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.
This Week’s Haute Links
Michelle Obama’s Brooches Are ‘Part of Her Code’: The Cut
Racism AND Sexism at the NY Post?: The Black Snob
Andre Leon Talley and Kimmora Lee Simons to judge America’s Next Top Model: Gatecrasher
Lawyer’s have invented a new defense to trademark counterfeiting : Counterfeit Chic
Meet the New Black Model on the Block, Kelly Moreira: The Cut
Did Northwestern Students Pay Witnesses for False Testimony?: WSJ Law Blog
EEk! Fashion Industry Downsizes: Layoffs Lomming at Zac Posen, Gucci: Gatecrasher
Lou Dobbs Quits CNN: AverageBro
Asked and Answered: Miss J of Top Model (Whose book released this week, btw): The Moment
Empire State of Mind: Garance Dore
Love Letter: The Stylish Wanderer
The Future Modelling of Sudan Parade: Style Discovery
Chanel Iman Went Blonde: Design Scene
Ladies and Gentleman, Introducing, MS. PHILLY
As promised, the Iowa City Soul Series’ second event was fan-tas-tic!
Sound check:
Mr. Bob Chin was in the building. We clowned around a bit.
While HG Soul warmed up the mic.
The band, Verzatile, Is AMAZING!
At the show:
And Ms. Philly blew us away, like she always does…
Bob Chin performed.
And so did Ra’yah Sahib.
They put on a great show. If you weren’t there, YOU MISSED IT!
Photo credits: sound check: honeybeflyy/at the show: Al B.
“Good Hair” Movie Producer Chris Rock Sued by “My Nappy Roots’”
A host of celebs turned out on Monday night and walked the red carpet (close to gawking passers by) for the Manhatton screening of Chris Rock’s documentary film, “Good Hair” hosted by the Cinema Society.
You would never have known that Chris Rock had just minutes before been hit with a $5 million lawsuit by Regina Kimbell for allegedly ripping off her 2005 documentary, ” My Nappy Roots”.
The idea behind both films seem similar. The synopsis for Kimbell’s film on mynappyrootsthemovement.com says the film “takes an unparalleled look at how black hair is used as a prism through which to look at cultural, societal and political issues in the African-American community over time.”
“Good Hair,” part humor and part investigative journalism, explores the topic of black women’s hair, in an attempt to answer the question posed by Rock’s daughter, Lola, who came up to him crying and asked, “Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?” In the film, celebrities Kerry Washington, Ice-T, Maya Angelous, and the Rev. Al Sharpton all offer their stories and observations to Rock while he struggles with the task of figuring out how to respond to his daughter’s question. What he discovers is that black hair is a big business that doesn’t always benefit the black community and little Lola’s question might well be bigger than his ability to convince her that the stuff on top of her head is nowhere near as important as what is inside. Rock said the idea had been brewing for years and he credits director Michael Moore for pioneering a style of filmmaking he calls “funny and smart.”
Kimbell claims that several elements of her film were copied by Rock after she showed him ”My Nappy Roots” – which won the Pan African Film Festival’s best documentary award in 2007 and which has otherwise only been shown at colleges and film festivals since its completion in 2006- to Rock on the set of his TV series “Everyone Hates Chris”.
It will be interesting, the outcome, since the claim for copyright infringement, in my opinion, is grossly misunderstood by most, including lawyers, and is quite difficult to prove.
“Good Hair”, which first premiered at Sundance and then recent Toronto International Film Festival, will be released in certain cities on Friday and nationwide on Oct. 23.
Sources: NYdailynews.com, indiewire.com, Associated Press
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.
When Fashion and the Law Collide: Salacious Obscenities
One visit to the American Apparel website, and it’s clear that they aren’t just selling T-shirts (that I so adore). Adolescent-looking models, with dear caught in headlights expressions, in “come hither” poses, are like, well, the retailers trademark. And nipples are often exposed.
Attitudes regarding nudity in Western cultures are often more critical than attitudes in non-western cultures. For example, in the U.S., exposure of female nipples is a criminal offense in many states and are not allowed in public at all, while in the U.K., nudity may not be used to “harass, alarm or distress” according to the Public Order Act of 1986.
However, it was a British advertising watchdog that recently criticized the clothing company for the ad pictured below, after a reader complained to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) that the ad, which originally ran on the back cover of Vicemagazine in the U.K., but with a series of six images — instead of three — in which the model further disrobes from her flex fleece and where her nipple was partially exposed in one shot, was “offensive and inappropriate because the model appeared young and it could be seen to sexualize a child.” Reuters reports:
American Apparel said that it did not think the partial nudity in the advertisement would cause widespread offense. It said that the model was 23 years old and did not look under 16, nor was she portrayed as a sex object. (because you look naturally sexy wearing a hoodie, right?)
The ASA disagreed, calling the images “provocative,” and adding,
“Because the ad could be seen to sexualize a model who appeared to be a child under the age of 16 years, we concluded that it was inappropriate and could cause serious offense to some readers.”
Sexual materials range between erotic art (which usually includes “classic nude forms” such as Michelangelo’s David statue) and the generally less respected commercial pornography. The differentiation between sexual materials is a particularly difficult one and a contentious First Amendment issue that has not fully been settled. Many cultures have produced laws to define what is considered to be “obscene”, and censorship is often used to try to suppress or control materials that are obscene under these definitions. The definition differs from culture to culture, between communities within a single culture, and also between individuals within those communities.
In the United States, the 1973 ruling of the Supreme Court of the United States in Miller v. California established a three-tiered test to determine what was obscene – and thus not protected, versus what was merely erotic and thus protected by the First Amendment.
Delivering the opinion of the court, Chief Justice Warren Burger wrote,
The basic guidelines for the trier of fact must be: (a) whether ‘the average person, applying contemporary community standards would find that the work, taken as a whole, appeals to the prurient interest, (b) whether the work depicts or describes, in a patently offensive way, sexual conduct specifically defined by the applicable state law; and (c) whether the work, taken as a whole, lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value.
The legal distinction between artistic nudity, and permitted commercial pornography (which includes sexual penetration) that are deemed as “protected forms of speech” versus “obscene acts”, which are illegal acts and separate from those permitted areas, are usually separated by the predominant culture appreciation regarding such. In fact, federal obscenity law in the U.S. is highly unusual in that—not only is there no uniform national standard, but rather, there is an explicit legal precedent that all but guarantees that something that is legally “obscene” in one jurisdiction may not be in another. In effect, the First Amendment protections of free speech vary by location within the U.S., and over time.
However, “mere nudity” was upheld in the Supreme Court case Jenkins v. Georgia , 418 U.S. 153 (1974) and deemed not to be obscene under the constitutional standards announced by Miller. As declared by the judge at trial “… nudity alone does not render material obscene under Miller’s standards.” In the U.S., the word “obscenity” is usually limited to content that directly refers to explicit sexual acts that are publicly accessible, though it has at times encompassed other subject matters, such as spoken and written language that can be publicly transmitted and received by the general public.
With the advent of Internet distribution of potentially obscene material, this question of jurisdiction and “community standards” has created significant controversy in the legal community. So, while the nude content was offensive to some in the U.K. community and it has been banned from distribution through print publication (so that no one else will happen to glance over at the doctor’s office or on public transit to be incited with disgust), the online community isn’t as easily offended by nudity, perhaps, and hasn’t spoken out. So, if you’re in the U.K., and want to see bare nipples, then you’ll have to go to American Apparel’s website, where nipples run free, although, I couldn’t find the other three photos on the website either, only the ones pictured above (there are plenty others, however).
What do you think of the racy advertisements? Offensive? Not offensive?
Spotted: From Cover Girl to Flyy Girl
It is old news that Keri Hilson is covering the current issue of Complex mag. But, what you didn’t know, is that I have the very same American Apparel bodysuit, bought while I was on vacation in Miami in June. And, I still haven’t worn it yet, but I am taking it to NyC with me next week and if you’re lucky, there will be pics to show just how to rock it. Not that Keri didn’t rock it fabulously, but I’m going to take it from cover girl (Keri) to flyy girl (that’s me).
Fashion Is A Way Of Life
I’m not rich, by far. But, I live a fabulous life. Dining, shopping, entertaining, traveling…I love my life!
After four months of looking for the perfect apartment, it came down to two. Both the same price, but one was just way more fabulous than the other. The only drawback was that it did not have a bathtub. It was almost a dealbreaker because on some evenings after work, I just want to take a hot bubble bath, light some candles and throw on some Nina Simone. Sometimes, I’ll throw some towel in the dryer, so they’re warm when I get out.
Who builds a place with no bathtub? Worse is that the bathroom is HUGE and so there is a bunch of unused space that could have easily been made into a bathtub for me. Or even better yet, more closet space, cause that was the only other area of dissatisfaction.
The other place included about half of the overall space and about one third of the charm. It did have a walk-in closet, though. And, a bath tub. AAahh.
So what does a girl do? When choosing between a walk-in closet and a bubble bath, on the one hand and overall space and charm? I went with overall size and charm, but where am I going to bathe?!
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