So, while looking through the October GQ issue, a feature article definetely caught my attention. It was about having "douchebag hair." It was something I related to, considering my hair is definitely one of the things I take pride in. Even looking back at the beginning of the semester when Professor Whitehead asked if we had to have one thing, what would it be, and honestly, "FORGET THE MURSE, I NEED MY HAIR PRODUCT!!!"
The article basically talked about how the modern man today goes to great lengths in order to keep there hair together and looking trendy. From blowdrying, to flatironing, to oozing amounts of hair gel, to the hardening effects of hairspray. They describe how the modern day man takes so much time in doing there hair. Now, I agree it is definitely a process to get my hair to look the way it does during the day. I mean, a good hair day for me is just waking up, and throwing some product in it and calling it a day. But there are bad hair days now. And those are most days when much product and processing is needed. I'll stand in the bathroom manipulating it like crazy to do what it was cut to do.
The writer does have a point. I mean, there are some men out there who just really go to great lengths. Now there are some hairstyles that are meant for some guys. Like, come on, the Faux Hawk, lets say it together now, "IS NOT FOR EVERYONE." Some hair texture is just not meant to do it. And the faux hawk and mohawk has definitely been overused and abused!
But in some aspects I strongly disagree with what this writer states. I don't think I have douchebag hair. And to be frankly honest, I want to see this writer's hair myself. I mean, its personal style I believe. As long as your not walking around with an old school mullet, or hair like cousin "it," than I say, "WHAT THE HEY!, if you can rock it, ROCK IT."
They even mentioned Christian Soriano, and for those who don't know who he is, he was last seasons winner on Project Runway. Throughout every episode we saw him flatironing his hair or hairspraying it. But he was a hair stylist from Bubbles. It was his own personal style. And it what makes Christian Soriano .. HIM!
Now mens hair trends are changing. From the highly sculpted looks of spikes and mohawks, to the look that I escaped from when i was growing up. Dont know what im talking about? THE COMB-OVER is back and slowly making its entrance.
Now in order to stay trendy, am I gonna go do the comb-over. I think not. Why? Because I know what looks good and what my own personal style is. And the comb-over may look great on some guys, it definitely does not on my head.
So in response to this feature article, whether I have "douchebag hair" according to this writer, at least im sticking to my own personal style, whether its trendy or not. As a fashion student, I at least try and stick somewhat relevant to the times. But to do the side part, REALLY scares me!
http://men.style.com/details/features/landing?id=content_7478 ( article)
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Monday, October 20, 2008
Ballston Commons Mall
Store location as we all know is a very important factor in the success or failure of a mall. And I am writing this because I was doing a case study for my Visual Merchandising class on store locations and what makes the shopping centers in our areas successful or unsuccessful. One of the shopping centers I had to visit was Ballston Commons Mall, which I have not been to since I was a little kid. When I walked around it, I was just left blank in what I noticed, especially in comparing it to other neighboring shopping centers.
A shopping center like Tysons Corner, is a perfect location, where commuters generally pass it on an everyday basis, whether to or from work. It is easily accessbile from major thoroughfares. Ballston Commons Mall, I can remember as a child, was where my mother dragged me through endless aisles of womens clothing in what used to be called "Hechts," and what is now called Macy's. But even as a child, I never really referred to this mall as Ballston Commons, but primarily referred to it as "Hechts."
Ballston Commons Mall never really made a name for itself in terms of carrying high-end name brands, luxury items, or even popular speciality retailers, such as the Gap or Express, which as we all know, can generally be found everywhere. Within this shopping center we can find countless number of places to eat, a place to get your nails done, the As Seen on TV store, and other stores that don't really leave any good impression in my mind. The popular Victoria Secret can be found there, but if your looking for that high-end appeal that the Tysons store portrays, then just forget about it. The major anchors to this mall are Macy's, Macy's Furniture, and CVS Pharmacy.
Dont get me wrong, I am not writing this to put down this shopping center. But more on the lines of wondering, "why let this mall go to waste?" I feel as though this mall has great potential in becoming a successful one especially with the growing cost of homes and people in the Arlington area. Take for example Clarendon, which use to not be such a major lifestyle center, but now all of a sudden, everyone wants to head over there even just for drinks, to dine out, or just walk around. They have definitely upgraded the area. Now, why not for the Ballston Commons Mall? The surrounding areas are not too bad, especially with these expensive high-rise apartment buildings and hotels. I agree, the further you go down Glebe Road you feel the need to hold your bag in front of you, clenching on it for dear life, but isn't it quite possibly that if this mall were to become successful in terms of upgrading it, the surrounding areas would feel the need to change as well?
Ballston Commons Mall has many great assets to it. It has the metro, which definitely makes it accessible to even those that live miles away. Also, the surrounding hotels that will most likely provide shuttle services to their guests to go to the mall. And obviously these hotels bring in many tourists, considering Washington D.C. is not too far away from Arlington. So, why has no effort been made in order to save this mall that is just going to waste?
A shopping center like Tysons Corner, is a perfect location, where commuters generally pass it on an everyday basis, whether to or from work. It is easily accessbile from major thoroughfares. Ballston Commons Mall, I can remember as a child, was where my mother dragged me through endless aisles of womens clothing in what used to be called "Hechts," and what is now called Macy's. But even as a child, I never really referred to this mall as Ballston Commons, but primarily referred to it as "Hechts."
Ballston Commons Mall never really made a name for itself in terms of carrying high-end name brands, luxury items, or even popular speciality retailers, such as the Gap or Express, which as we all know, can generally be found everywhere. Within this shopping center we can find countless number of places to eat, a place to get your nails done, the As Seen on TV store, and other stores that don't really leave any good impression in my mind. The popular Victoria Secret can be found there, but if your looking for that high-end appeal that the Tysons store portrays, then just forget about it. The major anchors to this mall are Macy's, Macy's Furniture, and CVS Pharmacy.
Dont get me wrong, I am not writing this to put down this shopping center. But more on the lines of wondering, "why let this mall go to waste?" I feel as though this mall has great potential in becoming a successful one especially with the growing cost of homes and people in the Arlington area. Take for example Clarendon, which use to not be such a major lifestyle center, but now all of a sudden, everyone wants to head over there even just for drinks, to dine out, or just walk around. They have definitely upgraded the area. Now, why not for the Ballston Commons Mall? The surrounding areas are not too bad, especially with these expensive high-rise apartment buildings and hotels. I agree, the further you go down Glebe Road you feel the need to hold your bag in front of you, clenching on it for dear life, but isn't it quite possibly that if this mall were to become successful in terms of upgrading it, the surrounding areas would feel the need to change as well?
Ballston Commons Mall has many great assets to it. It has the metro, which definitely makes it accessible to even those that live miles away. Also, the surrounding hotels that will most likely provide shuttle services to their guests to go to the mall. And obviously these hotels bring in many tourists, considering Washington D.C. is not too far away from Arlington. So, why has no effort been made in order to save this mall that is just going to waste?
Friday, October 17, 2008
Hearst’s Cosmo Girl to Fold with December Issue
This article is about Cosmo Girl, the once popular Hearst teen magazine producing its last issue, in December 2008. The teen magazine which is a spinoff, from Cosmopolitan, slowly started to crumble, with its title ad pages falling 15.5 percent to 527 this year through October. Similarly, in previous years, Elle Girl and Teen People also shut down, leaving Teen Vogue and Seventeen as the remaining teen magazines and making Cosmo Girl the 2nd that Hearst had folded this year.
Atoosa Rubenstein, founding editor of Cosmo Girl, believes that it’s the times we are living in, referring to the troubled economy, as well as the magazine itself, losing track of its roots, which was to serve as an alternative and to be the “little sister” to Seventeen subscribers. Also Tina Wells, head of teen research firm Buzz Marketing Group, believed that Cosmo Girl lost track of who their primary audience were, for example marketing it as the “tween book,” for the ages of 13 to 17 years old, but clearly having in last year’s November issue, articles including “College Life Uncensored” and “The Art of Co-Mance” which was a story on interoffice dating.
Others believed that it had nothing to do with the demographics, but having to do with the behavior and “shift in teen readership.”
Robin Stenberg suggests, “The teen today is aspiring up to read the mothership or celebrity titles. They are not walking away from magazines, but they are getting more sophisticated in title selection. They want something that speaks to them but doesn’t call them out in the title.” With the economic downturn and the changing behaviors to teen’s today, there is no way a magazine such as Cosmo Girl could ever survive, especially in losing site of its primary audience.
Atoosa Rubenstein, founding editor of Cosmo Girl, believes that it’s the times we are living in, referring to the troubled economy, as well as the magazine itself, losing track of its roots, which was to serve as an alternative and to be the “little sister” to Seventeen subscribers. Also Tina Wells, head of teen research firm Buzz Marketing Group, believed that Cosmo Girl lost track of who their primary audience were, for example marketing it as the “tween book,” for the ages of 13 to 17 years old, but clearly having in last year’s November issue, articles including “College Life Uncensored” and “The Art of Co-Mance” which was a story on interoffice dating.
Others believed that it had nothing to do with the demographics, but having to do with the behavior and “shift in teen readership.”
Robin Stenberg suggests, “The teen today is aspiring up to read the mothership or celebrity titles. They are not walking away from magazines, but they are getting more sophisticated in title selection. They want something that speaks to them but doesn’t call them out in the title.” With the economic downturn and the changing behaviors to teen’s today, there is no way a magazine such as Cosmo Girl could ever survive, especially in losing site of its primary audience.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
