..Ive been missing England like crazy, no really, and its like 88% of the people i meet already have a British accent stored up, ready to be executed as soon as they realise im from London... im like NOOOOOOOOOOOO... ;-)
Its my mothers birthday 2day and I'm away in NY! i miss her dearly! Just in case she's online checking my blog on her birthday (highly unlikely) then i love u !!! hugs and kisses...!
In NY ive been enjoying the snow! (look closely u can see snow in the background)... yes very picaresque and freezing all at once!
been out and about, being inspired, there is SO much to see, NY is such an amazing city, seriously..
Aliya Ana and I
im just talking to my imaginary friend, this was an amazing apartment!
Yomi and I
NYPD!!!
i went to this British type pub! with lil machines..the landlord was from Tooting! how cute
Manhattan is so overwhelming! pics from midtown ma neighbourhood, very central! always full of life!
and lil Aladdin, my friends cat whom i adore...!
this is my i love it here pose...real talk! another ny term ive picked up fast!
b4 i forget!!! NEW ID....
u gotta love it!
street style is crazy! ill try get som shots, very inspiring!
Last week i had a very informative, slightly uneasy but wonderful evening at Columbia's Miller Theatre, but it "wasnt supposed to be comfortable" Justin Dillion, producer of the film Call and Response told me. true the film touches on some sensitive subjects....
A short movie exposing the modern day reality of slavery. I've done some work with uk based organisation STOP THE TRAFFIK.org raising awareness on trafficking (see cheesy pic)... Cherie Booth QC spoke on behalf of stop the traffik on human rights day last year about the issue so it wasn't completely new to me, however its a wonderful sign that Justin decided to create this film, not for the faint hearted but its happening as i type, and its probably happening in your community in some form. Its a major issue and i believe we all have a social responsibly to create better accountability and bodies to end this.
So what is slavery? not nec just in the terms of forced labour, although forced labour is still active, esp for example on the cocoa plantations of West Africa. But it also includes, sex slaves, young girls and boys (very young) who are bought and sold, women who are promised new and exciting job opportunities only to find out they are to work in brothels, i actually found out through stopthetraffick that Croydon, South London (home of Kate Moss) was actually home to one of the biggest trafficking rings, with millions of sex slaves! what Croydon with the new shopping centre? so deep!
I also spoke to some amazing photographers who actually complied a book called Sex and Money,of photos they had taken across the globe, check out the link, for more information please copy and paste http://www.photogenx.net/sexandmoney/
Musicians such as Emmanuel Jah, Nastasha Bedlingfoeld (i love her!!!) , Talib Kwali, of course Justin Dillion and Matisyahu (im leaving his video at the end of the post, he was aswesome! it was my first taste of Matisyahu! better late than never!) Dr Cornel West also offers some wonderful insights. Let do something!
i did say some time ago that i would be back with a post on lingerie for the more well endowed woman ;-) so what do women look for when looking for lingerie anyway? i dont think plus size women differ from any other females, we want style, comfort and SUPPORT, actually maybe we place slighly more emphasis on the support part.;-)...support not nec meaning clinical , medievil looking equipment to hold us in place however!
As i mentioned earlier, initially it was really annoying finding bras to do me any justice, there was support, but no style, style but totally uncomfortable, comfort but the most limited options, white/black/nude(nude as in light beige)/grey! what.!!!?..no fushia or aqua marine? ....but things have changed so rapidly, i've come across *numerous* sites dedicated to the cause so to speak, companies seem to have caught on fast and its amazing what is out there..ive just picked a few that have caught my eye, however there are a host, seriously! and most are available by just googling "plus size lingerie" ....
Bravissimo www.bravissimo.com
i bought my first bra from here..sigh.... (too much information?) ...
its a uk based company, with their flagship store located in Covent Garden, they stock a host of brands and ive always loved shopping there, so many options! and they also do swimwear just as good....
in for some treats here, they stock the usual everyday bra, but for something sexier, pvc options available ;-) they offer a wide range of lingerie...costumes and fantasy/shapewear/leather and patent...
Simply be.co.uk www.simplybe.co.uk
I love simply be not only because of the choice but also because they have teamed up with uber stylist *Gok Wan*, who has inspired his own range, not just lingerie but body shapers, which many a time are equally as important
Most of these companies ship internationally, so even if you arent US/US based you can still get your hands on alot of the stock available....!
Im leaving you with a video from the talented, beautiful and inspiring , Jill Scott, as she so frankly put it, she has found a way of dealing with all that foolishness....The Butterfly Bra ;-) ;-)
As the saying goes... what is life without hope?.. i admit it, i was starting to believe the word on the street..POP was indeed coming back? no no NO - that my friends seems highly unlikely, however... the wonderful *Katie Grand* has come back with something that looks just as tasty....LOVE MAGAZINE? I LOOOOVE IT! yes indeed love is patient /love is kind..
There where a range of potential covers put out..
Agyness Deyn
Iggy Pop
Iris Strubbegger
FASHION AND FAME is the slogan..i couldnt have put it better, serious serious serious stuff here, and ma gurl *Beth Ditto* graces the front page.with such elegance!
this is beautiful/refreshing and sooo progressive...im lost for words!infact maybe i need to create a new word for the way i feel. LOVE LOVE LOVE
Beth Ditto- a natural born model! oh Katie, oh Beth....
uber cool, super chic icons Erin Wasson and Missy Rayder are also featured in this edition... the team behind the mag aint playin at all..
;-) credit where credit is due! i repeat credit where credit is due.. the mag is bi annual, a Conde Nast creation, they have a site ..www.lovemagazine.co.uk
"LOVE people. LOVE character. LOVE fashion (obviously). LOVE fame. LOVE Beth Ditto more than you have ever LOVEd her before. LOVE the imperfect. You know it makes sense".
...its been ages!!! i know ....too long..... loads has been happening in my life, i decided to re locate to NYC... New York New York! the city where dreams are fulfilled...and all that right?
picture me staring into the window of a tiffany's store window...
not quite but the idea did cross my mind....initially (even tho ive grown up in London), it really did feel like wow im in a BIG city...!!! but after a few weeks im gettin used to it....yellow cabs, sky high buildings, super size everything beautiful parks..u gotta love NY...
im staying in the big city.. have a few pics from my trips around town..with regards to the modelling scene, there is so much happening, i will defo be posting...! frequently!
2001 People Magazine USA wrote an article entitled "Making It Big- Plus Models Redefine What It Means To Be Beautiful" , establised "plus" model Natalie Lauglin see pic below...made an interesting statement with regards to plus size models in the the industry..
"They'll just be models," she says. "In different sizes. You'll open a magazine and see somebody like Kate Moss on one page and me on another."
...that was in 2001, 8years later is that whats happening? are we seeing this? how far have we come dealing with diverse body ideals in fashion? seems like the two worlds are still very far apart. what makes a plus size model? what defines a plus size model, how big is plus how small is plus.......i define myself as a "plus size model" ... which always leaves me wondering why do i need to place a label on myself, can't i just Teiko Dornor the model, or do i automatically assume that i have to define myself because "regular" models don't look like me....
above r images of plus size models including myself, what do u think....and do u even think its necessary in the industry, have we got past the need to define ....can you see fashion as Natalie did in 2001, Kate on one page Teiko on the next no questions asked....?food for thought!
im back...thanks for all the love...updates people!!!!
it saddens my heart. British Fashion magazine POP...oh POP is drawing to an end at its 20th issue, founded by the legend who is Katie Grand, it has been one of the most inspirational things in my life thus far! i cant even decide which was my favourite edition, collectively POP has changed my life, and my perspective on fashion!
In its latest edition! we see Drew Barrymore front, but also a collective of all 20 issues thus far (i bought that one!!) ...Liz Hurley was a personal favourite oh Liz i didnt know she could provoke such a reaction, Naomi is always on point, Lindsey Lohan left me speechless and Gisele was so effortlessly cool...see below...
I must say that what i most admired and loved was the SIRE ZERO photoshoot featuring Beth Ditto, the lead vocalist of rock band Gossip! sheer genius..taken by Steven Klein im leaving some images below, as a plus size model it was actually strange for me flicking though because i found surprising, im just not used to seeing plus size women in mainstream Fashion mags,but i supposed thats y im so inlove with POP..Proenza Schouler, Prada, YSL, Giles Deacon, and Hussein Chalayan all custom made outfits for the shoot..well worth it! she worked it!
many times i find even when plus size models are featured, its often debatable how *plus* the model is to the outside world, and ive heard it time and time again about myself the "u dont look "plus" to me....." blah blah yawn etc.. Beth Ditto broke the boundaries! i love!
In this anniversary issue, also known as the Animal issue, really good read....anyhow .. Cordula Reyer, the amazing Austria model, (she blossoms with time really dont know how she does it)!Is featured in the CAT EYES photoshoot, i couldnt get any pics from POP to post, but i suggest u see for yourself and go buy .... just amazing im glad that a woman who is past 30 is celebrated so well here, she shines! Cordula is part of a initiative intitled "NO BODY IS PERFECT" excuse the copy and paste but i think they sum up their initiative very well..
We ascertain:
Eating disorders are a societal phenomenon of our times. The number of girls and women falling ill with anorexia, bulimia and binge eating disorders is on the rise. Most recently, however, boys and men too are increasingly having to cope with these symptoms.
Unrealistic beauty ideals derived from an exaggerated desire to be slim and young provide a perfect breeding ground for eating disorders. The fashion world, industry and business communicate unhealthy medial “examples” propagating extreme thinness and physical aesthetics linked with recognition, success, happiness and self-esteem. All of this may have serious consequences.
The Initiative’s Objectives:
Unrealistic - and thus unhealthy - ideals for women are to be corrected, while health-promoting standards are to be established through concerted action and close cooperation on the part of the media, advertising, business, industry and the fashion world.
i almost feel like i might be done for plagarism! lol for more information go to www.s-o-ess.at go to English! and join the petition. i did! its great to see governement and other members of the fashion world doing something constructive about the messages that are sent out through the industry,
We hope for the consent of all those who can influence society’s good examples in a positive and health-promoting way (advertising, industry, business, the media, fashion producers, fashion designers, modelling agencies, photographers, stylists and others).
Beate Wimmer-Puchinger Commissioner for Women’s Health, City of Vienna
