Lighten Up, It's Just Fashion!

Which is true, except when it's not. 

With New York's Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week 2014 winding down, and London's just getting underway; air kisses hanging like a thick cloud alongside thrilled gasps of front-row glitterati over how fabulous next year's donation pile is going to be, I'm wondering just how "fabulous" the people of last year's factory collapse in Bangladesh, and other sweatshop workers around the world are feeling.  My guess is, not very.

Don't be fooled by the high price on your designer duds, the people behind the construction are, more typically than not, cutting and sewing in the same human rights violating factories pumping out threads for your local one-stop-shop retailer.

At some point something's gotta give.  Right now our actions are saying that we value a pretty new dress over human life.  It's time to put the champagne down, and get real.

 

 **Updated 2022**

Originally, there was a video that accompanied this post, and while the information reported was correct, it is from a broadcasting organization I do not wish to promote on this page.  For more information on the topic of the intersection of human rights, and the fashion industry, please take a look at this list of films compiled by Remake (a registered 501c3 non-profit organization that exists to shed light on the human rights violations and climate injustice being caused by the fashion industry):

 

12 Films About Fast Fashion That Will Change the Way You Think About the Apparel Industry

So Long, 2013 ...

 

“There are years that ask questions and years that answer.”

― Zora Neale Hurston (1903 - 1960), Their Eyes Were Watching God 

Mama Called the Doctor, and the Doctor Said:

Fantastic?  Allons-y?  Geronimo?

While I feel a 50th anniversary special without Christopher Eccleston is no anniversary special at all (okay, I originally said: wasn't worth watching!), I'll still be tuning in to see what all the fuss is about, and if Billie Piper still mumbles everything she says.

We'll be missin' ya, Chris!  But really, you've already given us the gift of air from your lungs...

What more could we possibly want?

Happy anniversary, Doctor Who!

Edited to add: Yep & yep!  I was right on both accounts ... although, seeing John Hurt in a faux-hawk made it strangely worthwhile.   

 

Edited, edited to add: I've since heard interviews with Billie that mention cold weather being to blame for her tightened lips, possibly causing her to lisp or mumble off and on throughout the series, since they often filmed in cold weather, and she was very obviously never costumed for it, and I just— it makes me even more disenchanted with the film and television industry.  I know, I know here I go blowing something out of proportion, but how could this not speak to a much larger problem?  How is this not an evident symptom of a more encompassing dysfunction?  I strongly believe that neither the crew, nor "the talent" should ever be abused or victims of negligence, period, but especially to the point of damaging a performance, or (on a possibly more disturbing note) achieving the "right" performance, according to ... whomever (think: the treatment of Shelley Duvall in The Shining, or the more recent waterboarding incident shared by actresses Hannah Waddingham and Lena Headley on the Game of Thrones set, or the even more recent shooting, and killing of Halyna Hutchins on Rust).  Running around the streets of South Wales in the middle of the night in a mini skirt, and thin jacket isn't exactly the same thing as literally being killed at work, I'll grant you, but the problems share the same roots as far as I'm concerned.  It does not break-the-bank to value human beings.  Let me say that again: It does not break-the-bank to value human beings, whether that's providing a secure environment on set, or giving a girl a damn parka.  I mean, it can't tremendously affect the suspension of disbelief to see actors wearing seasonally appropriate clothing, can it??  I have thought for decades that this woman was, if not a terrible actress, at the very least subconsciously taking on David Tennent's clenched jaw delivery, when she was really just cold?!  I am livid. 

 

Happy New Year!

The Party's Over ...

... It's time to call it a day
They've burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away ...

I remember my grandfather crooning whilst we un-decorated his Christmas tree when I was still a very small girl, and reaching into the branches he came out with a pair of white, sequined peacock ornaments that he decided I'd give a pretty decent home to.  At the time, I thought they were "amazing!" a little later on, I thought, "who just has white sequined peacocks on their Christmas tree ... other than Liberace, of course ..."  Then, naturally, time passed, and they were wrapped up, and packed away, and all but forgot until many years later when my mother spied a newly purchased, white, sequined peacock proudly displayed (would a peacock have it any other way?) on my tree, at which she exclaimed with surprise, "Just like Grandpa's!"


I knew I'd been busted.

But mostly, I knew then, exactly WHO just has white sequined peacocks on their Christmas tree ... other than Liberace, of course.  Perhaps those of us who firmly believe there is no such thing as "too much," or those who have tossed out the less-is-more attitude in order to subscribe to the more-is-more school of thought, or who simply still allow ourselves the delight of being silly in an all too cynical environment. 

I hope everyone was able to slow down, spend time with the people they love, and make wonderful memories to keep your hearts warm all throughout our new year!

So long, 2012, the party's over...

xoxo

It Started With a Whisper ...

...Well, more like a question anyway.  I was recently asked if I had any hats for guys available.  "Well, hmm ... kinda, I guess ..." I thought to myself as I hesitated to answer due to the last "discussion" I had about what men will, won't, prefer to, and refuse to wear.  I was admittedly timid to offer up a hint at what I've been playing around with lately, which is a hybrid of the Commando Camo Cowl I made for my (survivalist) brother, and the Grunge hats whose pattern I've been messing around with since last summer.  What's sprung up from these two lovebirds is a convertible 2-in-1 drawstring cowl that with the rip of a cord, and the pinch of a fastener becomes a hat!  I happen to think these are handy little dudes to have around for everything from a brisk hillside jaunt, to breezy beach combing ... anyone familiar with the PNW knows the bone-chilling draft that creeps in right under the collar and rattles all the way down your pant leg.  So far these seem to stand up to whatever conditions Western Washington can throw at 'em! 

I'm glad I took the leap with one of my fun (to the highest degree) customers into custom order territory, and will be offering these in Ye Olde Knitted Dry Goods Shoppe soon!

xoxo

Above All, Love ...

I believe what has happened in Connecticut is a symptom of a bigger problem, much larger than any one issue involved. Please send your love, and healing energy to the families whose lives have been forever changed, and community at large. While you're at it, tell your people you love them.

It's important.

And the PANTONE 2013 Color of the Year is ...

Emerald

RGB: 0, 155, 119  /  CMYK: 99, 0, 69, 0  /  Html value: 009B77  

More emerald goodness here.