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Posts Tagged ‘Style Caster’

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Here’s an example of some bad taste fashion. Jeremy Scott designs for Moschino.

When fashion’s been loud, it’s been loud because there are creators pushing the envelope. Now it’s not so much about creators pushing the envelope with their work, it’s marketing people doing very big shows , pushing brands. It’s a very different kind of garish.

– Narciso Rodriguez, American fashion designer.

This quote comes from an article WWD. Titled, A Question of Taste (a phrase used quite often on Project Runway) the article by Jessica Iredale discusses the issue of bad taste in fashion on the part of designers in their recent creations and runway shows.

The argument was made, by more that one person Ms. Iredale interviewed, that there is no such thing as taste anymore. The whole concept is an old fashioned notion, dead since the 1970s.

I agree that bad taste became less of a concern and perhaps desired by some in the 70s and it has ebbed and flowed ever since. But I disagree that the concept no longer exists.  It’s just that the line is further and further out and what is considered bad taste has changed over the years.

For example in the 1950s, a middle-aged woman sporting a short skirt would be in bad taste and few women did it. Today we see it all the time and don’t really notice. I recall Audrey Hepburn in the 1961 film Breakfast at Tiffany’s commenting that wearing diamonds before the age of 40, was “tacky.” A modern woman of any age doesn’t think twice about donning her diamond bling.

But there is still a line of good taste that someone is happy to cross. How about the trendy low waisted pants that show off too much of the derriere? T-shirts that say Porn Star? Sheer blouses and no bra? I’ve heard more than one complaint about all three of those examples. I take comfort in that.

 

 

 

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Style Caster Fashion Week totes designed by Serene Bacigalupi.

There’s a new trend in totes. It used to be that  a designer logo bag was the must-have but ah ha, not anymore. Nope, what best reflects fashion status in today’s Austerity and Occupy world is a freebie. A limited edition tote from a fashion show, a museum exhibit, or an art opening says, I’m not showy but I am connected.  

The latest coveted tote bag was designed by New York City artist, Serene Bacigalupi for the fashion website StyleCaster. In celebration of New York Fashion Week 2012 StyleCaster collaborated with Serene on a political theme for their party goodie bags. “We wanted to draw attention to the election season,” says Serene, “and thought that political tote bags with a fashion bent was cheeky and fun.”    

StyleCaster saw Serene’s artwork on display at the Chelsea Market in NYC and thought her quirky and imaginative style would be a good fit.

Of course the blue bag depicts our current president Barack Obama but the question was, who stands for the red? Since the GOP are still tripping over themselves to the primaries, Serene and StyleCaster decided to forgo a current candidate and dig into the 80s for an iconic Republican image. Who other than Ronald Reagan? I love this one with good old Ronnie sporting a badge that says, Style to the People. It’s just too funny.

The bags are made of cotton and are doubled sided with Reagan or Obama screen printed in black ink on one side and StyleCaster’s motto, Style to the People on the other. Serene says she was hesitant to use Reagan as she didn’t want her business, Leroy’s Place, connected to anything Republican. “I had a really hard time negotiating the line between belief, bipartisanism, and art,” she explains. ” I do feel like Reagan is kind of a funny historical figure. I was definitely more comfortable with him than, say, Rick Santorum.”

Check out Serene’s other fabulous artwork on Etsy.

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