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Eco Fashion at the Oscars: 15 Celebs Most Likely to Dress with a Conscience

Jill Ettinger — Fri, 28 Feb 2014 08:00:37 +0000

Who will be lighting up the Red Carpet with cruelty-free and eco fashion at this year’s Oscars?

Seems like there are always newcomers to living compassionately, and we hope there are many surprises this year, but we can guess that these celebs will be glamming it up in vegan and sustainable fashion at Sunday’s Academy Awards.

1. Joaquin Phoenix: The “Her” star is a longtime vegan and animal rights supporter. He’ll certainly be eating with a conscience and we hope he’ll be dressing to match.

2. Charlize Theron: Always gorgeous and stylish, this Oscar-winning presenter is behind an eco-friendly line of TOMS shoes and denim, benefitting the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project.

3/4.Brad Pitt & Angelina Jolie: Two of this year’s presenters, Brad and Angelina aren’t vegetarian or vegan, but they do have an organic vineyard in France. And being two of the biggest Hollywood humanitarians out there, who knows, perhaps they’ll be dining and dressing in accord with their ethics, too.

5. Kate Hudson: Kate always looks gorgeous and it may be in part due to her hair. That’s right, this year’s presenter also co-created an eco and cruelty-free hair care line with hairdresser David Babaii that benefited WildAid.

6. Jared Leto: Best Supporting Actor nominee in “Dallas Buyers Club”, Jared is a longtime vegan and animal rights supporter. He’s always dressing with style, and we’re looking forward to what we wears to the Oscars.

7. Kerry Washington: Presenting this year, Kerry is always eco-conscious, and could take some cues from the gorgeous eco apartment makeover she received courtesy of Oprah Magazine a few years ago. We’ll be on the lookout!

8. Leonardo DiCaprio: The Best Actor Nominee is not only a master of the screen, he’s lent his name to some pretty rad eco initiatives including a coffee. He is outspoken about global warming having co-wrote, co-produced and narrated the film “11th Hour“, which addressed the issues at hand and how we can fix the problems. We sure hope he’s dressing with that in mind.

9. Naomi Watts: Presenting this year, vegetarian and eco-minded mom, Naomi Watts always looks beautiful, and we know based on her stunning gown last year that she won’t cut any corners (except for the one’s in her dress.)

10. Jason Sudeikis: Rumor has it that since engaging himself to the gorgeous vegan Olivia Wilde, Jason has adopted a healthier lifestyle. He sure looks great these days. So what will this presenter wear? We’re hoping Olivia picks it out.

11. Cate Blanchett: Best Actress Nominee for her stunning role in Woody Allen’s “Blue Jasmine”, Cate is a winner whether she takes home the Oscar or not. A vegetarian and humanitarian, she is also a big proponent of the Greening the Wharf initiative that installed more than 1,900 solar panels at the Sydney Theatre Company.

12. Jim Carrey: This hilarious presenter (and recent author!) boasted about his healthy diet last year—being almost close to vegan besides eating eggs. We’re assuming they’re from a local farmers market here in LA. And, as a founding member of the Global Alliance for Transformational Entertainment, he sure has an eye for living consciously. Let’s hope it translates into his attire as well.

13. Matthew McConaughey: Best Actor Nominee and favorite to win the award credits his son for making him “more eco.” If his commitment to living with a smaller footprint is at all like his recent commitment to better acting, we simply cannot wait to see what he wears on Sunday. (Suggestion: something tight, please.)

14. Emma Watson: “Harry Potter” star Emma Watson is proving there’s life beyond the Potter years. She’s also proving that there’s a lot more to life than making movies. A vegetarian, Watson is also behind Pure Threads, a fashion line that features environmentally friendly, organic dresses. We sure hope she’s wearing one on Sunday!

15. Anne Hathaway: Presenter Anne Hathaway is a committed vegetarian and fashionista, so we know she’s got something gorgeous and kind up her sleeves…if she’s wearing any.

Check back in post-Oscars for a review of the best of the best in eco and cruelty-free fashion.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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All images Wikimedia Commons

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Now & Then: The ‘It-Bag’

Rowena Ritchie — Tue, 03 Jul 2012 20:40:52 +0000

In the late 1990s, the Fendi Baguette bag started a fashion frenzy.

Part of documenting fashion is acknowledging the desire and anxiety certain items induce. If ever there was an object designed to seduce us, it was the “It-bag.” As the original “It” girl, Clara Bow demonstrated at the beginning of the 20^th century, the quality of “It” is both absolute attraction and elusiveness. If that sounds like a euphemism for sex appeal, Sigmund Freud – in his work deciphering the language of dreams – considered handbags to represent female genitalia.

To most devotees, these expensive and easily recognizable designer signatures convey a right-time-right-place sense of status that is the source of their appeal. With that in mind, its hardly surprising that the lust for “It-bags” directly corresponds to periods of economic boom. The most recent era of handbag hots began in the late 1990s and early 2000s, when the average American women reportedly bought more than four statement piece purses annually.

Who could forget the impact of Sex And The City’s Carrie Bradshaw and her Fendi baguette? Recently reissued to coincide with the launch of a new book Fendi Baguette, the bag – available in over 1,000 versions – quickly started a fashion frenzy. According to the show’s star, Sarah Jessica Parker, Fendi was “the first important design house to loan us items,” and the introduction of the baguette allowed the fashion loving character to develop into the style icon she became. “It really opened the floodgates and influenced the storyline – especially Carrie’s habit of spending more money on fashion than her home.”

In 1956, a photo of Grace Kelly, who had become the new Princess of Monaco, carrying the Hermès Sac à dépêches bag to shield her pregnant belly made the “Kelly” bag hugely popular.

But this isn’t a recent phenomenon. In 1935 Hermès created a top-handled leather bag called a Sac à dépêches as part of their leather goods range. When Princess Grace wanted to cover her baby bump with her Hermès bag – these were the days when star’s pregnancies were not a career boosting media opportunity – the photos were splashed all over the world and made it onto the cover of Life magazine. Hermès quickly renamed it the Kelly bag, and it became hugely popular.

The “Birkin” bag was born when Hermès chief executive was seated next to Jane Birkin on a flight from Paris to London, he watched as her straw basket overturned spilling its contents onto the floor.

Another Hermès design, the Haut à Courroies was created for free-spirited Jane Birkin. Known for toting a straw basket because she was unable to find a weekend bag large enough to suit her needs. The “Birkin” subsequently became and remains one of the most desirable and widely recognized handbags in the world.

She can’t have heard the “It-bag” trend is over… Victoria Beckham is said to own 100 Hermès Birkin bags thought to be worth more than $2 million.

By 2008 the “It Bag” was no longer in fashion. While there will always be some who can afford bags known eponymously – Birkin, Paddington, Motorcycle and the Alexa – the rest of us know that the real beauty of fashion is mysterious and deeply personal, our accessory’s determining us individuals rather than part of the crowd.

In 2007 Actress Angelina Jolie, and her daughter Zahara were photographed carrying matching Valentino purses – was this image responsible for the end of the “It-bag” trend?

Want to catch up on some more fashion history?

Now & Then: The History of Flared Pants

Now & Then: The History of the Ballet Flat

Now & Then: The History of Shorts

Now & Then: Met Ball’s Most Memorable Dresses

Now & Then: The History of the Breton Shirt

Now & Then: The History of the Platform Shoe

Now & Then: The History of Fitness Wear

Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Now & Then: The History of the Cocktail Dress

Now & Then: The History of Skinny Jeans

Read more Now & Then articles here.

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Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Rowena Ritchie — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 13:38:44 +0000

From Jil Sander’s S/S 2012 campaign, the pencil skirt is an elegant classic that flatters all would-be femmes fatales.

Named for its shape, long and slim like a pencil, the skirt emerged from World War II Europe. Cut in a straight line from the hip to the hem, the narrow fitting skirt was designed to save precious fabric rations.

Despite its frugal beginnings, nothing says hardworking glamor like the 1940s pencil skirt. Perhaps it’s because for the first time in history, women were expected to go out and work while the men were fighting.

Dior’s version of the tight fitting skirt with a small waist that emerged during World War II rationing when fabrics became too expensive.

Throughout the decade, the skirt was widely worn by everyone from female French resistance fighters to Hollywood’s Joan Crawford. Alfred Hitchcock’s version of the film noir heroine exemplified by Grace Kelly, Kim Novak and Tippi Hendron, saw the pencil skirt’s continued popularity throughout the 1950s. In his taut psychological thrillers, Hitchcock projected his vision of an idealized woman – always tailored and blonde, and giving off some major heat beneath an icy veneer.

Marilyn Monroe reminds us why the pencil skirt’s waistline fits at the true waist and not lower – giving even lesser mortals an hourglass shape.

Which brings us back to the essential appeal of the subtly sexy pencil skirt. The body-hugging skirt that both reveals and conceals, its genius lies in its ability to suggest propriety and the possibility of passion all at once.

Keeping the flame of past pencil skirts alive, the streamlined style has been adopted by designers Victoria Beckham, L’Wren Scott and Roland Mouret, as their silhouette of choice. Modern style icons such as Carine Roitfeld, Angelina Jolie and Michelle Obama are frequently photographed looking elegant and chic in a pencil skirt, teaming their longer hemlines with bare legs and a pair of heels.

Christina Hendricks as Mad Men’s Joan Holloway has single-handedly brought back the hips, shown off to great effect in her character’s pencil skirts and fitted tops.

Now & Then: The Cocktail Dress

Now & Then: The Trench Coat

Now & Then: The Bold Brow

Now & Then: The History of the Cuff

Now & Then: The History of Turtlenecks

Now & Then: The History of Tights

Now & Then: The History of Skinny Jeans

Now & Then: The History of the Chevron Stripe

Now & Then: The History of Penny Loafers

Now & Then: The History of Go-Go Boots

Now & Then: The History of the Poet Blouse

Now & Then: The History of Ladylike Gloves

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Celebrity Knockoff: Angelina Jolie’s Pre-Golden Globes Outfit

Johanna Björk — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:23:43 +0000

How to knock off Angelina Jolie’s all-black Golden Globes outfit, in true eco-fashion.

While I thought Mrs. Brad Pitt looked absolutely gorgeous in Atelier Versace on the red carpet at the Golden Globes this past weeked (those red lips!), she looked equally radiant wearing a more demure all-black outfit next to Pedro Almodovar at the Golden Globe Awards Foreign-Language Nominee Event in Los Angeles on Saturday. Everything looks sexy on Jolie, but anyone can pull off a tailored look like this, especially in black. And we know how to do it in true eco-fashion.

Fitted Black Blazer
This black blazer is part of the ULTRA 10, a collection of ten modular and multifunctional pieces by sustainable design collective ULTRA. Made from recycled and natural-blend materials the clothing can be returned to ULTRA for upcycling (you receive a discount on a fresh supply in return). Zip the sleeves off this one and you have a stylish vest.
Price upon request, ULTRA

Knee-length Tailored Black Dress
This “Ballantine” LBD by Suzabelle is all about perfect fit and unexpected details. We love the neckline, which can magically disappear underneath a dress jacket or shine when the dress is worn by itself. Designed and ethically made in Seattle.
$199, Glamour & Glow

Classic Pointed-Toe Pumps
Melissa Plastic Dreams shoes are made from the company’s special Melflex plastic, which is eco-friendly and won’t (contrary to what you may think) make your feet stinky. I love the pointed toe, 3″ stiletto heel and classic shape of these. The stitched, twisted bow adds a touch of lady-like elegance.
On sale for approx. $65, Miss Matilda’s Boutique

Chunky Gold Hoops
Jolie chooses not to detract from her outfit (or appearance) by accessorizing too much. Sometimes a simple pair of chunky gold hoops is all you need to complete a look. These, by Amara Gold, are made in the USA from 14k eco-friendly yellow gold.
$250, Amara Gold

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Can a Celebrity Really Ply Fame for Good?

Katherine Butler — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 22:06:11 +0000

ColumnWhere celebrity becomes conscious.

“I don’t see myself as a celebrity, I don’t want to be one,” Bristol Palin told Good Morning America in 2009. “But I think using this experience in my life to help others, I think it’s a blessing.” Palin, a single mother at age 18, had just signed on with The Candie’s Foundation to serve as a teen ambassador to raise awareness about teen pregnancy. Her message was one of abstinence, telling the morning show that motherhood is “a 24-hour job and that’s a huge responsibility. Your priorities completely change once you have a baby.”

The combination of motherhood and message should have been a clear one, yet Palin’s turn as a spokesperson was muddied from the start. Flash forward a couple years and the internet is buzzing with a new Bristol Palin headline: “Candie’s Foundation paid Bristol Palin $262,500 in 2009.” How much did they give towards grants for programs actually preventing teen pregnancy? A cool $35,000. Palin’s fee was roughly seven times what Candie’s actually put towards prevention. As ThinkProgress points out, “the Candie’s Foundation appears to be geared towards improving the public image of [executive Neil Cole’s] company rather than reducing teen pregnancy.”

Candie’s responded by defended Palin’s fees with statistics. As the shoe retailer explains,

In a recent independent national survey of 1,000 teens that compared a Bristol Palin PSA with those of another national teen pregnancy organization that use non-famous teens, more than twice as many teens (57% vs. 27%), said Bristol’s PSA “Got my attention,” three times as many (41% vs. 11%), said it was “powerful”, and more than twice as many (38% vs. 16%), said it was “memorable”.

So if awareness was raised, why does this news rub raw? Candie’s never responded to our follow-up on the issue. Perhaps they feel they’ve already responded with their note about numbers. The point was made, so why does it matter how it was made?

The difference may be in the dollars. While many initially questioned Palin’s credibility as a teen mother promoting abstinence, in between appearing on Dancing with the Stars and partying on private jets, it was her paycheck which caused the world and internet to launch into a toddler-worthy tizzy. The light Palin may or may not have shined on teen pregnancy immediately seemed soiled. After all, why did she have to be paid so much for doing a good deed?

I know this expectation might exist in a world without TMZ.com, but doesn’t it seem like social causes should exist outside a world of money and marketing? As freedom of speech still stands in this country, Bristol Palin has every right to promote her own message. But in the end, how credible can the messenger be when a large cash bonus is involved? What’s more disturbing is that humanitarian efforts or special causes now seem to be more about branding a career than really being, well, humanitarian efforts or special causes.

We’ll never know if Palin would have signed on as a spokesperson for teen abstinence if she hadn’t been paid. This is both unfortunate for Palin and her point. While Palin is certainly not the first celebrity to be compensated as a spokesman, it’s disheartening to see the Candie’s Foundation turn a good cause (preventing teen pregnancy), into a celebrity endorsement deal. It seems no different from a business exchange that Tiger Woods made with Nike or a contract Natalie Portman signed with Dior.

But when it comes to authentic messaging about serious issues, it’s enough to push us a little bit closer off the mountaintop into the Valley of Cynicism, populated by Charlie Sheen’s warlocks, Kayne West’s hubris, and Donald Trump’s hair. Why should we listen to anything celebrities have to say when they are quite possibly being paid to say it?

Let’s talk about Elizabeth Taylor.

When the Hollywood legend passed away, she was remembered for her career, her men, her beauty; but perhaps most of all, for her ground-breaking work in AIDS awareness. Taylor was the Founding International Chairman for amfAR, and the organization credits her celebrity with bringing the issue of HIV and AIDS into the mainstream of public awareness. At her death, Elton John praised “her courage in standing up and speaking out about AIDS when others preferred to bury their heads in the sand.” Nancy Reagan called Taylor “Passionate – and compassionate – about everything in her life, including her family, her friends, and especially the victims of AIDS.”

Was she ever paid for it? I contacted amfAR to see if Taylor ever received compensation for her role and did not receive a response. Perhaps it was because they were confused as to why I was asking in the first place. After all, does it matter? And if Taylor was in fact paid for her good deeds, would we ever think to fault her like we did Bristol Palin? Not likely, but why? Because no one, including myself, could ever doubt that Taylor was anything but sincere in her work. Care2.com conducted a poll that perhaps sums it up best. Asking readers to weigh in on celebrity endorsements for noble causes, an overwhelming 41% replied they are in favor of it if celebrities seem sincere. I conducted my own (completely unscientific) poll and found that most people were fine with celebrity causes, as long as the cause received the attention it deserves. In fact, several seemed to consider payment completely besides the point. Why get upset if the cause gets attention?

Except that’s exactly what everyone did with Bristol Palin the other week.

Perhaps, then, it depends on if we agree with what the celebrity is saying. As Taylor herself famously said, “Celebrity is not something that comes without responsibility.” She set a firm precedent for other film stars to use their notoriety to bring attention to serious issues, and many celebrities have taken up just causes.

Perhaps none who have done so more publicly than Angelina Jolie. Jolie, who works as a United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Jolie is literally in trenches. Just last week, the actress visited Libyan refugees in Tunisia. As with Elizabeth Taylor, it feels uncomfortably cynical to be critical of Jolie’s tremendous humanitarian work, no matter what motivates her to do it. The same applies to her fellow Hollywood advocates active in social reform, as evidenced by George Clooney’s work in Darfur, Don Cheadle’s work as a Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations Environmental Programme, or singer Shakira’s role as a UNICEF ambassador. Celebrities can be master handlers of the public, and it’s difficult to argue that the light they shed on these causes is anything but beneficial.

And then, there is how the celebrity says it. Case in point: Tom Cruise’s infamous escapades in 2005, in which he declared his love for Katie Holmes while deriding Matt Lauer for his “glib” comprehension of psychiatry. Cruise was promoting Scientology’s anti-psychiatry stance, and he clearly was on a mission to message the public. That he dressed it in a giant ball of couch-jumping mania turned off most people, pitching his career into a downward spiral that only a spoof of another Hollywood megalomaniac in 2008’s Tropic Thunder was able to stall. His last film, Knight and Day, had a respectable opening at $20 million. But when you’re talking in the language of superstars, this reads as a failure. As E! reports, “On the other hand, Cruise hasn’t had a $100 million domestic hit since 2006’s Mission: Impossible III, released in the summer following the actor’s infamous Oprah couch jump.”

Experts have addressed celebrity endorsements in a study entitled “Endorsing Products for Money: The Role of the Correspondence Bias in Celebrity Advertising.” As scholars from, among others, the University of Cincinnati wrote, “the correspondence bias is the tendency to assume that a person’s behavior is a true reflection of their beliefs or opinions, and thus, their underlying dispositions when in fact, their behavior could be explained entirely by situational factors. In other words, people make strong inferences from behavior and fail to adjust sufficiently for situational constraints.” In celebrity endorsements, the situational constraints can be money. Or mania.

Nineteenth-century satirist Oscar Wilde wrote, “Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else’s opinions, their life a mimicry, their passions a quotation.” When considering celebrity consciousness, is this necessarily bad if they can use it to influence for the good? No. But apparently, it’s as long as we agree with what constitutes good and that we’re all on board with who is saying it.

This is another installment in Katherine Butler’s column, Shade Grown Hollywood, where celebrity becomes conscious. “Shade grown” refers literally to shade grown coffee, a farming method that “incorporates principles of natural ecology to promote natural ecological relationships.” Shade grown is our sustainable twist on Hollywood.

worldeconomicforum

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The Top 15 Feminist Film Stars

Katherine Butler — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 21:40:49 +0000

Movies can spell trouble for women. Usually, a female-centric flick entails a morose, unlucky-in-love woman who pines for love. Ultimately, she finds it with a reformed bad boy. When does this happen? Usually after she’s realized that her wacky commitment to her career has made her unsuitable for love. Shed of her silly life aspirations, she settles into domestic bliss for the rest of her life. Or as long as the end credits take to roll. Anyone else asleep right about now?

Instead, let’s think about the ladies of authority, the women of wit, the steel magnolias of cinema. For every loveless lass brought to life by a Rom Com Queen, there’s a kick-ass character of empowerment. Here are our 15 favorites.

Sigourney Weaver Say what you will about James Cameron and his obsession with special effects – this man knows how to write a strong woman. Ellen Ripley of the Alien franchise embodies the strength of Future Woman as no other Hollywood screen siren. Not to mention, her turns in “Working Girl” and “The Ice Storm” gave depth to otherwise complicated (okay, horrible) women.

Greta Garbo Some call her the most fascinating woman in film history. Garbo’s 1930s screen siren was well ahead of her game with strong roles such as Queen Christina, Mata Hari and more.

Katharine Hepburn Ms. Hepburn was the daughter of a suffragette and was taught to speak her mind. And how! From her Tracy Lord to Rose Sayer to Eleanor of Aquitaine, Hepburn’s cool composure is a model for tough, resilient women.

Pam Grier Grier was a staple in early blaxploitation films playing strong, assertive women. In 1973s “Coffy,” she was noted as the first female African-American star to headline an action film. She is perhaps best known as Foxy Brown, a character with similar attributes.

Mae West Before there was Marilyn Monroe’s breathy, little-girl-lost sex symbol, there was Mae West. Born in 1893 to Vaudeville stars, West wrote and starred in films that were unabashedly about female empowerment. One of the earlier plays she penned, “Sex,” landed her in jail for obscenity charges in 1926. West was known to quip “A dame that knows the ropes isn’t likely to get tied up.” Here’s to the original dame.

Angelina Jolie A friend of mine recently worked on a Jolie film. Jolie wasn’t the original choice for the role, but the studio insisted she be cast. Why? Because this woman inspires audiences all over the world to run into movie theaters throwing cash into buckets. (That is, most of the time she does. Exception: “The Tourist.”) Why? Because she’s an action hero. “Salt,” “Wanted,” and the Lara Croft series prove this woman knows how to conduct herself on a runaway car.

Meryl Streep Streep, currently the most honored actor of all time, has played more powerful women than one could list in a few mere sentences. One favorite might her turn as Danish author Baroness Karen von Blixen in “Out of Africa.” More recently, her turn as Miranda Priestley in “The Devil’s Wears Prada” was like staring into the eyes of a steel dragon. Up next for Meryl? She’s to portray Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” We are so there.

Linda Hamilton Hamilton’s Sarah Connor from the Terminator series blasted onto big screens in 1984. But it was her turn as the iconic character in 1991s “Terminator 2” that had people talking. Hamilton kicked cyborgs to the curb and gave the world a view of a mama you did not want to mess with.

Anne Bancroft Bancroft’s turn as a seductress in “The Graduate” gave new life to female sexuality. Amidst a tremendous career, she is also recognized for her iconic turn as Annie Sullivan in “The Miracle Worker.” Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson.

Dorothy Dandridge Dandridge was a trail blazer for women of color in Hollywood. Her turns as Bess in “Porgy and Bess” and well as “Carmen Jones” are etched as iconic roles in film history. Though her life was cut short by a tragic death at age 42 in 1965, she undoubtedly paved the way for acceptance for all women in film.

Uma ThurmanThurman is perhaps best known for her role as Beatrix Kiddo in the Kill Bill series – in which she could not be killed. But her turns as June Miller in “Henry and June” and as Mia Wallace in “Pulp Fiction” makes this actress a pillar of empowerment.

Jodie Foster Actor, director, producer – this two time Oscar winner for Best Actress does it all. Foster, a child actor, first catapulted into international acclaim for her turn as a trash-talking child prostitute in “Taxi Driver.” But it was her role as FBI agent Clarice Starling in “The Silence of the Lambs” that introduced her to a whole new generation of viewers. Her sensitive portrayal of Sarah Tobias in “The Accused” gave a voice to rape victims.

Helen Mirren Mirren has long established career portrayal strong women with a frank sexual empowerment. And yet, it was her turn against type as Queen Elizabeth I in “The Queen” that had a whole new generation bowing to this woman.

Barbara Stanwyck Stanwyck is perhaps best known for her role as the matriarch of the 1960s TV series, “Big Valley.” (Not to forget her performance as Mary Carson in “The Thorn Birds.” Ever.) But Stanwyck was established as a screen siren well before her turns in TV. Her role as Jean in “The Lady Eve” is a female powerhouse.

Penelope Cruz Penelope Cruz is known in her native Spain as “the Spanish enchantress.” We know her for adeptly portraying resilient womanhood. Her portrayal of the stalwart Rainmunda in “Volver” will convince anyone that this woman knows how to handle herself on and off the screen.

Still, there are more. What about Judi Dench as M? Susan Sarandon as Thelma? Not to mention Marlene Deitrich’s Lola Lola or Barbara Streisand’s Katie. Then there’s Hilary Swank’s Maggie Fitzgerald. And Cate Blanchette as Elizabeth I and Emma Thompson as Emma Thompson. We could go on…

Images: chang-er, Wikimedia Creative Commons, Wikimedia Creative Commons, Wikiemedia Creative Commons, db4dawn, Wikimedia Creative Commons, Wikimedia Creative Commons, kr4gin, People Quiz, iluvrhinestones, classic film scans, Wikimedia Creative Commons, Wikimedia Creative Commons
Mirren: Wikimedia Creative Commons
Stanwyck: mijori

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The Top 15 Feminist Film Stars

Katherine Butler — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 18:29:23 +0000

Greta Garbo Some call her the most fascinating woman in film history. Garbo’s 1930s screen siren was well ahead of her game with strong roles such as Queen Christina, Mata Hari and more.

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How to Pump Up Your Pout

Katherine Butler — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 18:49:53 +0000

Full lips are hot, and we can thank Angelina Jolie. Sure, women were concerned about lips before Brad Pitt’s leading lady hit the scene. But were they injecting fillers into their pout before Mother Jolie came into our consciousness? Were terms like celebrity pout, trout pout, and “For the love of Pete, someone stop that woman before she can blink her lips?” part of our consciousness? Not so much.

So women want full smackers, and they are going to great lengths to get them. (White women, we might add. Women of African descent generally have the genetic advantage.) Lindsay Lohan famously pouted up before her last rehab/jail stint. Jessica Simpson admitted that she looked like a blowfish after injections. Jennifer Garner is known for her “natural” work. Lisa Rinna, lip pioneer extraordinaire, recently admitted to silicone injections in her upper lip – which she has since had surgically repaired.

Wanting fuller lips isn’t so bad – just turning them into floatation devices can be problematic. After all, our lips are an erogenous zone and va-va-voomy smackers go a long way on the evolutionary train. But a little bee-stung look can go a long way in working a lipstick. And here are some natural ways to get a temporary pouty pucker.

1. Moisturize, you say?

If you lips are cracked and dry, they aren’t going to shine with health and beauty. Keeping your lips moisturized will reduce fine lines and let them look fuller. Recently, we checked out hellomellow’s Lip Butters, which offer up a natural hydration for under $10. Made from avocado and mango butters ripe in fatty acids, they are also free of parabens, sulfates, phthalates and other synthetic ingredients. Do they hydrate well? They do indeed, as well as any petroleum-based product.

2. Apply a lip hydration mask.

Did we mention you need to keep your lips moisturized? We may have mentioned that. For the ultimate way to pamper up your pout, whip up a homemade lip mask. Check out a “Just Juicy Red” mask courtesy of Narine Nikosian’s Return to Beauty.

Ingredients: 1/2 teaspoon cottage cheese, 1/2 teaspoon sour cream, 1/2 teaspoon beet juice, rose oil.
In a small bowl, combine the cottage cheese, sour cream, and beet juice, Mix well. Pat over the lip area with your fingertips. Relax for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and smooth a few drops of rose oil over your lips to seal in the moisture.

3. Brush your lips.

Your lips respond to mild irritation by swelling. But keep it light. As one expert noted, “mild irritation does not mean you scrap off layers of skin.” One way to achieve this is to mildly brush your lips after brushing your teeth. Then, as the same expert noted, be sure to apply a good lip balm. You’ve just exfoliated – the last thing you want is to dry out your pout.

4. Get spicy with cinnamon or peppermint oil.

Cinnamon or peppermint oils can increase the blood flow to your lips, making them appear fuller for a short period of time. Pick up a bottle of organic cinnamon or peppermint oil. Starting with just one drop, mix it in with your lip balm of choice and apply. But be careful not to apply the oils directly to your lips, as the oils can sting in concentrated doses.

5. Line your lips.

Yes, simple makeup can go a long way in making up luscious lips. For a more natural look, apply a subtle, natural lip liner just outside your natural lip line. Make sure the pencil is sharp so it gives a more natural look. Then apply a sheer gloss in your natural color. Your lips will look larger. Unless you went too far over your lip line. Then you will look like a pretty Bozo the Clown.

6. Face yoga. Yes, face yoga.

Some suggest daily exercises to promote your pout, such as puckering your lips and blow a kiss. Don’t believe us? Click here.

FTC Compliance

Image: gageskidmore

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