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It seems like everyday we have an addition to the fashion world brought to us by a famous rap star, actress, or model. What has been a trend of fame and commerce has had a bizarre effect on fashion designers and the entire industry. The latest addition is Bitten. A pet project of Sarah Jessica Parker who is for millions of women all over the world a fashion icon through her Character Carrie Bradshaw on Sex & The City.

There is however, a very significant difference between this celebrity product launch and most others.   Unlike say, I don't know - Victoria Beckham who just launched her less than hotly anticipated designer jeans....DVB... YAWN.  You know, Posh Spice aka Soccer Mom Becks. Equally sleepy is the Olsen Twins new line -Elizabeth and James, named after their non-famous siblings.. DUH.  I love the twins, but I think they should stick to Wal_Mart.

Sarah Parker actually wanted to be different.   The major inspiration for the collection was to have cute, fun pieces that sell for under $20.00.  Yes, thats U.S. dollars.  Not some over the top, overpriced items that are trying to compete with Gucci, Chanel, and Prada.  Ms. Parker remembers her childhood when her parents were forced to make their household budget stretch to support the family.   Sarah has said it would be unimaginable to have her parents buy her the expensive clothes that so many teens now expect, but that so many more could still never afford.  The tag line of the collection is "Fashion is not a luxury".  Proof is in the price-tag.

 
The concept is also a very smart move.  Why would Sarah want to compete with the Designers who are supplying her with all the free red carpet creations?   This way, bitten does not bite the hand that has fed her image and made it what it is.

After all, before Sex & The City and the truly unique costume designer Pat Fields - Sarah was known more as the cute actress that plays the brainy but sexy characters.   I should also give Sarah cudos for wisely choosing her roles that led her from brainy sidekick to Sex kitten with brains.   There was a definite progression of roles from Square Pegs to Hudson Hawk to Mars Attacks - more than can be chalked up to puberty.   We saw this beauty evolve and emerge and then blossom on Sex & The City.

Bitten is available at Steve & Barrys stores across the country.   I must admit until this, I had never heard of  those two and I might have thought it was an ice-cream knockoff if SJP hadn't launched there.

The line includes all categories from tops, knits, pants, dresses, skirts.. just don't ask about shoes!  Ms. Parker hasn't found a way to bring "just as good as " Manolo's to a mall near you....YET!

Mexico City - July 7, 2007

I just spent 5 days in Mexico City or D.F. (District Federal) as the locals say-and with 25 million residents and growing, that is a serious amount of locals! Thats right, with 3 times the population of New York City - to say they have the hustle and bustle of a big city south of the border is an understatement.

While Most Americans have only spent time there on a layover on the way to Cancun or Puerto Vallarta, Mexico City is an undiscovered treasure that you should not miss. Dating back to the 1300's, this megalopolis was originally built on a lake - as the entire city is actually a valley ringed by beautiful mountain ranges and two volcanoes. Not to mention the fact that it is has one of the highest elevations at 7300 feet above sea level. Don't be surprised if you see troops of runners training for a marathon. With such thin oxygen, after training in D.F., running in a city like L.A. or N.Y.C. feels like you have twice the O2 to fuel you! The zocolo or center of the city is dwarfed only by Tiananmen square in China and Red Square in Russia. Shakira recently gave a free concert there for 200,000 people!

It was also the site of the ultimate fashion statement while I was there.  A group of Native Mayan Indians from the Oaxaca region who were protesting the Mexican presidential elections and the governments treatment of their people and the land had brought the message all the way to the Zocolo.  - and they brought nothing else with them - literally!  The protest was in the nude.  The only coverage a few of the men had were pictures of the new president, Mr. Calderon - covering their private parts like a loin cloth - but most were as naked as the day they were born. 

I have to say it was beautiful to see people unaffected and free to express themselves.  There was no sense of shame towards their bodies.   I was really impressed with the women, who on average were not a size 2,4, or 6.  In fact, the women were more like 12,14,16 - but so beautiful in this zoftig way.   The men too were letting it all hang out - or flop around as the case may be!    This was so much stronger a message than any piece of clothing could have ever been.

The Mexican government owes its indigenous people much more than they currently receive.  The amount of billionaires in D.F. alone should be enough to wipe out the staggering poverty you see in the rural Oaxacan region.  Unfortunately, the Mexican government's most comprehensive plan to help the nations poor has been three little words :  CROSS THE BORDER.

This is just the start of what I found in Mexico City... stay tuned for more of my trip....