Tag: Change

Categories
Health

The Brett Kavanaugh Hearings Could Change Sexual Assault Reporting—but How?


Christine Blasey Ford’s decision to publicly accuse Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh of sexual assault irrevocably changed her life. If her claims, which the judge adamantly denies, help keep him off the bench, her decision may also change the course of American history.

America was watching when the California college professor testified about Kavanaugh before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday. Among those who may have watched extra closely: Women still privately weighing whether to speak out against their own assailants.

Ford’s challenge to Kavanaugh has energized talk of a new era of empowerment for accusers. But there are still fears that what she’s experienced since coming forward—and the final Senate verdict on Kavanaugh, which has now been delayed pending a brief FBI inquiry—could convince some women to stay silent.

“There’s a very, very high cost to the accuser when they report,” says Professor Linda Martín Alcoff of the Graduate Center and Hunter College of the City University of New York—whether emotional, financial, or professional. Before taking the risk, women consider what they’ve seen happen to both public figures and people they know: “They’re guessing what the cost will be—and they’re making reasonable guesses that the cost is going to be high,” she says.

Even with that, Martín Alcoff says the outcome of the Ford-Kavanaugh confrontation will affect attitudes toward reporting sexual assault “for years to come” because it is unique. Specifically, it’s what she calls a “best-case scenario” for an accuser.

First, she says, Ford’s accusation is being taken seriously—something not every accuser can count on. She has the benefit of a legal team on her side. Ford has also been able to produce evidence to support her claim that Kavanaugh assaulted her at a party in 1982, including polygraph test results and health records.

Despite those advantages, Martín Alcoff says, Ford still got enough threats after she went public to compel her to flee her home.

And though Ford’s claims come after the rise of movements like #MeToo and #TimesUp, Martín Alcoff, also the author of Rape & Resistance, says Ford’s case may face some of the same procedural hurdles—and skeptical attitudes—Anita Hill confronted in 1991 when she alleged in groundbreaking testimony that then-SCOTUS nominee Clarence Thomas had sexually harassed her.

Thomas was confirmed by the Senate, 52 to 48. He still sits on the high court today.

If Ford’s testimony does help tip the Senate away from confirming Kavanaugh, it’s likely she’ll be cheered in other circles: His rejection might be hailed as vindication for assault survivors—particularly those who dare to challenge the powerful. (Separately, those who call Kavanaugh a threat to abortion rights wouldn’t mind if he tanked; President Donald Trump’s foes might love to see his nominee implode, particularly in a hot election year.)

Ford certainly appears to have more public support (and Kavanaugh less) than was the case in the Hill-Thomas showdown. Hill was castigated for her testimony, but on Monday, women (and men) hit the street to show their faith in Ford; in a second accuser, Deborah Ramirez, whose claims Kavanaugh also denies; and to telegraph a message to survivors: We Believe You.

That profession of faith got even louder on Thursday, when Ford supporters (and, in fairness, some detractors) descended on Washington to bear witness as Ford testified before Judiciary.

“These actions reinforce to victims that they have no voice [and] will not be believed … the chilling effect will last for years to come.”

Celebrities have come forth in force to signal-boost that message—including by sharing their own stories of #WhyIDidntReport and applying pressure to other public figures, like Ivanka Trump. Also, as the organization RAINN (Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network) noted, calls to the National Sexual Assault Hotline have jumped since Ford spoke out—the kind of uptick often seen when misconduct stories make headlines.

Ford has already paid a price for accusing Kavanaugh of having drunkenly groped her—and covering her mouth when she resisted—whether in the threats she’s fielded or the critiques of her integrity and motives, including some from the president himself.

On the flip side, Kavanaugh’s wife, Ashley, has also reportedly received violent, threatening messages at work. The judge’s supporters (and the judge himself) say he has been unfairly forced to defend his reputation against unsubstantiated accusations.

Martín Alcoff says many of her students have told her of “being stalked, and harassed, and threatened” by someone they accused—and his pals.

Social media may broaden the public debate about sexual misconduct, but for accusers in high-profile cases, Martín Alcoff says, it also means “you have to fear retaliation not just from the person’s friends,” but faceless “hashtag activists” who may know neither accuser nor accused. Their mobilization may show something bigger at play than this or any one case: “It seems like really what they want is to push back the growing power the victims, generally women, are gaining in the public sphere,” she says.

Despite the court of public (and social media) opinion, only the full Senate decides if Kavanaugh gets that lifetime SCOTUS seat or not.

The Senate considers the judiciary committee’s recommendation, but isn’t bound to agree with it. Still, the panel’s willingness to move to the recommendation stage so quickly concerned Ruth Glenn, president of the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, who told Glamour earlier this week that “the disregard and disdain with which Dr. Ford and Ms. Ramirez [have] been treated will have a real effect on victims reporting their assaults.

“These actions reinforce to victims that they have no voice [and] will not be believed,” she says. “They will continue to be stigmatized and traumatized, not just today, but the chilling effect will last for years to come.”

Overall, Martín Alcoff says the vitriol surrounding the Kavanaugh confirmation “will certainly demoralize future accusers, both because of the fact that these accusers have had to actually put their [lives] in danger, and because of the flippant way their accusations have been dismissed without investigation.”

Still, she says, “I feel confident victims will continue to speak out. The accusers have had support from coast to coast, with their supporters willing to share the abuse and get arrested. It’s a sad moment, but all the more inspiring since women are not backing down.”

Celeste Katz is senior political reporter for Glamour. Send news tips, questions, and comments to celeste_katz@condenast.com.

MORE: A Tale of Two Cities: A Snapshot of Washington D.C. on the Historic Kavanaugh-Ford Hearing Day





Source link

Categories
Health

The Black Women's Wage Gap Is Systemic, but That Doesn't Mean It Can't Change


What would you do with an additional $20,000 dollars? It’s a question that might seem rhetorical, but to many women of color, it’s one that’s perfectly logical due to an overwhelming wage gap; a disparity that’s acknowledged yearly with Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, which is today.

Recent data from the National Women’s Law Center shows that while women in the U.S. make 80 cents to every dollar white men make, black women working the same number of hours typically make just 63 cents for every dollar paid to their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts. And with median wages for black women in the United States at $35,382 per year, compared to $56,386 for white, non-Hispanic men, this amounts to a loss of about $21,698 each year for African American women and their families.

Considering the high-profile strides black women have made in various industries during the past few years, it’s hard to fathom the gap exists so broadly. Black women—who, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, are attaining college degrees at higher rates than before—are leading politically (and campaigning to make history), are changing the Hollywood landscape with nuanced storytelling (and unprecedented deals), crushing the sports world and even maintaining the top spot as the fastest growing group of entrepreneurs.

And the gap isn’t unique to black women in lower and middle wage jobs who are facing discrimination: According to a new joint study by Leanin.org, the National Urban League, and SurveyMonkey, “the [wage] gap actually widens for black women with more education.” In fact, for black women, it takes 200 days to “catch up.”

In 1996, the National Committee on Pay Equity decided to bring awareness to this disparity by creating Equal Pay Day. The day signifies how long it takes for a woman to make the same amount of money a white man makes for the prior year. Each year, Equal Pay Day for All is held in April to acknowledge that it takes an average woman about 16 months to make what a typical white man makes in a year.

But when we look at the wage gap for Black women, this day of “catching up” falls later in the year on August 7. Black women have to work more than 200 additional days to make the same amount of money a white man makes in a year. And these numbers matter, especially as the gap widens. It’s not clear when black women will be able to catch up. But there are things we can do to inch closer. On Black Women’s Equal Pay Day, we take a look:

Why Does the Black Women’s Wage Gap Matter?

For the millions of black women, who are working hard and still struggling to make ends meet, it’s obvious that losing out on thousands of dollars in income each year is detrimental for their well-being. But there are additional reasons why closing the black women’s wage gap is so important. Aside from obvious discrimination, black women, perhaps more than any other demographic, need higher wages.

According to 2013 data from the Center for American Progress, nearly 75 percent of black breadwinning mothers are unmarried (compared to 29 percent of white women). In other words, they are paying the rent or mortgage, feeding the family, procuring healthcare, and more on their own. This also impacts black women’s ability to build wealth. Wealth, defined as what you own minus what you owe, is the ultimate measure of economic security and black women have far too little of it. According to the Asset Funders Network, median wealth for single black women in the U.S. is $200. Raising wages, will provide black women with more money to save and invest.

What Can We Do About It?

The good news is that there are policy proposals to increase black women’s wages and close the wage gap. Below are just a few key proposals.

Raise the minimum wage:

According to Bare Minimum: Why we Need to Raise Wages for America’s Lowest Paid Families, a new report by the Leadership Conference Education Fund and Georgetown Center on Poverty and Inequality, black women are more likely than any other group to benefit from a $15 minimum wage. (Black women are disproportionately working in low wage jobs.)

And, while there is very little action at the federal level to increase the minimum wage, many state legislators know that raising wages is good for both families and the local economy. And they are acting.

In fact, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, “eighteen states began the new year with higher minimum wages. Eight states (Alaska, Florida, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, and South Dakota) automatically increased their rates based on the cost of living, while 10 states (Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont, and Washington) increased their rates due to previously approved legislation or ballot initiatives.”

Economic justice advocates are also working hard locally to advance a $15 hour minimum wage that increases with inflation over time. As a result, New York City, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco have passed $15 hour minimum wage ordinances.

Go to Raise the Minimum Wage to learn more about how you can get involved. In addition, be sure to check out Fight For $15.

Revitalize unions:

According to Economic Policy Institute, union membership is key to helping to close the black women’s wage gap:

“Black women have traditionally faced a double pay gap—a gender pay gap and a racial wage gap. EPI (Economic Policy Institute’s) research has shown that… unions help reduce these pay gaps. Working black women in unions are paid 94.9 percent of what their black male counterparts make, while nonunion black women are paid just 91 percent of their counterparts.”

Unfortunately, the recent Supreme Court decision in Janus v. AFSCME will weaken unions. The new ruling creates a situation where workers like Janus—a white man—are no longer required to pay their “fair share” in union dues, even though they benefit from union organizing and collective bargaining agreements.

To learn more the importance of advancing collective bargaining initiatives and fair labor practices, check out inequality.org.

Pass the Paycheck Fairness Act:

At the end of the day, it’s employers, not the government, that set wages. And the Equal Pay Act, which was signed into law 50 years ago, was designed to regulate the behavior of corporations by outlawing wage discrimination based on sex. Unfortunately, it’s clear from the persistence of the wage gap that the Equal Pay Act hasn’t worked.

We need to strengthen the Equal Pay Act and ensure that it protects black women from wage gaps based on race and gender. That’s where the Paycheck Fairness Act comes in. According to the National Partnership for Women & Families, the Paycheck Fairness Act will add teeth to the Equal Pay Act by helping to “ensure the Department of Labor (DOL) uses the full range of investigatory tools to uncover wage discrimination.”

For example, the Paycheck Fairness Act would make employers accountable for proving that wage differences are a result of legitimate, job-related issues. It would also protect women and men who share their salaries with each other from retaliation by employers. Finally, the Act would provide women and girls with training in negotiating skills.

Make no mistake. Wage discrimination has a direct impact on the balance sheets of black women. The wage gap hurts both families and the economy. Addressing this damage is key to improving our personal and communal financial health. By learning more about the policies above and advocating with our legislators and corporate leaders, we can ensure that we achieve wage equality and are finally paid what we deserve.

Jessicah Pierre is a media specialist at Inequality.org and founder of Queens Company, an organization dedicated to empowering women of color.

Jocelyn Harmon is the co-founder of BlackHer, an online platform dedicated to educating and inspiring Black women to take action for progressive change.

Related Stories:

Despite Major Wins, Women Are Still Losing When It Comes to Equal Pay

Starbucks Says It’s Achieved Pay Equity For Women and Minorities



Source link

Categories
Health

Women's Clothing Subscription Boxes Want to Change the Way You Shop—So We Tried Them


For many professional women, getting dressed for the office can feel like a job unto itself. Though one might prefer a pair of frayed jeans to a formfitting pencil skirt, the former might not be considered appropriate for most workplaces—and so we find ourselves needing to upkeep two separate wardrobes. (This is despite reports that, across industries, the American office is skewing toward more casual dress.) In recent years, a slew of new personalized box shopping services have come in to help their customers navigate all the different categories of workwear—business formal, business professional, business casual, and so on. Despite being easily grouped together because of their comparable missions to take the work out of finding workwear, each of these company tackles this very issue in a distinct way—and to varying degrees of success.

The MM.LaFleur Bento Box, for instance, is all about its mix-and-match work clothes; Stitch Fix, meanwhile, pairs its customers with a stylist who selects a curated selection of items depending on how much a shopper wants to spend; Le Tote, then, allows shoppers to rent clothing and accessories on a rotating basis for a single monthly fee.

There’s big business in this model, for this specific market. StitchFix, Inc., which filed for an IPO last year, reported almost $1 billion in sales in 2017, according to Forbes; during the 2016 fiscal year, it made $730 million in revenue, per The New York Times. MM.LaFleur, meanwhile, was expected to rake in $70 million in 2017, according to Inc.

But how well do these women’s clothing subscription boxes really stack up in terms of fulfilling our workwear needs, really? Is the way we shop for fashion a thing of the past? Will these services become the new normal for personal style? There’s only one way to find out: I put these three very different options to the test and laid out the pros and cons of each service. Hopefully, it’ll help you decide which one (if any) is right for you.

MM.LaFleur Bento Box

I have been hearing nonstop from friends in corporate jobs about MM.LaFleur and its Bento Box, which, while explicitly marketed as “not a subscription service,” operates by following a similar format, sending a shopper a curated selection of pieces from its inventory (which can be purchased at any time individually) to try on at home and charging them only for the pieces they keep. It was described to me as being the saving grace for working women—so, naturally, I was excited to see its clothes up close and in person.

First, to get your personalized Bento Box, which consists of an assortment of work staples, you have to answer a few questions, including some about your office dress code. After a handful of clicks, I was done, and my Bento Box was in the works. It arrived at my doorstep just a few days later.

Like many folks out there (my friends working corporate gigs included), I know how difficult it can be to shop for clothes that are “professional” in a traditional sense, especially as fashion trends have skewed toward the more casual. So I was pleased to find options in my Bento Box that made me say to myself, “Finally!” My shipment included a scarf (a must-have for anyone who works a desk job in an office with aggressive air conditioning in the summer), two dresses, a black-and-white skirt, a black top, and a knit jacket. Though I pretty much liked everything in my Bento Box, there were two clear standouts for me: the Taylor sheath dress in green (which retails for $265) and the Woolf knit jacket (priced at $195). All of MM.LaFleur’s pieces come in a range of sizes, from petite to plus. (The full range is from 0 to 22.)

After deciding what I wanted to keep and what I didn’t (each Bento Box comes with between four to six items), I put my returns in a prepaid envelope to send back to MM.LaFleur HQ. Easy.

Price: Prices for each of the items in any given Bento Box range from $110 for a top to $325 for a dress. You have four days to return the pieces you don’t want to keep, and shipping is free both ways. If you don’t keep anything from the box, you are charged $25—so it’s not exactly a “subscription box,” since you order each Bento Box individually, but there’s still a fee attached to each shipment.

Pros: For women who are in need of proper business attire but are short on time, this is, by far, one of the best options around. There’s a lot to love about their offerings, which reflect an impressive amount of market research on the part of the brand’s design team. Plus, it’s a service that really gets the style demands of working professionals. I liked that my Bento Box included items I never would’ve thought to buy on my own (such as the knit jacket that ended up being one of my favorites) but loved as soon as I tried them on. The inclusive size range is also a point in MM.LaFleur’s favor.

Cons: The clothes aren’t cheap by any means—if anything, I would classify them as entry-level investment pieces. You probably won’t be able to afford to buy the whole box in one shot, unless you like to shop for a whole season rather than by trend. The $25 fee for deciding against buying anything is also something to consider.

TL;DR: In need of traditionally-professional attire in a pinch? Try MM.LaFleur.

Stitch Fix

Stitch Fix opens with another fun quiz, which homes in on my style likes and dislikes. It took a few weeks after I registered for my box to arrive, which to me felt like a pretty long time (ah, what has the prospect of same-day drone delivery done to us?).

Out of these three services, Stitch Fix has what can be described as a cult following, according to the deep rabbit hole of reviews I went down while researching the company. Its customers have taken to showing off their hauls—or “fixes”—on social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram. When my box arrived, I could sense a definite boho theme. But the stylist assigned to me clearly listened to the notes sent with my quiz, as my favorite style of jeans, a pair of high-rise distressed jeans that retail for $98, were in my delivery. Another favorite from this shipment was a dress by the label Misa Los Angeles, priced at $224, which I envisioned wearing with everything from boots to sandals immediately. To be frank, I didn’t love everything that came in my Stitch Fix box, but none of the pieces was terrible by any means.

Stitch Fix comes out to $20 a box (a “styling fee,” as the company calls it), and though they’re sent out monthly, shoppers don’t have to order one each time. Users specify preferences for everything from size and budget to lifestyle.

Price: Like I mentioned, Stitch Fix charges $20 for a curated box, the price of which gets deducted from what you ultimately decide to keep. Within each shipment, prices vary; in my delivery, pieces ranged from $28 (for a necklace) to $224 (for a dress). Luckily, customers can select their preferred budget level for the box before ordering—that way, shoppers can also decide how often they’d like to receive their “fix.”

Pros: Consider Stitch Fix the friend you cautiously text for approval every time you want to buy something: There were a lot of fun things in this delivery that I don’t think I ever would’ve found on my own, so I appreciated the nudge in the right direction. The price range for my edit of pieces was also solid, with everything under $250. Plus, sizes go up to a 24. Another nice bonus: If you like the way you work with a specific stylist on a few “fixes,” you can have that person be your go-to for all future boxes.

Cons: This is pretty standard for subscription boxes, but annoying nonetheless: Even if you don’t like anything that your Stitch Fix stylist picks out for you, you’re still on the hook for that $20 styling fee. Overall, I thought the clothes in my shipment were better suited for weekend wear than for a 9-to-5—though, if you work in a casual environment, that’s probably not an issue. And, again, don’t expect instant gratification: My box took a few weeks to be delivered.

TL;DR: If you’re looking to dip your toes in the women’s clothing subscription box pool, start with StitchFix, since it’s so customizable at a relatively low cost.

Le Tote

For a monthly fee, Le Tote rents customers everyday clothes from brands like BCBG, Free People, and Plenty by Tracy Reese. You get a few items at a time, which can then be traded in for new pieces whenever you’re done with them. In 2015 the company announced it would launch a version of its box specifically for maternity wear. Most recently it collaborated with Olivia Culpo on a capsule.

A few days before my box was slated to arrive, I got a text from Le Tote asking me to put items into an online bag. I got on right away, adding a Vince Camuto off-the-shoulder dress (very of-the-moment) to my edit, along with a few other picks. To my surprise, though, when I actually received my shipment a few days later, none of my selections was in it. Instead, I got a simple black cotton skirt, a teal T-shirt, a white and black button-down (in an extra small when I’m more of a large), and a lightweight knit sweater—which, honestly, was the only thing in the Le Tote that I would wear.

Price: Monthly memberships at Le Tote start at $69 a box, with members allowed to keep a rotating selection of two clothing items and one piece of jewelry at a time—previously, they started at was $39, so when I tried it, I picked a mid-tier $59 option, which delivered four pieces as part of my shipment.

Pros: Seeing as I spend about that much on coffee each month, Le Tote’s monthly fee feels pretty affordable. Plus, I love the eco-friendly aspect of its business model, of the idea of sharing clothing. The box comes in a prepaid envelope, and returning items is a very easy process.

Cons: For someone who loves to shop as much as I do, the idea of spending a set amount of money every month to be granted access to what was, essentially, a huge rotating closet sounded pretty great—so I really wanted to love this service. But, despite the enticing price point, I didn’t want to wear most of what came in my Le Tote. I felt like I would be better off just buying one item a month at Zara for the price of the monthly fee. After stalking online reviews for the service, though, I found out that many people feel more satisfied with their deliveries as time goes on and Le Tote better learns their taste. But that first impression, though, wasn’t too memorable for me.

TL;DR: It may take a while, but give Le Tote a chance for a subscription box that feels in line with what you already own and like to wear.

Related Stories:

The Most Annoying Things About Work Clothing—And the Fashion Solves That’ll Fix Them for Good

30 Summer Work Outfits That Withstand the Heat Without Cramping Your Style

The New Rules for Office Dressing, According to HR Pros



Source link

Categories
Health

Michelle Wolf: 'I Wouldn't Change a Single Word’ of WHCD Speech


Michelle Wolf became an overnight sensation this weekend after her appearance at the 2018 White House Correspondents dinner. At the event, Wolfe delivered what’s probably been the most talked-about speech in the dinner’s history thanks to some controversial cracks that apparently have the nation divided; a nation that appears to care deeply about Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ smoky eye. But, even with all the drama, Wolf explained to NPR that she has no regrets whatsoever.

In a new interview with NPR, Wolf, 32, said she stands by the smoky eye joke—and all the others. “I wouldn’t change a single word that I said,” Wolf said in an interview set to air Tuesday. “I’m very happy with what I said, and I’m glad I stuck to my guns.”

Regarding the level of controversy following her words Wolf added, “I knew what I was doing going in. I wanted to do something different. I didn’t want to cater to the room. I wanted to cater to the outside audience, and not betray my brand of comedy.”

Following the outcry, Margaret Talev, president of the White House Correspondents’ Association, publicized a letter in which she wrote that Wolf’s monologue was “not in the spirit” of the dinner.

As to why people, including Talev, were so upset about her comments, Wolf noted that there’s likely a touch of sexism going on.

“I think sometimes they look at a woman and they think ‘Oh, she’ll be nice,’ and if you’ve seen any of my comedy you know that I don’t – I’m not,” she explained. “I don’t pull punches. I’m not afraid to talk about things. And I don’t think they expected that from me. I think they still have preconceived notions of how women will present themselves and I don’t fit in that box.”

When she was announced as the host in February the internet seemed genuinely excited, not only because she has great experience as a writer and comedian, but also because Wolf would be just the fifth woman in history to take on the gig.

However, at the event, Wolf’s jokes hit a nerve with both conservatives and members of the media alike. People seemed to be particularly up in arms over her jokes about White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders.

“I actually really like Sarah. I think she’s very resourceful,” Wolf said at the event. “Like, she burns facts, and then she uses the ash to create a perfect smoky eye. Like, maybe she’s born with it; maybe it’s lies. It’s probably lies.”

Those jokes set off a firestorm on social media. New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman kicked things off by calling the joke an attack on Sanders’ physical appearance.

Meanwhile, Mika Brzezinski said the joke was “deplorable.”

But, in a quick retort on Twitter, Wolf tweeted back to Brzezinski saying “Why are you guys making this about Sarah’s looks? I said she burns facts and uses the ash to create a perfect smoky eye. I complimented her eye makeup and her ingenuity of materials.”

Related Content:
Breaking Down the Outrage Cycle Around Michelle Wolf
Michelle Wolf’s 11 Most Brutal Burns From the White House Correspondents’ Dinner





Source link

Categories
Health

How Taylor Swift is Counting on Fashion to Change Her 'Reputation'


As with any project she’s attached to, the premiere of Taylor Swift‘s “Ready For It” music video was preceded by heated anticipation, excited countdowns, and countless fan theories. The cyborg-showdown depicted in the three and a half-minute clip only unleashed more speculation concerning the “hidden meanings” she may or may not be folding into the work released during this Reputation era. (Why is “8919” written on the wall? Who are all of those robots? How many Joe Alwyn references are there, really?) All of these musings largely go back to how Swift presents herself because, on top of a new sound, she’s got a brand-new aesthetic to go with it.

Amid all of the action in the “Ready For It” video, the implications of her Blade Runner-esque costume can be overlooked—after all, she seemingly appeared nude in all the teasers for the clip, which obviously diverted the conversation slightly. But lo and behold, the futuristic storyline did provide some key fashion moments that indicate larger shift in how Swift uses clothing (or the lack thereof) to usher in the latest chapter of her career—and, of course, how this all shapes her reputation.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Jessica Jones Design in the “Ready For It” music video.

From the start, clothing plays a crucial part in setting the mood and establishing the premise for “Ready For It.” We see a hooded Taylor Swift, who some fans are calling Evil Taylor in their theories, strutting through a dark alleyway in thigh-grazing black sock boots, a black cape, and a black leotard, decorated with straps and harnesses. She then confronts Naked Taylor (or, semi-nude Taylor), a robot version of herself who isn’t wearing any clothing—until the latter bursts free of her cage. Both are wearing custom pieces by Jessica Jones Design.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

The two Taylors face off in the “Ready For It” music video.

Fans have already interpreted this showdown as a battle between two different versions of Taylor’s persona, a metaphor Swift has utilized in past music videos and used fashion to really drive home. She’ll dress her villains in black, her heroines in white—and with the notable exception of Selena Gomez’s cameo in “Bad Blood,” Swift plays both roles herself. (See: nerdy, white-dress Taylor versus the purple-clad popular Taylor in “You Belong With Me,” and the evolution from doting girlfriend in a Dolce & Gabbana gown to deranged ex with a thing for La Perla lingerie in “Blank Space.”)

So if the wardrobe premise has been somewhat constant, what’s different this time around? Simply put: the creatives behind the clothes Swift chooses to wear.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Philipp Plein in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

In the lull between premieres, fans track down paparazzi photos of the singer as she records these music videos, often identifying the exact pieces she’s wearing on set long before we get a good look and them. And the New Taylor has a thing for the most zeitgeist-y designers in the industry—ones that, if you asked is in 2014, we would never have thought to be hanging in her closet. She’s worn sequined graphic hoodies and snake boots by Gucci, a blood-red ball gown by Balmain, a cape by Balenciaga, and thigh-high footwear and jackets by Vetements. If reading off the items in Swift’s latest videos feels like a throwback to the chorus of Kreayshawn’s 2011 “Gucci Gucci,” you’re not wrong: Swift is stocking up on designers that have their own reputations for edgy, boundary-pushing, and somewhat over-the-top apparel.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Balmain in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

In the past year and a half, Swift has notably retreated from the public eye (and her famous squad.) That means that the Taylor Swift we see in her music videos (or in related clips posted on her verified Youtube page) is the only Taylor Swift we get through imagery. It also means that every time she posts a new photo or video, it opens up the floodgates for speculation, fan theories, and over-interpretation of every last detail. What she wears in these rare moments she opens herself up to the public carries more meaning, as do the designers she picks. Swift likely knows this, so the labels she’s been selecting feel very much deliberate in getting her new #brand across.

Think about the labels she’s been wearing in all Reputation-related media. It’s been a mix of luxe brands that bring together streetwear, punk, and an IDGAF attitude—like anything designed by Demna Gvasalia, Alessandro Michele, and Donatella Versace, folks with venerable histories of pushing the envelope. (Same goes for her style off-camera, where she’s been wearing Faith Connexion, Valentino, and Unravel.) With these pieces, Swift sends a message: She’s done with the innocent, er, reputation she’s built up, and is replacing it with something harder and more self-assured. Coming out of a three-year hiatus from music, she needs the most recognizably influential designers in her corner—or, at the very least, she needs to demonstrate she knows what’s in the zeitgeist.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Gucci in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

We’re already seeing Swift’s assertively luxurious rebrand at work in the first two Reputation music videos, though it’s especially apparent in “Look What You Made Me Do.” She robs a bank, referencing her many lawsuits and hold-outs against music industry titans like Apple and Spotify, while wearing a sequined Gucci sweatshirt. Sitting on a throne surrounded by snakes, she literally sips tea in a slinky Balmain gown—a brand preferred by the Kardashian-Jenner clan. Her biker gang (a second squad?) is outfitted in studded Burberry leather jackets. Her dance sequence is performed in a tall pair of Fendi boots. The old Taylor can’t come to the phone right now… but probably because she’s looking for her white dresses.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Fendi in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

Of course, reinvention doesn’t happen in just the span of two music videos—not when there are six albums over eleven years to contrast with her current aesthetic. A little over a decade ago, listeners became acquainted with the singer through the video for “Our Song,” which was released in 2006; in it, she wears a frilly lilac prom dress for its entirety.

Swift mostly stayed along that stylistic straight-and-narrow throughout the 11 years since: light colors, poofy skirts, lots of sparkle, and nothing at all risqué. She was partial to the work of KaufmanFranco and J.Mendel, both award show favorites. She made it a point to not wear high-end designers in her early music videos, so that her audience could relate. Eventually, though, as her music matured, so did her wardrobe, and she began calling in Valentino and Dior. Though, in a Glamour cover story from 2014, she did say she still wasn’t inclined to wear fur, animal print, spiked clothing, or boxy shoulders.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing a purple prom dress in the “Our Song” music video.

Everyone’s styles evolve as they grow older. Swift’s is no exception. (And she’s talked about it.) The difference is that her entire musical career has been built on wearing her heart on her sleeve and, well, caring. Her relatability reached audiences through her vulnerable lyrics and outfits that, while certainly expensive, weren’t exclusively couture. (Her side-business enterprises included, among other things, an affordable sundress line with Walmart.) Over the years, this approach has attracted criticism of appearing too “calculated,”a word she hates according to her GQ cover story from 2015. But she’s admitted to using her outfits as a way to maintain that squeaky-clean image she put forth through her music: She once told the Guardian that being perceived as sexy was “not really on [her] radar.”

In her music videos, her costumes reinforced themes in her music, such as in the climactic moment in “You Belong With Me,” when Swift’s nerdy protagonist shows up to the prom in a beautiful white dress to win over the subject of her affection; or in “Teardrops On My Guitar,” when she lounges at home in a blue evening gown while musing about unjust heartbreak; or in “Love Story,” when she literally wore a medieval ball gown while playing the Juliet to an actor’s Romeo. Across the truly wide spectrum of situations the singer found herself depicted in these videos, Swift illustrated her music’s concepts (and portrayed herself) in demure but dreamy dresses as her star began to rise.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing another prom dress in the “You Belong With Me” music video.

Even as her sound strayed from its country roots and into the pop sphere, what she wore in music videos didn’t entirely abandon this foundation: Her Speak Now and Red days were defined by retro separates and breezy frocks. By the time “We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together” and “22” came around, she was wearing high-waisted shorts and graphic tees, inching towards a more modern look without undergoing a full fashion rebellion—not nearly the pivot we’re seeing in “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Ready For It.”

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing a white dress in the “Mean” music video.

1989 marked her greatest style shift pre-Reputation: Suddenly, Swift lived in New York and was all about bedazzled bodysuits and revealing cut-outs. Even with her new arsenal of sparkly “pop star” costumes, Taylor Swift was still Taylor Swift—however, she was at the height of her career, and she had the superstar wardrobe to match it. Look at “Blank Space,” “Wildest Dreams,” and “Out of the Woods” for proof: All three videos incorporate gowns by Elie Saab, Valentino, and Oscar de la Renta. Luxury—whether it be in one of these gowns or a star-studded group of friends appearing at her concerts—became an integral part of her image alongside the hallmark revealing lyrics of her songs.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Valentino in the “Blank Space” music video.

There was an outlier, of course—”Bad Blood. According to Billboard, Swift turned to a literal sex shop, the Stockroom, to supply $13,000 worth of patent harnesses and bra tops to her army of models. But unlike the Balenciaga cape she wore in “Look What You Made Me Do,” these outfits weren’t making a point about her persona at large. This was a one-off in a collection of prime Swift-ian moments, with stellar gowns and handsome leading men. She had already insisted during this period that looking sexy or dangerous wasn’t part of her M.O., leading us all to believe that these costumes were what anyone would choose for a superhero squad. Swift remained the hero she had played in past videos—just in latex.

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift and her model army in the “Bad Blood” music video.

Had she left thigh-high Fendi boots and studded Burberry coats at “Look What You Made Me Do,” it would have been another one-off—a cruise down memory lane, another device to move forward the plot in under four minutes. But there’s also Cyborg Taylor Swift from “Ready For It,” and the Gucci combat boots and Vetements jacket she was photographed wearing on set for a yet-to-be-released Reputation video. These styling elements are building towards something greater: Taylor Swift is seriously leaning into fashion to reinvent herself in the public eye.

“Going through different phases is one of my favorite things about fashion,” Swift told Vogue in 2016. “I love how it can mark the passage of time. It’s similar to my songs in that way—it all helps identify where I was at in different points of my life.”

PHOTO: Big Machine Records

Taylor Swift wearing Burberry, Vetements, Alexander McQueen, and L.A. Roxx in the “Look What You Made Me Do” music video.

Put them together, and the fashion of “Look What You Made Me Do” and “Ready For It” shows us that the old Taylor really is dead—sartorially speaking, at least. If we see a poofy princess gown or sparkly leotard return from the archives, it’s more likely a dig at her old self than a hint that she’s up to her old styling tricks. So long as we only see Taylor Swift through her music videos, she’s fully in control of her Reputation image—and it’s going to be a dark, edgy, IDFWU aesthetic from here on out. The only fault in her formulated new image? We can’t forget about her past ones.

Related Stories:

Taylor Swift Just Confirmed Several Theories About Her ‘Ready for It’ Video

How to Dress Like the New Taylor Swift, According to Taylor Swift

Another Taylor Swift Doppelgänger Is Freaking Out the Internet





Source link

Categories
Health

This Will Change the Way You See Nate From 'The Devil Wears Prada'


PHOTO: ©20thCentFox/Courtesy Everett Collection

The Devil Wears Prada is a near-perfect film, but it has one fatal flaw: Nate, Andy’s boyfriend, played by Adrian Grenier. Re-watch the movie right now, and you’ll see that Nate is a selfish, whiny man-child who thinks his birthday is more important than Andy’s career. The first comment he makes to Andy after she finds out she snagged a job at a fashion magazine is, “Was it a phone interview?” WTF! He literally thinks Andy is too ugly to work at Runway! He’s the worst!

And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Nate belittles Andy throughout the movie, criticizing her industry, her work ethic—everything. Andy’s already under so much stress at work, but instead of helping, Nate just makes it worse.

But, don’t worry, the Devil Wears Prada screenwriter (Aline Brosh McKenna) is well aware of your complaints, and she has an explanation. As it turns out, Nate was sort of written as a stereotypical “girlfriend” part.

“That’s a part that a lot of women end up playing: the ‘why aren’t you home more,’ the naggy wife,” McKenna told Entertainment Weekly. “I have to say, that character was the biggest challenge to write, and oddly, the character [director David Frankel] and I talked about the most, because we wanted to make sure he wasn’t a pain in the ass, but he is the person who is trying to say, ‘Is this who you want to be morally?’”

The concept of The Devil Wears Prada framing Nate as the “girlfriend” is actually quite interesting—like how Chris Pine’s character in Wonder Woman was based on Lois Lane. If anything, it shines a different light on an archetype that’s plagued female characters for years—and really needs to just disappear.

McKenna does have a quasi-defense for Nate’s behavior in the movie, though. She notes that he straight-up scoffs at the idea he’s actually mad Andy missed his birthday. (“What am I? 4?” he says, in case you forgot.) And it’s not the fact Andy’s working so much that Nate hates, McKenna says, but why she’s doing it.

“I think that now, however many years later, what people focus on is that he’s trying to restrict her ambition,” she said. “But her ambition is going towards something that she doesn’t really believe in, so he has a point.”

That’s true. After all, the biggest fight Nate and Andy have in the film is about how she’s “becoming” one of the Runway girls; it isn’t about the fact she’s working long hours. So maybe he did have her best interests at heart the whole time. That being said, he didn’t have to be so friggin’ rude about it.

Related Stories:

This Devil Wears Prada Deleted Scene Tells a Completely Different Story



Source link