Pussycat Dolls are forever outfit inspo
Also I need a Sara Bareilles home improvement show like, right now
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Have always loved Gap commercials, will always love Gap commercials. The latest campaign is its first Spanish-language one, choreographed by Zoi Tatopoulos, aka. ‘ztato’ and starring 28-year-old Puerto Rican rapper, singer-songwriter, and former footballer Young Miko. Her song “WASSUP” will make any Millennial’s ears perk up, as it prominently samples “Lollipop” by Lil Wayne. It also samples “Chulin Culin Chunfly” by Voltio, and “What U Gon’ Do” by Lil Jon, who makes a cameo in the song’s outro.
I’ve watched about a zillion episodes of Top of The Pops in the past two months and somehow came across this archival page of TOTP computer wallpapers. You’re welcome!!!
One commenter cheered “I WANNA SEE YOU BE BRAVE” as Sara Bareilles shoveled [redacted] out of her chimney in a recent viral video. I would 100% watch a Martha Stewart-esque HGTV show hosted by Sara, where she intermittently sings about country living. Why? I’m not sure, but I’m sold.
I was listening to Katharine McPhee’s album after perusing through my All American (Idol) Rejects playlist, for reasons you will discover below the paywall. I pressed play and my first thought was, ‘Honey, we have Amerie at home.’ McPhee’s album was produced by Danja, who made a much better album in the same year: Britney’s Blackout (2007). I was distracted from “Love Story” by the perplexing lyrics to “Open Toes”, which I will share via lyric video below. I need to read the memoir of Kara DioGuardi (one of the FIVE writers of this wacky song, including McPhee and Danja) to see if there’s a plausible explanation for this.
I am always talking about the inconsistencies in women’s clothing sizing conventions, how women’s clothing is still proportionally made for teenage bodies, and how adult women thrifting “Y2K” clothes that were specifically made for children is high key weird. Finding (relatively) ethically manufactured and reasonably (if not affordably) priced clothing at a decent quality is damn near impossible in today’s day and age. I absolutely think the body positivity movement of the 2010s tricked people into thinking just because there were more sizes available (sometimes), they would fit better (categorically false). The Pudding made an excellent data visualization about women’s sizing that I highly recommend. Trust me, the problem is the clothes, not you.
The Pussycat Dolls are reuniting as a trio, and apparently none of the other original members knew about it. I love that Lil Kim and Mya are touring with them, although I will not be going. Once you see them open for Britney’s Circus tour, how do you go up from there??!! I will be going to a PCD burlesque class taught by Robin Antin herself this afternoon, so I’ll let you know how that goes. I assume Melody, Carmit, and Jessica weren’t invited because they’re too good at singing and therefore would detract attention from Nicole (unlike two blondes that no one can tell apart), too good at dancing and therefore would detract attention from Nicole, and a right-wing vaccine injury advocate, respectively.
But let’s give some credit where credit is due: PCD was the pinnacle of Literal Trash (compliment). When people ask me what twenty-something girls will look like walking around NYC this spring/summer, my answer is, ‘Like the 2005-2008 Pussycat Dolls’. Need outfit inspo? Look no further.
Exhibit A: More is more
Large nonfunctional belts; tiny skirts; lots of brown; cowboy boots, ballet-inspired, and strappy footwear; dropped waist and/or empire waist; and even Ed Hardy. (I know, I can’t believe it either.) Layers? Sure. Butterflies? Why not!!!!!! Coco Chanel once said to look in the mirror and remove one accessory before leaving the house. That rule of thumb no longer applies, and not just because she was a N*zi sympathizer. (Sorry that’s dark, but it’s Fashion History 101.)
Exhibit B: Fashion deja vu
Corsets; buckle and O-ring belts; hair poofs; ruffles; low-rise pants; cargos; lace camis; and yes, headbands. (Rachel Berry rejoices!) It doesn’t matter which era these isolated trend objects were regurgitated from, you just know you’ve seen them somewhere before. Is it the 2000s? Or is it the 80s? Or….the 50s? The answer is usually: all of the above! Due to context collapse on the internet, where the audience doesn’t have a monocultural, shared concept of pop culture history and references, it’s very hard to achieve pastiche. This is why you keep seeing blatant homages or recreations of the past, e.g. everything Addison Rae and Tate McRae do being direct callbacks to the legendary Miss Britney Spears.
Exhibit C: The cycle continues
As Justin Timberlake and Timbaland once said, “I thought I told you…what goes around comes back around…” In contrast to Exhibit B, where everything looks vaguely familiar, Exhibit C contains zero subtlety: gothic Juicy Couture/Von Dutch fonts; graphic tees containing IP licensed into oblivion; camo pants; studded belts; tiny little shrugs (one can only hope).
In PCD’s 2005 pic below, you can see a LOT of sleazy 70s/80s trends – bodysuits, rainbows, side cutout bodysuits, halter bodysuits, sweatbands. (This is where American Apparel’s aesthetic came from in the 2000s.) Now, we’re seeing that trend cycle complete AGAIN. The 80s came back in the 00s/10s, and now both the 80s AND the 00s are back. Everything can change, but some things always stay the same – like cheetah print!
If you are old enough to have experienced what I call The Chasm – the completion of a 20-year trend cycle in its entirety – then you may be shocked and appalled that youth culture trends fixate around whatever you wore in elementary/middle/high school. PCD’s debut album was released on September 12, 2005. Anyone under the age of 21 was not even ALIVE when “Don’t Cha” and “Buttons” changed the world. I need to go lie down…
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This week’s episode: my latest crafting projects, two more celebrity memoirs with casually harrowing details, archival Oscars clips, the movie that cured my ADHD.
Next week I’ll tell you about the music video I was in, the Pussycat Dolls burlesque class, a super fun ballet film festival, an unhinged American Girl doll play, my new vintage dance bag, and my next DIY project.
