Boycott The Bag

Revenge of the nerds

If you're a snooty, image-conscious sorority, with a chapter filled with smart, but not especially cute members, don't kick those brainy sisters out of the house.  This is what Delta Zeta tried to do at DePauw University, and now the sorority has been kicked off the campus.  It's a fitting end to an ugly incident.

Here's some of the coverage of the story:

Depauw Cuts Ties With Controversial Sorority -- NY Times

The Great Sorority Purge -- Newsweek

DePauw Cuts Ties With Troubled Sorority -- Washington Post, Associated Press

Rules of Attraction:  Did Delta Zeta cull all but the prettiest sisters from its DePauw University chapter?  The sorority's former president on why she was asked to leave -- Newsweek

And the NY Times piece that got it started:  Evictions at Sorority Raise Issue of Bias.

The Delta Zeta sorority now says it's sorry, but on the same page it blames the DePauw sisters and the media for the crisis.  Yes, that's the sisterly way to apologize.

Fashion designers weigh in on skinny models

While leafing through TIME's Style & Design issue, I spotted a few choice quotes about the fashion/eating disorders controversy:

We don't see anorexic.  The girls are skinny.  They have skinny bones.

-- Karl Lagerfeld

I have never liked thin girls, and I have never made them go on the catwalk.

-- Giorgio Armani

I wanted to lose a few kilos recently, as I'm heavier than I was 20 or 30 years ago.  It's really convenient to be thinner.  I didn't eat for a day and a half, and the scales moved a little.

-- Vivienne Westwood

Fashion is not the cause of juvenile problems.  There are other ways to take care of our young generation:  stop showing half-naked starlets on television, ban silicone implants if one is not at least 25, for example.

-- Roberto Cavalli

Let's not become fanatics.

--  Diane von Furstenberg

A Gucci phone for fashion emergencies

This may or may not be coming to a store near you....A Gucci Phone!

-- Just when you thought cell phones could not become more annoying, intomobile.com reports on a "fashion phone" trend.  Between Nokia's Vertu brand, and LG's Prada Phone, there's plenty of room for more fashion entrants.

In addition to placing and receiving calls, this Gucci phone will tell you if your clothes suck.  It will also remind you to buy Marlboros and to eat nothing but salad.

The model diet?

The New York Times has a piece on VH1's show, "The Agency", which looks into life at the Wilhelmina Modeling Agency.  In one scene, an agent measures a models hips and discovers that the model has gone from 35" to 36 1/2".  “You’re like the Pillsbury doughboy,” the agent says. “You’ve gotten fatter and yes, I said the f-word.”

While some are suggesting that these scenes are contrived, with the bitchiness and conflict given a boost to create reality-tv drama, others say that "The Agency" is actually quite accurate in its portrayal of the modeling industry. From the article:

One former model also attested to a harsher reality. Amanda Kerlin, an author of the novel “Secrets of the Model Dorm,” has not watched the show, but said that while she worked in the industry, weekly measurements were not uncommon, especially during the time leading up to Fashion Week.

“After a while it messes with your psyche,” she said. “Some girls chose to starve themselves or took drugs to keep the weight off. A lot of girls develop bad eating habits. Some girls will have one Big Mac a day, smoke Marlboros and just drink a lot of coffee because it boosts your metabolism.”

Maybe, there's a book in that...."The Model Diet" -- smoke two packs a day, drink a gallon of coffee, and if your body needs a little protein, eat a Big Mag, and throw half of it up.

Another reason not to buy D&G

Is it art, or is it misogyny?  Whatever it is, Dolce & Gabbana might want to reconsider their ad campaigns.

Do the women who buy D&G's products respond favorably to the rape fantasy depicted in this ad?  Do the designers really understand their customers?  Here's an interview with Stefano Gabbana that suggests the designers are out of touch.

A handcuff for your handbag?

For those who want to "protect" their Gucci bags (instead of giving them the crushing they deserve), comes the "LuxeLink":

A new Luxe Purse Link has been invented to keep your purse off the icky ground, and kick your fabulocity factor up a notch!

No larger than the size of Beyonce’s hoop earring, the Luxe Link is portable, lighter than your cell phone, and easy-peasy to use. Instead of a cumbersome traditional purse hook, the Luxe Link has a stylish chain that wraps around a swanky circular top, adorned with a modern, playful design.

OK, it's a cool gizmo.  And at $45.00, it's a not-too-expensive gift for your fashionista-who-has-everything.  And as an engineer, it's so cute I wish I'd been the inventor.  Damn.

An anorexic guide to NY?

From shopping at Whole Foods for steamed vegetables, to attending Bikram/Hot Yoga to be steamed yourself, Gridskipper.com has a list of places and services for Manhattan anorexics. 

It's satire, right????