lunedì 18 luglio 2011
martedì 17 maggio 2011
domenica 15 maggio 2011
The Fashion Blogger Evolution
Goal of this blog is to become a ridiculously successful fashion blogger. I give myself one year to start getting American Apparel ads on the sides ( and yes, American Apparel will still be in business. They're just crying wolf so you feel sorry for them and go buy a zipper hoodie.)
After many Sunday mornings of research, I figure that one year is what it takes to the average fashion blogger to get a paid trip to Coachella. Here is the typical blogger evolution in 2 steps.
Beginning: photo of a hipster girl with floral outfit/mustard shorts/hasidic hat. The caption will say something like "In this photo i’m wearing ring from a yard sale, shoes from craigslist, Target dress via thrift store, a necklace I picked up on the curb, jacket from the $1 bin at Salvation Army. Thrifting is a lot of fun and I love the hunt for a unique treasure. So much cooler than wearing a runway look head to toe!"
One year later.
Photo of brand new shoes sitting on a shoebox, next to a paper invitation. Caption: "I would like to thank the girls at rag and bone for sending me a free package with a jacket, pants, platform shoes and year long supply of silk t shirts. Shooting your campaign at the Maldives was so much fun! And to thank all my followers, I will share the goodies with you! all you have to do is leave a 1500 words comment including at least 3 items you have seen on the site and why you like them, plus you share the link on facebook, twitter, myspace, LinkedIn and your laundromat's cork board, and I will randomly select the lucky winner of a fabulous key ring.
Now I’m off to the Balenciaga show."
sabato 14 maggio 2011
maxidress
the first summer i visited New York I thought: “oh, look at that girl with that dress touching the ground! That’s cool. “
“Oh, another one. Or 2. Actually, 6.”
“Ok, I get it, it’s this year’s trend”
Only, it wasn’t 2009’s trend. Here, it’s a summer staple, just like.. flip flops? well, flip flop season is more a march-november thing, like those vegetables in the season chart that have an x on almost all months: carrots, lettuce. There might still be a foot of snow on the curb, but if the calendar says March all the stores put up their maxi dresses, together with stray hats and golden sandals.
The first year I was attracted to this novelty of the maxi dress. If done right it can look elegant and it can be a solution for when you didn’t shave your legs but it’s too hot for jeans.
But a quick survey with the boys revealed that the male population is against the maxi dress. After they’ve been waiting all winter to see our legs, it’s a huge bummer when summer comes and we hide them under a paisley couch cover.
So I opted out of the maxi dress forever. I am still tempted when i see them hanging in stores, but I always try to remind myself that I don’t look good in one anyway. Cover my awesome marble legs while exposing my pudding arms? No, thanks. Also, the skirt is so long that stores have to hang them really high so it doesn’t sweep the floor. So even if I give in and decide to try one on, it invariably is placed too high for me. It works like a reminder that if I can’t reach it, I shouldn’t wear it, like those signs at theme parks with a dragon holding his arm out, if you’re shorter than this you’re not allowed on this ride.
of course, if I could look THIS cool with a maxidress, i would buy one in every color.
“Oh, another one. Or 2. Actually, 6.”
“Ok, I get it, it’s this year’s trend”
Only, it wasn’t 2009’s trend. Here, it’s a summer staple, just like.. flip flops? well, flip flop season is more a march-november thing, like those vegetables in the season chart that have an x on almost all months: carrots, lettuce. There might still be a foot of snow on the curb, but if the calendar says March all the stores put up their maxi dresses, together with stray hats and golden sandals.
The first year I was attracted to this novelty of the maxi dress. If done right it can look elegant and it can be a solution for when you didn’t shave your legs but it’s too hot for jeans.
But a quick survey with the boys revealed that the male population is against the maxi dress. After they’ve been waiting all winter to see our legs, it’s a huge bummer when summer comes and we hide them under a paisley couch cover.
So I opted out of the maxi dress forever. I am still tempted when i see them hanging in stores, but I always try to remind myself that I don’t look good in one anyway. Cover my awesome marble legs while exposing my pudding arms? No, thanks. Also, the skirt is so long that stores have to hang them really high so it doesn’t sweep the floor. So even if I give in and decide to try one on, it invariably is placed too high for me. It works like a reminder that if I can’t reach it, I shouldn’t wear it, like those signs at theme parks with a dragon holding his arm out, if you’re shorter than this you’re not allowed on this ride.
of course, if I could look THIS cool with a maxidress, i would buy one in every color.
domenica 20 marzo 2011
On the beauty of fashion models
Yes and Yes is one of my favorite reads. However, a few weeks ago I read this post
yes and yes: What You See is Not What You Get (Or: Notes From a Photo Shoot)
and I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I have worked with fashion models in Milan, organizing photo shoots for an e-commerce website. And I have some news: models are stunning! And if you think about it, it makes sense: I suspect that's why they work as professional models and you and I don't ( but if you do, good for you).
It's true, the make up artist would spend a couple of hours on them, and there was a good amount of retouching on the pictures (even models can get a pimple, a bruise on their knee, or have asymmetrical hips) but the base of everything always had to be an exceptionally good looking lady. I have seen them before and after and I assure you they were gorgeous and head-turning even without the help of any artist.
Sure, they can have their own strengths and weaknesses: I remember a girl with big brown eyes and adorable freckles, that our photographer did not cast because we needed a bikini shot and her body was less than sculpted; the following month her face was all over the subway on a big campaign.
I can see the good intention in denying that models in magazines actually look better than the rest of us; it can help us accept ourselves and our flaws. But it would probably be more honest to just accept that some women are more beautiful than us. Some are going to be smarter than us, funnier, or, God forbid! even all of the above. So what? That's life. Let's face it and then move on.
yes and yes: What You See is Not What You Get (Or: Notes From a Photo Shoot)
and I'm sorry but I have to disagree. I have worked with fashion models in Milan, organizing photo shoots for an e-commerce website. And I have some news: models are stunning! And if you think about it, it makes sense: I suspect that's why they work as professional models and you and I don't ( but if you do, good for you).
It's true, the make up artist would spend a couple of hours on them, and there was a good amount of retouching on the pictures (even models can get a pimple, a bruise on their knee, or have asymmetrical hips) but the base of everything always had to be an exceptionally good looking lady. I have seen them before and after and I assure you they were gorgeous and head-turning even without the help of any artist.
Sure, they can have their own strengths and weaknesses: I remember a girl with big brown eyes and adorable freckles, that our photographer did not cast because we needed a bikini shot and her body was less than sculpted; the following month her face was all over the subway on a big campaign.
I can see the good intention in denying that models in magazines actually look better than the rest of us; it can help us accept ourselves and our flaws. But it would probably be more honest to just accept that some women are more beautiful than us. Some are going to be smarter than us, funnier, or, God forbid! even all of the above. So what? That's life. Let's face it and then move on.
martedì 15 marzo 2011
domenica 6 marzo 2011
Non è facile come sembra. Innanzitutto, per un blog di street style servono foto di gente sconosciuta incontrata per la strada: per ottenerle bisogna avvicinare lo sconosciuto/a e chiedere di posare per una foto. Il guaio è che mi vergogno troppo per fare tutto ciò. A parte che con la mia digitale da turista di agosto non sono credibile, vorranno pure sapere perchè voglio fare una foto. "è per un blog di street style?" "ah, davvero? e qual è l'indirizzo?" "bè veramente non è ancora partito.." Il succo è che per fermare la gente mi serve un blog avviato, ma per avviare un blog ho bisogno di gente. Non c'è via di scampo! A meno che.. ma sì, è un'idea geniale! comincerò con foto scattate di nascosto, così non devo chiedere il permesso! Poi nel frattempo le mie foto mi guadagneranno un'enorme popolarità e la gente farà la fila per mettersi in posa e spenderà due ore ogni mattina davanti allo specchio nell'eventualità di incontrarmi. E' un piano infallibile.
Alla prova pratica, però, i risultati lasciano molto a desiderare. Nell'ansia di non farmi vedere, tengo la macchinetta in mano mentre cammino con molta nonchalance e il flash spento. Ne viene fuori, tra foto dei miei piedi e delle grondaie, qualcosa del genere:
Devo risolvermi a cambiare strategia. Nel frattempo sono orgogliosa di mostrarvi due cappotti newyorkesi.
Il nero è un luogo comune di New York. Ora, comprarsi un cappotto nero da mettere tutto l'inverno a Lecce è un conto. Ma a New York la temperatura è sotto zero, nevica un giorno no e due sì, non di vede il sole per due mesi di fila e la neve si ammucchia ai lati della strada in una pila annerita di sporco. Se cominciamo anche a vestirci di nero, conviene già prendere appuntamento con lo psicologo.
Per fortuna molti si ribellano e passano al bianco:
o al giallo! con bottoni sul retro:
Alla prova pratica, però, i risultati lasciano molto a desiderare. Nell'ansia di non farmi vedere, tengo la macchinetta in mano mentre cammino con molta nonchalance e il flash spento. Ne viene fuori, tra foto dei miei piedi e delle grondaie, qualcosa del genere:
Devo risolvermi a cambiare strategia. Nel frattempo sono orgogliosa di mostrarvi due cappotti newyorkesi.
Il nero è un luogo comune di New York. Ora, comprarsi un cappotto nero da mettere tutto l'inverno a Lecce è un conto. Ma a New York la temperatura è sotto zero, nevica un giorno no e due sì, non di vede il sole per due mesi di fila e la neve si ammucchia ai lati della strada in una pila annerita di sporco. Se cominciamo anche a vestirci di nero, conviene già prendere appuntamento con lo psicologo.
Per fortuna molti si ribellano e passano al bianco:
o al giallo! con bottoni sul retro:
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