Does Fashion Have a Place in Politics? Whilst some may argue that fashion and politics have no business being mentioned in the same sentence- I disagree. My interest in fashion from a young age stemmed from a fascination in clothing’s purpose beyond the practical. I’ve always been intrigued by the way personal style acts as a non-verbal rhetoric that we use to communicate who we are with each other. Psychologist have deduced that it takes us just 3 seconds to make a judgment about someone based on their appearance. Much like politics, fashion is paradoxically elitist whilst also being democratic. And whether you’re a front row fixture, or couldn’t give two hoots whether the seventies are making a resurgence for SS15; (FYI: they are) you probably consider what the outfit you pick to wear each day conveys to the world to some degree- be that donning a suit to look smart and professional for a job interview, or wearing a particular brand to signal your allegiance to a style tribe.
Topshop Gets Called Out For Unrealistic Mannequin Body Standards By now, it seems as if most retailers have been involved in some sort of controversy. And while some have been because of tasteless graphics, or hypersexualized advertisements, one thing we continue to see over and over again—and frankly, we're tired of it—is the ridiculous body standards reinforced by the mannequins that model the clothing. Topshop, the popular British brand that boasts collaborations with stars like Gigi Hadid and Cara Delevingne, has come under fire after a shopper noticed that the store's mannequin had extremely thin legs. "Perhaps it's about time you became responsible for the impression you have on women and young girls and helped them feel good about themselves rather than impose these ridiculous standards," Berry wrote in a post on Topshop's Facebook page. It appears that Berry's action had a positive effect, as Topshop responded with a public post declaring that they would no longer be "placing any further orders on this style of mannequin."
US Supreme Court rules gay marriage is legal nationwide - BBC News The US Supreme Court has ruled that same-sex marriage is a legal right across the United States. It means the 14 states with bans on same-sex marriage will no longer be able to enforce them. Justice Anthony Kennedy wrote that the plaintiffs asked "for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right." The ruling brings to an end more than a decade of bitter legal battles. Same-sex couples in several affected states including Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Texas rushed to wed on Friday. However officials in other states, including Mississippi and Louisiana, said marriages had to wait until procedural issues were addressed. President Barack Obama said the ruling was a "victory for America". "When all Americans are treated as equal, we are all more free " he said. However, Christian conservatives condemned the decision. Former Arkansas governor and presidential candidate Mike Huckabee called it "an out-of-control act of unconstitutional, judicial tyranny". States affected:
Fashion Politics: Fashion as a Voice for Change? The UK’s General Election is fast approaching. In the build up to 7th May, we’ll be discussing fashion and politics – two subjects some people may not expect to hear in the same sentence. We’re going to be thinking style AND substance, to talk about what role fashion can play in politics and why fashion matters. We’ll also be giving tips for the fashion conscious and politically conscious about voting and how to get involved in the issues which matter to you. ‘I Stood Up’, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion and students from LCF talk fashion and politics at the House of Lords. It’s time to consider: how can fashion be a force to better in all of our lives – from the wearer to the producer? Only last month, the Centre for Sustainable Fashion (CSF) placed the spotlight on fashion’s ability to be a voice for change with ‘I Stood Up’. Anna Fitzpatrick from the CSF told us about the event and what it inspired:
Dress codes: can there be a productive relationship between politics and fashion? Is Margaret Atwood a feminist? That’s what I’m trying to work out during our lamentably brief time together squished around a table in the back of a promotional booth at a comics convention in California. Obviously, you might roll your eyes, Have you read The Handmaid’s Tale? But what many of them forget is that Atwood, who is now 76, grew up on the cusp between first and second wave feminism, a time when women were fighting for tangible goals such control over their reproductive rights rather than the right to publish nude selfies without criticism. This becomes evident when I ask her whether she ever considered making the super-heroic protagonist of her latest work, a graphic novel called Angel Catbird about a (male) scientist who gets spliced in an accident with both a cat and an owl, a woman, especially in light of recent criticism that there aren’t enough comics aimed at girls? “I, as a female person, don’t have any trouble reading Moby Dick.
Labour MP Jess Phillips: I Told Diane Abbott To F*ck Off During Feminism Row Labour MP Jess Phillips told Diane Abbott to “fuck off” during a heated row about a lack of women in the top shadow cabinet jobs, The Huffington Post UK can reveal. The Birmingham Yardley MP clashed with Ms Abbott at a meeting of the Parliamentary Labour Party (PLP) on Monday, after it emerged the four top jobs in Mr Corbyn’s team had gone to men. As well as Mr Corbyn as leader, Andy Burnham is Shadow Home Secretary, Hilary Benn in Shadow Foreign Secretary and John McDonnell is Shadow Chancellor. Ms Abbott accused Ms Phillips of asking a “sanctimonious” question, and told her “you’re not the only feminist in the PLP.” Mr Corbyn looked on in silence as the two MPs argued. Talking to The Huffington Post UK, Ms Phillips, who despite being elected in May has already earned a reputation for being one of the most outspoken MPs, said: “I roundly told her to fuck off.” When asked what Ms Abbott did after that suggestion, Ms Phillips replied: “She fucked off.” Labour MP Jess Phillips
Jeremy Corbyn vows to fight austerity in TUC speech - BBC News Jeremy Corbyn has vowed to fight the government's proposed welfare cuts and other austerity measures, labelling the Conservatives "poverty deniers". In a speech to TUC Congress in Brighton, the new Labour leader said austerity was a "political choice, not an economic necessity". He also signalled he would fight plans for conditions on union strike ballots, saying unions were vital to UK society. He said he would not be "an all-seeing all-knowing leader". He told delegates that he wanted input from all parts of society, including unions, to develop a different kind of inclusive, digital politics. Ahead of the TUC speech leading unions warned they will vote for a UK exit from the EU if workers' rights are weakened by the PM's EU renegotiations. Follow the latest developments in text and video But Mr Corbyn appeared to suggest he would not back an "in" vote at any cost, with Labour MPs saying the changes Mr Cameron agreed to social and employment protections had to be "right ones".
Jeremy Corbyn wins Labour leadership contest and vows "fightback" - BBC News Jeremy Corbyn has promised to lead a Labour "fightback" after being elected the party's new leader by a landslide. The veteran left-winger got almost 60% of more than 400,000 votes cast, trouncing his rivals Andy Burnham, Yvette Cooper and Liz Kendall. He immediately faced an exodus of shadow cabinet members - but senior figures including Ed Miliband urged the party's MPs to get behind him. Mr Corbyn was a 200-1 outsider when the three-month contest began. But he was swept to victory on a wave of enthusiasm for his anti-austerity message and promise to scrap Britain's nuclear weapons and renationalise the railways and major utilities. Revisit the day's reaction to Mr Corbyn's victory He told BBC News he had been a "bit surprised" by the scale of his victory but his campaign had showed "politics can change and we have changed it". 'Jez we did' He will now select his shadow cabinet. And on Saturday night, he emailed party members asking them to submit questions the weekly exchange.