Andrej Pejic: Blurring Gender in the fashion world

At First glance one would think, "She's very pretty." Most people do. And Anreej Pejic is very pretty, but at first glance many mistake Pejic as a girl. Andrej Pejic is a rare breed of male model, that models both men's AND women's clothes. His androgynous looks have made him a fashion icon, ranked # 18 on Model.com Top 50 Male Models list.

Seventeen Magazine: No More Airbrushing!

14 year old Julia Bluhm, of Waterville Maine, began organized a petition which received 84,168  signatures. The petition pleaded to Seventeen magazine to portray the young girls as they really are without digitally altering their bodies or face.

Seventeen took the petition to heart and made an official statement for the August issue.

Editor Ann Shocket and the entire staff of Seventeen signed a pact that agreed to show models as they are without retouching.

Women hate themselves too much as it is and it begins with society screaming "you suck! buy this!" at such a young age. By showing girls in a realistic light and encouraging self appreciation while they are young, hopefully they will be less likely to have such devastating self esteem issues. 

Seventeen is a very forward thinking for a popular fashion magazine and has featured models of all size shapes and color. This is a HUGE step in the right direction and proves that one person (even a kid) make a remarkable impact! Passion goes a long way.

You Look like the 4th of July! It makes me want a hot dog real bad!

(this is a photo of me from my high school year book)

Lana Del Rey's National Anthem Channels Jackie Onassis and Marilyn Monroe

Today the Lana Del Rey music video for "National Anthem" was released.

 Rey portrays a sort of Marilyn Monroe Jackie Onassis hybrid, and the video features A$AP Rocky as a Jack Kennedy/Barack Obama hybrid.

The video has already sparked a lot of controversy for recreating the 1963 Kennedy assassination, and the interracial relationship has raised a few eyebrows.  Director Anthony Mandler says that was the point.

"We used the Kennedy framework to kind of implement this new Camelot, this maybe socially diverse Camelot...bringing it into the modern era, but still keeping that classic framework. There's a kind of micro commentary on this new royalty. I think with an African American president, it's still controversial to see him playing JFK, its still taboo, even though it shouldn't be."

He goes on to say "We didn't want to make it be a mockery. How many artists and rappers and singers have you seen running around in badly fitted suits acting like the president?"

Mandler says he wanted the video's theme to be about a loss of innocence and sort of a Romeo and Juliet story. He felt the Marilyn. Jackie O and Jack Kennedy love triangle "became this kind of ideal of what seemed perfect from the outside but was maybe rotting on the inside."

The video is amazing and it channels a modernized early 60's feel. It is hard not to have some emotional response to it. Rey is simply stunning in it. Is it controversial, perhaps? But it is also bold and I think the director created his vision successfully.

All Bestey Johnson Boutiques Closing

Betsey Johnson has filled for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection. 

Steve Madden's company paid the debt from 2010 taking Betsey Johnson's intellectual property as collateral and started the process of restructuring the company and pumping out more goods. Unfortunately this restructuring didn't take and as a result of the bankruptcy, all Betsey Johnson Boutiques are closing their doors. As of now all locations are selling everything on sale including the fixtures and equipment. 

Not all is lost, the fashion legend will still have her designs available at department stores and her lower priced line Betseyville available. The once Andy Warhol costume designer I trust will get out of bankruptcy, she has even said that she will remain the creative directer and will be having a fashion runway show in September! 


*I had the pleasure of meeting Betsey recently and she is one of the kindest and most unpretentiousness women I've ever met. I'm sending out positive vibes her way and know she will come out on the other side even more girly, fun, youthful and sweet as ever!

Topless NY Woman: New Trend?

For the past 2 weeks, there has been a woman in the East Village of New York who has been letting it all hang out. Moira Johnston has been going topless to raise awareness that in NY, that since 1992 its has been LEGAL for a woman to go topless wherever a man can.

She has stated that the reactions have been mixed although she does get a lot of support. "People aren't used to seeing it in our culture yet."

Bold is and understatement. I don't know if I could be brave enough to rock this look although in my younger days, if I had known it was legal, it might had been a different story.

Would you walk topless if you knew it was legal? Why or why not?

One For the Ages

WHAT WOULD IT BE LIKE TO BE 120 YEARS OLD—AND WHAT WOULD YOU WEAR? AMBER VALLETTA TAKES A DECADE-BY-DECADE TRIP THROUGH A CENTURY’S WORTH OF ENSEMBLES.

Read More http://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/2011/09/amber-valletta-steven-klein-decades-ss#ixzz1tWxW9D1Y

September 29, 1929: A month before the stock market’s Black Tuesday, our heroine’s opium-tinged 29th- birthday party in the Blue Room rolls on.

November 16, 1936: With Edward VIII threatening to marry Wallis Simpson and the national economy still in the tank, one needs all the help one can get.

October 2, 1947: Having a bun in the oven makes it impossible to wear those divine new look wasp silhouettes—but that’s no excuse to turn down an invitation to El Morocco.

October 10, 1958: Finally! There had to be an upside to the stifling corset trend all those boring housewives have been so excited about.

September 27, 1966: Just back from Mary Quant’s party to celebrate her O.B.E. and now living out her own swinging sixties, our heroine gets ready for her close-up.

September 22, 1979: Her beloved Studio 54 is on its last legs—and, frankly, so is she. It’s a long way from the nightclub’s balcony to the floor, but the wall-to-wall helps cushion the fall.

October 18, 1986: After a strictly enforced “Just Say No” regimen, our material girl is back in action and ready for the Neo- Geo opening at the Sonnabend Gallery.

September 6, 1998: A chance encounter with Tom Ford—an old friend from Studio 54—leads to a glam wake for the last days of disco before escaping for some much needed R&R.

September 10, 2009: Several years into her second century, it’s time for Fashion’s Night In: a moment for reflection, tenderness, and…

September 30, 2019: Girding herself for another decade—and another new generation—our heroine heads out for dinner. There’s a place just around the corner she’s been going to forever…