2007-2019 Daily excerpts of new fashion, culture, lifestyle, activism and women's news posts. Continues on current AOC Daily.
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Cara Delevingne Covers ELLE UK October 2019 in Images by Liz Collins
Talent, muse and model Cara Delevingne covers the October 2019 issue of ELLE UK, styled by Sasa Thomann. The 27-year-old face of Dior Beauty, whose godmother is Dame Joan Collins, is interviewed by long-time friend Derek Blasberg with images by Liz Collins.
Alicia Burke Looks Into the Future of Luxe, Lensed by Yulia Gorbachenko for Vogue Mexico September
Model Alicia Burke is styled by Sandy Armeni in ‘Energia Centrifuga’, a futuristic look at luxury lensed by Yulia Gorbachenko for Vogue Mexico September 2019./ Creative Director JP Micallef; hair by Peter Gray; makeup by Tyron Machhausen
One of the larges corporate responses to the fires ravaging the Amazon rainforest has come from VF Corp. whose brands include Timberland, Vans and The North Face. The company issued a statement saying that it will discontinue using Brazilian leather until it has “the confidence and assurance that the materials used in our products do not contribute to environmental harm in the country.”
The Amazon, which spans eight countries and covers 40% of South America, is often referred to as "the planet's lungs" . Estimates show that nearly 20% of oxygen produced by the Earth's land comes from the Amazon rainforest. In addition, the Amazon puts an enormous amount of water into the atmosphere, regulating global temperatures as a result.
Environmentalists blame the policies of Brazil’s far-right president Jair Bolsonaro for the 77% increase in fires in 2019, compared to one year ago. Even worse, half of the fires have been detected in the last month. A highly-controversial supporter of US president Donald Trump, Bolsonaro has encouraged farmers to burn the land in order to meet the growing demand for beef worldwide.
Overall, the demand for beef is increasing as the demand for leather shoes is decreasing, according to the LA Times, June 2018. Once a status symbol, leather shoes are often a symbol of anti-environmentalism, especially to young customers. Hides and other byproducts account for about 44% of the slaughtered animal’s weight but less than 10% of its value, according to government data.
As both corporate management and humans become more committed to sustainability issues and customers take ownership of being complicit with large corporations in environmental destruction, Vogue Business asks the provocative question: Is footware funding the burning of the Amazon?
Amazon rainforest from space, with red dots representing a fire or "thermal anomaly" NASA WORLDVIEW
In recent years, companies such as LVMH, Kering and Nike have committed to sourcing only deforestation-free leather. (LVMH said it would provide €10 million in aid to fight the Amazon fires.) Traceabilty is a problem, writes Vogue Business, quoting Nathalie Walker at National Wildlife Federation.
“Many still think that because they buy ‘Italian leather’, that means it is not from Brazil, but that is untrue,” says Walker, director of tropical forests and agriculture at NWF. In fact, the Italian leather industry sources heavily from Brazilian suppliers like Frigorífico Redentor, a company that Amazon Watch describes as a “notorious illegal deforester in Brazil” and pegs as partly responsible for the recent surge to clear land. Grupo Bihl, Frigorífico Redentor’s parent company, did not respond to emails requesting comment.
Gucci parent Kering says that it now traces 80 percent of its skins to the slaughterhouse, with the goal of 100 percent traceable by 2025.
Not mentioned in the Vogue Business article is an answer to the key question AOC just asked and answered? Is the Amazon burning so that Brazil can meet the demand for soybeans, now that China has stopped buying soybeans from American farmers due to the trade war between the two nations.
There’s a surprising amount of writing on this topic in the past week. They include:
Fires in Amazon rainforest are being fuelled by US-China trade war, experts say SCMP
How Trump’s trade wars are fueling Amazon fires The Guardian
Michele Opiyo Channels Animal Spirits Lensed by Javier Lopez for Harper's Bazaar Mexico
Rising Kenya-born model Michele Opiyo is styled by Fran Marto in animale-inspired looks from Eres, Palomo Spain, Paule Ka and more. Photographer Javier Lopez captures Michele for Harper’s Bazaar Mexico & Latin America August 2019.
Zoey Grossman Flashes Tami Williams in 'Think Big' Cotillion Dresses for ELLE US September 2019
Model Tami Williams is styled by Charles Varenne in exuberant evening gown abundance for ‘Think Big’. Zoey Grossman captures the red carpet looks fit for a Confederate cotillion for ELLE US September 2019./ Hair by Brent Lawler; makeup by Tyron Machhausen
Bianca Balti Greets Fall Fashion Lensed by Tomas de la Fuente for Glamour Spain September 2019
Top model Bianca Balti is styled by Mónica Oliver in feminine elegance lensed by Tomas de la Fuente for Glamour Spain September 2019./ Hair by Gabriele Trezzi; makeup by Lorena Leonardis
Binx, Lara + Lina Front Proenza Schouler Fall 2019 Lensed by Pierre-Auge Carlotti
Proenza Schouler casts Binx Walton, Lara Mullen and Lina Zhang in its smart-women rule Fall 2019 campaign. Camilla Nickerson styles the trio in sophisticated simplicity and angular but soft layers. Pierre-Ange Carlotti is behind the lens in New York. / Makeup by Dick Page; hair by Holli Smith
Mikael Jansson Eyes Rianne Van Rompaey in 'London Calling' for Vogue Paris September 2019
Top model and Emmanuelle Alt fav Rianne Van Rompaey is styled by the editor-in-chief for ‘London Calling’, an eccentric British fashion feast. Mikael Jansson is behind the lens for Vogue Paris September 2019./ Hair by James Pecis; makeup by Mark Carrasquillo
A 3.8-Million-Year-Old Skull Puts a New Face on a Little-Known Human Ancestor
Spotting the intact Australopithecus skull in the Ethiopian dirt caused paleoanthropologist Yohannes Haile-Selassie to literally jump for joy. “It was something that I’ve never seen before, and I’ve seen a lot of cranial fossils,” he says.
The chance discovery by Haile-Selassie and an Ethiopian shepherd has created a captivating portrait of 3.8-million-year-old face, providing an unprecedented look at a hominin species from a key stage of human evolution. Experts say the extraordinary fossil can help redefine the branches of humans’ evolutionary tree during a time when our ancestors had just evolved efficient ways to walk upright.
“This cranium looks set to become another celebrated icon of human evolution,” Fred Spoor, a human evolution researcher at the Natural History Museum in London, writes in a News & Views article that accompanied Haile-Selassie and colleagues’ new study in the journal Nature.
Natasha Liu Bordizzo Talks Hollywood in Sylve Colless Images for ELLE Australia September 2019
Actor and model Natasha Liu Bordizzo is styled by Naomi Smith in biker chic images by Sylve Colless for ELLE Australia’s September 2019 cover story.
The Netflix Aussie actor of Chinese-Italian descent debuted as Snow Vase, playing opposite Michelle Yeoh in ‘Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon: Sword of Destiny’. Recently she played Helena in Netflix’s ‘The Society’
Elsa Hosk Sizzles In Studio Images by Emre Unal for ELLE Turkey September 2019
Victoria’s Secret Angel Elsa Hosk is a sensual, silicone Barbie, styled by Oguz Erel in high seduction, bodycon silhouettes. Photographer Emre Unal is in the studio for ELLE Turkey September 2019. / Hair by Benoit Moeyaert; makeup by Hung Vanngo
Yu Tsai Captures Ysaunny Brito + Yuka Mannami in 'Road Trip' for Harper's Bazaar Singapore
Models Ysaunny Brito and Yuka Mannami are styled by Martina Nilsson in ‘Road Trip Home’, lensed by Yu Tsai for Harper’s Bazaar Singapore August 2019./ Hair by John Ruggiero; makeup by Rachel Goodwin
Erika Linder Takes A Coastal Adventure in 'A Sea Change' by Stefan Heinrichs for Porter Edit
Erika Linder sets off for a coastal autumn adventure, styled by retro prints, noble origins tweeds and boyish brogues styled by Helen Broadfoot. Her selection of elegant earthy tones from Chloe, James Perse, Marni, Miu Miu, Prada, Proenza Schouler, Vince and more promises a fashion ‘A Sea Change’ ahead. Stefan Heinrichs is behind the lens for the August 30 issue of Porter Edit. . / Hair by Ben Jones; makeup by Giulia Cigarini
Central Park Is Alive With Carolina Herrera's Fall 2019 Vibrant Campaign by Charlotte Wales
Top model Grace Elizabeth lightens weary spirits, joining forces with Eniola Abioro and Sara van der Hoek in Carolina Herrera’s colorful, mood-lifting Fall 2019 campaign. Stylist Jorden Bickham styles the trio in vibrant, effusive images shot in New York’s Central Park by Charlotte Wales.
Birgit Kos in 'La Parisienne' by Peter Lindbergh for Numéro 206 September 2019 Magazine
Top model Birgit Kos wears bourgeois French chic looks styled by Babeth Dijan in “La Parisienne”. Photographer Peter Lindbergh captures the seasons’s tweed and houndstooth patterns for Numéro 206 September 2019 Magazine./ Makeup by Tom Pecheux; hair by Odile Gilbert
Daphne Groeneveld Suits Up New York Style by Walter Chin for Vogue Japan October 2019
Top model Daphne Groeneveld signals cool weather headed to Wall Street, joining Justin Eric Martin and Reilly Patton in ‘Suits and the City’, styled by Aurora Sansone. Photographer Walter Chin captures the sartorial boss lady and colleagues for Vogue Japan October 2019./ Hair by Brent Lawler; makeup by Sam Addington
Tom Shirmacher Eyes Anne Vyalitsyna in 'Gender Neutral' for ELLE Spain September 2019
Model Anne Vyalitsyna is styled by Benedetta Dell’Orto in ‘Gender Neutral’, a collection of bold, modern looks from Fendi, Michael Kors, Valentino and more, Photographer Tom Schirmacher is behind the lens for ELLE Spain September 2019.
Helena Christensen's 'Timeless Style' by Alexi Lubomirski for Harper's Bazaar US September 2019
Supermodel Helena Christensen wears ‘Timeless Style’ from David Yurman, Gabriela Hearst, Michael Kors Collection, Staerk & Christensen (yes, Helena’s) and more, styled by Miguel Enamorado. Photographer Alexi Lubomirski makes the capture for Harper’s Bazaar US September 2019./ Hair by Harry Josh; makeup by Morgane Martini
Nico Bustos Captures A Smoldering Irina Shayk for DSECTION Magazine Fall 2019
Irina Shayk smolders in sensual poses styled by Edem Dossou. Nico Bustos is behind the lens for DSECTION Magazine Fall 2019.
Zimbabwean scholar Tererai Trent has been immortalized in a bronze statue in New York
Life-size statues of 10 accomplished women across a wide spectrum of global life were unveiled in New York this week. Standing next to larger-than-life humanist-activist stars like Oprah, Nicole Kidman and Cate Blanchett is Zimbabwean scholar Tererai Trent.
Trent grew up in Zimbabwe where girls were not educated. Determined to learn, Trent taught herself to read and relocated to the US in 1998 through the efforts of an American nonprofit that visited her village. This “dream” come true of getting a bachelor’s degree, a master’s, and a PhD was realized after she wrote down her aspirations, sealing them in a tin can and burying them deep in the ground.
Trent’s life in America was hardly a carefree, upwards climb, but like so many women, she is a survivor. Today Dr Tererai Trent is one of the world’s most internationally recognized voices for quality education and women’s empowerment. Distinguished as Oprah Winfrey’s “All-time favorite guest”, Trent is a prominent activist for equal rights to education. Read more about Dr. Trent’s story.
The lack of representation of women in public spaces has long been associated with patriarchal attitudes and the general “invisibility” of women globally.
New York is grappling with its own embarrassing dearth of female statues in Manhattan and the five boroughs, with a whopping 3% of public humans honored being female. Consider that one of those memorable female “beings” is Alice in Wonderland in Central Park, and you understand the scope of the problem.
Alice in Wonderland statue in Central Park.
There’s a note of irony in two Aussie artists seeking to remedy New York’s “no women statues” problem, but in the era of Trump, we’ll take any help we can get. Sculptors Gillie and Marc Schattner launched Statues For Equality to commemorate Women's Equality Day on August 26 under the "Sculpted for Equal Rights" banner.
Note that Sydney and London are also in the ditch with their own scores of 4% and 3% of historical women statues, suggesting that New York can be a global launchpad for their effort, a hunch confirmed by the Statues For Equality website.
The New York project is just the start of Statues For Equality and the initiative is now worldwide, with projects in many different countries, including Australia the UK and the US. Gillie and Marc are keen that the sculptures are representative of all women and know that the public are the best people to ensure this happens!
Besides Blanchett, Kidman, Trent and Winfrey, other women honored with New York statues include Cheryl Strayed, Gabby Douglas, Jane Goodall, Janet Mock, Pink, and Tracy Dyson. Read their stories.
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