December 11, 2007
Rainskirts!
Yeah yeah yeah -- rain pants. BORING. I don't own any pants (other than shameful sweat pants that I try not to wear in public). Does that mean I should get soaking wet while walking the dog? No, no it does not.
This is one of many cases where I had an idea (last winter) failed to act on it (I was hoping to make one before I blogged) only to discover that the world has already acted by the time I got to blogging. So, hurrah! I don't have time to make them, anyway.
But you know, I'm not really that sporty. What I had in mind was a velcro-fastened wrap-around made out of colorful oilcloth. But after some clicking reading, what a sad thing it is to realize that oilcloth is no longer on the market and that what we now call oil cloth is PVC based. Ugh. No more cute tablecloths for me.
So now I want someone to manufacture real oil cloth, and then make rain skirts out of them.
In the meantime, when 2008 comes around, I'll order one of these rainskirts, assuming they come in sizes to fit the short and round.
Posted by mary at 11:26 AM | Comments (2)
June 16, 2007
Just remember you heard it here first
Waffles.
Posted by mary at 2:20 PM | Comments (0)
Just remember you heard it here first:
Waffles.
Posted by mary at 2:20 PM | Comments (2)
January 23, 2007
Earth-Saving Khakis
I kept thinking that someone should do an analysis of how much energy is wasted drying blue jeans in dryers and then I finally googled it, and sure enough, someone has, and it is a lot: "Machine washing, tumble drying, and ironing caused 47% of the eco damage the jeans caused - 240kWh of energy a year, equal to using 4,000 lightbulbs, each of 60 watts, for an hour."
Ignoring the question of who irons their blue jeans, that's a lot of light bulbs.
And how many people actually need to wear denim? Blue jeans are sort of like the pickup trucks or Hummers of clothing -- overkill for a lot of us, considering the job that needs doing.
I don't own any blue jeans. It's not because of the energy issue -- that only recently occurred to me. I just don't find them that comfortable or flattering. Plus, they are kind of cliche. I remember a friend in high school saying once, "why wear jeans when there are so many other more interesting things to wear?" He was a fashion god to me -- a picker at the Goodwill, he said it at the bins where we were surrounded by piles of other options -- so I took it to heart.
Every once in awhile I wish I had a good pair of pants. Cutting blackberries last summer is one example of a time when I wished I'd worn something other than a skirt -- I had the legs of a penitente by the time I was done. But most of the things I do, I can pretty safely do in my flannel nightie. You may think this says more about my lifestyle than anything else, but this includes things like fixing my sink and painting (which, if not for the cold and modestly, I could probably do naked).
You could always line dry -- I'm a big believer in that. But that's not always convenient, and I'm not so convinced that the Spin-X is the solution, in spite of the strong argument made for them here, in an article that looks suspiciously like a press release.
I don't begrudge people who need the protection of denim. Actually, I don't begrudge anyone who wears jeans at all. They look nice on some people, and I don't think anyone wearing them is some kind of baby seal killer.
I'm just saying: If I were Dockers, I'd consider funding a study on the contribution of blue jeans to global warming.
Posted by mary at 11:06 PM | Comments (0)
January 22, 2007
Cement Lawn Geese of Lenawee County Calendar
When Kathy and I were living in Adrian, Michigan, as west-coasters, we couldn't help but notice and marvel at the large number of lawn geese, many of them dressed in elaborate costumes that changed with the season. (This is not uncommon -- you'll note that Gooseduds.com sells its clothing in collections according to season.)
For years now, we've been talking about making a calendar, "The Cement Lawn Geese of Lenawee County" using pictures that we took of the various geese in their Santa outfits, football outfits, hunting outfits, bunny suits, etc.
Kathy, I can't remember -- did you give me copies of the photos? Or did I have some? It's time for me to get a 2007 calendar and I'm thinking of finally making one using iPhoto.
Someone also needs to make a lot more contributions to the flickr pool on cement geese.
(This picture of the incredibly anthropomorphic front yard is from the 2000 cover of "Good News" by the way, which was kind of like the Portland Mercury, only with less smut and bands and more geese and coupons. I took a picture of it when I visited Kathy in New York -- thank goodness she keeps this kind of thing around!)
Posted by mary at 8:52 AM | Comments (0)
January 9, 2007
Pub Ponchos or Smoker's Jumpers
A garment to wear in smoky bars and pubs to protect your clothing and hair from stink.
One of the problems with Portland's lack of an indoor smoking ban in bars is that you stink liked the dickens if you go out to the wrong places.
(I was told that the tobacco lobby made a legislative run-around us passing a ban in Portland by putting in State legislation saying that no single community could make smoking bans - I don't really understand that. I don't even understand the sentence I just wrote. I should call a representative and find out what the deal is? I'll update this post if I do learn something more concrete.)
Even so, Camel seems to be anticipating a ban with its introduction of Snus yummy smokeless tobacco into the Portland market (we're one of two test markets!).
But why give up so easy on smoky bars?
Camel could do another run-around by offering Pub Ponchos or Smoker's Jumpers. Smoky establishments would offer them to you when you walked in the door -- much like classy joints offer men a jacket to borrow if they aren't wearing one. Or you could buy them from the cigarette machines. They'd be like hazmat suits, made out of that papery material and stuff.
They could also use them as a branding opportunity:
And so chic!
Note that I have pictured something closed at the ankles, to avoid the dreaded, 'pub panties,' but it could be as simple as an actual poncho that you just throw over your head. Come to think of it, you could just start wearing one of those cheap rain ponchos in bars. (Don't think I won't! I'm already wearing my orange reflective safety vest out to dinner.)
Note that this would not protect your lungs.
Posted by mary at 11:07 AM | Comments (4)
September 24, 2006
Pornographic Scandinavian Ski Sweater Patterns
Knitting is hot. Porn is popular. (You don't need my links to prove it, do you?)
Why not combine the two, asks Shawn? And offers the pornographic ski sweater as a great idea for doing it. So, you know, instead of deer or stars or whatever, you'd have little pictures of people getting it on. It'd be subtle -- keeping it classy, you know?
If I had any talent for drawing porn, knitting, or making patterns, I'd run right out and make some patterns and pitch them as a new form of hipster erotica.
Maybe we can get Su Job to branch out from needlepoint.
And this would be a great way to update last year's tree sweater.
Posted by mary at 10:38 PM | Comments (1)
July 23, 2006
Genre Gyms & Costume Party Restaurants
Ugh! It's been ultra plus hot around here -- 100+ yesterday. 100+ today. This inspired me to do several things:
1) Buy a new fridge*
2) Start going to the gym again (there's nothing like 100+ degree weather to make you unpleasantly aware of your body)
3) Re-watch the "Lord of the Rings" from the relative comfort of my semi-air conditioned living room (Chris was right: it's too hot for outdoor movies).
Which made me think: Wouldn't it be great if you could combine some of these activities? I mean, I assume there are gyms where you can shop online from the virtuous stirrups of your elliptical machine, and ones where you can watch videos, but what I'd really like is Genre Gyms, where you could immerse yourself in the cooling, soothing worlds of sci-fi fantasy, high seas adventures, or even westerns. For one thing, it would make the outfits a lot more interesting. Most gyms seem to the aesthetics of action/adventure, which is dull and unflattering for many of us. I'd like to see more people lifting weights in period costumes. And I think it would be adapted quickly, since the gym already requires a serious suspension of inhibitions (and I already feel like I'm playing a part when I go to the gym -- that of someone who works out.). If they can make gyms especially for women, why not gyms just for Trekkies?
I think there needs to be more role playing and costuming in real life in general, and Justin agreed, and added the following idea, which is:
Costume party restaurants. I gather from Justin that there are places in Japan where you can rent costumes and dress up and take your picture (maybe like boudouir photography? or when you go to the carnival and they take your picture in a wild west outfit?), and his innovation is that you could do that and have dinner. It sounds kind of like a more paticipatory form of Medieval Times -- in other words, awesome!!
*My path to a new fridge actually went like this:
1) Watch "An Inconvenient Truth",
2) Feel guilty and want to do the easiest thing I can think of to assuage that guilt: buy things (in particular, to replace my 20+ year old refrigerator and car),
3) Realize there's no way I can afford to buy a new car, mull over the possibilities for several weeks, obsess over Sears website, and finally, in the middle of a big heat wave, go to air conditioned mall, and buy a new fridge.
Actually, first we went to Standard, since I kind of like getting a little worked over by sales people before I make a big purchase -- like a consumer's rolfing.
(BTW, I couldn't believe that I was the only one at Cheese Club the other night to have seen "An Inconvenient Truth." Democratic politics + Apple software + Doomsday scenarios = What's not to rush to the theaters to see?? I assume everyone's seen the Spike Jonze video by now and can't wait to cast their vote for Gore, but it's no substitute for the power Keynote show Gore puts on -- really! I enjoyed it!).
Anyway, back to the refrigerator: I'm very happy with my purchase, and give great thanks Sandra, Chris and Terry for helping me through the process. Not to mention Joseph, the kid at Sears who was endlessly patient and actually understood how the Oregon Energy Tax Credit works.
(I've decided I want to do all my shopping -- especially clothes -- at Sears and The Vermont Country Store from here on out .)
So, the fridge: I got a 19 cubic foot fridge that uses 387 KwH a year, which is the lowest KwH fridge eligible for the Oregon Department of Energy $50 tax credit with the exception of the survivalist - armageddon's - coming - power - it - with - your - own - human - propane Sunfrost, which gets 250 KwH, and that's for a smaller fridge (14.31 cubic feet). And the one I got was on sale. And it was 10% off the sale price on Saturday only for some reason. And delivery was free. So it was quite a bit less than the online price. So congratulate me on successfully gaming the system. The new fridge will arrive on Tuesday. It comes complete with several features that I don't plan on using (ice maker, water dispenser) and "Ultra Fresh® system w/Surround Cool™ technolo[gy]" W00T!
My other energy-saving efforts have included line-drying my clothes (I haven't used the dryer for quite some time! the clothes line is awesome!!) and turning off the TiVo since I cancelled the cable and so what's the point. Baby steps, baby, baby steps. Oh, also, I've been riding my bike into St. Johns and to the gym, but not the office yet because I'm scared of the I-5 bridge on a one speed. And washing certain things in cold water.
Finally: It's too hot for a chinchila in my house, but I do wish I could have one as a pet. I saw one at PetCo today. They are flat out adorable.
Update
Here's more exciting refrigerator energy information -- very comprehensive! And Grist weighs in on the top freezer versus bottom freezer controversy. I understand why, on scientific principal, bottom freezers should be more effecient than top freezer, but I have yet to see a bottom freezer fridge with better KwH ratings than the equivalent top freezer -- not sure why that is. (This article doesn't explain it, either.)
Posted by mary at 9:18 PM | Comments (0)
December 21, 2005
Designer Shampoo/Chris should keep a journal of the websites he looks at
Fancy pants department stores should sell shampoo in designer scents. I buy shampoo based on what it smells like, and I'd like a scent that was consistent with the rest of me (hmmm, I guess I mean, the rest of the products I use). Most people buy their perfume at department stores. Why isn't there a link between the high end hair products and the high end perfumes?
On other topics, Chris is one of the few people who I sincerly wish kept what I always thought of as actual blog - that is, a log of the sites he's been looking at -- so I can look at them, too. He continues to resist my urging to do so, but in the meantime does let me know on a personal basis about things like Apollo Pony, a sweet video blog.
A couple of links they offer that I particularly enjoyed:
elephants on parade plus sun ra
wtf meets omg japanese video stuff
And stuff like that ... Some of the links are kind of not there anymore, but what, you're so busy you don't have time to click on bad links?
Posted by mary at 11:07 AM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2005
Professional Bibs for Professional Boobs
I've got big tits. So big in fact, that as I walked home recently from the new Batman movie (I recommend it, btw) a passing bicyclist on the wild and wooly streets of St. Johns was unable to resist taking a passing grope at my left one. When I told one person this story he was like, "maybe it was an accident?" and I was like, "what, my tits are so big that you can't pass me on the sidewalk without running into them?" I can't help wonder if the same logic could be applied to rape: "her pussy was so big, officer, I just fell in!" (not that I think of this as equivalant to rape or anything).
I reported the incident to the police today for statistical purposes, but since I was trying to avoid eye (if not hand-to-tit) contact, I wasn't able to tell them much except that, in addition to being a two-wheeled molester, the guy was NOT wearing a helmet. Tch tch tch. The cop who took my report made me feel like a good citizen just for getting groped. Who says they have no bedside manner? But he also kept talking about how he'd like to shoot the guy who did it and -- call me a liberal softee -- but I just don't feel like someone deserves to die for coping a feel, no matter how agressive and weird. Maybe pushed off his bicycle into a passing bus or something, but not shot or to have his legs broken (also suggested by the officer).
ANYWAY -- I've got me a rack, and said rack tends to accumulate stains and flotsom at meals. To save myself dry cleaning bills I've taken to making myself a bib at meals with whatever I can find at hand. At home, old rags, underwear, what have you; in a restaurant, napkins, the table cloth, etc. So this week I'm working on this workshop with a bunch of people and we went out to lunch today and as I was suiting up to eat my hamburger I was talking to one of them about the whole problem (being the professional that I am) and she said she'd had this idea for awhile: there should be classy, professional-appropriate bibs you can carry around in your purse and whip out on business lunches and put on without looking like an asshole. And I thought: That is a GREAT idea.
Ironically enough, when I google "professional bib" the second hit (and several thereafter) is for some kind of bicycle shorts -- damn those cyclists and their bibs. Looks like I'm not the only one needing a bib. There is at least one attempt to market adult bibs, but gold lame isn't exactly what I had in mind.
I could add a bunch of links to groping and bibs, but I've got too much to do this week (including a literature search tonight ... ugh). So that's all for now.
Posted by mary at 9:54 PM | Comments (3)
May 24, 2005
My Sneakers
Nic sent me this inspirational tale of what might happen if I start wearing the right shoes.
Posted by mary at 4:13 PM | Comments (1)
November 9, 2004
Bra Pockets
I need a word or phrase for something I think of as a great idea, but am pretty sure already exists, but I haven't actually seen it. Maybe all I really mean is a meme. Anyway, the example I have for today is bra pockets. What I personally would like is a little pocket in my bra so I could tuck some cash, ID, or car keys in there without having to worry about it getting sweaty or poking me or falling out when I disrobe. I tend to keep a lot of stuff in my bra since I usually don't have regular pockets because I wear skirts almost exclusively, and which isn't hard since I have so much bra in the first place (see Oct. 28th, 2004 entry). So I was pretty sure that bra pockets exist, and they do, but not in the way I thought. Instead of putting spare change in them, these ladies are putting boobs in them.
Now, there's nothing funny about breast cancer, but there is something about fake nipples -- not something funny necessarily, just something. Prosthetics in general can be funny.
But are more often just creepy.
Chris told me he had a very real terror of loosing a limb, and I remember Ian telling me the story of how he fainted in health class once when he had to feel a fake cancerous scrotum in health class once.
So prosthetics aren't funny. But bra pockets for those with both boobs and more are needed.
Posted by mary at 11:37 AM | Comments (6)
October 31, 2004
Haircut Dominatrix/Haircut Surprise
One of the most appealing aspects to me on shows like what not to wear is how the mean and bossy make-over artists cut the hair of the subject over his or her (usually her, although last night I saw a very dull "his" makeover) weak objections. I've always been disappointed that hairdressers are not more assertive and adventerous in real life. I understand that they take a chance of getting sued over bad haircuts (although I'm not convinced that haircut lawsuits aren't an urban legend -- I couldn't find any evidence for haircut lawsuits either proven or disproven on the internet), or at least of losing a client forever with a haircut that offends their sensibilities. But I have an idea, which would be a chain of salons that would specialize in "forced" makeovers. You'd have to sign a release form when you went in saying they could do anything, or anything within reason. One possibility is that you'd be blindfolded during the process, and so maybe you wouldn't even know who your specific stylist was. Or for the less hardcore, maybe you'd be able to watch and Melissa suggests you'd have a safe word. "Lollypop! Lollypop!" you'd start stuttering from your seat, as she brought out the clippers.
Anyone who attended my birthday party the year before last and helped cut my hair (I asked everyone to take at least one whack at it) will know that I'm not just speculating about the appeal of something like this. Some of us are hair masochists, and it's time for us to have our needs met, just like any market segment. Getting your haircut can be fun!
Posted by mary at 9:41 PM | Comments (2)
October 28, 2004
How to take your bra off under your shirt in 14 easy steps
Here, in this unflattering series of photos, I show you how I take off my bra under my clothes while I yet lack a bra with three clasps or more. Anyone who needs to take their bra off under their clothes probably already knows how to do this but this will serve as a historical record for a time when 3 clasp bras are the norm.
Posted by mary at 11:02 AM | Comments (8)
February 6, 2004
Dyed Teeth
I've been a terrible blogger -- really insanely busy of late. I/we got another grant, and I'm hiring my replacement for one of my multiple jobs, and we got the puppy to think of. I'm also a little concerned that I don't seem to be having many great ideas, anyway. I may have to expand the format to include anecdotes, things I ate, that day, etc., which would mean changing the name and everything.
Anyway, I did have one idea which is for a fashion move towards dyed teeth -- like red, purple, green, etc. It could be very punk.
So, lookie here-- some Thai people have been dying their teeth for centuries, apparently.
But that's just black. I envision shocking shades of pink and yellow and baby blue, etc.
Posted by mary at 1:15 PM | Comments (3)
January 5, 2004
Dog Toys for Your Dogs
I would like to see some kind of dog toy that you could wear on your feet. It could be a really large Kong, for instance. Pica makes a grab for my slippers the second I take them off. How does she know to do that? And I know better than to give her a pair of old shoes, since she wouldn't know the difference between new and old shoes. One question I have is whether she'd be able to distinguish between a Kong that smelt like my feet and my regular shoes. This makes me think that the Kong company could simply make shoes for people that were relatively impervious to dog chewing.
So far, Pica hasn't destroyed anything that we love. However, she is not teething yet, nor have we left her alone for more than 4 hours. Lucky dog.
Posted by mary at 7:22 AM | Comments (2)
December 29, 2003
Road Kill Leather and Fur (Erika's idea)
Erika submitted this great idea the other day, and I've been remiss in not posting it sooner (in addition to Pica and the holidays, I was also avoiding my computer and email because the remind me too much of work. I'm sick of work.)
"I woke up with another great idea the other day. This one is to accommodate
the folks who feel bad about wearing leather, let alone eating meat etc. We
already have cage-free eggs, free-range poultry, so why not "natural death
leather"? --- leather cured only from the hides of animals that have died
peacefully in their sleep or via other non-human induced means. If this
catches on, we could then move into "roadkill furs," which as the name
implies would be stoles etc. sewn together only from animals like raccoons
or foxes who meet their demise on the nation's highways and byways."
This is a terrific idea, and only seems to be slightly exploited. There are Austrialian roadkill hats, for instance, which are not very pretty. I personally don't think we should have to sacrifice style for sensitivity.
This is such a good idea that someone has already submitted something very similar to my old nemesis Halfbakery, under the not-very-melodic name humaner fur and leather. Someone there offered a link to ISOR, the International Society of Animal Recyclers. I note that, if they do indeed exist, they are in Seattle, Erika -- just around the Sound from you!
Posted by mary at 3:40 PM | Comments (0)
December 5, 2003
Bra with Three Clasps
Jordan said my talk of anal sex made him uncomfortable, so I thought I should change the subject.
As my breasts get bigger and bigger, bras become more and more uncomfortable, and I am more and more eager to take them off as soon as possible -- well before I take anything else off, except maybe my coat and shoes. Generally, I can do this easily under my clothes so I don't have to undergo a complete change of wardrobe. However, sometimes I am wearing shirts that are so tight or complicated that it's difficult to do the pass where I pull one arm into the shirt to slip the bra stap around it (I hope to get Chris to take some pictures to illustrate how it's done, for those who haven't taken a bra off under their clothes).
What I would like for those occasions is a bra that had clasps on each shoulder strap, in addition to the strap on my back or front, so that I could more easily take the whole thing off without disrobing. I'm too lazy to see if it already exists.
Posted by mary at 9:10 PM | Comments (1)
September 13, 2003
Office Utility Belt
I had this idea when I was office manager at a feminist-oriented non-profit. The thing is, I always wear skirts or dresses,which have no pockets. Indeed, most proper woman's office garb does not include pockets. And yet I found myself running around the office needing various "tools" all the time -- stapler, staple remover, stamps, letter opener, sometimes even a hammer.
I began wearing aprons at work so that I would have pockets to put things in. I have to admit: I thought it was pretty cute. Working in a feminized position (secretarial), wearing this feminine (yet decontextualized) garb. But then I had a better idea: My mother is a carpenter, and she gets to wear this totally handy and cool carpenter's belt, which has a place for ALL her tools. Why not a tool belt for office workers? It would have a tape dispenser, place for a letter opener holder, notary stamp, cordless phone, a small screwdriver for fiddling with the fax machine -- well, you get the idea. In short, an office utility belt.
I think it's a really great idea.
I went to an "Octoberfest" thing tonight with my friend Jim to see Brave Combo, and there were all these booths there, including one selling utility kilts. I tried to sell the guy staffing the booth on the idea of office utility belts, and he was not very interested. He said the guy running the store was really going after men. Well! If he's not interested, I guess that leaves the market wide open for me. And the thing is, the utility kilt is taking a market of people who already have something that's basically pretty functional -- pants. And giving them a possibly more comfortable (that's why I wear skirts) but generally less functional option: kilts. Whereas office utilty belts would really be adding value to people's lives in a totally functional way.
You could do them in all kinds of cute styles, too. And I love the idea of slinging your office utility belt over the back of your roller office chair when the clock stricks 5.
Posted by mary at 12:05 AM | Comments (0)
September 10, 2003
Coffee Table Book: Inappropriately Contextualized T-Shirts from Around the 3rd World
I didn't want people thinking it was the pictures that drew Chris to me, so I thought I'd better enter the great idea that really did catch his eye. I entered this as an extensive cut and paste in the nerve.com questionnaire format as one of my first personal ads.
Jordan & I came up with this idea in Ghana where we saw T-shirts with oddly decontextualized slogans like, "Dead Kennedys" "Hard Rock Cafe" "I was at So & So's Barmitzvah," "The Simpsons" etc. in situations which made us giggle uncomfortably; e.g., a Butthole Surfers T-shirt on someone trudging along barefoot in 100 degree weather balancing a bunch of dead chickens on their head.
The book would consist of a thoughtful introductory treatise on the journey made by T-shirts (and, by implication, textiles and manufacturing more generally) from 3rd World to 1st World and back. It would describe where and how the cotton was grown, the cloth made, T-shirts manufactured, assembled, something about the history of T-shirts as an advertising/self expression medium (the 1st world cultural context), and then how they end up back in 3rd world countries via charity programs (like Kiwanis International, which sends the stuff that people don't buy at its rummage sales to international church charities). Dwell on the painful irony of giving people back as charity what they've already made (book would be full of painful ironies), metaphor for extractive industries in general.
The rest of the book taken up with big glossy pictures of people wearing these T-shirts in these weird settings which would be very funny but since you had all this contextualizing you'd feel either guilty (because it's not funny!) or not guilty (because you know all that, you're so politically sophisticated that you *can* laugh, and you paid your dues by reading the intro.).
So as to attempt to mitigate the exploitation/objectification that is being done in the photos themselves could have some caption about the person's life, where they got the T-shirt and -- to add to the patronizing hilarity -- what they thought it meant! (plus, pay them $$ — I mean, $, or even more likely ¢). Could have total cost (labor, materials) of T-shirt, estimate how much had been paid for it over all, how much it cost in human terms (???? have some sort of lawyer sort that out who usually specializes in lawsuits where someone was killed and someone else needs to pay? what's the word for that kind of equation?).
Would give the profit to a political group doing watch dog work on textile factories, maquiladoras, Nike, whatever. Work would consist of traveling to a bunch of different countries taking these pictures, a little bit of research on the textile industry (which other people have already done, I'm sure, anyway). Include most of the major southern, Asian continents; Russia? Contrast somehow with the Japanese English language T-shirt phenomenon? Or anyway, explain. Would need a photographer and a writer to do it.
The other idea is just to have a website: inappropriatelycontextualizedtshirtsfromaroundthethirdworld.com -- or something like that -- maybe 3rdworldtshirts.com. Then ask for submissions from people who have travelled and taken pictures of these things already.
I honestly think I could get a book contract for this, or something.
Posted by mary at 10:24 PM | Comments (2)
July 30, 2003
Popular Demand Idea: Birth Control Cases -- Jewelry Quality and Tamagucci
Cases for birth control pills more like compacts or PalmPilots than medical equipment. The world may have caught up with us on this one.
Wide variety of designs, ranging from executive/classy monogrammed tortoiseshell (sp) to funky punky numbers to rich bitch solid gold to secretarial kitsch with kitties or Cathy cartoons. Some specific ideas: The teen idol line, with pictures of Sean Cassidy, Elvis Presley, James Dean, etc. The personalizable, "I [heart] [boyfriend's name]" (we could make up a bunch with names already, like those bicycle license plates) and a place for you to slip his picture inside. The punk line, with pictures of little fetuses with an X through them, the word "Breeder," etc. The tamagucci line, electronic with a little buzzer that goes off when it's time to take your pill and the deluxe tamagucci models, with a little tamagucci pet penis that periodically needs "feed and care". The "pope" line (like my old one)--but maybe with positive scriptural messages about birth control or sex anyway for people experiencing ambivalence about their religious faith and reproductive choices. The "local craftsperson" line--self explanatory, made of wood, textiles, etc. Venues: More "edgy" ones sold at “wymyn” friendly sex shops like "Good Vibrations" and funky boutiques but less controversial ones in Dr.s offices and through catalogues, ads in women's mags. Emphasize embarrassment of taking pills in public. Sell to boyfriends as great gift idea (they could insert their own picture--or, could have some kind of secret video monitoring system--but that’s probably technically unfeasible). [SCOOP ALERT! Recent NYT notes a company selling birth control pills in "cosmetic case" style dispensers. The picture made them look really boring, however. And no electronics.]
I also posted this to halfbakery.com and got extra points for how I spelt 'tamagucci.'
Posted by mary at 9:29 AM | Comments (8)
July 29, 2003
Classic Idea (by popular demand): Scrunci-Undies
"Scrunchi-Undies". (For those of you who don't know, scrunchies are those cloth things with which some girls put up their hair.) Scrunchi undies are scrunchies which are also cleverly disguised underwear. This product would allow you to always be ready to "spend the night" with that special someone without the gross-out of yesterday's worn underwear in the morning. Catering to slutty but fastidious cheerleader types who may already have scrunchies in abundance but under-served clean underwear needs. Doubtful that we could work the reverse: "I wish I could see what I'm doing, but my hair keeps getting in my face..." angle, but don't dismiss. Sell in the advertising section of Cosmo magazine, other girrrl-animal oriented publications. Advertising would picture girl and boy on couch. Boy asks: "can you spend the night?" girl looks thoughtful, then reaches to her ponytail, pulls out the scrunci and lets her locks flow. Last shot is of product dropping to the floor and unfolding to reveal cute panties.
I submitted this to halfbakery.com and they showed a lot of sexism, I think, in their comments which you can find here:
http://www.halfbakery.com/idea/Scrunchi-Undies#1002851053
I've forgotten how to do the linky-thing already, but I'll come back and edit this later so it has it.
Posted by mary at 3:07 PM | Comments (4)