Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis- The return of the black turtleneck

Former 1st Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis,  was one of the most influential fashion icons to ever emerge from the world of politics. Her acute sense of fashion and  effortless ladylike style made her a trendsetter in the early 60’s and one of the most fashionable American icons of  all time . One of the fashion icon’s signature pieces was the black turtleneck, paired with  white denim and pulled down over her hips, the 1st Lady made this simple sweater a timeless piece and fall wardrobe staple.

Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, 1970

The black turtleneck continues to be a fashion must-have even in the fall and winter of 2010. The chic  sweaters come in a variety of fabrics,styles and ranges in prices, from cozy cotton to luxurious cashmere, ribbed or embellished, these little numbers are a season’s essential.

DIANE von FURSTENBERG "Hadis" Cashmere Turtleneck Sweater

Vamp up the sophisticated look of the black turtleneck by wearing it with a sleek pair of skinny jeans or a polished pencil skirt. In keeping with the polished look, wearing your hair in a ponytail or bun not only gives one a clean, fresh look while wearing the turtle neck, it elongated your neck which is one of the most beautiful parts of a woman’s body.The black turtleneck is a versatile top that can be worn with just about anything for any occasion, whether its work or play.

Jackie Kennedy Onassis

When choosing your perfect turtleneck, be sure you pay  close attention to the fabric and fit. Stay far away from fabrics that make you look frumpy, the idea is to look sleek , stylish, and timeless.

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Black turtleneck and printed pencil skirt

The black turtleneck worked for Jackie Kennedy Onassis, what do you think? Is the black turtleneck a fashion staple that’s worth adding to your wardrobe?

In a world where males are praised, Fashion makes a big difference

A September 21st New York Times front-page article,” Afghan Boys Are Prized , SO Girls Live the Part”, by Jenny Nordberg, revealed a fascinating segment of life in Afghanistan, one where  having a son  and the privileges that comes with simply being born a male,  are so revered that families are dressing their little girls in males clothing.

The article featured Mehran Rafaat, a six-year-old  Afghan girl, whose mother, Azita Raafat, disguises as boy so that she would have the benefit of a proper education, among other reasons.

“In a land where sons are more highly valued, since in the tribal culture usually only they can inherit the father’s wealth and pass down a name, families without boys are the objects of pity and contempt. Even a made-up son increases the family’s standing, at least for a few years.”- Afghan Boys Are Prizes, So Girls Live the Part

According to the article, while Mehran’ s sisters’ are dressed in traditional female attire, black dresses and hijabas or head scarves, for school, Mehran, whose hair is cut short and cropped- like a boy’s- wears a white shirt with a necktie and green pants.

Mehran Rafaat and her older sisters.

Azita, Mehran’s mother, grew up in Kabul and was a top student who spoke six languages. As a young girl she had dreams of one day becoming a doctor. She never got to accomplish her dreams, instead, she was forced by her father to become her cousin’s second wife.  In 2002 , after the fall of the Taliban and with the mandatory permission from her husband, she became one 0f the 68 female members of the Afghan Parliament. Her husband, who is illiterate, is now a stay at home dad.

Azita’s decision to dress Mehran as a boy stems from her own childhood experience, she too was raised as a boy. As a child, she went to an all girls school in the morning but in afternoon she , being eldest in her family, helped her father, a shop owner, by running errands, as a boy. Azita credits her experience as a boy with giving her the confidence she needs to interact in the male dominated world of the Afghan Parliament.

Azita Raafat and one of her daughters by Adam Ferguson for The New York Times

According to the Times, in Afghanistan some families have many reasons to dress their little girls in boys clothing. Some do so because of  “economic need”, others because of pressure from their society to have sons. According to Nordberg’s article, there are no laws against the practice. In fact, it is a commonly accepted one. The young girls are even called a specific name,“bacha posh” which  means “dressed up as a boy” in Dari, that distinguish them from being girls or boys.

When the young girls or ” bacha posh” reach the age puberty most families decide to have them return to womanhood.

The confusion that must come with life experience is unimaginable. First these girls are raised in an environment where they can do, say, and go where ever they please but as soon as the physical traits that make them women begin to show, they are forced to give up the lives they’ve always known. It’s already hard being a girl in any society, but especially a place like Afghanistan, this must make it a lot harder.

Azitia said she hopes the experience does not have an effect on Mehran’s psyche and personality. After all, her own experience did help her to become the respected member of parliament she is today.

The Rafaats have not yet decided when they will have Mehran return to womanhood.

When Fashion makes a political statement

Fashion has always had the ability to stir up emotions and debates in American society. When  the media and politics are added to the mix the results can lead to an all out war of words and ideas of whats appropriate and whats taboo . Earlier this month Inez Sainz, a Mexican reporter, made headlines after she was reportedly subjected to verbal harassment in the locker room of the New York Jets by members of the team. The TV Azteca sports reporter  who was at a Jets training camp to interview Mexican American quarterback Mark Sanchez, tweeted to her followers that she felt “uncomfortable” with the unwanted attention she was receiving from some of the team’s players. The Association for Women in Sports Medias got involved, with no consent from Sainz, and demanded the NFL and Jets owners launch an investigation into the alleged sexual harassment which was said to have been caught on tape by other reporters. The involvement of AWSM turned the obscure issue into headline news. Additionally, a picture tweeted by Sainz the day of the Jets incident, showing what she wore during her interview,  added fuel to the brewing debate and raised questions of the appropriateness of Sainz, sexy sense of style while reporting.

Ines Sainz tweeted this picture the day of Jets incident.

Other pictures quickly surfaced, some from her station’s website, that showed Sianz in even more revealing clothing and sexually suggestive poses, thus fueling a debate over whether her fashion choices beaconed the catcalls and harassment aimed at her in the Jets locker room.

Ines Sainz

Ines Sainz at a soccer game

Sainz appeared on many news programs including NBSC’s”TODAY SHOW” and CBS’S The Early Show, to defend not only her choice in fashion, saying that in her nine years of reporting she’s never faced criticism in her native country for her choice of clothing,but also to distance herself from the AWSM who she seemed to have thought turned the issue into the spectacle it became.

One of the pictures displayed on TV Azteca

Fashion, even in the world of sports, always seems to have a bit of politics.

Though I believe a woman should have the freedom to wear what ever she wishes to, there is a certain level of professionalism that must be maintained in journalism. This profession, especially sports journalism, has traditionally be a male dominated field, wearing revealing clothing does nothing to advance the roles women play in journalism, in fact, this only serves as a distraction from the more important issues journalist should be reporting on. There is nothing wrong with a woman celebrating her beauty but like everything else in life, from fashion to politics, moderation is key!

FASHIONABLY and POLITICS……

A bipartisan relationship!

Fall 2010….Campaign…uhhh… Fashion ready???

As Fall 2010 quickly approaches, a few things are sure to warm us up as the temperature cools down. The Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, that started on September 9th in New York City , will come to an all- to- soon end on the 16th, but the haute new trends that debut for Spring 2011 has left one with a taste of warmth. However, it’s the sexy trends for Fall 2010 as well as the excitement of November’s campaign fever, that has one fanning one’s self despite the sudden Fall chill. The Fashion and political world are heating up this season!

This year’s fall fashion brings together  50’s sophistication with the sexy new styles of  2010.

Enjoy dressing up again and indulge in luxurious jackets and polished pencil and pleated skirts bring the entire look together by adding a burst of color  with beautiful blouses in rich, bright tones.

A sleek pencil skirt is just the right dose of sexy and sophisticated

A neutral or navy cardigan adds  a dose of charm to any attire. Wear them over a sleek sheath dress for a look that says sexy yet sophisticated .

Michelle Obama pairs a cardigan with a printed sheath dress

Heat up your  cool Fall evenings with this seasons hottest trend! Metallic and sequin dresses are all the rave this season. These little numbers make it incredibly hard to ever go unnoticed.

These looks are sure to give everyone that campaign-ready appearance all season!

Fashion in Politics

Fashion and Politics are two areas of American society that has always had the ability to excite and mobilize people. Though the two fields couldn’t be more different, one of policy making and negotiating the other art and self expression, the similarities between the two are undeniable. The Fashion world, as liberating as the insiders claim it to be, is filled with do’s , dont’s and fashion faux pas.  Just as there are rules in Politics so are there rules in fashion. The ” Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines Fashion as, “social standing or prominence especially as signalized by dress or conduct.” In Politics social standing and prominence is a vital means for persuasion, which essentially is what politics is all about. The American public has always been obsessed with new trends in fashion and equally obsessed with the fashion options whether good or bad of the First Lady and other prominent figures in the world of Politics.