Hairspray and Celebrating Diversity

My first pic is noisy as fuck, but I sorta like it that way. Gives it a bit of an "analog" feel, no? Either way, it was the sacrifice I had to make to get the pic to be light enough. Still crappy weather over heya! Sorry about my way "oh puhlease" face in the close up, but I liked the lighting in that shot.



A bit of printmixing today! Wasn't particularly in love with the outfit, but it might just be my bad hairday that threw me off. 

Talking about hair: I'm watching Hairspray as we speak. The remake with Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Christopher Walken. I am not a big fan of musicals, but Hairspray is a favorite of mine. Apart from the actors playing some of the funnest parts of their careers, it has a healthy dose of political incorrectness (HELLO, negro-day? :-D), perfectly framed in the turbulent sixties. It addresses certain very controversial subjects pertaining to racism and size-ism straight on without becoming all preachy: this is just a film that celebrates diversity in any way, shape or form.

My favorite part of the film? The fact that this is the ONLY movie I have EVER seen where the hot guy ends up with the not-stereotypically-pretty girl, without her having gotten a make over (read: lose the glasses/ponytail and put her in a red dress and WOW AMAGAD WHO IS THAT /roll eyes). Our heroine is a big girl, but she never hates on her size: she's this bubbly, positive, open minded sweetheart that you can't help but love. Completely believable that dreamy Zac Efron falls for her like a brick wall taken on by a sledgehammer.

SUCH a good rolemodel, SUCH a liberating movie. Why aren't there more movies like this one? By the way if there is any other movie out there where the hot guy falls for the normal girl, please share. HUGE pet peeve of mine, and the number one reason why I hate movies where the dude falls for the pretty-but-slightly-mentally-ill girl. Seriously, you don't mind a BASKETCASE as long as she's pretty? UGH !!8!8!8!!

It is SO completely refreshing to see a movie that is subversive by just stating the obvious: the world is diverse, diversity is beautiful, and we should all love ourselves and each other unconditionally. By showing the fight for body acceptance next to the fight against segregation, we are forced to see how similar racism and size-ism really are. One of the two is politically incorrect nowadays, the other is still rampant in every fat fighting slash fat shaming piece in the lifestyle media. 

It is obviously wrong to judge someone based on their skincolor, so why should it be OK to disrespect someone based on other superficial features like size or weight? People don't think twice when they scuff at a "fatty" for being a pig without any self control. Apparently, not everyone deserves respect, and not everybody has the right to self-determination. No, society needs to shame us when we don't look a certain way, shame us back in line, shame us back in shape, into an ill-fitting mold. 

NO

Thank God for movies like Hairspray.

Also, for anyone as into 50s-60s fashion as I am, this is a must watch. SUCH lovely costumes.

dress: T2 vintage
cardi: H&M
shoes: Zara
belt: Boyfriend's

38 comments

  1. Aww, that last photo is so cute! I haven't seen the most recent Hairspray movie, but my cousin and I used to watch the '80s version over and over. It is a very good teen flick with positive messages (and fabulous clothing), as I remember.

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  2. I love Hairspray!! The music, the colors, the outfits...LOVE! :D And yes, I totally agree on how many movies portray a lot of guys just wanting the typically "hot" girl. "Hot" is more than just skinny, ya know! Tsk tsk.

    forte-espressivo.blogspot.com

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  3. lalalalalalooooove this! Such cool colors, prints and deetz

    <3Meghan

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  4. Hmm, I was ranting on a related topic in my latest post too. Heyy for acceptance of all kinds.

    Another movie would be Bridget Jones' Diary no? In that the girl is just normal and there are two(!) good looking men fighting over her. Giving hope to girls with thighs everywhere. ; D

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  5. Stunning! Love your shoes. That dress is so pretty, I love the retro vibe of your outfit, you look fantastic :)

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  6. There's still a huge difference between A size 10-12 Renee and our tiny ball of fun, Nikki. Also, Renee would still be considered pretty hot by normal standards in every day society. Nikki all the way! :D

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  7. Love those shoes!!!!
    and mm...I don't like Hairspray but I do love the moral, haha :) (I'm more of a Grease girl...but then again that's one where the girl changes...but the boy changes too so it evens out, haha)
    http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

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  8. I love Hairspray! I am a plus size girl according to designers and retailers, and I love that women who are bigger than me are starting to find her confidence or even embracing the confidence they already had. I am still in the struggle with my weight but I still love myself at my size :) I love the fact that I can still find just as unique thrift finds as the girl who is a size 6. Yay for confidence and the fight against sizeism!

    Sarah Jane R.
    www.sarahjanerstyle.com

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  9. oh those shoes!!! i am drooling over them. <3
    i have never seen that hairspray..but, i have seen the old one and loove it!
    i have always loved movies with positive messages.
    have a wonderful weekend love.

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  10. Love those shoes!!

    I haven't seen the new Hairspray, but I've watched the 1980s version about 10 billion times. Every time I eat an Atomic Fireball I feel like Penny Pingleton!

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  11. Have you ever seen the original John Waters version? It's incredible! Anyway, I looove that cardi belted over your dress like that. And it's always broken my heart how in The Breakfast Club Ally Sheedy has to get a make over before Emilio Estevez likes her. She was cuter before, goddammit, and, more importantly, she was herself!

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  12. Oh my gosh you look so freaking tall in these photos! How tall are you? I never thought to ask. The pattern mixing is done just right in this outfit too. Lovely! The shoes are super sweet. I love that style.
    And I've only ever seen the old version of Hairspray, not the new one. But you make me want to watch it!
    XOXO

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  13. I remember seeing that movie in theaters. It was a lot of fun, but had a great message, too.
    Love this outfit. I want your shoes!

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  14. love love love the print clash! absolutely gorgeous! the large print against the small little dots (what a bad sentence). it looks amazing! perfect with the belt, it accentuates your waist and you long legs. oh and the shoes, as i told you before, they are not very easy to wear (i have similar ones). hard to combine actually, but as usual, you know how to work with them.

    another interesting discussion! we definitely have to meet again so we can talk for hours and hours...

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  15. I really love the vintage feel of this outfit mixed with the updated mixed prints. And I love your shoes so so much too! You look really cute!

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  16. Pretty shoes!
    I had to work and only caught the last 5 minutes of the movie. I decided it's time to explore the hairspray period :)

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  17. I am LOVING this outfit. When you are finsihed with that cardy, I want to buy it off you!

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  18. Ah I love that movie too, also totally agree about the 'basketcase' comment, think we all know happily ever after ain't gonna happen there! Great pattern mixing, fabby dress :)

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  19. I love this outfit, you've styled it just right :) And I have a crush on the shoes :P

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  20. fabulous print mixing! i've never seen Hairspray although I have always meant to, I better get on it!

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  21. Superleuke outfit, de schoenen zijn zo mooi!!
    En het vestje is echt superschattig ♥

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  22. Die film is echt zalig hé, een van mijn lievelingsfilms :) ik heb er ook over geblogd, maar niet zo goed en veel geschreven als jij! Examens maken mijn hoofd leeg voor andere dingen dan leerstof...

    Leuke outfit, die jurk maakt je zo groot en elegant :)

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  23. I think this outfit is great, and I love the print mixing! And this dress is so cute, it actually makes me like polkda dots.

    I'd never seen Hairspray but now I think I have to.

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  24. I love the movie Hairspray!

    Your outfit is cute! I'm too timid to mix prints. :X Your shoes are so fun! I love them!

    <3 L

    http://aspiredlevant.blogspot.com/

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  25. LOVE LOVE LOVE your print mixing! such a great idea to put a fun cardigan with a fun dress isntead of just a go-to plain one! I didn't know Hairspray was a movie either, thanks for sharing, it's now on my mental to-see list!

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  26. The pattern reminds me of Marimekko, I love Suomi (= Finland), one of my many homes,...

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  27. LOVE LOVE LOVE your print mixing! such a great idea to put a fun cardigan with a fun dress isntead of just a go-to plain one! I didn't know Hairspray was a movie either, thanks for sharing, it's now on my mental to-see list!

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  28. I think this outfit is great, and I love the print mixing! And this dress is so cute, it actually makes me like polkda dots.

    I'd never seen Hairspray but now I think I have to.

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  29. Superleuke outfit, de schoenen zijn zo mooi!!
    En het vestje is echt superschattig ♥

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  30. Ah I love that movie too, also totally agree about the 'basketcase' comment, think we all know happily ever after ain't gonna happen there! Great pattern mixing, fabby dress :)

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  31. Love those shoes!!!!
    and mm...I don't like Hairspray but I do love the moral, haha :) (I'm more of a Grease girl...but then again that's one where the girl changes...but the boy changes too so it evens out, haha)
    http://www.closet-fashionista.com/

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  32. Stunning! Love your shoes. That dress is so pretty, I love the retro vibe of your outfit, you look fantastic :)

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  33. lalalalalalooooove this! Such cool colors, prints and deetz

    <3Meghan

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  34. Aww, that last photo is so cute! I haven't seen the most recent Hairspray movie, but my cousin and I used to watch the '80s version over and over. It is a very good teen flick with positive messages (and fabulous clothing), as I remember.

    ReplyDelete