Wearing One's Victory On One's Tee

Remember how I wondered whether it was poor form to wear one's election gear after the election? Well, apparently the Democratic National Committee has no such qualms. I recently received an e-mail asking me to donate yet more cash to the DNC to help pay its campaign debts, and promised me in exchange an "2008 Victory Tee." See below!

I dunno, man. While my earlier question has been answered by readers who assured me it's OK to keep sporting my MJ Obama tote, this one doesn't even seem like a question. If I saw someone strolling down Sunset with Joe 'n' Barack's victorious faces grinning from his chest, despite my happiness with the Democratic victory, I'd still nudge whomever I was walking with and go "PSST! TACKY AT 12:00!" It just seems awfully snotty, ya know? Like, my tote bag, OK, I obviously bought it pre-election and it reflects my pre-election hopeful feelings. But this 2008 Victory Tee is obviously a post-election purchase, which, to me, just says "Nyah nyah, my team won! DEAL WITH IT!" No matter what the game, I'm not a huge fan of that attitude.

But once I started looking around, I realized that I may be in the minority with that opinion. At the CafePress Obama Shop, there's a whole "President Barack Obama" section, whose heading is "Yes, That One won. The people have spoken, and President Obama wins. Show your support as we shift from Yes We Can to Yes We Did." Whoa, I read you loud and clear. First, we have the basic tee equating Obama with hope itself:

The ever-popular Warhol/Mac Photobooth graphic (btw, shouldn't it technically say "President-Elect"?)

Here's the Homecoming '08 version. Rah rah, we rule the school!

And lastly (OK, not actually lastly; there are a million shirts on that site), there's the straight-talkin' this-is-how-I-feel tee. This is actually my favorite, since it doesn't mince words trying to pretend it's not gloating.

Obviously, I'm not a fan of the sartorial gloatfest, no matter who's on the winning side. But keep in mind that I also avoid giant logos across my chest, Louis Vuitton bags, jeans with giant logos across the pockets (like Rock & Republic, though they do fit oh so fabulously)...which is clearly a weird, rare trait that most of the American public does not share with me. So does the VICTORY '08 WE RULE THEY DROOL tee trend surprise me? Yes, but it shouldn't.

Can You Wear Political Merch After The Election?

First of all, yay!!

[our TV, nov. 4]

Secondly, now that Mr. Obama has been elected and doesn't need any more promoting, what do I do with my fabulous Marc Jacobs OBAMA tote? I've been using it as my purse for the past 2 weeks, hoping to influence everyone around me (after all, everything Marc Jacobs does is revered, so...). Now do I just put everything back into my normal handbag, fold up the tote and put it in the memory chest? Posing my question on a larger scale, what do we do with our sartorial expressions of opinion once, well, our side has won (or lost)? Is wearing a team jersey unsportsmanlike after the game? Or, even worse, just plain dorky?

[mj bag, runway to change]

On the one hand, wearing winners' gear might seem like gloating, and wearing losers' merch could appear somewhat pathetic. On the other hand, though, either of those could also imply admirable consistency; in other words, you still love your candidate, whetehr or not (s)he won. What do you all think? Is it more likely to come off as positive or negative? Would keeping up the campaign make you feel proud or lame? Most importantly, do I get to keep using my bag?

[lewis is politically active]

Recession Fashion: Not All Bad Tidings?

"broke" (film)
(http://www.wbff.org/films/detail.asp?fid=188) (my blogger links feature is also broke)

interesting article of the day! the JC report had this insightful article on "What Sells During An Economic Downturn." excerpts below:

Last week alone, Women's Wear Daily reported that US retailers are cutting orders by an average of 10-15% due to the economic climate, while it was announced that consumer confidence reached an all-time low in October. Given these factors, it would be easy to think the nation has put its credit cards on lockdown. But for the strata of society that's remained insulated from the economic chill, it's not so much about putting an end to shopping, but shopping in a more considered way. And while one might assume that demand for timeless basics would be on the rise in such uncertain times, many retailers report that it's the exact opposite.

"To some degree, there's an element of fantasy going on—our customers are buying more daring pieces, perhaps to escape from what's going on in the world," says Jenny Le, manager of Opening Ceremony in Los Angeles. "Knits, jeans and staples are always popular, but for women, we're also selling a lot of crazy, playful things like Les Chiffoniers sequined pants and coats with detachable elements. Men are buying a little more practical, but are branching out with fun boots and tuxedo jackets, things that are a little out of the ordinary."

Despite all that, Rehnström, for one, can see how this turmoil may turn out to be a blessing for the fashion industry, saying: "I think that the change we are noticing should not be considered a definite negative experience for the fashion industry. I think it will force designers, buyers and editors to focus on cohesive concepts, resulting in more well-edited boutiques with a distinct direction, as opposed to too many stores carrying the same brands and not allowing for a fun shopping experience. The times of over-consumption are over. Along with this come the new ideals of society, like awareness of global warming, organic produce and fair trade, which will ultimately result in a better world."


full article ---> http://jcreport.com/intelligence/wwwkirnazabetecom/041108/what-sells-during-economic-downturn

Halloween Recap, By Demand

OK, now that it's 7:30 PM and I've been awake for a full 7.5 hours, I'm ready for a Halloween Costume Recap, courtesy of Fujifilm and post-party photoshoot shenanigans.

Me as Suri (details here):

[that is a milk martini, i promise]

Mama Katie Holmes with Auntie Elmo

A closeup of my custom Suri buttons & a better picture of mama Katie and her perfectly pegged pants (PPP [which is also an economics acronym, if I'm not mistaken]) will follow. Blogger is having a minor heart attack at the moment - darn fun-size Snickers - so there will have to be a Recap Part II.

In the meantime, post links to your fabulous costumes! I know you have some, kittens...you can't help yourselves.