Back in skinny jeans

And speaking of superheroes, do clothes make a woman powerful?

Since I'm on a Superhero theme, here is a commercial I found on Digg for a high end department store in Mexico called "El Palacio de Hierro." The video features Superhero/villain gals like Catwoman, Wonder Woman, and Batgirl. The English translation of the tagline is "Women know that a change of clothes makes us powerful."

I think the commercial is cute. Call me old-fashioned, but I still wish Wonder Woman's outfit was more of a body suit than that strapless one piece bathing suit with push up bra ensemble. I just don't see how you can beat up bad guys and not have a boob exposure. So, I'm practical.

And it is true, different types of outfits can make you feel different things which is why women have so many clothes. Most of us have several types of wardrobe in our closet. As an example, there are the "fat and bloated day" clothes, the skinny clothes, the weekend clubbing clothes, the work body armor, the fun and flirty spring/summer get-ups, and of course the secret stash of slutty clothes. Oh come on! We all have some piece of naughty wear hidden in the recess of the closet. What else goes with that pair of long black stiletto boots? It's fun having that wicked secret.

Want to know which Superhero you are

I saw this fun quiz over at TechCrunch. It's like one of those Cosmopolitan magazine quizzes except for the comic geek in you. I'm Superman and will beat those evil unrealistic standards of beauty. Flying with strong muscles so that bullets bounced off me is cool, but I would love to have the Lasso of Truth and get those Maestros of skinny to fess up. "Oh-kay yes! We photo manipulate EVERYTHING. We tell women they're not good enough to sell more beauty products. Yes! Your butt does look fat in those jeans, so buy these fat fighting pills from our advertisers.We are Eeee-viel!"...LOL...

Find out who you are.Take the quiz here.

Stephanie's results:
You are Superman

Superman 85% Wonder Woman 75% Supergirl 70% Robin 65% Iron Man 65% The Flash 65% Spider-Man 55% Green Lantern 55% Hulk 35% Batman 35% Catwoman 30%

You are mild-mannered, good, strong and you love to help others.

Click here to take the Superhero Personality Quiz

Beauty predictions for 2007

I’ve been tagged by my friend Allen over at Center Networks to share in the “Predictions for 2007.” For my predictions list, I will focus on beauty. 

Dove will have company
Another large corporation who’s in the business of beauty like Dove will come out with an equally large and impressive campaign to promote real beauty. Dove has been doing their “Campaign for Real Beauty” for a couple years now, and it has done nothing but enrich the Dove brand and make millions of women feel better about themselves. Other companies see Dove’s success and they will follow suit. 

Authentic is the new pretty
I may actually be a couple years ahead on this, but I believe that our society will get to a point where we’ve have gotten so incredibly over saturated and done with fake body parts, fake beauty, fake identities, fake personalities, and fake everything that the new beautiful will be someone who is completely natural, raw, and genuine.  

All the fashion capitals in the world will sign similar Code of Conduct as Italy
Italy became the first major fashion capital to sign a “Code of Conduct” to regulate itself before someone forces them to do it regarding health and age standards for models used in fashion shows. Without blame or pointing fingers, the Italian fashion honchos have acknowledged their contribution to the distorted views of beauty which contribute to eating disorders and unhealthy living, and are taking an action of responsibility. They are setting a wonderful example, and the other fashion capitals will quickly follow suit. 

The next Oprah and Martha Stewart will start in her kitchen or living room
Because of new technologies in the web, and the dropping costs in hardware and software, the ability to have your own show is cheap (practically free) and easy. All you need is a computer and Internet connection. You don’t need to wait for some talent agent to “discover” you. You can start putting videos, podcasts, and blogs out into the internet, gather an audience, and build a media empire all on your own. If you think you have much to offer like Rachel Ray or Martha, or have sound advice like Oprah, then get a video camera and start recording your “shows” and upload them to YouTube or any other free video sharing site. Start a blog of your interviews, tips, and ideas. Create podcasts so that people can listen to you on their iPods and mp3 players while working out at the gym. You have an incredible amount of power at your fingertips. All it will take is passion, discipline, and action. 

Women’s magazines will start using customer generated pictures
Because of social media, more consumer brand companies will be using customer generated pictures for their products like Jones Soda. All the labels on the Jones Soda bottles were created by their customers who submitted the photo, and then got “chosen” by the public. In an effort to increase subscriptions and cut costs, I see the traditional paper magazine’s starting to use creative created by their readers. For one, fashionista photographers are really pricey, and two the more you get readers involved in creating the magazine, the more likely they are to buy the final product. 

In the major TV shows, you will see more characters like Betty and Dr. Torres
Ugly Betty and Dr. Callie Torres on Grey’s Anatomy look like real women. You know people just like them in your everyday life. They are not fantasy characters. They are real people like you and I who have the same pains, issues, and struggles. We root for these ladies because they are just like us, and we want to see more of how they deal with the everyday pains of living in a pretty-obsessed society. More viewers means more air time.

In general, I think 2007 will be an even bigger year for real beauty and healthier standards of living. I find that very exciting! What do you predict we'll see in beauty trends?

Now I shall tag:
AliThinks
Katiebird
Lady de la Luna
Manola Blablablanik
MamaVISION
Maria Palma

Italian fashionistas sign the "healthy, sunny, generous, Mediterranean model of beauty" manifesto

Alright people, here it is. It's history in the making as Italian designer and President of Altamoda Roma Stefano Dominella, Italian Youth Policy and Sports Minister Giovanna Melandri, President of the Italian Fashion Chamber Mario Boselli and European Affairs and Foreign Trade minister Emma Bonino sign a declaration for the Italian fashion scene which states that they will self regulate themselves to promote a "healthy, sunny, generous, Mediterranean model of beauty." Perhaps, we will see more Sophia Loren types.

The agreement is to combat the vogue of stick-thin models which promotes eating disorders like anorexia. There is an agreement to add more larger sizes to the collections, to use only models 16 and older, and for models to show medical proof that they are not suffering from an eating disorder. The code of conduct is going to be adhered to designers, model agencies, makeup artists and others who work in fashion in Italy.

Bellissimo! The Italian fashionistas are making this code of conduct to promote healthier standards an official signed document for all the world to see and take notice. A signed piece of paper is sanctioned action. I look forward to seeing what comes out of the houses of Prada, Versace, and Missoni.

[via AP Yahoo News]

Deepak Chopra on aging youthfully

Deepak Chopra is one of my favorites because you always leave him feeling more positive, uplifted, or thought provoked in some way. Here is Deepak on some quick insights on aging poetically.

Leading an authentic life

At the beginning of this year, 2006, I made only one New Year’s resolution and that was to be authentic. What this meant was that I was going to be me, be truthful, and be real. There was to be no fibbing, no denial, no acting the way other people wanted me to be, no being the “good girl” because that is what would make other people happy. Being authentic meant I was also going to be able to get angry, express my true feelings, get messy, and make mistakes without punishing myself, feeling guilty, or feeling ashamed/embarrassed for my imperfect parts. This part, my friends, was a big deal for me, the recovering perfectionist. 

It’s taken my many years to fully get that there really is no big prize in being a “perfect” person. Really. Four years ago is when I began the process of de-perfectifying. I had been doing the perfect thing since pre-school, and I did all the right things, the ideal things, and there was no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. There were just more rules, more expectations, and more busy-ness. Frankly, I found being perfect constant work, boring, inflexible, and un-warm. That’s one reason why people like rebels. Rebels are free spirits who have fun, get into trouble, and mostly do what is true to them. They don’t live by what is expected of them. They live by what they feel in their heart. I admire that. 

When you’re being perfect, there is no room for spontaneity, freedom, or growth. You can grow, but it’s really limited growth. You’re constantly worried about your flaws, and how much other people can see them. You avoid tension and mess at all costs. When you are working hard at being perfect, you really don’t take any big risks. You mostly stick to doing what you know you can win. You don’t venture out and try things where you just might look like an amateur or where you may fumble. You stretch only as far as your perfectionism will allow you. You also don’t really allow yourself to explore your own soul, your pains, and your dark side. 

Part of being authentic for me also meant cleaning up what I ate. I decided to cut out any foods with ingredients that sounded like it was created by a lab coat. Whole Foods Market made an enormous amount of money from me this year. I tried to do away with Diet Coke, but alas, I could not. That’s okay. We’re all allowed a vice. 

Being authentic also meant parting with friendships and relationships that no longer served my higher good. This was very tough to do because there are people you love to have fun with, but at the end of the day, you discover that the foundation of your relationship is built on sand or illusion. You discover that you can’t really be you and grow because it doesn’t fit with the unspoken rules that your relationship has in force. My group of friends dwindled to a handful, and it was quite lonely and sad in one sense. But on the other hand, the people I have in my life are true friends. I am making new friends, and because I am more of an authentic person myself, I find that these new relationships are soulful, enlightening, and healthy. 

I am looking forward to 2007. I feel it is going to be a break out year for myself, and many people I know. When making your New Year’s resolutions for 2007 consider adding “Be authentic” to your list. It’s going on my list again, and was one of the best things I did in 2006.

Miss Nevada Katie Rees wants Donald Trump to give her a second chance too. Will she get it?

In one of the most cardboard displays of forgiveness, Miss Nevada Katie Rees, asks us to give her a break for a stupid teenage moment. I mean for crying out loud. Can't a teenage girl go out and flash her boobies and simulate oral sex at a night out with friends, and not have it affect her future run for Miss "I'm so pretty and perfect."

Fox News has the video of her press conference from today. Katie also contacted Donald Trump to ask him to give her a second chance too, and re-sash her as Miss Nevada. To make it even more convincing, Ms. Rees should have blubbered and gone on about how kind-hearted the Donald is, just like what Tara Conner did in her press conference. One night of Girls Gone Wild debauchery caught on film should pale in comparison to the underage drinking, drug using, and whoring about town for which Miss USA Tara Conner got a Trump Tiara reprieve.

If Tara Conner gets a "Pass Jail. Keep your crown" card for jail bait crimes, then Katie Rees should get a second chance as well. Right? I mean, her delinquency is just a "lapse in judgment" as opposed to something felonious. And after all, Katie is from the state which is home to Sin City, Las Vegas, where brothels are legal. So, her wild moment of thong flashing, boob groping, and girl on girl is in form with the lifestyle of the state she represents.

My guess is that Trump will say that he can't bother with mere contenders, and that he can't have any more scandal associated with the Miss U(seless) S(ack) of A(ss-wipery) pageant. Tara Conner has already won the Miss USA title and finished her competition in the Miss Universe pageant, so all is said and done til she is put out to pasture when the next Miss USA gets her crown-age.

[via Fox News]

Save Santa from Global Warming...for the children

See how global warming is affecting Santa's job this year. Ho-ha-ho! Happy holidays!

What's Chrismakah without Adam Sandler's Channukah

This is a classic!

Miss Nevada stripped of her title because of her "Girls Gone Wild" behaviour

So, let's add to the Miss USA drama:

• Miss Teen USA, Katie Blair, was dropped by Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) because of her underage drinking:

“MADD was disappointed to hear news reports of Miss Teen USA Katie Blair illegally drinking underage.  In the past, MADD has teamed with Miss Teen USA to raise awareness about the serious and often deadly consequences of underage drinking. However, we do not feel, at this time, that Ms. Blair can be an effective spokesperson on underage drinking and will not ask her to represent MADD in future initiatives. We wish Ms. Blair the best as she fulfills her role as Miss Teen USA and we hope to work with the Miss Teen organization in the future.“

• And now we have Miss Nevada USA 2007, Katie Rees, getting de-tiared because of her "Girls Gone Wild" type behavior. And yes folks, there is photographic proof of her lewd behavior in this lovely (and I mean this very sarcastically) photo spread documentation. WARNING: These photos are seriously racy, and would make any parent heave in embarrassment if it were their daughter. Katie is wearing the red top. Here's word from Katie's camp:

“Katie Rees Miss Nevada USA wants the public to know she was 17 and had a lapse in judgment," he said. "The actions on that evening in subject are in no way indicative of the person she is or the person she has become. ... She is a law-abiding citizen and talented adult. This was an isolated incident that occurred more than five years ago when she was a minor.“

Well, that makes it better! We live in the digital age ladies. Remember that the next time you decide to get nekkid when a camera's around. Part of me is secretly loving all this Miss USA scandal because it shows some of the real twisted picture behind all this "perfect beauty" illusion. Pretty people are not perfect, and the idea of putting them on a pedestal because they won some beauty contest is ridiculous. How attractive do these women seem now? And just because you are some tiara winner, it does not mean that you can go out and behave badly and not get called out for it. There are repercussions to your actions, and these young women are learning the hard way.

Rosie O'Donnell's tirade on The View about Donald Trump was spot on. Okay, a bit meanish, but she said nothing that wasn't true. The way Trump fired back was just incredibly mean and classless. He's the owner of the Miss USA and Miss Universe pageants, and is not representing his brand well at all. See for yourself: