Women face a lot of double standards. Dating younger men is one of them. 

Age ain’t nothing but a number. Somebody famous said that. It’s true. We’re really only as young or old as we feel. And anyone can drop dead at any second, so it’s not like being a certain age guarantees you’ll live another day. So why is there always such ridiculous fanfare over women dating younger men? Are aging vaginas really that offensive? Do we have to call these women “cougars” and make it seem like some act of desperation when it may just be that two people fell in love?

Johnny Depp recently got engaged to 20-something Amber Heard. He is literally old enough to be her father, yet the media only comments to tell us how simply quaint and wonderful their romance is. (They met on set of their forthcoming film, stealing kisses in between takes. Aw.) There are countless—I mean, really countless—cases of rickety, old, saggy, stinky, gross men running off with women half their age. (Okay, probably not running because of recent hip replacements and what not.) Even the Dalai Lama chided Larry King about his wife looking young enough to be his daughter.

But when the stunning Jennifer Lopez or Madonna or Cher or Robin Wright or Mariah Carey shack up with younger guys…well it’s a different story. It’s national news. The media has a field day with offensive headlines and commentary that’s completely out of line. Women dating younger men are treated as if they’re having breakdowns and identity crises, whereas  men doing the same thing have simply, finally found the love of their life. Pshaw. But come on. These women are HOT. (Even Cher, seriously.)

We know for a fact that women over age 30 (ahem, 40) are indeed quite sexy. This is not the 1940s when a woman in her 40s had practically one foot in the grave while the other one was wearing support hose. (And back then most men were close to dead if they even made it to their 40s, by the way.) Menopause may hit women hardest, but men go through a similar “shift” in their 50s too. In fact, sexually speaking, women hit their peak in their 30s while a man hits his around age 18—when he’s barely even technically a man. Which is maybe why older men seek out younger women in the first place. Because younger women are too inexperienced to know that the older man is past his prime. And it would definitely explain why smart women opt for dating younger men.

Esquire just praised the 42-year-old woman. Why? Because she’s damn sexy and confident and probably a much better lover and partner than she was in her 20s. Age makes us better. It gives us perspective and experience. These are traits to value, not shun.

Everyone gets to be young, but not everyone gets to grow old. Growing older is a luxury for any one of us—man or woman—and smart people know this. Besides, men don’t live as long as women. So if you want to be with the one you love “until death”, you might want to marry a younger man in the first place so that you two die with less of a gap.

Perhaps though the biggest double standard about women dating younger men is the confidence it implies. The media tells us women are supposed to be sexy, naive and submissive. How can a women 5, 7, 15 years older than her partner be that? Her years older than her partner imply  her confidence no matter what her age. She’s clearly comfortable with her sexuality and sharing it with a younger man. Does that scare men who aren’t comfortable with sexy older women? If there’s one thing our culture has yet to embrace, it’s sexiness with wrinkles. And sags. And all those things that remind us just how fleeting and precious life is. That might just be the biggest double standard of all here–that we think we can outsmart time by who we choose love. We can’t. All we can do is find the people we love and who love us back and have as much fun as we can, no matter our age, no matter theirs. It’s only just a number after all.

Find Jill on Twitter @jillettinger

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image: eng-madonna-serbia,  larry he’s so fine

The post Women Dating Younger Men: Why It’s Hot appeared first on EcoSalon.

ColumnRecent Twittersphere flare-ups featuring Rashida Jones and Sinéad O’Conner “slut-shaming” pop-culture irritant Miley Cyrus and others for their fleshy outbursts drew swift backlash from some members of the feminist community and bitter online battles among women. What’s a man to make of all this?

Growing up in a liberal family in the ‘70s got me thinking. I cheered as Billie Jean King thrashed Bobby Riggs on the tennis court, watched in awe as millions jammed Washington to protest anti-women legislation and celebrated the Roe v. Wade triumph. I loved my mother that much more for proudly wearing her ERA bracelet (serendipitous though it was, as those also happened to be her initials) and followed her example when it came to developing my worldview regarding women and politics. All told, my support for feminism was indelibly engrained as far back as I can remember.

As an undergraduate, I read Andrea Dworkin and Betty Friedan, marched in “take back the night” campaigns and volunteered as a campus escort. It wasn’t front and center in my life, but I did my best to keep my testosterone in check in my relationships and outlook, and play by the rules as I saw them regarding the movement and its tenets, and their implications for my thinking and lifestyle.

To be clear, while I called myself a feminist (and still do), I look back with no illusions that my insensitivities didn’t lead to plenty of bad behaviors. I was guilty of my share of objectification (still am), and my ignorance and lack of empathy reared their heads on too many occasions. Yet, by and large, I embraced (accepted, I should say) the vilification of such shortcomings. I even tried to understand how someone could see my penis as a weapon.

Of course, it wasn’t always easy staying oriented in this sociopolitical context. One example of weird crossfire was in my studies. I was a lit guy, more or less, and clearly remember the icy stare of the prof who refused to read my thesis on Kerouac because the writer was a “pig.” Another one threw (as in slammed) a copy of Homer’s Odyssey to the floor during class, saying the work was “full of male crap” and that the canon was “rigged.” As the editor of a campus literary magazine, I witnessed and was dragged into numerous battles between the sexes—and I didn’t dare publish any of my own erotica as I was sure my take was poisoned by my pen (or sword, as it were).

Most of this kind of thing was anecdotal to my experience, not pervasive, and all told I manned up and surfed the Second Wave as best I could, learning life lessons along the way. But as the end of the century drew nearer, things began to change. The Feminist Sex Wars heated up, Madonna showed up as the anti-virgin and Chrissie Hynde began shooting her mouth off. The feminist tent grew bigger and the women I knew were no longer playing by the hard and fast rules I grew up with, as liberation took on a new, more inclusive and individualized sensibility. Relations between the sexes were suddenly less clear and, just as my fathers before me must have struggled to keep pace with change, I found myself tripping and bumbling and trying to understand, rethink and act accordingly.

The questions came fast: What, exactly, did all these changes mean and what, exactly, was becoming “okay” in this shifting paradigm? Could I flip on the porn? Did I dare admit that I secretly thought objectification was at times underrated? And why is that chick hitting on me? Does her T-shirt really say that? Did she just say that?! Part of me, of course, was delighted by this turn of events. Another part, seasoned in old-school sexual politics, had no idea what to do. Understandable, I guess, when seeing the world through the eyes of what is or isn’t politically correct.

To the “it’s a not about you” voices out there, fair enough, but I should say that it’s not just the fact that I’m a guy that made me attempt to see this evolution through my own lens. It’s human nature to ask what does this mean to me, particularly when it’s not about you and in many ways empathy cannot be part of the equation. Besides, I had women friends and lovers, and processing how those relationships were affected by such changes was at the very least polite, and at best simply the right thing to do.

This is now…

Today, Third-Wave Feminism has come of age (with a fourth purportedly taking shape), and it’s largely credited with invigorating and in many ways saving the movement. In terms of sexual expression, the footprint is everywhere—from the Suicide Girls to Yes Means Yes, there are countless articulations of the sex-positive moment. Just the other week, in fact, a woman friend and I were discussing how the word cunt is being happily retrieved for delightful usage by many of its owners. On the (more) popular front, we have Miley Cyrus merrily swinging along on her wrecking ball (spoiler: bad art alert), and Rihanna crooning, “come here rude boy/boy can you get it up?”

Not everyone is of the same mind though, as evidenced by recent online flames when Rashida Jones and Sinéad O’Conner weighed in negatively on Miley et al. Watching the slut-shaming and “what is feminism?” debate erupt, I thought about how much the world has changed since I was young—and about all those old struggles on the okay vs. not okay front. To her credit, Jones, addressing the issue in a Glamour article, asked men to weigh in: “Men: WHERE ARE YOU??? Please talk to us about how all this makes you feel. You are 49 percent of the population; don’t sit around and let women beat one another up while you intermittently and guiltily enjoy the show. Speak up! We care what you think!”

So okay, Rashida, here it goes:

Looking back, many of the questions I used to ask myself about how to react to women (and female expression) were off the mark. The fact of the matter is that too often we see the world and our fellow inhabitants through a social or political lens, leaving out one critical fact—people are people first, and men, women and the trans community are each a subset of that. Forget the relationship with the movement—we’re at our best when we treat humans with humanity, not when we try to define, limit and sometimes even understand others.

What does this mean? Well, call it trial and error, but I’ve come to realize that my most successful relationships—and best behaviors—happen when I drop the perceived definitions and flailing, biased judgments. Not to diminish my own, personal politics (to which I remain deeply committed), but what was most important about how I was raised was not how to be a feminist, but rather why to be feminist. Compassion and respect come first, said and modeled my mother. It’s not about gender—and being politically correct isn’t the core issue. The real question we must ask ourselves is, are we humane? To my boys (now interesting and respectable men), my mantra was always “be nice to everyone you meet and watch out for cars.” Be kind and be safe. That’s really all you need to know—at least that’s where it’s best to begin.

So, Rashida, what do I think? Well, my penchant for naked aside, I think Miley pretty much sucks. (Let’s just say her work is not to my taste.) Rihanna’s talent is, in a word, overwhelming (and Chris Brown is a criminal), and you, Rashida, are a brilliant actress. Sinead? Two things: that voice changed me back in the day and, sorry, but she turned me on something fierce. As for how each of you influence our culture—and younger women in particular—I’ll just say keep doing what you think is best. Your audiences (and perhaps their parents) can take it from there.

In the end it’s on us men to check ourselves, not on women to censor how they express themselves. I recently saw a powerful photograph of an attractive topless woman at a protest event with this scrawled across her naked breasts: “It’s still not okay to rape me.” I admit that I lingered over the image for a few extra seconds for prurient reasons, but what truly resonated for me is the truth of those words. And how, person-to-person feminism aside, and no matter what we believe about anything else in this world, she’s right. And that’s all we really need to know—or at least that’s where it’s best to begin.

Scott Adelson is EcoSalon’s Senior Editor of HyperKulture, a monthly column that explores opening cultural doors to initiate personal change. He is also the author of InPRINT, which reviews and discusses books, new and old. You can reach him at scott at adelson dot org and follow him @scottadelson on Twitter.

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HyperKulture: In Swoon’s Way – Time traveling and Staring Down Florence Syndrome

InPrint: On the Road, Again – Revisiting Jack Kerouac

Images: PNG etc (top) and PeterTea

The post Yes Means Yes Means What? – Miley, Rihanna and Me: HyperKulture appeared first on EcoSalon.

Look out: Leggings, the most reviled of Eighties garments are here to stay.

Saggy, slobby and sometimes scarily see-through, leggings are fashion’s unlikeliest heroes. When they reappeared on the scene in 2006 many women experienced uncomfortable 80s flashbacks and groaned at the thought of their return. And yet six years later, after a winter solid with leather look leggings, animal prints, floral and polka dot patterned versions adorn the legs of this fall’s mannequins. They show no sign of exiting the scene, in fact it seems we’re more attached than ever.

After DuPont created the earliest form of lycra in 1959, leggings became available to wear as trousers similar to the popular Capri pants favored by Mary Tyler Moore and Audrey Hepburn, but much, much tighter. But it was not until the fitness and aerobics craze in the very early 1980s that leggings made their way from the gyms and dance studios to the streets. The popularity of Cindy Lauper, Madonna and the movie Flashdance with teens brought them into the mainstream. Worn with skirts and mini dresses, under long shirts with slouchy socks and biker boots thru the early 90s, it’s no accident their current popularity coincides with the recent grunge revival.

So bad, they’re good on Debbie Harry in the late 70s.

Women remembering them from those earlier eras are right to be wary. Leggings are the ultimate in unforgiving, even on a good day. Designed to be tight and stretchy they draw attention to every part of your lower half. The eighties versions tended to go baggy around the knees and the seat, two areas nobody needs any extra sag.

Reassuringly, modern day lycra mixes are a lot higher and more stable than they used to be, but beyond design improvements, the question remains – why when they are so potentially unflattering, are we still wearing them?

Lace leggings worn by Madonna in the 80s.

True to their origins of keep fit, leggings are the ultimate pull-on-and-go garments. They can be tossed in the washing machine and dryer, they don’t need to be folded, let alone ironed – they are just so easy. What it boils down to is comfort. The fact is, no matter how much we love fashion, when it comes to our day-to-day clothing, most of us are wearing layers and leggings. And it’s not just us ladies, men’s leggings, dubbed “meggings” were introduced at last years spring/summer shows and are surprisingly catching on.

Russell Brand in his Sass & Bide “Meggings”

But how to avoid the dreaded sausage-in-too-tight-casing look? Aim not to think of them as trousers. Which means never ever wearing with a short or tight fitting top and, unless you are at least 5ft 10,” forget about the mid-calf length ones. No matter how much you are tempted, just say no.

On the other hand, a basic black ankle length version can quickly become your best friend. For the remainder of this season, try adding a pair under flowy dresses and shorts to give a rock ‘n’ roll vibe to lightweight summery pieces. Come fall, pair with this season’s oversized chunky knits and boots for a more mod approach.

With well-chosen items, the leggings are transformed into a stylish but still comfortable look

Want to catch up on some more fashion history?

Now & Then: The History of the Bikini

Now & Then: The History of the White Wedding Dress

Now & Then: The History of Shapewear

Now & Then: The History of the Ballet Flat

Now & Then: The History of the Breton Shirt

Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Now & Then: The History of Skinny Jeans

Read more Now & Then articles here.

The post The History of Leggings appeared first on EcoSalon.

The trend for corset cuts and waist flattering peplums highlights a return to the hourglass shape. Is it a sign of curvier times to come?

Save for the ladies of Mad Men, it’s been a while since the hourglass figure had a fashion moment. Recent runways were loaded with corset cuts and elegant peplum flaring at the waist – so when it comes to tips on spring’s chicest silhouette, it seems it’s all in the hips.

The 1980s were the last time peplum and corset fashion styles were popular, then they were accompanied by exaggerated shoulders, leg of mutton sleeves and most regrettably, giant bows (fortunately 2012’s designers have modernized the waisted looks, pairing them with sleek pencil skirts and skinny pants to maximize their midrift-minimizing magic).

Vivienne Westwood’s Portrait Collection A/W 90-91 corsets were a catwalk expression of punk sexuality.

Before becoming a mass fashion trend, Vivienne Westwood was the first designer of the twentieth century to reinvent the corset in the mid-1970s. One of her most important fashion ideas, they quickly become a signature theme in her work. Modeled from those of the eighteenth century, her corsets flattened and raised the bosom, giving women a unique sense of power and glamor.

Madonna famously wore Gaultier’s corsets during her world-tour in 1990.

Jean Paul Gaultier followed in Westwood’s footsteps designing 1950s inspired corsets in homage to those his beloved grandmother wore. Gaultier’s fetishtistic corsets became iconic when Madonna wore them during her Blond Ambition world-tour in 1990. According to fashion historian Valerie Steele, “No longer the symbol of women’s oppression, the corset had become the symbol of sexual empowerment.”

Dolce & Gabanna’s romantic A/W 2012 collection cemented the trend for corset detailing to continue into the Fall.

Now & Then: The History of Lace

Now & Then: The History of the Platform Shoe

Now & Then: The History of Fitness Wear

Now & Then: The History of the Paisley Print

Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Now & Then: The History of the Cocktail Dress

Now & Then: The History of the Trench Coat

Now & Then: The History of 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

The post Now & Then: The History of the Fashion Corset appeared first on EcoSalon.

Not so straight laced: Whether you decide to vamp it up in black lace or play modest in white, different colored lace can symbolize either sophistication or naïveté.

One thing you can be certain of this coming wedding season, is that the bride will be wearing lace. If last year’s royal wedding wasn’t enough inspiration, the white-hot trend for lace in ready-to-wear means the delicate openwork fabric is the summer’s signature detail.

The mysterious stranger in black lace.

Soft and feminine, lace – the word itself derived from the Latin laqueus, meaning loop or noose – is never far from the surface of women’s fashions. Lace production first boomed in Europe during the 1700s. Handcrafted needle-made lace was not only a labor-intensive effort, but also involved high amounts of personal skill. Worn as a sign of prestige and wealth, it was among the most valued of a household’s possessions. Some periods of history since then have been more lace obsessed than others, but the strong feeling for it this time around speaks to our growing desire for heritage styles with long-lasting heirloom qualities.

Lace-loving royal brides: Britain’s Duchess Catherine and Monaco’s Princess Grace dazzled in white-on-white bespoke lace.

Beyond expressing itself precious, lace is unique for its ability to embrace the betwixt and between, to narrate an ambiguous sense of femininity that is best told as a story where opposites are free to meet. Can you think of another fabric that encompasses two such opposite ends of the spectrum as readily as lace does? Both traditional and modern, demure and sexy, girlish and womanly, it’s no wonder it’s so popular with royal brides, Madonna and Italian designers, Dolce & Gabbana.

Madonna in her “Like A Virgin” punk phase was shocking in 1984 in a not-so-virginal white lace.

Chantilly, eyelet, guipure, laser cut, appliquéd on canvas or crocheted on cotton, lace in all its many forms was spotted on many designer’s spring/summer runways. Available in white, black, red, lavender and lemon, the variations and connotations possible were as endless as they were easy.

Free spirited Jane Birkin out on the town with Serge Gainsbourg, wearing a low cut white lace dress.

Now & Then: The History of the Platform Shoe

Now & Then: The History of Fitness Wear

Now & Then: The History of the Paisley Print

Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Now & Then: The History of the Cocktail Dress

Now & Then: The History of the Trench Coat

Now & Then: The History of 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

The post Now & Then: The History of Lace appeared first on EcoSalon.

Will the recent Jazzercise revival force us to reevaluate the dominance of the all-black fitness uniform?

On one of his trips to the U.S., the world’s foremost yoga teacher, B.K.S. Iyengar was said to have expressed surprise that unlike his Indian devotees, none of his students wore color when they practiced yoga. As he looked across the sea of students, all were wearing black, fitted cotton tanks and flare-legged “yoga” pants.

Jane Fonda single-handedly started the craze for leotards worn in brightly colored combinations.

While Mr. Iyengar may not have had great insight into the West’s acceptance of the slimming effects of black lycra, it’s interesting to note the 30 year journey that our fitness wear has taken and remember a more joyful time before the unspoken dominance of the all-black fitness uniform began.

Stretchy spandex –  which was invented in 1959 –  fabrics with their easy care and ability to be dyed in strong vibrant colors were the hallmark of the 1980s Jazzercise outfit. The brightly colored leotards worn with legwarmers and over-sized grey Marl sweatshirts featured matching belts and hairbands.

Reviving the 80s sound and look, Madonna wore a pink leotard for her Confessions on a Dance Floor album.

Another trend that evolved during the fitness-crazed 80s were lightweight nylon jogging suits – also made in wild patterns of neon pinks, blues, light greens –  that although designed for the gym were quickly adopted as street wear. Perhaps, the garish legacy of fitness wear gone wild is too recent a memory for some, but if bright, energy sustaining colors can make a workout more appealing, it might be time to feel the burn all over again.

 The 80s shell suit is a trend thats best left to the archives of truly bad taste.

Now & Then: The History of the Paisley Print

Now & Then: The History of the Pencil Skirt

Now & Then: The History of the Cocktail Dress

Now & Then: The History of the Trench Coat

Now & Then: The History of 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

The post Now & Then: The History of Fitness Wear appeared first on EcoSalon.

You’ve been waiting a full week for more titillating information on worldy sex facts and they’re back. That’s right, it’s this week’s Sex by Numbers.

Number of sex “mistakes” that heterosexual men make, according to WebMD: 7

$3: value of coupon for admission to New York’s Museum of Sex (for a total admission price of $14.50)

$114: price of a used copy of Madonna’s Sex on Amazon

1: official fragrances released by the Sex Pistols, as of 2010 (which has a “fresh, restless bite of lemon, sharpened and intensified by a defiant black pepper”)

55,000: number of condoms with QR codes recently distributed by Planned Parenthood throughout Western Washington in part of an attempt to create a “map of safe sex”

Percentage of the world’s sex toys made in China: 70

185,000+: monthly pageviews for Xmusic.com, a blog that features “music to have sex to”

10,000: age of oldest known depiction of human genitals, found in the Creswell Crags cave paintings

The post Sex by Numbers: Water Cooler Talk appeared first on EcoSalon.

Ten women who are role models for perseverance, courage, creativity and leadership.

We live in a time where there are many women who are achieving amazing goals and impacting the lives of women and girls around the world. Here are 10 who have impacted and inspired more than they can count.

Judy Blume
She scandalized parents with Are You There God? It’s Me Margaret and other forthright novels about teenage sexuality. For teenagers in the 1970s, Blume’s books were a validation of all that young women felt and questioned. Girls could instantly identify with Margaret and Deenie, characters that alleviated feelings of personal alienation in a time when sex was not as openly discussed and dissected.

Madonna
Who wasn’t captivated by her Borderline video? When Madonna came out gyrating in ruffled ankle socks on the MTV scene, she was flamboyant and expressive and larger than life. She was the original Lady Gaga who pushed sexual, fashion as well as personal boundaries, and offered (to a young generation of women) freedom of expression that many ran with – neon, mini skirts, lace and all.

Oprah Winfrey
Oprah was the first woman to show us that you didn’t have to be white, thin or generically beautiful to be successful in front of the camera. Oprah’s personality, perseverance and business-savvy garnered her a multimedia empire and proved to girls and women everywhere that heart and smarts are what’s important.

Hillary Clinton
After Hillary Clinton spent eight years serving as First Lady, she went on to serve in the U.S. Senate, ran for president, and then became the U.S. Secretary of State. In no matter what capacity she was serving, the former first lady used her political platform and global presence to champion women’s rights. In 1995, she stood up at the World Conference on Women in Beijing and denounced the mistreatment of women around the world, from female infanticide, to forced abortion, to rape used as a military tactic. She famously proclaimed, “If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights, once and for all.”

JK Rowling
JK Rowling created the most well-known trio in young adult literary history and enchanted children around the globe, all the while living a real life rags-to-incredible-riches story. With the Harry Potter series, Rowling made reading a fantastic journey that no one wanted to miss so even kids that had no interest in reading were spellbound. Watching children gobble up these giant 600+ page tomes is truly amazing. From the midnight bookstore parties to unprecedented numbers of first print runs, it was a publishing phenomenon that we will probably never see again in our lifetime.

Mia Hamm
When Mia Hamm and the other players on the U.S. Women’s World Cup team came onto the scene, they made girl’s soccer popular and cool. Their World Cup triumph made the world notice female athletes. Mia Hamm posters graced millions of girl’s bedroom walls, and girls saw that sports equal teamwork, friendship and solidarity.

Sheryl Sandberg
Sheryl Sandberg is an engaging speaker and her passion for women in business is infectious. She is known for telling women to “lean in” to their careers and keep climbing the ladder, no matter what, because it is possible for women to lead and have a family. As COO of Facebook, the most popular and well-known company on the planet, we have to wonder how much higher her star can rise. Perhaps she’ll show us that the sky really isn’t the limit.

Kirsten Gillibrand
U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand replaced Hillary Clinton as the junior democratic senator for New York in 2009 – a good fit since Gillibrand also has a passion for women’s rights and leadership, and tirelessly campaigns for more women to get involved in politics. A mother of two small children, she makes balancing a family and helping to run the country look easy. She represents women in a forum where there aren’t many women’s voices or perspective, reminding those in government what challenges half the workers in the U.S. and the majority of consumer decision makers face. Gillibrand, and the small number of other women in government, show girls that women can have an impact on how our country is run.

Annie Leonard
EcoSalon just interviewed Annie Leonard a month ago, and anyone who spends twenty years trotting the globe to find out where our trash goes earns the label of saint. In her Story of Stuff videos, Leonard boils complex topics down into simple examples using straightforward language that everyone can understand. Leonard also wants people to understand how empty materialism is and how much it harms the planet and walks the talk wherever she goes.

Melissa McCarthy
Finally the best friend character – the underdog – gets the glory. For once, it’s not the glamour girl, but the girl next door who is being recognized for her talent, her humor and her hard work. McCarthy, who stars on the sitcom Mike and Molly, spent years as the Gilmore Girls sidekick and broke out recently because of her show and women-centered comedy hit, Bridesmaids. Humor and personality should always win.

image credits: NJ State Library, David Shankbone, Alan Light, Marc Nozell, Beacon Radio, Global Sports Forum, JD Lasica, Freedom to Marry, The Story of Stuff, Audi USA, Kara Allyson

The post 10 Women Who Inspire Us to Succeed appeared first on EcoSalon.

The fashion trends of the 1980’s had one thing in common: they were wild. Some of the first things to pop into your head when you recall that beleaguered fashion era might be spandex, excessive shoulder pads, and the hot neon looks inspired by Miami Vice.

But one trend you probably forgot about is mesh, with Madonna as fearless leader.

1980’s Madonna layered in mesh

Consider the different sources of mesh inspiration. 60’s flower power I-want-to-get-stoned-and dirty-in clothes ready for either planting or war looks; 70’s boho-chic Virgin Mary dresses and body hugging pants a la Farrah Fawcett with a hint of Sex Pistols, complete with all the Mohawk and mesh a rebellious Material Girl could stand.

We were all over the place, but are we any better now? Take a look at Gisele in Colcci (image below), and you tell me.

Gisele Bundchen for Colcci

Mesh was born of the desire to show skin post 60’s-70’s, without baring it all. In the 80’s mesh was used to add layers to popular neon crop tops in an attempt to fuse punk with the mainstream so that anyone could wear it and be hip.

The 2011 mesh trend is a recycling of older trends, coming on the tail end of  war inspired garb, 70’s “Lady of the canyon,” with just a little Sex Pistols ready to rock mixed in.

Feral Childe, spring ’11

Mesh can’t help but be edgy with its inherent industrial reference to chains, but designers for spring ’11 have decided to tone it down. Their fresh takes on the old look are tasteful and inventive. Take for instance this cone shaped mesh hat from Issey Miyaki. It provides a little ying to summer’s heavy, sun-filled yang.

Issey Miyaki, spring ’11

Loomstate’s exploration of fabric for the every-woman has us thinking more under the sea than in an underground club.

And Samantha Pleet goes all the way with her netastic floor length dress that leaves just enough to the imagination.

Samantha Pleet, spring ’11. Image from Elisa Hyman

Will all of us be wearing mesh? Probably not, but it definitely makes for texture in the closet and for fun when dressing up as an alternate to solid fabrics.

Top image: Isabel Marant, spring ’11 backstage

The post And Then There Was Mesh appeared first on EcoSalon.

Man, I love sunglasses. I have a whole glove compartment filled with vintage glasses from flea markets all over the country. I have glasses that channel my mother in 1976, big Jackie-O’s and some slick pairs that just make me look like I’m ridiculously wealthy.

But 80’s inspired? Not yet. These two eco-pairs by icu eyewear and Moonwoods have me drooling. Channeling Madonna? I’ll give it a run.

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