An example: Alice Paul
So here's lovely Alice:
A radical feminist with a uniquely subtle sense of style for her time, if the film Iron Jawed Angels is to be believed. (HBO wouldn't lie). Granted, she was a Quaker. But there's no doubt she was an uncompromising feminist (oh, except for the time she refused to support black women's request to join the movement). But look at these typical fashions from the 1910s:
These gals COULD be feminists, but I seriously doubt it. They're a bunch a patriarchy-suckin' sluts! "Oh, I'm not a suffragist, but..."
2005-08-31 19:10:55 UTC
Tulle Perimeter
This is really getting close to what I'm looking for in a wedding dress. The amount of tulle is teetering on the border of ridiculous, which to me is right where a good dress should be. This classic 50s style (the other being the super-tight pencil skirt) has an interesting effect: it clearly exaggerates the hips and at the same time precludes anyone from getting too close. It offered a tulle perimeter. It ensured that a woman would take up quite a bit of actual space. The paradox appeals to me: the style took up real space at a time when it was not yet fashionable for women to demand space in the public sphere. (This demand of course was retro: calling for women's rights was soooo 1848). And historically it seems that most women who have seized public space (or confidently demanded the right to) do not take up as much as actual space. Except the fat ones of course.2005-08-31 18:43:55 UTC
Desperate to be a housewife
Aren't these flippin gorgeous? They, like most tulle-infested 50s fashions, fuel my weirdest obsessions with 1950s womanhood. The one on the right fills me with a burning need to pack a picnic basket that I don't own for a day at the park with the kids I don't have. It's really eerie how fashion carries with it so much cultural crap. And by the way I have no idea what that saran-wrappy cape thing is on the model on the right. I found this while scouring the web for interesting dress patterns. I'm getting married so I finally have an excuse (nay! a duty!) to buy/make/wear a really eccentric dress. This one and tons more are at vintagepatterns.tripod.com. 2005-08-31 18:14:12 UTC
The multiple meanings of "take him out"
So Robertson audaciously denied that he ever suggested the US assassinate Chavez despite the fact that his comment was broadcast on his very own show. What was so wonderful about his denial was that he admitted that he said someone ought to "take him out." He went on to explain the multiple meanings of the phrase. How could anyone think he meant assassinate (which is what he actually said) by "take him out"? He most likely meant that someone ought to take the guy out for a nice romantic dinner and maybe a movie or play. Robertson sees Chavez' naked need to be loved. His Christian empathy knows no bounds. Maybe someone should take him out. He deserves it, right?
2005-08-27 12:55:57 UTC
our playhouse
Noah took this shot of me through the back hallway. I love how it captures the funhouse-coloring of certain corners of our apartment.
2005-08-27 12:38:28 UTC