Blogsters...Like Mwaa!

Many of the blogs that I have found about fashion aren’t really like mine. They focus more on just fashion rather than the whole picture. Many of the blogs are black and white, meaning they’re only focused on shoes, bags etc. They aren’t touching on the other topics that have relation to fashion. These fashion blogs were not creative. All they did was inform its reader about what types of shoes are in and where to buy them from. At first I was disappointed that I couldn’t find any blogs that took fashion to another level, which I tried to do with mine but then I stumbled upon these blogs…

Finding these blogs took forever… but then I figured out that I needed to search for specific topics.

One blog I found was strictly about how to get clothes and accessories that are in fashion for cheap. They give you coupons and everything. They also tell you what’s in and what’s out. This blog relates to my blog as well because in a way it is telling you to be smart with money and its giving advice as well. I liked this blog because it could really help people with their budget and it could help them get stuff for cheap instead of spending huge amounts of money.

This blog was called The Budget Fashionista- You should really check it out if you’re trying to get whats “in” for cheap.

Another blog that I finally found was very much like mine. It focuses on other ideas that have to with fashion like the media. When the media is mixed with fashion, there’s bound to be some issues like anorexia, conflicts and etc, and this blog touches on those issues. The blog is a mix of everything that has to do with fashion. It’s also up to date and includes currents events. Many people comment on this blog which is great because you get to know what other people’s views are on the topic.

This blog is called The Fashion Salad- This is also a great blog to check out if you’re wondering about issues and events that have to do with fashion.

Celebrities endorsing presidential candidates

Have presidential elections become a part of fashion as well? Celebrities set the trends for fashion like what clothes are in and what clothes are out. Are these celebrities also setting the standard of how we should think and make choices?

We have just overcome a presidential election recently and celebrities have taken a stance on whom they support. Celebrity endorsements for McCain and Obama are showing up all over the place, but is this a good thing or is it a negative?

On one of the ads on T.V John McCain was saying that Barrack Obama is the biggest celebrity in the world. He showed pictures of Paris Hilton and Britney Spears along side with Barack Obama. As a response to the advertisement that McCain made, Paris Hilton made a combat by making advertisement to make fun of McCain. This made political analysts to think she helped the republican side in a way. She is showing that any press is good press. McCain is also being endorsed Heidi Montag. Even before, Hillary Clinton was endorsed by celebrities (Bardsley).

Oprah Winfrey openly supported Barrack Obama (Roseberry). Oprah is one of the most influential women in the world. She has been hitting the campaign trail with Obama by helping him give his support in Iowa. Jennifer Aniston, Will Smith and George Clooney have also endorsed Obama in Hollywood. Barabara Streisand has shown her support for Hillary Clinton. Madonna, Janet Jackson, Barry Manilow and Merle Haggard have also shown their support for Hillary (Roseberry).

Forbes.com says that endorsement by Oprah, Jon Stewart and Tiger Woods will positively impact candidate’s images but Tom Cruise, Madonna and Donald Trumps endorsement will send the numbers of supporters to drastically increase.

My view of the whole situation is that voting is a personal choice. Our choice on who we want to vote for should be based on our morals and our beliefs. Our vote should not be pressured by what our favorite celebrity wants to vote for. Senior Brad Snow says

“I don't respect a person who would vote for Obama or McCain just by what celebrity likes that candidate. For a shallow-minded person, endorsements will help. I don't care who Britney Spears likes, I'm voting clearly on who I think will do the best job (Roseberry).”

I agree with this statement and I think it should apply to all of us. But there are still others that base their view on what their favorite celebrity would pick. Celebrity endorsements should not be making such an issue. You should go for what you believe in, not another person. I am not against celebrities endorsing candidates but we should be the smarts ones to choose for ourselves rather than letting someone else make our decision for us.


References

Bardsley, Garth. "50 Cent, Dave Matthews, Perez Hilton, Others Endorse Candidates For Super Tuesday." MTV. 2 Feb. 2008. 11 Nov. 2008 http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1580971/20080205/50_cent.jhtml.

Roseberry, Amanda. "Celebrities endorse presidential candidates." Ottawa University The Campus. 7 Oct. 2008. 9 Nov. 2008 http://media.www.thecampusnewspaper.com/media/storage/paper1117/news/2008/10/07/campaign2008/celebrities.endorse.presidential.candidates-3442377.shtml?refsource=collegeheadlines.

Sex and the Media

Sex is one of the main factors in fashion. Sex sells and so does fashion. Combine the two…and a success?

Advertising and media images are encouraging young girls to think more about looks and sexuality rather than inner beauty. This can be devastating to their emotional and physical health. Even barbies and dolls are becoming sex objects (Jayson). This is leading them to think of their bodies as sexual objects. Television, ads, and movies are factors that are influencing women and these young girls. Sexy images of half naked women are used for advertising all over the place.

The National Eating Disorders Association has said one out of every four commercials on T.V. is sending some sign of attractiveness. This is showing the viewer what is attractive. Even video games are becoming an issue. 38% of female characters in these video games are dressed “slutty” (Jason). Researchers have also said that these images make young girls treat their bodies as sex objects as well. These images have also been related to eating disorders depression and low self esteem.

These advertisements are showing girls that a person’s worth comes from girls or mans sexual allure. Bratz dolls wear miniskirts, fishnets, and short shirts which are very sexy and seductive. These dolls are for girls that are 4-6 years of age (Jason). Why are these companies making such provocative dolls, when they are being supplied to such young girls?

Cosmopolitan and Play boy magazines urge women to be sexy in bed, and to attract and satisfy their men. The media is misinforming people and stereotyping women. Many teens and kids turn to the media when wanting to learn about sex. In 2003, David Buckingham and Sara Bragg have proclaimed that two-thirds of teens have gone to the media when wanting to inform themselves about sex ("Sex"). The teens are only learning the positives about sex. They are being shown that need to be dressing provocatively in order to impress people.

My perspective on the whole situation is that sex really has been a factor in teen’s lives. Sex is being idolized now as if it is a thing that you must do to be in the “in crowd”. I think the media need to take a step back in sex. Even though sex sells, is it really worth brainwashing these children? Children should be taught the negatives and positives about having sex. It is being glamorized and accentuated. Sex is a delicate topic and it should be treated as such. It should not be exploited and it needs to be handled by older and wiser people that you trust and talk to.

So no…combining sex and fashion does not make a success. Maybe industry wise you will be more known but knowing that you are giving these kids a bad example of what sex really means, is just digging a bigger hole in your grave. Kids are going to be in our place one day and they will be setting an example for the younger ones. If the advertisements keep brainwashing these kids brains who will be there to set an example for the next generation?

References
Jayson, Sharon. "Media cited for showing girls as sex objects." USA Today. 02 Feb. 2007. 10 Nov. 2008 . http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2007-02-19-sexualized-girls_x.htm

"Sex and Relationships in the Media." Media awareness network. 2008. Media awareness network. 10 Nov. 2008 . http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_sex.cfm

Anorexia, the new fashion?!

The media in today’s world is one of the main factors why people are being influenced to concentrate more on outer beauty rather than inner. It sad how the media is getting into these young women’s minds. As an effect to this problem the epidemic of anorexia and bulimia is growing more rapidly more than ever before. Being skinny is now the fashion. Anorexia is a condition that is usually brought on by emotional disorders that lead a person to worry excessively about the appearance of his or her body (“Bulimia”). As a result, this causes a person to starve themselves which is known as anorexia or it makes them binge right after eating a meal which is known as bulimia nervosa. The media should recognize more normal people, rather than unhealthy, overly skinny models.

Fashion is supposed to be about dressing up and having fun with it. I never thought that fashion could also cause such a disaster. The media is presenting unrealistic images to girls who are feeling vulnerable (Clonts). These advertisements come to people from all angles such as television, magazines, and billboards. There seems to be an endless flood of ads telling the public what to think, what to eat, and how to look.

These factors have all promoted a distorted vision of what a beautiful person is defined as. Women’s magazines are full of articles urging that if they can just loose those last twenty pounds, they have it all-the perfect marriage, great sex, and a rewarding career (“Media”). The number of cases of anorexia and bulimia has doubled since 1970, and experts now estimate that 0.5 to 1 percent of all white females may be anorexic (“Bulimia”).Research indicates that exposure to images of thin, young, air brushed bodies is linked to depression, loss of self esteem and development of unhealthy eating habits in women as well as girls.

Canadian Fitness and Lifestyle Research Institute warn that weight control measures are being taken by girls as young as nine (“Beauty”). The most common age at which the disorder first appears is fourteen to eighteen years (“Bulimia”). Teen Magazine reported that 35 percent of girls six to 12 years old have been on at least one diet, and that 50-70 percent of normal weight girls think they are overweight (Beauty). Time and time again it has been proven that, for the long-term, regimented diet plans do not work, yet our society continues to buy into the idea that they do (“Media”).

It is unfortunate that so many young women and men are starving their bodies just to fit what the American culture has considered to be perfect. People have forgotten that what’s on the inside counts more than the outside. Our society needs to learn love and accept themselves the way that they are. We should all embrace ourselves and love our bodies. Fashion should be taken into such a negative point. Being skinny might be in fashion, but another thing that is more important in fashion is individuality. Fashion is about setting a trend not following others.

References

"Beauty and Body Image in the Media." Media Awareness Network. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.media-awareness.ca/english/issues/stereotyping/women_and_girls/women_beauty.cfm.

"Bulimia & Anorexia in the Media." Bookrags. 2006. 20 Nov. 07 http://www.bookrags.com/essay-2004/12/13/185919/25.

Clonts, Lauren. "Anorexia Possibly Fueled by Media Images." The Daily ToReador. 2007. 20 Nov. 2007 http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2004/11/18/LifeLeisure/Anorexia.Possibly.Fueled.By.Media.Images-1279856.shtml.

"The Media." Something Fishy. CRC Healthgroup. 20 Nov. 2007 http://www.something-fishy.org/cultural/themedia.php.

Costly Designers or a Cheap Knock off?

Many men and women are obsessed with designer clothing, but does it really make a difference? Do people change the way they act towards you, just by the name brand clothes you wear?

Designer clothes are clothes that are made by companies such as Gucci, D&G, Coach, Louis Vuitton and many more. These companies sell overly expensive clothes. People (mainly women) go crazy over items that have these designer names on them.

Some people think that wearing non expensive clothes lowers who you are. You must be wearing something expensive to show that you have “value”. When wearing something designer women think that they stand out more and that they are the center of attention. This can also increases their self esteem and boost their confidence. Wearing designer clothing helps you make a fashion statement. It may also help you feel more superior.

In my perspective, I do not think this is true. Even though I might be a bit of a “designer whore” myself, it is not necessary to be spending huge bulks of money on purses and clothes. I’ve seen many people ruin their credit and go bankrupt because of this. A few Louis Vuitton purses are not worth ruining your credit over. Sure, you’ll have a few nice purses but is it really worth that much?

If you are wearing good clothes that are in fashion but aren’t designer, it does not lower who you are. Designer clothes may help boost your self esteem but it does not make you any superior. It just shows people you spend way too much on your clothes ("Designer").

There are many knock off designer hand bags that are more than half the price of a real one! Unless you’re really rich or you just won the lottery you shouldn’t be spending huge bulks on real handbags. Buying a knockoff handbag will still show people that you have the latest fashion in the purse world ("Designer").

You can also get the same outfit that looks the same as the designer outfit for less. Stores such as Ross, Marshalls and Aj Wright are few stores to mention. They have designer brands such as Kathy Van Zeeland and Guess for a much cheaper price. The same bag at Macys would probably cost twice as much. When it comes to designer clothes, most of the time you can’t even tell what brand it’s from, without looking at the tag. It’s better to get items from different stores to make the outfit complete. It won’t be the same as the designer version but it will be close. Sure, it will take more time getting the outfit together, but it’s better than spending a $1000.

I used to spend a lot and use my parent’s money on purses that were $500 each. I realized spending that much is not necessary. A few designers’ purses are fine if you can afford them but consistently spending on them is not a good thing. Last year, I spent too much on designer stuff but this year I have changed. Ross has changed my whole perspective. These are the many ways you can stick to your budget and still fill your closet with great stuff ("Designer")!

Why go to Nordstrom when you can get the same purse from Ross for half the price!

So work hard and spend wisely…

References

"Designer Knockoff Handbag." Designer Knockoff Handbag. 8 Nov. 2008. http://www.theknockofflist.com/