Bust [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

• Looney for Clooney: BUST Editor Emily Rems on NPR
  Earlier today, BUST's own Emily Rems, managing editor and film fanatic, made an appearance (or at least her lovely voice did) on NPR's morning news program the Takeaway.  On today's program Emily and Newsday critic Rafer Guzman sit down with John Hockenberry and Celeste Headlee, and chew the fat about George Clooney's multi-faceted acting career, as well as his role in the recently released movie The American. Tune in here to hear Emily ...
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 05:32:14
  
  
• Girls Targeted in Afghan Poison Gas Attacks
  
  A disturbing New York Times article published this week brings to light a very scary reminder that the plight of feminism isn't over yet: poison gas attacks targeting all-girls schools in Afghanistan. According to an Afghan official, said attacks have been going on for two years, with two attacks occurring in the past week.
   
  According to the article "The spokesman, Dr. Kargar Norughli, said his ministry and the World Health ...
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:56:39
  
  
• From Abba to Ziggy Stardust : Connecting to Shrink the Audio Universe
  Personal music libraries are like fingerprints. Each is unique and fascinating in it’s own special way. Some are more refined around the edges, and others just down right awful.  Think you have nothing in common with your grandma’s taste in toe tapping tunes?  Or maybe you are looking to find the missing link between your 12 year old, bubble gum pop infested past, and your current romance with the latest Best Coast ...
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:35:32
  
  
• Girl With Dragons & Fires & Hornets, Oh My
  
  Ima gotta admit–I think the world was a better place before this series of books and movies came out. OK, maybe I should limit it to the movies since I haven't read the books, and obviously that means just the first two since the hornet one is yet to arrive on our shores, but I can't imagine how augmenting my knowledge of this trilogy would change my mind. I was going to hold off on passing judgment until the third one came out, but ...
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 09:10:30
  
  
• Stayfree or Stay Away?
  
  Oh, Canada! We love that the ad world  is finally realizing that, yup, women have a sense of humor too. And with the Old Spice ads they surely have a winner. This Canadian Stayfree ad, which I'm sure it's creators hope will be a major viral video, is a virus, alright, but more like an STD. Aside from the fact that a dude is lecturing me on what kind of maxi pad to use, what kind of hot date busts out with the phrase "I hate ...
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 08:04:27
  
  

Shine [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

• The Summer Trends to Say Goodbye To After Labor Day
  This weekend marks the unofficial end to lazy days. And while we're sad to see our summer Fridays disappear, there are a few beauty trends we're more than happy to send packing:
  Sat, 04 Sep 2010, 03:14:51
  
  
• Designers Discriminate Against My Curves! &#39;&#39;Mad Men Star Christina Hendricks Speaks Out!
  

  Christina and Kim Cattrall are among the actresses who say their curves aren't accepted in Hollywood and that it isn't acceptable to be over a size 2. Is that fair? I say NO WAY!

  Christina Hendricks is a beautiful woman - with her

  
  Sat, 04 Sep 2010, 02:09:32
  
  
• Your Style Problems, Solved: &quot;Do I Have To Stop Wearing White After Labor Day?&quot;
  This is a question I've been asked about 20 times in the past two weeks (I guess girls need to know if they should squeeze the last bit of life out of that LWD during August), and I've got a short answer and a long answer. The short one: NO! [Insert applause here]. The long one: Keep reading.
  
  Sat, 04 Sep 2010, 01:35:48
  
  
• 20 Guilt-Free Pieces for Fall
  Our editors' top picks from the September issue!
  Sat, 04 Sep 2010, 12:28:53
  
  
• Your Lip Shape Personality

  It might sound like a strange fetish, but I love lips! I love that they're totally unique, and they speak volumes about your personality. (If you're all about customizing your looks, you've got to take this quiz.)
  
  So imagine how excited I was when makeup artist Marissa Nemes gave me the best lip reading ever (OK, it was the only one I've ever gotten). And since I'm all about sharing, here are the personality readings she gave for the other lip shapes, yours included.
  

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 11:30:20
  
  
• 4 Expert Tips: Choosing the Right Foundation For Your Skin Type
  One of the toughest cosmetic conundrums can be choosing the perfect foundation. By the time you find your shade, the right formula for your skin type, and something weather-appropriate that fits your budget - your heads spinning and you're ready to bolt for the door. Skin care expert and creator of cosmetic line Paula's Choice, Paula Begoun, shared her tips to make foundation shopping a little easier...
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 11:28:24
  
  
• 10 Middle School Beauty Products That Still Rock
  There were many, many bad things about middle school -- bullies, big hair, pegged jeans, mall food courts. But there were also some things that didn't suck. These are the beauty products that bring me back. One whiff of Love's Baby Soft and I'm outside the Sno-Shack on a Friday in August, my mom just dropped me off, and 9:30 seems far away and very late.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 11:25:56
  
  
• User post: Dear Curling Iron: We Need Some Space
  

  My curling iron and I have had a tight, yet often destructive relationship.  I used it every day, all day as the only way to get my hair to behave.  Up until this past…

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 06:56:28
  
  
• Exactly How to Do Your Manicure and Pedicure Like a Pro
  There are so many awesome colors out now, and if you’re like us, you want to change your nail polish at least once a week. We’ll show you how to DIY a gorgeous manicure and pedicure so you won’t spend tons of cash at the salon. Consider this your mani-pedi master class!
  
  More from Glamour:
  
  • How to Find Your Body’s Best Jeans
  • 53 Swimsuits That’ll Make You Look 10 Pounds Thinner
  • 10 Things He’s Thinking When You’re Naked
  • 8 Sex Moves Every Woman Should Try Once
  • Download the Glamour App for Your iPhone and iPad
  
  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 06:38:40
  
  
• Stylish Fall Coats Under $100!
  With fall right around the corner, our eyes have turned toward one of the season’s biggest essentials—outerwear. But while a single coat or jacket can cost several hundred dollars, there is no need…
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 06:34:20
  
  

Ivillage [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

• Alexandra Burke's health and beauty masterclass
  None
  Fri, 02 Oct 2009, 11:44:34
  
  
• The politics of fashion
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  Wed, 23 Sep 2009, 11:36:05
  
  
• Get Sharon Stone's Sardinia holiday look
  None
  Mon, 07 Sep 2009, 11:39:57
  
  
• Get Renee Zellweger's New York Look
  None
  Thu, 27 Aug 2009, 11:47:53
  
  
• How to wear your hair
  None
  Wed, 26 Aug 2009, 11:46:02
  
  
• The highs and lows of hair care
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  Tue, 25 Aug 2009, 11:44:01
  
  
• Confessions of a Plastic Surgeon
  None
  Sat, 22 Aug 2009, 11:49:53
  
  
• Haircut 101 with Nick Arrojo
  None
  Sat, 22 Aug 2009, 11:49:53
  
  
• Nurture hair to health
  None
  Thu, 20 Aug 2009, 11:49:38
  
  
• Colouring curly hair
  None
  Thu, 20 Aug 2009, 11:49:38
  
  

• Get Kate Middleton's wedding guest look
  None
  Wed, 19 Aug 2009, 11:50:36
  
  
• Get Halle Berry's 'hide the baby bump' look
  None
  Wed, 12 Aug 2009, 11:40:54
  
  
• Classic beachwear
  None
  Tue, 11 Aug 2009, 11:40:03
  
  
• Get Emma Watson's Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince Premiere look
  None
  Fri, 07 Aug 2009, 11:43:07
  
  
• Get Emma Watson?s Harry Potter and the Half-BloodPrince Premier look
  None
  Thu, 30 Jul 2009, 11:37:09
  
  
• Will black eyeliner make my eyes look small?
  None
  Wed, 29 Jul 2009, 11:48:14
  
  
• Daniele de Winter Body Treatment, Purifying Seaweed Wrap, Columbia Spa, Cyprus
  None
  Wed, 29 Jul 2009, 11:48:14
  
  
• Winter Sun Protection
  None
  Mon, 27 Jul 2009, 11:48:58
  
  
• Winter skin protection
  None
  Mon, 27 Jul 2009, 11:48:58
  
  
• Is hard water damaging my hair?
  None
  Sat, 25 Jul 2009, 11:37:10
  
  

Glam [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

• Free Stuff Friday: ToiletTree Products Fogless Shower Mirror Giveaway
  This video was embedded using the YouTuber plugin by Roy Tanck. Adobe Flash Player is required to view the video. How would you like to win one of these awesome ToiletTree Products Fogless Shower Mirrors? Patent Pending water chamber design keeps mirror fogless. GUARANTEED to be fogless for life. Requires no annoying fog free sprays EVER! Easy mounting with removable silicone adhesive. No more unreliable suction cups! Built in squeegee to clean off mirror. Convenient shelf to place your razor, sponge or tweezers so they are always accessible. Available for purchase from Amazon.com. Enter your information below for your chances to win: Contest starts now and ends 09/16/10 at 09:59 pm CST. Limit one entry per person. Duplicate entries will be deleted. US mailing addresses only, ages 18+. Complete Rules. This contest is sponsored by ToiletTree Products.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 05:08:15
  
  
• Elle UK's 25th Anniversary Issue with Kate Hudson
  Need I tell you how much I love Elle UK, more than any other fashion magazine? It's true. It's been a love affair for almost 20 years, even since I was a co-ed on the U.C. Berkeley campus. After class, I would head over to Cody's Bookstore on Telegraph Avenue and browse through all the fashion magazines. Don't get me wrong, I do love my American fashion mags (and I subscribe to them), but the UK edition has always had much better fashion features and editorial in my book. And now, this is best issue ever with Elle's 25th Anniversary Special Collector's Issue with Kate Hudson looking super modern 80's glam on the cover. Watch the behind the scenes video with Kate here. There are 5 special edition covers to collect. In addition to Kate Hudson, pick up Helena Christensen, Coco Rocha, Naomi Campbell, and John Galliano. The issue features an exclusive interview with Dolce & Gabbana and a unique collaboration with John Galliano. Supermodel Naomi Campbell gives a candid interview and Helena Christensen stars in new shoots along with Patti Smith, Alexander Skarsgrd and Rachel Even Wood. Model of the moment, Coco Rocha, smoulders in an extraordinary fashion story that celebrates 25 essential elements of timeless style. For you lucky UK readers, pick up this issue now! For those of us in the US and elsewhere, it might take a bit of time but be on the look out at your favorite newsstand/bookstore or buy it online. This issue is not to be missed! See more online at Elle UK's Special 25th Birthday section!
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:19:57
  
  
• Airport Approved: Corso Como Atlanta Ballet Flats as seen on Jessica Alba
  Jessica Alba (is she not naturally beautiful?) has been spotted wearing Corso Como Atlanta Ballet Flats (available from Amazon, $129) at the JFK Airport on August 30th, 2010 and again at the LAX Airport on September 2nd, 2010 (source). So they must be comfortable walking shoes, and perfect for the airport to slip on and off when going through security. Finally, a flat that’s fancy enough for evening! This on-trend shoe features zipper trim that zips over and around the foot for a rockin’ look. A slip of a heel gives you a sleek silhouette, making this a fashion-forward shoe for any occasion, special or otherwise.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 02:57:22
  
  
• Admin Time! Woo!
  Hello lambkins! Just a few admin notes before the long weekend: Admin Note Number One: My email is back up! In theory! So if you’ve been emailing me over the past two weeks and getting hateful kickback messages about quotas and what not, your problems have all been solved. That doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve got immediate access to it, but at least they’ll get to my in box, so GO! Write me! Admin Note Number Two: I am going to be out most, if not all, of next week. Mama’s gotta have herself a little op, and that little corral of Andean village children I keep for organ harvesting purposes won’t stay nine years old forever! During that time I am relinquishing full administrative rights to our beloved Raincoaster, whom you all know and love from such sites as Manolo’s Ayyyy!, Lolebrity and of course, the eponymous Raincoaster, all of which are worth a daily gander. Hopefully she’ll pop in with a post or two, but if not, hold tight little bunnies and wait for my return. Admin Note Number Three: DAMN. (it’s been too long since we’ve had some hotness up in here) Admin Note Number Four: Have a fabulous weekend everybody! Related Posts:Woo Hoo it’s ADMIN TIME!SO HELP ME I WILL TURN THIS BLOG AROUND.Five Great Finishing School Lessons: Pt 3, No, Thank YOU.Shoe Month! Alber Hearts PlumcakeHappy Birthday Howard Webb (and also me)
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 01:14:47
  
  
• Steal Ashley Tisdales Bike Riding Style
  Ashley Tisdale was spotted riding a bike in Vancouver, Canada on August 29th, 2010. Steal Ashley’s head-to-toe style (minus the helmet): Rebel Yell Ciao Pullover Hoodie, $118 from Boutique to You Rich & Skinny Groovy Cargo Leggings, $172 from ShopBop.com Cleobella Zula Bag, $310 from ShopBop.com Chuck Taylor All-Star Black High-Top Sneakers, $42 from Jildor Source: ShopStyle
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 11:32:16
  
  
• Handkerchief Wedding Invitation
  Here comes one of the most unusual wedding invitations ever The invitation is made in a form of a map It was designed by Kelli Anderson and made by Youngna.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 10:24:23
  
  
• Falling Whistles - As Seen On Beyonce, Jessica Biel, Hilary Duff & Gwyneth Paltrow
  Supported by celebrities and peace activists, the Falling Whistles campaign launched with a simple response - be a whistleblower for peace in Congo. Proceeds go to rehabilitate and advocate for war-affected children. Share their story and speak up for them. Beyonce, Jessica Biel, Hilary Duff & Gwyneth Paltrow, Jon Stewart, Chad Michael Murrayand more have all been spotted supporting thecause by
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 10:00:09
  
  
• New York Times Celebrates Small Busts!
  New York Times: For the A-Cup Crowd, Minimal Assets Are a PlusBy CATHERINE SAINT LOUISIT is commonly assumed that small-chested women feel that natures lottery has left them coming up short. The parade of heaving bosoms in Victorias Secret catalogs not only suggests that bigger is better but also that supersizing with a push-up bra is universally desired.Wrong, says Ellen Shing, the owner of Lula Lu, a Web site and boutique in San Mateo, Calif., that cater to AAA- to A-cup sizes. She says that while a small number of her customers come in But its fueling her sales. In the last three years, said Elisabeth Dale (formerly Squires), who wrote Boobs: A Guide to Your Girls, there has been a huge surge in Web sites and online retailers that specialize in smaller bra sizes in a very empowering way, like evesappleslingerie.com. They are not about Heres how you stuff your bra, she added. They are like, The way you are is perfect, and heres how I can help you. These days, its not uncommon for women with modest busts to flaunt what little theyve got with a deep V-neck cut or a halter top. And more small-chested ladies seem to be openly celebrating their look on Twitter, Facebook and various blogs. A new blog, smallbustbigheart.com, has become a venue for these women, according to its author, to gush about the lingerie and clothes that scream, Can you handle me? not Am I enough? That is not to say handwringing over a Lilliputian bust no longer exists. Some women still find a soulmate in Nora Ephron, whose 1972 essay in Esquire, A Few Words About Breasts, perfectly articulated the lament of women who realized they were never going to fill out. Bust magazine, with its feminist streak, has a support group for those laid low by their tiny breasts, and its recent entries are poignant. One woman wrote: I hate getting outbreasted by teenagers. Still, the persistent strain of A-cup pride running through our culture is unmistakable. Facebook groups like Flat Chested and Proud of It! and Flat Chested Girls United exist, and their members trade bon mots as profound as im flat as a tack :) which garner male support like you are blessed. For all their entourage to see, more than 2,300 people joined another Facebook group to declare flat chested girls are prettier!! In recent years, as peoples weight has ballooned, breasts (mostly made up of fat) have only gotten larger, and commensurately bra cup sizes, too. K-cups now exist. Brandishing a tiny bosom may be a reaction to that trend. Unlike many women who struggled as teenagers to make peace with their minimal assets, Sabrina Lightbourn, 37, a photographer in Nassau, the Bahamas, never second-guessed her A-cups, even in a land of bikinis. In my mind, they are fabulous, she said. Sometimes, she favors down-to-the-sternum cuts that make it really obvious that you dont have much. Small-breasted women have also begun to express their anger on the Internet when they suspect one of their brethren has decided to artificially augment what nature has given her. This year, pictures of a bikini-clad Kate Hudson along with Keira Knightley a symbol of modest-breasted seductiveness to the A-cup population surfaced showing what looked like modest implants. Afterward, Jen Udan, who works in Internet marketing in Austin, Tex., felt as if she had been slapped in the face. I dont need to look up to you, Kate Hudson, Ms. Udan, 25, wrote in a blog post entitled Diary of a Mad, Small-Breasted Woman. With its motto Small is Beautiful, Lula Lu is just one of several retailers and bra makers serving the band of women who make no excuses for their inconspicuous bosoms. Some brands, like the Itty Bitty Bra sold online and in Fred Segal Silk in Santa Monica, Calif., require women to have a sense of humor about being bust-challenged, as the Web site jokes. Some people are taken aback by it, especially the name, said Jane A. Hodgdon, the designer and owner of the brand, which is sized 32 AA to 38B and retails for $45 to $60. Mrs. Hodgdon, 42 and an AA cup, was tired of bras that were so heavily padded it just wasnt me. It looked ridiculous. Im proud of what I have. I wanted coverage and lift. Lailides.com, pronounced LAY-leed, offers come-hither wireless lingerie for $46 to $72 and a healthy dollop of self-love. Having small breasts and wearing A-cup bras (or AA cup or B cup) is a cause to rejoice, the site declares. Women who wear A-cup bras do not experience pain from running or dancing, they can sleep on their stomachs, and best of all, sagging is minimal compared to larger women. (Their $68 Firebird bra, semi-sheer and scalloped, may make women reconsider underwire altogether.) This kind of cheerleading is not about girl power. This message of empowerment is resolutely intended for adults who wish their lingerie to reflect their age and station. No woman in her 40s wants to disrobe to reveal a polka-dotted training bra, and unfortunately for too long, grown women have had ill-fitting options or unsexy mood killers in the bra department. We are supplying sexy, chic lingerie for grown-up women, not teenagers, who are proud of what they have and not worried about trying to look bigger, said Fiona Goad, 44, the managing director at LittleWomen.com, an English site with a vast selection whose sales of AAA-cup bras have overtaken AA-cups recently. Women with flat to small chests disagree about what they want from a bra. One camp consists of traditionalists who take little issue with push-up bras; their complaint is never being able to find one with a small enough band and with cups close enough together to create yelp-worthy cleavage. The Little Bra company, which has 28 to 36 in the A to B range, delivers this kind of instant gratification. Emily Lau, the chief executive and the designer, said most padded bras look and feel as subtle as two pillows over a flat board. Often a push-up bra stands away from the body in an unflatteringly way that makes even the most assured woman wish she had more to fill the cup. By contrast, Ms. Lau created her line with contoured-to-the-body padding so that minuscule breasts can be enhanced with no gaps at the bustline. At the other extreme are the au-naturels who would just as soon go braless if it wasnt for this little thing called the office and the awkwardness of erect nipples in cold conference rooms. Exquisitely designed soft bras with no underwire appeal to this camp for gorgeous details and nipple discretion, as its called in the industry, said Susannah Hornsby, an expert bra-fitter at Journelle, a boutique in New York. In fact, soft bras have come such a long way from their training-bra lineage that Claire Chambers, the chief executive of Journelle, says her saleswomen, most of whom are 32D, regret that they cannot fit into all the crush-worthy fashion pieces from brands like The Lake & Stars. Really.The middle camp also wants a certain degree of authenticity and their real silhouette to shine under a T-shirt. In their minds, no bra should so transform your breasts that they are unrecognizable. This is tricky, said Ms. Hornsby, who also manages Web operations for Journelle.com, since such a bra has to have a shallow and stretchy cup, the between-the-cups spacer as tiny as possible, and a small band. One that fits the bill is Timpas $33 Duet Lace Underwire Demi bra, she said. For too long, bra shopping has demoralized women with just a bit on top. Some department-store saleswomen tell adults to head to the childrens department for training bras. Others are just dismissive. As a size 28A, Heidi Brockmyre, an acupuncturist in San Diego, says she has been turned away from bra-fitting boutiques. They were like, No, we cant help you, she said. I felt like Im a freak of nature.She has since bought five Little Bra Company bras, and now dabbles in the joys of cleavage on occasion. Im O.K. with not having cleavage, said Ms. Brockmyre, 33. These bras just make it more fun to wear tank tops. For the complete article go to the New York Times: For the A-Cup Crowd, Minimal Assets Are a Plus.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 08:00:00
  
  
• The Quotable Lingerista Coco Chanel
  If I were to live by one person's views, based upon the Coco Chanel's quotes below, I may just want to slip into her life to see the world the way that she saw it.Below are what make Coco Chanel not only a modern day fashionist, but also a Lingerista. Here are her "Cocoisms:" How many cares one loses when one decides not to be something but to be someone " "A girl should be two things: classy and fabulous The best color in the whole world, is the one that looks good, on you! Fashion fades, only style remains the same" Luxury must be comfortable, otherwise its not luxury "I consider lace to be one of the prettiest imitations ever made of the fantasy of nature; lace always evokes for me those incomparable designs which the branches and leaves of trees embroider across the sky, and I do not think that any invention of the human spirit could have a more graceful or precise origin" (quote thanks to Faire Frou Frou)Coco Chanel, born Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, is an icon in the fashion world. From humble beginnings and tempting a career as a singer, she would face many struggles before becoming one of the most inspirational fashion designers of all time. By the age of 21, she had opened her own boutique in Paris and the rest is history. Coco designs and views are still relevant today, inspiring furture generations of fashionistas and lingeristas!Thanks to Decolish Decolish for the caricature image (above). Click on Coco Chanel Film to read about it and waitch the movie trailer.May we all savor life along with its beauty and elegance as much as Coco Chanel! Don't wait, "Celebrate Today!" Here's to tiping my lacy hat at Coco!
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 07:57:00
  
  
• Nicola Yoon Design
  I'm a huge fan of handmade jewelry for its exceptional beauty and attention to detail. Right now, I am loving the beautiful and colorful jewelry pieces by Nicola Yoon Design. I started to wear more gold this year and this Moonstone, Tangerine Citrine & Pacific Opal Swarovski Crystal Triple Strand Necklace ($284) is just simply stunning. I love Nicola's eye for color and how she matches various gemstones and crystals to create unique designs in her necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Handmade with love indeed! Here are more of my favorites from Nicola Yoon: Gemstone Cascade Handmade Necklace ($239) Iolite with Garnet, Amethyst & Lemon Topaz Handmade Necklace ($217) Garnet & Amethyst Flowers with Lemon Quartz Handmade Necklace ($134) Chalcedony with Labradorite Chain Handmade Earrings ($132) Amethyst Bells with Lemon Topaz, Garnet and Gold Vermeil Handmade Earrings ($140) Chalcedony Teardrops in 24Kt Gold Handmade Earrings ($110)
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 05:05:58
  
  

• Today's online sample sales: Isabella Fiore, M Missoni and more
  don't miss: Isabella Fiore at RueLaLa, M Missoni at ideeli RueLaLa (boutiques open at 11:00 am EST) Isabella Fiore, Merida, Murano ideeli (boutiques open at 12:00 pm EST) m missoni HauteLook (boutiques open at 11:00 am EST)Watches under $50, Sunglasses under $50, Vicarious by Nature, Monique Leshman, Nina Nguyen Jewelry, Kareco Haircare, DEPT Blowout, A&G Rock Handbags Blowout, Park B Smith Watershed Home, Cupcakes & Pastries Kids, Sunday Rocks Men BillionDollarBabes (boutiques open at 11:00 am EST) Wilson: Women, Men, Wilson: Footwear & Tennis Bags EditorsCloset (boutiques open at 11:00 am EST) Watch blowout BeyondTheRack (boutiques open at 11:00 am EST) My Tribe, Sapir Sensations, Timo Weiland, Scout, Shop by Price event Modnique (boutiques open at 10:00 am EST) Krementz, Haurex Italy GiltGroupe (boutiques open at 12:00 pm EST)Baby Shower Event: Best Gift Ideas and Baby Essentials, Clu, Cynthia Rowley, Eclectic Treasures: Must Have Jewelry
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:14:28
  
  
• How to wear the new socks and heels trend
  Q. I am in love with the socks and heels trend, but I just don't know if I can pull it off! I don't want to look like someone wearing socks and sandals (a definite fashion faux pas), but most of the women I've seen sporting the trend have looked fabulous! What do you think? Is it worth trying and how do you suggest going about it? A. We're loving this trend this season also (check out this recent post in StyleBakeryTeen), but it can be a bit tricky to pull off. Keep in mind that wearing socks will visually cut off your legs, so if you're not willing to lose a few inches of leg height, this trend may not be for you. Here are a few tips for successfully wearing socks with heels: Choose thin socks made with a nylon blend. Cotton socks tend to be too thick and can stretch out or sag.Make sure the top of the socks hit at a slim part of your ankle or calf for the most flattering look.The easiest way to wear the look is to match your sock color to your shoe color.Your skirt or dress hem should be short - mid thigh or higher. A good pair of socks is a fairly inexpensive investment, so this is an easy way to experiment with your fall look. Have fun with it! Here is some styling inspiration from a recent J Crew catalog: Some celebrity inspiration courtesy of Rihanna and Leighton Meester: photos courtesy of style.com and instyle.com
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:36
  
  
• Temple St. Clair for Target Red Bib Necklace
  Designer Temple St. Clair is known for her divine, Florentine-inspired jewelry. Now her riveting creations are captured in a new collaboration with Target, available for a limited time only. The entire range is, in a word, amazing, from its mouthwatering colors to its artisan roots. This mesmerizing necklace is a stunner that will see you through holiday parties and enliven plain tops in an instant. Best of all, every single piece is under $50. You can't beat that - but act fast, because these will go quick.$49.99 at target.com
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:16
  
  
• Fall fashion trends 2010: faux fur
  From head-to-toe fantasy looks to bits of plush trim, designers like Chanel and Rebecca Taylor sent a flurry of faux furs down the runway. While not all of the designers opted for fake, there are plenty of fabulous faux pieces in stores this season. Here are some of our favorites to add to your look:    MICHAEL Michael Kors Faux-Fur Coyote Vest $130 - Michael Kors Free People 'Almost Famous' Faux Fur Jacket $248 - Nordstrom Naughty Monkey - D Lux Faux Fur $79 - Zappos Vila Faux Fur Coat $101 - Asos Faux Fur Stole $50 - Topshop ASOS Long Fantasy Fur Snood $33 - Asos Crop Faux Fur Leopard Coat $170 - Topshop Damselle Faux Fur Ruffle Vest $118 - Nordstrom Kensington Spy Girl Trench $108 - Fred Flare Bomber Jacket With Faux Fur Collar $400 - Nine West Peekaboo Crossbody $59 - Nine West Rushcliffe Cardigan $148 - Anthropologie More on the faux fur trendFaux fur: why we love it [instyle]The Fur-volution Of Fall 2010 [styleite]2010 Fall NYFW Trend: Fur Fest [fabsugar]Style A to Zee: Faux Fur [elle]
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:06
  
  
• Best in beauty at the 2010 Emmy Awards
  It's Friday and we STILL aren't over the gorgeous looks from Sunday's Emmys!Here are a few looks that we can't get out of our heads:Keri Russel kept it flirty with icy lavender eyeshadow, rosy cheeks, and pinkish nude lips...complemented by her wavy side updo. Perfect for the warm weather on Emmy day...or a summer date night!Sofia Vergera, who is always sultry, did not disappoint with cascading waves, smoky eyes, and shades of peach to make her tan pop. Muy Caliente!Lea Michele intensified her 70's inspired flowing hair by adding winged liner and nude lips reminiscent of the time period, proving you can look natural and glam at the same time. (Is it just us or does she remind you of Jen Garner here?)Claire Danes made her blue eyes pop by rimming them with plum shadow and adding lots of lash. Rosy shades on cheeks and lips complimented her blonde hair and tawny skin. January Jones kept her face fresh with just a hint of icy white on the eyes to make them pop, but added extensions to the front of her hair for a beachy, a-line bob.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:00
  
  
• Bullet Girl jewelry
  We recently spotted a cool necklace on Miranda Lambert at the CMA Fest, and upon further investigation discovered it was the from new jewelry line Bullet Girl. All the pieces are made with real bullets - how cool is that? The blanks are sourced from the Houston-based designer's grandfather's ammunition factory in Cuernavaca, Mexico. Miranda is a huge fan of the line - here are some pieces she has worn on tour:Bullet Girl is available at bulletgirl.com and prices range from about $125 to $650.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:00
  
  
• Jessica Alba keeps it all in the details
  Jessica Alba has been on fire on the red carpet lately. Her style strategy, consisting of visually stunning dresses that show off her gams and strappy heels, is definitely working for her. Above left she attends the Venice International Film Festival premiere of Machete in a Valentino Haute Couture gown with an asymmetrical skirt, and Ferragamo lace-up sandals. Right, she attends the L.A. premiere of Machete in a sequined Balmain dress and cutout Christian Louboutin shoes.While neither silhouette above is remarkable, the details that make them special. Details like an intricate bodice, textured skirt, and chevron print sequins, that make her stand out on the red carpet.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:00:00
  
  
• The Next Fashion Must-Haves
  Are you one of those fashionistas whos just always itching to get their hands on the next it thing in the fashion industry? With all the latest fashion trends that is popping out in the market by the week, who wouldnt be? It is every girls dream to wake up in the morning, put on some make-up, get into a fancy dress, spray on a bit of perfume, & go to a party, catching everyones eye. Padded Cup Elastic Corset – $80.00 Talking about the new fashion trends out in the market today, did you know that corsets are making a comeback? Its those things that make womens (& mens) waists into smaller sizes, pretty much like a bustier. Only, a bustier is meant only to shape the body, but not so much that it alters it drastically, which a corset does. Both the corset & bustier are making a comeback, as seen in the latest Megan Fox movie. Tory Burchs cotton and spandex denim jeans, worn with Ra-res polyester and spandex down parka and Bumboos organic cotton and viscose T-shirt. Denim is always part of the fashion industry, and its not saying goodbye just yet. Denim doesnt go out of style, it flows with it. This season, the jeans that are in style are skinny, torn, of dirty khaki, gray, blue or black colors typesbest combined with long sweaters or tops. Aum Clothing – Aum Flower Eco-Slouch Pullover – $48 Another fashion news is the all out total turnover of fashion going green. Fashion designers today are deciding to go green, making environmental friendly clothes & apparels for the new generations. Its no wonder though, thinking about how everything is slowly, but surely, making a turnover to a greener pasture. Surely, even the more famous fashion designers are making a heads up into going green. As was said in New Yorks fashion shows, environmentally friendly clothing designs and fabrics are here to stay. Just like everything else in this world, fashion style evolves, making every woman want to be updated with every style & trend in the market.
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 02:00:06
  
  
• A Lesson in Trends: Over-sized Sunglasses
  I was a little surprised to find such shock and awe over the idea that over-sized sunglasses are in bad taste the other day and I thought it might be a good opportunity to talk about the lifespan of a trend. If you go for a trend you mark yourself as trendy. That’s fine, but trendy has a shelf life and you’d be wise to know when to jump off that band wagon before it drives itself into gas station and dollar store wasteland. Let’s talk about over-sized sunglasses. The trend? She is over. I have three problems with oversized sunglasses. Four if you include they look dumb. First and foremost they are played. out. Way played out. Way WAY played out, and have been for a good couple of years now. They were fresh-looking in 2004 and stayed more or less on the right side of gauche (see what I did there?) until late 2007. It had a standard three year trend run. Fine and respectable. And I’m sure they’ll come back again in say, 2025 so if you bought an expensive pair, keep ‘em somewhere. However: It is now 2010. The industry-standard two year trickle down grace period is well over. It’s time to put ‘em away. Generally speaking, if you can buy a trend at the dollar store or a gas station, then chances are that particular trend has officially become saturated and is now followed only by People Who Don’t Know. You are not People Who Don’t Know. The other thing about big sunglasses is this: They’re not glamorous. They’re not going to make you glamorous or mysterious or interesting if you’re not glamorous or mysterious or interesting already, and if you ARE glamorous or mysterious or interesting already, you probably already know better than to make that sort of rookie mistake. (For further reference please see fig. 142a in your texts, tit., Mathematical Odds of Women in Shirts Spelling “Classy” in Rhinestones Actually Being Classy.) Also: You’re Not Famous (probably) Most of us aren’t famous. I’m the level of famous where I get recognized for who I actually am maaaaybe once a month, and then get the “Hey! You’re! Uh! Somebody!” about every other week (we will not speak of the dark days as a 20 year-old big girl in our Nation’s Capital where I was constantly mistaken for Monica Lewinsky) and yet somehow I manage to avoid the papparazzi glare on a regular basis. I’m not Jackie Onassis and this isn’t 1974. I can get away with regular sized sunglasses. I’m pretty sure you can, to0. The thing about a trend is you’ve got to know when to let go. I’m not talking about the hyper-militant Fashionistas who wouldn’t be caught DEAD wearing last year’s Balmain military jackets. That’s dumb, but a good rule is if you’re playing the same card now that you were three years ago without a significant tweak in a modern direction then maybe you want to go ahead and give yourself a little revamp. Hope this helps! Ask questions in the comments field Related Posts:Plumcake’s Challenge (and a teensy Come to Jesus)The Big Question: Whatever Happened to Baby Plum (and Francesca) Edition?Listen to the Nun.Not Even NormalThe Big Question: Hey! Fat Girl! You’re Fat!
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 05:59:08
  
  
• Solestruck Shoe Lookbook F/W 2010
  SOLESTRUCK just shot their first ever lookbook entitled “Room Service” on location in Portland, Oregon by photographer Carey Haider and features dozens of new Fall/Winter 2010 shoes (mostly booties, baby). Here are my top five shoe picks: Report Signature Caleb Bootie, $299.95 Report Signature STEINWAY thigh-high boot, $489.95 Senso Wilma Platform Bootie in Black Leather, $159.95 (also available in black pony, cheetah, pink cheetah and/or white/brown cheetah) Ego and Greed FANG bootie in embossed grey phyton, $79.95 (click on picture for better view, this picture doesn’t do the shoe justice) Sam Edelman Vancouver lace-up bootie in black suede, $224.95 See all styles in the Solestruck Room Service F/W Lookbook 2010 and tell me which are your favorite?!
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 05:05:30
  
  

Womenshealth [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

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Venuszine [ <<  pop  full  >> ]

• Deborah Kee Higgins invites us to All Tomorrow’s Parties

  This weekend, All Tomorrow’s Parties celebrates is 10^th anniversary by taking over Kutshers Country Club in Monticello, New York. Unlike other festivals, every ATP event (they’re held around the world) invites a curator to choose the bands and films that will play at the festival—previous curators have included My Bloody Valentine, Sonic Youth, Nick Cave, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Vincent Gallo, and even Simpsons creator Matt Groening. This year’s curator, Jim Jarmusch, the independent film director, sets the scene. Deborah Kee Higgins, who organizes All Tomorrow’s Parties alongside her husband and ATP founder Barry Hogan, tells us about the festival and how she came to be a savvy and successful promoter.

  Venus Zine: What are All Tomorrow’s Parties and how did they begin?

  Deborah Kee Higgins: ATP was started by Barry Hogan—he was courting Belle & Sebastian at the time, and they were doing an event at a holiday camp in England. It turned it into a three-day affair. The following year, he wanted to carry it on so he changed the name. Originally it was called the Bowlie Weekender.

  VZ: Do artists really stay in the same accommodation as the fans?

  DKH: When Nick Cave first came to ATP and found out he was staying at the same accommodations [as the fans], he was like, “no this is impossible” and made us scramble around and try to find a hotel in the local area. But after one day of being at the festival, he changed his mind and said, “I’m staying here.” It contributes to the whole atmosphere to have everyone together.

  VZ: Is anything ‘extra special’ on board for the New York version of the festival?

  DKH: There’s something that I’m particularly excited about. I’m a big reader, and this is the first time we’ve started an ATP book club. We got Jim Jarmusch to recommend a list of books, and we’ve chosen two of them. So, we're going to do a book club and a discussion, and I’ve actually managed to get the authors of those two books to come in and participate in the discussion panel. One is The Invention of Everything Else, which a novelization of Nikola Tesla’s life. It’s written by Samantha Hunt. The other is Luc Sante’s book Lowlife.

  VZ: What is your background?

  DKH: I’m from Australia, but [Barry and I] live in London. I used to work for a music magazine called Rock Sound, and I used to produce music video clips and work on the production side, so I was always involved in music. I had actually promoted a few gigs myself but not as heavy as when I started with ATP.

  VZ: How did you end up working with music videos and Rock Sound?

  DKH: I had a marketing background in Australia, but not in music. When I got to England I started temping. I was temping for a company for six weeks and they offered me a full time job, and I stayed with them for three years—that was at a television station. It was a bonus I knew how to use computers and knew how to type and I was able to get into a good temping position, which then got me into a job at a television station in the U.K. From there I moved over to the magazine and through the magazine met contacts to make music videos. It is definitely advantageous to meet people along the way in various jobs.

  VZ: Any advice you can give to other women interested in your type of work?

  DKH: I think there’s opportunity now more than ever for anyone who is good at what they do, to show the world they are good at something. There are so many forums, whether it’s starting your own website or going to work for one, or going to volunteer for another website. I feel like the world and the marketplace has opened up a lot for women and for men. But for women, it means you can get out there more and you can really kind of shine and develop yourself. Even from a young age you can develop what you want to do and hone your skills. There are so many forums and media to sort of get out there.

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 05:45:13
  
  
• I'm with the Band

  Amazing concert posters seem to be everywhere these days, but rock tees often leave something to be desired. Tired album art, boring logos, and even worse, these eyesores often come printed on the kind of stiff, ill-fitting cotton T-shirt that can kill even the most inspired ensemble.

  Cue Soundscreen Design. This Brooklyn-based company tapped five cutting-edge indie fashion designers and graphic design studios to create distinctive merchandise for 10 influential indie bands, including Animal Collective, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, and TV on the Radio. The goal was to produce a line for fans that would reflect their good taste in both music and fashion.

  The result was Soundscreen Design's 2010 Apparel Collection, which features band-inspired artwork on canvas totes and soft, high quality American Apparel cotton tanks and tees. The designs are modern and refreshingly abstract, and all items are priced between $20 and $24 and offer a foolproof way to show a little music appreciation without looking like a 13-year-old fanboy.

  The first installment of the collection (Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Pantha du Prince, Animal Collective and Atlas Sound) is available for purchase now on Soundscreen's website. Designs for TV on the Radio, Band of Horses, Chairlift, Beach House, and HEALTH will be released later this year. Here's a peek at some of the goods:

  Rob Carmichael for Animal Collective:

  

  

  Hisham Bharoocha for Yeah Yeah Yeahs:

  

  

  

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 04:56:19
  
  
• Green Day puts on explosive show in Orange County, California

  Sellout.

  It's the most poisonous word to use against a punk rocker. It insinuates being compromised for fame, girls, clothing deals, whatever. It means relinquishing one's radical beliefs just for a taste of the mainstream. It means you're dead to your peers and supporters.

  Sell out is exactly what Green Day did this week. That is, they sold out the entire Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine on a Tuesday night. Sixteen thousand people ventured to that isolated ravine (among those sighted, actor Bob Saget—who knew Danny Tanner was a rioter?) to watch a trio that started out over 20 years ago in Berkeley and became, arguably, the most important band of the last decade.

  Somehow, Billie Joe Armstrong, Mike Dirnt, and Tré Cool have ascended from the sellout pyre and masterfully defied logic: As they became bigger, they got more political. Their 2004 opus, American Idiot (Reprise), was one of the only successful and genuine protest albums during the Bush era. And now, it's inspired a sellout Broadway musical. The multi-platinum Dookie may have put them on the map since its release in 1994, but with age, they've become real artists and entertainers.

  Who else among Green Day's ilk could put on a three-hour (yes, you read that right) concert encompassing nearly two dozen years of classics and still have the energy of teenagers on Red Bull? With a touring lineup that features keyboardists, extra guitarists, and accordionists, the hits sound fresh, and the anthems (such as the lighters-out bombast of "Wake Me Up When September Ends") can shake the heavens.

  Most importantly, the Bay Area punks have fun onstage. Like tatted-up gazelles, Armstrong and Dirnt jumped atop their monitors and smiled widely during their set. For the bonkers "King for a Day," the whole crew wore costumes ranging from fat Elvis to Cool dressed as a tranny Southern belle, scurrying about like a Benny Hill sketch.

  This wasn't a performance; this was a party. Any fan who could make it onstage was encouraged by the band to join them in the zaniness. Among the ranks was a shy boy dressed like the singer's mini-me, a tall blonde who cradled Armstrong like a baby, and a teen girl invited up to sing "Longview," who promptly fainted after leaving the stage. (She was revived and rocked out in the pit for the remainder of the gig.) T-shirts and toilet paper were shot into the vast audience. The closest concertgoers got hosed down with water. And all the pyrotechnics just added to the effervescence of the evening.

  Like the terrific flashback medley Armstrong and the gang played (Guns N' Roses, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, the Beatles), Green Day is a live act that this generation will brag to their children about seeing. If you're going to "sell out," you might as well do it spectacularly.

  —

  Green Day official site 

  Green Day MySpace page

  Reprise Records

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 06:16:02
  
  
• Venus Zine Crowns the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!

  Patti Smith has been called the Godmother of Punk. Joan Jett is often termed the Original Riot Grrrl. But in the history of rock music, no single woman has come forward to claim the title of Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll.

  So, when writer Allison Ford came to us with the idea to find the lady who could hold court with Elvis, we became a bit obsessed. At the end of our many discussions, we felt there was no “middle of the road” in giving the crown to …

  

  chrissie hynde

  The Pretender is the real deal—the face, the voice, the bangs of a generation

  Long before it was widely accepted for women to front rock ‘n’ roll bands, Chrissie Hynde had no problem stepping up to the mic and into the spotlight. Best known for leading the Pretenders since its inception in the late ‘70s, Hynde has been a one-woman wrecking ball and also a magnetic force field of rock music for the past 35-plus years.

  As the one constant member of the Pretenders in the drug-riddled and conflict-saddled history of the band, Hynde was never one to hang up her jacket—and in the process crafted nine acclaimed studio albums and 33 singles, including such FM radio gems as “Stop Your Sobbing,” “Brass in Pocket,” “Don’t Get Me Wrong,” “Back on the Chain Gang,” and likely one of the most impressive ballads of our time, “I’ll Stand By You.”

  She has been a virtual tour guide through the growing pains of rock music over the years—standing firm in her punk roots while adapting to the new wave trend of the ‘80s, the alternative nation of the ‘90s, and even today’s indie rock grip, starting her own label (La Mina Records) and forming her first-ever project outside of the Pretenders just this year (read more about JP, Chrissie, & the Fairground Boys on page 31). At nearly 60, an age when many rock stars have seen their brightest moments, Hynde is just now forging a new path with the same pristine contralto pipes, vision, and fashion sense that made her an effortless icon decades ago, even as other frontwomen used clichéd forms of image to gain attention.

  As a kid from Akron, Ohio who was bored with Middle America and relished the cultural breeding ground of ‘70s London, Hynde moved to where the action was in 1973 and found a job writing for music magazine NME. Little did she know she would soon be featured in its pages as well.

  She’s weathered relationships with her own rock muses like Ray Davies (the Kinks) and Jim Kerr (Simple Minds), which produced two daughters and inspiration for new material. A vocal PETA activist, Hynde has always been the voice for the underserved, whether it’s animals or the many generations of young women looking for a cultural icon they could relate to. Chrissie Hynde will always be the “talk of the town,” and for that, we proudly crown her the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. — Selena Fragassi (Venus Zine Music Editor)

  ---

  Runners-up: The Rest of Rock Royalty

  As we discovered, there’s a reason why one woman has never been officially honored as the Queen of Rock. Although Elvis has always held a league of his own as the king, the many brilliant women in the history of rock music make it hard to choose just one. Here, we include the legacy of the frontrunners who forever shaped music as we know it—from the classic icons to the young’uns leading the next wave of heirs to the throne.

  

  janis joplin

  The classic rocker still takes a big piece of our hearts

  Nobody could touch Janis Joplin for emotion. Every note came from deep down, whether sweet, strained, or full of pain. Even “Me and Bobby McGee,” the closest she ever came to a pop song, roars and cries. To hear her voice and know it came from a skinny, awkward, 20-something white girl is unfathomable.

  Steeped in the music of Big Mama Thornton and Odetta, Joplin’s classic tracks are backed by an intimate understanding of the blues. One of the last songs she recorded, “Mercedes Benz,” has only a simple backbeat and shows just how mesmerizing a vocal performance can be. When her mouth is open, it’s hard to hear anything else. That’s why her work with Big Brother and the Holding Company produced her best songs. With the restraint of experienced musicians, they provided a steady rhythm to her wild vocals. “Piece of My Heart,” a perfect song both in gritty recordings and live, offers a basic blues-based groove, Joplin’s best performance, and a lesson on woman-scorned rock ‘n’ roll.

  No one knows what she would have sounded like at 30, or what she would have produced. What we do know is that without her, there would be no Stevie Nicks, no Kathleen Hanna. She gave ladies the license to be both fierce and fragile, and to use those emotions to create rock ‘n’ roll on a woman’s terms. — Sarah Collins
  

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  tina turner

  Love had everything to do with creating rock ‘n’ roll’s original diva 

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  ann & nancy wilson

  The sisters bonded by ballads made us heart grunge

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  wanda jackson

  The first lady of rockabilly broke ground as country star

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  grace slick

  The white rabbit led us on a trip in psychedelic rock

  Amid the bevy of fragmented relationships and shifting alliances that define the history of Jefferson Airplane, Jefferson Starship, and Starship, the closest thing these musical groups ever had as a constant was the talent of Grace Slick. When she joined Jefferson Airplane in 1966, Slick was supposed to be only a replacement. The San Francisco ensemble had been together for a year and had already released a debut record that demonstrated its potential. Slick, however, was a huge influence that took the group away from the folk-rock love songs that were far more synonymous with the Byrds to the psychedelic masterpiece of the band’s next album, Surrealistic Pillow (RCA Victor).

  Highlighted by the bordello groove of “White Rabbit” and the fiery “Somebody to Love,” the album was a work of hallucinogenic inspiration. Acidic in its mix of folk, blues, and garage rock, Surrealistic Pillow became a milestone that embraced hippie culture’s mentality of free love, war protest, and drug experimentation, thus crowning Slick the unofficial First Lady of 1967’s Summer of Love.

  Alongside her friend and professional peer Janis Joplin, Slick was the first to legitimize a female lead vocalist. She had managed to tap into a specific place and time and gave it an audible signature. — Mike Hilleary  

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  aretha franklin

  R-e-s-p-e-c-t’ed as the first woman inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame

  Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul. She’s a songwriter, she’s a self-taught pianist, and she’s been proclaimed the best singer of all time by Rolling Stone. From soul to jazz, pop to R&B, blues to gospel, hell, even rock, she masters them all. The year 1967 may as well have been named the Year of Aretha, as she scored hit after hit—“Chain of Fools,” “Baby I Love You,” “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You),” and “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.”

  Franklin reached new heights, however, in April  ’67 when she released her own version of Otis Redding’s “Respect.” Originally a soulful track about a man insisting on a woman’s admiration, Franklin morphed it into a high–energy tune with an empowering message for civil rights, sexual liberation, and the feminist movement. Forty-three years later, it’s still her signature track, considered one of the greatest songs of the 20th century by music aficionados, the National Endowment for the Arts, and average folks alike.

  As the first woman to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and a recipient of countless awards, from Grammys to honorary doctorates, Franklin was and still is a force to be reckoned with. What’s more rock ‘n’ roll than that? — Kelley Hecker

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  kim gordon

  The first to provide an alternative during our sonic youth

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  patti smith

  The eternal Poet Laureate of punk rock

  Ferocious. Uncompromising. Outspoken. Genre- and gender-bending. Patti Smith is the king, queen, duke, duchess, knight, and court troubadour of rock music. Born of the wellspring of New York punk and mayor of such landmarks as CBGB’s and Max’s Kansas City, Smith has clenched her place as one of the most provocative artists around. With her smoky growl and mastery of words, she could take a well-worn song and make it her own. The things she did with Them’s “Gloria” or Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” were like electrical jolts to the boys’ club of gritty musicianship.

  Smith has been a vocal champion for peace and human rights, with her “People Have the Power.” In doing so, she has inspired generations of firebrands—from R.E.M.’s Michael Stipe to Shirley Manson of Garbage and even Karen O—to tear down walls and celebrate individualism, to blur the lines of art and pure energy.

  Smith was a soothsayer (how appropriate is the 32-year-old “Till Victory” these days? It’s uncanny.) and remains a shaman of prose and lyric. She is a pulsar of truth. She’s even tread on “enemy” territory—as a contributor to Rolling Stone and Creem magazines. Patti Smith is intrepidness incarnate. — Melissa Bobbitt

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  pat benatar

  The heartbreaker combined power chords with sexual power

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  karen o

  The gold lion gave music its 21st century roar

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  pj harvey

  Harvey says music will never be Rid of Me

  Polly Jean Harvey was raised on a sheep farm in Dorset, England where her parents introduced their young daughter to the music of Howlin’ Wolf, Jimi Hendrix, and Captain Beefheart. It was in the English countryside where Harvey assembled the trio that would record 1992’s Dry (Indigo), a debut met with widespread critical acclaim and launched the career of one of rock’s most innovative artists.

  In nearly 20 years since her foray, Harvey has released seven studio albums, two compilations, and two collaborations with John Parish. Determined not to repeat herself musically, Harvey’s discography may not be as voluminous as some of her contemporaries, but each entry reveals more layers of her creativity and artistic growth.

  Throughout her career, Harvey has been a critical favorite, if not always a commercial success. Her 2000 release, Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea (Island) garnered her the 2001 Mercury Music Prize (awarded to the best album from the U.K. or Ireland) and sold more than million copies. She’s been nominated for five Grammy Awards and has had two of her albums (Rid of Me and To Bring You My Love) included in Rolling Stone’s list of the Top 500 Albums of All Time.

  Critical adoration is meaningless in rock, though, if an artist can’t deliver live. The always–eccentric Harvey more than delivers: She’s in total control on stage with a voice and a presence that demands full attention. Mark our words, Harvey is  among those leading the next wave of Queens of Rock ‘n’ Roll. — Bonnie Thurston

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  beth ditto

  No one stands in the way of rock’s most daring frontwoman

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  eleanor friedberger

  The quiet, yet fiery furnace fuels rockmusic’s new wave

  Eleanor Friedberger is the coolest kid sister on the block. As the female half of the Fiery Furnaces, she’s helped create some of the most inventive, shape-shifting, indie rock–pop numbers of the last decade. But what else makes her queen-worthy?

  Furnaces fans know that while brother Matthew writes most of the band’s music—a guitar riff here, a few electronic synth loops imitating the sounds of an imaginary “Tropical Ice-land” there—Eleanor is responsible for bringing the lyrics to life. She does so with a spitfire-like intensity on record and a quiet focus on stage, but there’s more to her artistic persona.

  If Matthew is the technician, Eleanor is the lover; if he’s the Tin Man, she’s the heart he so desperately needs. In Ms. Friedberger’s world, life’s a land where dogs are suddenly lost, but then found praying in church. It’s a local social club where a girl named Brandy Butterscotch barters and begs, and a dude named Vincent Vibraphone drunk-dials nearby. Mostly, though, her world is about love. When Eleanor signs autographs after a concert, she’ll sultrily ask for each fan’s name and write it down. Then she emblazons her own signature with a big, cheesy heart. — Jeremy Adams

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  courtney love

  Grunge girls’ favorite baby doll became rock’s miss world

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  liz phair

  The songwriter released us from our exile in guyville

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  kristin gundred

  The Dum Dum is a genius new leader of rock

  Dum Dum Girls mastermind Kristin Gundred (you may know her better as her alter ego, Dee Dee) writes catchy songs and harmonies reminiscent of ‘60s girl groups like the Ronettes, but there’s no modern-day Phil Spector pulling the strings here. Gundred first arrived in the music world as the drummer and singer for the San Diego-based band Grand Ole Party.  In 2008, Gundred struck out on her own, using the Dum Dum Girls name (a shout-out to the Vaselines’ Dum-Dum (Rough Trade) and Iggy Pop’s song “Dum Dum Boys”) as a moniker to release her home recordings.

  Before putting a band together, Gundred had already written and recorded the songs that would become the debut LP, I Will Be (Sub Pop). It features 30 minutes bursting with non-stop swirling guitars, garage-pop hooks, declarations of undying devotion, and (of course) those dreamy harmonies. With her winning combination of sunny beach pop, hazy reverb, and just the right amount of darkness (what Gundred terms “blissed-out buzzsaw”), the future looks bright for Dee Dee and her Dum Dum Girls, the newest in a long line of queens ready to take the throne. — Dana Raidt

  ---

  

  alison mosshart

  The high priestess of hard rock kills it onstage

  Everyone comes into this world screaming, but few continue to holler long after they’ve learned how to walk. No woman can summon that primitive cry quite like Alison Mosshart. The Florida-born London transplant first unleashed her voice in high school when she fronted the punk band Discount. Today, she growls, bellows, moans, and whispers kiss-me-deadly lyrics as co-founder of the Kills and the Dead Weather.

  Mosshart’s gritty voice spews great vengeance and furious fire. You covet that voice and its tremendous power. You want to steal those nicotine-ravaged pipes to dress down your foes or tell some impressionable bloke to treat you like his mother. Like Chrissie Hynde, Mosshart evokes effortless cool with an onstage persona that swings between subtle swagger and breathtaking ferocity, flipping on a dime as she thrashes about with that mop of black hair. She’s confident enough to team up with rock giants Jack White and Jamie Hince and not only hold her own, but even overshadow their efforts.

  Footage of Mosshart playing an early Discount show recently surfaced online. The video depicts an artist on the verge of finding her voice and tapping into her power—she’s at about half-throttle compared to current Dead Weather gigs. With a new Kills album on the horizon, it’s possible she’ll ratchet up her performance level once again and inch one step closer to the rock ‘n’ roll throne.  — Jamie Gadette
  

  ---

  Be sure to check out who our Insiders and Readers think should be named the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!
  
  PART 2: Insiders' Picks
  PART 3: Readers' Picks

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:47:30
  
  
• Venus Zine Crowns the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!

  To make sure no rock goddess was missed, we asked the who’s who of the music industry, and our readers, for their all-time inspirations. Drumroll please…

  

  the donnas on STEVIE NICKS

  We choose Stevie Nicks for Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll. Nicks’ voice is beyond unique and her melodies are amazing. What really impresses us is the emotion that she puts into her songs and performances. Never coming across as sappy or clichéd, Nicks expresses anger, fear, joy, and sorrow in some of the most honest records we have ever heard. She has influenced many diverse female (and male) musicians, which shows the power and longevity of her music. Nicks has a mystical quality and she creates a fantasy for the listener, which is so important in rock ‘n’ roll. It gives the listener the ability to simultaneously experience their deepest, most secret emotions and desires, while also giving them the chance to escape their lives—even if just for the three minutes it takes to play a song.

  The Donnas are an all-female rock band from Palo Alto, California
  The Donnas have more to say in our exclusive video interview at VenusZine.com/donnasvideo

  ---

  

  nan warshaw on EXENE CERVENKA

  Exene Cervenka began her music career DIY-style in 1977 upon meeting John Doe, Billy Zoom, and DJ Bonebrake in L.A. and formed the seminal punk band X. Exene continues to show her DIY spirit today by creating cutting-edge music, visual art, and poetry. She stills tours solo, with X, and the Knitters. Exene has also performed and recorded with artist Lydia Lunch while her own drawings, paintings, and collages are exhibited across the country. Exene shares her passion on social and political issues, incorporating them comfortably into her music, poetry, and art. Each new album, tour, and exhibit has paved ground for other artists to follow.

  Nan Warshaw is the co-founder of Bloodshot Records

  ---

  

  mona dehghan on SIOUXSIE SIOUX

  Siouxsie Sioux holds the honor for so many reasons: Her fashion choices have turned heads from day one, and her iconic makeup has made those cat eyes more beautiful over time. Her songwriting can be called anything but stagnant, with a career that went from an impromptu screaming of the Lord’s Prayer at the 100 Club Punk Festival to the  ornate sounds of the Banshees and the Creatures. What is most inspiring is her complete control both onstage and off. She remains one of the strongest and most uncompromising women on stage. At the end of her 2004 Royal Festival Hall show, she said, “Nothing lasts forever, especially the good things.” True, but not of Sioux’s legacy.

  Mona Dehghan is the Communications Manager for Domino Records

  ---

  

  liz riley tollefson on DEBBIE HARRY

  At a time when rock was sinking under the weight of arena rock, Debbie Harry gave punk and new wave the surge it needed to influence the trajectory of rock.  As a commanding force in the major turn of rock ‘n’ roll in the ‘70s, Harry’s seductive insurgency of the status quo and unapologetic femininity made her a staple among contemporaries. Before the melding of rock star and fashionista roles was commonplace, Harry extended her reach by becoming a noted trendsetter and resident sex symbol for the reinvigorated rock ‘n’ roll movement, making way for future waves of Madonnas to command hearts, minds, and record libraries.

  Liz Riley Tollefson is the co-founder of threeimaginarygirls.com

  ---

  

  frank hopkinson on MADONNA

  In the beginning, rock ‘n’ roll was sex. When Alan Freed first picked up the phrase, rockin’ and rollin’ on a Saturday night didn’t involve watching a fat man in a lame suit and a kiss curl. Madonna is sex. She has breathed sex onto vinyl ever since she sang “Like a Virgin” so unconvincingly. How could she remember? She’s had sex books, sex records, sex films, and sex tours. She’s had as many number ones as the Beatles and is old enough and omnipresent enough to be a deity. Rock ‘n’ roll is more than owning a leather jacket.

  Frank Hopkinson is the co-author of The Girl in the Song: The True Stories Behind 50 Rock Classics (Chicago Review Press, October 2010)

  ---

  Be sure to check out who our Venus Zine Staff and Readers think should be named the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!
  

  PART 1: Staff Picks
  PART 3: Readers' Picks
  

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:46:22
  
  
• Venus Zine Crowns the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!

  joan jett

  Nearly 5,000 of you voted and put Jett at a faraway first with Stevie Nicks and Ann Wilson rounding out the top three.

  Widely considered to be the “Godmother of Punk” and the “Original Riot Grrl,” Joan Jett first left her boot print on rock ‘n’ roll in 1975 as the teenage rhythm guitarist for the all-female band the Runaways. At a time when girl groups were synonymous with freak shows and women with guitars were seen as novelty acts, Jett garnered international acclaim as the co-writer of the Runaways’ hit song “Cherry Bomb” and toured the world before she was 20.

  After the Runaways disbanded and 23 labels rejected her solo album, Jett released it herself and became one of the first female musicians to start her own independent record label, Blackheart Records, in 1980. She went on to release eight gold and platinum albums and nine Top 40 hits with her band the Blackhearts, including “Bad Reputation” and “Crimson and Clover.”

  But all groundbreaking figures aside, what’s significant about Jett is the fact that she not only forged her own career, but also broke rock’s glass ceiling to pave the way for generations of females and power chords to come. — Katherine Hoffert

  Here’s what you said:

  "Joan Jett, hands down, is the queen and the essence of rock ‘n’ roll ...and she’s still rocking! Joan Jett for the win.” — Laura

  "My vote goes to Joan Jett. She is the only woman of rock still going strong and has never given up when the going gets  tough. Her songs are iconic and have stood the test of time. Simply put, she rocks.” — Zinola

  "My vote for queen of rock is Joan Jett. There is no other chick who has represented females. She inspires kids today like she did when I was a kid, and still has fans of all ages. Two of my nieces started playing guitar because of her. Joan Jett gets all of our votes, including my mom’s.” — Angelique

  ---

  Be sure to check out who the Venus Zine staff and our Insiders think should be named the Queen of Rock ‘n’ Roll!
  

  PART 1: Staff Picks
  PART 2: Insiders' Picks
  

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:46:23
  
  
• Top 5 TV Shows Canceled Too Soon

  When it comes to the small screen, critical acclaim and longevity don’t always go hand in hand. In fact, at times the opposite seems to hold more truth. (Yes, I’m talking to you, Two and Half Men.) And you only need to watch a few episodes from Seinfeld’s first season—before Kramer perfected his twitches and Elaine experimented with inflection—to realize greatness can take some patience and nurturing. Unfortunately, not all TV shows have time on their side. Here, five series that deserved a longer ride.

  1. My So-Called Life | ABC | August 25, 1994 – January 26, 1995

  [VideoClip clip - My So-Called Life]

  A fan favorite scene, from the end of episode #12, "Self-Esteem." The song is "Late At Night" by Buffalo Tom.
  

  In part, this one-hour drama tops my list thanks to its perfect time capsule of early-'90s style and angst. (Think crochet vests, flannel shirts, and a soundtrack with R.E.M., Sonic Youth, and the Ramones). Nostalgia aside, the show’s 19-episode lifespan proves tragically short. Fifteen-year-old Claire Danes’ authentic portrayal of the conflicted Angela Chase provided a gripping anchor for a series that pushed beyond the “very special episodes” of the era to more fully address issues such as homophobia and school violence. And let’s not forget the smoldering Jared Leto as the rebel without a cause boyfriend. Sadly, MSCL suffered from a fragmented marketing campaign; to the confusion of viewers, executives targeted the series at both teens and adults with the idea a female teen fan base couldn’t exclusively support programming. Oh, how Dawson's Creek would prove them wrong a few years later.

  2. Arrested Development | FOX | November 2, 2003 – February 10, 2006

  

  Sure, it lasted three seasons—an eternity compared to others on this list—but this quirky, innovative comedy had the goods to go the distance. With its ridiculously talented cast (almost unbelievable that Will Arnett, Jason Bateman, Michael Cera, Portia DiRossi and Jeffrey Tambor shared scenes on a weekly basis) and elaborate plots the eccentric Bluth family could have churned out quality television for years to come. Alas, a small cult following and six Emmy’s couldn’t keep Fox from forcing this gem to a fate befitting its title. (Now we're waiting to see what happens with the movie.)

  3. Freaks and Geeks | NBC | September 25, 1999 – July 8, 2000

  
  

  The saga of mathlete-turned-freak Lindsay Weir (Linda Cardellini) and her geek brother Sam (John Francis Daley) perfected the dramedy genre with equal parts humor and seriousness. Set in 1981, the sitcom boasted a sophisticated look and feel with then sorely underused on-location shots and no laugh track. Written, produced, and directed by comedy extraordinaire Judd Apatow, the program also featured fresh, funny performances from Seth Rogen, James Franco and Jason Segel. Though network execs nixed the series 12 episodes in, Apatow and crew’s slew of hit films—Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, and Forgetting Sarah Marshall, to name a few—have given these outcasts the last laugh.

  4. Pushing Daisies | ABC | October 3, 2007 – June 13, 2009

  
  

  This show had it all: forensics, true love, and pie. Created by Bryan Fuller, whose other short-lived series Dead Like Me deserves an honorable mention in the Canceled Too Soon Hall of Fame, the series followed Ned the pie-maker, played by Lee Pace, as he solved murder cases using his ability to temporarily bring folks back to life. In addition to its out-there plots, Pushing Daisies had a distinctive fairytale-esque look with bright colors and whimsical scenery. Arguably one of the most original series ever produced by a big-three network, its 22 episodes only leave you hungry for more.

  5. The Ben Stiller Show | MTV & FOX | September 27, 1992 – January 17, 1993

  
  

  With starring roles in comedy classics There’s Something About Mary and Zoolander it’s easy to forget that, back in the day, Ben Stiller had a little TV show. In a mere 13 episodes the show-within-a-show sketch comedy series supplied unforgettable scenes and characters, such as "Tito Gallegas: The Pig Latin Lover," "Grown Up Eddie Munster," and oodles of dead-on Tom Cruise, Bono, and Springsteen impersonations. The series also showcased some of the best comedians of the decade, including Andy Dick and Janeane Garofalo (plus, Apatow was behind this one, too). Despite its sizzling critique of pop culture, The BSS failed to connect with viewers. A shame, especially when compared with MTV's current reality-drenched lineup.

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 02:41:58
  
  
• Bettie Serveert

  09/23/10 Cambridge, MA @ T.T. the Bear's 

  09/24/10 Hoboken, NJ @ Maxwell's

  09/25/10 Brooklyn, NY @ Southpaw 

  09/26/10 Milford, CT @ Daniel Street 

  09/28/10 Toronto, ON @ The Drake Hotel 

  09/29/10 Cleveland Heights, OH @ Grog Shop 

  09/30/10 Ferndale, MI @ Magic Bag 

  10/01/10 Chicago, IL @ The Abbey 

  10/02/10 Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue & 7th Street Entry 

  10/04/10 Denver, CO @ Larimer Lounge 

  10/06/10 Spokane, WA @ Empyrean Coffee 

  10/07/10 Seattle, WA @ Tractor Tavern 

  10/08/10 Vancouver, BC @ Biltmore Cabaret 

  10/10/10 Portland, OR @ Dante's 

  10/12/10 San Francisco, CA @ Cafe Du Nord 

  10/13/10 Los Angeles, CA @ Spaceland 

  10/16/10 Tucson, AZ @ Plush 

  10/17/10 Albuquerque, NM @ Launchpad 

  10/19/10 Dallas, TX @ The Prophet Bar 

  10/20/10 Austin, TX @ Stubb's 

  10/22/10 St. Louis, MO @ Blueberry Hill 

  10/23/10 Nashville, TN @ Exit / In 

  10/24/10 Atlanta, GA @ Earl 

  10/25/10 Chapel Hill, NC @ Local 506 

  10/27/10 Pittsburgh, PA @ Brillobox 

  10/28/10 Philadelphia, PA @ North Star Bar 

  10/29/10 New York, NY @ Bowery Ballroom 

  10/30/10 Bordentown, NJ @ The Record Collector Store 

  10/31/10 Arlington, VA @ Iota Club & Café 

  —

  Bettie Serveert's official site

  Second Motion Records

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:51:18
  
  
• Liz Phair

  10/05/10 Solana Beach, CA @ Belly Up Tavern

  10/08/10 Los Angeles, CA @ El Rey Theatre

  10/10/10 San Francisco, CA @ The Independent

  10/12/10  Seattle, WA @ Crocodile Café

  10/13/10 Portland, OR @ Doug Fir Lounge

  10/15/10  Vancouver, BC @ Venue

  —

  Liz Phair's official site

  Matador Records

  
  Fri, 03 Sep 2010, 03:54:44
  
  
• Innocent Abroad: Chatting with Rachel Shukert

  A laugh-out-loud tale of life as a young American expat in Amsterdam, Rachel Shukert’s memoir, Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour, never lets the absurd (blood-drinking comedy club personnel, anyone?) overpower the author’s deeply moving story of finding herself amid the chaos of early adulthood. We recently caught up with Shukert in New York City to talk about youthful mistakes, and how you can’t really run away from home anymore (even though you should still try).

  VENUS ZINE: You lived in Europe from 2003 to 2005. What parts of your experience fit in with the classic “young American in the Old World!” narrative, and what could only have happened in the early 2000s?

  RACHEL SHUKERT: The story takes place during the very last gasp of that "classic young American abroad," just before it became completely impossible to run away somewhere and mostly lose touch with the place and the people you were running from. I arrived before universal WiFi, before everyone had a BlackBerry, before Facebook, before Twitter. If I needed to speak to someone, I had to call them from a special international calling center. It really was possible to have this feeling of strangeness and separation, whereas now, it's so different. Even the way we process experience has changed—in the past, you would have the experience, contextualize it, ponder it, and then document. Now, people document and experience simultaneously, and in the way the documentation becomes the experience. I think this phenomenon is going to cause a radical shift in autobiographical writing, so in a funny way, this book does feel to me like a little bit of a period piece. You won't ever really be able to lose anyone, or yourself, ever again.  

  VZ: You really own up to your youthful mistakes in this book—something which is, sadly, still considered pretty taboo for women. Why was it important for you to include the parts of the story that are unflattering?

  RS: Because it's still taboo. When women write about difficult periods in their lives—the periods that are, frankly, the most interesting—they tend to deal with them in a few different ways. There is what Elizabeth Gilbert does in Eat, Pray, Love. She glosses over her own wrongdoing for the sake of likability, and then feels compelled to treat every character in the book in a similarly flattering light. There is the kind of memoir that seeks redemption, where the author is redeemed by confession. And on the other end of the spectrum, you get these books that very consciously try to be unapologetic and defiant, but can leave the reader feeling that the writer is a really callous person who treats other people like shit and seems to think that's ultimately okay.  

  I felt like it was important to forge a different path, and write in a way that faced my own mistakes head-on, but held myself accountable for them, too. For me, the essential principle of feminism has always been about women being acknowledged to be as fully human as men, as fully entitled and capable of the entire range of human experience and expression, good or bad. And for me, that means not letting yourself off the hook about certain things, but not being ashamed of them either.  

  VZ: Any advice for people pondering a move to the Continent?  

  RS: Go for it. You've got nothing to lose, especially now that everything in the world is ruined. Also, forget everything you learned at freshman orientation about not talking to strangers and make friends with some real weirdos. You won't be disappointed.

  ---

  ABOUT THE BOOK

  Everything Is Going to Be Great: An Underfunded and Overexposed European Grand Tour

  by Rachel Shukert

  Harper Perennial

  336 pages

  
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 08:40:25
  
  

• The Weepies

  The Weepies consist of Deb Talan and Steve Tannen, a pair of singer-songwriters (and a married couple), who have a laidback folk sound laced with a sweet pop sensibility—all of which can be heard on their latest release. Be My Thrill in one word? Pleasant. The 14 tracks are simple and uncomplicated, featuring natural instrumentation and layers of gentle harmonies. Considering the bountiful commercial use that the Weepies songs have seen throughout their career (according to the press release, their music has been featured in over 100 film and TV placements from Sex and the City to Grey’s Anatomy), such easy on the ears sounds make for ideal background music.
  
  Considering where their songs have set the scene, it isn’t much of a surprise to find that the prevailing theme on Be My Thrill is love, and this is a duo that is not afraid to share what is in their hearts. Love songs like “Add My Effort” and lead single “I Was Made for Sunny Days” (which features the refrain “I was made for sunny days / And I was made for you”) manage to balance being sentimental without being hackneyed, while “Not a Lullaby” and “They’re in Love, Where Am I?” are earnest laments on loneliness.
  
  For most of the disc, Talan serves as lead vocalist with Tannen adding harmony, except for a handful of tracks where the pair switches it up. It’s a formulaic pattern that’s rarely broken except for the acoustic “rocker” “How Do You Get High.” Fortunately for the Weepies sticking to the tried and true works and while Be My Thrill may not be thrilling, it sure is pretty.
  
  __
  
  The Weepies official Web site
  
  The Weepies MySpace page
  
  Nettwerk Records

  
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 08:48:58
  
  
• Selena Fragassi Loves (to Hate) What Courtney Wore Today

  Frances Bean may think her mother is a “feral cat,” but C. Love would have us believe she’s the Queen of Sheba with her new blog, What Courtney Wore Today—a daily chronicle of the Hole singer’s abundant closet and her fondness for paper-doll playtime. Unfortunately, what the cat dragged in is not pretty. Love forgets there are no nine lives when it comes to fashion and her heyday as the baby doll dress impresario ended about the same time her band had a good album, some fifteen years ago. While we don’t suggest trying these faux pas on at home (especially you, Taylor Momsen) we do highly recommend checking in once a day for what not to wear. It's just too bad we can’t get Glamour's "fashion don't" black bar across her face, because what Courtney wore on her face today—that’s not pretty either.

  Selena Fragassi is Venus Zine's music editor

  
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 05:36:23
  
  
• What would you ask Corin Tucker?

  Missing Sleater-Kinney? Yep, so are we but we couldn't be more excited that singer Corin Tucker is returning with her new eponymous band and a debut album out October 5—and that she's our Call & Response lady for Venus Zine's winter issue!

  If you could ask Corin Tucker anything, what would it be? Send your questions to feedback@venuszine.com by September 9. We'll pick the best entries, and print Tucker's answers, in our winter issue, which hits newsstands on November 2.

  Even better, everyone who submits a question will receive their choice of one of our Sleater-Kinney back issues. When submitting your question for the Call & Response feature, please also provide your mailing address and your selection of back issue, either #13 (summer 2002) or #24 (summer 2005). 

  
  

  Please note, the free back issue offer is open to U.S. residents only.

  
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 05:27:02
  
  
• Sahara Smith

  Sahara Smith’s debut album plays like the diary of a front-porch crooner sharing her heartache under the setting southern sun. Myth of the Heart is clean, simply structured, and unpretentious, with the title track and “All I Need” playing as effortlessly as the summer breeze in which Smith probably wrote them. A gentle piano line over a walking bass is the syrup that makes her doughy falsetto go down nice and easy, while “Angel” glides on astral strings and plunges into Jewel-esque vocals, but “Mermaid” is the clear standout.
  
  The quiet desperation of “Mermaid” is carried by Smith’s voice, which bends and blushes around violin strings with the finesse of a mythical creature. The song is about how time takes no pity on the heartbroken and everything is “growing fast and growing deep.” Intentional or not, Smith invokes James Joyce, the patron saint of hopelessness, by citing “an old hotel in Dublin / Growing heavy in Irish rain.” The cruel mixture of desire and impossibility bleeds on this song as if from an open wound, and when Smith sings “I’m happy for you,” don’t believe her.
  
  When she lets her voice down from the ledge, things get spicy. The lone come-hither track, aptly titled “The Real Thing,” is where Smith trades in lace for leather, Jewel’s holiness for Bonnie Raitt’s grit, and gets her voice down deep where it counts: “I got this crazy idea and it’s growling at the surface.”
  
  Myth of the Heart makes no secret that Smith’s heart has four wheels, as she intones “I wanna drive all night long and become another person / Until nothing is for certain,” but she still has to find the right keys. However, with the songwriting chops and mature vocals she has already shown, there’s no doubt she’ll be rolling the windows down and cruising across an endless stretch of land to a place four leaf clovers don’t grow.
  
  __
  
  Sahara Smith MySpace page
  
  Playing in Traffic Records

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 08:39:37
  
  
• Just announced: Venus Zine Photo Contest Prizes

  Think you have what it takes to photograph for Venus Zine? Now is your chance! Enter Venus Zine's 1st Annual Photo Contest for a chance to have your photo printed in the winter 2010 issue and win great prizes! Sponsored by the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (MCA).

  And now for those fabulous prizes...

  

  Each of the winners in these five categories—Street Fashion, Music/Concert, Travel, Portrait, and Food—will receive:
  • a $50 gift certificate to Threadless
  • a copy of Threadless: Ten Years of T-shirts from the World's Most Inspiring Online Design Community by Jake Nickell courtesy of Threadless
  • one brand spankin' new Holgawood Camera (in black) courtesy of MCA Chicago

  

  The winner of the Readers' Choice category will receive:
  • a $50 gift certificate to Threadless
  • a copy of Threadless: Ten Years of Tees from the Worlds Most Inspiring Online Art Community by Jake Nickell courtesy of Threadless
  • a Fuji Instax Mini 7S Instant Camera courtesy of MCA Chicago

  The winning photos will also be published in the winter 2010 issue of Venus Zine!

  Click here to enter and for contest details.

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 06:12:02
  
  
• Lana Mir

  What's not to love about Ukrainian singer Lana Mir's eponymous debut? I was hooked seconds into opener "Say You Need Me"’s vintage ‘60s-style acoustic pop and the rest of the album continues in a similar airy style. To add some variety, Mir spins hints of jazz and bossa nova into the mix, as on "Goodbye Girl" and the trippy and absolutely lovely cover of the Stone Roses' "I Wanna Be Adored." The record is bursting with emotion, Mir pouring herself into each song with her wistful, sultry voice, reminiscent of Feist, Sade, and even Billie Holiday. If you start to feel moody listening to the lyrics on songs such as "Summertime" and "Say You Need Me," it's because she knows how to hit a nerve with those haunting words.

  Lana Mir may be a fresh new voice to North American ears, but this singer-songwriter powerhouse has proven in this impressive collection of songs that she possesses such talent she will without a doubt have a lasting impact.

  __

  Lana Mir MySpace page

  Unfiltered Records

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 07:59:03
  
  
• Dylan LeBlanc is a lonely guy

  Don’t let the baby face or endearingly hesitant southern drawl fool you; Dylan LeBlanc has felt the pangs of pain and misery. Week-long benders, family woes, miles of regret—he’s seen it all. And at only 20 years old, he’s already been compared to the likes of Townes Van Zandt and Neil Young (who was also only 20 when he wrote “Broken Arrow”). Despite his age, the country troubadour sings with a well-earned, heartfelt loneliness that’s altogether acrid, sweet, youthful, and wise. A formula seldom found no matter how many decades you’ve seen come and go.

  Born in northwest Louisiana and reared in Muscle Shoals, Alabama, LeBlanc was practically raised in a sound studio by local country legends and his songwriter father. He spent his childhood observing, absorbing, and playing—had a guitar in hand by age seven and was writing his own music by eleven. He dropped out of high school and took a job waiting tables, harassing local hole-in-the-wall bars to let him play there in the evenings. If any additional proof is needed, his debut album, Pauper’s Field (Rough Trade) is further evidence that Dylan LeBlanc has music pumping through his young veins.

  It was only a matter of time before LeBlanc found himself surrounded by music executives whose smug, disingenuous posturing did little to encourage his desire for a record deal. “I’ve spent a lot of time around people in the music industry and for the most part, they’re all the same.” LeBlanc says. “They never listen to the whole song. They just sit in their offices with that ‘I’ve got something to teach you’ attitude and make you feel very stupid.”

  Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis proved to be the exception to the rule. “I remember sitting in my car once, listening to music with Geoff. I told him I had some songs I wanted to show him and he just sat there in my car, listened to the whole song and didn’t say anything until it was over.” LeBlanc pauses for a moment, remembering. “He is a true music lover—as much of an artist as any of us writing the songs.”

  Travis’ kindness and unmistakable passion for music proved the perfect fit for LeBlanc’s effortless sound and quiet demeanor. “I’m more of a listener than a talker,” he confesses. “I feel like I’ve always had a problem with loneliness. Even when I was a child, I can remember feeling very lonely, I’m not sure why… But I love recording because I love making music. It’s like a miracle… It’s just a miracle when it all comes together.” Meeting Emmylou Harris, who agreed to sing backup vocals for “If the Creek Don’t Rise” was another instance of LeBlanc creating a miracle. “I didn’t say a word, I was so nervous,” he remembers. “As gracious and beautiful as you can imagine her being, she was.” The song is mournful, lilting, and one of the album’s most memorable tracks.

  For such a young artist currently on his first roller coaster of press junkets and public appearances, it’s obvious that LeBlanc would still prefer to be alone in a room with his guitar. But he’s wise enough to know that if country music won’t get out of his head, and this is the path he’s found himself on, then quitting isn’t an option. “If I don’t make it in music, I’m screwed,” LeBlanc declares, but then quickly recants. “No, I’m not screwed. I’d still make music, there’s no other option.”

  —

  Dylan LeBlanc official site

  Dylan LeBlanc MySpace page

  Rough Trade Records

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 03:14:19
  
  
• PHOTOS: Iggy and the Stooges in Chicago

  

  Fresh from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Class of 2010 induction, Iggy and the Stooges returned to Chicago for an 80-minute set of "Raw Power."

  

  Iggy Pop jams with an injured Mike Watt, former bassist for Minutemen, who didn't let a leg brace get in the way of a stellar rendition of "Search and Destroy."

  

  At 63, Iggy Pop has not clearly not aged in energy or enthusiasm—nor has his music or fan reception. When not stage diving in the sea of sweaty bodies, Pop invited the crowd to join him onstage and they excitedly accepted. 

  Full Set List:

  1. Raw Power

  2. Search and Destroy

  3. Gimme Danger

  4. Your Pretty Face is Going to Hell

  5. Shake Appeal

  6. 1970

  7. Night Theme

  8. Beyond the Law

  9. I Got a Right

  10. I Wanna be Your Dog

  11. I Need Somebody

  12. Penetration

  13. Death Trip

  14. Open Up and Bleed

  Encore:

  15. Funhouse

  16. No Fun

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 03:45:26
  
  
• Various Artists

  If there were two words to describe the soundtrack to Michael Cera’s latest vehicle, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, based on Bryan Lee O'Malley’s beloved graphic novels, it would be these: Youthful exuberance. The album begins with a girl yelling, “We Are Sex Bob-Omb!” before crushing into a wail of guitar and drums, letting the listener know they’re in for an aural treat.
   
  The record’s certainly not for a subdued, introspective type, someone who appreciates chamber pop, cello strains, and literate metaphorical lyrics based on, say, the poetry of Vladimir Nabokov. No, Scott Pilgrim is a rock ‘em sock ‘em carnival of high flying musicians who like to turn up the amps and get sweaty. Contributors include Plumtree (“Scott Pilgrim”), Frank Black (“I Heard Romana Sing”), Metric (“Black Sheep”), and Black Lips (“O Katrina!”). The Broken Social Scene fan favorite, 2002’s “Anthems for a Seventeen Year Old Girl,” is a cute number that builds into just that, an anthem, and is a highlight of the record. Another is Beck’s “Ramona,” a brief respite amid the falling Sex Bob-Ombs that’s reminiscent of his gloriously beautiful Sea Change (Geffen) days. And while we’re on the subject of Beck, he actually penned the four ditties Pilgrim’s band—the aforementioned Sex Bob-Omb—perform.
  
  All in all, the album is a happy, clattering, joyous, rollicking musical hoop-de-doo, faithful to the comics and film, so I’ll give it two more words: Good fun.
  
  __

  Scott Pilgrim vs. the World official Web site

  ABKCO Records

  
  Wed, 01 Sep 2010, 06:12:15
  
  
• Review: Slicker by Lucy Jackson

  When the protagonist of Slicker, 20-year-old cynic-in-training Desirée Christian-Cohen, finds herself staring down a summer filled with parental disappointment, boyfriend disillusionment, and a beloved grandfather in failing health, she does more than shut out the world. She runs away to the first place her finger lands on the battered Rand McNally map decorating her bedroom wall. Honey Creek, Kansas, population 1,623, is her destination, a “place as distant and unfamiliar as the landscape of the moon."  

  Though a passionate lover of everything on her beloved Upper East Side, Desirée is no cultural snob. She views her Crosland adventure as an exercise in social experimentation. There’s no master plan, no place to stay, and no idea that the signs leading in to town which read “I AM THE WAY THE TRUTH AND THE LIGHT” and “Sin is a Cancer to All People” should clue her in to how a “half-Jew” may be received. Desirée quickly meets Honey Creekers who continually overshare personal information with world views shaped entirely within the confines of the Kansas plains. Desirée’s taken in by the most charming guy in town, Bobby McVicar, who plays guitar, sports a long braid, and is in every good way the opposite of the boring boyfriend she left behind at Yale.  

  Desirée’s family back in New York is struggling with discovery and acceptance issues of their own. Her mother, Nina, a professor, tries to reconcile that her husband, Patrick, left her for a domestic male diva and intellect named Jordan (aka "Lover Boy" in Nina’s parlance). Nina’s indispensible helper, Porsha, looks after Nina’s father with love and humor, until she quits after a minor misunderstanding; and her brilliant literature student, Kingsley, spends her nights stripping and lap-dancing for rich men so she can finance her graduate studies.

  Jackson's richly drawn characters reveal themselves to be capable of so much more than just the stereotypes that come with geography, gender, and age. They all realize that labels (“Jew”, or “gay”, or “married”, or “stripper”) are just like those signposts outside Honey Creek: unsubtle messages that can be looked past with an eye that takes in the big picture. 

  Jackson is herself a mystery, as this is the second book written under the pseudonym for Marian Thurm. Thrum is a well-regarded literary agent who first used Lucy Jackson (a name inspired by her two cats) as a pseudonym when writing a book based on her own daughter’s private school in POSH. While hiding her own identity, she deftly strips it away in her characters.

  ---

  ABOUT THE BOOK

  Slicker

  by Lucy Jackson

  St. Martin's Press, August 2010

  272 pages

  
  Thu, 02 Sep 2010, 09:43:00