Dove Wants You To Love Your Hair

A new campaign from personal care powerhouse, Dove, aims to remind women and girls with wonderfully curly hair that it is beautiful. The ad features young girls spilling their thoughts on their hair - and it's disheartening to find that they are ashamed of it, more so because a recent survey conducted by the brand found that only 10% of American women love their natural curls. But, watching this campaign would definitely change these figures, with the climax of the ad seeing curly haired women and girls celebrating what they have without a care in the world. 

#LoveYourCurls

Video courtesy of Youtube

The Designer Feeding Selfie Addiction

Timur Kim, a graduate from the widely acclaimed Central Saint Martins College, is now designing tees for the technologically adept and self-absorbed. Selfie addicts worldwide can now purchase shirts that guarantees, by Timur's perspective, more likes, follows, comments and a one-up in social media stardom. 

Neck bound graphics are the common motif throughout the pieces, which allow only what matters within the frame of the picture. No doubt, these tees are indefinitely going to nurture the narcissism of these selfie kings and queens, as they are all unisex. But, contrary to the purpose of his collection, Timur himself admits "I like to keep to myself, and I don't like to be photographed". 

Alas, the real message behind the collection is revealed - to comment on and raise our awareness of the increasing blur between self-respect and self-love that is being fuelled by social media addiction. Smile in front of the mirror and camera for yourself, not the appreciation of people who don't know you.

Images: Timur Kim and Oyster

Source: Oyster

The Model Rejected Because of Who She Is

Shocking isn't it? This beautiful model and blogger, Nikia Phoenix, is being dropped from shows purely because of her race and unbelievably, the freckles on her face. Under the external glamorous image many people see, the fashion industry is unforgiving, but being racist is a completely different issue. 

As stated in the incredibly successful Beyond Blue campaign shown throughout Australian screens, "Nobody should be made to feel bad just for being who they are", and this woman isn't letting the remarks and rejections she often faces demotivate from achieving her best in the cruel fashion industry. Her positive attitude despite all the prejudice has made her much more beautiful than she already is, with Phoenix once saying "I know I'm not perfect. I have these spots all over my face... but I'm glad I stand out... I've learned to love what makes me me."

We should all take note of Nikia's inspiring self-accepting attitude and apply it to ourselves. Look in the mirror and smile, be yourself and love yourself!

Check out Nikia's blog at www.modelliberation.com

Images: Huffington Post and Model Liberation

Source: Huffington Post

OUTRAGE | Stop The Beauty Madness

There is no question, challenging beauty standards has been around for a while, but there is promise in the determination of people who are standing up for body confidence. The latest campaign to glorify our natural beauty, called "Stop The Beauty Madness", has been created by Robin Rice from Be Who You Are. This series of 25 advertisements clarifies to viewers what many women, and men, face when deemed imperfect in terms of looks. 

Beauty issues that are addressed within the campaign include the prejudicial claim that all thin women are anorexic, the nature of beauty within different subcultures, and a fighting statement against the finding of the optimal anti-ageing solution. Another beauty issue being addressed, which has come to fruition as of late, is "Colourism" - the intra-racial preference for paler skin, and the damaging lengths some men and women go to to achieve porcelain skin, a trend very popular in Asian populations. This does not exclude the chase for the perfect golden bronze tinge many women, and men, want within the Western World.

The myriad of identity issues that correlate with beauty standards are broken down in full force within the campaign. The main message that comes through is that whatever age, gender, lifestyle, body type and ethnicity you are, we have to accept ourselves for who we are, and be proud of it!

For a look at the complete campaign, head to www.stopthebeautymadness.com

Images courtesy of Refinery29

Source: Refinery29

Scent of the Simple Man

The French Riviera is embodied and renewed from the Dior archives in the elegantly simple "Cologne" from Dior Homme. This classic scent from the Fashion House has now been redesigned to fit the contemporary, futuristic vision of Kris Van Assche, the Creative Director of Dior Homme, yet staying true to the "timeless freshness of the musk, citrus and cottony notes of the original scent" (Dior, 2013). To support the release of the new design, Dior has also created "Dior Mag" (link below), highlighting the origins and history of the scent and its stance in men's grooming today, and a bright, summery Fashion Film refining the chic simplicity of the scent (watch below). With the current reign over fashion that Dior has been given, this modern revival of Dior Homme Cologne will truly bring men's grooming a modern twist.

To read about the origins and history of Dior Homme Cologne, CLICK HERE

Video courtesy of the official Dior Youtube Channel

Images courtesy of the official Dior Facebook page