Royal Wedding Fashion Makes Waves

According to regular viewers and fashion critics alike, Kate Middleton's, or Catherine as she goes by now, dress is living up to the hype. Ever since Catherine and William's engagement in October, the media has been clambering about what Kate's dress would look like, and they went crazy the moment Kate stepped out of her Rolls-Royce and her dress was revealed.

Like some rumors stated, Kate's dress was designed by Sarah Burton, the creative director of McQueen. Alexander McQueen, who committed suicide just last year, would certainly be proud of the remarkable achievement for his namesake line of couture clothing. 

Kate's dress had French Chantilly lace and English Cluny lace throughout the entire bodice, skirt, and underskirt. The ivory and white satin gazar skirt was made to resemble an opening flower. The back of the dress was finished with 58 gazaar buttons and had a six foot long train. That train is fairly tame when compared to the twenty-five foot train of Princess Diana's dress. According to multiple sources, the dress cost a staggering $50,000. 

However, despite the majority of people loving Kate's Grace Kelly look-alike dress, many also think that her sister and bridesmaid, Pippa, outshone her. Pippa, like Catherine, wore a Sarah Burton for McQueen dress. However, hers was more modern and formfitting than Catherine's dress which had a rather classic silhouette. While she did not quite outshine the new Duchess of Cambridge, Pippa's dress did start quite the scandal. Its a universal wedding rule that only the bride wears white, however Pippa broke tradition by wearing a white bridesmaid dress. Most people loved the dress despite, or maybe because of the color, and it caused quite the uproar on Twitter.

Wedding dress designers are already coming up with copies of both Kate's dress and Pippa's dress, which could easily pass for a wedding dress. They are cheaper and more accessible for the royal wedding crazed public, and they are quickly being sold out!

One thing is certain, this certainly was the wedding of the decade! And perhaps the century!

Royal Wedding Hysteria

This friday is a date that will go down in history. According to most, it is the wedding of the century. This Friday, April 29th, Kate Middleton and Prince William of Wales will marry at Westminster Abbey. The media taking advantage of the rich money-making opportunity the wedding provides by plastering a constant stream of details concerning the events on the entertainment shows and tabloid covers.

There are hundreds of questions flying about the public such as,

'What is the menu?'

'Who is invited?'

'Is the wedding going to be 3D?'

However, the most commonly asked question is obviously, 'What is Kate's dress going to look like?'

Well, not much is known about the dress as it has been called "the most closely guarded secret in all of Britain." (No sarcasm!) However, Kate is said to have designed the dress herself with either designer Sophie Cranston or Sarah Burton, creative director of Alexander McQueen. Bruce Oldfield, formerly the frontrunner of the designers thought to be designing the dress, has said, "I'm sure the dress is going to be modest in terms of coverage, you can't walk down Westminster Abbey in a strapless dress--it just won't happen." After all, the church has been one of the most prominent symbols of Britain for over a thousand years.

As of April 25th, palace sources have said, "There will be no more fittings. The next time the dress goes on is Friday morning." Also, like Princess Diana, Catherine, as she was officially dubbed in UK since the wedding announcement, is though to have two dresses. One of the dresses would be the main one while the other would be a backup in case details of the main dress were leaked to the press.

The Golden Epidemic

In America, there is a standard of beauty. The "typical" American beauty consists of the following physical characteristics: tall, blonde, thin, and tan. Girls bleach their hair, diet, and go tanning to achieve that ideal. The problem, however, is that to achieve that ideal figure many girls do harmful things to their body. One of the most harmful is tanning.

In a perfect world, it would be eighty degrees and sunny three hundred and fifty days a year. However, fall and winter inevitably come and as the green of the leaves and grass go away so do summer tans. Or at least, they are supposed to. With tanning beds and spray tans, anyone can look golden brown, or rather, orange, even in the grey and snowy winter. Celebrities like Snooki, Georgio Armani, and Paris Hilton wear "the orange look" all year long.

So what exactly are the dangers of tanning beds that many girls use to get that summer glow before Homecoming and Prom? In terms of its effect on our skin, a fake tan (from a tanning bed) is equivalent to a  sunburn. Tanning beds exceed the safe limits of UV rays. Teens, who are the people who tend to use tanning beds the most are especially at risk because their bodies are growing at accelerated rates so their cells are more vulnerable to the penetration of UV rays. By tanning their skin on a routine basis, teens put themselves at a significantly higher rate of contracting skin cancer. The risk of skin cancer jumps up 75% in people who start regularly tanning before the age of thirty.

In fact, in February the American Academy of Pediatrics announced that laws should ban minors from going to tanning salons period. Just going outside in the sunshine is much healthier than going to a tanning salon, how the dangers of UV rays are still there so sunscreen should always be worn! However, sunless tanning is now a perfectly good alternative to tanning beds and tanning outside. Spray tans are low risk and inexpensive, as are tanning lotions and moisturizers that are available at any convenience store.

Prom is coming up, so teenage girls are prone to wanting that "healthy" summer glow. Just remember the dangers, and go sunless!

Is Fashion Racist?

Many fashion executives and insiders try to deny it, but whether or not they speak of it, racism is present in the fashion world. In an email to Iman, the prominent African-American model, Bethann Hardison, a model agent, questioned, "Did you realize that over the last decade, black models have been reduced to a category?"

The catwalks at high fashion runway shows today are filled with the white, Eastern European models that are popular right now with designers. And while there is no question that the models are beautiful, many people are asking, "Wheres the diversity?"

While in most of the United States, diversity has increased since the seventies and eighties. However, in the world of high fashion models and designers, diversity has actually decreased. Whereas there used to be a plentiful amount of black models walking the runways, now designers only have one or two in a show. Model booker Neil Hamil was quoting as saying when asked about casting black models, "Well, we already have our black girl."

Co-founder of Premier Model Management, Carole White, was quoted as saying, "According to magazines, black models don't sell." White continued, "People don't tend to talk about it, but black models have to be so beautiful and perfect because we can't have a lot of diversity with black models; it's harder work for the agency because there's not so much on offer. White models can have more diversity."

However, just because there is a lack of diversity on runways does not mean there are no ethnic models. There is Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Selita Ebanks, and Chanel Iman. But the fact is that diversity is so far and few between, that unless you already have a name for yourself, it is nearly impossible to earn a living as an African American model.

The Downfall of a Fashion King

Fashion has several names that overshadow all others. Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Yves Saint Laurent, Gucci, Versace, and Dior. Since 1947, Dior has been a huge name among even the most distinguished high fashion designers. And since 1996, when John Galliano became Dior's Head Designer, Dior has become one of the most influential, controversial, and innovative brand names in the industry.

Galliano, although born in Gibraltar, spent most of his childhood in England. Even as a young child, he faced incredible obstacles blocking his way to success. He was bullied at his all boys school, as most of the young students there were antagonized by his creative sensibilities. In 1984 Dior graduated from Central Saint Martin's College of Art and Design and created his own label, and despite of his short-term success, he faced bankruptcy in 1990. After the failure of his line, he moved to Paris for a fresh start. His career had a rebirth in the "City of Lights", and in 1995  Bernard Arnault appointed him designer of Givenchy. 

He was the first British designer to head a French haute couture house. His first couture show as head designer of Givenchy received praise, and just like that Galliano was the rising star of the high-fashion world. A year later, Arnault moved Galliano to another French brand, Christian Dior. Controversy sparked at his appointment, as he was the first English designer to head the primarily French brand. 

However, Galliano proved his opposition wrong taking the fashion world by storm, transforming Dior with his flair for the theatric, which trickled both into his runway shows and his advertising campaigns. Many even say Will Ferrill's exuberant character in the cult movie "Zoolander" was inspired by Dior. Celebrities fell in love with his fantastical fashion, however his name in the fashion world would soon be trampled.

On February 25th, 2011 Dior announced that they had suspended Galliano after he was arrested for an alleged anti-Semitic rant in a Parisian bar. The Sun soon released a video of Galliano shouting violently at a group of Italian women, shouting, "I love Hitler... People like you would be dead. Your mothers, your forefathers would all be f*****g gassed."

Natalie Portman, the face of Dior's popular "Miss Dior Cherie" fragrance stated once she had heard of the incident, "I am deeply shocked and disgusted by the video of John Galliano's comments that surfaced today.... I hope at the very least, these terrible comments remind us to reflect and act upon combating these still-existing prejudices that are the opposite of all that is beautiful."

And Portman is not alone in her disgust. Many other influential figures in the fashion world have expressed their disdain, such as Karl Lagerfeld, who stated, "I'm furious that it could happen, because the question is no longer even whether he said it. The image has gone around the world. It's a horrible image for fashion, because they think that every designer and everything in fashion is like this."

However, there are some still defending Galliano. Stylist and costume designer Patricia Field commented "It's theater. It's farce. But people in fashion don't recognize the farce in it. All of a sudden they don't know him. But it's OK when Mel Brook's The Producers singing 'Springtime for Hitler.'"

On March 1st Dior announced that it had dismissed Galliano, and the brand's chief executive stated, "I very firmly condemn what was said by John Galliano." The executive further commented that, "The House of Dior confirms, with great firmness, its policy of zero tolerance for any anti-Semitic or racist comments."

Galliano denied the claims made against him, but apologized "unreservedly" for his behavior. He is believed to have left Paris, and France altogether. He has reportedly checked into a rehab clinic in Arizona, pending his court trial. Prosecutors charged the famous designer with making racist and anti-Semitic remarks, and could face as much as six months in prison a a fine of $31,500.

One thing the incident did make clear, even the most influential of people are not infallible. The fashion world has lost an icon, and thousands of fashion-influenced youths have lost a mentor.

Grammys Fashion: Whimsical, or Just Plain Weird Weird?

Every year from about December to March is known in the fashion and celebrity world as "award season". Some of the more popular award shows are the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild Awards, the Oscars, the Emmys and of course, the Grammys.

The Grammys are the olympics of all the music award shows, putting the MTV Video Music Awards and the American Music Awards to shame. However, the most defining part of the award show may not be the actual music, but the fashion. Every year the fashion gets more wild and outrageous, and dare I say, just plain weird?

For example, Rihanna's outfit.

What the heck is she wearing? If the whole dress were that white, fluffy, cotton-ball resembling material than it would not have been that bad. But it looks like a five-year-old stole his mother's scissors and decided to "improve" the dress. How is it okay for a dress to show that much skin? Is that even legal to be on television? Please, Rihanna... I know you are rebellious and daring, but next time just put on some clothing!

And how about Nicki Minaj?

I don't even mind the dress. Sure, its about a hundred feet too much leopard print, but what is really bothering me is the hair. I was not aware the Bride of Frankenstein hairstyle was fashionable. Minaj said of her outfit, "Its fashionista meets fabulosity." I have to say, I'm not seeing the "fabuolosity."

I know that singers are more daring in their fashion choices than actors and models, but should they keep their "daring" outfits for their stage performances only?

These outfits were only the lead up to the biggest "huh?" of the night. There had been great anticipation over what Lady Gaga was going to wear to the award show as she has always employed, shall we say "interesting" fashion techniques. And when I say interesting, I mean somewhat bizarre. I'm not sure I've ever seen a recent picture of Lady Gaga where she is in less than full theatrical makeup and a bizarre headpiece, not to mention a pair of high heels at least five inches high.

However, this time Lady Gaga outweirded even her infamous meat, and I mean literally raw meat, dress. At about five pm on Sunday, Gaga arrived to the award shows not in a fancy hair piece or some innovative, fashion forward dress, but an egg. An actual egg.

Apparently the famous pop singer was "incubating". Not really sure what she meant by that, but she was quoted as saying, "I was in the vessel for about seventy-two hours and it was a very creative experience and it was time for me to prepare and really think about the meaning of the song. I really wanted to be born on stage."

So, are Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, and Lady Gaga years ahead of their time fashion-wise? Or are there attention-getting outfits just that, worn purely for press? One thing is sure, the Grammy Awards are the only place where celebrities could get away with such outrageous outfits. As odd as some of the outfits are, I for one cannot wait to see how the artists top themselves next year!

The Skinny on Fashion's "Little" Problem

People are exposed to fashion everyday, whether in magazines and newspapers, on the streets, or on television. People look to these magazines and television show to see the latest trends, and they follow them religiously. Skinny jeans, jeggings, leather jackets; the minute people see the newest trend they go out and buy it. What is fashion's most popular and influential trend? A size 0.


Size zero is the new standard in modeling, and the kids and teenagers who see those models on television and in photo spreads see that size and think they have to conform to it. It is just in the past few decades that this size has become the new desirable one, in fact, one of the most recognizable models in all of history, Marilyn Monroe, was a size 8! That would be considered plus-size in the current modeling history.

Models are turned away by designers if they aren't a certain size, and the pressure on models to weight a certain number is not decreasing. If anything, its increasing. In fact, on November 17th, 2010, a French model named Isabelle Caro died after two weeks in a hospital with acute respiratory disease. While the exact cause of her death is unknown, at the time of her death she was 5'5 and weighed 73 pounds, and at her lowest weight she weighed 55 pounds. The ideal weight for a 5'5 woman is 125 pounds, 52 pounds over Caro's weight at the time of her death. And while her case is an extreme case, there are less extreme but equally important examples. 

Ralph Lauren made headlines in 2009 when one of his ad-campaigns featured a model photoshopped to look impossibly skinny. The website Photoshop Disasters put up a post with the photo, titled "Dude, Her Head's Bigger than Her Pelvis." This image will be read by thousands of teenage girls in middle school, high school, and college and this is the standard they will measure themselves by. 


The reality of the  matter is that size 0 is not an attainable, realistic, or healthy size for most women. Anorexia is the third most common chronic illness among adolescents, 80% of 13 year old girls have dieted, and 50% if girls between 13 and 15 believe they are overweight. It is estimated that right now, 8 million Americans have eating disorders. 


The cost of Anorexia is great. Eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any illness. Only 1 in 10 people with eating disorders get treatment, and treatment can cost anywhere from $500 to $2000 per day. 


However, slow progress has been made against eating disorders in the fashion world. Many fashion week events are starting to have weight restrictions, banning models who are underweight. However, more needs to be done so that young girls can have healthier women to look up to.