At least 10 people told me I really needed to see Sex in the City 2 as the fashion was great. That was true it was great. However, had I known it was an epic movie (in terms of length) I may have bowed out. It was colorful, opulent, warm and everything you would want to see. But as I looked at the scenery, I wasn't thinking Abu Dhabi. I was thinking Morocco; especially the beach scene. It just felt like Morocco.
I know that a lot of people think that the plot was weak and that it was a bit too over the top. I didn't go for the plot. I went to see what was being worn and to see if there was any attention at all to the cultural differences in the Middle East. Again, I was not disappointed.
However, I was a bit saddened at the manner in which the residents of 'Abu Dhabi' were portrayed. Yes it is a relatively conservative Islamic country. Yes, they do have different standards and moral codes than we do here in the States. And yes, women are less free to express themselves than we are here.
People kept talking about how awful it was that the women were wearing burqas. Well guess what? I didn't see a single burqa in that movie. I saw abayas; I saw veils and chadors, and even hijabs, but no burqas. Trust me, if you saw a burqa you would know it immediately. It totally covers a woman from head to toe and only her eyes and hands are visible.
The younger women are more expressive and they do tend to wear makeup and accessories that their mothers and grandmothers would not. That said, I think that ignoring the culture of a country in which you are a guest is rude and arrogant. The whole Samantha Jones scene with the Danish architect was totally out of line. To openly ignore the beliefs of your hosts and throw their taboos in their faces is so typically American. If you travel you see it first hand. We really believe that we have some unabridged right to do as we please no matter where we are.
I actually saw two movies depicting the lives of women in the Middle East yesterday. When I came home I watched The Stoning of Soraya M. It is about a young Iranian woman who was falsely accused of adultry and sentenced to death by stoning. It was a difficult movie to watch. I am sure it was an even more difficult movie to make. However, it was an important movie.
While I was outraged by the manner in which this woman was framed and tossed to an angry crowd by a sleazy husband who wanted her out of the way to marry a 14 year-old girl, I was not half as outraged as I was at the scene in Sex in the City 2. If you can't have enough respect for your hosts to obey their customs long enough to get through a lousy dinner date, then stay home. If you cannot attempt understand the cultrual differences between the United States and an Islamic country, then don't go.
We, Americans, don't have the best reputation abroad in terms of understanding other cultures and attempting to fit in. So while the stereotype was meant to be a put down of the beliefs in Abu Dhabi, the real stereotypical putdown was of the behavior of a sex-obsessed American woman who felt she had the right to behave however she pleased, irrespective of the wishes, laws, beliefs and moral codes of her hosts.
What does this have to do with fashion? Well there are some incredible Middle Eastern designers. So now, instead of a Sex in the City romp through a beautiful country where only one of 'the girls' even bothered to learn about the customs (Miranda Hobbes) there should be a documentary on Middle Eastern fashion designers and the real women of the Middle East.
Don't get me wrong. I do believe that women in the Middle East are repressed. I do believe that there is far too much emphasis on making women totally cover themselves. But guess what? That's not my call and I have no right to question their cultural or religious beliefs. We claim to be a country of tolerance. What I saw in that scene and a couple of others was total intolerance for a differnt way of life.
The thing that makes this planet so interesting is that we are not all the same. We live in different countries, we have different beliefs and we have a myriad of landscapes on which to play. My great-grandfather was born in France. His parents were from Morocco and Tunisia. Part of that world is in me. I embrace it and I honor it. I am also black in America and I honor that also.
While I do not practice Islam, there is a 90 percent probability that my ancestors did. While I would not choose to live the life of a woman in an extremist Islamic country, I would not dishonor any women who did find themselves living that life.
When in Morocco or Tunisia or Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia or Egypt a chador is an easy garment for me to don. It is simply a shawl that is expansive enough to cover my head (actually hair) and serve as a veil. I do not show my arms and legs and I do not show any cleavage. It is disrespectful. What would my great-great grandfather say? Why would I throw sand in his face? My beliefs are my own; but my behavior is on display for the entire world to see.
a la prochaine
Debra
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Monday, July 5, 2010
Two Fashion Icons
If you were to hold court with the Queens of American Fashion, one designer sure to be in the room is Carolina Herrera. There isn’t a woman on the planet who would not want to wear one of her garments and feel really special.
The thing I really love about Ms. Herrera is that she never steps onto the runway at the end of a show looking bedraggled. Putting together a collection is a grueling process and it is sometimes a rush at the last minute to get it all pulled together. You would never know that watching Carolina Herrera acknowledge her guests. She is polished, poised and always radiant. It is almost as if she glows and her collections show it.
I must confess that before looking at the daywear, I went straight to the wedding collection. Even if you aren’t in the market for a wedding gown there is something about the look of a wedding dress and the images that are portrayed. I was not at all disappointed with the collection. No matter what your style; no matter what silhouette you are seeking you will find it in the collection. There is everything from the Princess and her court to that body conscious look that a bride of 30 would love to put on and be whisked away in.
But we are not here to chat about wedding gowns. We are here to chat about the fall collection (which will be in the stores before we know it). Again, I was not disappointed. Of course there were the camels and grays and this incredibly wonderful ruby color. Calling it red would be an injustice. It is rich and truly complements the grays and creams that are splashed on the garments. Her incredible use of color and texture is beyond description. And the cut of the garments is phenomenal. There are some of the most sumptuous trousers that I have seen in a while. They are cut to fit at the waist (none of this low-slung madness with 4 inch zippers). The legs are full and straight and that allows you to really see the drape of the fabric.
I could go on but with is the point. This is a collection you really need to view for yourself. If you are a real fashionista and a Carolina Herrera lover, it is time to scare up as much money as you can and grab a piece or two from this collection. It is timeless and unlike some clothing acquisitions these garments will not become passé, they will surely become vintage.
And now by contrast Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga is the other side of the coin. Rather than the classic fall look, he has given us something that seems light and fun. It is almost as if he was creating an all season collection. The blues, pale grays and whites go well with the garments he has designed. The look is young and fresh and there are even a couple of looks that a woman of my age would love to have in her closet.
With some of the looks I felt like I was back in the 60’s but not really. It was almost that futuristic Jetson’s feel. It was what we imagined the future would bring us as opposed to what actually arrived. But none the less, there is something classic in some of the looks. It is a blend of fun, ease and wearability (a fashion word that should be in the dictionary by now).
Again, you really need to look at this collection for yourself. A couple of my friends were stunned that I had good things to say about it. They see me as being more classic than edgy and more tailored than deconstructed. However, if they really look at the collection there is a great deal of tailoring in the pieces I would acquire. Check out the pale gray looks worn by Liya Kebede and Sasha Pivovarova. Those I would add to my closet in a heartbeat.
So ladies, get on the internet and look at these shows. The pre-fall collections are arriving in a couple of weeks. It is going to be a great season as we have returned to clothes that you can wear and keep in your closet for many years to come.
a la prochaine
Debra
The thing I really love about Ms. Herrera is that she never steps onto the runway at the end of a show looking bedraggled. Putting together a collection is a grueling process and it is sometimes a rush at the last minute to get it all pulled together. You would never know that watching Carolina Herrera acknowledge her guests. She is polished, poised and always radiant. It is almost as if she glows and her collections show it.
I must confess that before looking at the daywear, I went straight to the wedding collection. Even if you aren’t in the market for a wedding gown there is something about the look of a wedding dress and the images that are portrayed. I was not at all disappointed with the collection. No matter what your style; no matter what silhouette you are seeking you will find it in the collection. There is everything from the Princess and her court to that body conscious look that a bride of 30 would love to put on and be whisked away in.
But we are not here to chat about wedding gowns. We are here to chat about the fall collection (which will be in the stores before we know it). Again, I was not disappointed. Of course there were the camels and grays and this incredibly wonderful ruby color. Calling it red would be an injustice. It is rich and truly complements the grays and creams that are splashed on the garments. Her incredible use of color and texture is beyond description. And the cut of the garments is phenomenal. There are some of the most sumptuous trousers that I have seen in a while. They are cut to fit at the waist (none of this low-slung madness with 4 inch zippers). The legs are full and straight and that allows you to really see the drape of the fabric.
I could go on but with is the point. This is a collection you really need to view for yourself. If you are a real fashionista and a Carolina Herrera lover, it is time to scare up as much money as you can and grab a piece or two from this collection. It is timeless and unlike some clothing acquisitions these garments will not become passé, they will surely become vintage.
And now by contrast Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga is the other side of the coin. Rather than the classic fall look, he has given us something that seems light and fun. It is almost as if he was creating an all season collection. The blues, pale grays and whites go well with the garments he has designed. The look is young and fresh and there are even a couple of looks that a woman of my age would love to have in her closet.
With some of the looks I felt like I was back in the 60’s but not really. It was almost that futuristic Jetson’s feel. It was what we imagined the future would bring us as opposed to what actually arrived. But none the less, there is something classic in some of the looks. It is a blend of fun, ease and wearability (a fashion word that should be in the dictionary by now).
Again, you really need to look at this collection for yourself. A couple of my friends were stunned that I had good things to say about it. They see me as being more classic than edgy and more tailored than deconstructed. However, if they really look at the collection there is a great deal of tailoring in the pieces I would acquire. Check out the pale gray looks worn by Liya Kebede and Sasha Pivovarova. Those I would add to my closet in a heartbeat.
So ladies, get on the internet and look at these shows. The pre-fall collections are arriving in a couple of weeks. It is going to be a great season as we have returned to clothes that you can wear and keep in your closet for many years to come.
a la prochaine
Debra
Friday, July 2, 2010
I Have Not Forgotten
I have not forgotten that I promised to give you my take on the collections of Carolina Herrera and Nicolas Ghesquiere for Balenciaga. As usual, life sometimes gets in the way of all of your wonderful plans. I am once again back on track and will give you the 411 on those collections over the weekend. For now, I want to blog about something that really is important to me.
I was scanning some of my old magazines last evening and I ran across some photos of Christian LaCroix's last collection. I was really saddened that there may not be any collections to follow. It is not that he was one of my favorite designers; it is that he is a designer with his own style and an unmistakable talent for blending beauty and shock.
A few years ago I was looking for gifts for my brothers and my dad so I decided to pick up a few Christian LaCroix ties for them. It was one of the best times I had selecting gifts. Each tie was an incredible blend of color and patterns. So, mixing and matching with shirts ties and foulards was a pleasure.
I also got my dad this really pale yellow casual jacket to wear with jeans. I remember the sales associate asking me how old my father was. When I told him he was 80 he suggested different designers thinking that Mr. LaCroix would be too edgy for my dad. Well my dad is still wearing that jacket five years later and loves it.
It makes you wonder why it is okay for men, irrespective of age to wear garments that they really love; but when it comes to women the question of whether the garment is age appropriate always comes up. Maybe it is the general attitude about women and youth in this country. I don't see it so much in Europe. But here, there really is a tendency to stock the stores with clothing that is going to make grown women look totally inappropriate.
Once more, enter the game. If you are 45 and looking for a really great top to go with a pair of linen pants that you just purchased what is the section of the store that you will most likely be sent to in order to find this great top? Actually, it is a category of clothing. Those in the industry know these categories and religiously send women off to the appropriate sections of the store to find the '"age appropriate" garments.
A 45 year old woman shopping at Nordstrom would be sent to Narrative or Point of View, or if she is really edgy, Individualist or Savvy. But more than likely you are going to be sent off to Point of View or Narrative. If you go in looking well put together you be sent to Studio 121 or Collectors. But t.b.d. and via C are the exclusive domain of the 30 and under crowd.
The selections of the large commercial retail buyers are the one thing that has turned me into a boutique shopper. If I want a selection of great boutiques all in one place, I go to Saks. I just head up to the third floor and start looking around. It may be a different floor in your city so just go and check out the designer sportswear department. You are sure to find something that is really great.
I included all of the above to keep you from searching the paragraph with the question for the answer. The "category" of clothing for women 35 and up is called 'bridge'. To me it is a crazy name and an even crazier concept. What exactly are they 'bridging'? If I could rename everything it would be 'children’s', 'young adults', then "bridge" and next contemporary'.
But that is just me. My real goal, as you all know by now, is to get better choices and a wider range of options in the stores. Who would that hurt? It certainly would not hurt the designers, the retailers or the customers. Sounds like a win-win to me.
a la prochaine
Debra
I was scanning some of my old magazines last evening and I ran across some photos of Christian LaCroix's last collection. I was really saddened that there may not be any collections to follow. It is not that he was one of my favorite designers; it is that he is a designer with his own style and an unmistakable talent for blending beauty and shock.
A few years ago I was looking for gifts for my brothers and my dad so I decided to pick up a few Christian LaCroix ties for them. It was one of the best times I had selecting gifts. Each tie was an incredible blend of color and patterns. So, mixing and matching with shirts ties and foulards was a pleasure.
I also got my dad this really pale yellow casual jacket to wear with jeans. I remember the sales associate asking me how old my father was. When I told him he was 80 he suggested different designers thinking that Mr. LaCroix would be too edgy for my dad. Well my dad is still wearing that jacket five years later and loves it.
It makes you wonder why it is okay for men, irrespective of age to wear garments that they really love; but when it comes to women the question of whether the garment is age appropriate always comes up. Maybe it is the general attitude about women and youth in this country. I don't see it so much in Europe. But here, there really is a tendency to stock the stores with clothing that is going to make grown women look totally inappropriate.
Once more, enter the game. If you are 45 and looking for a really great top to go with a pair of linen pants that you just purchased what is the section of the store that you will most likely be sent to in order to find this great top? Actually, it is a category of clothing. Those in the industry know these categories and religiously send women off to the appropriate sections of the store to find the '"age appropriate" garments.
A 45 year old woman shopping at Nordstrom would be sent to Narrative or Point of View, or if she is really edgy, Individualist or Savvy. But more than likely you are going to be sent off to Point of View or Narrative. If you go in looking well put together you be sent to Studio 121 or Collectors. But t.b.d. and via C are the exclusive domain of the 30 and under crowd.
The selections of the large commercial retail buyers are the one thing that has turned me into a boutique shopper. If I want a selection of great boutiques all in one place, I go to Saks. I just head up to the third floor and start looking around. It may be a different floor in your city so just go and check out the designer sportswear department. You are sure to find something that is really great.
I included all of the above to keep you from searching the paragraph with the question for the answer. The "category" of clothing for women 35 and up is called 'bridge'. To me it is a crazy name and an even crazier concept. What exactly are they 'bridging'? If I could rename everything it would be 'children’s', 'young adults', then "bridge" and next contemporary'.
But that is just me. My real goal, as you all know by now, is to get better choices and a wider range of options in the stores. Who would that hurt? It certainly would not hurt the designers, the retailers or the customers. Sounds like a win-win to me.
a la prochaine
Debra
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