fashion

Wednesday September 9, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday September 9, 2020

Where did the ‘no white after Labor Day’ rule come from?

The day itself first became a national holiday back in 1894 – but with it comes the odd tradition of not wearing white shoes or clothing after the day has passed. Just where did that rule come from – and what is Labor Day all about anyway?

September 3, 2016

It’s not quite clear where the rule about not wearing white clothes or shoes after Labor Day came from – with a number of explanations given.

Time Magazine previously suggested that wearing white in the summer was a way of keeping cool in warmer temperatures, and that it wasn’t necessary to do so once the autumn months arrived.

In the early part of the 20th Century white clothing was regarded as a status symbol for Americans who were wealthy enough to spend time away from the city in the warmer summer months.

Their return from vacation to city life around Labor Day was seen as a time to pack away those clothes and get out their darker-coloured autumn clothing.

June 10, 2020

Although it’s not an official rule, fashion magazines started pointing to the ‘no white after Labor Day’ trend in the 1950s – although style icons such as Coco Chanel continued to wear white all year round.

It’s also been suggested fashion editors led the trend by featuring white clothing in magazines during the summer months and darker clothing once autumn rolled around.

These days people are less fussy about the so-called rule and wear white all year round – although it still pops up from time to time, notably in John Waters’ 1994 movie Serial Mom, in which Kathleen Turner launches a murderous assault on a woman (Patty Hearst) for wearing white shoes after Labor Day is over.

July 18, 2020

Labor Day, which is always on the first Monday in September, commemorates the social and economic achievements of workers in the US, and the contribution they have made to the strength, prosperity and well-being of the country.

It was first celebrated in New York City on September 5, 1882, in accordance with the plans of the city’s Central Labor Union, while Oregon was the first state to make it a holiday five years later.

The day became a national holiday in 1894, after Congress passed a bill recognising it as a holiday and then president Grover Cleveland signed it into law.

Labor Day is seen as the ‘unofficial end of summer’ with many people taking two-week vacations around it, while a lot of autumn activities such as school and sports seasons also begin around this time. (Metro UK) 

 

Monday, January 11, 2016

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator Ð Monday, January 11, 2016 How David Bowie told us he was dying in the 'Lazarus' video Bowing out with typical style, David Bowie didnÕt just release his last album ÔBlackstarÕ to coincide with his 69th birthday last week, on January 8 Ð he was using it to say goodbye to the world. An 18-month battle with cancer that hardly anyone knew about came to tragic end yesterday (January 10), but Bowie provided bleak hints about his terminal condition for his fans and followers in what was to be the final music video of his that was to be released in his lifetime. Released only four days ago, the video for single ÔLazarusÕ was BowieÕs parting shot, opening with a blindfolded, fragile-looking Bowie laying in bed. His first words Òlook up here, IÕm in heaven/IÕve got scars that canÕt be seenÓ are now obviously an admission of his ill health, rather than just a fantastical musing on mortality. It soon becomes obvious that the bed he's in is a hospital one and Bowie begins to float above it, signifying his transmutation to the other side Ð whatever, or wherever that may be. Watching it now, itÕs a statement as bold as it is bleak. As Bowie writhes around on the bed, trying to break free, another Bowie then appears, a Bowie clad in black and stood upright, a Bowie who can still pose, pout, pick up a pen and create. Inspiration hits him and he scrawls at speed in a notebook, while the other Bowie continues to convulse. As he writes, we see a skull sitting ominously on his writing desk, the spectre of death looming over Bowie and his final creation, before he steps backwards into a wooden wardrobe, a fitting kind of coffin for an icon of style and fashion. "His death was no different from his life - a work of Art," explained Bowie's producer Tony Visconti, in tribute. "He made 'Blackstar' for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn't, however, prepared for it." Creative to the ve

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Monday, January 11, 2016

How David Bowie told us he was dying in the ‘Lazarus’ video

Bowing out with typical style, David Bowie didn’t just release his last album ‘Blackstar’ to coincide with his 69th birthday last week, on January 8 – he was using it to say goodbye to the world.

An 18-month battle with cancer that hardly anyone knew about came to tragic end yesterday (January 10), but Bowie provided bleak hints about his terminal condition for his fans and followers in what was to be the final music video of his that was to be released in his lifetime.

Released only four days ago, the video for single ‘Lazarus’ was Bowie’s parting shot, opening with a blindfolded, fragile-looking Bowie laying in bed. His first words “look up here, I’m in heaven/I’ve got scars that can’t be seen” are now obviously an admission of his ill health, rather than just a fantastical musing on mortality. It soon becomes obvious that the bed he’s in is a hospital one and Bowie begins to float above it, signifying his transmutation to the other side – whatever, or wherever that may be. Watching it now, it’s a statement as bold as it is bleak.

As Bowie writhes around on the bed, trying to break free, another Bowie then appears, a Bowie clad in black and stood upright, a Bowie who can still pose, pout, pick up a pen and create. Inspiration hits him and he scrawls at speed in a notebook, while the other Bowie continues to convulse. As he writes, we see a skull sitting ominously on his writing desk, the spectre of death looming over Bowie and his final creation, before he steps backwards into a wooden wardrobe, a fitting kind of coffin for an icon of style and fashion.

Satirist William Hogarth used art to predict his own death in 1764

Satirist William Hogarth used art to predict his own death in 1764

“His death was no different from his life – a work of Art,” explained Bowie’s producer Tony Visconti, in tribute. “He made ‘Blackstar’ for us, his parting gift. I knew for a year this was the way it would be. I wasn’t, however, prepared for it.” Creative to the very end, the ‘Lazarus’ video is a heartbreakingly sad way to bid farewell, but a more than appropriate one. (Source: NME)

 

Monday February 27, 2012

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012 Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude. The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome - which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it - as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared toÊconventional oil. It also means Canada's threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now. But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the "dirty oil" fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe. With many of Canada's allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass. However, there also wasn't enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June - but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright. "There was a sound win," federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. "We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated."Ê(Source: Ottawa Citizen) Canada, European Union, EU, Oil, crude, Alberta, Stephen Harper, Vladimir Putin, Bashir Assad, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Russia, Syria, Iran, Otto Dix, seal hunt. Europe, pageant, runway, fashion

By Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator, Monday February 27, 2012

Canada claims win in EU oilsands vote

The Conservative government and Canadian energy sector are girding for several more months of intense lobbying after European Union officials Thursday blocked a draft fuel law that would label the oilsands a dirtier form of crude.

The Canadian government is trumpeting the outcome – which saw more EU officials reject the fuel directive than support it – as a temporary victory in its ongoing efforts to persuade European Union countries not to slap a higher carbonemissions rating on oilsands crude compared to conventional oil.

It also means Canada’s threats of launching a trade war with the European Union and taking the proposal to the World Trade Organization are on hold for now.

But the result has environmental groups digging in their heels in the “dirty oil” fight and even more determined to prevent bitumen-derived fuels from being used in Europe.

With many of Canada’s allies abstaining from the vote, European Union countries supporting the proposed Fuel Quality Directive failed to win enough support at a Thursday committee meeting of technical experts to have it pass.

However, there also wasn’t enough support to kill the measure, so a council of EU ministers will now vote on the fuel directive, likely in June – but not before the Conservative government and petroleum producers ratchet up their efforts to quash it outright.

“There was a sound win,” federal Natural Resources Minister Joe Oliver said in an interview. “We will continue to advocate our position. It has obviously resonated.” (Source: Ottawa Citizen)