Halloween Costumes That Prove the Food-Sex Connection Has Gone Too Far

October 28, 2014, 10:04 am

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Photos courtsey of Yandy.com

I have been watching the over-sexualization of food with curious interest for several years now. My first hint of it was when Seinfeld character George Costanza's ultimate goal was to eat a pastrami sandwich and have intercourse contemporaneously.

Then the Food Network introduced food filmography so crisp and tantalizing that even when the cameras zoom in on Giada de Laurentiis' breasts, viewers lean to the side to get a better look at the ravioli next to her.

Yes, food is sensual. Sex sells food. Food sells sex. But we're taking it too far. We're Instagramming pictures of our lunches like we're mainlining porn. In a recent Cosmopolitan issue, a woman asked for advice on the best way to stack donuts on her "guy's" penis. Incredibly, no one advised this woman, "Girl, you're not horny, you're freakin' hungry. Get the donuts off his dingdong and grab a sandwich."

It used to be that food was intimated to enhance the sexual experience. Now, it seems that sex is enhancing the food experience.

Let's face it: It's okay to see Mickey Rourke feeding Kim Basinger noodles in 9 1/2 Weeks -- but we don't want to see him dice some mushrooms, mix in some chicken soup and make a noodle casserole on her lap and bake it at 350 for 45 minutes. Or do we? If these Halloween costumes are any clue, people would rather cuddle up with a peppercorn brisket than a naked human. Are we a nation so obsessed with food that dressing women like this is a good idea? For people who are too lazy to be obsessed with sexy women AND food, there's a happy solution that obviates the need to choose: women dressed like sexy food.

SEXY PIZZA:



What the heck is the inferential leap between pizza and sex? Except for the old adage that even when they're bad they're kinda good? Except that the triangle points to her crotch? This is the dream costume for the hungover frat boy who doesn't know whether to summon up enough energy to eat or hook up with his girlfriend before doing some Jaeger shots.

SEXY FRENCH FRIES:



Look. Look at this costume. She has "hot fries" stamped on her vajay-jay. Has the man who designed this never seen female genitalia? Did he see one once, and it had been in a bizarre thresher accident? Lady parts don't look like French fries. They're not supposed to be juxtaposed with French fries. They're not supposed to ever, ever make anyone think, "French fries." Ever.

SEXY HAMBURGER:



We just had French fries. Now a burger. This is a costume for someone who's too lazy to get up and just wants a drive-thru Happy Meal.

SEXY RONALD McDONALD:



I stand corrected. This is a costume is for someone who just wants a Happy Meal. And apparently wants a woman dressed as a man dressed as a clown who sells said Happy Meal.

And for the hyper-aroused vegan in all of us, may I present...

SEXY CARROT:


Because it's clearly the hottest of all the root vegetables.

Finally, for people who don't care about food, sex or much of anything anymore, and just want to fall asleep in underwear while watching ShamWow infomercials, we have...

SEXY BOOZE:



Yes. Yes. That dress does say "Drink Up: Triple Pissed." And they've added a Jackie Kennedy pillbox hat to the costume -- because every spandex liquor bottle dress should have a touch of class.

Who ever thought I'd miss the good old days of women using Halloween as a time to dress like slutty nurses, slutty cops and slutty Joe Bidens?

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Witch Is the New Black: How to Dress Like Your Favorite Sorceress

October 28, 2014, 11:37 am

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This week you will likely be seeing far more black and pointy witch hats than you're used to, but it doesn't need to be Halloween for you to dress like the sartorially conscious sorceresses that haunt your television screens.

Whether your style icon is a good witch, or a bad bitch, they all differ in powers and appearance, each distinct in her own way. These enchanting and wicked ladies show us you don't need to be a "Supreme" to look like one.

From Coven:

Madison Montgomery, The Troubled Starlet


Coat by Elizabeth and James, Top by T by Alexander Wang, Turban by Jennifer Behr, Clutch by Edie Parker, Skirt by T by Alexander Wang, Shoes by Alice and Olivia


Misty Day, Stevie Nicks Worshipper


Kimono by Anna Sui, Top by Free People, Necklace by Isabel Marant, Bag by Wendy Nichol, Skirt by Free People, Shoes by Rondini


Fiona Goode, The Supreme In All Her Glory


Hat by Eugenia Kim, Blazer by Roland Mouret, Bag by Christian Louboutin, Sunglasses by Prada, Skirt by Acne, Shoes by Christian Louboutin


Sabrina, The Teenage Witch


Backpack by Opening Ceremony, Top by Reformation, Choker from Claire's, Hair Chopsticks from Claire's, Skirt from Nasty Gal, Shoes by Jeffrey Campbell


Bellatrix Lestrange from Harry Potter


Dark Mark Temporary Tattoo from Amazon, Dress by Dolce and Gabbana, Ring by Unearthen and The Wild Unknown, Corset Belt by Deborah Drattell, Boots from Nasty Gal, Bird Skull Necklace from Etsy


Sarah Sanderson from Hocus Pocus


Beaded Jacket by Cleobella, Corset from Modcloth, Necklace by ManiaMania, Book Clutch by Olympia Le-Tan, Skirt by Etro, Shoes by Ivylee

Halloween Skin Care Treats That Are Anything But Spooky

October 28, 2014, 2:10 pm

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By David Pollock for GalTime.com

During October, it's easy to get lost in childhood memories of Halloween. The costumes! The candy! The scary movies!

But when was the last time you really celebrated the holiday?

Here's an idea - have a "Mummy" Halloween party! After the kids hit the hay, ask your friends to come on over with their favorite scary movie, candy, or drink.

Before grabbing the popcorn and cuddling on the couch, spend some time in the kitchen brewing up Halloween skincare treats. The recipes below will transform dry skin...preventing you from feeling like a monster this season!

JACK-O-LANTERN PUMPKIN SUGAR FACE SCRUB
Did you know that you probably have one of the best natural skin healers and moisturizers sitting on your front porch? Pumpkin! It's chock full of good-for-your-skin vitamins.
Using a small bowl, have each person mix 1 cup of raw sugar and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add ¼ cup of pumpkin pie filling. Apply to face, rubbing for at least one minute, but not more than two. Rinse for a revived, clean complexion!

MONSTER PEEL-OFF MASK
Combine ½ cup of fruit juice with 1 packet of un-flavored gelatin in a small pan. Heat to dissolve the gelatin, then let the mixture cool until it is almost set. Apply to the face and neck, letting it dry completely before peeling off.

After you've all revealed your fresh new faces, why not put a beauty spell on your friends - toast the night to the "mummies" in your life, open a bag of candy, and enjoy a movie!
When the party is over, send your friends home with the bubble bath favor below. It's sure to be a Halloween hit!

"MUMMY TIME" BUBBLE BATH
First, get enough small plastic bottles for each guest from the craft store. Next, tear muslin, gauze, or cheesecloth into strips several inches long.

Dip the strips one at a time in modge podge or watered down school glue, then wrap the bottles to "mummify" them.

Use small white stickers to design "Mummy Time Bubble Bath" labels. Now you're ready to make the bubble bath:

Ingredients:

• 4 cups water


• 1 cup liquid castile soap (unscented)


• 2 Tablespoons glycerin


• A few drops frankincense essential oil


• In a large bowl, slowly add the liquid castile soap, glycerin, and essential oil to water. Pour into the bottles and you're done! If your guest list is large, you may need to make multiple batches. It's a fun project, so why not get the kids to help?

More from GalTime.com:
8 Tips to Prevent Overindulging (Again) on Halloween Treats
Skin Care Tips for the Changing Seasons
3 Fall Makeup Trends To Try NOW
White Chocolate Pumpkin Pie Fondue

Weekly Roundup of eBay Vintage Clothing Finds

October 28, 2014, 2:12 pm

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No time to page through thousands of eBay listings? Then just sneak a peek at my weekly eBay roundup of top vintage clothing finds.

This eclectic mix of designer and non-designer vintage clothing and accessories caught my discerning eye because of its uniqueness, contemporary feel and highly collectible nature.

As always, buyer beware! Be sure to read the listings closely and contact the sellers with any questions.

This week's Roundup includes items by Bonnie Cashin, Oleg Cassini, Burberry and Alfred Shaheen. Don't miss the Vivienne Westwood Seditionaries tee, the Robert Cavalli set, the Victorian cameo earrings, and the Originala leopard print coat.

GET READY, GET SET, BID!!!
(Click on Pic for More Info and Auction Links)

Which item is your favorite? Leave me a comment below to let me know.

To receive the eBay Roundup of Vintage Clothing Finds via email, sign up for Zuburbia's mailing list here. Your information will never be sold or shared and you can easily unsubscribe at any time.

DISCLOSURE: Editorial selections are made by Zuburbia with no direct promotional consideration from the featured eBay sellers however Zuburbia may receive revenue as an affiliate member of the eBay Partner Network.

PLEASE NOTE that Zuburbia does not endorse the use of fur, feathers, leather or animal skins in fashion. Any of these selections are offered only as more thoughtful and eco-friendly alternatives for contemporary fashionistas who have not yet eliminated animal products from their wardrobes or for collectors who are seeking to preserve these items.

Walk This Way: 3 Ways to Wear Over-the-Knee Boots

October 28, 2014, 3:02 pm

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On the catwalk, over-the-knee boots always seem to look effortlessly sexy and never overdone, but in real life these sky-high numbers tend to be harder to pull off. Whether you're planning on pairing yours with a micro mini, a sweater dress or some of your favorite skinny jeans, you'll want to assure you're making the right statement. After all, what woman in their right mind wants to invite a Pretty Woman reference?! Safe to say the answer here is none.
With that in mind, keep things classy with these three styling tips.



Opt for a chunky sweater or flowy dress that hits right at mid thigh and gives a little breathing room between your boots and your hemline. The dress should hug your curves without looking like its painted on. Remember, whether you pull on a pair of high heels or keep things short and sweet, there should only be a small glimmer of your legs shown for a day appropriate look.

Get Sleeky


Choose a pair of boots that hit just above the knee to create a long, lean leg line with a pair of your most loved dark denim in a similar hue. As for the top, stick to a long sweater, or blouse that hit below the hip.

To complete your look reach for a cropped blazer, cardigan or moto jacket for a winning street style ensemble.

Skirt This Way


For a night on the town, reach for your favorite miniskirt or LBD and keep things classy by choosing a pair of boots that are either real leather or suede. For a less provocative daytime look, try pairing a pencil skirt that hits just below the knee with your over-the-knee boot for an appropriate and sophisticated spin on an otherwise overtly sexy look.

Feeling daring? Channel your inner fashionista with an edgy yet feminine outfit by rocking a timeless pair of over-the-knee boots with an icy white coat and leather mini skirt.

Follow these styling tips and you'll be turning heads and hearing, "Hey pretty baby with the high heels on..." in no time!

For more fashion tips visit my website here

DIY Disaster: The 5 Stages of Recovery

October 28, 2014, 5:17 pm

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Last week I had a spectacular sewing fail. In my mind I was making an incredible jacket, but one mistake led to another mistake and in then end I had spent $80 on materials and 12 hours on a hideous jacket that I will never wear. As with my (many) DIY disasters in the past, I had to go through 5 stages of recovery:

Stage 1: Denial

What you're thinking: I can fix this! I can tooootally fix this! It's going to be ok. I am going to take it apart a little and fix it. Oops, that didn't work. I'm going to try something else. Oops that didn't work. (Repeat until you've made an even bigger mess.)

What to do: STOP! Step away from the project. You are too close to the problem right now to see the solution. Go to bed. I know, you're wondering "wait, how did you know my disaster happened in the middle of the night?" Because 90 percent of DIY Disasters happen in the middle of the night, when you're tired but you're so close to finishing you can't stop now! Right now you need sleep, distance and perspective. You may be able to salvage your project, you may not, but you won't know until you sleep on it. If you have slept on it and have figured out a way to salvage your project, then congratulations! Try not to gloat too much in front of the rest of us, because we're moving on to Stage 2 and we might hurt you.

Stage 2: Anger

What you're thinking: $#@&*%!!!

What to do: Swear. If there was ever a time for bad language it is now, and science backs me up on this. In 2009 Dr. Richard Stephens of Keele University conducted a study that found that the use of swear words can help with physical pain. You can read more about the study HERE. You may not be in physical pain (unless your project included the use of a glue gun, in which case you probably have second degree burns on several fingers), but the emotional pain from a DIY fail can be intense. Swearing just might help! Just make sure there are no small children around, or else your 2-year-old's first potty word could be "S#*T!" (ask me how I know).

Stage 3: What Am I Gonna Do Now?

What you're thinking: My project is a failure and you told me to step way from it, so what do I do now?

What to do: Pour yourself a drink. Self care is very important in a time like this. The simple act of pouring yourself a drink and allowing yourself the time to sit and enjoy it will help you calm down. The type of drink is up to you, hot tea, diet coke or a coffee are all solid choices. If I were you, however, I'd go for a stiff drink. I'm not saying that alcohol is crucial to this process, I'm just saying that when life gives me lemons, I make lemonade. And then add vodka.

Stage 4: What a Waste!

What you're thinking: I spent so much money on supplies, and hours of my time (which is priceless) on this project!

What to do: The bad news is: your money and time are gone, and I cannot get them back for you. The good news is: it wasn't wasted! I want you to imagine that instead of spending the money and time on a project, you had spent it on a class. And in that class, you learned some valuable lessons. I bet you won't make those same mistakes on a new project, because unlike the information you learn in a class, you will never forget what you learned from this experience. It is burned in your brain forever.

Stage 5: Acceptance

What you're thinking: In the grand scheme of things, a this is not a huge deal. I'll try again.

What to do: You are now safe to try again! You are past your anger and frustration. Your new project will not be tainted with the mistakes of your DIY disaster because you learned from them. Only a seasoned DIY failure will understand what you went through, so it's best to put on a brave face to the world and only talk about this hellish experience with the others in the DIY community. They will commiserate, and maybe share some of their fails with you. I wish you good luck on your next DIY adventure, and if (when) you make new mistakes, please refer to Step 1.

Do you have a spectacular DIY fail? Comment below!

This post originally appeared on Alida Makes.

The Normalization of Cosmetic Surgery

October 29, 2014, 5:53 am

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The widespread shock and condemnation of Renee Zellweger's "new face" would have you believe that no man or woman would ever fall victim to her fate. Meanwhile, over 11 million surgical and non-surgical cosmetic procedures were performed last year in the US alone. And, according to the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ASAPS), the trend will continue to rise as it has since the 2008 recession, when people began "investing in themselves once again."

What's really going on out there and how do we reconcile this apparent contradiction? The truth is, cosmetic surgery is becoming normalized and its rising popularization both entices and scares us. The answer as to why can be found somewhere between the change in consumer psychology and a shift in how providers market their services.

We have been living in a youth- and beauty-obsessed culture for a long time now, so long that we barely blink at the constant barrage of air brushed and photo-shopped images that reinforce it. The yearning for an ideal image is presented as an imperative. The pressure is incessant. While men feel some of it -- accounting for about a million cosmetic procedures this year -- it compares to 10.3 million performed on women, who feel it more. In short, there is no escaping its influence.

Today, this pressure impacts the psychology of average, everyday people in ways that once largely did only those in the spotlight -- the rich and famous, models, actors and celebrities. Girls as early as age 6 report being preoccupied by the way they look, basing their standards of beauty on body perfection. Both boys and girls grow up surrounded by digitally altered imagery, expecting to look like what they see as they emerge into adults. Websites and reality shows tout life-altering effects from plastic surgery, making going under the knife a reasonable means to achieve beauty. Before and after photos present smoothed skin, newly shaped noses, uplifted round breasts, and flattened tummies, created as if by magic, convincing consumers of all ages that they too can have these transformations if they just find the money and doctor to do the job.

As cosmetic procedures have become fine-tuned, surgeons, dermatologists and cosmeticians are more comfortable offering them as a routine part of their patients' health care and beauty regimen. With less down time and fewer negative consequences, patients can look better and younger with minimal risk and without making radical changes to their appearance. While many providers are enthusiastic about being able to offer improved products and services, they also benefit from a culture driven by ideal imagery. These days, it's not uncommon to hear providers say, "make subtle changes, start early and you can avoid years of work later on." Those words to someone with body image issues are highly persuasive.

Cosmetic surgery is a booming and growing business, totaling more than $12 billion at last count, so marketing to all ages and both genders doesn't surprise me. Younger people now consider it in ways few did in the past. Teens who would have been candidates for surgery only to repair facial and body disfigurements, are now turning to it as a way of avoiding bullying. Twenty-somethings are enticed by alterations to enhance self-esteem or to get a leg up on the competition personally and professionally. It's not hard to imagine youngsters begging their parents for surgery much the way they now ask for a new wardrobe or a cool car to feel more socially desirable. While surgeons hesitate work on patients under 18 (it requires parental consent), this trend will continue to rise as surgery is viewed as a potential solution to adolescent and millennial angst.

For the "more mature" person, by whom I mean the 30-plus crowd, cosmetic surgery is currently being marketed less to change the way they look, and more to help them look the best they can. This shift was in large part due to baby boomers who reacted negatively, or at least with great ambivalence, to the puffed up faces and dramatic facelifts that beleaguered their generation. Surgeons and dermatologists responded by encouraging them to achieve the "rested, refreshed" look, a way to match the outside with the inside. These less drastic procedures that promise shorter recovery times and fewer risks, have now filtered down to the boomers' babies.

With the popularization and accessibility of cosmetic procedures, we're potentially moving toward the homogenization of beauty, both in terms of physical features and ethnic differences. It's a slippery slope. How long will people with large ears, a crooked nose, a rounded body or small eyes (or for that matter, Asian looking ones) maintain these features and believe they can be attractive? Sounds like a bad science fiction movie -- "I'll take the Angelina lips please, and the Jennifer cheekbones" -- but if more people alter their appearance toward a narrow standard of beauty, will we create a culture of people who look increasingly similar? We already see this trend in the media, where actors and actresses look indistinguishable from one another, and may be the very thing that unnerved so many about Renee Zellweger. If we support the narrowing of acceptable physical features as adults, are we not fostering little tolerance for differences in future generations?

No doubt there are times when cosmetic surgery provides life-changing experiences. No one would argue against correcting congenital defects or repairing disfigurements resulting from accidents. And, there are times when altering physical features clearly improve one's lifestyle -- breast reduction and deviated septum correction are two common ones. There are even cases when the psychological discomfort brought on by premature signs of aging warrant minor work. But while I support all of these efforts, I'm opposed to surgery that promotes homogenized beauty.

Needless to say, I have mixed feelings about it, and take a stand in the middle. I am not copping out, but truly feel there are a variety of ways to enhance appearance, stay true to oneself, and mature with grace. To start with, we need a heightened awareness of available preventive measures that avoid premature aging -- like staying out of the sun, less alcohol and drug use. And, I completely support some new and improved dermatological techniques that enhance the health and beauty of women's skin -- daily moisturizers, sun block, Retina A creams and specialized laser treatments. But, I encourage women to become more accepting of the changes that come with age while doing what they can to look after themselves in healthy ways.

Attractiveness comes in lots of different shapes and sizes -- as does beauty at different ages -- but trying to turn back the clock is a never-ending and ultimately unwinnable battle. Finally, the notion that cosmetic surgery is a "simple beauty treatment" is a contradiction in terms, a paradox of sorts. Surgery is almost never simple, physically or psychologically, and the more we believe it's a solution to our beauty needs, the less beautiful we tend to feel.


*******

Vivian Diller, Ph.D. is a psychologist in private practice in New York City. She serves as a media expert on various psychological topics and as a consultant to companies promoting health, beauty and cosmetic products. Her book, "Face It: What Women Really Feel As Their Looks Change" (2010), edited by Michele Willens, is a psychological guide to help women deal with the emotions brought on by their changing appearances.

For more information, please visit my website at www.VivianDiller.com; and continue the conversation on Twitter @ DrVDiller.

For more by Vivian Diller, Ph.D., click here.

5 Things Guys Should Keep in Mind to Deal With Hair Loss Gracefully

October 29, 2014, 8:00 am

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Let's face it, none of us want to age but it is inevitable, and with that comes one of man's biggest fears: hair loss. You can either choose to deal it with in a graceful way or make an ass out yourself by growing hair to try to cover the bald spots or receding hairline. I think dealing with it "gracefully" is a much better way to go about it, so I did some research and collected precious information and pictures of successful and good looking men who are dealing with their hair loss with confidence. These short hairstyles will help you regain faith in your good looks and emphasize your strengths.



But first things first: Losing your hair is part of your genetic code. Yes, there are products on the market that can help with preventing hair loss but there has not yet been released anything that truly makes a cosmetic difference in hair regrowth. Which is to say you have to work with what you have, and short hairstyles will help you do that. Here's your game plan:

Get familiar with what you have and talk with your barber about what will be the best approach to cutting your hair. Short hairstyles tend to minimize the appearance of thinning hair; longer hair styles emphasize it.

Stop growing the sides of your hair to try to cover the top; by doing this, you are only drawing more attention to the bald spot.

Avoid wearing a hat. Covering the issue is like not dealing with it: the more you see yourself, the better you will become at embracing your new look. Plus your head needs to breathe, so the only reason you should be wearing a hat is for protection from the sun. Got it?

Regularly shampooing thinning or fine hair is necessary due to the fact that hair can become greasy very easily, which will make hair look patchy and even thinner. Overdoing it, on the other hand, can be bad as well, because you don't want to strip your hair of its natural oils. I recommend shampooing no more than three times a week, but if you want to shampoo more often, try using a dry shampoo.

Use a light pomade (a clay would be ideal) for a matte, non-greasy finish. Blow dry your hair for extra volume.

As always remember that a good hairstyle is about being confident and honest with yourself.

Check out the original article on AskMen for some examples of short hairstyles from the leading men in Hollywood, the fashion industry and television.

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Retail Chatter #8

October 29, 2014, 8:21 am

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What Happens to Luxury Brand Bottom Line When Your Athletic Wear Becomes Your Daywear?

From sneakers to leggings to hoodies to T-shirts and drop crotch pants, these are all items that have become staple pieces in most luxury brands collection, season after season. We've all seen this trend before, and thought that perhaps it would be gone by now, but instead, it has now become a lifestyle trend. Right now in stores these categories are responsible for most of the designers sell- thru business.

Stella McCartney's collaboration with Adidas since it launched in 2004 has grown to 790 point of sales worldwide 10 years later, and Lululemon, despite its controversy, was the first to seize the opportunity with the active wear trend in a big way. Sales increase from 2008-2013 topped more than 1 billion dollars and this growth will only continue as more designer brands like Givenchy, Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana keep adding more active wear to their collections.

I've seen more and more women and men, finish up their SoulCycle or yoga classes, and continue the day of errands, lunch or just hanging out, still dressed in exercise gear, and this look is not just happening in the USA, rather it has become global. As a matter of fact just recently on my flight from Europe, the amount of passengers flying in athletic gear, certainly out weighed the hours spent on the Lufthansa A380

Is everyone spending the $895 price tag for sneakers with the Chanel label, or $975 for the Givenchy sweat pants to hit the gym, or simply has this new casual become the lifestyle of the fashionistas? You certainly can't help yourself but to take notice of the ads online or in the magazines as well as the visual displays in the windows of luxury brand stores that display mannequins or models that were once decked out in cocktail dresses, gowns and suits that are now, replaced with more athletic looks like leggings, sweatshirts and sneakers.

According to the Boston based research firm Trefis, the global sporting apparel market which includes active wear is set to reach well over $178 Million by 2019, that makes plenty of room for new brands, and lots of others that have suddenly jumped on this bandwagon. Companies like SoulCycle have recently expanded their own line of apparel gear and have partnered with Shopbop, while Barry's Boot Camp teamed up with Bloomingdales, this is all to increase brand awareness in and out of classes.

This for sure is not a sign of the times just for women. More men in suits are trading in their dress shoes for the cool comfort of Nike, Adidas or more pricey brands like Tom Ford, Lanvin or Saint Laurent sneakers to conduct business, this is a far cry from casual Fridays.

I must admit, that I too no longer on weekends feel guilty running around in my gym clothes way after my morning workout is over, as long as brands continue to produce these items in a more fashionable way, by using better fabrics, improving the quality, fit and design. For sure with the comfort of these clothes, it's only natural that our athletic wear may soon become the new way of life.

What's Your Halloween Personality Type?

October 29, 2014, 9:27 am

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It's almost Halloween, the season of tricks, treats, parties and costumes. Whether you're a major Halloween enthusiast or just a fan of the two-for-one bags of fun-size Snickers, chances are, you've been asked one of the following questions this month:

• What are you being for Halloween?!
• How are you celebrating Halloween?!
• Are you excited for Halloween?!

Do you have answers to these questions? Maybe it's time to start thinking about it! One thing I do love about Halloween is that it's ever changing. Thanksgiving and Christmas traditions seem to carry from year to year -- you sing the same carols, bake many of the same recipes, and can count on your grandma to pinch your cheeks. But on Halloween, everyone puts on a mask and creates a new identity, the treats are varied, and the tricks get spookier. It's always different! So give yourself permission to be free and fun, if you want to! When you choose your costume this year, the real question is: what version of yourself do you want to let loose?

My friends and I have certainly let loose and worn some cool costumes over the years. What makes the holiday even more fun is that we're such different people, and our costumes always reflect us as individuals. Below are some examples of Halloween personality types and what each one can say about the person behind the mask:

1. The Jokester. Whoever's wearing this costume is probably the life of the party (or at least is hoping to be). Whether the costume is "punny" (like a "cereal killer"?! RIP breakfast food!) or just plain ridiculous (case in point: anyone with a squirt gun or whoopee cushion), the Jokester is letting the inner "funny guy" free, sending a message of "let's have a good time!"

2. The Repeater. You know the type. The Repeater is the friend who has one costume that works for them, so it makes an appearance every October 31st. There's nothing wrong with this, of course! The Repeater knows himself. He knows what makes him comfortable and likes to keep things simple.

3. The Minimalist. This guy or gal may really enjoy Halloween but might be too busy this year to have thought about it much before the morning of! (Likely suspects here include: new parents, the workaholics, and the "alright, you convinced me, I'll come!" guys) The Minimalist likely buys a pair of pointy black ears to accompany a black T-shirt, and...Voila! A Cat! Maybe the Minimalist is shy or busy, but given the fact that Halloween probably isn't their idea of a perfect evening, you've got to give them credit for participating.

4. The Traditionalist. These guys wear the costumes that are steadfast and true: ghosts, vampires, and witches. Oh My! Traditionalists like to create Halloween rituals and totally subscribe to the familiar seasonal tropes. We need these folks out and about on Halloween or else we'd be stuck with only funny characters and princesses roaming the streets on what's supposed to be the spookiest day of the year!

5. The Award Winner. Even if there's not an official costume contest going on, you can always spot the Award Winner. This type (often the creative type to begin with--actors, designers, writers, artists) are dressed to the nines, and no detail is ignored. There was likely lengthy preparation, hours of sewing, and a makeup artist involved in the process, and it paid off! If you're partying with an Award Winner, don't be surprised if people stop you on the street to snap a photo.

6. The Anti-Costumer. Some people simply aren't costume people, and even more so than the Minimalist, you'll find the Anti-Costumer. They might be the type to stay home with a mug of hot apple cider, preferring to marathon some horror films on TV. They might attend a party but not dress up. Or they might completely ignore the festivities of the day and wake up on November 1st without the sugar hangover we're all dreading. More power to them!

When it comes down to it, there's no right or wrong way to celebrate Halloween. But when you're planning this year, listen to your gut; is there a certain side of yourself that's itching to yell "Trick or Treat"!? Are you feeling more reserved or more adventurous? Is the same true in your overall life these days? Whatever you're feeling, allow your inner Award Winner or Minimalist or Whomever you wish to step into the spotlight, and take the opportunity to reflect on your choice. We'd love to hear from you, so be sure to let us know what your Halloween identity is this year. You might just surprise yourself!

Here's Proof That Tween Girl Halloween Costumes Are Way Too Sexed-Up

October 29, 2014, 10:12 am

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My daughter has officially entered the tween years -- and Halloween just got a hell of a lot more problematic.

In years past, her wishes to dress as a witch or mermaid or princess were pretty easy to fulfill. We went online, found a suitable girls' costume that would be warm enough for a chilly night of trick-or-treating, and ordered it. This year, though, the game has changed. Big time.

According to the costume manufacturers of America, once a girl child reaches double digits, it is officially time for the Halloween hoochification process to begin.

Just like that, your daughter's leopard costume options morph from loose-fitting onesie... to '80s p*rn star loungewear.

 

Got a wannabe tween Robin Hood on your hands? Your 11-year-old will have to steal a few more dollars from the rich if she wants pants for her costume.

 

Cleopatra is a great costume option for your girl -- at least until she hits the tween years. At that point, she'll have to settle for dressing as PharaHo.

 



 

 You'll feel like you're throwing your 10-year-old to the wolves by buying her a tween Little Red Riding Hood costume. Hey. It's all about realism, people.

 



 

Yarrrrgh. Just. Yarrrgh.

 

While the child's Little Miss Muffet costume is totally adorable, the tween version will barely cover your girl's tuffet.

I've been writing about inappropriately sexy tween and teen Halloween costumes for years, but now that my daughter is actually old enough to wear some of them, the subject really hit home -- particularly when I began comparing the child and tween versions side by side.

I realize that the teen costumes are even worse -- but I have a much bigger issue with sexy tween costumes. Teenagers, after all, have a growing understanding of (and preoccupation with) their sexuality. I believe that it's normal for teen girls to want to experiment with dressing provocatively, and Halloween is a prime opportunity for them to try to get away with it. As a parent, I may not like it -- and you can bet I'll do all I can to stop it -- but I absolutely understand it.

Ten-, 11- and 12-year-old girls, on the other hand, have no real comprehension of the message they're sending when they put on a sexy Halloween costume. By wearing it, they become players in a game that they're absolutely not ready in any way to play. I don't know of a parent who'd disagree with me on this -- and yet -- the only reason these slutty tween costumes are available year after year is that PARENTS ARE BUYING THEM FOR THEIR DAUGHTERS.

So moms and dads, can we just all stop this right now? Can we make a personal pledge to JUST SAY NO when our daughters ask us to order the child's French Maid costume in a size 8/10?

Oh yes, people.

IT'S A THING.

Could we maybe even, if we're feeling especially brave, use the widespread availability of these costumes as an opportunity to talk to our daughters about why they might be inappropriate for girls, even though MacKenzie and Harper and Terpsichord are all wearing them this year?

Could we all maybe do that please?

Pretty please?

No?

I didn't think so.

 
 

Keep up with all Lindsay's posts by following her on Facebook and Twitter.

 

Image credits: Forest Bandit: Spirit Halloween; Forest Lass: Costume Craze; Country Girl: Costume Craze; Dorothy Tween Costume: Spirit Halloween; Child Leopard Costume: Halloween Costumes; Tween Leopard Costume: Amazon; Kids Cleopatra Costume: Halloween Costumes; Tween Cleopatra Costume: Spirit Halloween; Child Little Red Riding Hood Costume: Costume Express; Tween Little Red Riding Hood Costume: Costume Craze; Girl Pirate: Costume Express; Tween Pirate Costume: Pure Pirate; Child Miss Muffet Cosume: Buy Costumes; Tween Miss Muffet Costume: Spirit Halloween

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Make It Work: An Interview With Project Runway Season 13 Finalist (and Fan Favorite) Emily Payne

October 29, 2014, 12:45 pm

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With the Project Runway Season 13 reunion show airing this week, I thought now would be a perfect time to catch up with my darling friend (and Season 13 finalist), Emily Payne, about her time as a contestant on the show this year and what life is like now that it's over.

Payne is a San Francisco-based designer and full-blown visionary. Overseeing two fashion houses of her own creation -- Leathertongue and Devon Rose -- and balancing motherhood and newfound mainstream television fame, Emily is riding the Project Runway rollercoaster with a level of grace fans of the show have not seen before. If you caught any of this season, you have no doubt already fallen head-over-heels in love with this sweet, talented creature.

Watch Emily Payne's pre-season designer home visit video, then read our chat below - and be sure to tune into Lifetime Thursday for the reunion. The trailer promises fireworks!




Logan Lynn: Hey Emily! Thanks for chatting with me today. Anyone who has been following your run on this 13th season of Project Runway knows that you took your final bow as a contestant on the episode just before the finale. How does it feel to finally be able to talk about it after having to keep so painfully quiet for so long?

Emily Payne: Well, my family already knew and the friends and random people who approached me afterwards had so many things to say themselves that I was left just nodding, smiling and saying "thank you". A lot of people seemed really passionate about the fact that they thought I should have gone to Fashion Week, and everyone thanked me for being gracious in my elimination and never becoming involved in the drama.

Lynn: Yes! Zen master realness. I keep going back and forth between feeling glad that you made it so close to the end and then feeling like that must also have been difficult on some level to be so close to the crown and then be eliminated. How has that been?

Payne: It's actually been ok. I pretty much knew halfway into the competition that I wouldn't be able to win because the judges just didn't appreciate my aesthetic -- but I also knew I had to just keep doing me because my main goal was to get my real work out in the public eye and get orders. I ended up getting overloaded with requests for the hoodie that I got eliminated for, and it ended up auctioning off with the highest bid for any of the designs that season, so I'm happy.


(Photo by Claude Shade)


Lynn: You played that just right, dude -- and, being a finalist/decoy, while they weren't televised, I know you got to enjoy some of those finale perks.

Payne: Yes! You still get to show your collection at Fashion Week and none of the press know who is actually still in the competition or not. So you still get all the exposure and, at that point, way less stress since you are no longer being judged.

Lynn: That sounds kind-of perfect, actually. What was getting to show at New York Fashion week like?

Payne: It was incredible! The funny thing is, I had written in my planner six months ago that I would be taking a trip to NYC to check out the collections this year and try to network. It made me smile when I saw that. I would have never guessed that I would actually be showing at fashion week instead of just watching!

Lynn: Well, I could have guessed that...but it's still so amazing. It seems like the exposure piece has been working so far, too. I saw that you were just photographed with Patricia Field and had a show in Benicia. Are things blowing up for you post-Runway?

Payne: Things have definitely become very busy, which I love. The worst thing for me is having an empty appointment calendar! The show in Benicia was so much fun. It was great hanging out with Richard Hallmarq from season 11, and the ladies who threw the show set myself and my daughter Devon up in a really cute hotel in downtown Benicia. It was a wonderful mother/daughter bonding and fashion weekend all in one.

Lynn: So sweet! Many moons ago when we were both living in San Francisco you had a line called Brick, as well as one called Minette. These days your design efforts are divided between your children's line, Devon Rose, and your killer women's line, Leathertongue. How would you describe each of these for a consumer who may not be familiar with your work?



Payne: Leathertongue is very hard-versus-soft. It's tough, but still has a femininity to it. I like minimal, sleek and sculptural looks. I use very expensive fabrics with a lot of texture and sheen and pay attention to all the little details of construction to make every piece special. The kids line "Devon Rose"is the mini version of my women's line but with a quirky, colorful edge to it.

Lynn: They are both gorgeous. This season on Project Runway you made a name for yourself not just for your forward-thinking looks, but also for the way you were so kind and welcoming to your fellow contestants and your grace with the judges. Even in times when they were critical of your work, you handled yourself beautifully - a rarity in the reality TV genre, and a refreshing change of pace for Project Runway fans. How did you stay so impossibly calm and lovely the whole time?

Payne: Well, thank you! I hate to say it, but I think it was easier for me because of age! (laughs) I'm just very fortunate to have a really strong, supportive family that I kept in my mind the whole time I was there. I also knew that my daughter would be watching and I wanted to set a good example for her.

Lynn: You set a good example for all of us, doll -- and other than a few very notable moments between a couple of the contestants, this year's group of designers seemed to really get along. Was this a surprise to you?

Payne: Yes! I felt very fortunate to be in a cast with so many nice people. I really thought I would be having to deal with a lot of cattiness and stupid drama. There really was very little to none of that.

Lynn: As a viewer, it seemed like the judges were generally harder on folks this year than in previous seasons -- and not particularly open to designs which may have strayed from the beaten path. I was pleased that you stayed true to your design aesthetic throughout, but did you feel that the judges were harder to navigate than you had expected?



(Photo by Isaac Trumbo)



Payne: Yes. Zac in particular...and his opinion mattered to me the most, since he was the only one of the judges that was actually a designer. It was nice that he appreciated my construction and noticed the little details, but for the most part he wasn't feeling me. It makes sense to me now, looking at his work. We have very different tastes.

Lynn: I am going to bite my tongue about all of the mean things I feel like saying right now. How was working with Tim Gunn as your mentor? It seemed like you two had a special thing going.

Payne: I really love and admire Tim. He is a genuine, good guy. I always noticed how he tried to say "hi" to everyone. I was so happy that he seemed to get me most of the time. It gave me the confidence to keep going.

Lynn: He totally loved you! Smart man. With the grand finale having just passed -- which was much less grand because you weren't there -- who were you rooting for? Did you have a favorite designer (or designers) this season?

Payne: I'm back and fourth on Amanda and Kini. I really wanted both of them to succeed because, not only are they very talented and hard working, but they are both really sweet people who deserved to win. They both possess the professionalism and dedication to take that $100,000 and really create something amazing! I hope to hang out with them in the near future.

Lynn: I'm guessing being away from your daughter Devon and husband Isaac (who I introduced you to many years ago) for so long was difficult, on top of the stress of the show. How has your reunion been with those two?

Payne: It was beautiful! They met me at the airport and Devon came running at me and jumped on me. Isaac rented a car and drove us to Saulsalito and we had lunch by the water. He couldn't stop staring and smiling, and Devon couldn't stop talking. (laughs)

Lynn: That sounds cute. What has been your favorite part of being on this season of Project Runway?





Payne: That's a hard one. I think my favorite part was just knowing that I was able to do it. I had been wanting to be on that show for so long, and I really thought that it was one of those dreams that would not be realized. Now I can say that I did it, and I'm proud of the results. It changed my life and I feel like it's been a really positive journey for me and my family.

Lynn: How has being suddenly thrust into the public eye been for you? Fame is a bit strange, no?

Payne: It is weird! I think I get noticed a lot more because of my hair.

Lynn: If the opportunity comes to be on Project Runway: All Stars, would you take it?

Payne: I would. It's different judges and now I know the routine.

Lynn: Who are some of your style heroes and fashion influences?

Payne: I am totally all about Haider Ackermann right now. He's so street and romantic at the same time. In the past it's been Isabel Marant, Jean Paul Gaultier and, in the beginning, Thierry Mugler. My favorite fashion movies are always Romantic period. I love the new Anna Karenina with Keira Knightley and Aaron Tyler Johnson. Cheri with Rupert Friend and Michelle Pfeiffer is beautiful to look at as well.

Lynn: Who would you love to collaborate with or hope to dress moving forward?

Payne: Alice Glass from Crystal Castles -- and I would love to make some guys stuff for you, Logan! You always wore the men's stuff I used to make for Brick so well!

Lynn: Oh my god. Sign me up. I'm guessing you have opportunities coming your way left and right! What can we expect from you next?

Payne: I'm working on a new kids collection which will be available for purchase online in Mid-November. It's being shot by an amazing kids magazine in Helsinki called Rawr. We have an "Indie go-go" campaign in the works to raise money to get our own brick and mortar boutique -- something my husband and I have always wanted to do. I'm also doing a new collection for the women's line which will debut on Valentines day at "Lovesick", Alexandria Von Brommson's show. I also try to get new items up every week in our Etsy boutiques, so make sure to check back often.



(Photo by Claude Shade)


For more on Emily Payne, follow her on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more on Project Runway, visit the official website, follow them on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

For more on Logan Lynn, visit his website, or follow him on Facebook and Instagram.

Is Eco-Fashion Full of Scrap? Watch and Find Out

October 29, 2014, 1:12 pm

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This new video from Tonlé, an ethical fashion brand in Cambodia, highlights a big problem in our world.... excessive waste. Tonlé's campaign points out that every year 100 million pounds of textiles worldwide are thrown away, which equals the weight of 14 cruise ships. By finding a way to use those fabric scraps to create new products, Rachel Faller and her team at Tonlé are able to create jobs, make products that appeal to the ethical consumer, and make money.... all from scraps that mainstream factories were going to throw away.



Another fashion brand that is designed to keep beautiful raw materials out of landfills is Elvis & Kresse, a U.K. based luxury line of bags and belts that are produced from recycled fire hoses. On a regular basis the U.K. fire department decommissions their old fire hose, meaning tons of hose is ending up in the landfill... or at least it was until Elvis & Kresse came along! They are able to not only save this material from landfills but also make Harrods-worthy products out of it, all while giving 50 percent of the profits back to The Firefighters Charity.

I tip my hat to these entrepreneurs who are finding ways to lighten our waste and make beauty from scrap. Visit Tonlé's Kickstater Page if you want to learn more about this problem in the fashion sector and to vote with your money by supporting more ethical brands.

Reforming Fashion By Making It More Eco-Conscious

October 29, 2014, 3:27 pm

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Are you one of those super environmental types who shops at Whole Foods and your local farmer's market, avoids GMOs and does your housekeeping only with eco-friendly soaps and detergents? I know a lot of people who fall into this category. But then when it comes to fashion, suddenly all their rules about purchasing products that are good for the earth fly away like a hat on a windy day. They're shopping at low-cost retailers like H&M or maybe paying attention to avoiding synthetic fabrics, but not really voting with their dollars in the way they do in every other domain of their lives.

Well, perhaps it's time to start paying attention to your clothing choices as part of the larger picture in terms of saving the planet. That's where LA-based eco-friendly label Reformation comes into play. Founded in 2009 by Yael Aflalo, Reformation is a lifestyle brand that uses sustainable fabrics to create feminine, limited-edition items that don't sacrifice style. As Reformation grows and gains popularity, Yael continues to change the way the industry defines green. I had the opportunity to interview her about her experience founding Reformation, what drew her to this project and her advice for other aspiring entrepreneurs.




Yael was inspired to create Reformation after witnessing harmful practices in the fashion industry such as overprinting look-books and throwing away leftover fabrics. "Fashion is the third most polluting industry in the world," she explained.

Reformation makes its clothing from three sustainable fabric sources: environmentally friendly and recycled content fibers, repurposed vintage clothing and excess fabrics made by other fashion companies. In so doing, Reformation significantly reduces its impact on water, materials and energy systems across the supply chain. For example, it takes about 200 gallons of water just to grow the cotton for a typical t-shirt. The Reformation Tencel tee uses just six gallons because Tencel is manufactured in a closed-loop process, which is also 200-300 times less toxic to our rivers and oceans. While a typical pair of denim jeans "cost" over 900 gallons of water, Reformation's vintage jeans only require about five gallons for washing and reprocessing.

The company designs, manufactures, photographs and ships from one location in downtown Los Angeles, which is the first sustainable sewing factory in the US. 100 percent of their electricity comes from renewable sources, and they offset all carbon emissions associated with shipping. Within the factory, everything from pens to cleaning products to packaging is eco-friendly. The three boutique store locations reflect these green initiatives by using recycled hangers, reusable tote bags and LED efficient lighting.




"I want to lead a movement towards a world where sustainable manufacturing is the status quo," Yael said. She enjoys knowing that she can make a difference in the world while still making consumers happy. "It's a no trade-off approach. Altruism and profits can be one and the same, and I feel rewarded by both. If we had more leaders approaching their careers with both altruism and financial gain in mind, I think the world would be a much better place."

When I asked Yael what advice she had for other aspiring entrepreneurs, she said, "The first rule is don't give up. If it's truly a difficult challenge, you will most likely fail a few times before you solve it. A lot of times people stop when they fail, and this is precisely when they should stick to it. When I look back on my career, there were more failures than I care to admit, but I didn't give up. I use failure as a means of motivation. I try to keep my mind as open and fluid as possible and I don't take any assumptions at face value. I may use solutions from other companies or industries I admire and apply their thinking to our challenge, but then I go with my gut."

Photo credit: Felisha Tolentino

Wedding Makeup: What Every Bride Should Know

October 29, 2014, 7:14 pm

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Gather 'round ladies (figuratively for effect). It has been a long journey planning your wedding and I know you are exhausted. It is finally time to finalize your makeup artist and so much of your budget has been poured into the caterers, the flowers, the gown, and those cute little napkin holders. While all these things are absolutely crucial to make your day perfect, your makeup is equally as important. Not only is the bride the main attraction at any wedding but the photos will last forever. In an effort to save money I have seen too many brides cut corners on their makeup and I cannot understand the reason behind not investing in this important aspect of your day. There is no doubt that all eyes will be on you- what you are wearing, your hair, and your makeup.

So the question is, how do you get the look you want for the price you are expecting?

A piece of advice is to contact the makeup artist you have in mind as early as possible in your planning process and have them work with you while you are building your budget. Absolutely do not call them after you have destroyed your entire budget on that Vera Wang wedding gown and those Christian Louboutin pumps expecting them to cut their rates to the cheapest amount possible.

Be realistic on prices. The upfront quote you get from an artist might seem like a lot at first; however, there is much more that goes into your wedding day makeup than you think. On average I spend a total of seven to ten hours with a bride. We have multiple phone and email conversations, we prep for the wedding day, we prepare the look together, we make sure she is happy with the way she will look three to five weeks in advance of the event. In the end you are paying for much more than the makeup application. You are paying the time involved in creating your perfect wedding day look, in packing a kit customized for you (colors, brushes, disposables, powders, liners, etc.), traveling to your venue/returning, setting up a mini studio just for you in your bridal suite, repacking, cleaning and sterilizing all the products used for the next client.

Some people have a hard time seeing the art in makeup artistry and would prefer to save on the cost of their wedding makeup. On the other hand, if you are someone that has a vision for how you want to look on your big day in front of your guests, and in your pictures then investing in this essential component of your wedding day is a must. Not all wedding makeup is equal and an expensive artist isn't always the best one. Doing your research is an important part of the process. Usually, the more experience a makeup artist has, the bigger the price tag for services. Newer artist tend to be cheaper but then you might be sacrificing maturity in the business, the skill set you are looking for, and the experience that can only be built over time. I suggest getting more than one trial from different artists at all different experience levels. This will allow you to have the chance to see different artistic perspectives, gather ideas, and find the best possible artist for you on one of the most important days of your life.

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Have Yourself a Sexy Little Halloween

October 30, 2014, 6:03 am

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I love Halloween.

I love everything about it.

Love it, love it, love it.

I thank God that growing up, my parents always made the holiday super-special for my brother and me. They had huge Halloween parties -- Mike and I would sit on the stairs in our pajamas waiting for the doorbell to ring so we could take turns jumping up and answering it. We would squeal with laughter or fright as mom and dad's friends paraded down into the basement year after year.

Much attention was paid to decorating our house with cardboard cutouts, spiderwebs and pumpkins, watching Halloween TV specials, doing the Mash ("The Monster Mash") and, of course, finding the perfect costume.

As I journeyed into adulthood, the Halloween costume was still important and necessary. And as the years have gone by, I have noticed something, as I'm sure you have as well -- scary costumes have been replaced.

Halloween is the perfect time of year for teenage girls, young adults and seemingly normal everyday women to turn themselves into sexy-something-or-others.

Sexy nurses, policewomen, cats, and French maids, sure -- these have all been around since I was a kid.

But here are a few more recent additions to the "sexy" category under costumes that confuse me. They confuse me a lot. And make me laugh. And then confuse me some more.

So... I'm not sure why you would want to dress up like a sexy Tin Man, or Elmo or Scooby Doo -- but if you doobie doobie doo, there certainly is a costume out there for you.

Sexy Straitjacket.
Because you are crazy. Crazy sexy. And also, you have no legs.



Sexy Crayon.
Perfect. That's it. The perfect costume. I am going to be a sexy crayon. I mean, how many times have you heard a woman say "I sure hope there are no other Sexy Purple Crayons at the big costume party tonight!"



Christmas Sweetie.
I just can't imagine someone saying, "You know what I want to be for Halloween? SANTA CLAUS. A sexy Santa Claus"


Grease Good Sandy.
The costume is actually called "Grease Good Sandy." Now...if she's good, then why is she slutty? And what have they done with "Grease Bad Sandy?" Jeez, she must be really bad.


Struck by Luck Reversible Leprechaun/Cupid.
Because nothing says Halloween like a Leprechaun costume. That can change halfway through the evening into a Cupid costume. That resemble in no way shape or form, a leprechaun or a cupid. Happy Halloween!


Sexy Banana.
Oh God.


Pink Highlighter.
It says "HIGHLIGHTER" down the side so everyone will know what the hell you are.


Aunt Samantha.
You guys, there is nothing sexier than a girl-Uncle-Sam on October 31st.


Bert and Ernie.
This is a picture of me and my best friend Laura last Halloween. We look pretty good, although I can't believe how fat I look, yeesch.



Sexy Hamburger.
I mean I love a good hamburger, but come on... do you really want some jerk following you around all night saying, "Nice buns!" No, you don't. Or maybe you do. I don't know, this is just a bad costume. Even this model thinks it's stupid, she's all like, "I'm a hamburger, what do you want from me?"


I'm planning my costume for this year and I'm thinking I'm probably not going with one of the ones above. The year before last I was Joan from Mad Men who to me, even though she's all covered up, is way sexier than a crayon, a banana, or even a hamburger.

Lori's website, Drawn to the 80s, is where her 5 year old draws the greatest music hits of the 1980's. A version of this post originally appeared on her blog, Once Upon a Product.

Check out some more clever Halloween costumes for women here.

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Finding Plus-Sized Teen Clothing Is Hard -- And This Didn't Help, Walmart

October 30, 2014, 8:47 am

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When you're plus-sized, Halloween can be downright scary. It's not the ghosts and ghouls I'm talking about, but finding a costume. It seems that whoever makes costumes thinks that nearly everyone who is female wants to be a "sexy" version of something -- and they make the costumes based on that.

Every year I have a hard time finding a costume that will cover my butt, my boobs and my arms. It's October, people, and I live in Connecticut -- it's cold. I usually spend hours searching for a costume I like and that will work for my body. In fact, after being told I was too fat to be a princess years ago, this year, we made a princess costume that I could wear and feel like a real princess in -- all while at Disney World's Mickey's Halloween Party. (By the way, anyone can be a princess!)

While I was looking for something less poofy and easier to trick or treat in, I took a quick look at Walmart to see if they had something I could use. I was searching Halloween online and I found a bunch of costumes. Some even appropriate! All I had to do was to look for the: FAT GIRL COSTUMES

Yes, you read right. Look at how Walmart categorized the plus-sized costumes:



Really, Walmart? Is that how you feel about a good portion of your customers? Major retailers have always shown that they do not care about their plus-sized customers. Their teeny tiny plus-sized sections -- maybe four to five racks of clothing if you are lucky -- show that the approximately 67 percent of Americans who are "plus-sized" (and their money) aren't important enough for them to carry a decent amount of stylish clothing. Still, to be called "fat" on the Walmart website shocked me.

Calling people "fat," Walmart, isn't a trick, or a treat. It's an insult, and another reason not to shop in your store.

*Update: Walmart has apologized for their gaffe, telling The Huffington Post in a statement:

"This never should have been on our site. It is unacceptable, and we apologize. We are working to remove it as soon as possible and ensure this never happens again."

I'm still never shopping there again. I shop at places that make it clear they value me and my money. Most plus-sized sections are hidden in the back of the store, with one or two lousy racks of old lady clothes. Newsflash: Just because we wear a size bigger than a 10 does not mean we all need or want to wear mom jeans, crazy prints or all black. Finding clothing that I like as a plus-sized teen is hard. Finding a place to buy it is harder. I found five good places to get plus-sized teen clothing, and I spend my hard earned money there. I'll never shop at a place that makes fun of me.

Originally posted on my blog: Losergurl.com

Why Skinny Jeans Keep You From Being Happy

October 30, 2014, 8:58 am

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I dumped my skinny jeans into the Goodwill bag. I was so freaking tired of them, and to me, they symbolized all the things I did/said/wore in an effort to be like all of the cute girls in carpool line. I mean, everyone was wearing them, so how could I not own a pair -- or 10? But every time I wrangled and wiggled my way into them, my legs looked like sausages freshly stuffed into their casings. And then, that critical little voice in my head would tell me that I was too fat, and if only I could lose those 10 pounds, I could look fab in my jeggings. We all have that critical little voice in our brain telling us we're not good enough, we don't have enough, we're not pretty enough. So what if we decided to silence that voice and tried being who we really are instead of who we think we should be? What if we chose to live a life where we weren't chasing the skinny girls, the popular girls, the girls who like to tell us constantly how great their lives are on Facebook? We're beautiful, talented and amazing, and actually living our lives like we believe it can start right now. Here's how to begin:

1. Acknowledge that you are so sick of jeggings. You decide that you want what makes you happy, confident and fabulous. Those skinny jeans just don't suit you, and clinging to a fad that really should only be worn by 6 ft. tall women will only make that bitchy judge in your head scream louder. Start the process right now -- ditch that skin tight denim and take a deep breath. You're on your way.

2. Get Going. Once you've made the decision that you're tired of trying to be someone else, you have to act on it. The Universe isn't going to drop a care package of jeans on your lawn--you have to start doing the hard work. Take an objective look at where you are and where you want to go. What's holding you back? What do you really love, even if it's not cool or trendy? Get excited and take steps--even baby steps--incorporating things and ideas that make you smile.

3. Ask for help. Don't try to go through this process alone. You need someone who is further along on this journey and can help you find your own path. You need your mentor to conduct a therapy session in your closet, so that when you're ready, he can wrestle those MC Hammer pants out of your hands. Making life changes is hard, so lean into your mentor when you start getting discouraged and want to fall back into sweatpants.

4. Do the dirty work. Try on tons of different jeans. We have to try different things to see what works for us and what needs to be thrown onto the sale rack. It may feel like you're grasping, trying anything and everything that might make you happy. You may even try on some things that your friends have or do, and that's ok, but you need to remind yourself that while these things may work for them, something even more fabulous is waiting for you.

5. Throw yourself a little party. You ditched the constrictive skinny jeans and the symbols that they represent. No matter how small the achievement, revel in it. Have a cocktail right where you are. Pat yourself on the back and enjoy your moment of realizing that there's a whole world out there void of skinnies, and you want to experience all of its possibilities. With each discovery of something wonderful, throw yourself a mini celebration. With every faux pas, do the same--not because you fell down, but because you got back up that much wiser.

6. Don't stop just at jeans. Your whole wardrobe likely has clothes that you've kept around "just in case", but they're holding you back from realizing the true beauty of your mind, your soul and your backside. How can you shine if you are buried under that oversized crochet Christmas sweater that was the rage in 1989? (We clearly must have been in a national crisis if we thought it was worthy of a rage.) Don't be scared to junk all of the things that worked in the past but just don't do it for you anymore. It's time to branch out and surround yourself with the things you truly adore and the people who see you for who you really are--and love you even more for it. Even in your MC Hammer's.

Heather Sample Spires is a practicing attorney, wife and mother living in Atlanta who formerly only valued success, hard work and Louboutins. She is currently working on a humorous memoir recounting her rocky yet irreverently funny journey to find balance, love and purpose in her life.

What We Are Talking About When We Talk About Her Face

October 30, 2014, 9:59 am

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The chatter has died down. There's been a deluge of damning admonitions, something I might term You Go Girl Feminism, and insightful commentary, but will any of the any of the conversation be a prophylactic against future scrutiny of Her Face?

Whether Her face is the visage a famous actress or belongs to a friend you grew up who has had the temerity of suddenly looking younger than you, the semiotic study of the faces of women is one of our favorite national pastimes.

This appears to be true whether we're privileged enough to occupy a front row seat during fashion week or are straining for a gander from the stadium seats on one of the scores of web sites devoted to this kind of mind numbing distraction from the pressing issues of our days.

The first scrutiny comes with a kind of fascinated outrage, tinged with a bit of self -righteous indignation. Picking over, picking at and passing judgment on every feature. "Changing her face lets us know that she doesn't like herself." "Her face represents our inability to comes to terms with the aging process." True? Probably. At least to a certain extent.

With a bit of time comes a deeper contemplation and a galvanizing battle cry: RESIST! "We need to all have the courage to stand up and accept ourselves as we age." "We need to stop submitting to this cutting. It encourages an impossible standard of youthful beauty." It's also a slippery slope. Are nose jobs OK, but face-lifts unacceptable? Lasers good, knives bad? Is the outcry a sign that we're caught in the gripe of collective facial dysmorphia? More truth, no doubt.

It's undeniable that we're confused. We can't be sure of what we are looking at with so many new offerings in the anti-aging marketplace. Cognitive psychologists have shown that we find listening to one half of a cell phone conversation particularly annoying, but eminently engaging. Our brains appear to be hard-wired to try and fill in the blanks in the presence of incomplete auditory information. Perhaps our fascination is merely a function of our brains straining to make sense of what we're seeing.

I have found it irresistible to not only study, but to test drive the latest innovations to hit the market. Once or twice a year, I raid my savings to get my fix from a doctor in Beverly Hills, who has clearly sized me up as the sucker that I am though I'm uncertain of the outcome of any of these (no) cutting edge non-invasive procedures. Here is a short list of offerings I've sampled over the last 10 years and my one-word assessments: Thermage- useless; Ulthera- torturous; Fraxel- dubious; photo facial- scabrous; Botox- monstrous; Juvederm- voluminous; Restylen- capaciously voluminous. Ok, that was two words. I cheated.

On one occasion a doctor said to me, "I have some extra filler. Let me put it in your chin -- you need a bigger chin, like mine," and before I could say, I don't want more chin. I don't like your chin! he had done it. I hated that extra chinnage, which did fade with time, but still. I used to wonder who would let someone experiment on their face and now I know -- me.

I also dye my hair. Is keeping the grey at bay another way we're doing ourselves a disservice? How about something that was hotly debated, receiving over 1,200 reader comments in The New York Times a few years back, whether long hair was acceptable after fifty. It could be argued that all of the interventions that allow us to extend our fertile years are something akin to Botoxing your uterus.

For me, these adventures in "maintenance," as it is often referred, are less motivated by my on- camera appearance as an actress, but primarily because I have seen the future, and by that I mean my mother's beautiful face. I love my mother, who I resemble more and more with each passing year, but I'm not all that crazy about the prospect of getting her gobbler. Not only am I uncertain as to the lengths I will go to stave off my turtleneck years, I'm also uncertain as to what I will be able to afford and therein lies perhaps the heart of the matter. Money. Money gives you choices, though as Barry Schwartz writes in "The Paradox of Choice," too much choice isn't always a good thing.

So what are we talking about when we talk about Her face? Wealth. Her face, whoever that might be at any given moment, is another sign of the growing divide in America between rich and poor and the proof is visible on our skin.

If you see a woman in the media who looks extraordinarily fit, it's likely that she has paid a personal trainer. If you see someone in the media attired in a flattering manner, it's likely that they have hired a stylist. If you see someone extolling the virtues of veganism or locavorism, or how they cook only seasonal organic vegetables with artisanal olive oils, it's likely they aren't working a part-time gig for minimum wage. And if you see someone who seems to be aging very well, in a way that looks natural and effortless but they don't have a gobbler, its likely I have sat next to them on a silk damask sofa in any number of marble floored, wood paneled, dermatologists' waiting rooms just off Wilshire Blvd. in Beverly Hills, California, 90210.

Halloween: The Season for Culturally-Insensitive Fashion

October 30, 2014, 10:43 am

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Halloween: the season of candy corn, pumpkins and culturally-insensitive costumes. Over the last few years, images of these costumes and the people wearing them have spread through social media, sparking heated debates about cultural appropriation and how seemingly innocuous "fashion statements" can indeed hurt.

So what is cultural appropriation? In its most simplistic definition, it is the seizing of another culture without their consent. It's taking an otherwise complex culture and turning it into a caricature. It's the "Navajo" shirts that Urban Outfitters sold that essentialized the many different American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian people in the United States into one broad "Native" tribe defined as Navajo. It is the sports mascot that reduces an entire group to their skin color. It's the celebration of Columbus Day as a day in which Columbus "discovered" a country that had been inhabited by indigenous people for years, and the erasure of the acts and policies of enslavement. It's the Victoria's Secret 'Geisha' lingerie line that featured white models in Orientalist eye makeup and outfits, which in the words of blogger Nina Jacinto, only perpetuates the stereotype of Asian women as objects of sexual fantasy, trading in "real humanness for access to culture." It's the Vogue dance-style that was attributed to Madonna when it really originated with gay urban men of color. It's Gwen Stefani wearing cultural and spiritual objects such as bindis as fashion, and using Asian-American dancers as props, always claiming that she is celebrating their culture.

It's also the Dolce & Gabbana "black busts" earrings that commodified black bodies and were defended on the grounds that they "represented" Sicilian Blackmoore pottery, ignoring the legacy of race-based slavery which influenced this tradition. And while we're on the subject of earrings, who can forget when Vogue Italia referenced large hoop earrings as "slave earrings" in their fall 2011 issue, citing the "women of color" who were "brought" to the United States as their fashion inspiration? Brought, not sold. Brought, not enslaved. Cultural appropriation. Done.

Because cultural appropriation is so often found in fashion, it is not taken that seriously. Fashion is fun and fantasy, wrapped up in a bright pick Victoria's Secret bag that can then be discarded when it no longer fits. Perhaps that's why on Halloween, a one-night event where the whole purpose is to take on another identity, we witness so much unapologetic appropriation. After all, what you wear doesn't define you, right? I mean, just because someone is wearing a "native headdress" doesn't actually mean they have internalized the racism that is responsible for the eradication of tribes and their cultural practices?

For me, the issue isn't so black and white, in part because we have not allowed for an inclusion of American Indian voices into the dialogue about this issue until very recently, leaving many truly ignorant about why these supposedly "harmless" statements are indeed very harmful. It is difficult for me to point fingers at teenagers who, dressed up as "Indians" for Thanksgiving when they were five by their parents and teachers, are now expected to understand the complex meanings behind the hipster headdress they choose to rock to signify their escape from the rigid conformity of suburbia.

Furthermore, the privileging in our culture of Western fashion that emphasizes "newness" as a sign of progress and change tends to view American Indian tribes as examples of more traditional cultures who use clothing for utilitarian purposes. As Dakota artist and activist Bobby Wilson put it, we're fixated on this idea that "native people are frozen in time." Despite the efforts of minority students from the University of Ohio, many Americans still view American Indians, and other minority groups, as a costume, not a culture. And because fashion is seen as so frivolous and something that goes out of trend so quickly, many argue that the industry's fascination with exoticizing certain cultures shouldn't be taken seriously. In fact, many counterarguments are made to cultural appropriation that on the contrary, minority groups should feel privileged by this representation of their culture by the mainstream.

So here's the problem. The argument that you can "try on" a cultural identity for a day and then discard it speaks to the ability of being able to return to your special place of privilege. You can take off your headdress and sleep at night, knowing that you don't have to wake up the next morning to confront a history of colonialism and genocide that has left your community living in an impoverished reservation, having to deal with segregation, racism and gross cultural misrepresentation in the form of films, sports mascots and holidays. As the "We're a Culture, not a Costume" Campaign put it, "You wear the costume for one night, we wear the stigma for life."

Americans take pride in our "American-ness," in our cultural traditions that bring us together such as Independence day, apple pie and the Star Spangled banner. But let's face it. There have always been some people who are considered more American than others. Just think about the term "All-American" and what it implies: white, blond, attractive, athletic. Are people of color then "partial-American?" Are they not American enough? Does that leave them in the position of having to defend the degree of their American-ness?

And this is why it is so dangerous to "dress up" as another culture, because a white person who dresses up as a "Mexican" in Arizona doesn't have to worry that his citizenship will be questioned. He can go to a "ghetto" party and wear his hoodie up in an effort to look more "hood" without fearing that he will get killed like Trayvon Martin. A white student who goes to a bar dressed in blackface doesn't have to worry about being turned away for no reason other than the color of his skin. He doesn't have to face the reality that when there is a hurricane, he will be wrongly labeled as a looter and then identified as a "refugee," a misplaced citizen.

As for the appropriation of American Indian culture, it is of course widespread and certainly not limited to white people, especially given the fashion industry's rampant appropriation of Native cultural objects that are spit out for "hipster" consumption. However, I think we need to ask why it is that "cultural" costumes are far more common to wear on Halloween and at theme parties than dressing up as say, a young white male. While people can conceive an image of a "ghetto" costume, a geisha, an Arab bedouin or a "Cherokee princess,"do we actually have a singular vision of what a white male looks like?

Fashion is not frivolous. Clothes, and the way in which we wear them to express our identity and who we are, can have profound meaning. If you really want to honor a culture, why not do it in a more thoughtful manner that brings to light all of its complexities? By doing it through fashion, you run the risk of treating an entire group of people as a trend, something that is in vogue one minute and out the next, easy to discard and forget.

Want to get involved with the campaign to end offensive Native American imagery and mascots? Check out the organization Eradicating Offensive Native Mascotry and the critical fashion blogs Native Appropriations and Beyond Buckskin.

Looking for authentic Native jewelry and clothes made by Native artisans? Check out the Beyond Buckskin boutique!