Simplicity in a photo

There's just something about simplicity in a photo.

This young woman was photographed in Savannah, Georgia by Mr. Scott Schumann, the man behind The Sartorialist.

I love that she's casually knitting on a ledge, no big deal.

Royal Day

Well, I honestly didn't do anything today but watch the Royal Wedding all day (and napped).

There has been much buzz on Kate Middleton's wedding dress forever (who is now the Duchess of Cambridge and Prince William, the Duch of Cambridge) .

Her wedding dress was designed by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen fashion house and it was honestly a gorgeous gorgeous dress!

Oh and while I was dicking around the Internet, I found some cute photos of the Royal family.

Take a look!

the Alexander McQueen dress

sister Philippa is helping out

This photo just cracks me up. Why does Sarkozy always look like an idiot on photos? The Queen looks puzzled by his hand gestures while Carla Bruni looks like she's getting along just fine with Prince Phillip.

This has to be the cutest photo. Same pose, different eras, same happiness.

Calvin Harris - Flashback

Yes, this is like a flashback.

a young Jack Layton

Gotta say, I love that new website vintagevoter.ca. It gives an entire new (and funny) perspective to politics and plus, it is always amusing to poke fun of our Canadian politicians.

Check out how dapper Jack Layton looked in his teens/early 20s. Digging the glasses.

This comment came with the photo:

"A young Jack Layton at the height of his modelling stint with Prada and Gucci. Subsequent 'moustache experiment' brings model career to sudden, inglorious end.

Amen.

Flashback: Threads of Vietnam

Looking at my Vietnam photos two weeks after landing back in Canada didn't have the same effect they have on me today. Now a year later (I left for Vietnam in April 2010), every photo seems so much more beautiful and interesting to look at. There seems to be a story behind them all.

I thought I'd share a couple photos through this blog. Not only did I enjoy the breath-taking sceneries, but I also thoroughly enjoyed the beautiful people and their beautiful ethnic attires.

Take a look...all photos were taken by moi :)

This little girl must have been 6-years-old and yet she was already working the fields with her parents. It was interesting to see the difference in lifestyles from here to there, in Vietnam.

The hats on the children's heads are meant to keep the bad spirits away. We were not supposed to take photos of them because this ethnic group believed photos took away their kids' souls. I refrained from taking photos after this comment. I like taking photos of people but I also like to show respect.

Time for some much deserved morning exercise? This man was doin' his thang at 5:30 in the morning. It was already plenty hot and humid, hence why he was definitely not alone doing Tai Chi around the "lake" in Hanoi, Vietnam. The lake was surrounded by herds of people doing group Tai Chi.

This photo was taken at the Chinese border. This woman made the best "Tarot" ever (Vietnamese treat/dessert).

Smiling is an international language. I will always remember this woman's smile. This was at a meat & fish market in northern Vietnam.

City boys - Saigon, Vietnam. Seeing a smile on someone's face is the best feeling ever. These school boys knew I was pointing my camera in their direction and as soon as they passed right in front of me, they cracked a smile :)

Taking a photo of this lovely beret-wearing man was a must. He was our host in a small countryside hamlet. We shared our meals with his family and other French tourists. One my favorite moments in Vietnam.

I wish this photo was of better quality. This older lady had so much style with her big 80's glasses, her cropped pants and her ethnic "Red Mong" head scarf. I took this photo in Sapa,Vietnam – the highlight of my trip. Such a beautiful mountain town.

This is my favorite photo, hands down. Love this man's look! Simply love it. We were the only tourists in this small Northern Vietnam village. If I could only remember the village's name.

This is at a typical weekend market near Sapa. I loved the colors of this ethnic group called "les mongs fleuris or the flowered-mongs".

What are SLUT walks and why/where they've come to life.

This story was written by Laura Stampler for the huffingtonpost.com and should be read by everyone. Does anyone deserve to be raped/sexually assaulted?

Definitely not.

This story shows us how, for the longest time, and still to this day, women who are victims of sexual abuse are somewhat still being put to blame for being in such a situation while the actual part about them being assaulted or even raped by another is completely overlooked. Rape victims either "asked for it", "were dressed to ask for it", or "were at a party, drinking, asking for it" (Yes, because I'm sure rape is what we all aim for in life).

A SLUT walk is coming to Calgary June 11. My only worry for this walk - although I think the cause has good intentions - is that it will be an excuse for people to glamorize "slutiness".

Are signs like "We're here! We're sluts! Get use to it?" really making the situation any better? Should this walk be about being a slut and being proud or about promoting sexual assault awareness?

Thoughts?

SLUTWALKS SWEEP THE NATION

Toronto police constable Michael Sanguinetti thought he was offering the key to rape prevention. “I’m not supposed to say this,” he told a group of students at an Osgoode Hall Law School safety forum on January 24, but to prevent being sexually assaulted, “Avoid dressing like sluts.”

Despite Sanguinetti’s subsequent written apology and promises of further professional training, the victim-blaming gaffe heard round the world sparked a movement that began in Canada but is now sweeping the United States and abroad: SlutWalks.

“We had just had enough,” said Heather Jarvis, who founded SlutWalk Toronto with friend Sonya Barnett. “It isn’t about just one idea or one police officer who practices victim blaming, it’s about changing the system and doing something constructive with anger and frustration.”

While Jarvis, 25, and Barnett, 38, initially expected only 200–300 people to show their support, upwards of 3,000 massed on the streets of Toronto on April 3 -- some wearing jeans and a T-shirt; others in outfits more appropriate for a Victoria's Secret fashion show: thigh-highs, lingerie, stilettos -- and marched to police headquarters. Their goal: to shift the paradigm of mainstream rape culture, which they believe focuses on analyzing the behavior of the victim rather than that of the perpetrator.

“The idea that there is some aesthetic that attracts sexual assault or even keeps you safe from sexual assault is inaccurate, ineffective and even dangerous,” said Jarvis. She recalled a sign at the march that read: "It was Christmas day. I was 14 and raped in a stairwell wearing snowshoes and layers. Did I deserve it too?"

Since the movement’s inception, the SlutWalk campaign has gone viral. Facebook groups have been emerging to promote satellite SlutWalks in Europe, Asia, Australia and most major US cities. Ashville, Dallas, Hartford, Boston and Rochester will host SlutWalks between now and May 7.

The ubiquity of a rape culture that attributes sexual assault to a woman’s dress or expression of sexuality (both in the court of law as well as in the court of public opinion) helps explain the movement’s widespread resonance and popularity.

In late February, a Manitoba judge condemned a rape survivor in court for wearing a tube top, no bra, high heels and makeup, which he implied had led to her sexual assault. Justice Robert Dewar called the assailant a “clumsy Don Juan” who had succumbed to “inviting circumstances.”

In 1999, Italy’s highest court ruled that a woman wearing jeans could not be raped because it is impossible to remove a pair of pants “without the collaboration of the person wearing them.”

When an 11-year-old was gang raped in Cleveland, Texas this March, a controversial New York Times article noted that the victim “dressed older than her age, wearing makeup and fashions more appropriate to a woman in her 20s,” as if this were a relevant factor in the crime perpetrated against her (the Times later responded to criticism).

“If someone breaks into a house, do you blame the owner for having a house that looks appetizing?” asked Elizabeth Webb, the 24-year-old organizer of SlutWalk Dallas. “I don’t think so!”

Given Dallas’ close proximity to Cleveland, Texas and the fact that April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Webb felt it appropriate to organize SlutWalk Dallas, which will take place on April 23. A survivor herself, she feels very close to the issue.

At 18, Elizabeth Webb became a statistic. Along with one in four college women, Webb joined the rank and file of rape survivors. Like 80 percent of victims, she was sexually assaulted by someone she knew -- a close friend who drugged her at a party. Like 15 out of 16 rapists, Webb’s attacker never spent a night in jail.

Although she reported the rape the next day (which her Texas hospital required before administering a free rape examination), Webb stopped pursuing the case after succumbing emotionally in the face of the onslaught of questions acquaintances asked with raised eyebrows, questions aimed at challenging the integrity of the victim: What were you wearing? Why did you go to his party? Why did you drink?

“Sexual assault is traumatic, and to add victim blaming on top of that is damaging to the psyche,” said Webb, now 24, who only recently relinquished her sense of self-blame. “I can’t remember what I was wearing, but why weren’t they asking why he slipped something in my drink?”

Those organizing the SlutWalks are personally connected to the cause in varying degrees. Monday’s SlutWalk Orlando was put together by a feminist theory class at the University of Central Florida. Other organizers are survivors themselves.

Nicole Sullivan, 21, one of three organizers of the May 7th Boston SlutWalk, is a survivor. “But you hear people whispering and asking if you’re the right kind of survivor,” said Sullivan, referring to the Whoopi Goldberg school of thought that there is rape, and then there’s “rape-rape.”

Sullivan felt scrutinized for having embraced her own sexuality. “I was told that if I hadn’t owned a vibrator I wouldn’t have gotten raped. It was crazy what people would come up with.”

SlutWalk Toronto’s website states, “Being in charge of our sexual lives should not mean that we are opening ourselves to an expectation of violence, regardless if we participate in sex for pleasure or work. No one should equate enjoying sex with attracting sexual assault.”

An aim of the SlutWalk movement is to reappropriate the word "slut." “I come from a frame of mind that language is powerful, and you can also change language,” said SlutWalk founder Jarvis, using the word “queer” as an example of a word that was once strictly pejorative but is now a common sexual identifier used by the LGBT community.

The embrace of sluttiness has attracted most of the controversy surrounding the event. Posts to SlutWalk Facebook groups question whether the fishnets and chants “We’re here. We’re sluts. Get used to it!” present at SlutWalk Toronto help SlutWalk’s goals, or set the movement back. Fox News commented that there is “nothing brave” about marching for sluttiness, and a conservative blogger accused participants of being “high off attention.”

According to SlutWalk Boston co-organizer Siobhan Conners, 20, although Boston SlutWalk is expecting approximately 1,000 participants, a counter event called “Pimp Walk” has been planned to take place on the same day at the same time. Conners also finds herself removing pornographic and hateful posts from the SlutWalk Facebook page.

“Not everyone has to chant ‘I’m a slut and I’m proud,’” said Conners. “No matter how you identify, even if you don’t consider yourself a sexual person, we’d like to have anyone who is supportive of creating a more positive environment for women and believes that rape shouldn’t be permitted.”

SlutWalk organizers, both domestically and internationally, hope that the movement creates a global dialogue in which women feel comfortable discussing sexual assault without fear of blame.

“By starting this walk and talking to my friends about whether they want to help me, I’ve learned stories from my friends where I didn’t know that they had been sexually assaulted before,” said Lena Ellis, the organizer of SlutWalk Detroit. “This serves as an outlet and lets them have a voice. Having my friends open up is a big deal, and if this happens in my little circle, it can happen for a lot of other people as well.”

Erin McCarley

H&M - la grande ouverture! (grand opening)

For those who may not know, yesterday was the grand Hennes and Mauritz opening at The Core downtown. It is a two-story store with the widest selection I've seen in an HM store in Calgary. It was a closed event to a good 200 people (if not more). Many attendees won free entry to the 6 to 10 shopping extravaganza through a Calgary Fashion contest. Others through phone companies like Virgin Mobile (Biancs!) etc. The entire store was 20%, except for the newly "Conscious" line. I welcomed the 20% discount with wide-opened arms shopping for 6 article of clothing from open 'til close. My friends and I were the last ones in the store. I think it is the most time I have ever stayed in one store at once.

Not only was the shopping great, but the champagne, the cocktails, the chocolates filled with baileys irish cream and the live DJ music created a great lively atmosphere. An honestly well-orchestrated event with friendly staff and great service!

Welcome to the latest H&M in Calgary

VIPs shopping around

Shoes I dig

Group shot!

Bon Iver (Happy Winter)

Bon Iver, you're a genius. This song hits me at the deepest of my core. Thank you.

Skinny Love

Come on skinny love just last the year

Pour a little salt we were never here

My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Staring at the sink of blood and crushed veneer
I tell my love to wreck it all
Cut out all the ropes and let me fall
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Right in the moment this order's tall
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
In the morning I'll be with you
But it will be a different "kind"
I'll be holding all the tickets
And you'll be owning all the fines
Come on skinny love what happened here
Suckle on the hope in lite brassiere
My, my, my, my, my, my, my, my
Sullen load is full; so slow on the split
I told you to be patient
I told you to be fine
I told you to be balanced
I told you to be kind
Now all your love is wasted?
Then who the hell was I?
Now I'm breaking at the britches
And at the end of all your lines

Who will love you?
Who will fight?

Who will fall far behind?

Greta Gerwig in Arthur

First it was in Greenberg as Florence Marr - Ben Stiller's love interest, then it was as Patrice - one of Natalie Portman's roommate and co-worker at the hospital in No Strings Attached and now it's as Russell Brand's love interest - Naomi in Arthur. (such a cute comedy btw, it's a must see!)

Bottom line: I really like this actress and I really think she's going to be the next big thing. :)

As a bonus: I really liked her style in the movie Arthur!

the mini-mouse dress

the cute belted floral mini-dress

Flashback in writing: Jeremy Fokkens and coffee shop art

I wrote this in November and it has to be one of my favorite piece I've written so far. This story is about the numerous art works one can often stumble upon in coffee shops. Who chooses to expose their work in coffee shops? Why? What kind of effect does it have on coffee-goers? Read and find out!

Shout out to Sheena Manabat and Carlos Mora for their help with this story!

The Buzz about coffee shop art.

November 21, 2010

The Reflector

by Claire Miglionico

When it comes to Calgaryborn and -raised photographer Jeremy Fokkens, it was the vibrant and art-engaged atmosphere at Higher Ground Cafe in Kensington that made showcasing his art there so appealing. “The owner of the shop was looking for something different,” he said, comparing his work to the travel photos typically displayed in coffee shops. Fokkens, 27, brought that touch of individuality with “Look” — his current series at Higher Grounds. It is comprised of close-up photography mounted on canvas transfers or acrylic mounts.


The series is meant to encourage people to take a closer look at the things that surround them. “There are moments, even photographs, and details in everything. I think we often look past that,” he said. Fokkens said that the detail work presented in his photos were all hard to get. “For the Cecil Hotel one, I actually ended up paying for one night (at the Cecil) to get the night shots,” he said. The hotel, which is no longer in operation, was notorious for gang activity, drugs, and prostitutes.


On top of his shot of the Cecil Hotel’s vibrant neon sign, the exhibition includes a close-up of a parrot’s head, a dandelion captured in all its splendour in Rwanda, and a wide-angle view of part of the copious record collection in Inglewood’s Recordland, among many other equally intriguing photographs. “I like shooting things that have a lot of imperfections, something that can either tell a story, has some sort of texture or depth to it, makes you think or gives the audience a bit of a reaction.”


Dan Clapson, general manager at Higher Ground says the displays have always brought positive responses: “Our patrons enjoy the art and photography that we showcase here. Whenever a new exhibit goes up, people take notice, and the words are always kind.” Fokkens has experienced likewise feedback from customers. “I find that whenever I’m in there taking (my work) down or up, I get bombarded with people who come out left, right and centre asking things like, “oh my goodness, I like that photo,” or, “oh, where or how did you take that?” For University of Calgary student Calla Savary, 20, Higher Ground is a cozy place to meet up with friends, read or study.


Although she says the art is usually a background commodity, she says it still adds to her coffee experience. “Art in coffee shops is vital. It makes a huge difference. I love that you can even buy the art here,” she said. “On an aesthetic level, it is nice to not have bare walls,” Clapson wrote in an email. “On a more serious note, we work hard to be a hub in our community for local arts and music. It’s good to know our patrons appreciate support of local culture.”


As for Fokkens’ photography, Savary enjoyed it. “I like this,” she said pointing to Fokkens’ photo in Recordland, called “My Playlist.” “I wish I had that kind of record collection!” she said. Tim Westbury, programming director at The New Gallery says coffee shops offer great exposure for artists and photographers alike. “The chief benefit is that the work is being seen by a relatively broad spectrum of the public. Many people continue to find the standard ‘white cube’ of a contemporary art gallery to be quite intimidating; coffee shops provide a much more comfortable, informal setting,” he wrote in an email.


“The only con I see in art being displayed in a coffee shop context is that ultimately, it’s just part of the background and decor.” Fokkens happily lives off his photography and enjoys traveling to developing countries. The end of March will see Fokkens travel to Tibet, India, Nepal, and Bangladesh for a full year. “I just hope my photographs inspire people, whether it’s in photography or whether it inspires them to, this may sound like a complete cliche, but inspires them to do what they really want to do (in life).” “It’s nothing but hard work. But to really do what you want to do is the best thing there is,” he said with a laugh. Catch Fokkens at Higher Ground for a reception on Nov. 23, 7-10 p.m. with free wine and munchies to boot.

With files from Sheena Manabat.

MRU journalism year end blow out!

I'm always amazed with promo posters for the Drum or Bamboo.

I dig our journalism one! Wicked!

um...YUM!

Ok, time for bed. If I don't, I'm going to start posting more photos of hot men. Hahaha!

Nighty, night!

Claire M.

Braids Review is here!

Braids gets tangled in their tunes

by Claire Miglionico
The Reflector

Braids has come a long way since its earlier days as The Neighbourhood Council – the original band the members formed in their last year of high school. In the beginning, they played Broken City frequently, eventually made the move to Montreal, and came back to their hometown of Calgary as bold and strong as ever, playing the show local fans have been waiting on for some time.

Photo by Claire Miglionico. Hometown favourites, Braids, returned to town and delivered the goods despite being somewhat infirm. Check out Braids at Sled Island running June 22-25 - show date TBA.

Braids is composed of four 20-something multi-talented musicians: Raphaelle Standell-Preston, Katie Lee, Austin Tufts and Taylor Smith. All are vocalists and use their harmonious voices to back up lead vocalist/guitarist Standell-Preston while playing their instruments of choice: the keyboards for Lee, the guitar, bass and drums for Smith and the drums for Tufts. Standell-Preston’s voice has been dubbed “angelic” by many music critics and her performance at The Grand theatre March 30 revealed it as such.

Kris Ellestad and Memory Screen opened up the show to a half-empty theatre, but a flock of people invaded the Grand just in time to catch Braids. The all-ages, sold-out show lived up to its status when the empty seats at the very top of the theatre filled in a matter of seconds. For their part, the members of Braids were sitting in the audience attentively listening to the openers.

The crowd was not a foreign one. It was filled with the band’s old friends from Western Canada High School – where all four members of Braids attended – and profoundly happy and proud family members cheering for their children, siblings, granddaughters or grandsons.

Braids took the stage around 10 p.m. and Standell-Preston announced in a hoarse, timid voice she had caught a seemingly severe case of bronchitis just the day before. The crowd was saddened by the news but was not let down by the vocal performance she pulled off despite the sickness. The positive attitude and good-hearted humour she kept throughout the night were inspiring.

Braids played a set that closely mimicked the order of their debut album Native Speaker. They started off with their free-flowing signature track “Lemonade,” which slowly faded into “Plath Heart.” Their style of music is out there and definitely of experimental nature with frequent synthesizers, fast-spaced guitar staccatos, and dream-state vocals. They bring various musical influences to the table and have been compared to Animal Collective, Bjork and the Cocteau Twins.

Their friendship comes to life onstage through their fantastic musical connection. Deep glances, and full-toothed grins were exchanged on numerous occasions between all four members.

Braids pulled off a great show but it would be a lie to say that it was fully entrancing. At times the band came short of captivating the audience by being lost in their own little musical worlds for too long. The band also seemed exhausted, quite frankly. Bronchitis could have definitely been at fault for this one. Perhaps this show was not one of the better ones for Braids. However, musical virtue is fully present within the band, which is only setting them up for many more successful performances to come.

Can I get some fashion with my toast?

I don't want to get too much into the habit of re-blogging a bunch of pretty things off other people's blog but I couldn't help myself from posting a few photos from fashiontoast.com.

Great photos for a lasting impression!

Merci!

The Nude debate

I found this interesting article that dates from a year ago.

It proclaims that using the term "nude" could be a racist way of describing the color.

Personally, I think it's pushing it and not in any way trying to be racist.

I agree that "nude" shouldn't be coined a "flesh-color" because we all have

different skin tones. It's more like a soft pale pink/ivory and to me, I do not see

why a pale color that is being all the rage right now should be deemed a racist color.

It's worth a read though.

Thoughts? I'd love to hear them!

Nude: is the hot fashion colour racist?

But it's only nude if you're white, not if you're black

Paula Cocozza - the Guardian. May 20, 2010.

Michelle Obama, Nicola Roberts, Naomi Watts, Gemma Arterton, Demi Moore and Hermès. Photograph: Composite

Michelle Obama must be used to causing a stir with her frocks. But she could not have known when she chose a floorlength gown in a lovely shade of – well, let's just pass over that for the moment – to meet the Indian prime minister last November, the furore that would follow. The dress was described by its designer Naeem Khan as a "sterling-silver sequin, abstract floral, nude strapless gown". Associated Press said it was "flesh-coloured", the colour of Obama's own flesh notwithstanding. Now AP appears to have revised that description to "champagne", an act that has triggered debate about fashion's use of the word "nude". "Nude? For whom?" asks Jezebel magazine.

To anyone who reads fashion magazines these terms will be familiar. "Nude" shades are everywhere this season, having dominated the spring/summer 2010 catwalks, from off-white through pale rose to gold ("nude" in fashion terms does not refer to anything more exciting than these rather muted colours, not even with "nude bras"). InStyle magazine goes as far as to say that nude is the new black: just about the surest way to exclude black-skinned women from adopting the trend, since it's apparently not acceptable to wear black as black, nor black as nude.

Over at Elle magazine, where the May issue sees the word "nude" repeated nine times on a single page, "nude is the colour for spring/summer". Editor Lorraine Candy says there is nothing wrong with this. "Nude is a defined colour. It's white nude, not black nude, but it's not the colour of my skin either. I'm see-through white. With someone as powerful and amazing as Michelle Obama, I think it's the wrong thing to get worked up about."

The problem is that the language of fashion has form in this regard. Beading, fringing and animal prints are routinely offered as evidence of a "tribal" trend (though that is a word Candy says she crosses out whenever she sees it). Last October, a month before Obama stepped out in her dress, model Lara Stone appeared blacked up in French Vogue. Black models, meanwhile, are few and far between on catwalks and covers. And even when fashion editors find synonyms for "nude" they are conventionally honey, rose, blush, ivory, words commonly used to make an English rose complexion seem aspirational. There is nothing new in all this, of course: remember American Tan tights, and their promise to bring a healthy glow to all those "American" (read pale) legs?

"For me, nude would be if I wore brown," says Dodai Stewart, deputy editor of Jezebel. "I do think that it really is exclusionary not to realise that this is not nude for everyone."

But it isn't just the description of a colour that is potentially offensive here, it's also the way the look is styled, the conception of the entire trend. On the cover of May's InStyle, actor Gemma Arterton appears in a frock so close to her skin tone that it seems to seep into her chest and shoulders, the two adjacent pallors of flesh and dress somehow bleaching each other out, lightening further the overall look. On the catwalks in Paris, Milan, London and New York, these pale shades were presented almost uniformly on pale skins. It's a look that's all about white skin.

"Obama looks amazing," says Reina Lewis, professor of cultural studies at the London College of Fashion. "It's a fabulous dress. But on her skin 'nude' is revealed as a colour rather than neutral."

Indeed it seems misplaced to think of these shades as neutral, when the debate makes clear that this trend is anything but. Pantone, the world-renowned authority on colour, may have a "nude" shade, thereby conferring a certain official acceptability on all those magazines' usage of the term. But then another N-word was once commonly used in clothes catalogues to describe a chocolatey shade of brown. (Yes, THAT N-word.) Will "nude" one day strike us as equally horrifying?