jayci's Profile
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There's a fine line. I'm 26 BUT I'm in law, typically one of the most conservative of conservative dressing professions. I work for a judge with a strict closed-toe shoe and suit policy in court. That means absolutely no glittery glitter during the day, and even at night where I would remotely suspect that the partner from the killer firm I want to work for would show up.
But I have a stash of Tony and Tina glitter in red and lavender in my makeup drawer. For, uh, Halloween. Yeah. Halloween.
RE: 8:15 AM
I'm Asian and I nearly fell out of my chair laughing.
Antonin Scalia: greatest. justice. ever.
Yeah, secretly I love Tory even though she makes me feel like a WASP.
I'm a little bit confused by why we're suddenly using the descriptor "of color" to denote persons who are "black" or "African but not Arab descent." Last time I checked Asian, Indian, Latin, and Arab models are vibrantly pigmented and are also hard to find on fashion's most prominent runways and magazines as well. I'm ethnically Chinese and when the designers made an effort to incorporate Asian models for the Fall 2008 collections, I was struck by how present it made the clothes feel.
Maybe I'm too young to understand the struggle of black models. After all, I've only know a world where Naomi Campbell, Iman, and Tyra routinely stomped the runways and graced the covers of the finest magazines. No doubt also, I'm all for black models having their own magazine feature. The models used are brilliantly photographed, gorgeous women and deserve their spot at the top of the fashion world. However, why don't we just call the magazine what it is: an issue highlighting a particular TYPE (nee 'color') of model, not true diversity where one would expect many kinds of models.
If that is the case, how is this issue any different from a mainstream fashion mag? At least the editors would have consciously placed their "token" girl of color, or even a "token" United Colors of Benetton shot. Here we don't even have that. Call me progressive, but where I'm from (Houston, TX) "color" means far more than black or white.
I'm not offended. I know that I simply lack the historical/sociological upbringing to understand many aspects of the black and white racial tension, hence my apparent naivete.(I'm 26 for those who are keeping count.)
Simply put, I've never heard the euphemism "of color" used to refer strictly to black persons. Certainly I've never used it as a term to refer strictly to black persons. Aside from it being a generational difference, it could be a regional difference. Houston has large Asian, Latin, and Black populations, thus the definition could have been pushed further than its original use by necessity. However, one would wonder why the same wouldn't happen in other metropolitan cities with large ethnic populations like New York or LA.
That being said, I'm very excited with this issue. I'm definitely looking forward to getting it when it hits the local newsstand.
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I seriously doubt that the USPTO would give anyone a patent on a color considering that patents can only be given on designs or processes. (i.e. how to make a lipstick color, or the unique packaging mechanism of Chanel's Rouge Allure lipstick.)
Now, you can register with the USPTO for a Trademark/Serivcemark on a logo, slogan, jingle, or even a color that is closely identified with a brand and identifies the origin of the product or service. I checked with the Patent Office and Tiffany & Co. has a trademark/servicemark on several items including catalogs, boxes, and bags in the color "typically referred to as robin's-egg blue", and the color IS a "feature of the mark". Interestingly, they also have a trademark on the blue box finished with a white bow.
Which is probably why it was a good idea to get Tiffany's OK on a wedding cake that looks like the gift box (literally a cake version of the trademarked box). However, a traditional wedding cake that simply used the blue and white colors...I doubt Tiffany's would even bother to enforce it.
However, there is no trademark on the actual color itself. Further investigation of Valentino, Hermes, and Chanel produced similar results. The packaging, logos, and names of products are protected like Kelly bag, Birkin bag, CoCo Chanel, and the Chanel No. 5 bottle. Colors are not.
This illustrates a very real problem that designers have protecting their intellectual property and brand value. The key is whether or not other designers use similar marks, to promote similar products. As long as its not on a catalog, box, or bag marketing jewelry or other products that Tiffany & Co. are associated with then its ok. Tiffany blue dog bed? Ok. Tiffany blue headbands? Sure. Tiffany blue Mercedes-Benz? Tacky, but passes muster.
Now go forth and discuss intellectual property at your next cocktail party. Diane Von Furstenberg would be proud.