Tisk, tisk!! Dolce and Gabbana Controversy! Oh my!

Dolce & Gabbana Controversy

Image taken from Swide.com Apparent inspiration.

Dolce and Gabbana's Spring 2013 collection has caused quite a stir. Models walked down the runway with colorful dresses, some had the image of a black woman printed or woven on the front. Some of the models wore dangly earrings with a black woman wearing a head-wrap hanging from a colorful clasp or hook.  To say the least, these imaged caused a stir. What also seemed to add fuel to this particular fire was the lack of color on the runway, and I'm not talking about the clothes here. I really don’t know what to think about this collection. (Actually, I kinda LOVE it, but that is beside the point, there is this part of me that doesn't know if I should feel guilty for loving it. Keep reading...) I have spent the past few days, reflecting, talking with my most intellectual friends, and procrastinating writing this blog post. I do believe it is important to discuss these types of issues, and I think it is important we acknowledge this type of imagery, and the power it continues to have. But especially after writing my post about Jean-Paul Lespagnard, and noticing how colorful the models he chose to represent his vision are, the issue with Dolce & Gabbana’s Spring 2013 collection becomes a bit more clear, for me anyway. Fashion, as an industry had a bit of a reputation for commodifying, and exploiting those who may perhaps be marginalized by more dominant cultural groups.

Photos by Vittorio Zunio, taken from www.huffingtonpost.com 

Dolce & Gabbana came out with a statement explaining their inspiration for the collection. So I read anyway.  However, The Huffington Post’s website took a poll to see if readers were offended by the collection, 61% said they were.

What appears to be the moral of the story, is that these images remind many of derogatory slave imagery that was used to humiliate and reduce people of color. Further, this imagery isn’t as old a many would like to claim. (Remember the Jim Crow era stretched into the mid 1960’s, 47 years ago.) Julee Wilson’s article on the Huffington Post website asks valid questions and bring to mind interesting points. Take a peek, tell me what you think…

Links!

Statement about Dolce & Gabbana's collection: To be honest I have no idea who wrote this and where or not it is on behalf of the fashion house. But here is it. 

http://www.swide.com/luxury-magazine/Faces/Artists/caltagirone-ceramics-in-ss-2013-women-fashion-show-dolcegabbana-collection/2012/9/23

Link to Julee Wilson’s article on the Huffington Post's website:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/dolce-and-gabbana-racist-earrings-_n_1914455.html#slide=1568583

Jean-Paul Lespangnard = XTRA NEW-NEW!

Jean-Paul Lespangnard- Um…Yes Please!!

As I was sitting at my desk, with my overpriced Mango Jasmine candle I purchased at Anthropologie (if I use it then it wasn’t a waste of money), procrastinating because I didn’t exactly know what I want to say about this…(UH, look at the earring, everyone's abuzz)

Check out the article and more pictures here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/09/26/dolce-and-gabbana-racist-earrings-_n_1914455.html  

                                         

I went to the V Magazine website to lust after and fantasize about other stuff when I stumbled upon this…

OHMYGOD

I absolutely adore this! 

Bright matte red/orange lips, daring opaque glasses, chunky natural fibers, bright bold prints, fun accessories, beautiful models and an interesting location; Belgium designer Jean-Paul Lespagnard is giving me everything I need and wanted that I didn’t even know I needed and wanted yet for spring 2013! I honestly had never heard of him until…about a half hour ago.  Apparently he has a background in theater and dance, he’s a visual artist, and stylist. He collaborated with Anna Sui for two collections and presented his own collection during Paris Fashion Week in March 2011. So he’s NEW-NEW. He’s fresh, imaginative, and daring! I am so excited! Check out his website and pictures I have posted below. Hope you enjoy as much as I am!

Photos from V Magazine: http://www.vmagazine.com/2012/09/jean-paul-lespagnard-spring-2013/

Jean-Paul Lespanard's website: http://www.jeanpaullespagnard.com/time.html

 He made the clothes for Yelle's 2011/2012 album and tour. Look familiar?

Jesus is a Biscuit and Gospel's Always Touchy

Jesus is a Biscuit, Let Him Sop You Up!

Thank you Sister Latrice. As I was browsing the intera-web today, I came across this article written by Rev. Wil Garney, Ph.D., andIamsogladIdid. I adore finding articles written by intelligent, mentally healthy people who acknowledge the world outside of academia and find that external world to be as stimulating as their books and theory. I’m not saying that this never happens, but college courses on Sex and the City, or Judge Judy just don’t hold the same weight as a black women, with a Ph.D. who also happens to be a religious leader, speaking on the marvelous significance that drag queens bring to our culture in a thought provoking manner. Yes bitch, give me more! Because they do, and using their amazing, sequin infused glory to talk about and question the holy, glowing glory of scripter is everything I ever needed in church.  Further, I appreciate someone speaking about the contributions of the Drag Queen beyond the basic fact that they are men who remarkably look like women (or women who look like men, but really we are getting in too deep for our comfortably oblivious groups, who might stumble upon this rambling). I would say, “Yeah…Duh, that’s the point.” but believe it or not, that is usually as far as some of the conversations I have tried to foster about RuPaul’s Drag Race have gone.

Really I digress, and I’m getting away from the spirit of the article.

My point is Rev. Garney makes a connection between Drag Queens and Jesus that is humbling, informative, and inspiring if we allow ourselves to think about her point objectively. Maybe this is not what she meant, per se, but basically, Jesus called some lady a bitch. In the Bible. Now, we could argue,  “It’s stressful being Jesus, so doesn’t he get a free pass? He just need to call some hoe a bitch, tell her to quit whining, figure the shit out, cause really “aint no body got time for that” and call it a day. Right?” But Rev. Garney argues that the woman provided an amazing example of female badassness even way back when.  In the passage she presents us, the women Jesus tried to read channeled her inner Latrice Royal, and stood up to Jesus and confronted his bigotry. Jesus a Bigot? I recommend you read the article. 

***UPDATE: Apparently this article encouraged strong points of view. I would love for people to post what they thought of the article in the comments. Good clean arguing never hurt anybody!

"What I Learned From Drag Queens About the Gospel"- Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-wil-gafney-phd/what-i-learned-from-drag-queens-about-the-gospel_b_1880114.html

All in All I deeply appreciate writing like this, it’s the type of Bible study I wish I had, and I hope to read more from Reverend Garney in the very near future. Enjoy the links; some are more related than others. 

Link to Logo Tv to watch sum RuPaul and her Goils:

http://www.logotv.com/

And you can follow Rev. Wil Garney, Ph.D on Twitter:

WilGafney 

The Complexities of a Creative Spirit: Alber Elbaz for Lanvin Paris

The Complexities of a Creative Spirit: Alber Elbaz for Lanvin Paris

Photography by Rene & Radka, WSJ Magazine

Let’s take a minute to talk about Alber Elbaz.  I find many fashion blogs gush over the clothes (and let us be honest, the clothes are Faboosh!) but they never, NEVER talk about the people who make them. 

Although I am not in a position to afford Lanvin for myself, I do frequently stalk the inter-web looking, and lusting for Elbaz’s creative masterpieces.  Lanvin is one of those labels that (especially as of 2001) always present a fantasy I can lose myself in.

Lanvin Winter 2012 Campaign, Lanvin Paris Website

The September issue of WSJ magazine featured an article edited from an interview with Julia Reed. In it, Elbaz speaks directly about his creative process. I love these types of articles and thank God there are people out there that believe this type of questioning is as important and interesting as I do, especially people with the resources to actually talk to creative masterminds. Lord knows there is plenty of vapid commentary about clothes and shoes. But Reed’s interview with Elbaz gives a considerate and meaningful glimpse into the creative brilliance of Elbaz.

I think many imaginative people would identify with Elbaz’s thoughts.  There is a difficult balance one needs to accomplished, and for many of us, the ability to create objects brings a sense of fulfillment.  Not everybody understands this, but it is real.  I know my creative process has carried me through many difficult periods of my life. I know it will always be there for me; I will always have this need to create and work with my hands. I felt Elbaz spoke to this impulse during his interview.  He claims:

“I don't just buy the dresses somewhere and present them on the runway—I make them. Sometimes it takes me 10 hours to make one jacket, one skirt. The fact that you are touching something yourself brings emotion to it. I was watching a chef on television and he took a lemon and squeezed it with his hand. He said that he could do it with a machine, but he felt that if he did it with his own hand the person eating the salad would be able to taste what he put into it. I put all of me into my work. This is all I have: I don't have kids; I don't have a family that I created. But I feel that every day I create a new family.”

Divine. What a beautiful and poetic notion? Individuals like Alber Elbaz are gifts bestowed to enrich our world. They inspire and move us. Their seemingly effortless work is born through tireless dedication, sacrifice and most importantly, love.

Kate Tepe

September 14, 2012

More from Winter 2012 Campaign:

Spring/Summer 2012

WSJ Magazine online:

Please READ MORE the link is below!   http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10000872396390443855804577601261382113568.html#ixzz26VIGp6HE

Lanvin Website: 

www.lanvin.com/#/en/news