Gone GaGa
It’s been a long time coming, but I have to admit that I am completely WOWed by Lady Gaga. I’ve been eyeing her style for a while now. Her appearance on last night’s episode of Gossip Girl, in which she performed “Bad Romance” rocking a 30-foot long red dress, was mesmerizing. The Bitch is BAD!
Her repertoire has likened to those of Grace Jones (have you seen this performce in Vamp?) and Rupaul. Rihanna might be her biggest competition. Beyonce is totally feeling the pressure. Did anyone else notice her sudden allegiance to the avant garde movement? Hang in there Bey. Ciara should just throw in the towel leotard.
Will the Real Black Barbie Please Stand Up?
Who do you picture when you think “Black Barbie”? Lil Kim? Beyonce? Gabby Union?
Mattel recently created and launched the ”So In Style” (S.I.S., for short) Barbie, a line of black dolls featuring more “authentic facial characteristics” than the company’s black dolls have in the past, in an effort to better reflect African American images and interests. The dolls have “fuller lips, a wider nose, more distinctive cheek bones and curlier hair,” says the toymaker, and are intended to “celebrate the diversity of African American girls and encourage positive themes.”
The idea for “So In Style” Barbie was developed by Barbie designer of 12 years, Stacey McBride-Irby, an African American mother of two. In an interview, McBride-Irby explained that she wanted the dolls to have skin tones, make-up and facial features that were “true to girls in my community.” McBride-Irby said she was inspired to create black fashion dolls that her 4-year-old daughter could relate to. She said she also wanted the dolls to ”…encourage girls to be inspired and dream big.”
The line includes three best friends, Grace, Kara and Trichelle, who are all about fashion, fun and friendship. Each of the dolls has its own unique personality and style and reflects one of three varying skin tones. One prefers math and the drill team, while another art and journalism. And, the developer paired each of the dolls with a little sister doll, to foster the idea of mentorship in pursuing one’s goals.
Despite the efforts and good intentions the dolls, “So In Style” Barbie has gotten mixed reviews. While some like the dolls, others feel that Mattel relied too much on hip-hop stereotypes in selecting details like shiny bling, big earrings and fancy sneakers.
Not all black people like hip hop,” said Barbara Mootoo, 15, of Manhattan. “They gave her a chain like a 50 Cent video,” referring to Kara’s silver rope chain necklace
Tyaine Danclaire, 15, of the Bronx, liked Trichelle’s straight, long hair because it looked like “a weave,” but she thought the idea “was sorta racist.”
They say black girls are ghetto with the gold earrings, with the big bling; I don’t agree with that, she said.
So, is it a positive step forward? Definitely. Writes Raven Hill of the Root:
As a child, Barbie was the fantasy version of how I envisioned my grown-up, glamorous life: closets full of gorgeous dresses and sparkling jewels, my choice of high-powered careers, and without question, fabulous hair…Barbie could be anything or anyone she want[ed]—doctor or diva, bride or bombshell, princess or president..… They may not be mirror-perfect, but they come closer to the fantasy than my childhood playthings. I would want these dolls for my daughter.
So the question remains: What should black Barbie look like?
Abercrombie and Fierce
After researching bankruptcy and tax law all day long, I am happy to analyze the merits of the suit filed by Abercrombie and Fitch against Beyoncé Knowel, over the right use the name Fierce for her fragrance.
Beyoncé recently signed a deal with Coty Inc. (the company behind the Vera Wang, Jennifer Lopez, and Sarah Jessica Parker fragrances) to produce her own perfume, presumably under her “Sasha Fierce” label.
But, Abercrombie has sold nearly $200 million worth of fragrance, called Fierce, since 2002, and claims that a fragrance under the singer’s “Sasha Fierce” label “poses a likelihood of confusion” with the retailer’s own “Fierce” brand. The apparel retailer said such confusion could deprive it of control over its trademark, and perhaps cost it sales, and filed suit this past Tuesday in Federal Court (Abercrombie & Fitch Co v. Knowles, U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio (Columbus), No. 09-807) after attempts to settle the dispute out of court failed. The claim alleges potential trademark infringement, unfair competition and deceptive trade practices and seeks an injunction to stop Knowles’ use of the Fierce mark for fragrance, among other remedies.
Although a Coty representative denies plans to use either “Sasha” or “Fierce” for the fragrance, according to court documents Knowles filed an application with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in September 2008 for the “Sasha Fierce” mark in the fragrance category. Abercrombie asked Beyoncé to cease and desist pursuing the mark, which she ignored and filed a still-pending opposition to Knowles’ trademark application in May.
There are eight factors considered when deciding if one trademark infringes another. The focus of the inquiry is, however, whether consumers will likely be confused. The goal is to protect consumers, not companies. Therefore, even if the marks in question are quite similar (even identical) but there is no real likelihood that consumers will be confused, then there would be no harm.
So, really, the only thing confusing here is why the hell Abercrombie’s “Fierce”scent is so damn potent and lingers throughout the entire mall. I have a headache just thinking about it.
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