Skivious Style
What You Wear is Who You Are!
By R. White
What does Elizabeth Taylor and Lingerie have in common? The better question is what does she have in common with the brassiere?
Shopping for a brassiere is a source of unbelievable angst for the female gendered species. It takes time, patience and often times, trial and error to find the perfect match. You will go through many bras until you find that one that provides the proper lift, shape, the ability to create cleavage (for those like me who are cleavage challenged) and free from the feeling of bondage.
And like Ms. Taylor, you may never find that perfect bosom buddy!
Sorry, Elizabeth, I didn’t mean to rag on you. I just remember the very sizzling image of your in a lacy slip in the 1960s movie, Butterfield 8 and thought how lovely you looked standing at the doorway, holding a glass and thinking to myself, how could she not be able to have found the perfect mate. And that’s when I got the idea to express the difficulty in finding the perfect Lingerie. It’s not as easy as it seems. More on this later.
Speaking of bosom touching buddies and underwear.
Calvin Klein. Mark Walberg (Marky Mark at the time). Kate Moss. In 1993, all three created a sensation when the billboards went up in Time Square featuring Marky Mark and the topless Ms. Moss in nothing but their Calvin Klein underwear. I wonder why they never hooked up. Wait! Did they? I mean those ads were like, whoa!
Is it me, but it seems like if you can model underwear, this opportunity can launch you and your career into the cosmos never to be seen as the same person, again.
I remember when these ads went up when the outrage over the explicit, in your face, ads selling sex, put Calvin Klein under the constant glare of critics. And of course, this was way before the Abercrombie & Fitch catalogs.
Calvin Klein helped launch many careers with his CK ads for fragrance, jeans and underwear.
Of the most controversial of ads, it was CKs Obsession dripping in nudity and sexuality. Then came Escape with a more tamed message of “intense love” and with much less sexuality than Obsession.
Anyhow back to Mark Wahlberg.
Okay. So, like Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch had that one slammin’ track, “Good Vibrations released in 1991. And even though there were a “Bunch” of dudes behind him in the video, Mark Wahlberg’s career eventually launched him into the Hollywood Actor Arena and left the funky “Bunch” behind.
Now, I’m not sure this was due to the music career, the underwear modeling or both, but Mr. Wahlberg became a serious actor and he is considered on the same level as my favorite actor, Matt Damon. Man, they were great in “The Departed.”
Wow that felt like to the section for My Random Skivious Style thoughts, but what ever.
Moving along…..
Skivious Style Blog will breakdown each day’s blog with:
* A Skivious Style definition and/or word of the day that is fashion related.
* Some Skivious Style comment about a celebrity.
* Provide Skivious Stele information about trends and/or news.
* My random Skivious Style thoughts and advice about, what else, Style.
* And a Skivious Style suggested purchase.
And always have a sense of Style and Grace about yourself!
Skivious Style Definition and/or Word of the Day:
Bourgeoisie - is a French word that was borrowed directly into the English. In the pre-revolution French society, “bourgeois" was a class of wealthier citizens who were members of the Third Estate (The Third Estate included all those who were not members of the aristocracy or the clergy, including working folk peasants and the bourgeoisie).
In 1789, the Third Estate comprised of 97% of the population in France, but were overtaxed and had none of the privileges which the aristocracy held. However, many bourgeoisies bought their way into nobility.
Bourgeoisie - is a also used to classify and analyze human societies to describe a social class of people who are either in the upper class or merchant class and where their power derives from their form of employment, education and wealth.
In a capitalist society, the term often refers to the owning and ruling classes. The term is used in many non-English speaking countries as a way to define the middle class. In its common usage, bourgeoisie has a “pejorative” connotation suggestive of an undeserved wealth or lifestyle that lacks sophistication commonly found in the rich and wealthy.
Basically, this is just another fancy word for snob!
Is Bill Gates, Nouveau riche? (French for new money). Nouveau refers to an individual who acquires wealth within their generation; as opposed to old money where the families have amassed their wealth through multiple generations.
I personally don’t come from Aristocracy (old money), a “Bourgeois” (wealth class) or Nouveau riche (new money). But I do know whether you are from the upper, middle, lower class of anything, What You Wear is Who You Are! So make sure you keep that word “class” in your wardrobe.
That was long. Sorry! But it will make sense later.
Skivious Style Comment on a Celebrity:
Kimora Lee Simmons is a mother, a model and a mogul. Her words. Oh, she also has a chef. But having all that she has, does she possess a true sense of fashion and more importantly, Style? What category, since we all need to put folks in categories) does Kimora Lee Simmons belong to? Would you consider her, Bourgeois? Does she come across like a, well, snob?
She lives on a vast estate, mired in opulence in New Jersey. Her home is featured in some of her ads and displays of materialism are replete throughout every carefully designed and photographed pictorial.
Like Jessica Simpson and Madonna (remember her), these women epitomize the true meaning of seizing the moment. They have been able to recognize when and how to capitalize on that one moment in time when the “populace” put them on the front page of something because of something they did or some circumstance that found themselves in.
This was never more evident than in the case of Jessica Simpson. Her camp, I believe, could not and did not realize just how popular Jess would become based on one simple (albeit ignorant) comment about a food product. That, more than her albums and fabulously toned body did more for her career. And like Marky Mark, she has never looked back.
Her ads suggest that Kimora Lee has Style coming out of her flawless pores. I have to hand it to the girl, she is very clever! Like a lot of women in the 21st century, they’re able to recognize an opportunity when is presents itself, write a business plan whether on a napkin in lipstick at the club or while taking notes in a business class in college, they start planning their futures in the form of a marketing strategy and begin building their “business.”
That’s how you have to do it, though.
It’s all about business and it is my business to make sure you look incredible doing it.
Skivious Style Trends and/or News:
Guess who’s designing for Target? Did you say, Isaac Mizrahi? Goodness grief. We have Vera Wang for Kohl’s and Todd Oldham for Old Navy. What the ……!
With regard to Mr. Mizrahi, great designer by the way apparently has a great fall 2007 line up for Target customers. The must have classic white shirt I suggested in my first blog and the little black must have dress I also suggested, are features of Isaac Mizrahi Target collection.
Apparently, and according the Target news release, ‘The Isaac Mizrahi for Target collection continues to provide smart, fashion-forward pieces that appeal to women of all ages," says Trish Adams, senior vice president, Target. "Isaac’s style insight and sense of wearability result in a chic collection sure to delight our guests.” ‘
Isaac Mizrahi’s, one of the most successful a prolific designers makes a movie where he is preparing his 1994 fall collection in the 1995 movie, Unzipped. This movie was my first real look into the world of super thin models and live wire designers come together to build a collection of clothes for the world to see.
And now, Mr. Mizrahi is designing clothes for the true masses and I will definitely take a look the next time I’m at Target to buy laundry detergent.
My Random Skivious Style Thoughts:
I’m bringing it back to the subject of underwear again. And to be a total prude about it, lets call our undergarments, lingerie.
I don’t know about you, but I’ve seen this on many women when I’m walking behind them. Wait a minute! Don’t get it twisted (so to speak). I’m only looking because it is something that I cannot believe I am witnessing. This is the bunching of her underwear where you can see the them spilling outside the pants.
First of all, you can’t feel that? And stay away from highlighter colors like yellow, lime green, fuchsia and purple. Ugh!
I will spend a moment here providing you with some helpful tips on how to eradicate that ever present panty line and present you with an idea that will surely make you feel unencumbered in the evil undergarment.
For starters, you need to wear panties that fit. They should be close to the body but not tight and the waist band should be snug not all bunched up.
Quick note, when trying on panties (if you must) pay attention to the Gusset (crotch). Make sure the manufacturer inserted a protective plastic shield for hygienic purposes.
* Bikini - waistband rests just below the navel and the hips
* Boy-leg Brief - waistband sits low on the hips. Back coverage is full and these are great
to wear under your short skirts and low slung slacks.
* Briefs - the waistband rests at or just below your naval and the back coverage, too, is
full. (aka French cut and high-cut).
* Control Brief - a brief with added support to flatten the tummy or derriere.
* French Cut - high-cut legs on a brief. (I do not like these).
* G-String - designed strictly to prevent those awful panty lines. This panty has no back
coverage what so ever. The waist band and back have thin strips of fabric.
* Tap Panty - short shorts with a delicate and slight flare at the hem (love these, so
feminine).
* The Thong (haay!)- These leave the buttocks exposed in order to keep from having to have others view your panty line. They do offer a bit more coverage in the front
than the G-String.
* Thong boy - is a cross between a boy brief and a thong. There is less coverage than the
boy brief allowing for just a little check to sneak a peak.
And since I’m on the subject of underwear, obviously I thought it wise to make this my suggested purchase for this blog.
Skivious Style Suggested Purchase:
If you’re looking for nice, sexy and feminine lingerie, I recommend: in a bra and panty ensemble -
* Paris Chantelle Panty (African Original). Visit: http://www.barenecessities.com/Chantelle-Africa-Shorty-Boyshort_product_Chantelle2694.htm
* Paris Chantelle Bra (African ¾ Underwire) click here to view image: http://www.barenecessities.com/Chantelle-Africa-34-Underwire-Bra_product_Chantelle3691_,search,.htm And although I am making a suggestion on bra and panty set above, I must also a great item I noticed while browsing for a nice full slip -
* Kajn’s Vintage Pretty in Lace. Click here for image: http://www.shoppewithkajn.com/fs1939.htm
And of course, Calvin Klein, my favorite underwear designer, how could I not mention him.
* Check out Calvin Klein’s Perfectly Fit Solutions. Click for image(s):
http://www.cku.com/cku/browse/sub_category.jsp?categoryId=145&root=2&cat2=&cat1=11.
I tried to not be too winded.
Until the next Skivious Style Blog.
What You Wear is Who You Are!
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