When Fashion & Politics Mix

Image source Inhabitat

As the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony approaches next week, uproar continues over the team USA uniforms. News watchers, Ralph Lauren aficionados and sports fans have most likely heard all the scandalous details; for those of you who live under a rock (bookworms and Emos), listen up…

The iconic fashion designer who turned East Coast Prep into East Coast Chic has been slammed for suiting our athletes in products labeled “Made in China.” Naturally the Olympic games foster country pride and unity. Therefore people believe that sending out athletes in non-American made clothing will undermine the spirit of the Olympics. U.S. politicians have voiced their outraged on the topic and have even suggested we remake the clothing here in the United States. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada dramatically stated “They should take all the outfits, put them in a big pile and burn them, and start all over.” And six of our finest Senators have taken it upon themselves to propose the “Team USA Made in America Act of 2012” which states that all future Olympic garments must be produced in the United States.

While it’s hardly a surprise that Senator Reid and other Democrats are proposing solutions that throw U.S money down the drain, the talk on remaking U.S uniforms seems slightly ridiculous. Fashion comes with a price – over $700 dollars for one Olympic Team double breasted blazer – and when our country is trillions of dollars in debt we are going to have to settle for one-of-a-kind pieces from an internationally-renowned designer that were made in another country. And while I support a future change to U.S made uniforms, the 2008 and 2010 uniforms were also made abroad; this reaction in 2012 seems somewhat foolish.

Honestly my main issue is not where the uniforms were made but what they look like. I mean seriously, a beret? Disregard the American flag in the photo above and you could mistake our team for the French. Not to mention the Ralph Lauren symbol is on the left side over the heart and is bigger than the American flag on the opposing right side. Not quite sure what look Ralph Lauren was going for…but hey, kudos to the guy for securing his own great product placement.

We’ll have to wait and see if the “Team USA Made in America Act” passes. Until then, good luck to all the Olympic Athletes (yes, even the Chinese) and have a great Olympic season.

Posted by Chloe

I’ll Tell You What I Want, What I Really, Really Want

When I was just a feisty, albeit dorky, sixth grader, the coolest thing (in my humble 12 year old opinion) happened—Spice Girls.

The hit single “Wannabe” shot to the top of the charts, and like just about every other tween girl and aspiring Adam Lambert, I became obsessed. Pretending to be fiery redhead Sexy/Ginger Spice, natch, I locked myself in my room with my karaoke machine and belted out the lyrics to each song accompanied by my own choreography. My little sister even joined in the fun, taking on the role of Baby Spice, which considering she was only 5, today seems both fitting and seriously inappropriate. On the other hand, this group promoted girl power, and I learned a lot:

Smilin’, dancin’, everything is free—all you need is positivity!

Make it last forever—friendship never ends!

Set your spirit free—it’s the only way to be!

The reason for my admission and trip down [embarrassing] memory lane…word on the street is that a reunion might not be too far off. While fans and industry insiders have been hoping for and whispering about this for years, it looks like the Girls are in talks for a potential ‘nostalgic performance’ at the London Olympics this summer. Um, YES PLEASE! And, like my fellow colleague, Amelia, who’s followed Hanson’s career (and even attended a concert in Boston last year), I, too, totally plan on returning to my middle school self for a visit to Spice World.

‘Til then…people of the world: spice up your life!

Posted by Haley