Brand Yourself

Logos have always struck me as a very interesting phenomenon. In the world of fashion they have come to symbolize high style, wealth and status. Men and women all over the world covet clothing and accessories that are branded with a distinguished logo. There are countless stories of young Japanese girls who end up in emergency rooms after starving themselves for days, all because they were saving money for a new Louis bag. It’s fascinating that a brand logo could be so powerful in human society.

I suppose a basic human need is social acceptance and donning a logo essentially provides one with a higher level of recognition and approval. Acquiring logos may then be an instinctual behavior to gain acceptance from our peers. People all over the world covet branded materials goods such as a Chanel bag, a Benz or even a home on Park Avenue.

Logos seem like a purely external symbol of power and wealth, but there is also an internal gratification that logos provide for people. Studies show that a very significant number of people who choose to buy copies of branded goods eventually shell out the money to purchase the real item. The scientific explanation for this may involve all sorts of psychological theories such as cognitive dissonance, but it also seems like people purchase the real goods because there is a certain confidence that a branded bag or shoe provides for its consumer. Simply put, a woman walking down the street with a Birkin in her arm exudes the type of swagger a man displays when he is seen linking arms with a gorgeous woman.

All these thoughts on logos are actually very pertinent to fashion trends of the moment. Designers have been experiencing a logo frenzy and it seems that we will be seeing a lot more in-your-face logos this spring. Several traditional logos have been blown up so that your nearly blind grandmother will be able to comment on your wardrobe. While this new trend is quite ostentatious it does make a very bold statement, and I project that the mainstream public will definitely embrace the opportunity to flaunt their goods.

Final thought: What would a world without Cs, Gs, D &Gs, CDs and LVs look like?

Back to the 80s

If you’ve been alive and breathing it’s hard not to notice that the 80s style is all the rage. Neon colors, sky high shoulder pads and metallic studs have made a huge comeback in the fashion scene, and it’s only natural that makeup is following the 80’s trend as well. Bright eyeshadow colors have been seen on several celebrities and this look is projected to become even more popular this spring.

While several artists have been spotted with eye catching eyeshadow colors, Rihanna has shown a particular fondness for electric blue. She has chosen this color several times and wears it very well. Rihanna has also added an extra 80’s flair to her eyes by adding blue glitter to some of her makeup looks.

Models who strutted the runway of L.A.M.B. Spring 2010 also displayed neon blues and oranges on their eyes. Gwen Stefani herself also chose a bright blue for her makeup look as well. The vibrant eyemakup colors were the perfect complement to a L.A.M.B collection that featured mainly whites, greys and blacks.

Adding a dash of blue can definitely add glamour to a rather simple outfit, however, blue makeup also has the potential to cause tragedy. When overdone or used incorrectly you will look like you actually came out of a time machine. Blue is fun and unique but be careful when you try on this look!

Braids Braids Braids!

Braids are invading the fashion scene like bankruptcy is pervading through Wall Street. Loose braids are continuously being showcased in various advertisements and on the runway. They first caught my attention during a series of ad campaigns by H & M and I’ve been in love with the look since then. This hairstyle adds flair to a very traditional look that was previously reminiscent of Rapunzel. Models have been sporting fishtails, crown braids as well as my favorite: braids woven with fabric. Hermes released their S/S 2010 advertisement which features vibrant scarves woven into Karlie Kloss’ very long braid. As always the Hermes scarves look beautiful, and while most of us can’t afford to put Hermes in our hair, I’m sure a lot of us (with long hair) will remove the scarves from our bags and attempt this look.

Designers such as Alexander Wang and Oscar de la Renta also chose to accessorize their designs with braids. This unkempt but elegant hairstyle adds a touch of style and character to any outfit. Alexander was clearly inspired by sports when he created his spring 2010 collection which consisted of heels that VB would wear when she’s out on the field with David. The loose long braids added a touch of femininity to complement Wang’s edgy accessories such as the leather studded heels and football shaped clutches. The next time you wear your shoulder padded blazer or metal studded handbag, try and style your hair with a braid. It’s the season’s most stylish accessory and best of all it’s free!   

Why?

Explaining what I do for a living is always hard, because in essence I am simply a researcher, but most people have no idea what that really means..and I don't blame them. I've been doing social science research since high school, did more in college and now I do it all day. FML. I first realized that research was utterly flawed in high school and in college I accepted that it was a lot of bs. At work, while searching for various articles I came across an article, that like many other publications made me wonder..WHERE DID YOU GET FUNDING?

Shabsigh R. Increased incidence of depressive symptoms in men with erectile dysfunction. Urology, 1998:52(5); 848-852

Objectives. To investigate the hypothesis that men with erectile dysfunction (ED) have a higher incidence of depressive symptoms compared with age-matched control subjects. We also hypothesized that depressive symptoms impact on the level of libido and on the success of treatment of ED.

Methods. One hundred twenty men with ED or benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) were divided into three groups. Group 1 had ED only, group 2 had BPH only, and group 3 had both ED and BPH. Patients were screened for depressive symptoms using the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders and the Beck Depression Inventory. They were also surveyed for comorbidity, marital status, severity of ED, level of libido, prior ED treatment choice (if any), success of treatment, and others.

Results. One hundred patients completed the questionnaires. Depressive symptoms were reported by 26 (54%) of 48 men with ED alone, 10 (56%) of 18 men with ED and BPH, and 7 (21%) of 34 men with BPH alone. Patients with ED were 2.6 times more likely to report depressive symptoms than men with BPH alone (P < typestyle="it">P < typestyle="it">P <>

Conclusions. ED is associated with high incidence of depressive symptoms, regardless of age, marital status, or comorbidities. Patients with ED have a decreased libido compared with control subjects. In addition, patients with depressive symptoms have a lower libido than patients without depressive symptoms. Patients with ED and depressive symptoms are more likely to discontinue treatment for ED than other patients with ED. These data emphasize the importance of a multidisciplinary approach to the treatment of erectile dysfunction.

Thank you for that groundbreaking information.

Model Citizen Part III

Still on jury duty. WOW.

Model Citizen Part II

The streak of luck that is the story of my life. Today I went to serve my jury duty and I had the honor of being chosen to return and serve as a juror from Wednesday to Friday. It really does not get any better than this.

Model Citizen

This blog was actually intended to be about fashion but I haven't gotten to that yet. The closest I've come to some real fashion was passing by all the tents near Bryant Park today..on my way to lunch. FML.

Anyways, I don't consider myself to be a very patriotic individual..far from it actually. I think my college education has taught me to hate on most American institutions. However, these days I feel like I'm really ODing on my civic duties. 

Wednesday- $65 parking ticket (I parked in an area where only residents with permits could park.)

Sunday- $60 parking ticket because my inspection had JUST expired. (NYPD. GOT TO LOVE THEM. This mofo gave me a ticket at 10am on the Sunday before labor day. I actually want to personally give him the 60 bucks)

Monday morning- $35 charge for inspection

Monday afternoon- $50 to renew my license

Tuesday- I GOT MAIL!!! YIPEEE!! They want me to come in at 8:30 am so I can serve my jury duty.

I am the model citizen.