You knew that Jennifer Lawrence and Amy Schumer were going to rock the Golden Globes, right? Of course you did.

In the clip below, Amy and Jennifer get real about Hollywood nicknames. And don’t sweat being called a “c-word,” Amy. I think every woman on Twitter gets called that at least once in her life.

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In case you missed the news, naked celebrity photos were recently stolen and leaked on the web, bringing with them scores of discussions, debates and even an art exhibition.

Aside from our monster junk food, monster house and monster car obsessions, Americans also have monster celebrity obsessions as well as some fairly unhealthy relationships with the naked body. We idolize both celebrities and nakedness for what they represent, rather than what they are. (Which is to say: they’re people and naked people, respectively.) So should we really be surprised by the insane amount of media attention that’s been given to this ‘news’?

It all got me wondering why we’re so fixated on people we don’t know, let alone why we clamor to see them naked. I get the whole seeing people naked for, you know, practical purposes, if you will. But the level of gawking people are doing at an undressed Jennifer Lawrence isn’t serving a utilitarian function like pornography (although I’m sure it has for some)—it’s mostly being approached in the neck-turning effect driving past car wrecks have on us. We simply want to see something incredible.

But why?

This whole scenario got me thinking about the time Bill Murray and I shared our spit. Yes, that Bill Murray, and no, we didn’t make out. He was shopping at a health food store about ten years ago when I was there for a South American tea company. The tea, yerba mate, is traditionally drunk out of a gourd from a metal straw (a bombilla). The gourd is filled and shared as a ritual, which we were attempting to emulate in this humble north Jersey strip mall, when from behind me I heard the store owner say, “Hey Bill, you have to try this stuff.” Mr. Murray wasn’t the stock boy I thought I’d see when I turned around, and the shock and awe hit me hard, making my job to explain what I was handing over to one of my all-time favorite actors and asking him to sip, quite the task. As all this was registering in my head in super slow-motion, Bill Murray did what only he can do so well—he filled the awkward void with his even more awkward humor, asking me silly questions like ‘will I die if I drink the stuff?”.

Eventually I sort of mostly got my heartbeat down to a manageable thumping and was actually able to converse with Bill Murray about the reported benefits of the tea. He was clearly curious. After all, he was in a health food store looking for healthy products. And while I may have been able to share some information with him that impacted his life for the better, it was the lesson he shared with me that I’m reminded of anytime the media encourages us to go extra ga-ga over celebrities and idolize them in these unhealthy spectacles. It may sound so simple, but it seems we need reminded that celebrities are people too. Sometimes they’re just looking for a healthy energy drink. Sometimes they snap naked pictures of themselves on an iPhone. (And really, can you blame them? If I had a body like Rihanna, I would probably want to see it from all angles too.)

Which brings us to the issue of our strangeness over nakedness. The irony here of course is that some of these celebs have been next to naked in public, in films or videos. It’s not hard to imagine the rest, is it? But that’s not why we freak out over these photos. We freak out over the candidness, and the naughtiness of something we know we’re not supposed to see. We’re blindsided by the reality that these celebrities, are in fact, actually just sitting around being bored people who get tempted by the same iPhone camera opp as any of us.

Chuck Klosterman once wrote that television has turned us all into voyeurs. It’s a valid point. We spend countless hours each week just watching other people do mundane things. It turns us on in ways we’re largely unaware of, or unwilling to admit. We watch others, whether it’s in a pornographic setting or a romantic sitcom, to give our own lives perspective. We unravel a bit of ourselves in observing how we’re similar and different to other people, what we like or don’t like. There’s nothing inherently wrong with that setup. But idolization brings with it a slew of problems. Rewind thousands of years to the stories of deities that ruled cultures across the globe (and still do) and you can glimpse into the overwhelming power these people we elevate above our own lives has on society—and just how dangerous that can be.

What’s really dangerous today is that we let our celeb-obsession turn unhealthy in new ways. We’re encouraged to, in fact. Girls starve themselves to look like their heroes and boys wield weapons to emulate theirs. Multi-billion fashion and beauty industries prey on our insecurities and desires and we buy into them, no matter the cost. In today’s world you either have to be a celebrity, or work damn hard to look like one for your next Facebook selfie. That we now have these little slivers of fans in our own social networks gives even more fuel to our celebrity obsession.

And of course, the more distracted we are with celebrities, clothed or naked, the less time we have to inspect the real news of the day, the things that may outrage, inspire and motivate us to become more active and involved in ushering in real change on this planet.

That’s not to say we shouldn’t enjoy celebrities. We absolutely should enjoy them. They’re talented, beautiful, inspiring. But can we enjoy them more in the same ways we enjoy videos of puppies and kittens (who, by the way, are almost always also naked) than in our dehumanizing obsession of naked celebrity photos? What if we all take off our clothes and take naked selfies, whether we look like J-Law or not and then share them on the Internet? Maybe that will even the playing field. It will at least make things more interesting.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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images:  TheAlieness GiselaGiardino²³ (top),  paul sherwood

The post Hey, Look! Naked Celebrity Photos (and That Time Bill Murray and I Swapped Spit) appeared first on EcoSalon.

2013’s contribution to the list of iconic fashion films is David O. Russell’s “American Hustle”, in which we’re thrust loudly into the mega-glam scene of the late ’70s/early ’80s.

“Annie Hall”. “The Great Gatsby”. “Bonnie & Clyde”. “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. There are films in which fashion commands your attention and often steals the show, sometimes giving the only memorable performance. “Desperately Seeking Susan”, anyone?

Now, the “American Hustle” look harkens us back to a bygone era. Halston’s hip-hugging pantsuits and dangerously plunging necklines gave us a new feminine silhouette to wear while the jangling joyride of disco screeched to a halt in the impending face of Reganomics and some of the worst unemployment rates in U.S. history. This look is body conscious, sensual, and borderline garish. And while it is doubtful that anyone will be rushing out to emulate Roslyn’s (Jennifer Lawrence) impossibly high-maintenance up-dos anytime soon, you can bet your strobe light that Amy Adams’ Sydney will be a style icon for years to come. (Or at least until the next great fashion film emerges!)

GET THE (Eco-Friendly) LOOK

Play Dress Up

You can always pop into your local Goodwill, antique mall or vintage clothing emporium, but if you prefer the instant gratification of keyword searches or want something specific, there’s a treasure trove of late-seventies fashion on Etsy and Ebay . And if you have a bigger budget, 1st dibs is teeming with incredible museum-quality couture and prêt-à-porter from the period, like this 70s stunner by Holly’s Harp.

Great keywords to search are Halston, Bob Mackie, DVF, Studio 54, Courreges, pantsuit, halter, vintage maxi, etc. A lot of dealers are wising up to the “American Hustle” trend and have started using it as a keyword, too! Both Etsy and 1st dibs have searches that let you easily drill down to certain time periods and style, which is so helpful.

We found this drop-dead vintage Halston piece on Ebay.

Feeling crafty? You can always fire up the sewing machine, buy a vintage designer pattern and make your own gown with vintage fabric.

Put it together

Three words: Big. Gold. Hoops. We found some great handmade ones on Etsy with way more character than the multitude of mass-produced jewelry on the market.

It’s impossible to be ’70s glamorous without a giant pair of sunglasses. “American Hustle” showcased a few great pair of ombre lenses and we hit up Etsy again for some incredible specs at excellent prices, like this perfect pair of vintage Courreges.

Glam it up

Think you can’t get this outrageously glittery, big-haired style and still be environmentally conscious? Oh, girl. Think again.

At this point, Zoya has any color and finish you can imagine in their extensive nail polish line, which is all-natural and free of toxins. We adore their “Maura” as a classic late-seventies red-orange and “Ava” for a pearly, frothy pink.

If you haven’t checked out Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics, you’ll be stunned with their incredible glitter-laden line, which is 100 percent vegan, cruelty-free and fabulous!  Their matching Lip Tar & Nail Lacquer sets are oh, so ’70s (and the hemp oil will make your lips SO happy): Try the “Kava Kava” for a sparkly pale peach or the “Anime” for a deliciously candy-inspired pink.

If you don’t already own hot rollers, your going to need them to get Sydney’s nouveau-Veronica Lake waves. Nab some of Aveda’s yummy smelling “Damage Control” to protect your tresses from the heat and some cruelty-free Paul Mitchell “Hold Me Tight” hairspray to keep you camera-ready into the wee hours.

Tie the whole look together and sparkle head to toe with Urban Decay’s vegan “Naked Illuminated” Face and Body Powder.

Be an Icon

Much like Ursula Andress’ bikini scene in “Dr. No”, Amy Adams’ emergence in a crocheted bathing suit will surely find a place in the collective consciousness. Think you’ve got the chutzpah to rock that look? Hurry! There’s a vintage one on Etsy!

Photo credits: Film still of Amy Adams © 2013 Sony Pictures Digital Productions Inc., Green Holly’s Harp gown courtesy of ShrimptonCouture.com , Halston Jumpsuit from ebay seller things*of*splendor, vintage Scott Barrie dress pattern from CloesCloset, gold hoops by Misty Evans Design, Courreges sunglasses from CloudNineVintage, crocheted bathing suit from ZalaVintage

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The post American Hustle: Get The (Eco-Friendly) Look! appeared first on EcoSalon.

Let’s take a moment to appreciate that the ballistic bat-craziness of the summer movie season will soon be a distant memory. Johnny Depp’s Tonto and his crow-hat will soon fade into our misty nightmares. Battling robots and monsters will rest until the next temperature rise. Instead, let’s settle in for some impressive movie characters making their fall debut.

Summer blockbuster’s “woman problem” is well known, with most big-budget films made up battling male heroes pitted against supernatural or super-circumstantial forces. And with the exception of more artful characters like Cate Blanchett in “Blue Jasmine”, a richly complex type battling inner demons, most female summer movie characters are regulated to supporting roles.

Lucky for us, riding in on the crisp winds of fall are some incredibly fun and forceful females to grace our big screens. From Sandra Bullock’s terrifying take on a space walk to Jennifer Lawrence return as our favorite rebel-with-a-cause, here are six female movie characters ready for their close-up.

1. Dr. Ryan Stone in “Gravity”—October 4th

Sandra Bullock’s Dr. Stone takes the trend of “female supporting” and sucks the oxygen right out of it. An unfortunate spacewalk bashes Stone around piñata-like in space while she grasps frantically at non-air. Soon, she’s floating around our planet with limited oxygen and communications outside her link to the other surviving spacewalker, George Clooney’s Matt Kowalsky.

Director Alfonso Cuaron recently revealed that he had to fight to keep his lead female. “When I finished the script, there were voices that were saying, ‘well, we should change it to a male lead,’” Cuaron told a panel at Comic-Con. “Obviously they were not powerful enough voices, because we got away with it. But the sad thing is that there is still that tendency.” If Cuaron’s most recent trailer is any clue, Bullock’s voice for Stone is loud, proud, and definitely the future narrator of our worst stress dreams.




2. Winnie Mandela in “Winnie”—September 6th

Many of us first found Jennifer Hudson in her Academy Award-winning turn as Effie White in 2006’s “Dreamgirls.” She left us mimicking her tour-de-force performance to anyone who would listen, which may or may not have included belting out “And I am telling you…I’m not going!” to a hapless spouse who wants you to run to the store. Or visit your in-laws. And scene.

Now J.Hud revisits the big screen as Winnie Mandela, in the film adaptation of Anne Marie du Preez Bezrob’s biography “Winnie Mandela: A Life.” Despite lackluster reviews and a bit of controversy, including Winnie Mandela herself blasting the film, it is difficult to imagine Hudson not adding Winnie to her list of impressive movie characters.

3. Tauriel in “The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug”—December 13th

Evangeline Lilly’s elf Tauriel has the unique distinction of being a movie character created by director Peter Jackson and partner Fran Walsh partially to help bring more well-tressed elves to the screen, and partially to flesh out a female character in the heavily-male dominated cast. Tolkien purists might protest, but those of us with carefully-preserved Eowyn dolls are psyched.

As Lilly describes Tauriel, “She’s slightly reckless and totally ruthless and doesn’t hesitate to kill.” We’ll be clutching our Evenstar necklaces in anticipation.



4. Katniss Everdeen in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”—November 22nd

Dystopian ethos? Check. Good versus evil? Double check. A window into the voyeuristic consumer media we have today, placed in a totalitarian regime? I am so there.  Jennifer Lawrence is back as our spirit-animal, Katniss Everdeen, the conflicted heroine of “The Hunger Games” trilogy.

While we were used to seeing Katniss excel at survival in the first film, now we see her more vulnerable side. “She’s struggling with post-traumatic stress from the Games,” Lawrence told a recent Comic-Con panel via Digital Spy, “and she has this new life now where she never has to worry about food. She’s living in the Victors Village, and that kind of leaves her feeling useless.” Useless, of course, until an epic futuristic war of human rights explodes on her doorstep this fall.



5 and 6. Emma and Adele in “Blue is the Warmest Color”—October 25th

Winner of the 2013 Palme d’Or, director Abdellatif Kechiche’s romance brings us the story of two teenagers in love. With an almost generic premise, we first meet Lea Seydoux as Emma, the blue-haired bohemian who falls for Adèle Exarchopolous’s Adele, a 17-year old student searching for the big wild world. But these be no ordinary schoolgirl crushes, called “an extraordinary, prolonged popping-candy explosion of pleasure, sadness, anger, lust and hope, and contained within it – although only just – are the two best performances of the [Cannes Film] Festival” by at least one critic. Emma and Adele promise to give us a dazzling view of love, loss, and class in relationships.

Photo Credit: Color Force/Lion’s Gate

For Further Reading:

Katniss Everdeen as a Feminist Role Model

5 Essential Documentary Films for Anyone Who Cares About Women

The post Coming this Fall: 6 Female Movie Characters We Can Hardly Wait For appeared first on EcoSalon.