Fashion: age doesn’t matter

The New Normal Collection spring 2016 campaign Photographer: Peter Lindbergh

The main point

As the supermodels are turning into a product of the fashion industry, there will be specific rules to follow. For instance the models should be young, skinny, long and especially good looking. However, Armani does the controversy; it returns to its roots by dressing the models the rest of the fashion industry ignores. The four models for the New Normal collection include Eva Herzigova, Stella Tennant, Yasmin Le Bon and Nadja Auermann, all past the age of 40.

 

Supermodels can make a statement

The standard in fashion has been changed over the years, as we saw much younger models the last few years. At its worst, there was even a 10-Year old model on the cover of the French Vogue. Do you remember Thylane Lena Rose Bondeau in the picture below? After all, the editor received lots of criticism after it was published.

Thylane Lena Rose Bondeau in the French Vogue

Nevertheless, this standard gradually changes into a more natural woman, who isn’t that young and doesn’t wears size zero. More likely is the new campaign of Armani, in which the brand is turning into its roots and give the models, who all past the age of 40, a new opportunity to shine bright. Also three supermodels of the fashion brand Balmain were rocking the upcoming spring/summer 2016 collection as well. The ‘90s most iconic supermodels Cindy Crawford, Claudia Schiffer and Naomi Campbell were reunited for a little moment! The beautiful thing about different brands who are returning their ‘older’ models, is that they still can be beautiful at their age. They emphasize that ageing is natural, it is a part of life and not something you have to cover.

Balmain SS16

Identity based on roles

Maggie Rizer, a previous all-American model, returned into the pages of Vogue in 2015. However, this time she returns modelling as a mother. She points out the same essence as the models from Armani and Balmain, namely that it doesn’t matter what you are or how old you are, it is all about the way you represent the best version of yourself. Another example of turning into another type of identity is the 85-year old Chinese man, who is a resident of rural Fujian Province. The identity of this man is known as a farmer, however after a photoshoot taken by XiaoYeJieXi he turned into an inspiring fashion icon.

Maggie Rizer in Vogue

85-year old by XiaoYeJieXi

As you can see, identity is not based on one particular thing, and it should be appreciate a little bit more.

See you next time,

Amy Melenboer ♥

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Sources:

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/vogue-david-cameron-192901

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/01/25/armani-returns-to-his-roots-dressing-the-women-that-the-rest-of-fashion-ignores/

http://www.vogue.com/13299814/maggie-rizer-returning-to-vogue/

http://www.brit.co/balmain-supermodel-ad/

http://www.boredpanda.com/grandson-transforms-grandfather-fashion-trip-xiaoyejiexi-photography/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

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4 fashion labels & 3 asylum seekers

Four labels and three asylum seekers..?

In the fashion show of Generation Africa, which is an event that celebrates the creativity of starting fashion labels in Africa, there were three asylum seekers to walk the show as well. The show, which was between 12 and 15 January, featured four African designer labels (AKJP, Ikiré Jones, Lukhanyo Mdinigi x Nicholas Coutts and U.Mi-1) in collaboration with the Ethical Fashion Initiative and the Italian Pitti Uomo 89 in Florence.

Lukhanyo Mdingi x Nicholas Coutts backstage at Generation Africa

The ugly truth becoming beautiful

The world of today is full of terrorism, anxiety and with several attacks on innocent humans. If there’s one subject which is regularly in the news, then it is about asylum seekers all around the world. The perspectives differ from each other, however the negative part is highlighted more often than the positive one.

One can say various things, nevertheless there is also a part which is beneficial to fashion. Generation Africa is an example of a positive consequence of the asylum seekers, while they have the opportunity to reduce stereotypes and preconceptions. If you dress an asylum seeker into a creation of an emerging fashion label, who knew it was a refugee in the first place? Exactly, only the staff behind the scenes knew, and that explains why stereotypes are not always true. In a term of shifting identities, an asylum seeker is also a human, a father, a hard worker and as equal as others. The identity of an asylum seeker will never change, however the way the society looks at them does change in this matter.

How this can make a change

The Ethical Fashion Initiative strives for a fairer global fashion industry and supports the society by improving the diversity in the fashion industry itself. They gave emerging fashion labels from Africa the change to show their creativity and fashion knowledge in the first place. The actual ‘problem’ of the large number of asylum seekers was a known fact which resulted in three models in addition.

If this will gradually improve the fashion industry by combining fashion from all around the world, wearing fashion by different people from all around the world, eventually the fashion industry will point out the equality of human. In that case, the fashion industry will be a beautiful example for the entire world to strive for equality.

See you next time,

Amy Melenboer ♥

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Sources:

http://www.dazeddigital.com/fashion/article/29197/1/asylum-seekers-walk-in-florence-fashion-show

http://www.pittimmagine.com/en/corporate/fairs/uomo/events/2016/generationafrica.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sILYrBD_Ts8

 

 

Queer healing salon

What is the essence?

Sometimes, being a queer is hard to deal with, especially when some people in your community don’t fully accept your disposition for instance. Queers got a lot to do with both verbal- and physical violence, but why does this still happen in 2016? A few among the LGBT-group (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) made up some objections and celebrations, and they are truly willing to strive after a complete acceptation for all queers. The French Allison was of the opinion that such celebrations and objections were not enough for all queers, she wanted them to relax and invented a little recreation day which she calls ‘queer healing salon’ which is located in Amsterdam. In this salon they can get a new haircut, a massage, a manicure and there is also the opportunity to read, joining the karaoke and last but not least go to a real reiki-session.

Why is this surprising?

Most of the time groups like the LGBT one are being ignored, hated and disapproved. This conception started way earlier, though it is still a point of attention nowadays. It can be explained due to a psychological reason, for instance the ‘we and they’ rule is one which sounds pretty familiar to many people. If a person or group has got another way of thinking, they are easily labelled as different of weird. However, Allison invented a salon which is only for queers. This change is clearly positive for all queers, while they are being valued highly. Allison points out that masculinity and femininity are not guidelines or based on rules, it are labels that the society gave us years ago.

This queer healing salon is based on the fact that racism and inappropriate behaviour is still among the society. Allison saw the change to create a statement by doing the controversy of what a large amount of the community thinks is good. She has a few rules:

‘If you think this all is useless, then you’re not welcome. If you think the reactions of the people are oversensitive or political correct, guess what? Then you’re not welcome either.’

This indicates that our mentality should be improved by knowledge and a progressive attitude. Striving for emancipation is still a current point of attention, and in my opinion, it will be for a little while.

Future proof?

As I said, the mentality of many people can use some boost or acquaintance, as yet queers are being treated badly. However, there are made a few progressions such the gay pride, which defines the emancipation of the gay nature. The festive spirit increases, and so does the attitude of many. Nevertheless, will queers (like the LGBT group) be fully accepted in future?

What is your opinion on the queer case?

 

See you next time,

Amy Melenboer

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Sources:

https://i-d.vice.com/nl/article/welkom-in-de-queer-healing-salon

https://www.flickr.com/photos/106299545@N05/10466243394

 

 

Let’s be game changers

What is it about?

Earlier I wrote a post which called ‘open-heartedness’.  Essena O’Neill was one of the items I discussed in this post, and now I will write about her counter reaction ‘Let’s be game changers’.  Essena O’Neill is a former Instagram star and model, but she recently stopped with all this fake pictures and videos of her. It didn’t make her happy, and she even felt lonely and very empty inside. Essena O’Neill quitted social media and was started posting videos about how crooked this business is.  However, she is now going a bit further and started the counterpart ‘Let’s be game changers’, wherein she encourages everyone to stop with their busy, social media life and start with creating a real world.

Essena O’Neill telling why she is quitting social media:

 

Why is it refreshing?

It is Essena O’Neill herself that started with her social life, however she is also the one who realized that her Instagram account was not her real life, but a life she had created to make her feel good about herself.  It needed a brave and powerful character to make this change in mentality. Essena O’Neill is now becoming an identity who is trying to tell the world that we’re fooling ourselves, and perhaps this might work and influence other people.

Essena O’Neill as an Instagram-model

Essena was an Instagram star with a lot of fake and obsessive pictures, but is now the other way around. Her true story is very transparent and honest, something which she was never before. Much more of these personal stories are emerging nowadays, and in my opinion, that is a good thing.  True beauty is what you are from the inside, and not from the outside. At least, that should be the main point, which is still debatable.

What will the future be like?

It is often said that status means that you are what you do regularly, but is this quite transparent? If this is 100% true, everybody can think of something he or she always wanted to do, and ‘create’ an identity. In that case, our world seems really to be a doable community.

Nevertheless, such breakthroughs like the story of Essena O’Neill can also inspire people and eventually end up with a mentality shift for a whole community, nation or in the best case, the whole world. Then it is time to see beauty as something which is based upon our characters, and no longer on the way we look.

Essena O’Neill: ‘Let’s be game changers’

 

To conclude, I think we arrived a point of division. Either the world will be more creating an identity in a doable society, or pure beauty will only be based on our character in a transparent community.

 

See you next time,

Amy Melenboer

 

 

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Sources:

http://www.proud2bme.nl/Artikelen_over_schoonheid/Tiener_laat_nepheid_social_media_zien

http://essenaoneill.com/essays/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SeoXMgMf6yM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xe1Qyks8QEM

 

Glitter is gold

Marie/ Hélène Gugenheim

What does it mean?

Hélène Gugenheim, a French artist from Paris, created a beautiful way to apply a tattoo on different people who have scars on their body. Gugenheim used golf leaf which she applied on the scar, by mixing gold leaf, varnish and epoxy so it can also be taking of immediately. The French artist started to call this method ‘a ritual’, because it also emphasizes the psychological advantages. It is usual to have a photoshoot which also includes making a short video.  After that, the artist removes all the glitter and gold and puts it in a little bottle which is a gift for the visitor.  Hélène Gugenheim calls her project: ‘Je suis d’elles, entièrement tissé’ (My scars, I am with them, completely entwined)

 

Why is it amazing?

The golden leaf tattoo is tempting to make the specific person more conscious of them self, just by looking in the mirror and seeing how beautiful someone really is. The values of our society are gradually changing, while perfection is slowly changing into imperfection. Scars are a great example of this imperfection, since it used to have a negative look on a person’s history. However, who said scars should be negative? Scars could also be seen as a mistake in life, where every single person can learn from.  Making mistakes should not be labelled as something which is bad, nevertheless it can be seen as a lesson in life.

In that case, imperfection is now becoming more and more beautiful, since people have the guts to be transparent and just say what’s on their mind and show all their flaws. It is more natural to show the real identities nowadays, instead of hiding all the ‘blemishes’ a person think he or she has. Authenticity is growing for a while, and the term ‘flawsomeness’ is also tending to make a change in the world we know now. Because of these changes, people’s identity can make a shift, while they no longer have to think about their scars.

Future perspective

In former times, people were usually raised narrow-minded, for instance in the way men were more important than women.  The destiny of a woman was not that great as a men’s destiny. However, it was a specific spirit of that time, and that was just the way it went. Another example was the Dutch compartmentalisation, which indicates a society based on different compartments. Such a ‘tribe’ got their own status, religion, school and other persuasions. People were critical about each other, and only their own compartment was seen as the best of all factions.

Nevertheless, these things changed gradually trough ages and are now represented a bit different. An example of this change is feminism, a kind of emancipation for all women’s rights. The women of today are more independent, better educated and mainly stronger than ever. Also groups like LTGB (Lesbian, transgender, gay and bisexual) people receive more acceptation nowadays, however this is still not completed in my opinion.

So that will let us think about the upcoming ages. If this acceptation will set through, what will the future be like? In that case, no one will ever be critical about people’s skin colour, education, background, disposition or all these other parts of someone’s identity.  Perhaps, equality will be the leading policy in every city, area or nation.  The future will bring us equality in its most straight condition.

 

See you next time,

 

Amy Melenboer

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http://thecreatorsproject.vice.com/nl/blog/wat-deze-franse-kunstenares-met-littekens-doet-is-schitterendutm_source=tcpfbned

http://www.paradijsvogelsmagazine.nl/kunstenares-laat-littekens-schitteren-met-bladgoud/

http://www.huffingtonpost.fr/2016/01/13/photos-artiste-or-cicatrices-acceptation-de-soi_n_8968818.html

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10 random observations

Hello everyone,

It has been a long time ago that I posted an blogpost at my website, which mainly is because of my schoolwork. But, here is a new post about the book ‘how to be an explorer’ by Keri Smith.

For all who don’t know the content of this book, it is about exploring your world, especially by touching, looking, seeing and documenting stuff you find interesting. The book says:

‘At any given moment, no matter where you are, there are hundreds of things around you that are interesting and worth documenting ‘

The exploration: Right were you are sitting

‘Write ten things about where you are sitting right now that you hadn’t noticed when you sat down. Use your senses. Do it quickly. Do not censor. Okay, begin.’

My ten things:

1. The candle light smells delicous
2. Many shoes cover the floor
3. There are still to much papers on the table
4. Our couch has destoyed spots on it
5. Our couch matches the dark furniture
6. the T.V. screen is more diagonal than it should be
7. My pictures are curled in the corners
8. The light from the lamp is light-yellowish
9. The sound of the T.V. is extremely loud
10. There are still too many Christmas stuff around the house.

 

See you next time,

 

Amy Melenboer

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sources: ‘How to be an explorer’ – Keri Smith