Is Cross-Dressing Ok For School?


Do you believe that it is ok for a boy to wear a skirt to school if he is not in Scotland wearing a kilt? How about a Chris Crocker styled wig, complete with the make-up of Tammy Faye Baker on a male high school student? Should this be in bounds for the school dress code or should this be disallowed on school time?

Along the same lines, is it acceptable for a female student to wear a tuxedo to her Sr. Prom or should she conform to society’s standards and wear a dress? Is that the same type of situation?

The NYT recently ran an article checking out the answers to some of these questions on a cross-country basis. Not surprisingly, the answers varied widely from state to state.


In a Florida high school, for example, the students must dress “in keeping with their gender”. The interesting thing to me is that forty or fifty years ago, that would have meant that women could not wear pants or jeans. In other places, however, students dressing in manners “not keeping with their gender” are allowed a lot more leeway.

My age is top-secret, but I can definitely say that this wasn’t really an issue when I went to school. People stuck clearly to their gender lines in school bounds- it wasn’t as socially acceptable to cross-dress at school, nor was a person’s sexuality really an open topic in the town that I grew up in. The only time the boys wore skirts was during Homecoming skits that were pretty much exact replicas of the song-and-dance routine from the frat guys in  “Revenge of the Nerds”.

Some of the school officials who are against “dressing across gender lines” have given a few reasons for their “rules and guidelines”. A few are concerned for the safety of the students, saying that the students will get beat up after school or discriminated against by other students. I say that this is always a definite possibility, but shouldn’t it be the students choice? (And will a girl in a tuxedo at a prom really face violence? I don’t think so.)

Others say that the cross-dressing is too distracting for other classmates at the school. I would have to say that this may have to be on a case by case basis. If anyone (male or female) came to class in full drag-queen regalia, it might be a little distracting, but someone dressing outside of their gender, wearing a simple wig, or some makeup probably wouldn’t be too bad.

A Few More than Likely Worthless Fashion Tips

Fashion Don’ts

 

If you have a tummy, you are absolutely not encouraged to wear short little sweaters with longer tops. The reason? It will make you look pregnant and perfect strangers might approach you and ask you when you are due. Do not take it personally if they do, it’s your own fault for not listening to helpful advice.

No bare legs in winter. (unless of course, you are in a warm climate). Again, the reason is very simple. Your hair follicles will stand out when and if you walk outside and your legs will look uglier than they actually are. Despite what you may have been told, “Goosebumps” are not sexy.


Britney Spears might have been in the Mickey Mouse club, but that does not mean that you have to wear Mickey Mouse style glasses, even if they are in fashion. It doesn’t make you look cool- it makes you look absolutely ridiculous.

 


  Even if you are flat-chested, wear a bra to work because you probably  do not want all of your co-workers to look at your nipples all day. Save them for the beach instead.

 

Fashions Do’s

If you have a flat ass, wear jeans with pockets. If you have a bigger butt (to be politically correct), the experts contend that jeans without pockets minimize the size. Also, if you are trying on jeans, it is imperative you go shopping with someone who you trust (not your boyfriend because he will lie bc he has to) about how your butt actually looks. If your friend is jealous of you or wants to be better looking than you are, she may lie and tell you your ass looks fantastic when the reality is your butt looks the size of Texas, so trust is absolutely necessary.



If you are into celebrity fashion, try to follow the fashions of someone with the same body style as you have. For example, if you weigh more than 95 pounds, Gwynth Paltrow might not be the perfect person to model your fashions after.

 


Dress a little younger than your age. Even if you have kids or are approaching big life mile-stones, you do not have to dress like a frumpy Grandma. The key is recognizing your assets and showing them off whenever possible.


And, as everybody knows, if you wear the same color from your heel to your toes, you will instantly lose weight. Or it will look like it. Or something like that.

Which Size Fits? Crystal Renn Faces Off with Her Smaller Counterpart

I am a big fan of the trend of giving magazine (and possibly catwalk) space to plus-sized models who actually might give a realistic impression of what a woman would actually look like in a particular item of clothing. The most notable cases are the spread in Vogue with the plus-sized models and the new spread with Crystal Renn at a healthy sized 12 and her sized 2 counterpart. All I have to say is, “You go girls!”


The Daily Mail has the full spread of both of the models and who looks better depends both on the outfit and it definitely on the pose. There is one shot where both women are standing with their legs far apart. Not surprisingly, the skinny, skinny legs do not look better in that shot. Other shots are less easy to call, but the real problem probably lies in the fact that women are compared so much to begin with and that the other model had no choice but to starve herself. 


I do have to hand it to the women for having the courage to face off (and body off) like that. I am definitely not a sized 2 and don’t know if I would want one of my smaller friends next to me in the same outfit. However, it I’ve got my MOJO going, I can pull off the right outfit at any given time.



As the Daily Mail points out, part of the reason that that modeling industry is taking a closer look at plus-sized models are the negative effects of forcing models to starve themselves. This year two models died from anorexia, which is a tragic sign that something needs to be done.

In addition to the concerns about models suffering from anorexia and other eating disorders, teenaged girls are following suit in their eating habits. Trust me, while some people are meant to be a sized two, if you are 5’9” tall or taller, and upset that you are not in a sized 2, don’t be. Be happy with yourself and if you are a sized 16, it doesn’t matter. If you want to lose weight, try for a healthy balance and remember that HWP means height-weight-proportionate, not anorexic.

The 00s: A Decade of Ugly Shoes

Do you know what this decade had a lot of? Ugly shoes. But they're not just ugly. As the unattractiveness level of the shoe grows, so too does their popularity. I present my list of the ugliest, and inexplicably popular shoes of the 2000s.

Crocs

They come in bright colors. They're easy to clean. But, damn! are they ugly! It doesn't matter how many little decorations you sitck into the holes of these plastic, gawdy, garden clogs, because they are still unattractive. I know that anyone who wears these things already doesn't care about what others think, but seriously they're not cute, and they make you look like you have cankles.

 

Uggs

At least these shoes are appropriately named. Now unless you reside in Siberia, there is no reason for going around wearing these ridiculously warm and furry boots, especially if your place of residence is Southern California. Though you think they look great paired with those daisy duke cut-off jeans, they don't. When will this trend die?

 

Flip-Flops/ Thongs/ Whatever the Hell you want to call them

Unless you're at the beach, the pool, or your gym showers, don't wear them, they are not shoes! They DO NOT look good with your office clothes, your business suit, or your wedding dress. Flip-flops is one of the tackiest trends of this decade and it doesn't seem to be going away any time soon, despite the damage these disposable sandals are causing to millions of feet. Enough already!!

 

Toe-less Boots

OK, toeless boots are straight up ugly. Aside from the way they look(ugly) they tend to be heavy in the belts, buckles, tassles, fringe, studs, and other "embelishments" making them quite tasteless. But I suppose if you live in hot climate, and don't want to cook your feet inside a pair of leather boots, this is a probably a good option(I'm talking to you, Ugg-wearing-girl in hot pants).

 

 

Ultra High Heels

Because nothing says chic like hooker shoes. And nothing will break your ankles faster. Seriously, I'm all for a sexy shoe that makes your legs look long and your ass stick out, but when walking becomes a hazard, I draw the line! The high heel is one of those trends that comes and goes. When women get fed up with being objectified(again) combat boots will be in(again) and high heels will go back to the drag shows and the street corners, where they belong.

Sexy Santa Styles for a Come-Hither Christmas

Who says Jenny McCarthy gets to have all the fun?

OK, granted, these outfits aren’t something you’d want to use when playing Santa for Junior (unless Junior is the name of your husband). But they’re definitely a way to make someone’s spirits bright—perhaps even your own!—so why not shimmy down the chimney tonight in one of these?

Hot Christmas Elf: Don a green leotard and teddy, some striped stockings, a pointy hat and you’re set. Go for some pointy-toed shoes for a full look. Yandy’s Snowflake Elf is a pretty tasteful version you might want to make a pattern out of. Of course, if you’re hardcore fantasy lovers, maybe you’d rather be this kind of elf? (If you’re going for the Arwen or Legolas look, at least add a Santa hat for some festivity.)

Randy Reindeer: Bestiality questions aside, this is a cute idea from Lover’s Lane. You’d never think a reindeer could be sexy, but apparently it’s possible. Of course, if your lover continues to ask you to wear antlers for the duration of the season (year?), you may start to think twice about having worn it.

Hefner’s Holy Night: If an old pervert with a harem of young nubile at his every beck and call is your fantasy… um, yeah. Still, you might find this Playboy outfit sexy enough to wear during a special evening this season. You could always go full holiday spirit and design a Jack Frost or Heat Miser outfit… Just sayin’.

Sexy She-Santa: Sounds like a yuletide superhero! Actually, it’s not a bad idea for a costume, with a cute little hoodie and fun stockings. Of course, they could just be a knockoff from the Wicked Witch of the East, who met her untimely demise beneath a fallen house. Still, you can’t go wrong with candy cane stripes at Christmastime!

Of course, you could just simply…

  • Wear matching Santa boxers while sipping ‘nog beneath the tree.
  • Add a silly Santa hat in the throes of passion.
  • Be a sexy snow angel with a white baby doll and a homemade halo
  • Bounce around together in padded snow-people costumes (hey, could be fun).
  • Tie a big ribbon on—going bare otherwise.
  • Same idea, but with a festive Christmas apron and a Santa hat.
  • Toss white and red silk rose petals in bed—and use a holiday scented oil, candle or spray to set the mood.

Shiny is In

When Michael Stipes of REM sang about “Shiny, Happy, People”, I doubt he was referring to shiny clothing, which, according to the “Your Stylist” column in the LA Times, is now suitable for daytime. Thankfully, the sequins and shine of today are not quite as “bright” or “glittery” as they were in the 1980’s and are not exactly the same as what you see on the clothes of the older fashion set in Palm Springs.  

The column actually has some useful advice for those wishing to go a little shinier in the daytime. Basically, “less is more”. The sequins can be worn on less dressy items during the day like a t-shirt and should be worn in dark or neutral tones, which makes sense because if you are in a location like Seattle, you definitely do not want to be brighter than the sun. The sequins or sparkles can be worn in simple, cute patterns and pictures rather than all over the entire fricking shirt.


Other options include the use of scarves or a blazer to cover up and/or tone down the sequins and of course, there is a lot more leeway in what you can wear at night if you are attending a gala event as evidenced by these M-TV Award Show Pics.

The 3 Million Dollar Bra

If your breasts are as stunning as  Victoria Secret model Marisa Miller’s, they might just be worth their weight in gold (or in diamonds in this particular case). The hot, young model just had a 3 million dollar bra personally made especially for her.



The “Harlequin Fantasy Bra” has more than 2,300 diamonds on it. You have to see it to believe it, so watch this clip.

The Tragedy of 80's Hair

Curiously missing in action during the 1980’s were not only the Fashion Police, but the hair police as well. I don’t know if it was the multitude of cheap hairspray like Aquanet that was so readily available, or an apparent ease for beauty school licensing, but pretty much across the board, hair styles in the 1980’s left more than a little something to be desired.

The tools of the trade were often a comb, the aforementioned Aquanet, the godawful hair-damaging sun-bleaching product known as Sun-in, and big-assed hair-dryers. Just in case you are on the look-out for a little inspiration before you head to that 80’s retro party you’ve been planning to go, check out the following styles and choose wisely.

The bigger the better was the motto for hair-styles in the 80's. The more hairspray you used, the more bonus points you received. Bonus points could then be cashed in for either dates, bad-girl status, or the right to become a cheerleader. I'm guessing this woman went for bad-girl status. To attain this level of hair heights, simply check out the art of teasing your hair. Cover your nose, get out the Aquanet, hairdryer, and comb, and prepare to scare yourself with your reflection.

Eddie Van Halen was known for his guitar playing in Van Halen, drug-use, and his hair. Trust me, he was one of the inspirations for the 80's generation of "Hair Bands". This is the male equivalent of the big-hair phase. And, as a word to the wise, what worked well in the 80's doesn't work well now.

Unfortunately, some of the fashion victims among the 80's population were children with reckless mothers and fathers. I am warning you, do not attempt the rat tail hair at home. It could have severe consequences for your reputation.

The mullet has to be the least highly-regarded hair style in the history of hair styles, unless of course you are a Canadian hockey fan or you live in Boise in which case it is a perfectly acceptable hair style. If you are a mother reading this, I urge you to consider a different hairstyle for your son.

The Flock of Seagulls was an unfortunate fashion trend for many reasons. It inspired the whole bat-caver movement, which later became the goth movement. Please note that I use the term movement lightly as there probably wasn't any political agenda associated with this hair style. I, myself, sported a rather assymetrical haircut at that time.

 


French Vogue Portrays Dutch Model Lara Stone in Blackface

French Vogue has started a serious uproar, portraying a very pale Dutch supermodel in blackface make-up from head to toe. Lara Stone, the gorgeous, blonde model in question - was styled by French Vogue editor Carine Roitfield and photographed by Steven Klein. Her inclusion in the 14 page October spread was meant to praise her for her 'alternative look', being that she is a size 4 and not a size 0 and has imperfect teeth. This was Vogue's way of including an 'oversized' model, which is all the rage these days, as waistlines balloon out across the globe to an all time wide. Karl Lagerfeld, however, refuses to mix words about the controversy of using heavier models in magazines and fashion shows.

But, back to Lara Stone. No doubt, French Vogue intended to start a sh!t storm here. It is great publicity and fashion is always pushing the envelope of controversy and running over societal norms and P.C. fragility like a speedaway train. The bottom line, is does the dark coffee colored make-up in the photos make you believe that this is racist? Do you feel that it was intended to portray a negative stereotype? Or is something else happening here? The October issue of French Vogue focuses on historical art and the other photos in the spread convey images of paintings and art from long ago.

To me, it is one of those things that it is walking the line. It is not the traditional blackface of minstrel shows from 50 years ago. Stone is not portraying a negative stereotype. She is sitting there looking gorgeous and provocative. The make-up is bringing up something from within each individual viewer, and it is up to each person to understand what that is.

I also question whethe they are trying to portray her as an African woman, at all. I think they used the make-up to incite a visceral reaction from each viewer and the public and it is interesting to read the hundreds of comments being left on blogs about these photos. People are talking to each other about racism, about art, about fashion, stereotyping, political correctness and how to walk the line of all the above.

When I first saw the photos, it was shocking but, in a mischievious way. From the first glance, I knew that Roitfeld had done it to get people talking about the magazine, about the model, about race, about art, and most of all- about the world of fashion and how fashion can bring up the controversies involved in being human.

I think the photos are provocative and are doing what they set out to do, get people talking. Whether or not they are considered racist... is up to the each individual. What do you think?

Fashion Trends for Spring 2010

Fashion and music will always walk hand in hand down the runway and through our lives. To be seperated from either for very long, is to become out of touch with the glory of what it means to be human. Our capacity to create and express ourselves is unmatched by any other creature on the planet. The worlds of art, theater, literature, poetry, music, and social, political, emotional, and environmental concerns all collide in the mind of a designer, season after season. It is the clothing we wear and how we wear it that make these ideas more personal to us and therefore, while fashion may seem a silly extravagance to some... it is in fact, the mark of awakened human consciousness and the acknowledgment of our love and mastery, as creators. Most importantly, fashion is fun and after looking into what to expect for Spring 2010, I am excited by the 'new music' the designers have in store for us.

While watching the Spring 2010 Paris fashion shows today, I found myself becoming very excited about what lays ahead. While Fall 2009 keeps the focus on biker chic, reinvented 40's glamour, and 80's and 90's throwback pieces- Spring 2010 promises fashion for a new age. The use of metallics was universal and many of the models sported alienesque hair and pale, frosted make-up. Solid beige and nude garments vascillated between sheer, frothy lace and chiffon cocktail dresses and utilitarian suits with subtle sculptural elements. The prints ranged from psychedelic black light poster silks to country picnic cottons adorned with touches of nostalgia.

Chanel presented Marie Antoinette-esque socialites with a fresh roll in the hay look, literally. The stage was a barnyard and concluded with a threesome of fabulously dressed models in pale mini-dresses getting their kicks. It seemed a social and economic statement was being made in many of the shows, preparing fashionistas for a bright future as the world climbs out of the economic misery of 2009.

Freshly kissed and hot for the bedroom was a universal theme amongst the designers. Sex and spring are indivisable, afterall. Berry stained lips and messy Bridgette Bardot upsweeps appeared in nearly every show. Youthful onesies, micro jumpers and lingerie inspired little dresses walked down the runways in varying shades. Many of the models resembled babydolls in their tousled cocktail dresses constructed of barely-there lace and chiffon.

The space age definitely made its appearance for spring in Alexander McQueen's show, which in my opinion was absolutely genius. Holographic metallic fabrics and sculptured metal adorned the bodies of Mcqueen's models. Complex, psychedelic prints sauntered down laser light tube tunnels next to dancing robots, creating a multi-media feast for the eyes both in person and online. Valentino also used deliciously complex monochromatic prints in elaborately gathered pants suits and long light-as-air dresses. Valentino's collection is saturated with romance and the darkness which it is oft underpinned by.

 

John Galliano, who is perhaps my favorite designer, embraced the fantasy of Spring by setting the stage with smoke filled bubbles falling down over the models as they made their entrance in colorful layers of lace, see through chiffon over bold polka dot prints and a look of devious naïveté. Extravagant hats and feathered hair pieces gave the girls a touch of easy decadence, completing their look of vibrant and layered mix and match romance.

Overall, I found the spirit of positivity and reinvention for spring a sign of better times to come and a triumphing human spirit. No matter the economic climate for 2010, the future is now (and it is all what we make of it) so dress to impress! Whether it is flights of fancy, coquetteish royalty, or space age sophistication that get your motors running in the heat of spring, there's a dress out there that is sure to make you feel and look amazing.

 

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