I was skimming this New York Times Styles article, when I came upon this paragraph:
"'Stop,' she said. Of course, this was easy for Stephanie to say. She’s my competent friend, the one who has all kinds of practical skills. She knows how to make pies and how to cut fabric on the bias. She even knows what a “bias” is. What does she have to worry about? If a giant meteor hit the earth and debris from the impact blocked the sun, she’d survive just fine in some homespun coat she made out of super-warm wool. And the coat would be cute, too."
Am I crazy is this an unusually domestic description of the adjective "competent?" When I think competent, I think management, administration, maybe socialization, but not scissor wielding, pie baking Mama magic. I wouldn't want to discredit that fabulousness- Stephanie is a domestic goddess, she transcends competence.
But then again, I might just be old school, like the 90s and shoulder pads. Competence is a relative term, get with the program!(?)
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Thursday, March 19, 2009
Michelle O. is taking a liking to the local and organic platform. The First Family has started their very own 1,100 square foot vegetable garden.
The last time the White House grounds were used for agriculture was during WWII- Eleanor Roosevelt planted a "Victory Garden" in 1943, when the country faced food shortages. In the NYT article Michelle talks about the symbolism of having a vegetable garden on the lawn of the White House, addressing first and foremost the health concerns caused by a processed food diet. Principles of sustainability and gender equality are weaved into the piece.
Gotta love how posh this garden is- green oakleaf lettuce, chard and red romaine. My personal favorite is hyssop- European mint. Domesticity wrapped up in progressive principles and style- "could [it] translate into real change"?
The last time the White House grounds were used for agriculture was during WWII- Eleanor Roosevelt planted a "Victory Garden" in 1943, when the country faced food shortages. In the NYT article Michelle talks about the symbolism of having a vegetable garden on the lawn of the White House, addressing first and foremost the health concerns caused by a processed food diet. Principles of sustainability and gender equality are weaved into the piece.
Gotta love how posh this garden is- green oakleaf lettuce, chard and red romaine. My personal favorite is hyssop- European mint. Domesticity wrapped up in progressive principles and style- "could [it] translate into real change"?
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
The menu at the wildly popular Momofuku Bakery - Milk Bar is a good example of the recent trend in domestisexy consumer goods, including food.
Some people might argue that the ability to purchase "cereal milk" in a restaurant is really just part of the current comfort food trend, but I think it's more than that. Comfort food is heavy food. I think people intend comfort food to mean "the food that mom cooked." But how many people really grew up eating fried chicken, homemade mac and cheese, meatloaf, creamed x,y,and z? Old fashioned? Yes. Homemade? Not necessarily. But cereal milk: homemade? Yes. Milk Bar is probably the first restaurant in the country to sell cereal milk. Until now I don't think those two words were uttered in the media at all - it was an occurrence people dealt with at home - either by drinking it or dumping it down the sink. This is all to say that the fact that such a quotidien, humble, almost banal product is being sold at one of the most trendy new establishments in the city speaks to the fetishization of the domestic. Domestisexy? Yes.
soft serve:
new flavors! (updated feb 11)
cereal milk™
marshmallow cereal milk™
sweet corn cereal milk™
fruity cereal milk™
toppings:
cornflake crunch
lucky charms
cap'n crunch
fruity pebbles
banana crumbs
charred marshmallowSome people might argue that the ability to purchase "cereal milk" in a restaurant is really just part of the current comfort food trend, but I think it's more than that. Comfort food is heavy food. I think people intend comfort food to mean "the food that mom cooked." But how many people really grew up eating fried chicken, homemade mac and cheese, meatloaf, creamed x,y,and z? Old fashioned? Yes. Homemade? Not necessarily. But cereal milk: homemade? Yes. Milk Bar is probably the first restaurant in the country to sell cereal milk. Until now I don't think those two words were uttered in the media at all - it was an occurrence people dealt with at home - either by drinking it or dumping it down the sink. This is all to say that the fact that such a quotidien, humble, almost banal product is being sold at one of the most trendy new establishments in the city speaks to the fetishization of the domestic. Domestisexy? Yes.
Pucker Up, Its Cold Outside
I started out by thinking of DomestiSexy as a manner of self-expression. As a female child of the 80s/90s, I had my fair share of conflicts with femininity and domesticity, so my peers' increasing interest in domesticity and my simultaneous reorganization of my own priorities took me by surprise. Ever since, I've understood these needs as an expression of reactionary counter culture.
While discussing the topic with others, however, I have noticed that another justification for our newly found domesticity pops up even more regularly: the recession. Anne summed up this argument when she recently pondered whether "this resurgence in domestisexy has to do with the economy. When things are bad, people turn towards home. also, people might return to traditional gender roles?"
Historically, national and financial insecurity often forces social structure into a more traditional mold (think the 1950s and the Cold War). Another, less comprehensive and thus measurable, sign of financial insecurity is the Lipstick Index. The Lipstick Index postulates a negative correlation between economic health and cosmetics sales, in particular lipstick. Shortly after September 11th 2001, Leonard Lauder, the Chairman of Esteee Lauder, identified this relationship. He postulated that, as a comparatively cheap thrill, lipstick satisfies the American womans need to splurge in a time of cut backs. During the winter of 2001/02, Lauder Inc. had to create extra shifts in their lipstick factories to respond to this surge in demand.
The lipstick index has not performed as cleanly during our recent recession. Different newspapers are reporting different trends, and overall economists are complaining that the shear size and lump-sum reporting of the cosmetic industry make any statistical work impossible. The most striking aspect of the study remains that a (female) need to splurge is thought as justified (even expected) during a time of cut backs and further, that this need is spent on cosmetics.
There is more behind the lipstick index than cheap indulgence. I spent the summer of 2007 in Moscow, Russia. One of the most enthralling aspects of Russian culture is the Russian woman. Russian women are stunning, always dressed to the T, perfectly coiffed and incredulously thin. While musing about the unusual plenty of attractive and well groomed women, I came upon a study which argued that financially emerging economies, such as the Russian economy, create appearance weary populations. The fact that a cosmetic product becomes a predictive variable during economic downturn echoes this theme. In times of instability, women attempt to secure their future by establishing social standing and bonds. Our attempt to create a manicured and welcoming domestic life fits right into this world view. The question remains how we should feel about it: are we dressing up with no where to go? or is our newly found interest in baking a creative attempt to party like its 1999?
While discussing the topic with others, however, I have noticed that another justification for our newly found domesticity pops up even more regularly: the recession. Anne summed up this argument when she recently pondered whether "this resurgence in domestisexy has to do with the economy. When things are bad, people turn towards home. also, people might return to traditional gender roles?"
Historically, national and financial insecurity often forces social structure into a more traditional mold (think the 1950s and the Cold War). Another, less comprehensive and thus measurable, sign of financial insecurity is the Lipstick Index. The Lipstick Index postulates a negative correlation between economic health and cosmetics sales, in particular lipstick. Shortly after September 11th 2001, Leonard Lauder, the Chairman of Esteee Lauder, identified this relationship. He postulated that, as a comparatively cheap thrill, lipstick satisfies the American womans need to splurge in a time of cut backs. During the winter of 2001/02, Lauder Inc. had to create extra shifts in their lipstick factories to respond to this surge in demand.
The lipstick index has not performed as cleanly during our recent recession. Different newspapers are reporting different trends, and overall economists are complaining that the shear size and lump-sum reporting of the cosmetic industry make any statistical work impossible. The most striking aspect of the study remains that a (female) need to splurge is thought as justified (even expected) during a time of cut backs and further, that this need is spent on cosmetics.
There is more behind the lipstick index than cheap indulgence. I spent the summer of 2007 in Moscow, Russia. One of the most enthralling aspects of Russian culture is the Russian woman. Russian women are stunning, always dressed to the T, perfectly coiffed and incredulously thin. While musing about the unusual plenty of attractive and well groomed women, I came upon a study which argued that financially emerging economies, such as the Russian economy, create appearance weary populations. The fact that a cosmetic product becomes a predictive variable during economic downturn echoes this theme. In times of instability, women attempt to secure their future by establishing social standing and bonds. Our attempt to create a manicured and welcoming domestic life fits right into this world view. The question remains how we should feel about it: are we dressing up with no where to go? or is our newly found interest in baking a creative attempt to party like its 1999?
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Inaugural Post
Welcome to DomestiSexy.
We cater to domestic and involved women and men alike; Young socially conscious and self aware urbanites who are interested in traditionally domestic activities, such as food, family and local community.
If you've ever been told you're as beautiful as his mother, you're in the right place.
Welcome home.
We cater to domestic and involved women and men alike; Young socially conscious and self aware urbanites who are interested in traditionally domestic activities, such as food, family and local community.
If you've ever been told you're as beautiful as his mother, you're in the right place.
Welcome home.
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