look good."
But what are people really implying here? Curly mops are heinous. That's what!
Discrimination by silky straight-haired people against us with curves and "q's" on our head has been acceptable. Until now.
Thinly veiled commercials for products like the InStyler, feature women with sad faces and big mops, in a lonely man-less setting. They use this oppressive tool, and voila! Guys flock to their side. This hair tool and other flat hair products never come out and say "spiraled hair looks like a rat's nest, " but, oh, I'm on to you, corporate pigs!
Even our own thesauruses give "synonyms" with derogatory connotations: crisp, convoluted, and frizzed? Gasp! Well, I never....
It's time, curly hair ladies! Its time to say that straight hair is not the only hair. We're not matte...but, er...we're here, we're curled and... um...we're mad as hell and were not going to take it anymore!
Last, loop-haired ladies, I leave you with words of inspiration spoken to me from the great Diane von Furstenberg, creator of the iconic wrap dress:
"One day in 1976, I did a picture for the cover of Interview. And I had my hair very straight, blown out, and so we did the shoot, we shot the picture. And then my friend the photographer said, 'Now wet your hair.' And I said, 'What do you mean? I can't wet my hair.' And he said, 'I just want to try something.' And my hair was super frizzy, and of course that's what ran on the cover, and that's how I've worn it since."
Well, she didn't say it to me. I read it in Interview magazine. But it felt like she was speaking tome. It still inspired me to let it all- the giant, voluminous ball of cylindrical filaments--fly free! Be free to frizz! Be free.
This is Fashion Funhouse Emporium's third installment of style inspired by "The Funniest Movies Ever Made." "Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb," is a dark comedy which features an insane general who instigates a path to nuclear holocaust. Alas, a war room full of generals and politicians have to try and stop it. Get it or not, "Dr. Strangelove" is number 3 on the both the Associated Content and American Film Institute's list of best comedies.
The Guardian UK reports, the UK based Models for Life is "based on Christian values, is to make people aware that modelling is about leading an exemplary life and exuding inner beauty."
Most fashion houses would have to disagree that inner beauty is the drive behind selling their products. Flipping through this month's issue of Elle, in the first few pages there is a Guess ad featuring visible side boob, Claudia, Naomi and Eva naked for Dolce and Gabanna perfume and Madonna representing Louis Vuitton. She is not nude but she once made a coffee table book, as that included photos of sexual positions and terms one may not know existed.
Is there a place for Christian faith based modeling agencies in fashion? Is it the nudity that's an issue for these models or the provocative nature of the photographs? One of the first things taught to marketing students is Maslow's Hierachy of Needs. What better way to tap into human primal instinct than with nude, pretty, etc.
As it turns out there are quite a few of these enigmatic Christian model organizations. The Christian Talent Network based in New York's goal "is to provide you with a Christ honoring pathway of information and council as you pursue opportunities in this challenging industry."
One organization called Models4Jesus has a page that addresses "Getting Naked." According to the site, "If you want to be a model, the reality is that you will have many opportunities to get naked. Nudity – full, partial, and implied – are definitely part of the modeling business, especially in the high fashion industry. But, most modeling jobs don't ask this of you at all."
If a stylist, photographer or creative director, has a vision that includes "Nudity – full, partial, and implied" and has to scratch it at the last minute --on a shoot, in a rented studio, because a model doesn't feel comfortable with their body--for whatever reason, religious or otherwise, costs money and time, and most of all, hurts egos! These versions of "moral" convictions may prevent a model booked again.
On the other hand, if a model doesn't mind throwing her/his silky hair around in a shampoo ad, modeling robes and sweaters in department store catalogues, or become the smiling face behind a neatly iced carrot cake in Good Housekeeping, sure, there is a place for chasteness. Money can be made there as well.
Would the supers be where they are today if they objected to any of the above? Kate Moss, Naomi Campbell, Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington and Linda Evangelista...
Clip of Season 3, Episode 4 of the Janice Dickson Modeling Agency on Oxygen.
Time for Metal Style! The world's loudest band is followed by documentarian Marti DeBergi in "This is Spinal Tap". Our second installment of looks inspired by the "Funniest Movies of All Time." The film is number 11 on the Associated Content's List. Not 10, but 11.
If you ask any stylist, photographer or fashion designers "Who is Cowboy Kate?", they will know.
“Fashion Etcetera” the new book by Sam Haskins in collaboration with Tommy Hilfiger includes photos from his long career, including "Cowboy Kate." It's the legendary photographers first book in 25 years and also the first to dig into his archives.
Fashion Funhouse Emporium attended the opening, which was still packed, wall to wall at 9:00pm. Unfortunately, Mr. Haskins was unable to attend due to illness. We couldn't even tell you who was there because we spent the whole time with our noses buried in his books and photos.
Bio: Sam Haskins is a British photographer born in South Africa. He operated what is known as the first independent commercial photography studio there. It was in this space that he created four books which would become a major influence to fashion folk and photographers everywhere: Five Girls, Cowboy Kate, November Girl and African Image. Mr. Haskins has recently selectively concentrated on fashion editorials --only those that allow creative freedom for major magazines in London, New York, Paris, Tokyo and Sydney.
Dude, this is Fashion Funhouse Emporium's first installment of looks inspired by the "Funniest Movies of All Time." Today, we picked "The Big Lebowski" which is ranked number 4 on the Associated Content's list of "Best Comedy Movies Ever Made."
These Fall sweaters and pants (just add v-neck t-shirt) will have you mistaken for a millionaire Lebowski, and seeking restitution for your ruined rug. That rug really tied the room together.
This Monday, September 28th, you'll be able to appease your inner child. Remember when you were once full of wonder? Did your parents let you go to the grocery store wearing a Superman cape, or a neon pink Barbie princess dress? Everyone though it was cute and not crazy. Well, Opening Ceremony in collaboration with Spike Jonze created a collection that allows us adults to wear wolf costumes to dinner with out neighboring restaurant patrons asking the hostess to move.
Inspired by the new film adaptation of Maurice Sendak’s 1963 award winning children's book, "Where the Wild Things Are," director Spike Jonze ("Adaptation," "Being John Malkovich," "Jack Ass") and the cool big kid emporium Opening Ceremony created a limited-edition collection of faux fur pieces with subtle wild creature influences that wont get you picked up for a psych evaluation if you wear it in public. They didn't forget the accessories either and recruited Pamela Love to imagine wearable claws and horns to complete the looks.
Where the Wild Things Are will be in theaters October 6th. Watch the official trailer here. Note the alternative rock soundtrack includes Karen O' of the Yeah, Yeah Yeahs and The Raconteurs.
Faux Fur Jackets, Photos: Opening Ceremony
Faux fur trim dress and men's jacket; Photos: Opening Ceremony
Jewelry by Pamela Love for Opening Ceremony; Photos: Opening Ceremony
Upon hearing that gruff and dirty actor Clint Eastwood's clothing line was sold for "an undisclosed sum." we thought, wait, Clint had a clothing line? How did we miss this?
As you can imagine, as we did-- all sorts of thought bubbles appeared above our heads while we pictured Eastwood, scowling intensely at a slanted drawing board, colored pencils tightly gripped in hand. He sketches with fury, raw-hideesque fashions: leather wild west hats, distressed jeans with fringed chaps attached, black scarves to hide just the bottom part of the face and wide tanned-leather belts to whoop your ass with.
But then we found out that he was only part owner of a golf apparel company. The brand is called Tehama (pronounced te-HAY-ma). The pronouncation is listed everywhere the brand is typed because apparently Clint will be pissed if you pronounce it wrong. Anyway, we were sorely disappointed when we dicovered it was only some lame line of polo shirts.
Here at Fashion Funhouse Emporium, we love jewelry. The right statement pieces can take a basic ensemble from everyday carbon copy to full of personality.
With the Thornwall Collection, we can do you one better. You can lord over your own metropolis and own your very own radio network. In the 1950's before the days of individual phone numbers, Thornwall 84 was once a calling code for Los Angeles. Inspired by cities, homes, and comforts within--like radios that first popularized mass communication, these unique, fun bangles, rings and necklaces follow the rise of metropolitan living.
Take a look at your future cities. Our editor is calling her's "Amberopolis."
Bridge Double Finger Ring, Photo: Brandon Showers
Large Radio Pendant, Seismograph Pendant, Cityscape Bangles, Cities & Roads Bangles. Photo: Brandon Showers
Do you love it? To see the pieces above in greater detail or to see more of the Little Rooms Jewelry line, click here: www.littlerooms.com
Little Rooms Designer Bio: An LA native, Ester Delug's designs play on the penchants of her childhood, particularly her fascination with dollhouses. “I’m obsessed,” Ester openly admits with a laugh, “There’s something so charming about them—the innocence they represent. But they’re also kind of creepy too, and I love that—that underlying weirdness.” The designer is no stranger to the strange, either. Starting her career as a special effects makeup artist, Ester routinely churned out monsters and mayhem, her favorite jobs being the bloodiest and most gruesome. “My background in makeup had a tremendous influence on developing my collection and jewelry design. I was doing tons of prosthetic molding, and the creative process is very similar to those in jewelry making.”
