I’m a Big Girl, Got No Secrets This Time

Music videos have been one of my strongest passions since I was a child: in the 80s and 90s my visual memory feasted on the eccentric and complex aesthetics that many singers introduced in their videos. I stopped watching tv in 2003 and have no intention to break this habit: as a result, I don’t watch as many videos as I used to, because spending (or wasting) time on YouTube or Daily Motion is not exactly the way I want to live my life. Yes, I watch the videos everyone is talking about, but that’s it. This morning I was checking my Facebook page, when I stumbled across a link to a video, posted by a former student of mine, a girl who loves music as much as I do. It was a link to Jennifer Lopez’s latest video, Dance Again, directed by Paul Hunter and featuring Pitbull [1].

What can I say? I watched it once just out of curiosity and it got me intrigued; I watched again and it got me excited; I watched for the third time and I asked myself if there’s something wrong with me: I was captivated! She launched her music career in 1999 and at the time I was a fan of hers: two of her songs – If You Had My Love and Waiting for Tonight – remind me of the time I met the boy that is now my husband. I still love that phase of her career but then I stopped caring about her; I kept on watching her videos, but nothing more. I don’t know the reason why Dance Again caught my attention, but maybe I can try to understand it through the following analysis.

In the opening scene, Jennifer steps into an elegant room: she’s dressed in black and has a black latex band around her upper arm. She sports her trademark glowy make-up and straight hair.

84th Academy Awards

The night we were all waiting for has finally come! The 84th Academy Awards took place yesterday at the Hollywood & Highland Center: the red carpet was scrutinized by professional and amateur fashion critics all around the world – me included – so here is my top ten of the best-dressed celebrities. You’ll find actresses who have been included in most best-dressed lists, but some outsiders, as well. You know I don’t like conformism, so I picked beautiful outfits who were scorned by others.

Ladies in White

I’m not a fan of white outfits on the red carpet, but some celebrities looked stunning in this colour. First of all, Rooney Mara, who probably is on top of my best-dressed list. The actress, nominated as Best Actress in a Leading Role for The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo by David Fincher – looked sensational in a Givenchy Haute Couture lace dress from the spring 2009 collection. The version worn by Rooney is a bit different from the one seen on the catwalk – a longer hem, white lining and more fitted bodice – but the beauty of it is intact. She wore a piece of jewellery only – a Fred Leighton antique platinum ring with diamonds and a miniature portrait – and she kept make-up and hair simple. Her glossy, super-straight and clean-cut bangs are mesmerizing, and so is her ruby red lipstick.

Dreams Come True on the Red Carpet

The beginning of the fashion show season and the beginning of a new school year are usually the signs that summer is really over. I don’t like writing about fashion per se much, because I always try to to see it through a cultural lens, but I’ve got my exceptions: Marchesa, Givenchy Haute Couture and Atelier Versace. In a few days I’ll write a review of Marchesa spring/summer 2012 collection, but in the meantime let me spend some words about the Atelier Versace fall/winter 2011. I’ve never been a fan of unconditional love when it comes to fashion, because I think I’ve got quite a critical eye, but for me – a die-hard fan of Versace history and visuals – it’s really hard to demolish an Atelier Versace collection. This doesn’t mean I can’t realize that something doesn’t work, but I tend to be forgiving. This time, a very little indulgence was needed, because the collection is actually brilliant, with four clear themes (and you know how much I love themes in collections) and many details to be excited about. Yes, there’s a “black sheep” dress, but it’s easily forgotten.

The first theme I’ve found in the collection is (perforated) leather, a material that Donatella has already used for evening gowns.

This dress is like a sculpture and beautifully matches an architectural quality with a naïve touch (the bandeau top with bow on the back). The baroque designs of the crinoline high-waist skirt are cut in the leather and emphasized with little gold rings which give an overall transparency effect. The dramatic beehive hairdo of Kasia Struss and her make-up (surely a nod to the late Amy Winehouse and to Brigitte Bardot) underline the combination of structured and innocently sexy.

Fashion Photography Says “Motherhood”: Harry Winston and Gucci Campaigns

Before the birth of my daughter, during the pregnancy, I started being particularly interested in a specific theme of fashion photography, which is motherhood, the perception of the maternal status and the presence of children. I’ve always wanted to focus on the production of Miles Aldridge, a British photographer who often reflects on the role of mothers in contemporary society, the social pressure on them, the relationship to their children, but I still haven’t found time enough to do it. In any case, my interest has been recently sparked by a picture of a strangely smiling Freja Beha Erichsen, posing for Patrick Demarchelier in Harry Winston 2010 advertising campaign.

I usually don’t like children to appear in advertising campaigns. This makes me feel uneasy, because someone has taken the decision to make them model. I don’t know if I consider it exploitation or what, but I don’t like it. Despite my opinion, children don’t only appear in campaigns advertising products for children, but in those dealing with luxury brands, too,  and Freja’s picture is an example.

Clearly, the reason why they included such a shot in the campaign is to introduce the concepts of warm-heartedness, family and mother love, thus appealing to the lucky mothers who can afford a Harry Winston piece. Moreover, the ideas of cuteness, instinct and naturalness are introduced through the nakedness of the baby, a symbol of his/her defencelessness and of the maternal need to protect him/her. Despite my disapproval of the use of children in such contexts, I must admit the picture is sweet (and this proves the campaign has reached its goal).