Take the Magnetic Bra Test

FASHION/TECHNOLOGY - There is a new bra coming to North America, and its positively and negatively attracted to itself. In case you didn't read the title of this blog post, yes its a magnetic bra.

Look ma, no hooks or clasps!

The bra is being offered by lingerie retailer La Vie en Rose, but they're not the only ones going magnetic. Wonderbra also has a new magnetic bra out being promoted by burlesque star Dita Von Teese... and not because its easy to take off, because it actually isn't as easy as it looks.

La Vie En Rose's version is called "Magnetic Attraction" and it retails for $33.95 CDN each. It also comes in three styles – the Boost push-up, the Daily lightly padded and the Au Naturel unpadded.

You see in the past attempts to make a magnetic bra always failed because the magnets were too weak to stand up to the stress of say... jumping up and down, running, or even simple tasks like bending over to pick something up.

Whoops. It popped open again.

But these new magnetic bras are MUCH MORE POWERFUL and both La Vie En Rose and Wonderbra are daring people to come into their stores and put them to the test.

Because apparently these things aren't budging. You can jiggle it, jump and dance in it, run, whatever.

The magnet's sheer strength is already annoying men too... its even harder to remove than those old hook bras, causing complaints:

"Why did they invent this? Is it supposed to make it easier? 'Cause it's not."

Of course the bra is also causing some jokes, like what if paper clips get stuck to your shirt... or if you can't find your keys and they were stuck to your bra the entire time. Let alone problems with airport security.

"Finally a bra I can open, and also hang on my fridge!"

See Also
The History of the Bra & Breasts
Open-Cup Bras
Nursing/Maternity Bras
The History of the Corset & Brassiere
Shock Absorbing Sports Bras

Short Skirts coming Spring 2010

FASHION - All the top designers are pushing short skirts for women in Spring 2010. Below are: Prada on the left, Dolce & Gabbana in the centre and Versace on the right.

In other news where did the decade go? Its October 1st 2009 already and in only three short months it will by January 2010. Seriously, WTF. Seems like only yesterday the United States was worried about Y2K, and then George W. Bush snuck into the White House... then September 11th 2001, the War in Afghanistan that failed to capture Osama bin Laden, the War in Iraq that failed to find Weapons of Mass Destruction, the Tsunami in Malayasia, Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, the American Recession started in 2007, Barack Obama got elected in November 2008, and slow but steady economic recovery in 2009.

According to some fashion gurus the trend towards short skirts happens whenever people are short on cash. Skirts costs less than dresses, and the less fabric used often the less expensive the skirts are. Thus frugal people are more likely to buy them.

HOWEVER, predicting fashion trends based on economics are tricky. What if the economy completely rebounds by Spring 2010 and people have more cash to buy whatever they want?

Well, you see there's also a backup issue... global warming and climate change. With hotter temperatures people will be wanting more short skirts anyway, so its also a pretty safe bet people will want them since jeans/dresses will be too hot.

So my advice? If you see shorts skirts on sale and you absolutely love them and think they will be kewl to wear in the future, buy them.

Goth, Courtesan and Kabuki

FASHION/GOTHIC - East meets West, Victorian gothic meets kabuki performer and designer Marc Jacobs takes aim at trends with a scattergun.

Seeing what he did it looks like he ripped off ideas from "The King and I", "Blade Runner" and Queen Elizabeth I era fashion... victorian ruffles, gothic lolitas... mixed with army jackets and khaki trench coats.

He also deliberately played fashion don'ts... like wearing lingerie as outer wear, a luxury fanny pack and socks with sandals.

In other words... you'd never actually wear this stuff outside.

Don't get me wrong, I love gothic fashion... but I think fashion designers playing lip service to gothic culture is just lame. The things they design don't appeal to real goths, and the fashionistas like myself won't wear this crap either because:

#1. Its too expensive.

#2. Its full of fashion faux pas don'ts.

In his latest show Marc Jacobs mixed leopard prints... you know the kind that old women with dyed blond hair, gold teeth (or missing teeth!) wear... seriously. That stuff may look good on a thin fashion model, but marketing that is just a bad idea.

I swear some fashion designers are just complete hacks. They just copy whatever they see and never come up with anything original.

Proof that Haute Couture belongs on the runway

FASHION - To the right you see photos of Sandra Bullock and Madonna dressed in haute couture fashion.

And what you realize is that what looks good on the runway doesn't necessarily look good in real life. In fact it looks just plain ridiculous.

What were they thinking?

Did they not bother to look in the mirror?

Its what I've been saying for years now. Haute couture is the fashion industry's version of Abstract Expressionism. Its something for fashion designers to look at and appreciate, they're experimental. They're not actually meant to be worn in real life.

But apparently there's enough dumb celebrities out there to at least attempt it.

Motorcycles and Heavy Metal Fashion

FASHION - Motorcycles, heavy metal and a darker look are in this Fall. Be on the lookout for a lot of young women wearing motorcycle jackets and sporting heavy metal jewelry.

In seems like the younger generation are pushing the late 80s cliques once more.

The Preppies (the preppy look is also in)

The Slackers (lots of plaid shirts)

The Rockers (the heavy metal, motorcycle jackets, big clunky boots, etc)

Look for "leader of the pack" studs, spikes and chains on everything from boots to bracelets. The aggressive biker image becomes a lot softer as women wear buttery soft leather and shapely cuts in real or imitation leather.

NOTE: The process used to make imitation leather isn't very environmentally friendly. So you're either killing some cows or destroying the environment. Your choice. Its either faux leather or the real thing. Plus the beef industry kills the cows anyway for their meat whether we wear the leather or not. The fur industry is a whole different matter because we don't actually eat minx, fox, chinchillas and rabbit that often.

Big clunky boots smothered in nail heads or studs. Wide belts with tonnes of studs. Bullets, Skulls, Fake Tattoos... its all good.

And not necessarily steel! You can also get a variety of colours.

By the time you're done your parents will want to send you to reform school for an attitude adjustment.

Even little kids are getting into the motorcycle jacket trend. They can be found at H&M, Gap and Joe Fresh, giving new meaning to the phrase biker babe.

And even if you don't like the jackets, check out all the kewl accessories.

The last time the motorcycle jacket was so popular it was during the late 80s and early 90s. The era was captured perfectly in 1991 by fashion photographer Peter Lindbergh who featured the top supermodels of that era posing like street toughs in Chanel leather biker jackets.

The don't-mess-with-me attitude with broad menacing shoulders and flashy hardware, buckles, zippers and studs was the ultimate way to tell your parents' you're rebelling. Add biker boots, leather officer caps and mini skirts and there is a variety of looks you can make.

You want the look to be natural however. You shouldn't feel like you're wearing a costume.