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White Woman Kisses Asian Dudes To Prove Point. Here's Where She Went Wrong

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Actress and occasional YouTuber Leela Rose set out to prove that Western women like herself can find Asian men attractive. While it was seemingly well intentioned, it definitely wasn’t well received. 


As explained in a video Rose published in September and reposted last week, she was upset with the underrepresentation of Asian men in the film industry and she wanted to prove that they deserve the more sexy and dominant roles that are often reserved for white males, instead of being type-casted as “wimpy” or “nerdy.”


To get her point across, Rose, a Missouri-born Tokyo resident, attempted a “social experiment,” as she called it, on the streets of Japan. The resulting video shows Rose surprising Japanese men with an aggressive kiss, sometimes even pushing her targets to the floor and climbing on top of them.


“I kissed random Japanese men on the streets,” Rose says in the video’s introduction. “There’s so much stigma around how Asian men are portrayed in the film industry. They’re usually portrayed as being wimpy or the typical geek or nerd. I just wanted to prove that Asian men can be portrayed as very attractive.”


Rose seems to mean well in aiming to bust stereotypes, but the result is that she reinforces them instead ― all while straddling the lines of consent.



Rose seems to mean well in aiming to bust stereotypes, but the result is that she reinforces them instead -- all while straddling the lines of consent.






One obvious problem in Rose’s video is the issue of physical consent.


Rose claims that she had met and flirted with most of the men in her video earlier in the evening, during which she says she was drinking.


“I just thought it would be funny if I ran back into them and I filmed them,” she said last week in a YouTube interview with pick-up artist JT Tran. “I let them know what I was doing.”


While that may be the case, the video makes it appear as if Rose is approaching men at random, giving them no chance to agree to a kiss. Rose doesn’t explain in the video that these men previously consented to her advances, inadvertently sending the message to her fans that all Asian men are dying to be kissed by a white woman.


And, according to the backlash Rose received in the comments and from Asian bloggers, this is definitely not the case.






Rose seems to thinks that the sexual identity of these Asian men can only be affirmed through a white woman.



Rose’s experiment was also counterproductive to her original goal, which was supposedly to shatter damaging stereotypes of Asian men.


By forcing herself on the men ― even pushing one to the ground by his neck ― she reinforces the stereotype that Asians are passive and weak. She even laughs in the face of some of the men, making them appear to be the butt of a joke that only she is in on, much like the problematic way Asians are portrayed in media today. (See: Chris Rock bringing Asian kids on stage during the Oscars for a joke.)


In her interview with Tran, Rose seemed to further push the idea that Asian men are passive, without offering a deeper cultural explanation.


“Japanese guys just don’t talk to females. It’s a very passive aggressive type of culture. And they work 14-hour days,” Rose told Tran, who took no issue with the video. “They’re so socially impaired, that’s the thing that people don’t realize about Japan.”






What’s more, Rose’s affinity for Asian men seems to be based mostly on their otherness:
“I know that Asians populate most of the world, but for me, that’s something exotic."




What’s more, Rose’s affinity for Asian men seems to be based mostly on their otherness.


“Japan is one of those countries that’s so weird and different than western culture that it’s fascinating,” Rose told Tran. “I know that Asians populate most of the world, but for me, that’s something exotic and it’s something I’m very attracted to. It’s different than what I’m used to seeing day after day.”


Even worse, Rose seems to thinks that the sexual identity of these Asian men can only be affirmed through a white woman, such as herself. She doesn’t leave space in her video for the men to voice their own opinions on Asian male sexuality, dating or stereotypes.


Instead, they’re used as props for Rose and her audience’s enjoyment.



Although Rose’s experiment is off-key ― given the apparent lack of consent and fetishizing ― the problems she attempts to tackle are very real.


Asian actors are indeed underrepresented in entertainment, making up only 3.9 percent of speaking or named characters in film, TV or digital media, according to a 2016 USC study. When they are represented, they are often depicted as passive, as seen in Fox News’ offensive Chinatown segment with Jesse Watters, or as the butt of a joke, as seen in Chris Rock’s all-Asians-are-smart Oscars joke or Glamour Brasil’s Instagram photo showing staff members pulling their eyes slanted to celebrate a trip to Japan.


The underrepresentation and stereotyping in media probably isn’t helping their love lives either. Data collected in 2014 by dating site OKCupid revealed that Asian men have more difficulty finding dates than other racial groups.


But Rose knows just as well as we do that Asian men can be sexy, and we’d all like to see that statistic change for the better.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.


The 22 Most Outrageous Looks From London Men's Fashion Week

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London Fashion Week Men’s wrapped Monday, the end of an exhilarating four days of bold designs, oversized everything and even more athleisure. Like any other fashion week, some of the outfits that made it down the runway were simply outrageous and totally unwearable.


The Sibling show made us pause with a red-and-blue getup that looked ever-so-uncomfortable, while Christopher Raeburn’s camo-clad bags made us wonder just how many things one human could (and should carry) on their person. Vivienne Westwood’s colorful creations left us wondering if we’re supposed to be wearing more headpieces and face scarves, which also popped up on quite a few designers’ runways this season. 


Take a peek at the 22 most outrageous looks we saw in London and leave your thoughts in the comments below: 







-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

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0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Kim Kardashian Is Back On The Town, And Her Look Is... Interesting

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Kim Kardashian avoided the limelight over the past few months, but her legs are clearly ready for their return to the public eye.


The sheer outfit enthusiast, who’s been lying low since she was robbed in Paris in October, went out to dinner with husband Kanye West on Monday in a black sweatshirt and “ripped jeans” that are basically a waistband, two ankle cuffs, and one giant hole:



Kim was celebrating the arrest of those accused of robbing her, X17online reports. There’s really no dress code for such occasions, so consider the precedent set with lacy black pantyhose and heels.


Welcome back, Kimberly.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.


The Pitti Uomo 91 Diaries: Franca Sozzani, Eton and the GGDB Golden Jackets

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Kiton's Ciro Paone and Florence Mayor Dario Nardella take a selfie during the opening ceremony of Pitti Uomo 91


It was touching to hear a group of grown men emotionally talk about the late Franca Sozzani, the "Grand Dame of fashion" as Carlo Calenda, the Italian Minister of Economic Development called her during the opening ceremony of Pitti Uomo's 91st edition. From Calenda, to Gaetano Marzotto, President of Pitti Immagine, the power men of the Made in Italy fashion world gushed about a woman -- a strong, powerful, intelligent and unafraid to be so woman.

Sozzani's spirit of support for younger generations, her untiring resolve to make sure "that fashion would enter into the very DNA of our country [Italy]," as Calenda explained further, certainly are palpable at this edition of the menswear fair in Florence. And the gap left by her absence is undeniable. "I've never stopped dreaming!" Sozzani admitted in Venice, during a press conference for her son Francesco Carrozzini's film Franca: Chaos & Creation last September. At the height of her struggle with the illness that took her away from us, from this world now a bit more unfashionable because she's not around, she was still dreaming of helping fashionistas gain the respect they deserve.

During the opening ceremony to kick off the presentations of Fall 2017/Winter 2018 collections for men, Florence Mayor Dario Nardella also talked about Chinese artist Ai Wei Wei. Ai's art installation of orange rafts frames the Palazzo Strozzi, just a few hundred meters away from where the Mayor gave his speech. The artist's work with migrants in the last couple of years makes up the bulk of the exhibit inside the Palazzo and from the look of some of the collections at Pitti Uomo, where gold foil and waterproof jackets are in abundance, it seems the refugee crisis, the constant mention of it in the news has influenced fashion design as well. Mayor Nardella shared, "I remember when a journalist asked the artist [Ai Wei Wei] what is the word that you find decisive for the world at the moment, and he replied 'Action'. The world belongs to those who act. Determination, this is Pitti Imagine Uomo." He's right. If US politics has taught us anything in the last couple of months is that making mistakes, but making them loudly and with conviction, can even secure a Presidential election.

In the shuttle back to the Fortezza da Basso, where the main fair is held, I sat nestled among a group of older, aristocratic-acting women. They each made a point nominating themselves to succeed Sozzani as the next Editor in Chief of Vogue Italia. "I'd be great at that job, I've been writing for Vogue Italia," one declared. "Twenty years ago, I worked for French Vogue, I'd do a wonderful job!" Another chimed in. All I could think about was how we need some young spirits, fresh blood in Italian journalism, and how unique Sozzani was in her thinking, always helping the new generations of designers, writers, stylists. While these women never even thanked me for giving them directions to the minivans...

2017-01-11-1484124686-18531-05300066155.jpg


Eton and the irreverence of true style.

Back at the Fortezza, I caught up with the powers that be at one of my favorite brands, Swedish shirt house Eton. Apart from their classy behavior, time and time again, and social involvement in important causes, I've developed a soft spot for their classic, good looking shirts and the innovative ways they portray men, modern men in their campaigns. But Eton also has a truly irreverent vein, one that appeals to the closet-rockstar in me. This season, their 'Haçienda Collection" features soft, graphic printed shirts that could be worn by men and women alike, inspired by the underground culture of The Haçienda in Manchester, an iconic British nightclub of the 80s and 90s. My personal favorite from the capsule collection is this 'Party People' shirt pictured above, featuring faces that hauntingly remind me of Edie Sedgwick, seen through the eyes of Andy Warhol.

Sebastian Dollinger, head of design at Eton, explained "my wife is a very classy, classic dresser but she immediately took parts of that collection, first because of the material -- a viscose-y, light sort of thing -- and also because the patterns are out there!" Of course, the brand's bread-and-butter remain their more traditional shirt designs, pocket squares and scarves, but as they say, unless you move forward constantly, you'll find yourself stuck in the past, and Eton is ever reinventing style, with their tried and true customer in mind.

2017-01-11-1484124788-8949920-IMG_3753.JPG


Ciro Paone, Kiton and the essence of being Neapolitan.

If you ask a person born in Naples if they are Italian, you will see them stare back at you in disbelief and, a bit harassed, they'll eventually answer, "No! I'm Neapolitan!" Having grown up with a Parthenopean mother, as a child I found it baffling that she thought it an insult to be mistaken for Florentine or even simply Italian. Until I grew up, and realized the true power of hailing from one of the most magical, infuriatingly creative and wonderfully chaotic cities on earth. To those who doubt my passion when I write, I say, visit Naples and as the saying goes, "vedi Napoli e poi muori" once you do, you can die in peace. You'll have then really, truly, absolutely seen it all.

Kiton, the brand born out of the perfectionist eye of Ciro Paone, is a perfect example of Neapolitan style. "Plus one" is Paone's infamous saying, meaning everything can be reworked again, to add one more stitch, take away one more centimeter so that the garment reaches perfection. And perfection Paone has achieved, in his 80-some years, so much so that he's managed both a Career Award and a personal tribute exhibit at this year's Pitti Uomo. "Due o tre cose che so di Ciro" (Two or three things I know about Ciro) is a voyage into Ciro Paone's life, curated by Italian fashion journalist Angelo Flaccavento and featuring Paone's sayings, philosophies and most beloved possessions. My favorite was room 3, the Naples room, dedicated to the contradictions that make up the grandiose city of my mom. Featuring a "Madonna Scotchata" -- a game of words which ends up translation as both a "bored Madonna" and a Madonna obviously taped with scotch tape -- the room made me giggle at all the contradictions that make up my own personality, thanks to my Southern heritage.

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Speaking of Madonnas... There's a scent for that!

I'll admit, I'm not a huge fan of religions, of any kind. But the scent of incense, a particular kind of church incense, always reminds me of my childhood, even if my family only stumbled into church for christenings, weddings and funerals. And walking around a new section of Pitti Uomo, a welcomed respite from the business of fashion called Hi Beauty, I found a brand based in Rome that takes inspiration from "The Scents of the Bible" in their latest collection. Essenzialmente Laura features three perfumes in this capsule collection, one called "Incense of the Churches of Rome", the smell that drew me in at hello, "Nard of Mary Magdalen" and "Mystic Rose" -- the latter probably the perfume I'd choose for personal use. After all, a woman can never have enough rose perfume, I say. I loved hearing the history behind the brand, and discovering the various scents and I'll look for the shop, in Via dei Coronari in Rome, the next time I'm in the Eternal City.

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Golden Goose Deluxe Brand and their fabulous golden jackets.

Even since I started attending the Venice Film Festival, I've realized that Venetians are just classy people. Period. And last night, at the Venetian brand Golden Goose Deluxe Brand fashion presentation, inside the iconic Stazione Leopolda, the concept was confirmed further. Once we arrived inside the venue, we were greeted by a trio of cylinders which made the place look like a scene out of Denis Villeneuve's Arrival. I felt aliens or astronauts couldn't be far behind... And in fact, as soon as the music began, a spotlight started shining on a white, skateboarding moon walker, covered from head to toe in astronaut gear. But then, the music got louder, a bang exploded and skaters in gold foil jackets that looked phenomenal started using the cylinders for an exhibition in talent and balance. All the while, a Japanese DJ, channeling a Jamaican rasta in a club of the Lower East Side in NYC in the 90s, played tune after tune of delightfully cool music.

So far so good. This is Pitti Uomo after all and great things, wonderful presentations happen every day here. We're used to that. But what came after even the most jaded fashion journalist couldn't imagine. We got the jackets! Yes, those jackets, the gold foil phenomenal looking things that are featured on the homepage of the brand's website. All we had to do was put in a gadget key we received upon entering the venue, digit "53" in the machines that looked like candy dispensers, and the jackets, by the famous sneaker brand, were ours. Just. Like. That.

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As I walked into my hotel room, tired and with my feet swollen beyond recognition, all I could do was try on the jacket. I felt like I'd just celebrated Christmas a second time. And you know what, that thing is even cooler in real life!

GGDB image by Giovanni Giannoni for Pitti Uomo, all photos used with permission.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Simone Biles And Aly Raisman Flip Over Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Pics

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Sports Illustrated on Tuesday released images of Olympic gymnasts Simone Biles and Aly Raisman from their Swimsuit Issue photo shoots ― and both gold medalists beamed over the results. 






“WOW,” Raisman wrote. “... Love how celebrates all women for being strong & beautiful.”






Biles wrote how “excited” she was to be part of the shoot.






Aly and Simone represent all that is beautiful and strong and inspiring in women today,” SI Swimsuit editor MJ Day said at SI.com. “Women that are not only elite athletes, that are captivating and impressive in their own professional accomplishments (lots and lots of Olympic gold medals between them) but strikingly sexy and beautiful in front of photographer James Macari’s lens.”


For the record, Raisman wore a two-piece by Mikoh and Biles was in a top by Blue Life Swim and bottom by KOA Swim.


The stars from last summer’s Rio Olympics posed for their sessions at the North Houston Skate Park and The Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden in Houston.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

We Tested 8 Of The Buzziest Beauty Items On Etsy

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Remember when Etsy seller Bitter Lace Beauty released the rainbow highlighter that broke the internet? The unicorn-inspired illuminator was the glow heard round the world and spurned a rainbow-highlighter frenzy, which included interpretations by Wet n Wild and Forever 21 Beauty.

We've always loved Etsy for its small-batch sellers touting unique, custom goods sold directly to the consumer, but before Bitter Lace, Etsy didn't get a ton of credit in the mainstream cosmetics sphere. Knit goods and letterpress stationery? Sure. But not makeup, skin care, or hair products. But recent buzz has us wondering, What other hidden gems live on the DIY e-comm site?

Right now, there are over 1.5 million bath-and-beauty items sold on Etsy from around the world. Everything from sparkly black bath bombs to Harry Potter-inspired eyeshadow palettes and small-batch liquid lippies are available for order. Since we're always on the lookout for the beauty's next best and brightest, we decided to test a few of the site's most well-reviewed finds.

Ahead, we've outlined some of our favorites that have been tested and approved by our beauty editors and given the R29 stamp of approval. Read on for some serious makeup inspiration. Here's hoping you find your next holy grail product!



Coming from a strictly solid eye shadow background, we were skeptical about the practicality of a loose pigment. But we're happy to report that we were seriously blown away after sampling the Borne Cosmetics Mineral Silk Eye Shadow.

The pigment felt almost velvety, without veering into the cream sphere, and the color payoff was just right — perfectly buildable, but not too sheer. We did an entire eye look with Latte, a light brown with pearlescent shimmer, and Cocoa Bean, a deeper brown that we used to darken up the crease.

They blended like a dream on the lid, which we chalked up to their au naturel formula of jojoba oil, clay, and shea butter. The shadow lasted all damn day, even without a base or primer, but if you've got oily eyelids, we'd definitely recommend prepping the lids to avoid creasing.

Borne Cosmetics Mineral Silk Shadow, $6.99, Etsy.



We'd known about Brooklyn's Mullein & Sparrow long before Etsy revealed its top seller status. So it made sense that the Rose & Vetiver Hair Serum, a favorite of beauty editor Maria Del Russo's, was a standout star. In her own words:

"There's this delicate balance that exists when it comes to lived-in hair. You want it to look like you just rolled out of bed looking fabulous, but you also need your mane to look healthy and shiny. That's where this serum comes in."

Her routine? "Before bed, I brush my hair with a Mason Pearson brush and hit the sack. In the morning, I finger-comb any snarled curls and then work a few drops of this serum through my strands. The argan and meadowfoam seed hydrate and add major shine, while sealing up my damaged cuticles for the day. And don't let the teeny bottle size fool you — a little goes a long way."

Mullein & Sparrow Rose & Vetiver Hair Serum, $38, Etsy.



BaronessX is one of Etsy's most unique shops, specializing in "Microchrome Flake Polish," that shifts color during wear and has a stunning duochrome sheen.

We were stoked to try its polish Glimro, a moody purple/pink/blue with holographic pigment and mini holographic shards. Needless to say, it was love at first swipe.

Because of the shimmer, it took us two coats to get a fully opaque application, but once the polish dried, it was absolutely gorgeous. The best part? Because of its shifting color, it basically matched with anything and everything.

BaronessX Multichrome Flakie Polish, $12, Etsy.



Ragged winter cuticles got you down? Fear not. This matte cuticle balm will rescue your nails in 30 seconds flat, without any sticky or slippery residue.

R29 beauty writer (and perennial guinea pig) Mi-Anne Chan tested the balm on her cuticles, which she'd just freed from Sailor Moon-inspired acrylic nails. "Most cuticle oils I've tried veer greasy — a texture I do not appreciate on my fingers. This one, to my surprise, soaked in super fast and left dry skin immediately supple."

We also love that this product comes in a variety of balanced scents, from zippy Yuzu to dreamy Sakura Matsuri (Japanese cherry blossom) and Unscented for those sensitive to smell.

BaronessX Matte Balm, $4.75+, Etsy.



This lippie was a surprise hit with the beauty team. Our writers loved the formula and the thin-but-velvety consistency.

Mi-Anne tested this one, too. The verdict? "I'm picky when it comes to liquid lipsticks. They have to be non-drying, lightweight, and wear evenly throughout the day. I was surprised by this one's comfortable, weightless texture. I'd 100% wear it again. The only downside? I did notice it getting a tad crusty after a few hours. Nothing that couldn't be fixed with a quick blot with a napkin, but definitely worth noting."

The lippies also come in a crazy range of 35 colors, many of which you couldn't find at your local drugstore, from a bright pigmented lavender to a vibrant gold and classic caramel-toned nude.

Aromi Matte Liquid Lipstick, $17, Etsy.

For the rest of our reviews, visit Refinery29.

By: Michaela Rollings

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

This Hack Will Save You So Much Money On Your Makeup

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You don’t need us to remind you that makeup products can be expensive as hell. Sure, there are a ton of amazing drugstore options, but when you fall in love with a pricey foundation or eyeshadow, it’s hard to not keep coming back to it.


You could always wait (and wait and wait...) and hope it goes on sale one day — or you could get creative. But how? Let us introduce you to the wonderful world of cosmetic refills.


The concept is simple: Many brands offer refills for items like eyeshadows, foundations, and lipsticks — and those refills cost significantly less than if you were to buy the product in its original compact or package. Are you picking up what we’re putting down? Is your mind blown?


This method won’t just save you money — it will also cut down on the amount of cosmetic waste that ends up in our landfills. According to an EPA fact sheet published in 2014, roughly 30 percent of the items rotting away in our landfills in 2014 were containers and packaging. While not all of this was cosmetic packaging, every little bit helps.


That being said, we won’t deny that there’s a certain luxury in having a product in its original form — the heft of a well-made compact, the magnetic “click” that a brand-new lipstick makes as it snaps shut — but for those of you looking to save some cash, buying refills instead of the original product is a great option. Ahead, check out 10 refillable makeup items that will make your makeup bag and your wallet very happy.



Eco-chic brand Kjaer Weis makes some of our favorite hydrating lipsticks. Instead of throwing away each bullet once you've hit the bottom, save it — because the brand offers refills that snap easily into existing packaging. Plus, buying the refill is a whopping $20 cheaper than buying the original.

Kjaer Weis Lipstick Refill, $36, available at Kjaer Weis.



Turns out you can replenish your supply of MAC's popular Studio Finish Concealer for less than what it costs to buy some drugstore foundations. Total win.

MAC Studio Finish Concealer Refill, $13, available at MAC.



Raise your hand if you hate buying eyeshadow singles because they take up so much space? Refills like this one make it easy to buy your favorite shades, then stick them in an empty palette.

Nyx Cosmetics Hot Singles Pro Shadow Refills, $4, available at Nyx Cosmetics.



We go through eyeliner fast. That's why refillable pens, like this one from Surratt Beauty, come in handy. Rather than throwing away a tube every three months, we can simply replace the ink cartridge.

Surratt Beauty Auto-Graphique Eyeliner Refill, $18, available at Sephora.



At $59, this refill is by no means inexpensive, but considering the fact that it costs a steep $179 in the compact, we're willing to take the blow. The multi-colored powder color-corrects and leaves a sheer, luminous finish on the skin that doesn't veer into sparkly territory.

Guerlain Météorites Voyage Pearls of Powder Refill, $59, available at Nordstom.

For more of our favorite re-fillable items, click here!

By: Mi-Anne Chan

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Difference Between Drugstore And High-End Blending Sponges

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A funny thing happened when Beautyblender introduced its first hot pink pouf of a blending sponge in 2003: our foundation and concealer blending brushes were pushed to the very back of our makeup drawers, rarely to be used again. It was just that good, and that was that.

Since the Beautyblender’s first iteration, the brand and dozens of others have created takes on the foamy, springy, tear-shaped blenders. Some sponges are shaped to cover tiny crevices — like the inner corners of the eyes or the furrow where the nose meets the cheeks. Denser materials help create the perfect precise contour. Not only can we not imagine doing our makeup without a blending sponge, we can't imagine doing our makeup without an arsenal of blending sponges for every nook, cranny, and purpose.

With new versions hitting shelves quicker than we can say "Beautyblender" five times fast, it’s hard to know the difference between designs, textures and price points. Could it be that our trusted blending bestie is as outdated as our foundation brushes once were? To get fresh perspective, we took some of the latest blending sponge launches for a blot — including a puffier, oversized version by Beautyblender, a multitasker with several angles, and a drugstore option that won’t break the bank. Prepare to say goodbye to indecision, foundation brushes, and harsh lines ahead.



We were thrilled to discover that another drugstore brand had gotten into the blending sponge game — and this leaf-shaped little wonder did not disappoint. Shaped especially to apply shading products, the sponge’s narrow design makes child's play out of the often finicky process of layering on contour and highlighting creams. We used the tips to tap on product and the flat sides to stamp out mistakes. Though the sponge can technically be put to use for foundation and concealer application, its dense consistency — it’s the stiffest of those we’ve tried — is best suited for more targeted tasks.

L’Oréal Blend Artist Infallible Contour Blender, $8, available at Ulta Beauty.



With over 15 different sponges in the Beautyblender range, it's hard to not get a little confused. Recently we tried the reinvented original in Pretty in Baby Pink, which absorbed nearly twice as much water and felt fluffier to the touch than the original. The Bubble also covers more surface area and does it all: blush, bronzer, concealer, and foundation. More importantly, it does it well, erasing streaks and toning down any hue that you built up just a little too much. It’s the do-it-all tool that can travel and clean easily, so any beauty novice can enjoy, too.

Beautyblender Bubble, $20, available at Beautyblender.



We love a damp blending sponge as much at the next girl, but shockingly, using this baby when dry gave us crazy-even coverage with both concealer and contour cream. It could be due to the sponge’s Goldilocks factor: It feels sturdier than more traditional versions, but also not too stiff. In other words, it's just right. The modified egg shape also seems to blend makeup more smoothly while sucking up less product. No wonder so many fans have migrated from more traditional blenders.

Tarte Quickie Blending Sponge, $23, available at Tarte.



When we first saw this makeup sponge we were lured in by the diamond shape and swirly marble color. To use, run it under some water, squeeze to absorb, then ring out. Business as usual.

But this sponge is marshmallow soft and feels so so light on the skin. The only downside is that because it's not incredibly stiff, the final look doesn’t appear as seamless. That just means steer clear of using it with full coverage bases, and stick to something lighter for a quick wash of color. While this isn't the first choice for dabbing tools, it does pair beautifully with a BB, CC, or DD cream.

Real Techniques Miracle Diamond Sponge, $10, available at Ulta Beauty.



This wardrobe of mini, medium, and large-sized sponges are not as squishy as others we tried, which is both a pro and a con, depending on what type of product we're using. When blending foundation with the largest, its density causes the sponge to bounce and ricochet off our cheeks — an effect that was a bit too abrasive for our our liking. But when we used the tiny sponge to blend eyeshadow or apply concealer beneath the eyes, that same firmness gave us the precision we needed.

Compared to other sponges, the final looks we achieved with this trio were seamless. We’ll likely go back to our pricier sponge for a more gentle foundation application. But considering this price — which clocks in at about half of a single sponge for more expensive versions — there’s no reason not to try the set for yourself. It may just replace your top-shelf sponges (and fatten your makeup budget in the process).

E.L.F. Precision Sponge Trio, $12, available at E.L.F.

By: Samantha Sasso & Erika Stalder

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

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Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.


Can We At Least Have 4 More Years Of Malia Obama's Style?

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President Obama’s bittersweet farewell address in Chicago invoked many feeling on Tuesday night: sadness, happiness, encouragement, and style envy ― at least when it comes to Malia Obama.


We looked up, in between sobs, to notice just how stylish the Obamas’ eldest daughter has become. And while the world lost it over her emotional response to her dad’s speech, we were feeling some kind of way about her outfit, too. 



The 18-year-old wore a a black and white, billow-sleeved Cinq à Sept dress that’s still available in a few sizes at Bloomingdale’s and retails for $395, and a choker that restores our faith in humanity in the fact that the trend is still alive and well. 


The world has watched as both Sasha and Malia have grown into teenagers over the past eight years, developing their own personal senses of style. Regardless of whether or not they’re in the White House, we have a feeling there are many years of great Obama women style moments ahead.



 


Sigh. Can we come with you on your gap year and just borrow things out of your closet, Malia? 


-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

The Problem with D&G's Abaya Line

0
0
Last year,, mogul fashion house D&G made what Forbes noted was their "smartest move in years", when they launched a new collection of abayas and headscarves under their label. D&G is repeatedly being hailed as 'progressive' and their announcement is supposedly an exciting development in the fashion realm, but for some Muslim women, there is nothing exceptional or remotely noteworthy about this line at all.

Why should D&G be applauded for something that is at its core, primarily just a calculated business move devoid of any real intention to change the fashion world to be more inclusive of its Muslim audience? When you take into account the fact that D&G operates about 13 stores alone in the UAE and numerous others in the surrounding Gulf States along with the fact that the sale of personal luxury goods in the Middle East hit $8.7 billion in 2015 -- up from $6.8 billion the year before, it's hard to see where the sincere push for newfound inclusivity and not that of monetary standing comes in.

Don't forget too, that the models who sport the collection in the ad campaigns are all white, non-Middle Eastern, non-Muslim women. That alone should say a lot, but it's what many people miss. Essentially, D&G are (as most Western neoliberal capitalists would) monopolizing something that does not belong to them. They are profiting from the pseudo "incorporation" of a cultural and religious piece of clothing into their line that normally, they would take offense to and would label as an oppressive uniform. In fact, the majority of the Western world would consider the abaya and the headscarf as items of clothing that supposedly rid women of their personal agency. We hear this argument time and time again when it comes to the dress choice - keyword: choice - of Muslim women. Yet when you sprinkle some crystals to the sleeves, stitch some lace to the fringes and stamp your name, label, and price tag on it, it's seen by the mainstream media as "fashionable", "beautiful" and not "oppressive" or "backwards."

2017-01-10-1484073995-3451844-396A0863.jpg
Model wearing Louella Holiday Collection piece by American fencer, Ibtihaj Muhammad

Another problem that the fashion house is posing with its new collection is that it is marring the line between the Middle Eastern consumer vs. the Muslim consumer. The two are not the same, but according to D&G, culture and faith are the same thing. It's quite clear that the fashion line is being marketed to the wealthy cohort of Middle Easterners in the Gulf and Arab states as opposed to the millions of Muslims living in the other parts of Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe, and the West. Why is the world so taken aback and amazed by D&G's move? Why is there no mainstream or high end coverage or inclusion of the hundreds of Malaysian Muslim abaya fashion designers or the thousands of British and North American Muslim fashion bloggers and designers that have been pushing for inclusivity and representation in the fashion industry for years? Why does no one talk about how Muslim women are already fashioning their abayas in highly creative and chic ways? Why has D&G reduced Muslim women to just abayas and headscarves? Why is there not an effort to create and incorporate more innovative and varied pieces that Muslim women can choose to wear?

2017-01-10-1484074060-3958983-gWgld3vU.jpg
Amena Khan, British YouTube blogger, entrepreneur, face of new Loreal campaign.


NYmag made it a point to say that, "what stands out in particular about Dolce & Gabbana's take is that it gives the lie to the idea that one can't follow trends and have fun with fashion while also following a religious dress code." They also mention that, "'modest' doesn't have to equate to dowdy, boring, or head-to-toe neutrals. It's not just about lowering hemlines and extending sleeves, but preserving the runway aesthetic that got everyone so excited in the first place." As offensive as it sounds, apparently "modest" fashion in the eyes of these high end fashion 'experts' seems to be synonymous with "boring" and "dowdy." Which is exactly the problem because the reality is quite the contrary, but here you have D&G presenting a case that suggests that without these Western labels, Muslim fashion is just boring. As shown in the above photo of Ibtihaj Muhammad's piece, Muslim designers' creations are far from boring. On the contrary, actually. We are the ones who can anticipate our needs and tastes, not some multibillion dollar corporation that never cared about us til today. This subtle propaganda distorts the narrative that some Muslim women in the fashion industry are trying so hard to engage in and change.

2017-01-10-1484074174-2685797-dinatokio.jpg
Dina Torkia


Dina Torkia, a British Muslim fashion blogger who last year launched her own line of scarves and modest western clothing that she herself designed, took to her website earlier this week to express her frustration:

"I feel like I should be happy, ecstatic even, perhaps eternally grateful? That's what seems to be the general reaction to this news so far. But, I can't help but feel incredibly underwhelmed, possibly even a tiny bit insulted by the collection. I've dreamed the day a major design house would officially recognize us, hijab clad muslim women and finally 'cater' to us. But my dream wasn't resulting in a line of lacey, embroidered traditional abayas and matching scarves. Something I've grown up with and a look that every Muslim woman is all too familiar with. Something that the local 'abayas r us' in Brummy might have. Or if you fancy something a little more luxury, 'abaya gold' in Dubai would suffice. I dreamed of being able to look at signature gowns on the runway and imagine myself in one, hijab and all. I dreamed of being included in the mainstream of haute couture & whilst D&G have managed to recognize us with this collection, they've also managed to exclude us. Fashion conscious Muslim women in the form of bloggers, designers & stylists have been taking centre stage for a good few years showing the world that modesty & style can coincide with faith. With barely a nod of applaud or recognition, until D&G fancies putting their stamp all over a very traditional middle eastern style & claim it's originality.
So Thank you, but no thank you."


So just as the world is celebrating what might seem like Muslim inclusion with D&G's new line, they also fail to acknowledge the fact that we've been once again, excluded and marginalized by the Western man under the guise of their "progressive thinking." Nothing new there. Regardless of what side of the argument you're on, if you take the brand name off the abayas and hijabs, you'd be left with what is already in the market but is never acknowledged or celebrated to the same degree. Muslims need true representation and inclusion in the fashion industry and that won't happen just because two Italian billionaire designers decided to start selling over priced abayas and hijabs in 2016. It will happen when mainstream media and fashion platforms actually listen to and engage with Muslim women and Muslim designers and models instead of stamping their own name on what we've been seeing forever.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Model Fights Back After Shamers Criticize Her Skin Color In Maternity Photo

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After model Porsche Thomas posted a maternity photo on Instagram, bullies responded by criticizing the color of her skin. A couple days later, Thomas had a response of her own, and it was perfect. 


Thomas shared her maternity photo, which shows her enjoying some relaxation while wearing a bikini, on Dec. 29. Trolls began criticizing both her body and the color of her skin, asking ridiculous questions about why her stomach was “so dark.”




Four days later, Thomas posted a response to the trolls. She showed off her stomach in another photo, and in the caption she included the hashtag #melaninpoppin along with a special message for anyone shaming her for the color of her skin


“While some of y’all been in my comments criticizing the blackness that is my belly and me during what shoulda been your holiday cheer, I been over here enjoying life, growing tiny humans, performing miracles and hopefully getting even blacker,” she wrote.




Thomas’ fans couldn’t get enough of the way she handled the bullies. One commenter told her to “be proud of [her] blackness,” and another wrote, “No matter what they say, you are gorgeous.”


In an interview with BET, Thomas said that she “was baffled” by the cruel comments she received. She also made an important point about the way some people view and police black women’s bodies


“We’re so used to seeing white baby bumps,” she said. “We don’t really get to see black baby bumps and when we [do], people have a negative reaction to it, for some reason, like it’s vulgar.”


Thomas has since welcomed her twin boys. On Tuesday, the actress posted a photo of her sons and wrote that she is “so grateful” for her family.


“The loves of my life,” she wrote.


Looks like no troll is going to get Thomas down. Congrats, mama!


H/T Refinery29

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

This Touching Video Will Remind You Of The Power Of A Compliment

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Chances are, you throw compliments around pretty freely on any given day. Maybe you like a co-worker’s shoes, or a friend’s particularly adorable photo on Instagram. But what we take for granted is the lasting effect a compliment can have on someone’s ideas about self-love.


Covet, a fashion-focused video game in which users complete “style challenges,” debuted 50 new digital models of all different sizes, shapes, heights, skin colors and facial features on Tuesday. In conjunction with the launch, Covet has released a video titled “A Beautiful Perspective: How Compliments Can Empower.”



In the video, three Covet users are interviewed about their own views of themselves and the insecurities they face ― and it’s all too familiar to anyone who owns a mirror.


“It takes more than a dress or a different hairstyle to change the way you feel about yourself,” Samantha said.  


But after receiving makeovers, the three women are introduced to three other women who, according to the video, “got to know them and shared what they saw.” 


Slowly but surely, you can see the women’s attitudes and emotions changing as they hear things like, “You’re very beautiful” and “You really do brighten the room up.” It is a truly beautiful shift that, by the end, has you wanting to compliment just about everyone ― which it then challenges us all to do. 


Check out the inspiring video above, and head to Covet to learn more. 

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

Kendall Jenner Hits Back At 'Upsetting' Plastic Surgery Rumors

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Kendall Jenner is not here for any speculation about her looks. 


The 21-year-old model has been plagued by plastic surgery rumors in recent months, after photos emerged of Jenner sporting visibly fuller lips. Jenner, who took a break from Instagram in November, was accused of deleting the app in order to hide the results of plastic surgery. And a recent Instagram video posted by Jenner has sparked a new wave of comments about her plump pout.    


Jenner took to her personal website to address the rumors once and for all. 


When I deleted my Instagram back in November, people were saying, ‘Kendall deleted her account to have full facial reconstruction!’” Jenner wrote. “I was like, this is CRAZY. I didn’t even address it at the time. Because if I address it, people are going to be like ‘Oh, so she’s defending herself—she must be guilty.’”


Jenner added that she is completely happy with her looks, and feels that she is set up to fail on social media. 


“As a model, why would I have my face reconstructed?” Jenner asked. “It doesn’t even make sense. It’s crazy because sometimes I feel like people just want me to lose.”





At the end of the day, Jenner feels sorry for her social media haters.


I found this Instagram page devoted to Kardashian bashing and it has a lot of followers,” Jenner wrote. “I just felt sad for whoever’s behind it—who has the time? People forget that they’re talking about real people who have real feelings and actually live their everyday lives (for the most part) just like everyone else.”


Read Jenner’s full post on KendallJ.com.

-- This feed and its contents are the property of The Huffington Post, and use is subject to our terms. It may be used for personal consumption, but may not be distributed on a website.

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