Recently in Fashion Category

CNN and other outlets are reporting today that "The Oprah Winfrey Show" will be ending after 25 seasons.

The last show will be coming up soon: on September 9, 2011.

Okay, so it's not so soon! Mrs. Winfrey has followed the path of evening talk show host Jay Leno, the host of "The Tonight Show" from 1992-2009. To remove speculation about the potential of him moving to another network, or about what would happen with Conan O'Brien, the succession plan was announced well in advance of his May, 2009 departure from the show. Mrs. Winfrey's announcement comes almost two years before her show will actually end.

I have several questions and reactions to the news:

Wow! Sometimes it takes the end of something to appreciate how amazing it's been. According to the Oprah.com website, "The Oprah Winfrey Show" has been the highest-rated talk show for 23 consecutive seasons, being seen by 42 million viewers a week in the United States and 145 other countries. It has spun off "Oprah's Book Club," "O" Magazine, Oprah.com, "Oprah's Angel Network," Harpo Films and a host of other associations.

More Than a Show. "The Oprah Winfrey Show" is more than a show. It's an institution. It's a movement. It's a congregation. It's a marketing animal. It's the home base of a much larger media empire. While most talk shows ("Larry King Live," "The Today Show," "Good Morning America," "Late Night With David Letterman, etc.) attract media leaders who are releasing a book, movie, campaign or public relations message, Oprah's endorsement has turned unknown people into household names, including Eckhart Tolle and Marianne Williamson. She has helped turn unknown gadgets into everyday must-haves . She once urged her audience to read Leo Tolstoy's"Anna Karenina," and the ancient Russian classic shot to the top of the Best-Seller list.

Despite the summer heat, Bikram yoga (hot yoga)--done at temperatures of at least 100 degrees and usually more--is ever more popular. I am not someone who can imagine subjecting myself to that kind of workout in dead summer, though in winter it appeals far more, but for those who do--what to wear while you are sweating it out?

Winter Miller from the New York Times has fashion answers for hot yoga aficionados--a "practice named for Bikram Choudhury, the 63-year-old yogi who created a set of 26 postures and 2 breathing exercises repeated identically in every class, [where] the humidity in the room is meant to make people sweat out toxins and stay limber." She's especially concerned with those who lament that the yogis in these classes are often "wearing the workout equivalent of bikinis"--which can make the entire enterprise a bit "daunting" for participants. In her recent article "Hot Yoga Clothes" she offers advice for bearing the heat through a series of slides that show different hot yoga outfits.

My favorite is the one by Shakti Active Wear. What about you?

But be warned--some of the outfits still look an awful lot like bikinis to me! And some include simply the basic gear you need to endure the class.

Idol Chatter blogger Donna Freitas recently asked the question, "Is Merchandising Ruining 'Twilight'?". While she focused on how the "Twilight" actors are becoming too exposed on random merchanise such as puzzles, I'm wondering if the "Twilight" brand itself is becoming too exposed.

There are "Twilight" Barbies, werewolf shoes (though not directly "Twilight" related, one can't help but think of the series), and fantasy wedding dresses for Bella. Even Nordstrom's is carrying a line of "Twilight: New Moon"-inspired clothes that range from worn-in tees and tanks to a plaid, hooded jacket to a chunky charm necklace.

On the subject of jewelry, DailyCandy.com highlighted jewelry designer Jules Smith who has a "New Moon" collection of jewelry that includes silver and gold necklaces and bracelets with fanged jaw charms.  Styles are named "Edward's Smile," "Jacob's Nemesis," and "Bella's Good Luck Charm."  Nothing says "I love 'Twilight'" than sporting a pair of sharp teeth around your neck or wrist.

What other random "Twilight" merchandise have you seen? Do you think merchandising is getting out of hand? Or are you in the fray, submitting a patent for a fang-shaped "Twiilght" waffle iron?

 

InStyle.com asked a bevy of famous, upscale designers to imagine Bella Swan's wedding dress for "Eclipse," the third movie in the "Twilight" saga.

Runway favorites Monique Lhuillier, Erin Fetherston, Max Azria, Badgley Mischka, Zac Posen, and even "Project Runway" winner Christian Siriano have submitted sketches of how they imagine the anticipated "Twilight" wedding gown.

In the book "Eclipse," the wedding dress is first envisioned by Bella, and then later described more in detail by Alice Cullen:

"I saw myself in a long skirt and a high-necked lace blouse with my hair piled up on my head." (pg. 277)

"It was my Anne of Green Gables vision all over again.... 'Nineteen-eighteen?' I guessed. "More or less," [Alice] said, nodding. 'Some of it is MY design, the train, the veil...' She touched the white satin as she spoke. 'The lace is vintage.'" (p. 614)

Twilight Lexicon also quotes author Stephenie Meyer further describing the dress:

"Two key words...art nouveau. It's a simpler style than the frillier Edwardian stuff. Elegant white satin, cut on the bias, with long sleeves..."

Click here to view the InStyle 'Twilight' wedding dress gallery.

Which of the designer dresses is your favorite? (Mine is a toss-up between Monique Lhuillier and Lela Rose). How did you imagine Bella's wedding dress?

 

Team Jacob (as in Jacob Black, the werewolf hottie best friend of Bella in 'Twilight') fans have long been gearing up for the fall release of 'New Moon,' since it's probably the most Jacob-focused book out of the four in Stephenie Meyer's 'Twilight Saga.' The latest 'New Moon' trailer is even a "Go Team Jacob" trailer.

Well, for you pro-werewolf fans, have I got a pair of shoes for you: as seen in the most recent New York Times Style Magazine's "Don't Step On Her Toes," now on the market are--wait for it--werewolf shoes! We are talking shoes with giant werewolf claws extending from them. A little traumatized by this? I know! Me, too. I am both immensely amused and disturbed. I quote:

"For those who run with wolves, Bob Basset, an artist from Kharkov, Ukraine, has created a tantalizing prototype. In addition to their conspicuous claws, his ''leather paw shoes'' have foot pads on the underside (digital, metatarsal and tarsus) so wearers can feel lycanthropic to their very soles."

Though the blurb mentions nothing directly about 'Twilight,' there has got to be a connection to why this artist suddenly decided to make werewolf shoes. I'd be shocked if there wasn't. The real question, of course, is the following: does anyone out there love Jacob that much? Are there any readers who might even consider being seen in these the night 'New Moon' releases? If so, please reveal yourselves!

Dear Jon, Once upon a time, I sympathized with you, cringed with you as Kate commanded your every movement (to the point of telling you not to breathe so loudly) and browbeat your every decision. With reports of Kate off...

We like to keep things positive here at Idol Chatter. The intersection of pop culture and faith is a dynamic and inspiring corner of the blogosphere. But I'm struggling to find what's positive or inspiring about Sasha Baron Cohen's latest...

Remember the Woody Allen billboard for American Apparel? Remember the lawsuit for $10M by the Woodman against the "vertically integrated" clothing company that indicated the billboard wasn't in any way approved of by Woody Allen? Well, there's a settlement, and...

The CW series "Gossip Girl" has not only made sniping--among both the younger sexes--ubiquitous, but it's glamorized it, too. It's not that middle school and high school students never talked behind each other's backs before, or but the internet has...

The traditional Jewish tallis (or tallit) is blue and white, a fringed prayer shawl with four corners. But if you're Scottish and Jewish and looking for a way to express your binational pride, now you can own your very own...

In a world where promise rings and promiscuity can go hand in hand, it's often hard for young people to draw the line and set themselves apart from their peers who "don't see nothing wrong with a little bump and...

What is it about Latin American countries and the Blessed Virgin? First there was the Mexican Playboy featuring a sexy Mary on the cover. And now, according to Reuters, fashion designer Ricardo Oyarzun has "sparked outrage in Chile by dressing...

Fresh thoughts while my family and I are watching these stars, fashions and Red Carpet interviews which have become the first part of the Golden Globe Awards' Doubleheader... The pre-show is really as much of a show as the show;...

I was only reading it for the articles, I swear. But an Idol Chatter editor brought this Playboy cover to my attention, featuring model Maria Florencia Onori posing as the Virgin Mary. She's not naked, but is instead wearing a...

Not since "the Rachel" has a hairstyle been in such demand. Jewish bloggers have been writing about this for weeks. And politics always seems to spawn merchandising. Now the NY Post reports that in the past several weeks, a wig-shop...

I can't claim to be much of a fashionista, but I have to admit that clothing and shoe designer Kenneth Cole's latest ad campaign does a great job of being both slick and spiritual. The tagline for the campaign is...

This weekend I indulged in my new favorite (super) Guilty Pleasure--the season premiere of the CW's "Gossip Girl." (It's also possible I indulged in the new incarnation of "90210" and set up the DVR to tape yet another series premiering...

Hell hath no fury like the media scorned. And their all-out attack on the woman who could be the new feminist icon for a new generation of young women needs to stop. Or, there just need to be some other...

The New York Times Style section devotes an entire article to the question "Tattoo or not Tattoo?" if you are young and Jewish. Reporter Kate Torgovnick investigates what the Torah says about body art: "Jewish law on tattooing is slippery....

I've heard of taking life's lemons and making lemonade, but the award for making the best of a bad situation has to go to the women from the polygamous sect referred to as the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of...

Recently the Vatican's newspaper L'Osservatore Romano officially quashed rumors that Pope Benedict XVI's red shoes are not Prada (an urban legend Idol Chatter's own Donna Freitas debunked back in April). "Such rumors are inconsistent with the simple and somber man...

Recently, I had the great good fortune to be invited to participate in a conference at Esalen--that famous, new age spiritual retreat (you know, the Beats hung out there, Huxley tripped there...) in Big Sur, California, perched on the rocks...

When people think of Tim Gunn, they most often think of Project Runway, the popular reality TV show featuring aspiring designers in competition with each other to earn coveted spots with the fashion industry. On the other hand, when people...

Okay, so something has to be said on Idol Chatter about the lighter side of Pope Benedict XVI's visit: his bright, ruby red(!!) shoes. Yes, he wore them everywhere throughout his entire U.S. visit, and yes, everyone in the media...

Apparently, U.S. Customs is not only protecting citizens from terrorists entering the country, but also from British writers with questionable morals. In this week's New York Times "Possessed" column, David Colman writes about "infamously debauched writer" Sebastian Horsley and his...

In the article, "The Greek Ideal" the New York Times spring Women's Fashion magazine includes a fun survey of popular Greek Goddesses like Aphrodite (Goddess of beauty and desire) and Hera (Goddess of marriage) but with a twist. In addition...

"Muslim Girl" magazine is celebrating its one year anniversary. Like any other magazine for teen girls, fashion, makeup, television, movies, and music all feature prominently, not to mention advice on dating and boys. Though the magazine does have some content...

Sure, there are plenty of Christians in fashion--Christian Lacroix, Christian Louboutin, etc.--but what about Christian models? Well it seems the New York Observer recently attended a meeting of the NYC branch of Models for Christ. Started by model Jeff Calenberg...

Israel has a difficult relationship with American culture. On the one hand, Israel creates its own culture and doesn't want to be an America's clone. And then there's the other hand, the celeb-obsessed, hypersexualized American pop culture-consuming hand that resents...

When I worked in Residence Life at Georgetown University, one of the resident assitants (R.A.'s) on my staff was a young, beautiful Muslim woman who always wore a head scarf and whose clothes extended to her wrists and ankles. Her...

Tongues. Some are given the gift of speaking, some of interpreting, and others have only heard the gift. Having heard the gift, I count it a blessing to witness the Holy Spirit fall upon someone in such a manner that...

Ministers aren't exactly known for their fashion sense and couture style--until now, that is. Beginning this month, the Rev. Joanna Jepson is trading life at a local British parish for big-city London, and most interestingly of all, a post as...