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The Lipstick Page Forums Fashion Blog: April 2007
Tamerlane's Daughters
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Friday, April 20, 2007 4:20 PM (Eastern)
Tamerlane's Daughters
These are custom made pieces, but I found the concept interesting...it's actual, sometimes antique, Central Asian embroidery and jewelry, integrated into modern pieces of clothing.
Not something within my immediate budget :) but inspiring just the same.
Further reading on this designer: HALI.com
images courtesy www.tamerlanesdaughters.com
Labels: fashion, personal, style, tamerlane's daughters
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Gwen Stefani's got nothing on this one
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Thursday, April 19, 2007 12:08 PM (Eastern)
Sorry...I'm telling ya, I will be over this Youtube phase someday. It's just so...amazing.
Check out the Blondie stage style here and tell me No Doubt didn't copy it lock, stock and barrel:
When I met you in the restaurant
You could tell I was no debutante
You asked me what's my pleasure
A movie or a measure?
I'll have a cup of tea and tell you of my dreaming
Dreaming is free
I don't want to live on charity
Pleasure's real or is it fantasy?
Reel to reel is living rarity
People stop and stare at me We just walk on by - we just keep on dreaming
Feet feet, walking a two mile
Meet meet, meet me at the turnstile
I never met him, I'll never forget him
Dream dream, even for a little while
Dream dream, filling up an idle hour
Fade away, radiate
I sit by and watch the river flow
I sit by and watch the traffic go
Imagine something of your very own
Something you can have and hold
I'd build a road in gold just to have some dreaming
Dreaming is free
"Dreaming"
Harry/Stein, 1979
Was Madonna always credited with popularizing blonde hair and dark roots?
"The Tide Is High," John Holt
recorded by Blondie, 1980
Here is the iconic Blondie...with the makeup look still done today (white shimmer shadow on inner corners of eyes, "smoky" liner, red gloss). I actually remember this dress...no one else was wearing it at the time that I knew of...it struck me as very New York (check out the Twin Towers in the beginning of the video).
"Heart of Glass"
Harry/Stein, 1978
The problem with being seminal is that people tend to remember the imitators far more readily than the original. Oh well, I gotta go now and touch up my roots. lol
The real 1970's
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Tuesday, April 17, 2007 10:43 PM (Eastern)
There was such a broad range of fashions in the 70's, it's hard to generalize...yet, our collective memory has distilled the decade rather than preserved it. Bell bottom jeans, tie dye, tight synthetic shirts with big open collars and gold chains, platform shoes, discos and perms...yes, these were all a great part of the 70's. But hardly all of it.
"X Offender," 1976
There is a plethora of vintage (and new) Blondie videos on Youtube, but I found this one particularly emblematic of the period. Music (and culture) had become bloated in the mid 70's...it was all about playing arenas, selling albums, drinking, drugs, playing more arenas...so what burst onto the scene was Blondie, a group that had played actual clubs (you can see by the flamboyant style), was stripped down, 1950's style, young and full of energy.
It can only enhance my experience now, but I did not know at the time that Debbie Harry and Chris Stein were lovers. Adds a romantic layer, doesn't it? As it is, it's a romantic song, in its own slightly twisted manner.
"London Calling"
The Clash, 1979
Now this is one of my favorite groups of all time, ever. Again you will note (see The real 1980's Stranglers' video) the pared down, minimal style of clothing. Punk to me was never about green hair and safety pins or other fluff. It was always about not keeping up with the Joneses...about taking this, that and the other, and making it into your own personal style.
Some notes on imported vs. domestic products
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Monday, April 16, 2007 11:59 AM (Eastern)
I realize, reading over my recent posts here, I've mentioned buying American-made products in pretty much every post.
That wasn't on purpose, and I hope I do not come across as some kind of a xenophobe. I feel that many products should be produced overseas. The cost to produce everything domestically would be prohibitive; we would not be able to afford anything much of anything if our import policies were that strict.
Moreover, some items are specialized and sometimes are produced better overseas: French perfumes, Balinese silver beads, Italian or English shoes, Chinese pearls, et cetera. We could or do produce comparable items here, but it's well to have choices.
As with anything, the key is balance. We are so out of balance now it's not good. By this I mean our trade balance. I don't think anyone can argue that.
The question is more, what are we going to do about it? I'm the last person in the world to tell people to sit around and be miserable, or else feel guilty about whatever they decide to purchase. My point is always, how can we Americans market our domestically-produced goods, to other Americans? How can we use our own system to provide choices to...us?
The consumer can be fickle, and even our own corporations are constantly trying to put their finger on our pulse. If the corporations felt there was a stronger market for domestically-made goods, they'd be on it like a hobo on a ham sandwich.
Hence the concept of pure and simple marketing of this idea, as well as of specific companies whenever I come across them. If "it's just as easy to love a rich man as a poor one," so it is sometimes just as easy to mention a domestic company as a foreign one.
Anyhow that's what's been on my mind for quite some time.
freddy&ma custom handbags
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, 6:30 AM (Eastern)
freddy&ma custom handbags
This is not a press release (although they do have one). It's pure word-of-mouth, or word-of-Net these days; I got this link from another board.
They do have a completely interactive bag-designing website...which I can admit I thought would be a bore. I'm not a bag person, I loathe all-Flash websites in the main, who needs to spend time designing a bag...et cetera.
When I got there I realized the bags were good. Started out with the fine intention of making a bag from each designer on the site...about six bags in, I realized this was not a good idea at 3 o'clock in the morning. So, the samples above are just from the first 8 designers.
They have solid colors too, will soon have more selection...all-leather bags and so forth. They have some special bags to benefit charitable causes. I will emphasize again that there are many other designers and their patterns, many ways of putting together "your" bag. You may email "your" bag to your friend for her to critique, as well.
Most intriguing of all, according to their press release, these bags are made in the U.S.A. I had to read that two or three times for it to sink in. There is not much about that fact on the freddy&ma site, which I think is a mistake. There is an enormous, not-talked-about-much sentiment for Americans to "buy American." Not just American designers (but thanks anyway), but especially American labor.
The price range is in the two to three hundreds, which admittedly is more than I pay for a bag; however, I will guess the quality of these bags is up there with the (far more expensive) imported designer bags.
I will leave you with a size description from the charming copy on the site:
Dims: 14.5" x 13" x 4.5"
Carries: new gossip rags, afternoon protein bar, new blouse you bought during your afternoon 'dentist appointment'
Enjoy!
Labels: bags, fashion, freddy and ma, handbags, handmade, personal, purses, style
Bikini season is coming up!
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Thursday, April 12, 2007 1:32 PM (Eastern)
I haven't been to a gym in years...which is sad; I used to go. It's one of those things that fell by the wayside after I had my kids (along with 90% of my personal time)...but I have been consciously dieting, because I still like to look good in a swimsuit.
All of that said, here is an article from the author of a new book for those who do work out (or would like to start doing so).
Spice Up Your Treadmill WorkoutBy Minna Lessig
Author of Tank Top Arms, Bikini Belly, Boy Shorts Bottom
Like many folks, I do my cardio on a treadmill. But because the pounding of running makes my back hurt and tightens my hips, I created this 30-minute treadmill routine. Now, I'm passing it on to you. Some of the moves can be tricky at first, but that's a good thing, especially if your current treadmill workout feels a bit stale. As you learn this routine, feel free to walk, jog, or run instead of doing any of the moves.
Minutes 1 to 5: Warmup with Upper Body Moves
- Warmup. Holding the rails or handles of your treadmill with both hands, round your upper back for a few steps. Straighten up, then lift your chest toward the ceiling for a few steps. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
- Single-Arm Reaches. Keeping one hand on the rail or bar, extend your other arm straight over your head as you walk. Lower it, then repeat with your other arm. Try to reach higher with each rep. Do 10 to 20 alternating reaches.
- Bend Down Low. Walk briskly for 10 to 20 steps. Then bend your knees slightly and walk in this fashion at the same pace for 10 to 20 steps, keeping your upper body upright. Alternate between brisk walking and bent-knee walking. Repeat 3 to 5 times.
- Minutes 6 to 8. Fitness walk: Increase your pace to a level 4 or 5 RPE (see page 11 for the RPE scale). Walk briskly.
- Minutes 9 to 10. Step-step-sashay: Step forward with your right foot, then your left foot. Then sashay: Step forward again with your right foot and hop to bring your left foot to meet your right, landing first on your left foot and then your right foot. Immediately step forward with your left foot and hop to bring your right foot to meet your left, landing first on your right foot, then your left foot. Continue to alternate sashays after each two regular steps forward. Before you try sashays on the treadmill, be sure you can do them on the floor or other nonmoving surface!
- Minutes 11 to 14. Step-togethers: Think of this move as walking sideways in a straight line. Raise the incline to 3.0 (Novice) -- 6.0 (Master). Novice: Reduce the treadmill's speed to 1.8-2.0 mph. Skilled: Reduce the treadmill's speed to 2.0-2.5 mph. Master: Set the speed as you see fit. Hold the rail or bar with your left hand and turn your body to the right, so that your left shoulder is closest to the bar and your body is a quarter turn to the right. Leading with your left foot, step to the side and then bring your right foot to meet your left. Do step-togethers on one side for minutes 11 and 12, walk forward briskly for a few seconds, then switch to the other side for the remainder of minutes 13 and 14. Advanced exercisers can try hopping together instead of stepping together.
- Minutes 15 to 18. Keep the treadmill set at a 3.0-6.0 incline. Side-squat walking: Facing a quarter turn to the right on the treadmill, place your hands on your thighs, bend your knees, and lower yourself into a step-together. Hold a half-squat position as you walk sideways with your left foot leading. Do side-squat walking leading with the left foot for minutes 15 and 16, walk forward briskly for a few seconds, then switch to the other side for the remainder of minutes 17 and 18.
- Minutes 19 to 21. Depending on your fitness level, keep the incline up or reduce it. Walk briskly as you hold your arms straight over your head. For less of a challenge, place your hands behind your head. This less-difficult variation still forces your core to work harder and makes a nice little abs workout.
- Minutes 22 to 24. Incline walking: In accordance with your fitness level, walk, jog, or run on an incline of 3, 4, or 5 to work your glutes and hamstrings.
- Minute 25. Novice: Lower the incline and perform one last blast of fitness walking. Skilled and Master: Keep an incline, but reduce the treadmill's speed (to 1.8-2.5 mph for Novice and Skilled levels and up to 3.0 mph for Master). Holding the bars or rails, carefully turn 180 degrees so that your back is to the rail or bar and you are walking "backward." Hold on to the rail or bars as you walk backward -- you'll feel a burn in the front of your thighs. Carefully turn until you're facing forward.
- Repeat the Warmup. Reduce the treadmill's incline. Slow your pace even more until you are walking very slowly. Shake one leg, step, step, shake the other leg, step, step. Repeat until you've shaken each leg 10 to 20 times.
- Take Two Deep Breaths. Extend both arms over your head on the inhalation and lower them on the exhalation.
Author
Minna Lessig is a sought-after personal trainer and an internationally recognized fitness supermodel who has been featured on the covers and inside such magazines as Muscle and Fitness, Fit, and Women's Fitness International. The star and creator of numerous best-selling workout videos, she lives in Virginia Beach.
For more information, please visit www.minnalessig.com.
Hmmm...
Posted by Colleen Shirazi, Monday, April 02, 2007 1:57 PM (Eastern)
Garfunkel's outfit for this concert has been on my mind for years. Thanks to Youtube, I can see it again (I didn't tape the show).
I remember watching the concert on tv...at the time, the notion of a performer wearing his own clothes was rapidly becoming unheard-of. I remember thinking, how ballsy. This was an historic event...what does he wear, but a white shirt, dark vest, and jeans that were obviously not new. Fantastic.
Oh I know that sounds next to fatuous, but we are becoming a culture of pure consumption. We don't make anything anymore; we don't produce anything tangible. I remember when you would look through a clothing catalogue and some items might be marked "imported." I also remember when a wide range of products were labeled "Made in the U.S.A."
I think...it's less a matter of returning to the past (which is impossible anyway), more a matter of being conscientious...I always look to see where a product was made. Sometimes what you see is not what you were expecting.
I went to a chain "dollar store" recently and started reading labels on various items. What I discovered, is that almost all of them...across a wide variety of items, from egg dyeing kits to cleaning products to candles to gardening gloves...had been supplied by a single distributor.
The first thought that occurred, was that the distributor came first, then the stores, rather than the other way around. The distributor created the stores in order to supply to them. This distributor was unlikely to supply to any other store, just as the store was unlikely to buy much stock from any other distributor.
What further occurred, is that the distributor probably owned the factories in China that were producing the products...that were routed through the distributor, and sold at the stores owned by...the distributor? the owner of the factories? All one and the same?
Hence, the cost to produce that dollar item was probably what, three cents?
It's ingenious, it's out-Wal-Marting Wal-Mart. I would never have noticed at all if I were not in the habit of picking up items and examining their origin.
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