Hello Again

Oh hello there. Long time no see. I am currently on my way to Chicago and am finally getting around to writing on here because I have absolutely nothing better to be doing. Just kidding, I am supposed to be writing a presentation right now for tomorrow that I should have done last week…if I had any semblance of humanity in me. Guess not, eh?

Anyways, a lot has happened since we last “spoke”. I graduated from university! It still hasn’t really hit me that I won’t be going back to that school when summer is over. It’s actually very bittersweet for me as I really loved my university, my major, and all the students and professors. My entire undergrad experience was amazing and school was my “happy place”. I don’t really know when I will get used to the fact that it’s all over. Obviously, law school is still in the cards for me (God willing), but I have a feeling that nothing will ever compare to the all girls and close knit community of my undergrad yearsL

Also, the morning after graduation, at six in the morning, I left for Guatemala with the non-profit organization, Humanity First for a medical mission in the village of Sumpango. I don’t have it my heart to write about my experience. Hopefully, one day I will do a post on here about it, but my emotions are still very raw and every time I sit down to write about it, I just don’t know quite how to put my thoughts into words. Maybe I will do a post with pictures. I took hundreds of photographs and I think they do a good job of saying what words cannot. I suppose that is why they say a picture is worth a thousand words.

Ok ok, onto happier things. To back track a bit, I coordinated a fashion show that took place the Friday before graduation. I won’t bore you to tears with actual process of producing a show, but I will share with you some pictures that I took at the show. We put the show on three times throughout the day and had an attendance of 1,500 people! Unlike last year, this time around, I did not spend a lot of time backstage and was able to photograph all three shows. The photographer we hired even gave me some pointers on my DSLR and went home to get me a monopod and some other supplies. That was very exciting for me because I got to take some amazing shots thanks to him. Yep, no blurry shots were had that fine day ;) Enjoy some favorite shots below!

xoxo Aneela 

Michael Kors: Timeless Legend or Ticking Time Bomb?

Note: Yes, I'm aware. This post is not written in my typical "blog voice". But I urge you to keep reading, so I can school you on MK... #ejooomacation

If asked to list some of the most well-known and impactful names in the world of fashion, many would point out Michael Kors as one of those influential designers who has made major contributions over the past several years in the industry. Some of Michael Kors’ many accomplishments include having one of his designs worn by Michelle Obama in her first term official portrait as First Lady and being referenced in the popular 2006 film, The Devil Wears Prada by Meryl Streep’s powerful editor-in-chief character, Miranda Priestly. While it can be argued that Michael Kors is loved by many and that his popularity and success has been increasing over the years, his methods of gaining this success can also be called into question. This piece will bring to light the ethical issues behind Kors’ success such as claims made by fellow designer Roberto Cavalli about Kors’ work being unoriginal, insensitivity exhibited through a magazine advertising campaign, and sharp remarks made on his part during his time as a judge on the popular television show, Project Runway.

First, in an article from the Fashion Times, writer Britteny Dee writes, “Michael Kors is one of the most widely recognized American fashion designers and is set to become the industry's next billionaire, but fellow designer Roberto Cavalli thinks that he is responsible for Kors' success”. The Italian fashion designer believes that Kors steals his designs and claims them as his own. In an interview with style.com Cavalli explains, “He's one of the biggest copy designers in the world….I just want to tell him to stop copying me! Stop! All the time I write those comments on Instagram. He copies everybody!”. He goes on to say, “Americans like Michael Kors! And you love so many other designers who do that - he's not American fashion. He is international fashion made in America. It's not fair…” It must also be mentioned however, that Cavalli has also accused other American fashion designers of stealing his work, but holds a particularly strong opinion against the originality of work by Michael Kors.

Moreover, Michael Kors has been the recipient of much heat from the media over his ‘Afriluxe’ fashion shoot for a magazine advertising campaign. The campaign displayed people with an ebony skin tone as “extras” in the photographs. The author of an article from Daily Mail, Lauren Paxman, point out that a month prior to the release of Kors’ advertising campaign, a similar Haiti-shot campaign by fellow American designer, Donna Karan, had sparked controversy for using two seemingly poverty-stricken black teenagers simply to set the scene. Paxman calls Kors’ judgment into question by making the point that with such a similar campaign by Donna Karan having caused controversy, Michael Kors must have anticipated a similarly negative reaction from the public. Despite being aware of the media stir caused by Donna Karan’s campaign, the firm decided publish the images unaltered. The images that make up the Michael Kors ‘Afriluxe’ campaign include an image that shows two seemingly financially well-off white people on a very luxurious safari while a black tour guide fades into the background (see image below). 

via thedailymail.co.uk

A writer for fashionista.com by the name of Dhani Mau, does make the argument that the fact that the safari guide in Kors' picture “happens to be the only black person in the ad”, he adds that this element of the campaign, “might be a point of contention, or it may simply be seen as realistic”. So, while it may be argued that the campaign is not directly racist and that worse offences have been committed in the name of fashion, it can be concluded that the shoot displays poor judgment and racial insensitivity on the part of the popular American designer. The author concludes the article by pointing out that perhaps the reactions to these photos will persuade the fashion industry as a whole to finally move on from using imperialism as inspiration in their advertising efforts.

Finally, during his time as a judge on the popular television show, Project Runway, Michael Kors quickly became known as an overly harsh judge as his criticisms of contestants’ designs were often downright inappropriate and insulting. According to an episode of 20/20 on the ABC television network, one of Michael Kors’ choice critiques was a description of an aspiring designer’s work in which he exclaims, “It looks like, kind of a bad prom dress”. Keeping up with his harsh critiques, Michael Kors was also quoted in the 20/20 segment saying, “She looks like an Amish cocktail waitress”. Other, more inappropriate comments referencing prostitution and disrespecting women were also mentioned in the segment. When confronted about his offensive word choice during the interview, Kors simply replied, “Well, you know what’s funny? I guess I have an imagination. Hopefully, they are going to get some constructive criticism from me”. Some may argue that his snarky quips were all for good fun and higher ratings as his comments did attract quite a few viewers for Project Runway. However, many would agree that when public figures put themselves out there like this, everything they say represents their image. And negative comments may contribute to a lower perception of figures making such controversial statements. 

To conclude, one can see that it could be said that the empire Michael Kors has created is monumental in shaping the fashion world as we know it today. However, with the ethical issues that have arisen in Michael Kors’ business practices such as accusations of copying designs by Roberto Cavalli, knowingly publishing an insensitive advertising campaign, and offering inappropriate critiques on a television show, some may begin to question if it is his customer’s best interest that Michael Kors has in mind as he manages his brand. Some may even wonder if Kors’ company is strong enough to pull through these issues or if a time will come when these controversies will no longer be tolerated by his loyal fans and force the billion dollar empire to suffer. 

So, what do you think? Do you have an opinion one way or the other? Or, can you not be arsed to care? Leave your comments below!

xoxo Aneela

Leely the Laptop Slayer

So...I should definitely be studying right now for a MONSTER EXAM I have tomorrow morning at 8:30 AM. Yet here we are again crossing paths in the vast blogosphere. Honestly though, I can justify my current lack of drive because this professor's exams are impossible to study for. I go to class. I take good notes. I participate in class when all of the other girls are suddenly in mid-gulp out of their Starbucks cups every time a question is posed. For lack of a better word, I am what they (not really sure who they are) call a gunner. Minus the part of the Urban Dictionary definition about being willing to compromise peer relationships/reputation in order to obtain recognition and praise from superiors. Of course. But, I have yet to earn a perfect score on any of the quizzes or exams in this course. So, I'm just chilling here trying to distract myself from my current academic slump.

Anyways, so today was interesting. I almost murdered my laptop with a knife. Backtrack to this morning at 6:45 AM which is the ungodly hour that I leave for school every morning. I was running late per usual by chance and instead of taking the time to make cuts in my orange (to make it easier to peel) I threw the orange and a trusty knife into a plastic bag and ran out the door. I put the bag and my laptop near each other in my car and unintentionally gave them some valuable mingling time. Anybody can probably guess that the knife was sharp enough to poke through the plastic bag and well...you know the rest. It's almost too painful to write. I now have some pretty SUBSTANTIAL scratches on ma guppy wupps (3 month old) LT :(

Now, I know what you're thinking. Aneela, there's this #amazeballs invention called a LAPTOP BAG. And yes, I'm aware. I have another heartbreaking story about that for a later post.

I swear there was something else I was going to tell you about, but I can't remember what it was so for now I think I'm going to be a big kid, down a cup of coffee, and study for the inevitable and impossible monster exam.

Wish me luck y'all! Happy hump day!

xoxo Aneela

Consumption Of Cookies Before Purchase Is Stealing

One of the things I miss most about Germany and Europe in general is being able to go to the small local bakeries and eat anything my little heart desired made fresh that same morning. We definitely don't have anything like that where I live! But, sometimes you just have to settle. We recently hosted a pretty large event and my mom found an amazing variety of cookies at one of our local grocery stores. For that event, we served cookies with tea for three days and we bought a whopping 55 POUNDS OF COOKIES.

Today, I went to have a look around and "interview" the baker for my blog. The woman who helped me pack my cookies was very sweet and enjoyed my excited questions about the bakery section. She told me that they actually don't bake the cookies or breads at the store. But, they do get frequent shipments, so the cookies are pretty fresh whenever you make a purchase. The company that makes the cookies is called Voortman and she told me that they are carried by other grocery stores in the United States as well. So, if you like what you see, inquire at your local supermarket! Or if you're European, as many of you are, you may as well skip this post because nothing we bake can ever reach your superior level of deliciousness (of course that's a word...darn spell check).

Now, it's no German bakery, but it's something for those of us who get the short end of the stick ;)

Here are a few shots I took today:

I thought this was funny because hello! Common Sense!

Aren't these photo "stickers" the cutest?!

My favorites are the coconut cremes!

Friday Night Arm Party!

Today, I played around with some new tangerine accessories. I mixed them with my rose gold coloured (Doesn't it just look more sophisticated spelled with a 'u'?! ) watch and a silver bangle with a single rhinestone. All of the accessories are from the department store, Kohl's. My watch always gets mistaken for a Michael Kors until people come closer and see the ginormous Minnie Mouse etching on the face. I love it!

I feel like I should add some clutch advice about creating wrist stacks, but whenever I come up with a good combination, it's the result of coincidence mixed with raiding my mother's jewelry collection. Literally, the majority of the accessories I own are things my mom let me keep because I was OMG OBSESSED. Maybe one day I will also acquire my mom's taste in fashion. Amijan, I know you're reading this and I just want to say I think you should keep letting me call dibs on your pieces because it's all part of my plan towards style nirvana. I am simply thinking to the future;)

So, while I definitely believe that the perfect stack is a chance encounter with the right pieces at the right time, I do think this post by Carly (the college prepster) is a great starting point for the novice stacker!

xoxo
Aneela

One Small Step for Man, One Giant Leap for Mankind

Today was a hugely important day in the history of my home state of Wisconsin since its founding in 1848. Yes folks, April 3rd, 2014 will go down in history as the date that the cheese state finally got its first taste of some sharp fashion. Haha, did you get that attempt at a joke back there?

Well, today marks the grand opening of the Mayfair Collection in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. And might I add, this place is a literal 30 SECONDS away from campus. I already brag to my family about going to school in the best shopping/restaurant/entertainment area that I know of, but the new Mayfair Collection just adds another destination to my lunch break spots! I predict admission numbers will also be going up in the coming years...I wonder why;)

The shopping area is not fully open for business yet, but the most exciting destinations (Nordstrom Rack, Saks Off Fifth, and Ulta) opened for sales today. Now, I have to say that we Wisconsinites are a bit slow to catch onto trends. We don't start wearing styles until a few months after they've been introduced in the bigger cities and major metropolitan areas. I don't think we will be getting an actual Nordstrom or Saks anytime soon (probably not in my lifetime...depressing, I know). I did predict that if the elite designers did ever make their way over to Wisconsin, they would come in the form of discount stores like Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth. I should have documented my prediction because I could not have been more right! I guess I have incredible foresight!

So, onto the experience! I decided to go between classes and meet up with two of my good friends, Colleen and Becky. I went around lunchtime and it was opening day, so it goes without saying that parking was a pain. I think once the initial magic wears off, the parking lot is large enough to let people make it to the shops comfortably. Fox News and a few other T.V. stations were also there to report on the grand opening.

The line to Nordstrom Rack and Saks Off Fifth

Once I stepped into the shops, everything was a blur. Like, y'all that live in big cities can't even understand the feeling. My friends and I couldn't get over the fact that we were touching brands we had only ever seen printed on the glossy pages of our favorite magazines. I ACTUALLY HELD MIU MIU LOAFERS IN MY SMALL TOWN HANDS. At one point, I think I saw a mannequin smile at me from the corner of my eye. It was a nice little tribute to 'Confessions of a Shopaholic'. By this point, I'm sure you are convinced that I have completely lost my mind, so I'll stop "talking" and leaving you with the cutest shot of opening day through my eyes!

A very HAPPY Colleen post-Saks!

xoxo
Aneela

Current State of Crazy

So, I've been doing this crazy thing lately where having a huge amount of work just makes me want to put things off and write on this blog. So, here I am, typing away when I have a gajillion and one thoughts running through my mind. It's like my creative juices don't flow unless I have so much going on that I actually walk out of the house in the morning without shoes on my feet. Yes, this really happened to me last week.

Also, my room has been super clean lately because I've decided it's a vital stepping stone to feeling like a "grown-up". Well, other than now having an unobstructed traffic flow from my dresser to my bed, my world is pretty much falling apart! I keep feeling like I've misplaced things (but they're just where they should be) and have an overall feeling of paranoia about the superior level of cleanliness being exhibited in my living space.

Lately, I have also been wanting to diversify (ooh big word, fancy) my blog content by branching out into cooking posts. I've been photographing my food as I make it as of late to possibly post it on here, but my food just isn't that photogenic and nothing looks deserving of its fifteen minutes of fame yet. I have done cooking posts before though here and here. Maybe I need to make more extravagant food choices before I can whip out the camera and start snapping away?

Hmm what else? I have a photo shoot today between classes with Diana Yokes. I have to say I am pretty excited because I really like her work. She does a lot of fashion photography for magazines and is known for completely transforming her subjects and creating dreamlike images. I feel like I should be nervous, but I'm just too exhausted for nerves today. Oh and did I mention she will be airbrushing my makeup which has the designer bags under my eyes oh so excited.

To end this unorganized scatter brain of a post, I do appreciate all y'all that have been commenting on my posts lately. Really it's great. But, for the love of God, please don't be rude. Or be rude. I'll just delete anything that is blatantly offensive or a weakly crafted humor-coated insult. Honestly, I don't get why people hate. I mean, I write a BLOG for crying out loud. I don't claim to be sitting behind my computer screen with the cure to cancer (I wish) for you to be sitting behind yours passing judgment. Cool? Cool.

Aight, I'm off to lecture #3 of the day.

HAPPY MONDAY.

xoxo Aneela