Forget that orange "glow", we're all turning into vampires

So everyone has seen that girl (or guy) who looks like they've had a fight with a Wotsit, but how many take much notice if we see someone of the opposite? Someone who looks like they've walked through a cloud of talcum powder. You just assume it's natural, right? 

I didn't realise how popular "Skin Bleaching" was until I "Googled" it. The late Michael Jackson is an obvious example, although the King of Pop denied the use of any skin lightening products, after his death detectives found large quantities of general anesthetic and dozens of tubes of skin bleaching creams in his home.

 

Skin lightening creams can cause, thinning of skin, uneven colour, redness, intense irritation and not to mention you're putting bleach on your face!!! They contain illegal compounds that can damage your health and high dose steroids. 

Professionals are urging you to remember that over the counter creams are not necessarily medically approved and can seriously, permanently, damage your skin. 

Why do we do such crazy things just to look "better"?!

Peace out xo

London Art Fair Discussion - Laura Hynd

Control of the Frame: Power, Representation & Identity in Photography - Laura Hynd - "The Letting Go"

 

Thanks to Pam Glew, I was able to attend London Art Fair where I went to a discussion about "Power, Representation & Identity in Photography", organised by PhotoVoice. The final panelist was Laura Hynd who spoke about her latest project, "The Letting Go". 

For this she became "the submissive" and allowed others to photographer her as part of a healing process to help her move on and push forward in life. The collection is a "personal and confessional series of photographs, portraits and self-portraits". She let others photograph her to reveal something personal and to help deal with her own and others' perceptions of her. 

During the discussion she showed a video of her photos in a montage instead of talking, but the images spoke for themselves. Each individual photograph has a very personal story behind it, and they speak very strongly as a collective. 

The notion of loosing control and allowing others to take lead was a strong part in her work. "My photographic ideas and private notions have been challenged and developed. Becoming the submissive during a photo shoot, trusting others and allowing self-portraiture to tell the story of a critical shift."

Everyone deals with suffering and pain in life differently. Although Laura never actually said what has happened to her, you can feel the lifting of social pressures and pain from personal experiences through her work. She has begun to realise that other peoples' perception of you shouldn't effect your daily life. You are you because of personal experiences during your existence.

Peace out xo

London Art Fair Discussion - Ryan Crawford

Control of the Frame: Power, Representation & Identity in Photography- Ryan Crawford

Thanks to Pam Glew, I was able to attend London Art Fair where I went to a discussion about "Power, Representation & Identity in Photography", organised by PhotoVoice. The third panelist to voice their work was Ryan Crawford, made homeless at just sixteen. He spoke about his tough time sofa-surfing and sleeping on park benches, before moving to Nottingham, getting a room and being accepted onto an Mechanics college course.

 
This photograph, "Running out of fire, running out of time", shows him in a thermal blanket given to him by a youth centre. The focus being on the "fire" colour of the blanket showing the passion burning in himself to keep going, to stay alive. After a long time on the streets Ryan was able to move to Nottingham and get a place, although he still had finance issues and often found himself without heating. Thankfully, he then found a place he could call home with people he could rely on. 




While he was talking you could tell the strength of the emotion behind his photos. Photography seemed to be an escape, a sanity, during his hard times. I'm sure many can relate to this feeling, escapism and freedom in something you love. Blocking out the rest of the world, especially the bad. If not, you should try it. 

Peace out xo

London Art Fair Discussion - Fiona Yaron-Field

Control of the Frame: Power, Representation & Identity in Photography - Fiona Yaron-Field - "Up Close"

Thanks to Pam Glew, I was able to attend London Art Fair where I went to a discussion about "Power, Representation & Identity in Photography", organised by PhotoVoice. The second panelist to share their work was Fiona Yaron-Field. She spoke about her book "Up Close", a project about the relationship between her daughter, who has down-syndrome, and herself.

Fiona Yaron-Field explained that the book's contents wasn't intentional, she was merely a Mother documenting her child's life in photos. She also revealed that she has always kept a diary. One day the thought clicked to combine the two and express the loving relationship between a Mother and daughter. She feels the writing alongside the images isn't an important connection as they weren't created to be put together, they simply express similar affairs.

 The question "Don't you feel you are exposing someone who can't voice if they want to be or not?" was raised by a fellow audience member. Fiona came back with "Children love to be photographed... It validates them... They love to be seen." She then went on to personalise the question and explained that her daughter, now 18, is okay with the publication. "She hates to pose, if I told her to stop what she was doing to photograph her she wouldn't. We are simply playing."

  

Although, this does raise the issue of responsibility of representation. How far can you go without it being "wrong"? As long as the model gives consent then it's okay, right?

Peace out xo

London Art Fair Discussion - Daniel Regan

Control of the Frame: Power, Representation & Identity in Photography - Daniel Regan - "The Alopecia Project"

Thanks to Pam Glew, I was able to attend London Art Fair where I went to a discussion about "Power, Representation & Identity in Photography", organised by PhotoVoice. The first panelist to share their work was Daniel Regan who spoke up about the issues of mental health and body image. He shared his current project "The Alopecia Project" where he's working alongside Alopecia UK to humanise the medical condition. 

Alopecia, often caused by stress, drugs, chemotherapy and most commonly aging, is simply hair loss or baldness. However, for those who suffer with it it isn't that simple. It can cause major self-body image issues. Many of the affected wear wigs, false eyelashes and have fake eyebrows to hide their condition. Some people are able to relish and embrace their new look, but for others this is a massive struggle. 

Daniel Regan's aim is to beautify the condition and patch up the damaged self-esteem that comes alongside hairloss. He believes that it mainly distresses women because by loosing the hair on their body that society puts such pressure on causes them to feel like less of a woman. Although, many men do also suffer with forms of alopecia such as male pattern baldness and the effects of aging but still don't embrace it. 

Regan invites people along to be photographed, as and how they feel comfortable with. He said in the discussion that for some people that involves a quick chat to get to know the model and then photography but for others they feel more comfortable and stay chatting for hours, with endless cups of tea, before being photographed. He likes to collaborate with and get to know his models and their views on the condition before photographing them because he feels it gives a more humanised and personal story behind the images.

With it being thought that the condition is affecting 1.7% of the population, it must be publicised as something to not be ashamed of, but instead be happy being yourself. He feels that in the medical world everything is just figures and statistics, but these are real people being affected by a condition that not only affects the body but also the mind.

"The true message of the project is that it's OK being you, but most importantly being the you that you choose."

Peace out xo

The beautiful truth...

This is the beginning of a very long battle against our judgmental society and its poor perception of what "beauty" is. I'm so thankful to everyone who has signed already, with their photo, and those who have positively commented on my blog. However,  I want this to be a joint progress, it's you guys just as much as me that are going to make the change that is needed, I'm just the scribe. 

Sign below...

 

We need to broaden this quiet petition against what the media makes us think is "perfection". So this is where you come in... All I'm asking is for you to take a photo of yourself in the morning as soon as you wake up for me to post anonymously on my blog... Why do we need to care what people think? If as many of you as possible can do this I will be VERY grateful!

Email @ wanderlust.fashion.art@gmail.com

Snapchat @sophielbacon

Peace out xo

You don't need to be anybody but yourself

When we give our children toys to play with do we realise the underlying messages we are sending them? We give males guns and cars. We give females dolls and play cooking utensils. Are we being forced into becoming what we are rather than having the freedom to create ourselves?

Yes.

We believe that we are given freedom to find ourselves during our lives but the reality of societies influences and manipulation starts at a very young age. Birth. Is it blue or pink?

Society still seems to be baffled as to why so many young girls are silently suffering with eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia, but if you look around you it is oh so obvious as to where the negative body images are coming from. 

Everywhere. 

The horrible reality of the first body image role model for young girls is this...

A plastic, oddly out of proportion, doll. With a wrist circumference of only 3,5", and a hip to waist ratio of 0.56, 0.23 below average. Is this the kind of role model we want? I know I don't. But what can we do? Stop our children from playing with toys? Or allow them to simple choose themselves rather than being forced into gender stereotypes and media pressures.

Unless we all form together and stop buying Barbie Dolls they aren't going to stop making them... or at least alter her proportions. But this obviously isn't going to happen. So just allow your children the choice of what they want to play with. Don't force any toys on children, and always remember to let everyone you know that they don't need to be anybody but themselves.

Peace out xo

"It's theatrical catwalk"

So, while taking a well deserved coffee break, a friend, and fellow creative (@LuluLadd), began flicking through my Company magazine (www.company.co.uk) and stopped at this. She started talking about the page, that's when I halted her and grabbed my notebook! "Imagine how silly we'd look if we did our eyeliner like that? Or went out with eyebrows like that!?" My only answer was "It's theatrical catwalk."

A few minutes later she returned with "I know the catwalk is meant to be over the top and a bit weird... but why?" This got me thinking about the cloning aspect of catwalk shows and general fashion. Why should we do our eyeliner like that? Or sculpt our eyebrows? Do we wear make up because we want to or because photos of genuinely "natural" faces are never published anywhere?

There is an obvious tick list for the "perfect" catwalk model. 

1. Tall, very tall.
2. Slim, very slim.
3. No facial expression.
4. and, as long as you look exactly the same as the other people on the runway you're perfect.  

 
  

However, the sad reality is that most of the models we see in a trance drifting down the runways have dedicated their lives so much to their job that they are ill. It was reported on www.dailymail.co.uk that plans to ban underweight models from London Fashion Week had been scrapped. Pro-Healthy-Models, nutritionist, Carina Norris said  "This looks like they have something to hide. It suggests a significant number of girls might not be able to pass the health test. They are putting out a negative message that the health of the girls doesn't matter that much to them, which is not good."

Read the full report here: 

London Fashion Week scraps plans to ban underweight models

The reality of the tick list is this...

1. Minimum height of 5' 9
2. Clear perfect skin
3. Straight nose
4. Symmetrical features
5. Thick, dark eyebrows
6. Bra size A-C. bust size no bigger than 34
7. Preferred waist 22-27"
8. Preferred bust 30-34"
9. Preferred hips 32-36"
10. Clean hair in good condition, as natural as possible (not chemically processed) 
11. Bone structure - high cheekbones, a defined jawline
12. Overall, a striking look.

Now, is this the kind of message we want to be bombarded with? That we should be forming ourselves into ill clones just to be allowed into the world of fashion? It's utterly ridiculous! These women throwing their bodies to fashion to do with as it pleases are not to blame, it's the designers who refuse to make clothing bigger than a US size 0. But, hey, "it's theatrical catwalk".

Peace out xo

The first signature on my petition against the media's idea of "perfection"

I need some help!

 I wish to create a quiet petition against what the media makes us think is "perfection". So this is where you come in... All I'm asking is for you to take a photo of yourself in the morning as soon as you wake up for me to post anonymously on my blog... Why do we need to care what people think? If as many of you as possible can do this I will be VERY grateful!

Email @wanderlust.fashion.art@gmail.com

Snapchat @sophielbacon

 I feel like I should be setting an example... Like a leader of a pact... But I don't want to be any form of leader, just someone voicing everyone's thoughts and opinions...We all need to join forces and show we aren't afraid to show an unedited version of ourselves in the media... 

I've had a great response in the last 2 days and I will start to broadcast this petition in the next week but I thought I better start with my own signature...

Peace out xo

Are we living in a "dream world"?

So, being a Fashion Student, I thought "hey, let's do a fashion photo-shoot". I became a personal stylist for my friend and photographer for the shoot. We spent hours having fun getting dressed up and taking photos. 

After spending some time editing these photos, whilst watching The Matrix, I began to look at them through different eyes. I began to see them through my own eyes, rather than those we have been programmed to look through by society. Those judgmental eyes that believe we are never perfect until we follow the crowd and become robots of fashion. No individuality. (Anyone seeing the Matrix influences yet?)

I then thought, well how about doing a photo-shoot that uses charity shop items? How about doing a photo-shoot that is "un-fashionable"? How about doing a photo-shoot with no make-up? How about doing a "honest" photo-shoot? So, this is where my genius plan was born... Get people to take photos of themselves as soon as they wake up. No make up. Hair undone. Being themselves. Not being the clones we become after getting ready to face the judgmental eyes of society. 

So I posted on Facebook, only yesterday, asking for people to join my quiet petition against what the media makes us think is "perfection". I wanted to show to people that pictures that haven't been edited, girls with no make-up and guys with bed hair can still be posted in the media. We need to open our eyes and see the world for what it really is. More of this to follow as I had an overwhelming response on the first day but a petition is never over :)

Peace out xo

Plus Size

How many of you fret over your wobbly bum? How many of you don’t have that perfectly defined cleavage? How many of you haven’t got legs up to your neck? But how many of you care? Too many! With a growing number of fuller-figured women hitting the lime light you’d think we’d all be embracing and being proud of our not-so-tiny bottoms, legs and breasts, but, unfortunately there is still a huge majority of us who have pet hates towards parts of our bodies.

     Famous for her curves, Christina Hendricks – known for her role as Joan Holloway in the television series Mad Men – was named “the sexiest woman in the world” in 2010 by voters for Esquire magazine. Many see her as a full-figured role model, and why shouldn’t we? She has won awards for her voluptuous size 14 body but still she is denied dresses for award ceremonies by designers that will only lend out a size 0 or 2. Ridiculous. Hendricks says that too much focus is set on the bodies and not enough on the immense talent. “I was working my butt off on the show [Mad Men] and then all anyone was talking about was my body.” It’s worrying how many of our admired women are being shot down because of their curvaceous size. What kind of message is this sending out?               

 

When 23 year old Adele hit our radios everyone was amazed. With a voice as magical as that no one should have questioned her weight; after all it was her voice that made her famous. Adele appears to have the right attitude towards the critical opinions regarding her weight though, saying that “fans are encouraged that you don’t have to look a certain way to do well.” Without a doubt, this is the kind of attitude women want in a role model – a women with self-acceptance and confidence within themselves.

     With the average British dress size at a fabulous 16 and height at a beautiful 5ft 4in, why are we so down hearted when we see that one holiday snap that shows off our size 14 bottom or a little bit of cellulite? It’s all normal and all gorgeous. As 1940s skirts hit the catwalk; it’s our season. Worn right, they show off big bums and boobs perfectly. Team a mid-calf length skirt with a tucked in blouse and you’re ready to face the critics. No one will deny that you look gorgeous!

Come on, Marilyn Monroe, size 16, is said to be the “sexiest person EVER!” So stop comparing yourselves to those size zeros on the catwalk and start loving the body you’re in.

Peace out xo

Should we change ourselves, or the world around us?

Remove every single hair? Gain the “thigh gap”? Why must we sculpt ourselves to fit in? Both females and males are increasingly becoming pressured into forming themselves into hairless, skeletal, de-personalised objects to be noticed in the judgemental society we’ve become. I don’t know about you but, for me this is a horrible worry. I, myself, fall for this pressure and wear make-up, follow fashion and dye my hair; but why should we? For personal gain or because the endless racks of media tell us we should?

Whilst researching Feminism I realised my passion; the pressures of society on humanity and media issues and how we can change this. The idea of an “ideal” person, someone people dream of becoming, is ludicrous. We aren’t robots (yet, but that’s a whole other issue). However, people still attempt to modify themselves to “fit the brief” of what the media perceive as “human”.

With the recent release of “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”, Jennifer Lawrence (Katniss) has spoken about her aim to be seen as an “invincible” model for “little girls” by saying “In Hollywood, I’m obese. I’m considered a fat actress. I eat like a caveman. I’ll be the only actress that doesn’t have anorexia rumours! I’m never going to starve myself for a part. I don’t want little girls to be like, ‘Oh, I want to look like Katniss, so I’m going to skip dinner!’” Although the photo this statement has been published alongside is clearly an edited representation of her. Contradictory? Why can’t a “real” photo be published? No editing. No manipulation. No judgement. I aim to change this.

Change is being made, but it’s too slow. Through writing and support I will change the world! But, seriously, something needs to be done about this; the face of fashion needs to be hit with realisation! I must be part of the revolution, who’s with me!?


Peace out xo