ICONIC BRIDES OF THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY

The wedding dress embodies all dreams of perfect love; it is a symbol of romance and happiness. It is the most expensive piece of clothing most women will ever buy and nevertheless the most memorable one.

Out of millions of wedding dresses worn throughout the years by women all around the globe; some manage to stand out and be recognized throughout history. The key reason for those dresses not to be forgotten is because of the importance of its wearer. Each century has its famous brides that are inspirations for the present and the future. The 20^thcentury is a proud owner of a collection of iconic brides that are still being admired today…

Grace Kelly

She was an actress turned princess. Grace Kelly was the then Julia Roberts of Hollywood. She married prince Rainier III of Monaco to become her serene highness and the princess of Monaco in 1956. Her dress, along with her doll-like features is one of the most beautiful wedding looks of all time. She chose the legendary MGM (Metro Goldwyn Mayer) wardrobe designer, Helen Rose to come up with a dress to give her fitting exit from the cinematic world and a grand entrance to the Royalty of Monaco. The Dress has inspired brides worldwide, including Kate Middleton, who chose a similar silhouette for her big day in 2011.

Grace Kelly’s wedding gown was truly fit for a princess. It featured a voluminous skirt of ivory peau de soie and a high collar with a fitted bodice made of Brussels lace and embroidered with seed pearls.The Designer worked on the dress for six weeks with three dozen seamstresses.

The bodice was made of reassembled rose point lace over silk net, which had been re-embroidered by two seamstresses who worked on it for a month. Thousands of seed pearls were added to accentuate the patterns in the lace.

Grace’s veil was adorned with lace lovebirds and she decided against the customary tiara and opted for a Juliet cap instead. The cap was decorated with lace and orange blossoms and held a veil that was reportedly 90 yards long. The circular Veil was edged with lace lovebirds and the majority of it was left sheer so the princess’s lovely face would be visible through it.

 The dress was guarded in the two months of its making that lead up to the wedding. It never left the fitting room and the dress was locked away every night and the gown of Grace Kelly remains one of the most celebrated in history. The Dress is now the property of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and they displayed it on the 50^th anniversary of the wedding in May 2006.

Jacqueline Kennedy

Not many wedding dresses will be recognized at a glance but the dress Jacqueline Bouvier wore to marry John F. Kennedy in 1956 is still known to be as one of the most iconic dresses ever made in the history of mankind.  Jacqueline was one of the most stylish first ladies of the United States of America and is still known to be a fashion icon. She chose the couturier Ann Lowe to design her wedding dress. It was made out of Ivory Silk taffeta, and was in the shape of a ball gown. The neckline was a sweetheart shape (also known as the portrait type). She wore a lace veil that belonged to her grandmother with a lace a Tiara decorated with orange blossoms.

The unknown fact about this lovely dress was that; Ann Lowe was a colored woman which was scandalous during the time and the original dress she created after two months of labor was destroyed along with nine other dresses in a flooding that occurred in Ann Lowes workroom which occurred 10 days prior to the wedding.  But she took the challenge; she and her staff worked day and night completed the wedding dress in eight days and delivered the dress on sue date. Even though she didn’t make a profit out of it her efforts are still being admired and her creation is known to the world as the dress that made Jacqueline the fashion icon of the 20^th century. It is now on display at the Kennedy Library in Boston.

Princess Margaret 

Princess Margaret was the younger sibling of Queen Elizabeth 1 and was a sensational young royal during her time. She was beautiful, fashionable and was prepped with a social life that made her a tabloid princess. She was married to photographer Antony Armstrong-Jones on May 6^th 1960.

This was also the first royal wedding ever televised, and was watched by over 20 million viewers worldwide, so her effect on ushering in the sleek styles of the 1960s could very well have stretched far beyond the royal family. Her wedding gown is still the subject of awe decades later and was designed by Norman Hartnell, the same designer that designed the Queen’s Wedding gown and the Queen’s coronation gown.

Princess Margaret didn’t prefer the usual heavily embellished traditional creations of the designer, instead she requested him to create a simple dress that will compliment her petite figure; and every aspect of the dress was designed to make her look more flattering and elongate. The dress was made out of silk organza with a ‘V’ neck and the full skirt, which was the trendiest silhouette of the time after Christian dior’s ‘New look’. The dress’s simplicity allowed for some statement accessories: a diamond necklace from her grandmother Queen Mary and the Famous Poltimore Tiara; that was acquired especially for Margaret. The Tiara and the necklace were subsequently sold at auction after her death. The Dress is now on display at Kensington Palace in London and is the property of the British Royal Collection.

HOW TO MANAGE YOUR WARDROBE

A woman has only two problems

1. Nothing to wear

2. No place for all the clothes

Clothes are one of those fundamentals that can become a real problem if they go neglected. They say that a girl can never have enough shoes and in return most of us find it hard to manage all our purchases that are crowding our rooms. All these wardrobe statements prove that even though a girl can never have enough things she should also be an expert in managing her outfits as well as her closet.

However doing so is not quite easy. We all tend to grab the first thing that comes to our hand in the morning and never really plan our outfits for the day ahead. This makes us less fashionable and we do not take maximum advantage of our clothes that are already hidden way beneath our cupboards.

There are a few simple guidelines we girls could follow. The Internet is filled with ideas as to how to arrange your closet and how to manage it effectively, but we should know what rules that are suited for one self and what are practical.

The six month – one year rule.

People advice us to get rid of clothes that we have not worn for the past six months or one year. Which is in a way very true, but there are clothes that are close to our hearts and have special memories that come with them. Some clothes belong to beautiful events in our past and to be parted ways with them is like losing a friend.

The best way to stack these special clothes is to fold them, place them in clear bags and stack them in a safe place where the clothes wont get tainted. This leaves us with more space in our cupboards for our everyday clothing needs.

And the rest of the clothes that you haven’t worn they should be questioned. What’s more important is not how long it’s been since you’ve worn it, but why you haven’t worn it.

So if something has remained on the hanger for too long, start questioning it: is it the right color for my skin? Is it too long or short? Does it make you look plump? Or simply do you have too many clothes?

Justify yourself why you should get rid of that outfit and feel free to give it away. You will not be regretting later and you will be feeling better knowing that someone else is happy wearing it and your life is de-cluttered!

Clothing Swap

Although it is not so popular as it is for the westerners, one of the best ways to get rid of some of your much-loved clothes is to organize a clothing swap day.  Talk to your friends and arrange a date where you all can go through piles of clothes that you’ll hardly wear. Exchanging your clothes and shoes is easier than getting rid of them straight away. You will feel great to see your friend looking good in the clothes that you once used to own. This is a great way to own and disown wardrobe staples in a fun and practical way.

DIY – Do It Yourself

There is another way that we can give a fresh start to some of our old clothes. The new social network ‘Pinterest’ gives us plenty of ideas as to how to recycle your clothing. Adding a few embellishments, cutting off a pair of long sleeves, stripping a t-shirt to make a funky shawl or cutting your jeans to make a bag.

We don’t have to be expert seamstresses or designers to give life to some of our clothes that are hardly worn and forgotten. It’s about being fearless to cut and chop and to let go of your creativity. You will be amazed at your own self and will be proud to carry off your new look.

Sketch/write your outfit

No matter how many clothes a woman has she will never have enough. This is the reality. Most women are busy with juggling everything from home, family and work. This has resulted in less time for herself and is affecting her sense of style.

Make an arrangement to have one or two hours each week to go through your closet and mix match clothes and accessories that can be worn for the week ahead. This way you get to know your clothes well and how you can create distinct looks that makes you stand out amongst the crowd.

Give yourself time to sketch (if you’re good at drawing) or to write down a list of outfits for the week, iron them and arrange them in a way that is easy for you in the morning. Ironing is one of the tasks that women dread, but a wrinkled shirt can degrade your personality in a second. So it is our duty to ourselves to look perfect at any given time. That’s one of the best things about being a woman. The process of getting ready for the day can be hectic but an adventure as well.

Starting to plan your outfits will be chaotic and will look impossible in the beginning but with time you wouldn’t need to be fanatical about being impeccable, for you know your clothes and there will be less wardrobe malfunctions which will save you from a lot of embarrassments.

Ultimately, wardrobe management is not a one-time deal, but rather an ongoing process that you will need to repeat whenever you get new clothes or accessories. It may seem like a lot of work, but th time you put in will pay off in a big way. With a little extra planning, you can look put-together and fashionable everyday, no matter how late you oversleep.

WHERE DID ALL THE HOBBIES GO?

“What is your hobby?” One of the most fundamental questions that we all have answered growing up. It is in fact one of the initial queries another person asks u to get to know you better. And personally I have always loved to answer that question.

A hobby distinguishes an individual from the rest of the crown. It is a skill or an interest that has improved with age and something that you have mastered during your leisure time.

But sadly this isn’t the story anymore. I hardly hear anyone asking about a hobby not to mention ever discussing about one. Improved technology and social media networks have taken most of our leisure times, which in result has ruined the potential for improved skills in creativity. Children are watching more TV than creating, adults are busy being immersed in hours of networking on social media, and artistry is not encouraged.

A hobby is something that a person can do: not only as a fruitful past time but it is also a source of pleasure and relaxation. It helps to nurture one’s love for a particular activity that helps polish a person’s natural talents.

Not so long ago, wood working, photography, painting, reading, cooking, gardening, collecting autographs, stamps, cards or figurines were very popular, but with changing times, newer hobbies like blogging, chatting, gaming and surfing the net have replaced the classic list. The real question is, do these new and modern hobbies helps personal development? It can be argued both ways. The real challenge here is to choose a past time that reflects your personality and something that relaxes your soul while improving a skill that others may envy.

In this era of improved technology and communication, we tend to spend most of our working time as well as our leisure time staring at a computer, either surfing on the net or chatting the night away. Has this chore improved our abilities? I do not believe so.

As a former Facebook addict, I have experienced myself drowning in a world of materialistic possessions and an unavoidable urge to be present in the social platform at all times. I lost a lot of my precious time to chatting, surfing and basically looking at other people’s lives through their pictures. I have nothing against Facebook and to date I am an active user. But I have learnt to use it for its purpose. To stay connected. It is not a hobby. It does not enhance any of your skills. It’s simply a form of communication.

A hobby on the other hand, gives you much pleasure and satisfaction through Mind-Hand-Eye coordination.  Hobbies will free your mind from stress. They create a recreational world where you find solace after a hard day of work.

“Anything we do must add value to our lives at the end of the day”

The definition of a hobby interlinks with the above quote, for a hobby is an activity, which is enjoyable and adds value to ones life. Hobbies have been around since the ancient times, yet very few people use them as an effective tool to beat stress.

Hobbies offer you many benefits: they are fun and a great way to pass the time, they can raise your self esteem, they can teach you new skills that help you grow and prosper and they gives you an outlet to explore your creativity.

A hobby can take you out of your life for a while. It can be invigorating, relaxing, educational, fun, or maybe, if you are lucky, a little of everything. Hobbies are more than just ways to creatively pass the time. They are also good for your health. Hobbies and other leisure activities can have many health benefits. We all have different ideas of what hobbies are. They don’t have to be the classic list of things that we have heard since we were kids, but it certainly must add value to your life and improve your skills and helps you build a deeper and more fulfilling life. A successful hobby usually embraces some of the following characteristics.

A hobby should interest you. 

Your hobby should be an activity that you enjoy. Starting a hobby, which someone else is already interested in, may bore you. So be original! Pick something you like.

Passion is the key

The hobby you choose must make you excited. Don’t be discouraged if you try several different hobbies before you find the right one. You'll know you've found the right hobby when you look forward to doing it, makes you happy, relaxed, and satisfied.

Affordable

It's better to do something that doesn't tie up a lot of your money. Some hobbies can get very expensive and you will become frustrated because you can't reach it financially. A hobby doesn't have to be expensive to be fulfilling.

Communicate

In this age of technology, arts and crafts are given a backseat. By actively promoting the use of hobbies in our stressful lives-how it benefits a person and how some hobbies can be utilized to make money, we could change the stigma of hobbies being treated as a dying movement.

Some hobbies have no limits. And we cannot master them right away; it’s an ongoing process of developing ones skills throughout the years. Soon you'll experience a great sense of personal satisfaction as you become more and more accomplished in the hobby field you have chosen.

As you grow in your hobby, you'll feel more contented as a person and less vulnerable to the stress of your job. A hobby that captures your attention is a positive, healthy way to escape the stress of everyday life, if only for an hour at a time.

A wonderful thing about a hobby, whether it is exercising, collecting something, or reading it doesn't require any previous experience or equipment; you just have to supply the interest and time and you'll reap the benefits. As the saying goes…

“A hobby a day keeps the doldrums away”

SNOW WHITE SYNDROME

Scene 1: A girl sits on a chair crying for being rejected for a job that she hoped for,

Scene 2: Her aunt comes and gives her a cream to apply,

Scene 3: She applies the cream and in four weeks her brown skin gets lighter,

Scene 4: she goes for the same job interview confidently and gets selected…

This is the same obscure story that is being portrayed through the various fairness cream advertisements that is being aired on TV throughout the day. These ads rake up some fundamental questions in my mind;

•  Why is ‘fair’ better than ‘dark’?
•  What is fair and what is dark?
• How can confidence and success be attributed to skin color?

Although it may sound a shock to westerners, the phenomenal growth in fairness creams indicate that the adoration for fair skin and disdain for dark or brown skin is very common in this part of the world making people obsessed with getting a fairer complexion in order to be considered pretty or attractive. Thus the demand to lighten the color of the skin is high and manufacturers of beauty and cosmetic products are merrily disseminating the myth of white skin and further exploiting this trend.

Discrimination

Fair or light skin color is being promoted as virtuous and desirable. How often do we come across advertisements that promote fair skin as being superior, and one that fetches you your dream job that makes you attractive? Sadly, these ads are getting more frequent and bolder in their message and continue to corrupt and stray young minds.

Skin color discrimination is a feeling that is deeply entrenched in the society that fair people are preferred by the entertainment and other allied industries and in comparison a darker complexion is a disadvantage in the matrimonial market, which is the root cause for these mindless ads. We live In a society where most people are genetically brown-skinned yet the growing antipathy for dark skin, have started an inferiority complex, which is now termed by cosmetologists as the “snow white syndrome”.

In a society where bulk of the people are predominantly either dark or brown skinned, there is an unhealthy obsession for fair skin and the question is how to dispel this obsession.

How fairness creams work:     

It is an undeniable fact that most advertisements for fairness creams are not truthful. Most advertisements claim that the continued use of their fairness creams will change the skin color of the user with seven days or so. The naïve public falls a prey to these misleading facts; not knowing such magic cannot and will not happen. The lightness or darkness of the skin is caused by a pigment called “Melanin”, which has great positive effects on health such as its ability to block cancer causing rays of the sun. The more melanin the darker the skin gets.

What the fairness creams do is they block the Secretion of the melanin in the skin thus making it less colored. 
It also stops sunrays to tan your skin so the skin looks fairer. It has been estimated that you can look up to 20% fairer then you are. But the natural color of the skin will not change. One cannot change their genetics and thus the natural color of your skin would remain the same. Fairness creams can only help you a little but that help comes with its own costs.

What can be done?

It is rather discouraging to know that when remarkable social transformation is taking place high profile celebrities are endorsing fairness creams thoroughly to the public leaving some of them questioning about their professionalism and influencing the vast majority by giving them the wrong impression about beauty.  It is shocking to see the ads portraying the girls landing in good jobs, succeeding in acting careers and securing the love of handsome men– because of using their fairness creams. It is the duty of advertisement regulatory bodies of the society to scan and take necessary action about offensive advertisements and only encourage morally acceptable messages to be publicized.

In the glamour industry, fair skinned is considered a big asset and it isn’t unusual to find fair skinned actors and models in the overwhelming majority. People who wish to be modes or interested in an acting career have this misconception that they will be rejected if their complexion is not fair. It should be the responsibility of leading fashion magazines to educate these aspirants that having a fair skin is not crucial for becoming an actor or a model. It is also the responsibility of advertisement professionals, models recruiting agencies, beauticians and people involved in similar professions to educate the masses and bring about a transformation in the social outlook.

Dark skinned people should also introspect and become confident enough to accept their skin color and learn to cherish what nature has given. We mustn't forget that caliber and capability of an individual is measured not by appearance or the skin color instead confidence and hard work are the only antidotes for continuous success personally and professionally. 

TEACHERS - THEY MAKE YOU OR BREAK YOU

Teaching is the profession that teaches all the other professions.  

The world would be a much better place if this was an absolute truth but instead the reality is far from being so wonderful. Almost all of us have had school education. Was it a beautiful experience? Many will say yes, but there are a few who will disagree; and I fall in between these two extremes.

My time in school, which is one of the most prestigious & well-regarded schools in the country, has been relatively satisfactory, but I’ve had my fare share of ghastly experiences during my academic years where my abilities and talents were put into question and dispirited throughout the years.

Some teachers continue to fail to dispatch the right message to their students. They fail to understand those little people in their class are totally different from each other and their approach should be altered, not generic. There were a very few wonderful teachers during my school years, and the rest made school feel like prison. The appalling memories they created still linger within me and I use that disadvantage to develop myself more by learning to use those black marks and make it a piece of art.

I believe I was born to be creative. I have been an avid student in the creative department, making myself busy with various projects at any given time. But I was never encouraged to follow what I was good at and instead was told to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher and whatever that was in the good books of the teachers. Simply put they thought nothing good will come out of being creative, and to be an artist is to grow old, and dirty with a paintbrush and die depressed! I’m sure they didn’t and still don’t know the true meaning of being creative.  They didn’t believe that there lies a life beyond all that typical careers.

I am an illustrator and a designer by profession, and I am proud about what I do.  I was never interested in mathematics nor science. I was drawn to art, poetry and history throughout my academic years and I excelled in them. Those subjects made me energetic, made me wanted to jump out of bed to go to school. But that feeling never lasted long.

I always knew I wanted to be someone creative. I wanted to draw. I wanted to sew. I wanted to dream of a world that was colorful and happy. But back in school things were conflicting with my dreams. Teachers would throw away my book if they saw me sketching on it. They would ask me what I wanted to be, and when I said I wanted to be a designer, they laughed at me in front of the whole class. One teacher even asked me to get my head checked and stop thinking of being someone stupid and rather focus on a sensible career.

There were times I tore my sketchbook. Threw away my beautiful art. Cried my heart out in the bathroom. I felt as a failure even before I stepped out in to the world. I became silent. I stopped fighting.

This happened not only to me. There were lots of others who were in my vessel. Who felt ignored, who were labeled as rebels, who got punished for challenging the teachings. Put together we would have created a cult. But we were all afraid to confront and stand up for our selves. We were tied down and mouths shut with the rules and regulations and continuous series of indict from the teachers for being what we are.

There are still haunting memories of embarrassment from the past, yet years have passed, and I have gained my confidence to be who I am and have achieved my goal in becoming a Designer, But the road is still coarse, the mountain is still towering, but one thing is certain. I will get there.

I truly believe that teaching is a godly profession. Molding a young mind during its growth stage is an absolutely daunting task and something that will be imprinted on each of those young minds for a lifetime. This was not written to accuse any of my teachers but to articulate the experience I gained and maybe to inspire the next generation of teachers to be more understanding and open to those beautiful young minds under them. I anticipate that the kids who are still in school and who will join in the years to come will find more teachers that they love, and fewer teachers that they will detest.

As the author Simon Sinek says: The best teachers are the ones who tell us we can!

BARBIE - HER INFLUENCE ON WOMEN

She is the epitome of beauty, perfection, and success and plays one of the key roles in the developing age of a girl. She is the first icon that a girl familiarise her self with and Barbie has, and continues to make a cosmic impact on a woman’s life. The Barbie doll is one of the most successful toys of the 20th century and, arguably, the icon of female beauty and the American dream. According to its manufacturer, Mattel.Inc, every three seconds a Barbie doll is being purchased. Not many people would want to admit how influenced they are by this iconic doll but I still remember my first Barbie, and the blissful contentment I had by receiving her in the tender age of five years.  The toy doll has since made a significant impression in my life and career as a designer, and she’s is one of the key ‘people’ I give credit to, for the success I have achieved through my profession.

The reason I consider Barbie as a person is because she’s not just a plastic doll to play with, she’s a dream, a vision, a star, and a remarkable character, a lifestyle, that motivates a little girl to achieve her goals and to be a success as a ‘woman’.

But after seeing Barbie being blamed for so many things I decided to write an article about the doll that had made a significant impression for the past 50 years and still continues to do so, and why people shouldn't blame "her" for the self-image problems of girls and women.

The controversy against Barbie

It is evident that during recent times the media, educators, parents and feminists have blamed the doll for various reasons. If every time anyone writes or speaks about the issues of young women’s unhealthy obsession to achieve the perfect body, it doesn’t take long for the name ‘Barbie’ to be mentioned.

Some claim that the toy represents the paradigm of adult female beauty to which young girls learn to aspire. It has been argued that Barbie dolls reflect a highly sexualized image and restrict girls' play by emphasizing prescribed roles. The media say that some people fear that by dramatizing stereotypical feminine roles during play, girls will internalize and later embody such roles. There continues to be disagreement over the messages the Barbie doll sends and the toy's place in the lives of young girls. Despite all these controversy and the demand to change the image of the doll, Mattel.Inc have been largely – I’d say completely – unresponsive to those concerns and the toy remains to be the best selling toy in the world.

The positive influence of Barbie

Barbie is a powerful, intelligent, skilled and someone who will always be linked to the color pink. She represents’ women of all colors, nationalities, occupations and in her own way, also represents a little girl.

Independence & Creativity

Since the introduction of Barbie in 1959, she was an adult and had a career, which represented her independence and power during a time when little girls in the world were playing with baby dolls and taking care of them like mothers. ‘Independence’ was the first and the key impact the doll made in a girls mind and I believe this greatly develops intellect to regulate a goal-driven attitude in a child. When looking at how people played with the Barbie and their stories, I really appreciate the wonderful creativity that builds in a child’s mind. The genius of Barbie is that the doll can be anyone in the mind of a young girl and assist her to project possibilities and to mirror or to extend their own lives.

Barbie is a single woman - she's not necessarily married or with children - and I think it's a good thing that young girls play withBarbies and have narratives where women have the freedom to be themselves, hang out with girlfriends, have careers, go backpacking and climb Mount Everest or simply be a super housewife and have kids. Barbie allows the imagination to take wings. It is also essential to keep in mind the fact that young girls have the ability to distinguish between fantasy and the real world.

The Beauty

No matter what negative remarks the doll receives, Barbie is beautiful inside and out. She is not an action hero who beats up or shoots up anyone who opposes her - She’s got wholesomeness - She’s a hard worker and is liked by all her friends. She hurts nobody and yet she is like so many women who live in abusive environments where they are blamed for things that aren't their fault, treated with suspicion, resented, used as punching bags when someone has had a bad day, and brutalized. This pretty little doll, with her miniature accessories and the ability to capture the imaginations of little girls (and not so little girls) everywhere isn't really guilty of anything other than being perfect and perfectly feminine.

Barbie will always represent perfection, which something a human being cannot achieve, yet she stands as a benchmark in a girls life to accomplish her dream of becoming the best, to be beautiful, to be classy, and to be loved by all.

LADY GAGA - HAT WE CAN LEARN FROM THE WORLD’S BIGGEST POP STAR

No wonder Lady Gaga is now probably the biggest star in the world. She’s got something. Something everyone secretly wants, secretly loves to fear and secretly wants to see.

During the past two years, Lady Gaga and her image has transformed the entertainment business, inspired the fashion industry, topped music charts and won over and influenced the ears of everyone! She represents the best in new thinking; digital-savviness and business smarts that will redefine the music industry.

Just like Famous sportsmen have a lot to teach us about physical training and Fashion icons show us how to possess Individuality in style, popular pop icons can teach us significant lessons about branding, segment targeting and viral marketing. Likewise there’s a lot to learn from this quirky glam rock star – from her calculated, well-orchestrated image and her clever market positioning to approach your career in a way that leads to unjustifiable success.

§  Don’t be afraid of Risks

Go against the grain. Take risks, lots of them, but in a safe manner by framing them in time capsules with alternatives if they don't work out.

Lady Gaga took a risk and was the subject of nasty criticism about her avant-garde image, but she kept people talking. And after everyone got used to seeing her performances, everyone settled down a bit and appreciated that she had the guts to stand out and give us something new.

If you’re confident in your abilities, understand that it’s okay to go a less conventional route to achieve your goals.  Lady Gaga shows us; if you already have a specific vision, just go for it.

§  Remain open to inspiration

Carefully select role models, studying them for what you need to learn about your line of work. Even if you think your image is much different than those who’ve come before you, accept inspiration from all types of people and experiences. The more well-rounded and educated you are about your industry, the more successful your business will be.

The challenge is not to become so impressed by masters in your field that you imitate and don't find your own imprint but to create your own identity.

§  Branding is everything

You are your brand. Lady Gaga is continually mastering at personal branding, she is a genius at marketing, and her crazy looks are just a part of the whole Gaga package.

In today’s world, having a trademark is essential. And she sure has. Every little aspect seems original and surprising about her. She is always ready to seek the limelight. She strives to have the best and will stop at nothing to popularize her brand.

If you’re able to create an instantly recognizable image, your brand and your message will speak for itself and will travel much more quickly and effectively than cumbersome explanations. Basically what Lady Gaga says is that, it’s ok to be different. It doesn’t matter how different you are. It’s about your liberty and your desire to endorse who you are.

§  Aim big. Experiment within your field.

Explore opportunities for expanding your career. Lady Gaga has made her goal to revolutionize pop music. She states that failure is okay. In fact, putting disasters in play is increasingly considered a necessary routine of passage to success.

As mentioned already, Lady Gaga’s image is clearly defined and easily recognizable. But that doesn’t mean she doesn’t experiment. She loves challenging herself. Lady Gaga recognizes that music is a broad field in and of itself, and she doesn’t limit herself to one performance type or genre. Just as you should keep learning about your field and business, continue to experiment well even after you’ve found success.

§  Be authentic. Commit to your image 100%

Lady Gaga is 100% committed to her image, It doesn’t matter how much time and effort it takes to dress up like that probably because she recognizes that it’s her appearance that connects her to her fans.

She teaches us never to stray from your core values and not to be afraid of being yourself. Gaga has unabashedly maintained her core values, many of which involve giving back to the community that has impelled her to fame. She inspires us never to give up on our most basic mission and the values and to be authentic.

§  Keep Learning

Lady Gaga finds inspiration from various sources and she loves the fashion industry. The best example for her acuteness to learn is that, She has requested an internship at the milliner Philip Treacy’s studio so that she could learn how to design hats. Gaga has even submitted a resume, impressing many in the industry who respected her humble and seemingly sincere move to learn something new.

What we can learn from Gaga on this is that, you shouldn’t settle for what you’re already good at and what the public knows you for: keep stretching yourself by going back to school, collaborating with new partners, or finding a new niche to conquer.

Finally, while she is one of the most exhibitionist, extravagant, visual and provocative artist today; she is yet very humble and modest. Everything is communicated through her art and when she takes home awards she is as down to earth as one can be. In a world where marketing agencies, social media consultants, and search engine optimizers try to construct tools and methods to drive traffic, Lady Gaga represents the axiom that “content is king”.