Reading back a bit on The Runway Scoop, I got philosophical thinking about Maria’s post inspired itself by The Bag Snob. What was originally going to be a comment on that post turned into this entry. I’ll paste an excerpt here for some background.

Bag Snob shares some news about Hermès expanding into India with the first store planned for New Delhi. Some readers of Bag Snob are a little concerned about a luxury brand becoming too big and being available to the “masses”.

One reader says:

“…as soon as luxury brands expand they usually become less avant-garde in order to please the tasteless masses.”

I’m sorry but everyone deserves some luxury. Whether it’s a rich Lindt chocolate or a peanut butter sundae, high-thread-count linens or even cozy fleece and sleeping in, a taste of technology, the love from pets, prettying oneself up in any form, or in the fashionista’s case—lots of bags or even saving up for a few designer bags. Perhaps some see their luxury as finding the good fortune to attend a quality university or the luck to work at a job or hobby one loves AND of course—sitting cool, warm, and healthy in one’s own (or rented perhaps) home—of any size, filled with whatever, but it’s yours, theirs, one’s own. Knowing you are safe and cared for. Maybe we all have our own luxuries.

And so is designer luxury better than those? Hermès is an extreme rule-setting standard because of price, but maybe they’re not even the ultimate luxury in some ways. Yes, the best leather, you hear, but they only have two nice looking bags! Heh. Hermès is much more status than luxury.

What is wrong with opening stores in many countries? Not all brands should start separate low-quality/price lines like at Target, of course. But excluding people, especially if it’s falsely and needlessly raising prices (AHEM LV) is just a company ATTEMPTING to be luxury, perhaps, and that makes the name of lower quality—just maybe? Exclusion for exclusion’s sake doesn’t make a product better, it’s all lies and pretense.

Please just make the best items possible and let those with the taste and style for it aspire for it. Isn’t it rude to appear to wish to refuse business to some? Why would we, more affluent or not, commercially or otherwise support this? … as fashionistas … as “snobs”, whatever. Let’s not be a part of such a problem in this rude world.

Hey, even DesignerElla has gone all indie for the sake of my dreams to design my own bags … creating my own … “luxury”.

Creativity is another luxury, don’t you know, and let’s all practice the luxury we are given at birth to exercise our minds!

According to New York Post’s Page Six

“Anna Wintour is as picky with words as she is with her wardrobe. According to one Vogue-er, ‘They are expanding the Vogue Web site and getting more involved with the Internet. But Anna hates the word ‘blog’ so much, she refuses to call anything on her site a blog and has charged her staff with coming up with a new word that isn’t as garish-sounding. She wants it ASAP - in time for launch.’ However, a source close to Wintour said, ‘Anna just doesn’t want people to refer to stories as blogs, because they’re not. It’s an improper use of the word.’ A rep said, ‘Anna has nothing against blogs.’

Oh! Blog, blog, bloggity blog! Gosh darnit. Don’t alienate us, we’re hip and we have a powerful voice.

It’s true that some people are uncomfortable with “blog”, so many choose to leave the word out of site titles or domain names. It makes sense to follow that if you’re looking for closed-minded people to still dedicate time to visiting you, but it’s silly. Many readers of Slashdot didn’t used to realize they were devoted readers of a blog. Why was it so underground and nearly taboo?

But it isn’t blogging itself that Anna has a problem with, it’s the word. Although the reason is unknown (and isn’t it interesting to wonder why?). Don’t you think that all website surfers would like blogs just fine not knowing what they are? But many people discredit articles if they’re found on a blog. They think the content or information is unreliable.

Well that must stop! Blogs are what they are, mostly opinion, personal views even on professional blogs. Bloggers are writers or just passionate fans, all experts in their fields. Throw us a bone.

Maybe their new terms could be “the Vogue Bone.” Tongue in geek chic! Whatever “new” word her staff picks, let it honour the medium, please.

*Via Bag Snob*

In site news, this coming week is Spring Break for me. I’ll be largely on vacation. See you around though!

Photo credit: AM New York

The styleosphere is abuzz and some of it appalled over a new (now pulled) Dolce & Gabbana advertisement.

The image in question is below:

Some go so far as to say it appears to depict gang rape, but I’m positive at max it is much tamer.

Okay, it’s sex ed time from usual prudie-Ella.

Sure, the man-on-top is holding “down” the female’s hands, but there is absolutely 0 struggle from her. At worst, she is aloof and none-too interested. But her body language shows she is only acting coy, for her pelvis is “reaching” for her partner.

Three men look on, but this can’t only signal gang rape, but instead of course just a naughty kinkier game.

I think the ad is actually so standard in our society that I wonder why I’m explaining my views. Hmm. Am I wrong? What do you see?

From a distance, this model looks like a lonely dumpee with rollers in her hair and her ex-boyfriend’s old “fat days” sweater. And she’s wearing this out.

Okay clearly seeing this means I’m messed.

A tolerable Valentine’s Day to you!

Photo via The Runway Scoop 

It’s becoming clear to me that designers want models skinny, but only to look fat in the end. Well, whether they intend for the models to look frumpy, it is the result. We all know models are “supposed” to be thin because the clothes just hang on—well those human clothes-hangers. And then when we have thin models, the outcome is that skinny’s hot, and once skinny’s hot, big is out.

BUT designers do. not. care. if the models are hot. Just look at the frowning faces most of the time - not too cute (I think). Really, the clothes hanger look makes the models appear to be in tents. This isn’t flattering, and you know what - stupid designers - the clothes don’t look good! Also - the models look kind of fat. Exactly HOW does this fly?!

It’s odd and confusing, but true. Just take this scrap-page image I put together with 99% help from Net-a-Porter.

What do you think? How exactly are we managing to stay on one side of the line between promoting skinniness and these models clearly imitating a larger body? I want my clothes to flatter and wrap with womanly flair around beautiful bodies. Anyone else?

If you want frequent updates on the fight against skinny models, visit The Runway Scoop.

Tonight I sit and write on the wee hours after my 2nd anniversary of when I started blogging sill-il-y about shoes on Kiss Me, Stace.

I’ve come (er, gone) soo far in these 2 years. Bought so much, raised my budgets so many times, and grown my income to something I’m excited about. I’ve had a lot of fun, some slumps, made good friendships, and even gotten some good freebies (and of course, get way more mail than I can handle).

But I started out so wee and unknowing. I was fashionable, artistic and a writer, but I didn’t know about the couture world (aside from sketching). I cared about animals and spent more time on intellectual pursuits than hunting down IT bags with buttery leather. And believe it or not, I thought $60 was expensive for a purse!

Then my budgets rose, my money shrank (and grew and shrank and grew), my hobbies changed, and maybe even my IQ has been ill-effected just a little bit.

Today also was the day that this term wrapped up for me. I’m practically done preparing for Christmas, even the wrapping! (hip-hop, fold that bow) And I do have a little time to blog before my holidays and Florida trip, so this week on Designer-Ella.com, I’m doing a special look back to what’s changed for Ella. I may even show pictures of bags blogging bought me.

Last year there was a whole carnival on the day, now barely a blog I see has mentioned shopping on Black Friday. It’s just what I wanted to read!

The Runway Scoop came to my rescue, briefly. Maria actually stood in line in the cold wee hours … for discounted Pumas?

That story was a bit of a letdown, but I’m excited to hear that “one of us” was on of “them” in the lines. So Maria, for whom are the sneaks?

The closest I got to shopping was bursting, “hey, let’s go shopping!” But we didn’t. I did buy one thing online.

Bad story, of course. One just can’t do it (shop on Black Friday, cliché and no joy), but hey, I just wanted to shop. I shopped Wednesday through the then crowds and loved what I got, I wanted a little of that high action. I might need more leggings, anyway!

Last week, most of what I did was blog ’til I dropped. I’m trying to pick up the pace, but in my first week back in full time, I do a double-blog serial??? Crazy. Crazy I am.

Anyway, so do you have any stories from Black Friday?