When I read the shocking news (on Facebook) that the Queen of Disco Donna Summer had died, my thoughts first went to the best scene in The Full Monty which featured “Hot Stuff” as the soundtrack. If you haven’t seen the movie, do yourself the favour!
I also assumed, like so many celebrities who die too young, that she may have suffered from an overdose. Donna’s death, however, came at the hand of lung cancer, likely developed after she inhaled toxic dust particles in the wake of the 9/11 attacks on New York’s World Trade Center.
Donna Summer’s parents were devout Christians and she became a born-again Christian herself after releasing one of my favourite songs, She Works Hard for the Money. Donna wrote the anthem after an encounter with an elderly bathroom attendant at a Grammy Awards party.
Donna’s first public performace was at Church at the age of 8 after the pastor invited her to sing in front of the congregation. Summer surprised everyone, including herself, with the strength of her voice and she said she heard God say to her, “You’re going to be famous and this is power and you are never to misuse this power.”
When she died, Summer was living with her long-time husband whom she married back in the 80s and they had two daughters together.
My Body Gallery is a unique website which shows “what real women look like”. You punch in your height, weight and clothing sizes and up pops a photo of a woman who shares your stats, a you are not alone philosophy, and you might be pleasantly surprised by what you see! Today My Body Gallery sent me its email newsletter containing an insightful article by guest author Rebecca Williams who writes:
Debra Gano, self-esteem leader and CEO of Be Your Own You
Who do you think you are writing about the trials and tribulations of being thin? Gappy Tales: Body Image and Body Acceptance
To know yourself, be yourself. Daily Good: How to Attend a Conference As Yourself
‘Fat talk’ can result in decreased body self-esteem and higher levels of depression. Medical News Today: Depression, Poor Body Image Result From Negative Talk About Weight
5 quick lessons in creativity. Copyblogger: 5 Lessons in Creativity from the Return of Ze Frank
Having spent years in the externally-focused ‘glamour’ industry, Gano now seeks to teach girls “it’s what’s inside that counts.” Chron.com: Girls’ Self-Esteem Expert Headlines Girls World Expo 2012
Everyone’s path to happiness is different, but these Ten Keys tend to have a positive impact on people’s overall happiness and well-being. Daily Good: 10 Keys to Happier Living
I may have found the most interesting Facebook page ever. It’s called A Man’s Point of View and it doesn’t hate women! Check out some of these captioned photographs from the Page:
Most of the time I’m afraid to look at any media geared toward men because I can’t stomach the low esteem in which they hold women. A Man’s Point of View and The Good Men Project are two examples of ‘men’s media’ with a more enlightened outlook.
The “Girlafesto” comes courtesy of the Girls Circle Association, the leading provider of gender-specific, research-based programs for girls which offers training for facilitators dedicated to improving the lives of girls ages 9 – 18. I completed the two-day training course and look forward to beginning my own Girls Circle in my community, likely with a focus on body image. Girls Circles offer adolescent girls a safe space to share their feelings and experiences and to build positive relationships.
Research has shown that Girls’ Circles help decrease alcohol use and other self-harming behaviours, and increase girls’ self-efficacy and attachment to school. In addition, girls who participated in Circles revealed improvement in six areas including: feeling good about their bodies. That one alone is worth the price of admission. If you are interested in training to be a Girls Circle facilitator or want to find out more about this wonderful organization, visit the website.
The clip is about photographers but the principle applies to many artists including writers, bloggers, stylists, and make-up artists. And now with the intern’s lawsuit against Harper’s Bazaar, unpaid work is a hot topic! The fashion industry is rife with unpaid “job” opportunities and I dare say that has more than a little bit to do with the fact that it’s an industry dominated by women. In both PR and journalism, fashion seems to have no trouble asking young women to work for free. The result is that only people who can afford to go unpaid get those opportunities to break into the industry.
Have you worked for free to gain exposure? Was it worth it? What do you think about the common practice of unpaid internships and other uncompensated labour?
My comment from Ashe’s post featured here! The Good Men Project: Nice Piece on Male Body Image Issues
Are you your own worst critic? Daily Good: The Power of Self-Compassion
Holding on is being brave, but letting go is what makes us stronger and happier. Marc and Angel Hack Life: 10 Signs it’s Time to Let Go
What are you practising? Daily Good: Life as a Conscious Practice
It’s satisfying to see what celebrities and models really look like! Shine from Yahoo: Supermodels without Photoshop
We should also take a second to admire some of our favorite style bloggers who are also parents. Independent Fashion Bloggers: 8 Insights from Chic Bloggers Who Happen To Be Moms
So, how can you tell the difference? Dress With Courage: How to Identify Counterfeit Handbags at the Thrift Store
We tend to think “sexism” is being dismissive toward women, or paying them lower salaries — we don’t think of it as frenzied “burn the witch!” hatred. Cracked: 5 Ways Modern Men Are Trained to Hate Women
Demi Lovato is speaking out against the unrealistic standards of beauty. AOL: Demi Lovato, Body Image
We can blog about girls and women and weight, but we must also be concerned about boys and men. Huffington Post: Girls, Boys, and Body Image
I would look at pictures of me from photo shoots and that was not me and not how I looked. Fox Sports: Amanda Beard’s Struggle Yields Crucial Lessons
Today’s Fashion Beauty Friend Friday post comes courtesy of Katy at Modly Chic who asks us to consider the “one-time use phenomenon” in fashion. That is, buying an item and using it only once. Or, returning that item after wearing it with the tags attached and hidden. Ugh. To me that is stealing. I remember my mother helping me choose accessories for my prom outfit back when I was 17. When I balked at the price she whispered that we’d return them tomorrow. I knew it was wrong then and, well, my mother and I have different value systems and I accept that.
Sometimes we use something once because we made a poor judgment or an impulse buy and the item sits in our closet waiting for one day that never comes. I’m guilty of bad shopping decisions and I’m sure many of you are, too! Rare lapses of judgment aside, I believe in recycling in the form of timeless clothes and thrift shopping, seasonless dressing, and having a few key items that can be mixed and matched. Such habits help preserve the environment and prevent one from becoming a) a slave to fashion, b) a fashion victim, or c) a fashion whore.
On to the questions:
1. Are you a one-time wearer?
No. See above.
2. Do you feel the need to purchase something new for an evening out or a special event?
I used to be guilty of grabbing a cheap and shiny fast fashion top to go with my jeans for an unexpected Friday night at the club. Now I do my very best to use what I have in my closet in the interests of consuming less. A “special event” is usually somebody else’s big day so I keep it low key anyway and train the spotlight on them.
3. Re-mixing is something a lot of bloggers are proud of being able to accomplish – are you a re-mixing pro or do you shy away from posting items frequently? Why?
I’m not that type of blogger but as a fashion lover and follower I enjoy the challenge of using what I already have in my closet to create something new and interesting.
4. Do you have a clothing budget or are you an impulse buyer?
I used to have a very high clothing budget as I thought expensive clothes and brands were a necessity as a fashion writer. Now I understand that it takes a lot more creativity to put together outfits on a shoestring…and it’s a lot more fun and eco-friendly (thrift shopping, NOT fast fashion a la Zara and H&M).
5. Do you find yourself bored when reading a blog in which clothing items are often remixed and appear frequently?
NO! The most inspiring aspect of fashion blogs is that they teach ordinary women how to dress well on a working girl’s budget while also encouraging sustainable style. It is a revolutionary concept which has democratized fashion in a staggering and uplifting way.
How do you feel about those outfit posts?
I didn’t want to comment on the New York Times review of the Hunger Games which criticized Jennifer Lawrence’s body for being “too big” for the part of Katniss in the The Hunger Games. I found the idea so depressing I wanted to put it out of my mind. And part of me thought that if the character is supposed to be starving then the critic might have a point….then it occurred to me how many actresses who look like they are starving play the parts of women who in real life would be a size 12 (that’s the average). The critics never say anything about THAT.
Allow me to illustrate: I watched The Descendants on DVD the other night and was alarmed at the size of the actress who played George Clooney’s 17-year-old daughter. She was noticeably underweight and if she were my daughter I would be fraught with worry that she might have an eating disorder. Of course, nothing was mentioned about her weight and the audience was expected to accept this girl as a representation of a well-fed adolescent. Indeed, we see her eating ice cream in the final scene of the movie. Where was the New York Times critic then? Why was she not speaking up about this girl being too THIN to represent a teenage girl who is not starving? You could apply this question to the majority of mainstream movies today.
Media: please stop the war on girls’ bodies. The images are bad enough. Now there are words, too? SHAME.
I just heard female volleyball players will be able to wear shorts and shirts rather than bikinis at the London 2012 Olympics this summer in the interests of modesty and respect for the athletes and to “provide more flexibility for countries with religious and cultural requirements.” I am pleased to see the Brits making this uniform change which seems like a no-brainer anyway.
What’s your opinion about bikinis at the Olympics or other sporting events?
