Inspired By – Spring 2010

Spring is in the air and we are in great anticipation of the upcoming warm months. We couldn’t be more excited to shed our winter woolies and break out our new spring/summer wardrobes. It seems we’ve had endless seasons ruled by shades of gray and drab fabrications; we are thrilled to say the doom and gloom (both fashionably and economically) are on their way out. This spring we are inspired by new shapes, innovative prints, bold and happy colors, and really anything that brings a smile to our face. Pictured below are some of the items that have inspired us this season. What are you looking forward to this spring? What’s on your wish-list for next season?

Fashion Perversion?

In the fashion world, boundaries are pushed and lines blurred. In an industry based on selling an image, reality often gets skewed. That is certainly the case when it comes to sex and fashion. In case you haven’t heard, famed fashion photographer Terry Richardson has recently come under fire for his inappropriate behavior and alleged sexual misconduct. Apparently the photographer has been taking advantage of underage models during nude photo shoots. Terry Richardson has long been regarded as, a top fashion photographer with clients like Bazaar, Vogue, Tom Ford, Prada, and even H&M. He has also long been regarded as, a man with deviant sexual appetites and a fondness for teen models.

What has really gotten to us about this whole story is not the revelation that yet another man in authority is taking sexual advantage of a young girl, but rather the fashion world’s reaction to it. We have seen and heard things like, “Oh well, that’s just how fashion works” or “That’s just him, he means no harm, he’s eccentric” or “Everyone knows he’s flirty but he does it openly and these girls take it, they get famous and he gets paid, so who cares?” It’s shocking to us that these sorts of “boys will be boys” excuses are still around in 2010. The notion that artists needs to be given free reign, so as not to inhibit their craft is ridiculous. Richardson’s photography would be no less beautiful if he were required to behave professionally on set. Really there is no reason at all, that this type of behavior should be tolerated and the fact that so many fashion insiders think he deserves a pass because it’s part of the “business” is disgusting. There is no reason for anybody to be treated this way and whether or not what he did was technically illegal, it is still wrong. Being talented is not an excuse for being an asshole.

We were happy to see some sanity in this mess thanks to the brilliant team at Jezebel. To read their articles click here, here, and here. They also shared some further Richardson stories from readers, like:

A woman who is friends with a stylist who used to work with Richardson. “She quit because of having to watch him sexually harassing/abusing two (naked) teenage Eastern European models who didn’t speak English — she didn’t speak up, and was so ashamed I don’t think she did anymore styling for quite a while afterwards.”

An anonymous ex-subject, who wrote from an anonymous e-mail address and did not reply to follow-up questions, said she posed for Richardson after she lost her job at a coffee shop and needed money. She claims she thought she would be shooting “artful nudes”:

He first asked me to play with myself, and just made really creepy demands.

He said it wasn’t pornish because he was shooting still shots, and when I said that I felt like he was seeing if I was just dumb, he handed me the camera and said, “Fine you should [shoot] me playing with myself.”

I mean his assistants were like, “Do you think all these celebrities would take pictures with him if it was porn?”

This kind of thing is just reprehensible and it is time to stop making up excuses for illegal and predatory behavior on the basis of talent. And yes, Dov Charney and Roman Polanski we’re looking at you too!

Fashion Director Contest

We got the scoop about a design contest courtesy of Macy’s and the prize is a $500 gift card! Just in time for spring shopping, this contest is awarding prizes everyday for the whole month. This will be a no-brainer contest for all our design professionals and our dear fashion blogger friends will excel in getting the voting numbers needed. So we encourage you all to check it out. Here’s more details from Macy’s:

Macy’s called *FASHION DIRECTOR DAILY FASHION CHALLENGE*; a 30-day contest

that lets fashionistas put it all together. By mixing and matching the

right pieces around a daily theme, participants get the chance to win a $500

gift card every day. The interactive outfit maker at

www.macys.com/fashiondirector lets you combine the season’s hottest fashions

and accessories to style, shop, and share the perfect look. From putting

together an outfit for a blind date to selecting the perfect look for a big

work presentation, the challenges will mirror everyday situations, as well

as special occasions.

Using the mix and match tool, participants can virtually select pieces to

create unique outfits ideal for the challenge of the day. Suggested pieces

from Macy’s Spring 2010 collections will help those in need of guidance.

Are you up for the fashion challenge? Here is how it works –

· Build the perfect outfit by dragging pieces to the virtual canvas

until you are satisfied with the look

· Once completed, click submit to enter your outfit into the voting

gallery

· Share your look on Facebook and Twitter and invite your friends

and family to vote for your outfit

· The outfit that gets the most votes each day will win that day’s

challenge and a $500 Macy’s gift card

Macy’s FASHION DIRECTOR DAILY FASHION CHALLENGE is a 30-day contest that lets fashionistas put it all together. By mixing and matching the right pieces around a daily theme, participants get the chance to win a $500 gift card every day. The interactive outfit maker at lets you combine the season’s hottest fashions and accessories to style, shop, and share the perfect look. From putting together an outfit for a blind date to selecting the perfect look for a big work presentation, the challenges will mirror everyday situations, as well as special occasions.

Using the mix and match tool, participants can virtually select pieces to create unique outfits ideal for the challenge of the day. Suggested pieces from Macy’s Spring 2010 collections will help those in need of guidance.

Are you up for the fashion challenge? Here is how it works –

• Build the perfect outfit by dragging pieces to the virtual canvas until you are satisfied with the look
• Once completed, click submit to enter your outfit into the voting gallery
• Share your look on Facebook and Twitter and invite your friends and family to vote for your outfit
• The outfit that gets the most votes each day will win that day’s challenge and a $500 Macy’s gift card