Rebranding Thy Self: With a New Style...Comes New Behavior?

(Photo Credit: www.mirror.co.ul)

It's sooooo totally natural to feel a newfound sense of confidence and clarity when you adjust your image in a new direction, especially when you feel it's an improvement and you notice that others are taking to your reemergence.

In fact, I usually feel sassier when I add I more sex appeal at night (as if I single-handledly brought sexy back in my faux-leather leggings) or when I do something simple, like say, change my nail polish. For years, I have branded myself as the 'Good Girl Gone Shopping' and Elana, the "Talking Chic" columnist for Agenda Magazine. So when I do make subtle changes, I am aware that when others research me, they will perceive everything about me to be key elements of who I am. And actually, not just who I am as a brand...but who I am as a person. 

Now....I didn't see the Miley Cyrus "twerking" thingy with Robin Thicke on the VMA's, but wow, did I hear about it everywhere! From Twitter to Power 106, the comments were anything but kind to this chick. For me, the above pic says it all and I don't really need to see a YouTube clip to play catch-up (even though I'll probably give in and watch it). But, anyway, my point of this article isn't to analyze her behavior. After all, she's in show business and an entertainer and building up hype and yada, yada, yada....I get it... 

(Photo Credit: www.huffingtonpost.com)

What I find most interesting in general about style, which the Miley fiasco exemplified, is the inner phenomenon that takes place when you take on a new look. Or, rather, explore a different side of yourself that was previously kept under wraps with a "safer" style. I personally find it fascinating that beauty and fashion makeovers can completely create a new image for oneself -- especially an entertainer. Remember, when Britney shaved her head? Of course, you do. Well, that was another moment that made my mind spin a bit (which I wrote about in my Spring 2007 Talking Chic column, "The 'F' in Fashion is for Fun.")

I'm curious as to what you think about the relationship between inner self and style. It's basically a did-the-egg-come-before-the-chicken-scenario. Did Miley's rebellious style exist before her outlandish behavior? Or, did her outlandish behavior just need a little help with the right edgy fashion? 

Talk to me! Feel free to leave your comments. All perspectives are welcome! If you wish, you can also contact me for further commentary. 

Jersey Barely-There Fashion NOT For Everybody!

The new season of MTV's fabulous disaster "Jersey Shore" starts next Thursday, Aug. 4th. Not only does this probably mean more Snooki "Is my cuka showing?" cartwheels, glowing orange tans, and "DTF" girls in and out of the kids' house (this time in Italy!), I am anticipating even more outrageous stereotypical Jersey fashion. And if you embrace the LA nightlife, or actually nightlife anywhere in the country, you will notice that the tight, mini skirts, cheek-hugging denim shorts, and ultra-low, cleavage baring tops are continuing to be hot, trendsetting styles among club-going ladies these days. But I will say again what I always say: Not.All.Trends.Are.For.Everyone.

If you haven't read my latest "Talking Chic" column in Agenda Magazine, please check it out: "Should What's Worn in Jersey...Stay in Jersey?" Enjoy, and thank you for reading!

Have a fabulous week!

The 'Jersey Shore' Hype Continues

Tan skin, big hair, tight clothes. That's what the cast of MTV's "Jersey Shore" has become famous for. Their over-the-top personalities are worth taking note of too. Whether we laugh or make fun of their styles and/or antics ("beat the beat"), you gotta give credit to the fact that they are being true to themselves. Fashion rules are not the same for everyone, after all.

Tonight, as I watched the gals being interviewed during MTV's pre-show for the movie awards, as well as their new music video with Enrique Iglesias (yes, really!), I found myself smiling. Who woulda thought that the kids who are all about "GTL" (gym, tanning, laundry) would shake up the world of pop and entertainment. Now, with season two of "Jersey Shore" coming to MTV, showing fashion styles that probably make most industry professionals and critics cringe, we can only wonder if the hype will continue...



Photo Credit: http://www.live.drjays.com

Lady Gaga Embraces the Bizarre at the MTV Music Awards

I can't stop thinking about Lady Gaga and her insane outfits and personas at the MTV Video Music Awards last night. She definitely made a statement. But what kind of statement?


Photo Credit: http://www.hollyscoop.com, http://www.nj.com

Britney Spears Reflects on Her Dark Days Tonight on MTV!

I remember the day when my sister sent me a text message that said "Britney shaved her head BALD like Sinead O' Connor!" At that time, I was still living at the condo in Rancho Cucamonga, so I ran up the stairs to my room, and turned on the TV -- that's right, this was major news around the country.

Never truly calling myself a Britney Spears fan, even though I will hit the dance floors and turn up the volume in the car when her songs come on, I was shocked and saddened. But now I'm totally delighted about her "coming out" on MTV tonight in an exclusive feature that reflects on her dark days. Truth is, Britney taking steps outside of the pop world could have taken her out for good. So I am happy to see this young mom and entertainer speak to millions no matter what the consequences are, even if if it is staged.

As for her past bizarre bald head move; while all of us realized that Britney shaving her head was probably part of an internal struggle she was experiencing, I may have been one of the only ones who became an even bigger fan at that point.

Reposted here for you, my Spring 2007 "Talking Chic" column in Agenda Magazine shows what was going on in my mind during that time:

The "F" in Fashion is for Fun

...Let's step back a sec and pretend that Britney's sole reason for shaving her head was because she was eager to spark a young Hollywood trend in baldness. Did that ever cross anyone's mind? Well, it crossed mine—I am a firm believer in having fun with fashion.

Just as award show season has occupied much of the E! Network with pre-show coverage, post-show coverage, and Fashion Police disses, my few hours between sleep and work consist of watching beautiful hosts talk to beautiful people time and time again. In doing so, I have come to the conclusion that not only "hair" has become the "ultimate accessory" in A-list credo, but so is a star's stylist. And from what I've heard, I have gathered that there are many celebrities out there with really bad taste; however, thanks to the professional stylists, America can barely pick out who is clueless and who wishes they could have more spunk in their swang. So bringing it back to Britney, couldn't one say that she is simply being herself but just getting ridiculed for it? Or desperately daring to be herself despite the commotion she has stirred?

So with a stylist as a sidekick, are other celebs misleading the public into thinking that they actually know a thing or two about real style? Truth is, we care...but we really don't. All in all, we just want a celebrity to look good and maintain the holier-than-thou status that society continues to hold them to. Yet when a star—a person—steps out of the grips of Hollywood and dares to take a chance on the raw emotion she is feeling at the moment, we point, laugh, exploit, make fun of, and chastise them because they are defying what and who a celebrity is supposed to be.

Since when did fashion get so serious that a girl can't shave her head and not make it on every gossip magazine at the grocery store? It's just hair, people, really. But Britney's move was definitely shocking...for me to watch, at least. I'll admit it. I myself enjoy playing around with braids, weaves, and scarfs; how my hair looks is nearly as important, if not more, than the jeans on my butt and the shoes on my feet.

I understand the symbol of femininity engrained in the look of a woman's hairstyle. And for me, I gotta feel confident before I step out the door. So for many of us who watched actual news coverage over Britney's lock chop, which in itself is sad—(Hello? Aren't there troops in Iraq to cover? What about the burglar down the street to show on the 10 o'clock news?)—it seems like the real issue is that without her hair, she has lost any sort of sex appeal that may have made boys twist in their seats and girls buy her music to feel as empowered as they may have believed her to feel.

Maybe the real empowerment was in Britney's forgetting about what her stylist, her family, and her management team wanted for her. Despite any sickness or help she might need, I actually felt a sort of envy in the fact that she let all of her inhibitions go and lived for the moment. Whatever that moment held for her, Britney is still the Mickey Mouse Club tyke and the I-kissed-Madonna chick—but possibly for one of the first times in her life, she became the I-think-for-myself Britney.

So with the insistence of our dear friend, I am actually going to extend the "F" for fun to the "F" for "F&#% you." Now, that's what I call a role model.

Anyone out there agree with me?

Photo Credits: Bald Britney (http://www.celebrific.com/) and Britney with awards (http://www.huffingtonpost.com)