International Women's Day

We are ALL Wonder Women, yes ALL of us without exception. Women around the globe on a daily basis are achieving great things, loving and caring for children, are amazing friends, daughters, partners, educators, musicians, artists and contributors to the workforce. I feel like many of you sell yourself short based on the mirror society holds up and you shouldn't. 

International women's day is a great time to celebrate women and their achievements, big and small but it is also a day to question.  Why don't we celebrate women all year long? Why don't women receive equal pay for equal work? why don't women have access to proper health care? Why are women in the world denied basic human rights that are bestowed upon their male counterparts? Finally, what can We do as a community to bring forth change?

An Iranian woman shows Persian writing on her hands reading women should same rights as men. Photograph: Abedin Taherkenareh/EPA

I have spent most of the day reflecting on these issues as I read the endless stream of articles and posts on social media. I feel that as a community we can continue to make an impact and move forward towards true gender equality and the dissolution of gender lines.  For example, Voting, joining a community organization, even simple acts of kindness and support to other women, one at a time we can make a difference, like a ripple effect.

Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects. - Dalai Lama.

It is my hope and ultimate goal to empower and inspire women through fashion and personal style. I choose to stand with all women as an ally and never a competitor. I want to celebrate every woman's achievements as I truly respect any woman with pure intention who is putting forth effort in this life.

I often wonder what the world will be like for my daughter. The best we can do as mothers, teachers, and role models is to raise our girls to be proud individuals who think for themselves, question the status quo and not accept anything that does not feel right or serve her.

We can equip our girls to know that SHE is enough.

Thank you for being part of this gorgeous female tapestry. For inspiring me each day with your wisdom, bravery, heart and guts.

I cannot easily compile a list of women that I admire as it is ALL OF YOU. Know that we are ALL wonder women, together on this and ALL days!

Gulabi Gang: Fierce Females in Fuschia

Women's rights and equality sadly continue to be an issue around the globe and astonishingly even in my own back yard (America) as women take to the polls in November hopefully to maintain our right to choose. Female reproduction and the GOP's effort to control it seem to always be at the forefront of the elections. A Republican group of white, "Christian", rich males attempting to use the bible to continue to suppress women and push their patriarchal agendas. OBAMA 2012! (I am LisaG and I approve this message)

But there is global hope that women can stand together to make real change and protect one another.

There is a group in India called GULABI GANG  (Gulabi = Hindi for PINK) who are committed to protecting and educating women. India historically has been a rigid and oppressive patriarchal society who's women have been abused and treated as second class citizens.  In their Fuschia Sari's the Gulabi Gang are right fighters in Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. They are a rural "Justice League" wielding a bamboo stick and loads of passion for protesting child marriages, protecting the victims of abuse, teaching women to read and MORE.

Their Website Explains: "The Gulabi Gang is an extraordinary women’s movement formed in 2006 by Sampat Pal Devi in the Banda District of Uttar Pradesh in Northern India. This region is one of the poorest districts in the country and is marked by a deeply patriarchal culture, rigid caste divisions, female illiteracy, domestic violence, child labour, child marraiges and dowry demands. The women’s group is popularly known as Gulabi or ‘Pink’ Gang because the members wear bright pink saris and wield bamboo sticks. Sampat says, “We are not a gang in the usual sense of the term, we are a gang for justice.”

The Gulabi Gang was initially intended to punish oppressive husbands, fathers and brothers, and combat domestic violence and desertion. The members of the gang would accost male offenders and prevail upon them to see reason. The more serious offenders were publicly shamed when they refused to listen or relent. Sometimes the women resorted to their lathis, if the men resorted to use of force.

Today, the Gulabi Gang has tens of thousands of women members, several male supporters and many successful interventions to their credit. Whether it is ensuring proper public distribution of food-grains to people below the poverty line, or disbursement of pension to elderly widows who have no birth certificate to prove their age, or preventing abuse of women and children, the Pink sisterhood is in the forefront, bringing about system changes by adopting the simplest of methods - direct action and confrontation.

Although the group’s interventions are mostly on behalf of women, they are increasingly called upon by men to challenge not only male authority over women, but all human rights abuses inflicted on the weak."

Their story is BEYOND inspirational! What have you done to create/enforce change or help women?  It may just start with providing an ear or shoulder to women around you. We have a unique set of challenges and circumstances as we navigate this life. Strength in numbers indeed. The Fierce Females in Fuschia let nothing stop them and neither should you!

WOMEN: Let's Stand Together

In celebration of International Women's Day I wanted to discuss how more WOMEN should celebrate WOMEN. Although our patriarchal society is largely responsible for our repression over the course of history, women also should be held accountable for their roles. We have made AMAZING progress over the years with with respect to Equality, Reproductive Rights, in the work place, and on a global scale. I feel, we as women should be allies and not competitors and could do better for each other. The mysogynistc undertones still exist across the globe when women deal with various forms of discrimination, degeneration, violence and abuse (largely from men) but women are also culpable to some degree.

The time is NOW to truly stand together in the sisterhood we all share. We have unique challenges and responsibilities as women and should be there as a supportive force to one another, not just today but every day.

In a world of uncertainty, here is what I can CONFIRM:

ALL WOMEN ARE

* Capable

* Worthy

* Unique

* Beautiful

When is the last time you helped out a female friend for no reason? or told another women that they have been an inspiration for you? do you support female owned businesses? or told someone you know they are beautiful? or a good mother? or applauded a female counterpart for what she has accomplished?

Lets celebrate WOMEN today and all that we have done and continue to do to better ourselves and our world. As a giant global team we can make the changes needed to liberate women all over the world to feel truly empowered and inspired and help each other to live up to our full potentials. The change in attitude and action starts with each one of US.

My top 2 Inspirational Women of the year:

Christy Turlington - Model, Mother, Film Maker and Women's Right Activist: Maternal Health -via Every Mother Counts. Her documentary and work abroad has and is continuing to make a difference in the lives of women and mothers everywhere.

Loren Ridinger: Business Woman, Mother, Jewelry Designer, who is on a relentless digital-quest to inspire women and empower them to be the best they can be, in business and otherwise.

‎"Inside of you is a smart, powerful, dynamic, capable, self-confident, alive, alert, fabulous woman! Let her come out and play. The world is waiting for you." - Louise L. Hay

The Legend of Zelda

June 20, 1916 ~ Feb 15, 2012

"New York’s oldest and most beloved night owl "

The venue where Zelda Kaplan took her last breath was a total shock to the Fashion community when she passed away in the front row of her friend Joanna Mastroianni's Fashion show during New York Fashion week.

Jason Kempin/Getty Images for Joanna Mastroianni
Zelda Kaplan at a Fashion Week show on Wednesday, shortly before she collapsed and died.

She died the way she lived, as a permanent fixture in the NY fashion scene, full of drama and completely in a unique way.

Evolution Revolution is a place where I like to share stories of inspirational people and Zelda was just that. She put her younger counterparts to shame as she danced till dawn in chic NYC clubs, sipped champagne, frequented fashion shows, travelled around the world for women's rights as she hunted for amazing fabrics for her one-of-a-kind looks.

I have been doing a lot of reading about her over the last few days and I am astonished at how multi-faceted and multi-phased her life was. She went from being a suburban housewife in her 30's (she married 3 times) to a New York Socialite, Party Girl and Fashion LOVER! She was also a world traveller and a crusader for women's rights abroad. She slept all day, danced all night, created her own signature looks complete with hand woven African/Tribal fabrics, Statement jewels and signature sunglasses. Age was just a state of mind to her and she did not let the number's define her or her life.

The Legend of Zelda in her own words (Quotes courtesy of the New York Times & New York Magazine)

ON AGING: "'I want to be an example for young people so they aren't afraid of growing old and a lesson to old people that you can be productive. You don't have to sit around and wait for death."

ON BEDTIME: "Anytime between midnight and 7 a.m."

ON HER LIFE: "I spent half my life relaxing and the other half crusading — I was a successful ballroom dancer and women's golf pro in Miami Beach in my 20s, a doctor's wife in New York in my 30s — and in my 60s and 70s I spent my time largely in Africa and Southeast Asia campaigning directly with local tribal government leaders for women's and children's rights."

ON DRINKING: "Shiraz"

ON DANCING: "I just love a slow fox trot ... To me, the dancing the young people do in the clubs is exercise. There's no skill involved."

ON FASHION: “I wish more people would have [clothes] made for them. But so many Americans want to look like everybody else [...] I hate to wear what everybody else is wearing [...] I don’t think people should be happy to be a clone.”

ON DATING: "Two young men did recently ask if they could make love to me ... But what do I want with a 36-year old?"

ON LEARNING: “Many people turn a certain age and “check out,” but that is not me. In my 90s, I am not able to travel as much, so I must read everything I can at home to remain aware of global change, which provides me great knowledge to empower people through daily conversations, and through my charitable efforts.”

ON BEING REMEMBERED: "I hope people remember me as an intelligent and respectful person who was interested in the world, and especially women’s human rights."


Let's all take a page from Zelda's book; life is meant for LIVING in a CUSTOM way that suits all your aspirations, dreams and desires. Why sit on the couch when you can dance all night and be FABULOUS? Zelda can rest now, knowing she did what she loved right up until the last moment of her earthly life.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Hugh Hefner

Today marks the 85th year of life for one of the most interesting lives of our time. Many people have many preconceived notions about Hugh Hefner but I'm not sure everyone has the whole story.

Hugh Hefner has done much more for our society than Publishing a Magazine with nude centerfolds, cartoons and intelligent/thoughtful articles.

He was a trailblazer for the Sexual Revolution

An Advocate for Women's Rights ~ Contraception, Freedom of Choice and MORE! His magazine was intended to celebrate women and their beauty, not objectify or disrespect them.



A Friend and Fighter for the Civil Right's movement. He defied segregation laws to allow black and white patrons to socialize in his Playboy clubs. He promoted and employed African American musicians, comedians and entertainers at his clubs and on his TV show. He ignored society's racial taboos because they did not exist in his mind. He stood for and Stands for EQUALITY on all levels.



A Challenger of ideas and ideals about sex, and sexual expressions

A Vanguard for freedom of the press, freedom of speech and expression .. Personal Freedom PERIOD.

A Teacher who has lived an honest life. A life that had many detractors but he owns it. He has created his own fantasy and lives it publically and privately. We should all take a page out of Hef's book, custom design our lives and be HAPPY, closer to our authentic selves.

For this and MORE I raise my glass to you Hef. May you be FREE to enjoy this day and all the rest. You are an inspiration, a right fighter and a self made man who I respect.






Got a free 2 hours to educate yourself? Rent/Buy the Canadian Documentary: "Hugh Hefner: Playboy, Activist & Rebel"