Friday, June 25, 2010

Gertie, Girl Reporter {06.25.10}

Hey, we haven't done one of these in a while! There are lots of good stories out there this week, though, so let's jump in.
  • My favorite article of the week is this piece on Mad Men's costume designer Janie Bryant. A great quote from Matthew Weiner, the creator of the show on working withing the time period: "People don’t always change with the times. Part of the story that we are trying to tell is about the loosening of all this stuff—the crudening of manners and style as the period changes. Janie and I talk about that all the time and try to signal it in little ways, like with a character taking off his hat in the elevator."
  • P.S. Did you know Janie Bryant has a style book coming out this fall? Pre-order here! I am psyched.
  • This article made me want to move upstate and live in a tiny Victorian cottage.
  • Definitely go see the images for the 50s-inspired Fall 2010 Louis Vuitton ad campaign (pictured above). Could Karen Elson be any more beautiful? I think not.
  • Interesting piece about celebs who get paid to advertise for fashion lines on their Twitter feeds.
  • From Jezebel: "Edith Shain, the former nurse whose image became world-famous on August 14, 1945 when an unknown sailor dipped her back for a kiss, died on Sunday at the age of 91."
  • On the "Rhetoric of the Real Woman," I say this: THANK YOU.
  • A play about Isabella Blow will take stage next month. Will you see it or wait for the John Galliano-produced film?
  • Full-Figured Fashion Week happened, to positive response. Hurrah!
And last, but not least, you have nine hours left to enter my Blogiversary Giveaway!

Have a happy weekend, friends.

13 comments:

  1. The "Real Woman" piece was interesting. The Dove campaign was obviously manipulative: you're perfect -- use our cellulite cream!

    BTW, as a woman who worked in the still extremely sexist field of journalism, I don't find epithets like "Girl Reporter" cute. It's trivializing.

    I realize it wasn't intended that way, but as a real, former practitioner, I have to point that out.

    Enjoy the blog.

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  2. Advanced Beginner, girl reporter is a nod to Lois Lane who is a character I love. A lot of what we deal with on this blog is taking things like that out of their original sexist context and finding ways to admire them, but with a thoughtful eye.

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  3. That's a very interesting about Mad Men. It's such a beautifully crafted show.

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  4. Did you see this story on Jezebel:
    http://jezebel.com/5570839/the-american-experience-women-of-color-and-fashion

    It talks about a new exhibition that will be happening at the Smithsonian Museum of African-American History and Culture, asks for contributions (hand made garments, photos, accessories etc) to make up a new exhibition of the sartorial history of women of colour and other racially minoritised women. Looks like it would be a very interesting exhibit!

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  5. Josephine, how did I miss that??!! Fantastic article. Thanks so much!

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  6. Oh my gosh, I am in love with the Louis Vuitton campaign! The plaid, leather & tweed pieces are especially scrumptious. Ugh, it's too hot to think about such fabric now!

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  7. Speaking of the insanely beautiful Karen Elson, have you heard her album, the ghost who walks?

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  8. Thanks for livening up my Friday night with all of these sweet links. I'm just drooling over LV! Anyway, something I just realized...I've been reading the title of these posts all wrong! Here, I thought it was "Gertie Girl, Reporter" as in "Hey, Gertie Girl...what's the latest report?" I always imagine a young switchboard dame making a quick call to her girlfriends (while the lady boss' back is turned, of course) to give them the latest dish. I guess this just reveals how authentic and friendly you come across. P.S. I think Lois Lane would be proud to have you as her successor!

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  9. Karen Elson looks gorgeous, but her cleavage looks like it's screaming to be free. That bodice makes me happy to be able to take a deep breath!

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  10. Dear Gertie,
    I love your blog. Someday I may make a garment for myself but in the meantime, just reading about your projects is extremely satisfying. Keep writing.
    Sincerely,
    Jodie

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  11. Oh, there's a film about Isabella Blow? Will have to go... I looked after her when she came to Tokyo in about 2001, she had to take taxis everywhere because her hats were too dangerous to wear on public transport (they would have taken people's eyes out!)!!

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  12. christy turlington is beyond gorgeous in the LV ad campaign!

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  13. I was at a library conference yesterday and picked up a preview pamphlet/brochure (you're in publishing ... you probably know the right name for these samples that have a few pages of text/artwork from the book) of Janie Bryant's Mad Men style book "The Fashion File."

    I'm so happy I saw it on your Web site before I went or I would have passed right by it.

    It looks like the book is really well written and will appeal to both modern and vintage sensibilities. And the author is not trying to get readers to dress in carbon copy '60s styles from the show. It's more about drawing inspiration from the characters' signature styles. The artwork also looks really nice.

    This has only served to make me more excited about the book's release, but I thought I'd share a couple extra tidbits.

    Thanks for the great 'report'!

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Thanks for your comments; I read each and every one! xo Gertie

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