Posted: July 13th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: art, other stuff | Tags: Dance, television
My understanding is that it’s an unwritten rule in the blogging world that you never apologize in your posts, in specific, you don’t apologize for having missed some number of postings. I’m not clear on why, even though the concept does make a certain sense to me. But I just can’t come back after a nearly two month hiatus without a word. Life and all of my various obsessions stepped in and took over – and I’ve decided to learn to play tennis.
Not surprisingly, turning back to blogging, the number of things to talk about seem nearly endless. Rather than diving back into fashion or the visual arts, however, I have to write about my absolute favorite guilty pleasure. I am actually shocked at how strong my conviction in it is. But I will not hesitate to defend it’s integrity to anyone who dares challenge me. I am so happy that So You Think You Can Dance is back for a ninth season. If you have never watched it, all I can say is that you are seriously missing out. Read the rest of this entry »
Posted: May 19th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: other stuff | Tags: Adele, British style, fashion, popular culture
The fashion industry generally ascribes a direct correlation to the influence and celebrity of the woman who graces a magazine’s cover and the sales figures for that particular issue. In this light, it seems that everyone can’t stop talking about the fact that BritishVogue featuring Adele on the cover was one of the worst selling issues in the magazine’s history.
And I would have to agree, that if number of sales reflects anything about popular response specifically to the magazine’s cover model (more than, for example, the stories highlighted on the cover), that is a surprising and I dare say disappointing fact. What does it mean? That BritishVogue readers may love Adele’s voice but don’t see her as a physical ideal to which they aspire? My god, the woman is gorgeous. According to racked.com, British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman said that “there has to be a relationship with the person on the cover that goes beyond how they look.” So is it a failure of readers to connect with Adele. That seems to me to make significantly less sense. Are we really so superficial?
When asked who she was dying to get on the cover, Shulman replied that her choice would be Kate Middleton. While I can’t understand, let alone articulate, what went wrong with the Adele cover, somehow Kate Middleton doesn’t seem to me like much better of a choice. But who knows, maybe this is why I’m not the editor of British Vogue.
Posted: April 28th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: design, other stuff | Tags: crafts, decorating, design, home, popular culture, shopping, spring 2012
As a dedicated lover of shopping for things to make life more beautiful, I was extremely sad to say goodbye to Domino magazine (especially when they fulfilled the rest of my pre-paid subscription with something I had absolutely no interest in, but that’s another story). But the mourning is over and Domino is back. I think more than being a commentary on the home design business, the relaunch is an interesting commentary on the state of publishing and more specifically of magazine publishing. Everyone knows that with consumers turning toward online media, they are leaving paper behind and leaving newspapers and magazines struggling. That results in a game on the part of publishers that’s fairly interesting to watch, the game of trying to figure out how to stay alive, stay relevant, carve a niche that can’t be filled online.
In one such effort, Conde Nast shuttered Gourmet magazine, only to relaunch it as a mobile app with only a limited number of special issues available at newsstands. Their strategy with Domino is somewhat similar. Sadly, that means that it is not the return of the Domino that many of us knew and loved. The new Domino will consist only of a limited number of special issues available exclusively through newsstands. The first issue, entitled Domino Quick Fixes, on newsstands through mid-July, is a thick book and sells for $10.99, and like most special issues has fewer ad pages than the typical monthly magazine. The next issue is due this fall.
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Posted: April 17th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: other stuff, stuff to buy | Tags: humor, innovative design, popular culture, trends
Some hopeful signs out there seem to be suggesting that plastic surgery – at least the highly invasive kind – might be falling out of favor. I know, that may be a fabrication on my part, but I’m going to cling to the fantasy for a bit and see if it sticks, so please don’t burst my bubble just yet. People’s desire to perfect their physical appearances is not remotely waning. My evidence to support the general trend away from plastic surgery, therefore, is the development of new and significantly less invasive techniques for improving your appearance.
Right now, I have to say that it looks like Japan has cornered the market. One popular item is the Hana Twin Nose. Check it out. Absolutely no surgery, and you only have to wear this thing for 20 minutes a day in order for it to work. Slip the clip into your nostrils so that the supports on either side can push up the bones resulting in a straighter, less round nose.
Hana Tsun Nose Straightener
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Posted: April 6th, 2012 | Author: artintolife | Filed under: other stuff | Tags: fashion, politics, popular culture, shopping, trends
I love Barbie. I know I should feel more conflicted about it, but I think she is wonderful in her ridiculous characacture of femininity. But I’m going to go out on a limb and suggest that Mattel should really skip trying to be politically correct with Barbie.
As we all know, Barbie has had many fabulous careers, teaching little girls that they can be stewardesses, teachers, pageant winners, you name it. Admittedly, that’s not fair. She has also tried her hand at firefighting and did a few stints as an astronaut.
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