Killing Us Softly

These two videos are from a lecture that Jean Kilbourne, feminist author, speaker, and filmmaker gave regarding her fourth film on women, sexuality and the media in "Killing Us Softly 4."

Please take the time to watch these, everyone -especially the second part of the video. It has become increasingly apparent to me how fucked up our culture's mass media and advertising is and how harmful it is to women in the way that we view our bodies, our intellectual self worth, and each other. 

What do y'all think?

-B

Adventures with Acrylics!

HEEEEEY!!! 

Claire here!

When I went to visit Berit in California a few weeks ago, 

we bought each other manicures for Christmas.

I decided to be a little crazy and get a full set of acrylics.  

Here is what they looked like:

The color was C-c-c-courage by China Glaze

It lasted SUPER well and looked magical!

However, as you can see, my natural nails started growing and showing.

I just got a black Sally Hansen nail art pen and was dying to do a french tip.

These pens are GREAT.  They are easy to use, fast drying, and very precise.

(Just make sure you use a base and topcoat, or the paint won't adhere properly)

I used Essie's Steel-ing the Scene for the base color.

 Here's how my nails look now!

I would totally recommend trying out acrylic nails at some point,

they are so much fun and have stayed on despite taking a serious beating.

Stay lovely!

<3

Claire

Pre-Awards Season Daydreams: Zac Posen

Happy New Year, everyone! As awards season quickly approaches (which Claire will be covering in depth), I've been checking out designer collections to see what we might expect to see on the red carpet and... you guys, I think I'm in love.

Zac Posen's Pre-Fall 2012 collection in breathtaking. It channels Old-Hollywood glamour with exquisite detailing and tailoring. I think we'll be seeing a lot of fishtail gowns this year. 

What do you think will be the staple style this awards season? Hopefully sequins will take a backseat this year...

-B

New Year's Nails (On a Budget!)

As New Year's Eve draws closer, I thought I'd give myself a spiffy at-home manicure for the event. Personally, I find the holiday to be a little disappointing when it comes down to it, but at least I'll have pretty nails when I'm sitting on the couch contemplating which celebrities will divorce in the new year. 

I borrowed this colored french tip tutorial from Studs & Pearls, who does awesome DIY projects. So check it!

(What I used: Paper reinforcing stickers, Revlon in Minted, OPI Nail Envy topcoat, and Hard Candy in Trailer Trash.)

(Apply basecoat and bottom coat of polish. Allow it to dry WELL, if you apply the tip color too soon the stickers will ruin it.)

(Place stickers so that you've got a couple centimeters to paint. You can cut the stickers in half or use the whole thing if you're lazy, like me. Apply your tip color and remove the sticker once it's dried a little bit.)

(Sorry, Instagram made my hand look gnarly.)

Apply topcoat and ta-da! You'll look real classy when the ball drops, and hopefully thereafter... lawl. Be safe and have fun!

-B

P.S. The best colors for the tips of your nails are better if they're darker than your base polish or metallic. It'll show up better.

Kicks With A Cause: Civic Duty

Ladies and gents, I would like you to meet Civic Duty, an up-and-coming shoe company that has begun manufacturing shoes with some serious steez. 

They have the appearance of rumpled paper bags because they're made from Tyvek®, a durable, breathable material used to wrap houses and make FedEx envelopes. Civic Duty uses environmentally friendly dyes and glues on the shoes and packages them in recycled materials. 

"In 2009, I lost my job due to the massive economic downturn. Like many Americans, I was concerned about my prospects for a new job when so many were unemployed. I was infuriated watching the Government bail out big corporations who were largely responsible for creating our country's bleak economic climate while everyday folk were left to fend for themselves... I am determined to prove that we can be successful and still be socially, environmentally and fiscally responsible."

-Steven Reinweb, Founder

Civic Duty has also pledged to create one unique style per year, donating 100% of the profits to a social cause. Not only do Steven's sentiments ring true to how a lot of us are feeling about our country right now, but he had the guts to start a compassionate company in the middle of a recession. And he did it in style. 

In a consumerist, capitalistic culture where greenwashing or "having a heart" is often used as just a marketing tool, it causes unfortunate suspicion and places even more pressure on the consumer to buy responsibly. Civic Duty's origins and aims, however, hold a lot of potential in my opinion.

What do you think?

-B

P.S. Although Civic Duty doesn't manufacture their shoes in the U.S. (though the material they're made of is), Reinweb, who responded personally to my e-mail, relayed his hopes that once the company grows, domestic manufacturing will be possible. In an era where Levi's Jeans can only afford to make one style of jeans domestically, it's unfortunately understandable. However, I think there's a difference between manufacturing abroad in order to stay afloat versus doing it to turn the biggest possible profit. End tangent.