It's Hot Outside. How About A T-Shirt That Says Something About You?

Hi Meltingpot Readers,

I live in Philadelphia. It's April. It should be about 60 degrees outside, but instead we're heading for a sweltering 90 degrees today. Babygirl was scheduled to show up for Show & Tell at my sons' school today and I had to dig deep to find a t-shirt for her. And for me too. Two days ago, I was looking for warm pajamas for her, today I'm hunting down sun hats and sunscreen.

Well, just in case, dear readers, you too are looking for a t-shirt to wear and you want to spend some cash on a new shirt that will not only keep you cool, but will have you looking cool too, please remember that one of my many side gigs is running whatrugear.com, a t-shirt company for people who want to wear their identity in style. Due to some administrative oversight (um, I forgot to pay a bill) our web address has changed slightly. You can now find us at www.whatrugear.squarespace.com. Please spread the word.

And as always, give us your ideas for new t-shirt slogans you'd like to see.

I'm listening and taking notes.

Peace!

(Blog)Roll Call!

Hey Meltingpot Readers,

It's a new year, which makes me feel like it's time for change and updating. In two days I'll be changing my hairstyle...anyone care to guess what my new look is going to be? I'm also thinking --for the first time ever as I get closer to 40 -- about updating my style. I seriously need a wardrobe update that reflects my personal style and mission. Right now my look says, 'mommy throws on the same clothes she's been wearing since 1995' but now I'm ready to step it up and go for ethnic chic (see images above, discovered after googling 'ethnic chic' go figure!) crossed with comfy and not too expensive. If anyone has any suggestions that will help me achieve this look without having to throw out everything in my closest and start over again, I'm listening.

But it's not just my look that needs updating, my blog does too. And here's where you can help. I've been updating my blogroll over there on the right, but I'd love to get your suggestions of blogs that I should be reading for my daily dose of meltingpot news, views and reviews. If you know a blog or website that should be on my radar, please send me a link in the comments section. I do appreciate it.

Peace.

Doesn't Everybody want to be Black Like Me?

So of course the big news in the fashion world this month was the "Black" issue of Italian Vogue. Forty pages of fashion with only Black models. Folks on both sides of the pond apparently have been scrambling to get a copy of the history-making glossy that features the likes of Iman, Alek Wek, Beverly Johnson and even, (I heard) ANTM Tocarra.

The reason behind the "Black" Issue is infuriating. It seems that here in America the fashion industry, even in 2008, still believes that beautiful Black women can't sell beautiful clothes, or magazines for that matter. Apparently, the editor of Italian Vogue, Franca Sozzani, was making a point that using Black models wouldn't detract from the art of the fashion. Thank you Ms. Sozzani!

A quote from Philadelphia Inquirer Columnist Elizabeth Wellington:

" American fashion is about aspiration ... Unfortunately, no matter how the fashion industry spins it, the clothing designers constructing the most popular runway presentations and the editors creating the most sought-after magazine spreads don't see black women as icons of aspirational beauty. And even more sadly, they don't believe that wealthy women will buy clothing if black women are modeling it."

And that's where I say, WTF? And White women, please don't be offended when I say this, but OF COURSE WHITE WOMEN WANT TO LOOK LIKE BLACK WOMEN. They want to look like us, sound like us, dance like us, cook like us, walk like us, talk like us. Do I need to go on? Black culture has been emulated, copied and co-opted since we set foot on this land. Whether you want to call it sharing or stealing almost every piece of the American cultural pie comes from a Black aesthetic.

I think the fashion industry is just making excuses to remain racist and closed off to "others." Like if they let the colored girls into the club they just might bring in the pork rinds and Hawaiian Punch and spoil the party.

Take a look at Oprah Winfrey. Just for an example. Not only is she Black but she's pretty chunky too. But if girlfriend says Pucci dresses are hot for the summer, at least 100,000 White women would be heading to Lilly Pulitzer for an outfit.
If Beyonce dons a puffy white dress on the red carpet, 80 gazillion teenagers will be wearing white to prom. So I say if the fashion industry embraced Black beauty, the people would follow.

What do you think?

Happy Healthy Weekend!

Peace.