On Paris runways, Obama-inspired styles displayed unbridled American optimism

[DeepModem Mom]

LAT: Paris show takes a bold look to the future
Obama-inspired styles displayed unbridled American optimism.
By Adam Tschorn, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
July 6, 2008


(PETER STIGTER)
Viktor & Rolf

...."By spring 2009," they seemed to say, "the world will be a better place, and we're ready to dress accordingly."

The reason for the bout of unbridled optimism? Start with the photos of Democratic Sens. Clinton and Obama, arm-in-arm in their color-coordinated baby blues, smiling from the cover of Le Figaro and the International Herald Tribune. "The whole world is watching your election," the desk clerk at my hotel told me when we got to chatting. "Not because it's going to be Obama, but because it's not going to be Bush anymore. People are looking forward to that change."

It's more than simply Barack Obama as fashion muse. Though of course Donatella Versace name-checked the senator as the type of man she envisioned in her latest menswear collection, and Viktor & Rolf presented a collection that designer Rolf Snoeren said was directly inspired by Obama's early years. The runways of Paris were full of references to the sort of "yes, we can" optimism Obama symbolizes to many Europeans, and a cast of "can do" American heroes including Charlie Chaplin's "Little Tramp," Wild West cowpokes and road-tripping travelers on the faded ribbon of highway between Baker and Barstow. There were stronger shoulders to match the attitude, crisp and sturdy instead of draping and creping like those in Milan.

"We were very much inspired by Barack Obama, who was born in Hawaii," Snoeren said of the collection that captures the exuberance of America in what was then the new 50th state. "Something really resonated with us, so we started researching and we found this certain naivete, the elegance of travel and the 1950s businessman."...

"We think everyone is in the mood for a return to optimism," Snoeren said of the generally upbeat mood. "It's time for change, and it seems like there are brighter days ahead."...

http://www.latimes.com/features/lifestyle/la-ig-men6-2008jul06,0,3250462.story

[NattPang]

1. Barack Obama is have some affect all over!

[DeepModem Mom]

2. I happened to post this photo with an article today --

There is some similarity with the suit look (minus the embellishment), and Obama, I might add, is model-good looking, himself! (And I've definitely seen photos of him in sunglasses.)

[KoKo]

3. This is REALLY COOL...could start a whole new "movement in fashion" and help

the struggling stores with sales. Michell Obama's "Black and White Sundress" reportedly sold out in the store she bought it from and made the Designer a FASHION GURU!

COOL!

[Voltaire99]

4. "Unbridled American optimism" -- what, me worry?!?

The economy's toast.

The war's lost.

Several thousand homicidal, braindead and crippled soldiers are shipping home to no jobs.

Repeat: NO JOBS.

As in: EVEN THE STARBUCKS JOBS ARE DISAPPEARING.

Food and gas are unaffordable.

The government's steeped in wanton evil.

The loyal opposition can't get off its ass to oppose Bushism in FISA or Iraq, let alone to impeach Bushism's vile ringleaders whom pusillanimous Democrats will now give a pass in the hopes it helps them crawl into office.

But oh, some expensive fashion for the upper class expresses our "unbridled optimism."

LOL!

Here's what it expresses, and the only thing it expresses. Your masters have you right where they want you: broken in pocketbook and spirit. And you're going to do what they say, and you're going to pretend it's your choice.

'Cause you're, like, so unbridled. In your, like, optimism. And shit.

Le Figaro, by the way, is a repulsive right wing magazine. Now, why do you suppose it's celebrating Obama and Clinton on the cover?

[DeepModem Mom]

5. I think the headline is misleading. The article addresses only the thoughts of some foreigners...

regarding the world soon, thankfully, being rid of GW Bush as President of the US. That engenders some optimism on their part. I don't see the article addressing the thoughts of any Americans.