The House Of Faith ‘N Fashion

When I was given my first Barbie I thought she was a miniature version of my mom. Playing with Barbie dolls is probably part of every women’s life experiences since the late ‘50s. Certainly “looking like a Barbie doll” is somewhat of an unobtainable body image that probably shaped our perception of perfection. Nonetheless, she was the image of the perfect woman until recently, when she was altered and updated to include different body shapes. However, this week, Mattel, the makers of Barbie, introduced an altogether new doll of a non-specific gender, neither male nor female.

The first Jewish princess in Disney’s history is ready for her royal introduction. Actress Jamie-Lynn Sigler confirmed that a Chanukah-themed episode of Disney’s widely popular children’s TV series Elena of Avalor will feature a visiting princess from a Latino Jewish kingdom who will be voiced by the former Sopranos star.

This past week marked the conclusion of Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2020 in New York City. This event, known as New York Fashion Week (NYFW), held in February and September of each year, is a semi-annual series of events (generally lasting seven to nine days) when international fashion collections are shown to buyers, the press, and the general public. It is one of four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the “Big Four,” along with those in Paris, London, and Milan. The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) created the modern notion of a centralized “New York Fashion Week” in 1993. NYFW is based on a much older series of events called “Press Week,” founded in 1943.

I can’t tell you that I know much about the game of tennis. Attending the US Open has become somewhat of a family tradition. My immediate goal is to see the clever athletic attire choice of the Williams sisters. The brand Nike and Serena never fail to entertain me, with black tutus or one-shoulder tank tops. This year, the power color combo is purple and black, not terribly exciting but easily duplicated for my spin class outfits.

Elul has begun its path of t’shuvah (repentance), but it’s really a path to perfection. A month to reshape, remold, and reassess yourself in order to present your optimum state to Hashem at the head of the year, Rosh HaShanah. Would it not be helpful if there were mentors to guide you on your trip, female examples of the embodiment of what you wish to achieve?

A few days ago I went on my first visit to The Cloisters at The Metropolitan Museum of Art where I met my Mama Donna, also known as Donna Schneier. We wanted to view the Jewish jewelry collection that was on loan to The Metropolitan Museum for a brief time. Considering that Donna Schneier has her own 250-piece collection of art jewelry housed at The Met, I couldn’t have asked for a more qualified tour guide. We were greeted by the museum’s jewelry head curator, Barbara Drake Boehm, who enthusiastically described the beauty and importance of the hidden treasures. “The Colmar Treasure, a medieval Jewish legacy” is tragically and ironically in its viewing arena.