I have written up an entire blog dedicated to the failures of work [appropriate] attire and the potential psychological damage that it can do to ALL OF HUMANITY, but it's Friday and that will have to wait until Monday when I am a little more grumbly.

My coworker and I, having grown weary of all our photographic failings, decided to do a helpful google search ["how to pose": results here and here] to come up with some new ideas. And ideas we found!!! Here is our step by step guide to becoming a better model.

Step 1: Slouch a little.



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Step 2: Be assymetrical.



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Step 3: Pretzelitize.



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Step 4: Hold your shoes up because it is a hilarious thing to do.



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And now you too can be a professional model like myself. Simple steps that we can all follow to achieve photographic greatness.

Thank you to my coworker for a) letting me hold her shoes and b) participating in this extraordinarily educational experience.

[Annnnddddd..... I am wearing a hunter green dress by Mirror Dash from Urban Outfitters, a plaid chiffon top by Delicia from Anomoly, chunky pearl necklace from Chicos... yes, you heard me... and cream slouch leather boots from Aldo.]

Oh, and of course, the ever present security golf cart.



Happy Friday everyone!
“I am obsessed with those shoes,” “OMG I need to have those,” “Oh I loveeee this,” “OMG it’s heaven here!” Those are just few of the sentences women and men into fashion will say drooling on items that spark something in them. Obsession, love, desire. It reminds me of Rene` Girard and the mimetic desire, aka triangular relationship. In simplistic words he argues that we tend to desire what others desire. The imitation of desire is a reflection of what the enemy possesses. For example, I was drooling over Hilary’s boots yesterday, especially because she only paid $26. I wanted them so bad, because I would too look cool. I am imitating her desire. So I am borrowing her desire that was never mine in the first place. This is very true if we think about the use of celebrities for fashion lines. Have you really taken a look at some of the items celebrities wear, or their fashion lines? Yes, it is crap my friends, real crap, but somehow we desire that look. We will buy that crap, because we want what they have. Just take a look at the picture below:



Really that skirt? Did she wrap an ‘80s pattern bed sheet around her vagina? And really ankle boots, bare legs with a skirt? Don’t you know that ankle boots make your legs short? The top is the only decent item, but still unusual to wear without nothing underneath. Could I pull this look off? Probably. Could I pull it off in Tallahassee? Maybe at Fermentation after few drinks. I think you get the point. This does not mean that I have good style, as I had in the past showed some questionable outfits. This blog helps me to determine what the heck is wrong with my style.

My Picture:



Wearing Banana Republic's blouse; Jeans from Express and Boots from Ebay. Earrings from Fiorucci. Not sure if I like this outfit, or if I like the combination (boots and blouse?).

I forgot to mention that my fav. school bag is dead. :( Goodbye functional bag.



 
This morning I tried to will myself into wearing something I haven't worn in a long time [or ever, there are a few of those]. It didn't work out. I just wasn't in the mood to be so innovative. Tonight I am going to spend some time coming up with a few outfits on that front so I will have a supply of pre-planned "new" looks. The morning is not my brightest hour.

I ended up going with two pieces of clothing that I love [three if you count the jeans], but have never worn together. I figured it was still innovative, but still comfortable, mentally. [Mental comfort can be a crucial element to my dressing, sometimes.]

 

[caption id="attachment_363" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Day 21."][/caption]

 

Loved Item #1: Rose colored jersey button down top with frilly sleeves from The GAP.

Loved Item #2: Rose, brown and cream colored wool vest with satin underlay by MOTH [Anthropologie].

My brain never put these two things together before now. But, voila! I love the combination.

 

[caption id="attachment_364" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="The husband posed this one. "][/caption]

 

Husband was all, "Put both hands in your hair. Now look up. Yeah, just like that." Geez.

Also wearing my Silence + Noise high waisted jeans. They are a major staple in my wardrobe. Camel lace up booties from Forever 21. And yes they are comfortable. So there. [Relatively speaking.]

 

[caption id="attachment_365" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Secret Agent Marco."][/caption]

 

And this is Marco. He is stealth-like. He tore out of the back door before anyone could stop him. Nothing and no-one can separate him from the lush foliage of our backyard.
A challenge that I wrote about a week ago is dressing in a way to emphasize my intellectual capabilities. This is a real problem in academia. At least in my discipline. I met this female professor at this conference last weekend, with whom I discussed hegemony by Gramsci. I asked her to explain the concept of ideology in relation to hegemony. She nicely discussed it with me, but at a certain point she made a comment, a comment that pointed out at me as a consumer. She said something in the lines of “oh we live in a consumerist society, from film to fashion. Now everyone has heels because we buy into what capitalism tells us to do,” she obviously realized that I was wearing heels. We both looked at my shoes and she smiled like she was right and I was a dumb ass. She then liquidated me and lectured me on how to understand hegemony. I should be an advocate and be part of the real world, I should be talking to real people. I did not say anything, but it made me think about my role in academia. Do I want to be like that woman? Do I really believe that wearing heels is a way of domesticating me? Do I tell that woman that I am involved with everyday people, that I have been subject of discrimination because I was among the masses? What is my role as a consumer, artist and scholar?

For me fashion is art and we are artists who want to express our inner self. The commodification of fashion has nothing to do with heels, as flat D&G shoes can easily be commodified. If wearing heels was the result of commodification then all these female scholars wearing ethnic clothes had fallen into the trap of consumerism. The difference is that I do not consume. I buy items that will last forever. I consume them as I consume shoes until the sole is gone and have to buy a new pair. I try to buy clothes that are fair trade. So why do I feel guilty when I look decently dressed? And why people give me crap about it? Obviously something more serious is going on here, but I just don’t know yet…..



I am wearing heels (boots from 10 years ago. I bought them in Italy, My mom has the same pair but in dark brown. I have not worn them in years, but I actually like them a lot). Black leather mini skirt from Forever 21. It was so short I had to adjust the length. The top is from some foreign countries....I can't remember. My mom told me the story. It s a vest typical of a certain culture. The hat (I love hats) is from Urban Outfitter. My head is alwyas too big for hats but I still buy them.
Scraggly scraggly trees. I've got to admit, it is difficult to come up with new and exciting places to take pictures for the blog. There are all these trees next to my office so, naturally, I'm all like "Let me go stand next to this here tree and that will make a perfect backdrop!" Really, a tree is a tree is a tree. And these trees are probably getting annoyed with my incessant standing around.

 

[caption id="attachment_346" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Is this what Elton John meant by "pirate smile"? (Look closely.) "][/caption]

 

This very tree was chosen because it looked "spooky" and was in theme with Halloween. Because I am so themey.

 

[caption id="attachment_347" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Not good for hiding behind."][/caption]

 

Anyway, I am wearing pretty much all target. Target leggings, [probably] Target tank, Target sheer button down baby doll dress, Nine West cowgirl boots, Bali fuchsia fringe earrings, leather and turq wrap bracelet [and I was also wearing turq rings but took them off after washing my hand and forgot to put them back on!].

 

[caption id="attachment_348" align="alignnone" width="500" caption="Taking the hint."][/caption]

 

This is the only picture that didn't look totally absurd to me. [And yet... I keep posting the absurd pictures.] I do love trees, but we don't actually have this kind of serious dialogue. Except for maybe in my mind. Every now and then. Not often. It's a rare thing for me to talk to trees, I swear.

On another note, I think the security guard riding around on his golf cart gets great enjoyment out of spying on my photo shoots. I'm glad my awkward encounters with trees can be such a source of amusement for others.

Going to the MALL tonight to buy the hubs part of his Halloween outfit. It is actually things he will wear, which is awesome. Here's hoping it won't be all pain and no gain. Well, the husband will gain [which is almost worse].