The Politics of Bras

As someone growing up in the 60s and 70s I knew the bra had political messages. Women burned their bras literally and figuratively as a sign of their liberation. The bra has returned as a political , social, and religious issue. In Somalia women are being beaten in the streets for wearing bras. Reuters reports:

Residents said gunmen had been rounding up any woman seen with a firm bust and then had them publicly whipped by masked men. The women were then told to remove their bras and shake their breasts.

I immediately speculated on what type of man would do this in the name of religious and civil law. Men are also being whipped in the streets for shaving their beards, even if they are young men not yet able to grow a full beard.

Instead of bras discarded as a symbol of freedom their removal is now a sign of oppression.

Paperback Swap My New Addiction

Paperback Swap is my new addiction. A great way to find homes for my old books and get hard to find books without paying for them. Recycling at its best.

Controlling The News

The First Amendment is important to me. If you want to get me crazed just begin talking about banning books. The current attempt by White House staff to tell news networks that they shouldn't carry stories from Fox News is an example of government trying to stifle free speech. This is what the government should NOT do.

The focus on Fox News is silly. When we look at the Pew Research Center's evaluation of the 2008 Election Fox News did indeed come out "fair and balanced."

BEST--FOX NEWS

• Positive Obama Stories 25%
• Positive McCain Stories 22%
• Negative Obama Stories 40%
• Negative McCain Stories 40%

WORST--MSNBC

• Positive Obama Stories 73%
• Positive McCain Stories 10%
• Negative Obama Stories 14%
• Negative McCain Stories 43%

TOTAL COVERAGE
(all media added together - 2,412 stories from 48 outlets)

• Positive Obama Stories 36%
• Positive McCain Stories 14%
• Negative Obama Stories 29%
• Negative McCain Stories 57%

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton credited Fox with giving her the best coverage during the 2008 primaries. So, let's remember her words about the right to dissent:

Hillary Clinton Speech

Midnight Lace

Fall designs have gone retro with nipped in waists and big shoulders of the 40s and 80s. Lace also turned up in many collections. Stella McCartney used lace in draped panels in several of her dresses as well as on sleeves and straps. Balenciaga showed a black lace bandeaux. The problem for the real world woman is how to incorporate lace without looking like a maiden aunt from Arsenic and Old Lace, an 80s Madonna-Wanna-Be, or that you are prepping for your street walking career.

Runway looks aren't ready-to-wear. They are designed to inspire, so take individual pieces and incorporate them into other looks. Small doses of strong looks work best for most of us. Lace is a perfect example. Add a black, lace clutch from Santi to add pizazz to your outfit.

There are dresses that are classy and womanly featuring black lace. The black lace sheath dress from Coldwater Creek is perfect for a dinner date, cocktail party, or evening at the theater. No one will mistake you for the usher. The darts give this dress an incredible shape. Just don't carry the clutch with it. Leave your huge bag at home. This dress calls for a clutch with clean lines.

Handbags For Fall 2009

Bold and Beautiful for Fall

Autumn handbags have a few things in common; rich, saturated colors, luxurious leathers, ample slouchy factor and enough room for your phone, Mp3 player, library book, etc. The rich shades of purple that are avaiable are amazing. This plum color is one of my favorites for fall. I love the soft suede feel of this Cole Haan bag. I confess that I bought this bag during the summer, ON CLEARANCE. I saw it and immediately thought, 'That's a perfect fall bag.' The styling is classic. The subtle brass studs are very much this season. This is the prime rule of getting a fashion bargain. Think outside the season!

All variations of purple can be see all over this fall. By choosing a deep, lush purple it will last more than one season. It can act as an accent color and translate from season to season depending on your clothing. A purple bag will look fresh and new now and through next year.

Passagiato Con Me

Let's take a passagiato* through fashion and current events. I love fashion, but am not a slave to labels. This blog was started after reading one more fashion magazine that marginalized conservatives. The attitude was that conservative women are stupid and we wear ugly clothes.

So, here I am carving out my own space. I'm not alone and am not in competition with the big magazines or other bloggers. In fact I invite you to visit the http://conservativefashionista.blogspot.com/. If you find other voices in the wilderness please share them with us.

Where am I politically? I've been a registered Independent since the 1980 election (you can guess my age from there) when I supported John B. Anderson. Why? He supported the Equal Rights Amendment. I used to describe myself as a 'Conservative Liberal' before the phrase moderate was bandied about. It was Bill Clinton that finally pushed me into my conservative identity.

I love clothes. I love the art of clothing. I don't have one specific style. You are just as likely to find me in a silk shirt as a rag sweater. If this blog speaks to you than in the words of my best TV boyfriend, Tim Gunn, let's "make it work."

*--The Italian tradition of passagiato where, after a leisurely meal, people walk in their Sunday best on the main street of their communities. So, I invite you to stroll with me (con me).