Letter to the EditorS

After seeing another Kardashian cover coming to a news stand near you I had to sit down and offer my digital two cents to the cyber space goddesses. I wanted to reach out to the Editor's of the top Fashion publications for answers or some kind of clarity.

Dear Fashion Magazine Editors,

I am writing to request that you broaden your scope for cover stars and ask why they have become so limited. You have left behind the supermodel (or any model) for more than a decades faux-love affair with people whom our homogenized society refer to as "celebrities". I understand that they are selling magazines because of societies fascination with them and lives everyone wished they had until they really had them. I also understand fashion is about fantasy, which is what many of the cover starts offer and project.

To me, fashion magazines are about breaking rules, innovation, evolving forward and what I have seen is the same scenario, same people, same stories, recycled over and over again.

Kim and Kanye on the cover of VOGUE?

The Weekend on an anniversary issue of HARPERS BAZAAR?

I don't understand.

What about a revolutionary idea? What about casting cover models who have a real story, who have contributed to our society and the progress of humanity in a positive, real and forward manner? those who have various body types/sizes? with no restriction or limit on age?

Where are the women my daughter is supposed to look up to? to aspire to? to connect with?

In the midst of the #MeToo Movement, I am confused by a crop top (no disrespect to Jeremy Scott - I adore his work) and leather leggings being a high fashion magazine cover worthy look? I understand the subjectivity of fashion as an art form and I adore it, but really? 

I don't understand.

What if your magazines became places women could go to become inspired about social justice, activism, female community AND beauty, style, and fashion all at the same time? This is why I subscribe and read them. This is also why I am letting my subscriptions lapse. If I would have seen this cover last week when I renewed ELLE I would have passed on renewing. It is nothing personal against Kim, I don't know her but it is what she represents from a cultural perspective. People being held in high regard for nothing, literally. The endless quest for money, fame, 'power' when at the end of the day when one does not use it for good or for service to others it also means nothing. The herd mentality that our society appears to be operating from.

Why can't women who are accomplished; scientists, activist, advocates for marginalized communities, social justice warriors, environmentalists, writers, business owners, hard working mothers, champions for change, women fighting for equality, survivors of violence, those who have beat breast cancer, etc be given couture or high fashion, styled looks, a glam squad and a PLATFORM to share their stories, inspire your readers and look good doing it. I would applaud a ground breaking cover like that.

You could still sell advertising in a magazine that doesn't have a celebrity on the cover every month. It would be refreshing to see a face that I did not know on the cover so to inspire me to purchase the magazine to learn more. It could be a stylish vehicle to promote change and forward progress not just consumerism by putting educated, accomplished, brave women on a pedestal and show young girls that aspiring to a meaningful career they are passionate about, participating in service to others or standing up for what you believe in never goes out of style! 

My peace sign (L) &

My daughter and I walking in the Women's March - Jan 2017

Some "celebrities" are doing a lot of good for women and social justice causes like Angelina Jolie, Oprah, and Michelle Obama. What gorgeous cover stars they are, with substance and a story behind them. It is something that readers can really be inspired by.

I think of the pioneering editors like Diana Vreeland who I would imagine would be rolling in her grave to see how boring and generic everything has become. The endless parade of celebrities, more advertisements in magazines than articles or artistic editorials. No one taking risks, pushing the proverbial envelope, trying something NEW or re-inventing the past in a new and fresh way. She chose models who looked different, she highlighted and accentuated those differences, she started conversations, she invested in artistic editorials and moved the industry forward.

What I seem to be continually asking myself as I let each subscription run its course without renewing them ...

Shouldn't fashion magazines become part of the larger global female conversation? become a tool to also educate and inspire women on more than what to wear? Could advocating and change making in style become a trend? Why can't 'ordinary' women doing 'extraordinary' things be celebrated on Magazine covers? are we forever stuck in an over air brushed, celebrity, one dimensional culture?

Please help me understand.

Sincerely,

Lisa

X

Speaking at the Women's March Voices of Resistance Rally about Disability Rights, January 2018

Feamle Power: Catwoman Style

After spending my day at a Visionary Women's conference yesterday I wanted to write about it. The power of women together. The power of women period when the universe gave me a sign. Waiting for me in my inbox was an e-mail from the gorgeous icon Julie Newmar.

Her thoughts on FEMALE POWER. I am compelled to pass her wisdom along to you dear reader.

FEMALE POWER 

Consider yourself lucky if you are a female, you plausibly have female

power.

If you haven't developed it, I'll give you a push. Here we go.

To my notice, we females effort less. "It's Instinct," you may say. Yes,

knowing the right moment to ask, to get what you want. We make time useful,

not waste time. 

Women solve dilemmas more quickly than men. We don't over think. We feel the

answer coming. There is such a thing as higher or Infinite Intelligence. You

can access it. Breathing lets it in. Stop rushing and you'll hear it.

There is something egalitarian about female power. A quality female at the

center of an economic enterprise, business or home expands its success. She

lessens the dangers of too much macho folly. We bring equilibrium to any mob

scene, to the fractious political diaspora.

It is easier to be a woman, we take seriously the necessity of a home base.

We are the center, the centrifugal force, the confident vibes, where trust

earns its wings. Additionally, we value simplicity, its wisdom to make

things understood.

Men like to please us, have you noticed? They value themselves more in our

presence. We make them smarter, which balances nature to the benefit of all.

We get to dress up, then undress. We have the plumage, our very fuss and

frivolity is soothing, pacifying. The act of putting on makeup relaxes the

nerves, heightens the senses.

Catwoman always felt superior to Batman. She was smarter. Truthfully, she

had a finer mind. 

To me, it's not about who has first place. These days, I say to myself: You

have to eschew popularity if you want to be the best you can be.

Superiority over others is so yesterday. Would there be a Galileo without

his mother, her talents, cleverness and her unfulfilled dreams?

Females who are in the know will address themselves as beloved, as wholly

adored and loved in the eyes of their maker. This quintessential power to

know who you are dismisses the bankruptcy, the politics of friction paraded

by pseudo kingpins. Fake news is instantly recognized for what it is.

Women are natural engineers, we know how to get more for less. 

In moments of distress, I say to myself: Everything is energy. That leaves

me the choice of choosing solution over mayhem when under pressure. I know

the value of one foot, one brick at a time for building a life, a house or

relationship. Especially with family, I only react to words that reflect the

better intention or motive. Admonishment toward others waits, but is often

discarded. Everything is energy, so choose wisely.

On sexual harassment: short of physical violence, I didn't mind all the

things I was called. I've always enjoyed the underlying intention. In my

twenties, I was once referred to as a "brick shit house." Uh!... Hardly the

worst thing. I looked it up, it means curvaceous, muscular, stacked. Relax

girls, we are the ones who choose. 

I sometimes think I regret that I didn't sleep some of my way to the top.

Drama is a fool's game, stick with comedy. I like 96% comedy, 4% drama.

Laughter un-bottles tension. Better to watch Stephen Colbert than Donald

Trump. Colbert is smarter. 

I live like a cat, seeking where the expensive furniture is. The softest

pillows with the prettiest slip-coverings, the places in the house to curl

up where the sun warms my body all year long.

My kind of female power can't be owned. I may feign enslavement, but I never

let myself be unloved, even by myself, that would not do. 

I rarely argue - I consider. I wait till enough information is in and then

the answer, answers itself. My imagination does tolerate empty space.

Female power does not disagree with a compliment. Compliments shall be

relished, like rich chocolate, like an inside caress. I make time to feel

it, all the way up and down my body. 

Let the world please you. Use your female power. It was set up that way. 

Thank you Julie!

To read more ....

Visit her WEBSITE

and/or

BUY HER BOOK

#FaceMyBeauty Part II

Images by: Debbie Markham

Yesterday I introduced you to the amazing organization Changing the Face of Beauty and the important work they are doing for people with disabilities in advertising. Read it HERE

Today I wanted to explore what the campaign means to me as a WOMAN.

The #FaceMyBeauty Campaign is amazing, bringing attention to the much needed representation and acceptance of people of all abilities in advertising.

When Katie first launched her video it made me think about all the resistance women have to face themselves without judgment, as is in this particular moment. It is difficult to look at yourself with acceptance and resist the urge to dream about yourself 10 pounds from now, your next social media filter you can use or more money from now and how much  better you will "look and feel". We all know it is bullshit yet it is still hard to face yourself, perceived flaws and all and accept who you are and what you look like this moment.

I took images with my son Blake who has Down Syndrome in an effort to start a discussion about this campaign and realized that it isn't just about people who have perceived disabilities.

I can tell you that I've been there, done that, bought the t-shirt and am literally wearing it in these photos. My battles with self esteem and body image have been hard won and sometimes is still a work in progress. I have survived abusive relationships, countless heart breaking names, labels, betrayals and experiences and you can too! The road to becoming better instead of bitter begins with facing all of the negative and CHOOSING to move forward in a positive manner. I did it by converting my pain into power.

Necklace: Lydell NYC / Shoes SJP Collection "Carrie" / T-shirt: CTFOB

I decided to FACE MY OWN BEAUTY and remove all I did to "enhance" or "conceal" myself and removed my makeup. Below is one of the videos I shared on my instagram story.

I removed my makeup and chose to face my beauty in a natural way. 

What I am:

I am 37

I am a mother of 2 (plus 2 step-kids)

I am an "Ability Parent" to a son with Special Needs

I am Tried

I am curvy

I am happy

I am authentic

I am confident

I am Facing my beauty

What I am not:

I am not a sample size

I am not bag, dark circle or line free

I am not ashamed

I am not in my 20's

I am not wanting to be younger

I am not afraid to Face My Beauty.

Are you?

Share your  makeup/makeup free photos with me on social media tag me @evolutionvtg (twitter/Instagram) or Facebook

Love, Lisa

XO

The Shame Game: Shame on them? or Shame on us?

Is it just me or are there others who are annoyed to see the winner of 'The Biggest Looser' being shamed for her weight loss? 

Our society projects an utterly unattainable ideal of beauty. It is unattainable not only because it is unrealistic, it actually ceases to exist. No one can agree on what is 'perfect' or 'ideal' at all as beauty or any imagery  is a totally subjective experience.

The winner of the reality series, Rachel Frederickson lost 155 pounds on the show. She started at 260 and the final weight was 105 (she is 5'4" & 24 years old.) 

The Internet has exploded with criticism over her loss and I am sickened to read the comments from people. I do not watch the show but have had a hard time escaping the news stories and commentary from all the critical people hiding behind their computers and smart phones.

My first thought was, 'society should be ashamed of themselves. First they FAT shame her for being overweight and then they THIN shame her for being to thin'.  My second thought was, 'is this really a news worthy story? who cares how much weight some stranger just got paid $250,000 to loose'. 

After the incessant images, stories and posts in my facebook timeline and twitter feed I felt compelled to 'weigh' in on the issue.

I would first like to say BRAVO to Rachel. She worked her ass off, literally to lose the weight, regardless of peoples warped opinions. It was her choice and I'm glad she is standing behind it. 

The "experts" are complaining that her BMI now is too low, but before it was too high. They are the Goldilocks of body image but what they forget to mention is no one will be ideal or juuuust right. If people were accepted for who they are shows like "The Biggest Loser" would be completely irrelevant.

BMI it is like the weight equivalent of IQ in my opinion. A completely arbitrary measure with way too many variables to be accurate and applied to everyone. 

This issue of body image and shame must be discussed so I guess we should all be grateful to Rachel and the media shame game for being the catalyst. Women need to open their eyes and realize that there is no REAL ideal of beauty, only the ones that we impose on ourselves. We are served the proverbial entree of some random fashion editor's ideal but it is only a 'suggestion' or something to 'inspire us'. Instead of taking accountability, women BLAME the media and fashion magazines for depicting an image that they CHOOSE to accept.

Labels & Stereotypes

Day after day I see intelligent, beautiful women feel poorly about themselves based on what a stranger prints online, in a magazine or puts on television. They hold themselves up to a standard that completely ceases to exist and is generally a digital illusion or digital delusion. We have all done it. We just need to not take part in societies shame game.

Why do we accept the shame that others project on us for our weight, body shape or overall appearance? 

Don't you think it is time to take our power back and stop being mindless victims to the media and fashion magazines? There was nothing more empowering to me than the day I realized that actual person who makes us fee 'less than' is US/ME/YOU.

We should embrace the media onslaught of unrealistic imagery and choose to turn it into an inspiration for self improvement or accept it simply as someones subjective taste, not something that you are to be compared to or measured against. There IS strength in accountability ladies. I don't have a flat stomach because I choose to eat/drink what I want and not exercise to the level that would be required to achieve that result. I am not the size I was in high school because I choose not to put the work in to be so and instead I make excuses. I am actually happy with who I am today. It has been a long road, not without days I feel less than fabulous but that is all me, not participating in societies shame game. I accept accountability for myself and my choices. I strive to be the best version of myself not a version of someone else, especially someone who is clearly a figment of Photo Shops imagination. I do enjoy my fashion magazines too and feel no need or desire to compare myself to anything  I see, I just gush over the grossly over priced accessories and dream of the day I can waltz into CHANEL in Paris and get my quilted bag.

Thank you Rachel for getting this dialogue started. Enjoy your success and don't get caught up in the shame game.

Is it then shame on them? or shame on us?

What do YOU think?

My personal BMI (Bold Modern Idea):  We are ALL PERFECTLY IMPERFECT!

Discovering Your Inner Goddess with CoCo PART 1: Fitness First

One of the things I adore about CoCo is her authenticity and her true desire to help women. In her own style CoCo is creating her empire/brand by using the things she loves to help women discover their inner goddess.  The first step is FITNESS. CoCo is bringing you into her "Workout World" with her new App for iPhone/iPad.

Launched recently as CoCo's Workout World (Powered by Skimble)

This is a comprehensive fitness application covering all aspects of fitness; training, diet, tips and moves based on what got her the body she is famous for.

She told me, "I want to help women reach their inner Goddess. To do that I want to make them feel sexy about their bodies so I came up with this fitness app . This is the number one question I get on my website for the last 15 years. Questions like, what is your fitness regimen? How do you build the booty?"

This was a perfect opportunity to show everyone. I was going to start out with a fitness DVD but it just makes sense with all the new technology, everyone has a cell phone so why not make a fitness app? So basically I can train you from your cell phone. You can be at home or at the gym and we can train together. Basically my workout is just showing you what I’ve done personally and have done for years. I incorporate my dance moves, stretching, body building moves. It is all moves I do at the gym. I also tell everyone up-front, it may not work for every body type but it has definitely worked for me. I believe if you listen to me and work out you will see a difference. It is called World for a reason, it has fitness tips, it is not just working out. It is so much more.

I wanted to know WHO the app is tailored for. There are many people pressed for time, beginners, those who may be intimidated or who make excuses not to work out. According to Miss CoCo this app is for everyone, "It is for every level. There is a collection on the app of five - 8 minute workouts. So, you can do 3 different workouts in 8 minutes. That is really fun if you are on the go."

Her favourite work out of course is for your beautiful backside ladies. She recommends SQUATS if you only have time for one exercise. She said,  I suggest during the day if you have a minute do a squat but try to have something in your hand while you are doing it. Squats are my number one move in the Gym and there are so many different ways to do them. Try them with weights, without weights, with your hands, without your hands."

Here's how it works:

*$2.99 Gets you the App with 20 Exercises, 9 Workouts

*Included also is Photographs and Fitness Tips

*No Internet Required

*Unlock PREMIUM exercise routines for an additional $6.99 (Ex: “Booty by Coco”)

*The app will be continuously updated with new and exciting content.

*Cheaper than gym membership, lots of variety and a unique format to train.

I'm personally not a gym person. I prefer to train in the privacy of my own home. I am also pressed for time and a busy mom on the go. The notion of quick workouts that I can hand select to target my "problem areas" is a wonderful solution to help me eliminate my excuses.

CoCo truly believes that EVERY woman has an inner goddess inside.Will you connect with your goddess in CoCo's workout world? 

Comment below!

Stay Tuned for PART II of Discovering Your Inner Goddess with CoCo.