Da General Fashion

Great Moments in Disco Fashion History: Designer Jeans

 

 

Before the late 70’s and early 80’s, jeans were mainly worn by blue collar workers and rebellious outsider types who went against the norm of fashion standards.  Enter disco music and Designer Jeans which transformed denim from casual and easy into very tight and ultra fabulous thus giving rise to one of the most famous expressions of all time: “painted on jeans”.  While some of the labels had actual known designers behind them like Gloria Vanderbilt and Calvin Klein, many of them were unheard of names that, through the magic of advertising, became fantastically successful and amazingly unforgettable.

Some of the legendary tag lines forever etched in our brains are “Oh La La Sasson!”, ” Uh, Oh Sergio!” and my personal favorite, “I Beg Your Chardon”.  Equally enduring is the Jordache song, “You’ve got the look I want to know better…You’ve got the look that’s all together…” which is still one of the most recognized jingles in TV commercial history.  How dazzling that they all implied that anyone who wore these jeans enjoyed a lifestyle of dancing, sex, parties and gobs popularity with the “in” crowd.  In fact, Designer Jeans and their ad campaigns lead the way in another category we hold near and dear to our hearts, The Disco Commercial.

To be continued…

 

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

SUPER SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

Today’s Sparkle Video is like an episode of “Lost in Space” gone fabulously right.  Our beloved “Supernature” gets reworked by the boys of Erasure who’ve turned that stage into a dreamy planet of colorful flashing lights and disco smoke where everyone wears spandex spacesuits accented with dazzling sequins.  All of this yumminess is dramatized by their slow motion movements, strobe light pods and monsterous eyeball plants hovering about like they’re going to eat them all at any second. Oh l’amour!

 

 

 

Da General APPROVED!, Beauty

POPbeauty Nail Polish: APPROVED!

As you all know Soldiers, for the past few months I have been obsessed with Japanese 3D manicures which culminated in the O.T.T. gem nails I wore to the Sparkle Army party last month (right photo).  I now have amassed so many supplies for making nails that I’ve vowed never again to go to a party in bare, unsightly natural nails because only fabulous “pressed-on” glamour will do for me!  Sometimes, however, I don’t always have a week’s time to prepare a fully fantastical set, so it’s always a good option to have various glitter nail polishes on hand.  This way, if I need to work out something quickly in order to hit the disco on time, I can.

Last friday was such a day.  I knew I was going dancing, but also knew I didn’t have much time so thought it would be a great idea to nab some new sparkling nail polish to add to my collection.  I looked around for a bit and most lines had one or two glitter options, but then I turned the corner and KABLAM!  Popbeauty hit me with a full line of not only glitter nails polishes, but many of them in glorious multi-sparkle variations which is always my favorite way to go.  Being of the “More is More” mindset, I chose “Confetti Glitz” which has bits of silver, pink & fuchsia large style glitter.  My reasoning was knowing I had only about an hour to do the whole manicure, this would give me maximum impact quickly (always think ahead Soldiers!).  The final result?  Fast, fabulous and dance floor ready in under an hour!

POPbeauty nail polish: they sparkle, they’re “multi” and they are APPROVED!

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

I CAN’T STOP SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

I know, I know.  I have not been keeping up on my duties to write about all things sparkly since I got back from Berlin, but in my defense, I’ve returned to NYC at the height of holiday party season.   Too many parties keeping Da General busy at night and my days are being spent shopping for sparkly things to wear.  So not that much has changed really, I just need to work on my time management so that it includes champagne hangovers.  However, the one thing you can always count on Soldiers, no matter what, is Sparkle Video Day.

That’s right!  I have not missed a Sparkle Video Day since I started this campaign of fabulosity and I am committed to making sure your Fridays are filled with glittering inspiration.  That said- I must confess I am growing increasingly annoyed with the corporatization of youtube.  When it’s not shoving some company paid promotion or commercial down your throat, it’s taking down amazing and rare vintage disco clips.  So today, I am pulling from vimeo and what a glorious gem I have found for you!

Today’s Sparkle Video features two of my all time favorite things, Sylvester and Roller Disco.  Sylvester is one of my heroes for many reasons, but mostly because we share the exact same view of fashion and also because he was truly blessed with the ability to turn anything into “an outfit”.  Here, he’s wearing a clearly customized purple bedazzled top paired with some sort of uniform pants, but it works.. it works Soldiers, because he oozes fabulosity!  I’m also totally feeling Martha Wash’s asymmetrical blue satin caftan that encompasses one leg in a clever harem explosion.  Sprinkle in some hotties on skates and gobs of flashing lights accentuated by glorious star filters and there you have it- PERFECTION.

 

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

JOIN THE SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

I’m just getting back in the swing of the Big Apple after having the most wonderful time in Berlin.  With so many great people to hang out with and so many fun parties to go to, a girl really gets to show off her jewel encrusted Press-On-Nails!  In keeping with my most recent mission abroad, today’s Sparkle Video is from those kawaii pandas from Cholorphorm TV, Joost and Laura.  Once again, they’ve captured the glittering spirit of what Join the Sparkle Army means and if i might add, they only go to the coolest and most fabulous parties so it’s always a gorgeous compliment to have them at ours.

If you were there- relive the moment.  If you weren’t- I hope you’ll make it next time!

http://youtu.be/GU0mp3M3FNs

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

MY FRIEND SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

Today’s Sparkle Video is a great example of what happens when you mix rock n’ roll, girls in sparkling bikinis and the most awesome air guitar ever.  Well, it’s more of a whole air band and I can’t help but get excited over the likeness of the shirtless guy to Iggy Pop, one of my all-time faves.  I think Vitalic hit on a such a super hot concept that I think you’ll agree you can’t watch it just once.  But, go on… I dare you!

Da General SPARKLE ALERT!

Giving Thanks for Berlin and Sparkles

 

Apologies for not following up on last Saturday’s party until now… but after all, I am on vacation Soldiers! Besides, with today being Thanksgiving Day, it seemed like the perfect time to mention the things and people that made this Join The Sparkle Army party so dazzlingly successful:

– First and foremost, I’d like give thanks to my dear friend Ronson whom without him, none of this would be possible and an extra special thank you for the light-up dancefloor.  That’s right Soldiers!  My dream finally came true, which just goes to show that you should never give up asking for the things you want in life (so keep on doing it until you get it!).

– I’d like to give thanks for ITALOPORNO who killed the stage with an onslaught of live rocking music, sparkling outfits and gobs of glitter!  They are a band that defines the word “PARTY”!

– I’d like to give thanks for our incredible DJ’s!  For Snax for turning it proper and getting the party started.  For Sare Havlicek who came all the way from Slovenia to deliver galactic disco sounds that were truly out of this world.  For The Shredder for an amazing set that would make any righteous alien dance all night and also for creating original music just for the party and therefore earning a special Sparkle Army Salute!

– I’d like to give thanks for Joey Hansom who composed background music that was fabulously dramatic and perfect for me, Da General, to read my opening poem.

– I’d like to give thanks for Denise Redder, our Sparkle Army photographer for not only taking fantastic portraits and party photos, but for going above and beyond the call of duty to help us get the ne laser background created.

– I’d like to give thanks for Stevie Hanley and Jackee Word, our delightfully delicious dancers who worked those glow sticks along with everything else they have in the hottest way possible.

– I’d like to give thanks for the Ronson’s staff who are the most enthusiastic Sparkle Soldiers one could ask for.  They have embraced this event and given so much time and positive energy to the cause.  Special mention to Fenia and Jule for the amazing job glitterizing every inch of the club and also to the incredibly talented Bambi for taking sparkling into the highest of art forms.

– I’d like to give thanks for Adrian and Rebi who were a kick-ass team handling all aspects of sound and lighting which, as you can imagine, is an extremely big job for this party.   I’d also like to say that Rebi made a special trip from Switzerland to report for duty and we are touched and thankful for her devotion!

Most importantly, I would like to thank all the beautiful and fabulous Sparkle Soldiers in Berlin who came to Join The Sparkle Army.  This party was successful because of all of you and your sparkling energy- you have a truly made me the happiest girl in the universe!

 

 

 

 

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

IT’S SPARKLE VIDEO DAY FROM BERLIN!

Greetings from Berlin Soldiers!

As you can imagine, it’s been a quite a busy week sparkling up and getting ready for tomorrow night, which by the way, is going to be ultra fabulous!   While many of you have joined the Sparkle Army before, today’s Sparkle Video is to show the gobs of new recruits what’s in store for the evening.  This exciting segment was taped at last year’s party by our friends at Clorophorm TV and I think it truly captures the spirit.   I can’t wait to see you all tomorrow night at Monster Ronson’s where legends will be made.

For party info click here and don’t forget:  SPACE CUFFS…. GET SOME!

http://youtu.be/T3M8QIZss-o

 

Da General Friday Sparkle Videos

UNIVERSAL SPARKLE VIDEO DAY!

One of the greatest things about Sparkle Videos is that no matter where they come from, they all speak the same language: FABULOUS!   Today, we have Disco Queen Sylvie Vartan singing and strutting in a sexy sparkling tiger number that fearlessly shows off her gorgeous gams while she’s tossed around between four dancing men in sunglasses.  With the addition of a light-up dance floor- that spells fantastic!

 

http://youtu.be/MHBKjC6lYU0

 

Da General APPROVED!

Deos Earphone Covers: APPROVED!

 

There’s only one thing that could make me love music more than I already do and it’s these delightful creatures. What better way to ignore those annoying “clipbboard” people on the street than to crank up my iPod and dazzle-on by with these blindingly bedazzled Deos Earphone Covers?  There are several colors to choose from as well different versions like “Accent Crystal”, which has sparkles that trim only the edge, and the ultra-fabulous “Full Crystal“. No matter which ones grace your lobes, you’ll be in true Sparkle Soldier style because they’re Swarovskis, they’re super hot and they are APPROVED!