Taking a closer look into my closet (Blog Post#3)

'

Before I wore a uniform to work everyday (so glad I wear scrubs!), I always felt I had nothing to wear or I had so much clothing, but longed for something "new".  After doing this inventory I had quite the reality check....I have A LOT of clothes.  I never thought much about the amount until I actually sat there and counted items in my wardrobe.  I have 15 jeans, 45 sweaters, three jumpsuits, 2 denim jackets, 2 pairs of olive green pants...because of course one was not enough right, several dresses and skirts, 9 pairs of pants, and I did not even account for my workout wardrobe nor shorts, shirts or t-shirts; and for the sake of specification I conveniently left out my drawers for this "closet" assignment! The numerical amount was shocking, but there weren't any surprises in my closet.  I knew what was in there however it was a revelation, for example, a blouse I came across that I've only worn once and although I know I'll never wear it again I still have it hanging in my closet.  I have donated tons of clothes in the past, yet I still can find clothes just "hanging out" literally, and I know they'll never see the light of day again.  I think the 20% estimation of the proportion of clothing that we wear is a very generous estimate; sometimes it can even feel like 10%!! 
I was overwhelmed by the numbers and I quickly thought to divert my attention by tracking down the roots of my clothing; if I ever looked at where clothes were made it was completely by accident, I was probably analyzing either the size or possibly the material if I was feeling picky on that particular shopping excursion.  Most of my clothes read as such "Made in China", there are also clothes that were made in India, Cambodia, Vietnam, and Nicaragua.  I felt like I struck gold when I found a sweater made in Canada, a top from Israel and two dresses that read Made in USA.  I have learned that my clothes are not as cohesive as I would like and that although I could never imagine saying this aloud....I have too many clothes.  I need to make an effort to prioritize quality over quantity.  I have included some pictures to really capture the closet craziness.  The sad part is that you can't even see everything in there (there are bins on the floor) and again, this does not even include my drawers. 

 

AND then this happened today..................

 

Contents of my closet (assignment #3)

If I had to estimate the clothes between my closet and my drawers, I would guess around 150 articles of clothing. I counted up to 93 but still have two drawers with clothes in them. You said in class, “A lot of people wear 20% of their wardrobe 80% of the time.” I never thought of it like that before but I am defiantly one of those people.  Especially because I work a lot, I wear black pants and a black shirt five days a week while at work. I also have a lot of special occasion clothing which I don’t wear too often because it’s not the right setting. I’m not going to go to class dressed like I’m going to a fancy dinner or out to a club so those clothes get worn much less than my basic tee shirt and leggings. I also wear more variety of clothes during the summer, even though a lot of people love the colder weather because they say it’s easier to dress stylish but for someone like me who is just freezing all the time, I care more about being warm than looking cute. I give props to the girls who freeze their butts off just to look cute. Most of my clothes were bought new; some could be considered gifts in the case that my mom or my sister offered to buy something rather than me spend my own money. I don’t typically wear used clothes unless it’s like a close friend’s cute article of clothing that I borrowed that I swear I really am going to give back (someday). I noticed that most of my clothes come from China, especially the ones I’ve ordered online. Some other areas were Cambodia, Nicaragua, and America. My Bebe shirts were from America which made me think, not that I know for sure, that higher priced clothing possibly is produced here or finished here where as the cheaper stuff is from foreign countries. I was not surprised by the amount of clothes I have, sadly, it should be shocking because that is a lot of clothes but I realized how much clothes I have when I moved and the number has defiantly increased since a little over a year ago. I’m not dissatisfied with my consumption of clothing; it has defiantly improved in the years. I’m a smarter shopper, I calculate if I really need something or if I will actually where it whereas before I would just mindlessly buy something I found cute. That will happen when you start earning your own money in life; it makes you ask yourself more questions before making a purchase because you realize the difference between necessity and desire. Too bad that I didn’t have better style when I use to mindlessly buy because half the stuff  is now either given to friends, donated, or cut up into something I’ll hopefully actually where out. Luckily, I have improved my shopping ways, just wish I would have when it was still my parents’ money I was spending.  

Vault Show

For those who didn't make it, here are some pictures from the fashion event in Philadelphia! Thank you, Gianna, for great pictures and even a video.

Frances Perkins- labor movement activist

Frances Perkins

         Having grown up in a well-off, conservative and republican family, Frances Perkins was not exposed to poverty until she began school. From a young age, Perkins was shocked by how the "other half" lived. In college, her main focus was in physics with minors in chemistry and biology. It was only in her last semester at school that Ms. Perkins took a class called 'American Economic History' which gave Perkins her fist look at industrial working conditions when she was assigned to observe the mills along the Conneticut River. 

         In 1905, Perkins moved to Lake Forrest Illinois where she took a teaching position. In her free time, she volunteered  at Chicago Commons and Hull House where she would work with the poor and unemployed one-on-one. Ms. Perkins spent her next few years working to help the less fortunate all while getting her masters of sociology and economics from Columbia University. In 1910 Frances became the executive secretary of the New York City Consumer's league. Her work focused on improving sanitary and fire regulations, and decreasingworking hours for women and children in places such as bakeries and factories. About a year after taking this job, Frances and her friends were having tea on March 25, 1911 when they heard an overwhelming number of fire engines pass by. Perkins ran down the street to find women jumping from the flaming shirtwaist factory windows above. Appalled by what she was seeing, Frances Perkins said that this was "the day the New Deal was born."

         The New Deal was a series of programs that were put in place by Franklin D. Roosevelt in an effort to restore prosperity and create new opportunities in our economy. FDR was elected as the presidential candidate for the democratic party in 1932. In response to the economic issues of the depression, Roosevelt declared that "I pledge you, I pledge myself, to a new deal for the American people". Once elected in 1933, FDR got to work on the New Deal. The New Deal included, but weren't limited to emergency relief programs, union protection programs and the Social Security Act.

   Now you're probably wondering how this related to Frances Perkins...

        The Triangle Shirtwaist factory incident outraged the public (including Perkins). They were furious at the factory owners as well as themselves for allowing such a thing to happen. As a result,the Committee on Safety of the City of New York was established to prevent further tragedies from occurring. Perkins was the group's executive secretary where she lead investigations into state factories where she saw the dangers of industrialism first hand. New York's governor at the time, Al Smith, appointed Perkins to the Industrial Commission which regulated workplace conditions. Perkins was no average woman for her time. Smith's goal was to weed out corruption in the state labor department and Perkins was his enforcer. During Smith's final term, he chose Perkins to be the Chair of the Industrial Commission. Franklin D. Roosevelt, who took over as governor kept Perkins in this position. In 1932, when FDR was chosen as the democratic presidential candidate, he asked Frances Perkins to be his Cabinet Secretary of Labor. In 1933, she became the first woman cabinet member. As the president's secretary of labor, Perkins outlined policies such as a minimum wage, a 40 hour work week, abolition of child labor and social security.

      In my eyes Frances Perkins was one of the most influential people in country's economic history. Motivated and inspired by the women of the triangle shirtwaist factory, she devoted her life to improving the lives and working conditions of others. It's hard to imagine life before minimum wage, 40 hour work weeks and social security. However, these things may have never came to pass if it wasn't for the tragedy of the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory workers and Frances Perkins.  

Don't sweat it

In this picture you see a man and we can immediately make the assumption that he is an athlete, probably wearing a pair of top of the line athletic sneakers, perhaps Nike shoes?  Well this is Jim Keady, a labor activist that did not set out with a plan to make dramatic changes and educate others on social injustice.  Jim was a soccer coach at St. John's University.  I am always pondering what to wear or what not to wear, in Jim Keady's case, it is what he decided not to wear to work that cost him his job.  At the time of his coaching days, the Nike company was endorsing St. John's University and what better way to advertise this then to have the coaching staff and players wear Nike gear.  Jim Keady discovered that Nike manufactured their goods by using sweatshops and he refused to support Nike which ultimately cost him his job.
Most people would make their point and move on, but not Jim, he did not stop there.  "Most people ask the question, "What is it like to live on a sweatshop wage in a developing country?" Jim Keady found out" (brophybroncos.org). 

Jim Keady made a documentary "Behind the Swoosh" which shows the terrible conditions in the factories that produce Nike goods, a stark contrast to the Nike corporation company's main offices which are also shown in the film.  Jim lives alongside the workers and shows the poverty and low wages that make life unbearable.  He also reveals that Nike dumps loads of unused sneakers causing environmental pollution which results in hazardous health risks for the people that live nearby. 
I found the documentary and Jim Keady's story just searching the internet.  I couldn't believe this story...Nike?  I love Nike and thought their brand stood for a healthy, work hard, play hard mentality.  "Just Do It" serves as a personal mantra for so many and here behind the scenes are individuals barely surviving while sweating through endless hours of work each day with very little to show for it.  Labor activists, such as Jim Keady, make us think and second guess the next time we reach for our Nike sneakers maybe we should not "Just Do It".

Blog Post #1

Unique. Outrageous. Stylish?

When talking about the "new" Miley Cyrus, one thing is for sure...

This girl Can't be Tamed. Pun intended.

This has clearly been demonstrated through her actions, but also 

her clothing choices.

Shall we take a scroll down memory lane?

We Shall!

Ok, so we first met Miley in 2006 on the premier of Hannah Montana!

Miley Cyrus age 11 at Disney premier

So cute and innocent!

 Here, Miley is rocking a plaid blazer over  what looks like a baby blue, zip-up sweater which she paired with some good ol' blue jeans.

Miley Cyrus 2007 AMA Music Awards

Still cute, but a little less innocent in her strapless, red mini dress and sparkling silver Louboutins!

Miley Cyrus (2009) at the 81st Academy Awards red carpet

For the Oscars, Miley showed up in a beautiful Zuhair Murad dress. 

It was a light tan, tiered dress with mermaid-like scallops and beading.

Miley Cyrus AMAs 2010

Miley steps up her fashion game up in 2010 at the American Music Awards. Above, Miley is pictured in a stunning Marchesa mini with a flowing sheer train paired with more sparkling Louboutins!

Miley Cyrus (2011) CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute

Above, Miley stuns in this beautiful Roberto Cavalli gown accessorized with Neil Lane diamonds.

And now for my all-time favorite...

Gasp!

Miley Cyrus (2012) Vanity Fair Oscar party

Roberto Cavalli has done it again!

Who would have thought a gray dress could be so beautiful and hypnotizing?

Not me! 

 This is one of the last memories I have of the "old Miley", so to speak. 

It's very bitter-sweet if you ask me.

wait for it.....

It happens to the best of us... break-ups, that is.

Sometimes really good things come out of a bad situation.

Sometimes they just get worse... 

But who's to judge? In my eyes, Miley came out on top (of a wrecking ball). Although she may not be everyone's cup of tea, she certainly knows how to get attention! Whether the attention is good or bad, people can't seem to get enough of her and her quirky outfits. 

Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke VMAs 2013

Anywho... Let's take a look at some of Miley's most memorable outfits to date!

Miley Cyrus Met Gala 2013

Not long after her VMA performance with Robin Thicke, Miley showed up to the Met Gala in a netted gown by Marc Jacobs. Her quirky hair made this look very memorable even for the Met Gala which is filled with "quirky" outfits worn by celebrities.

and now some outfits from her Bangerz Tour:

As you can see, there is nothing "quiet" or boring about her outfit choices. Yes, these are the outfits she chose for her world tour, but her everyday clothing is often very "loud" as well. 

Do I consider Miley Cyrus a fashion icon?

In a way, yes.

Merriam Webster's dictionary definition of an icon is as follows: 

a person or thing regarded as a representative symbol of something.

I believe Miley dresses in such a way that is true to herself. She often blatantly spells out how she is feeling or what she believes in on her clothing (as seen above). I think Miley Cyrus represents a generation of people being able to be whoever and whatever they want to be, with no judgement involved. In a weird way, I feel she is a symbol of modern day freedom. 

As crazy as she may seem, Miley Cyrus has truly become associated with the way that she dresses.

Her rebellious style is one with her rebellious attitude.

It is without a doubt that Miley has got to experience the 'best of both worlds'. Not only on her hit t.v. show, but also in real life. 

Miley has gone from the cute, girl next door role model to almost the complete opposite in just a couple of  years. Miley's fashion has evolved with her and it is without a doubt extremely fashionating... I mean fascinating!