Britney Spears has done a new ad campaign for Candies, but this is not just one more in their long relationship. Word is she didn't want to appear retouched. You'll see below why that was an absolute no-go on its own, so the shoe company offered to devote a part of their campaign to a split screen ad only vaguely about shoes (about the shoes, there is one cute pair in the gallery after this article).

[caption id="attachment_3020" align="alignnone" width="360" caption="Before half of the frontal "before and after" spread"][/caption]

The new Spears/Candies move is in the wake of the year-old French Elle with no make-up, this month's Marie Claire boasting the same (with Jessica Simpson, picture included in article), paired with numerous "photoshop" scandals that leave real women --- readers and followers of these publications and stars --- insulted and brimming with criticism.

This particular version of an un-retouched star is somewhat reminiscent of the very accidental slip of a brief Internet publishing of a pre-retouched, blotchy Kim Kardashian. While Kim quickly blogged that she loves her real body, she nearly as quickly changed that body, slimming down in the gym. That move obviously hurt the curvy/love-yourself cause and is plainly quite aggravating - so it does paint Britney's original, along with her intentions, in a beautiful light.

The major difference to this boldly publicized "before" is that there is no way the original could have been published anywhere aside from a tabloid or to support this cause. It's not due to flab, Britney's looking slim, but due to mere general flaws.

[caption id="attachment_3021" align="alignnone" width="298" caption="Candies' retouched version. (Ours is below, we hope you like it better.)"][/caption]

Last Tuesday, fashion bloggers were ahhing over the novelty of photos so honestly-unretouched, while it seems other publications & media outlets buzzed over her camel toe (in even the retouched version, by the way - above).

While it is refreshing to see a celebrity with true flaws (Oh I just mean the leg bruising probably from a rigorous dance routine, no insult here -- oh wait, and nasty feet, sorry Brit but it's true). What makes it especially refreshing right now is this "coming out" is in a world where perfect 10s make "unretouched" / "un-made-up" (yeah right) magazine covers and those create oohs and even some refreshed sighs.

Even more important than refreshing is that these images can be used to support the simpler acts of photoshopping/retouching, while also still pointing out the cruel eyes that guide hands to change women into fairy tale beings we don't want parading in front of our daughters.

Using the two Candies' front shots as examples, there's nothing wrong with Spears' shape, the beauty issue lies with the coloring and details of her legs and feet. (OK I might be harsh on feet.)

The Candies' marketer/graphic artist still went to extremes to shrink Britney, in addition to the acceptable-in-some-cases* smoothing of her skin. They gave her a 12-year-old's waist and stick legs where Britney's real-life tone is actually a badge. And how dare they lean down her perfect-for-28 slim yet womanly arms?

Yes, the extent is "normal" and arguably to prove a point, but it's not just to prove that point, these moves would have been made regardless.

Of course certain artistic photos and glamorous, swirling advertisements require more perfectly smooth and glistening skin - these things are about image, idealism, want. They correspond with equally or moreso false backgrounds, so what can we really expect? I bet we do want superhuman images, sometimes.

I still see a problem when it's a celebrity vs. a model, though. A face and body so well-known, especially in the days of tabloids, suddenly or sometimes appearing altered to an ideal is very unsettling to real humans, especially women. Possibly worst of all is it is damaging to young girls' self-esteem and development at a time when mental health is a more serious concern than any other point in life.

I decided to have fun and do some retouching of my own

to serve as a better example of appropriate ways to alter a star. I did go an extra mile and accentuate a smaller waist, but mostly to only show what is acceptable, and I think this is the farthest that should be gone.

Unfortunately I've realized these photoshop artists must be serious nerds who pore over literally every pore, trying to create their fantasy women. Fellas, if this is true and you, that could be why you might have trouble with women. Aside from your flawed desires, it's not you, it's your view of them.

Of course in reality the profession is mixed with money-hungry marketing-savvy people who just cannot stop until they've seen beyond perfection. Trust me, I understand the need to pick, but it must stop. In this case, the perfectionism is not an art - it's just evil business.

The design was fabulous, the models were great. The experience was ballad-worthy.

My first fashion show, due to my tiny budget for (not for) airfare, was Thursday at Miami Fashion Week. It was for Vèvè at 9pm. Now the general experience and more fun photos will come next, but here is not really a review, for I wouldn't critique this, but an overview...

Fade to black. Lights come on.

The music was mellow, pleasingly un-hip-hop, and thrillingly played live. The models' coifs were frizzed out to stageshow-effect exaggeration, either to match the designer's personal look or in homage to Africana. This styling really went with the Spring-skipping season beginning here in South Florida, even my own mostly straight hair was frizzed by end of night. Back to the models; they catwalked to perfection and posed especially to show off the bags for the press at the end of the runway. This was quite a show for my personal attendance.

The designs, like I wrote, were fabulous; intricate, wearable, and versatile. There was a lot of denim and equally as many flowy dresses. How perfectly they flowed on the runway! However, embroidery was king, or perhaps queen, of the Vèvè Collection.

The "finale", so to speak, very much speaks to Ella (moi). Models returned in plain white frocks to just showcase the purses and their importance.

A fantastic event. Some bags (last season?) were even for sale in another section of the tent, but I still have my eye on the hip bag attached to a wraparound belt.

Oh and the most important aspect was that this night benefited Haiti.  Too bad ordering a drink would mean I would have had a liquid dinner, however the experience was so fun that I didn't feel one hunger pang. But then CinderElla had to return home without after-partying so my Prince could make his work-directed bed time, or something closer to it.

Leaving I knew that we would attempt the same fun the following night... Stay tuned for that other post!

Below is a gallery of all the runway shots.

If you want to blog with any of these photos, please link to this page!

[caption id="attachment_2275" align="alignright" width="146" caption="Phoebe Philo of Céline, on my watch list"][/caption]

March 2010 - Tuesday the 2nd to Wednesday the 10th

Shortly after the shows end, photos and possibly videos may be available online.

Isaac Mizrahi

*Updated to Add Proenza Schouler*

Tory Burch

Video unavailable. View photos.

Michael Kors

Marc Jacobs

See the videos before this day.

Zac Posen

No video. See the pictures.

Carolina Herrera

*Update* After wondering how MB Fashion Week was mostly big-nameless, we finally realized the official list is incomplete. We're trying to find more videos for you. As always, more photos are on style.com.

So even though it may be exciting that some designers this season have live streams of their fashion shows on their respective websites - like I, you might find the stalking of those times and domains a little troubling to fit into your life.

Also like I, you may have noticed on Friday, two days into New York Fashion Week, mbfashionweek.com's YouTube channel they promote still only showcased ... cars. Like---ew!!! Even today, where are all the designer videos?

(They're actually at their other YouTube account. Mmkk so why not link to it?)

Internet searches are sometimes no help in finding what we need. No thanks to some web designers slyly hinting at their most awesome content with mere image links - bah.

So to make it super easy on anyone visiting here, we're embedding all the runway show official videos from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week so far, and after this Monday moves on, more quickly relaying them. Hopefully we'll be able to find you/us all of the other cities' weeks as well.

Mackage

[caption id="attachment_2083" align="alignright" width="220" caption="Magazines are not Bibles."][/caption]

When it's comes to voicing my opinion against old-fashioned or status quo thinking, I kind of am never done and can hardly reign myself in. I have something else to add in response to things people (here: a magazine professional) have been saying relating to the immature/amateur/style-star fight turned entire war of the fashion classes (Bloggers vs. Editors).

This quote by Anne Slowey, Fashion News Director for Elle, from a December article on The Cut was resurfaced on Stylist yesterday,

"People in fashion are constantly looking for the next unique boundary-pushing extreme thing to get excited about, but, you know, it's like outsider art. What am I getting out of a 13-year-old's opinion about fashion? How does that help me distill the collections? What am I supposed to be buying? That's what an editor's job at a magazine is."

Uhh.. no.

I don't even want to put magazine staff out of their other-tasks-of-that-job but... to them, fashion fans and all consumers,  I will answer her above posed questions.

1. Entertainment?
2. It's not supposed to? Who even cares? Just do it, you're supposed to be a pro, and as for the rest of us, we can do it on our own too! It's art, it's personal!
3. What you like as long as it looks good on you!
4. No. it. is. not.

And as it pertains to retail buyers, perhaps the magazines do help but what would help more would be turning to actual or potential customers' opinion - and aren't those often fashion bloggers? Isn't that one great thing that should come from the blogging phenomenon?

Magazine staffers, you give a great service, but it's also in entertainment. I'm never going to use your pages as shopping lists for my Spring wardrobe.

Although I do read a lot more blogs and they can inspire me. Something to think about.

The Independent (.co.uk), a UK newspaper, published an article on backlash against bloggers. The difference with this newest backlash is that it is in truth different. Bloggers in front rows at recent couture shows inspired new, yes actually new, resentment from insiders.

[caption id="attachment_2040" align="alignright" width="203" caption="13-year-old successful blogger Tavi with John Galliano"][/caption]

There are two main current points as we stand in early 2010. One might fade as a trivial beholder-view on manners - the petite Tavi; can she wear a large yet slim headpiece that would definitely obstruct views if atop a model-heighted head? I as another petite woman, and full-grown, happen to believe all un-petite-themselves head accessories should be avoided in such seating as obvious courtesy. But this does not need to be discussed now.

The second issue lies with what, to some, used to make blogging great---fashion topics included. Honesty. Critiques. What small bloggers may not realize we enjoy is this blessing - we are either allowed it or left to bare it, for not enough notice to or who would inspire us to self-censor.

But first comes freebies and press releases, which might challenge honesty or publishing unique and interesting content. Then more recently for some has come truer privilege; not only attending fashion week but the front row. Indeed a privilege no fashion fan would dare let easily be stripped away - like Cinderella after the ball if her stepmother would simply give a marital blessing if the maid-and-princess-to-be would only be ... kind to that wench. This is a world where that scenario could be true except all of these Cinderellas had loved the step-parent until she wore a hideous frock she herself designed, yet appeared ominous holding a lock to the attic door.

What's a moral, opinionated yet wide-eyed dreaming young maiden to do? I would be intimidated for sure. Do you think you could look at that gift stallion through your monitor and set aside your own benefits to just pen the truth? Now would an undiscovered blogger still so covet that hard position?

Perhaps fault may just happen to lie with designers, actually? Is such intimidation an unethical business practice? (Or is this fear merely fear itself? Or worse; fabricated by professional editors?) In any walk or aspect of life, one must be able to take criticism, but if and only if designers are truthfully unable to take the heat dished out from the little guys' offices ... well sorry to sound so "normal girl", but -- how lame!

Bonus but ultra-important rant: