Back in skinny jeans

Tooting the Back in Skinny Jeans horn: "Redefining Beauty" in Hartford Courant

Recently I was interviewed by Joann Klimkiewicz a staff writer for the Hartfod Courant for her article "Redefining Beauty: Could It Be That A Broader Definition Of Physical Looks Is Emerging?" Our pal Audrey Brashich, author of All Made Up, is also quoted in the article. Joann's story is thought provoking indeed.

Joann opens the story with the now infamous Dove Evolution video which shocked everyone because it shows how much manipulation actually goes on in advertising shoots of models. She adds:

"Critics of the beauty and fashion industries are wondering, albeit cautiously, if the campaign's success isn't symbolic of a greater movement of self-acceptance bubbling beneath the pop culture surface, if the female public's collective exhaustion over the narrow portrayal of beauty has them ready to embrace a broader definition themselves."

Absolutely! That Dove video was an incredible education piece. The talk I have heard the most is that people knew that photo retouching was done, but they had no idea to what extent. There is a huge difference between erasing some wrinkles versus making one's neck longer, widening and moving the eyes around, and shaving off the edges of the nose and face. After seeing that Dove video, you are never going to look at a beauty or fashion magazine spread the same.

It's shocking for women to realize that we are chasing a dream that is actually a digital creation. No matter how much you buy, sweat, or wish, the only way you will look magazine pretty is through Photo retouching.

One of the things I touch on also is the power of blogging. When women blog, our voices are heard. One of the ways that we will get Madison Avenue and the fashion world to be more realistic is through the power of our voice, so blog ladies! Blog, blog, blog......

10 reasons to let go of your skinny jeans

To feel good just as we are is a long journey for some of us. Those skinny jeans sitting in your closet are proof that part of you can’t let go of the dream that one day you’ll be fashionably thin and your life will be perfect, or at lest better than what it is today. Parting with those skinny jeans is tough, but here are some reasons/ways that will help may make it easier and more pleasant to say adieu. 

• You’ll have new room in your closet for new clothes. Shopping time!
• Give your skinny jeans to a woman’s shelter, and share the abundance you have with other women who aren’t as fortunate as you. Everyone will have a brighter day.
• Give your skinny jeans to your kids, nieces, neighbor’s kids or any other young woman, and let them enjoy some “old” fashion that will no doubt be cool again.

• If you just can’t entirely let go of the whole pile of skinny jeans, save one pair, and give the rest away. This way you’re still making the steps to let go.
• You’re life will be in “play” instead of being on “pause” or on “rewind.”
• Sell them on eBay. Put the money toward a pamper yourself day.

• Being back in the skinny jeans does not mean that your life will be better than what it is today. Yes you will be thinner but not necessarily happier. The difference between happy people and not happy people is all in the mind and spirit. Happy is a state of being not a result of accomplishments or acquisitions. You can be happy at any time.
• The holidays are coming. Give the skinny jeans to someone you know who will love and appreciate the gift.
• Have a “giving the skinny jeans away” cocktail party with your girlfriends. Each person brings a pair or pile of the skinny jeans they want to give away, share stories about the jeans with each other over Cosmos and Martinis to remember some good times, box them all up, and send them to a charity. Or, hold an auction and donate the proceeds to a girl’s cause or some cause that helps girls/women develop their minds, spirits, or independence.

• Letting go doesn’t mean giving up. We all have a picture in our minds as to what happiness “looks like.” What actually is important is having the feeling of happiness not the picture. You can be happy and not be skinny. The two are not tied together. As an example, many women tie being thin with having that wonderful relationship. If you found a Prince Charming who adored you and loved you no matter if you were a size 4 or a size 24 and you were feeling like life couldn’t be any better, would you still be obsessing about your skinny jeans. Probably not, because you have what you really want and that is a happy relationship.

Liev Schreiber joins CSI while Grissom is out and other riveting links in the skinny-sphere

• I am OH SO frickin' excited about Liev Schreiber leaping into a CSI crime scene. I luv his voice. Liev is one of those actors who is an amazing talent and is severely under-rated. His tabloid claim to fame is that he is engaged to Naomi Watts. He's been nominated for a Golden Globe Award for RKO 281 and won a Tony for his role in Glenngary Glen Ross. This is the first TV run for Liev as he normally does movies and theater. William Peterson is taking a 4 episode break, and Liev will play a seasoned CSI coming this January. [E Online]

• Nicole Richie has checked herself into a private facility to "undergo diagnostic treatments to determine why she can't gain weight." Nicole's reps say "this is not a treatment for an eating disorder." The reps add that Nicole wants to deal with her weight issues in the healthiest possible way. I am going to leave out my speculation on this news. I will say that what is important is that Nicole is getting help and I do wish her the best in her healing. [TMZ.com]

• South Beach Miami mini skirt crisis. Manola is one of the most hysterical writers I know, and her frivolity brings a smile to my day. While we have CSI on the brain, in said post on the offending mini skirts, "This fashion trend may be a nightmare for health professionals trying to protect the general public from the spread of general ick, but it does represent a boon for a CSI trace lab swabbing its way to justice!"[Sex and the beach]

• I'm done with Studio 60 like Ashley. It was such a stimulating beginning much like being set-up with a cutie patootie with hots of potential. But alas, the surface hotness turns out to be smoldering ashes. So sad ;-( But, not to worry, there is another hottie on deck, 30 Rock. I've taken a gander and it's damn funny. Stay tuned. [Pretty Boring]

Maxim magazine takes "piece of meat" to a new level

In an effort to boost their bottom line, Maxim magazine has decided to open.....drum roll.....a chain of steakhouses. That's right people. A magazine that portrays women like pieces of meat is now giving you the chance to literally take a bite of some of that meat, steak that is.

For this venture, Maxim is partnering with Jeffrey Chodorow's China Grill Management. You'll remember Jeffrey as Rocco's partner in the reality show "The Restaurant." Stephen Colvin, CEO of Dennis Publishing, the magazine's parent company, says:

"In terms of the atmosphere, in terms of the design and also in terms of the food, the steakhouses will cater to women as much as men...We represent a certain lifestyle and we know that translates -- people want to connect with that in different ways."

They want this to be a class place so there are no plans to attire their wait staff like the gals at Hooters. This makes no sense, really. So, they think people will come to a Maxim restaurant for the food? That's like saying that guys buy Maxim for the articles. Oh pleazzz!

Guys buy Maxim for the pictures of half naked women in "do me now" poses, so dammit, they're going to expect to see some skin in a barely there ensemble serving up cold beers with that Filet Mignon. If Vogue or Vanity Fair opened up a chain of restaurants, I would expect to see fashion, art, and celebrities. Maxim is forgetting that they are in the business of fantasy.

And most obviously, the Maxim restaurants are going to have all over the place pictures of the girls in their magazine. With that in mind, no female patron is going to feel like eating with pictures of skinny, bikini clad chicks staring at her. Obviously, Mr. Colvin doesn't understand that it's almost impossible to feel good about chewing on a Sirloin when you're surrounded by pictures of girls like Candice here? More likely, we'll have a salad and some water because your images are teaching us that to be adored we need to be thin and hot like the Maxim girls. And to be this thin, you cannot load up on an appetizer, a main course, dessert, and cocktails in one sitting.

[via Yahoo news]

What's a great gift to give a blogger?

You're living in the 21st century when you realize that the holidays are coming and you need gift ideas for bloggers. Gamers, easy. Fashionistas, not an issue. Parents, the list is endless. But what about bloggers? What is a great gift that the blogger in your life would appreciate?

Well, fret no more. Carolyn Goodwin, gift idea blogger extraordinaire and pal of Back in Skinny Jeans, over at Whirled events has a post on Eight Gifts for bloggers. My favorite is the Brain Power Spray. "Spritz a little BrainPower under your tongue for a sublingual treatment that helps relieve the symptoms of an unfocused or tired mind." I could sure use some Brain Power boost at 2am when I'm blogging my little heart out.

Carolyn also has a new store with some very coolio gifts for occasions like weddings, corporate gifts, or just because. Indeed, go check it out!

PS. Carolyn is also another jumper from the corpse-rate world, investment banking, and she is now living her passion with her business Whirled Events. Go girl!

Be a web celeb and win $50k with the Yahoo Talent Contest

My belief is that the next Martha Stewart and Oprah will get their start on the web. Why? Because it is easy and cheap to broadcast yourself to millions of people online. All you need really is a video camera, a blog/website, and an imagination. As soon as you get popular, the TV networks will come a callin'.

Yahoo is sponsoring a talent contest to find that next BIG web celeb. All you need to do is to submit a video of your talent no longer than 10 minutes long. If crowned winner, you will get your own show on Yahoo plus $50,000 in mullah. Sweet!

You have until November 27th to enter your video. Official rules are here. The finalists will be chosen by a panel of judges and we the consumer audience. We can start to watch video submissions on November 13. Go get those creative juices flowing!

Philips Norelco makes body grooming for men entertaining

Philips Norelco has a new product called the Body Groom, and in this video (see below), they do a hilarious job of stripping out (pun intended) the self-consciousness and awkwardness related to sprucing up one's twig & berries, kiwis, or back hair. I was LOL.

The website for the Body Groom, Shave Everywhere, is filled with more hysterical things. I actually went through the entire menu to see if there was more amusement to be had, and they did not disappoint. Most definitely check out the TEST DRIVE and WHERE TO SHAVE sections, soooo incredibly witty.

I give Philips Norelco kudos for keeping the wit clean and playful regarding a man's one eyed snake looking like a yardstick and increased sexual prowess because of a well groomed package. My blushful Catholic mother would even enjoy the humor in this campaign ;-)

 

YouTube temporarily down

I checked at 11:01pm PST and YouTube is down doing some refreshing. So, any big white spots you see in this blog are YouTube clips. Hopefully, they will be up soon. Thank you for your patience ;-)