By Monica Sklar,
September 27th, 2007 at 10:46 am
(Uncategorized)
I don’t have much time for posting this week, but, I thought I’d draw your attention to the new Nike sneakers getting press in the past few days. They’re called the Air Native N7 and are developed specifically for Native Americans, and the different shape of their foot as compared to the model Nike typically uses for their shoe design. Nike says this is ”an effort aiming at promoting physical fitness in a population with high obesity rates.” In addition to the fit differencs, the articles are saying the shoe “has a culturally specific look.” How they did their research, the methods they plan on using for distribution, and their concepts and motivations behind designing this first Nike product specific for a racial or ethinic group are all interesting to read about. I’d be curious to look back on this in a year or two and see where it went and the success or failure rate.
2 Comments
By Monica Sklar,
September 27th, 2007 at 9:49 am
(Conferences and Calls for Papers, Uncategorized)
The humanities listserv I subscribe to had this heady but interesting conference call for papers. It’s all about the concepts of beauty, and how it is a fluid idea. It’s in April at York University in Ontario, Canada, and the deadline is December of this year. Sounds like it might be very insightful.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 25th, 2007 at 8:02 pm
(Conferences and Calls for Papers, Uncategorized)
A new call for participation says, “Fat Feminisms: Body Image, Gender Politics and F(l)abulous Visions of the Future: A Proposed Panel at the National Women’s Studies Association 2008 Meeting.” You can find the info regarding the conference here and they say they are looking for submissions on subjects such as “Personal narratives about the intersection of gender and size, The intersection of gender/size with race, class and dis/ability, and Fat sexualities, gender identities and gender expression and sex-positive feminism,” among a host of other topics which are sometimes looked at by dress and appearance scholars. Sounds like it could be an interesting panel discussion and the call for papers has a ton of lead-time since they don’t seem to be due until June 2008.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 24th, 2007 at 10:10 am
(Conferences and Calls for Papers, Uncategorized)
The Art Dealines List has a post for a Jewelry Competition that might be of interest as everything is of the theme Abundance (which works well for this blingy culture). It’s being hosted by Stephen F. Austin State University School of Art in Texas (which i’m not familiar with) and they have it posted on their site as well. The deadline is Oct. 1, 2007.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 24th, 2007 at 10:00 am
(Uncategorized)
For any of you that don’t read Boing Boing, I’d like to direct you to post they put up today about tattoos and copyright issues. At a recent copyright conference in the UK, there was a presentation by Jordan Hatcher regarding the ‘ownership’ of skin art, and it’s a facinating concept to think about. While the script from the presentation isn’t online, you can see the slides. There are five main options presented as owner: the tattoo client, the tattoo artist, the tattoo parlour, a third party with copyright over the work, and a combination of the above. As a tattooed person myself I cannot say I had ever put much thought into this concept, and I feel uneasy considering the idea of someone else having any sort of say, let alone legality, over my body decoration. But, I can see how the other side of the argument could be effectively argued, regardless of whether I agree.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 21st, 2007 at 10:33 am
(Uncategorized)
My friend Emily sent me fantastic info about an online personal shopping service, called (logically) Live Personal Shoppers, that can be a great resource when you’re trying to find that specific perfect item, or, you don’t know what you’re looking for and need a little help.
This is what she said,”Live Personal Shoppers. What could be better? Case in point. I need an LBD (Little Black Dress) for a friend’s wedding next summer. I am hard to fit…So I told my LPS (Live Personal Shopper), via chat, I need something simple, black, few embellishments (if any) for someone who is 6 feet tall and a size 18. Instantly, I had a dozen links from Bloomingdales, Macy’s, Nordstrom, Liz Claiborne. . . you get the picture. They do all the work. I point, click and charge. So, if you have something specific (or general) in mind, I challenge you NOT to find this service helpful.”
I’ve never used a service like this, and often, I’m asked by friends to function as their personal shopper because I’ve always found that to be a blast. But, I think this is a good way to see how varied your options can be, get you out of your box in terms of what might be right for you, and perhaps go for brands or stores that you might not have thought of. I know I suffer from shopping at the same places all too frequently. I’m a loyalist-what can I say. Emily did mention that they were recently bought, and that there are changes to the service, but, it’s sounds like something worth checking out to see if it works for you!
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By Monica Sklar,
September 20th, 2007 at 12:55 pm
(Uncategorized)
I was at a Michigan Urban Outfitters location maybe a year ago with a girlfriend who turned to me and said something to the effect of, “I feel way too old to wear this stuff-I feel sort of ridiculous in it.” Now the thing is, this girl is like a size 4, button-nosed, can frequently be seen in pigtails, and damn adorable. Another friend recently told me that she was confronted by a classmate who told her that Hello Kitty was “her thing” and to not wear that kitty t-shirt again. Hilarious incident, but the suposed offender (my friend) is a mature late twenties beaut. who the younger hipster probably thought looked out of place in the international meow sensation’s iconic clothing. (BTW-my friend laughed off this weird act of her classmate).
The point is, I wonder if there is a line that is crossed visually, chronologically, or what, where it looks and feels a little ‘off’ to wear youthful clothes. And is that point really your late twenties early thirties? Seems a little early to me-yet-I am aching to buy the ring pictured above (check out the site pancake meow because the stuff couldn’t be any cuter and it looks well made), but haven’t, because I sometimes feel a bit like an asshole in such kid-campy gear. Other forms of campy work a little better, but I’m mulling over this in-expensive ring purchase, not because of it’s price or style, which are both absolutely fabulous, but because I don’t know if I’ll really wear it anymore.
Harlo was recently describing my style as sophistipunk, which is probably accurate, and probably fits a lot of my friends as well. But, does the “sophisti” part equate an abandonment of cute or fun? Not sure. Maybe not an abandonment of fun, as whimsical headscarves, vintage skirts, and kicks with personality are crucial in my wardrobe. But cute, hmmm, I think cute might be something that can best be gotten away with when partnered with a sharp comment, or in-joke slogan, sort of counteracting the cuteness. Ala a Paul Frank shirt I posted about a few months back that features all of his baby looking animals, but they’re posed in the Madness stance, or another shirt I have with that adorable Brit lovin’ Bon Bon girl, waiting by the phone with the saying “London’s Calling” next to her. While those are still cutsey, they aren’t pure cute as they make reference to adult music. Similarily, it’s complicated because some of the best fine and pop art these days is embracing animation, toys, vibrant colors, and is saturating the underground and the mainstream with images of big eyed, blue haired, retro or spacey looking figures that often can best be described as cute. And I really like a lot of this stuff (see Juxtapoz if you aren’t sure where I’m going with that). Maybe it’s ok for my walls but not my clothing? I haven’t come to a conclusion, but I do know I still want that ring….
1 Comment
By Monica Sklar,
September 20th, 2007 at 12:27 pm
(Exhibitions, Uncategorized)
For anyone in the Twin Cities area, the Goldstein Museum of Design and the Rake magazine are hosting Gallery Grooves-which is a monthly party the Rake sponsors at local galleries. Currently up is the exhibit Products of Our Times-which features international artists’ modern designs which explore aesthetics and current social issues through their products.
The party will feature a lecture by Phillip Wood, from SF, who represents many of the artists in the show, as well as food from Gardens of Salonica, wine, a jazz DJ, door prizes, and more. BTW-Its FREE FREE FREE. 7-9 pm, McNeal Hall, St. Paul Campus of UMN. Hope to see you.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 18th, 2007 at 7:11 pm
(Conferences and Calls for Papers, Uncategorized)
From the CSA newsletter: The FIT Annual Fashion Symposium will focus on the theme of “Great Designers,” in conjunction with a major exhibition on Madame Gres, on March 14 and March 15, 2008-NYC. Designers Rick Owens and Maria Cornejo will speak, as will Zowie Broach and Brian Kirkby of Boudicca. Curators and scholars from around the world will also participate. Contact museuminfo@fitnyc.edu for more info.
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By Monica Sklar,
September 18th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
(Conferences and Calls for Papers, Uncategorized)
Costume-Con 26 will be in San Jose, CA, April 25-28, 2008. From the CSA newsletter: “Costume-Con is a premiere venue for professional and hobbyist costumers to meet, compete, exhibit, share, and socialize. This conference is for all types of costumers costume appreciators. Highlights include: the Fantasy and Science Fiction Masquerade, the Historical Masquerade, and the Dimensions in Design Runway Show.”
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