Does anything about the model on the right strike you as different from the norm? Click the thumbnail to see a fullsize picture at the Telegraph.

At first glance I thought that this was a young female model in her late teens or early twenties. I was spot on about the age but wrong about the gender. The photo is of a 19 year old male model from Bosnia and Herzegovina. According to the UK Telegraph, male model Andrej Pejic  is “enjoying great modeling success due to his womanly good looks”, so much so that he’s booked for the next Marc Jacobs advertising campaign.

Boys who look like girls, transsexuals and transvestites are being booked to pose for photo shoots, to represent great fashion houses like Givenchy, and to walk on runways to showcase women’s clothing – not men’s clothing.

I don’t quite know what to think about this. On the one hand, I find it strange that men would be modeling clothes that are marketed to me, but perhaps that is being too closed minded. Perhaps the bright line between men and women’s fashion is, well, old fashioned. I can easily imagine a future where individuals choose more effeminate or masculine looks quite independently of their sex.

Is the recent movement to blur gender boundaries a step in this direction, or are fashion houses using it to generate publicity?

Most of us are thinking about curbing our spending after an expensive holiday season. That means less shopping, more saving, and more time in your closet. Yes, spending time in your closet saves money. Here’s how.

1 – Edit

Regular closet sweeps eliminate unnecessary items, but they also help you to identify exactly what you already own, thereby preventing unnecessary duplication. I’ve written several posts on closet organization and this one offers a summary of what can be an extremely liberating, simple and painless process. If you’re unsure whether an item is dated, these tips might help. And if you still can’t bear to let go of an item, create a hidden holding zone and revisit these items later.

2 – Organize

How many times have you gone into your closet and thought: ”Oh! I forgot I had that top. That means I can layer underneath dresses”, or, “Oh! There they are. I knew I had a pair of straight leg black trousers. Now I can wear them with short dresses and create a totally different look”. If you can’t see it you can’t wear it. That’s why keeping your closet neat and organized multiplies your outfit possibilities.

3 – Remix

Wearing your clothes, footwear and accessories in new ways can prevent style boredom. I enjoy adding new items to my wardrobe mix, but remixing can be just as exciting.

Unfortunately, just staring at your wardrobe contents won’t do it. You have to get stuck in! Take a little time and experiment with new clothing combinations, actually trying on the remixed outfits. Take photos or make notes of your remixes, and remember to wear them. If you struggle with this creative process, post questions on forums (allow me to recommend the YLF forum) and check out daily outfit blogs for inspiration.

Just Do It

While this process is time consuming (there’s no free lunch I’m afraid), it’s infinitely more cost effective than buying new stuff to stave off feelings of wardrobe boredom. And if done in the right state of mind, it will be a fun, creative process. The more time you put into your wardrobe, the more you will get out of it.

Of course, lacking the inspiration to edit, organize and remix is understandable too. Solicit the support of a friend or family member and plan closet time together. Put on your favourite music, prep your favourite snacks and just do it!

1. Worst outfit: Lady Gaga’s meat ensemble. Repulsive on so many levels.
2. Best retail decision: Most retailers in the US heavily discounted their merchandise BEFORE Christmas. We benefit from the discount while retailers clear their stocks before the New Year. A win for all.
3. Most over-killed retail item: Cardigans.
4. Best celebrity hair transformation: As soon as Emma Watson finished shooting her last Harry Potter movie, she cut off her locks to sport what I think is the best short pixie cut ever. Absolutely killer.
5. Worst fashion trend: Wearing leggings as pants and I don’t mean jegging type leggings. I mean leggings that look like hosiery and should be worn that way.
6. Best retail assortment: Jeans.
7. Saddest fashion news: The death of genius fashion designer Alexander McQueen.
8. Best retail customer service: It’s a tie between Zappos and Nordstrom.
9. Most improved look retailers: The Loft and the Gap.
10. Best fashion trend: Over the knee boots. From fringe to mainstream and 100% wearable.
11. Worst colour: To quote one of our forum members “soul sucking beige”.
12. Most popular colour: Purple.
13. Most unexpectedly likable silhouette: harem pants and jump suits.
14. Most ironic fashion moment: Me in Crocs.

Onto to an even better year of fashion and style in 2011!

Come January 1^st we’re surrounded by diet talk. Family, friends and colleagues talk about how much they ate over the Holidays, while TV, print and Internet are jam packed with ways to lose the extra poundage that may have accumulated. The beginning of a New Year makes many of us think a little more about our body, our eating plan and our exercise regimen – and advertisers take full advantage of this state of mind.

On the one hand I find the onslaught of diet and exercise related advertising annoying, but I also wonder whether it has a silver lining. Sure, I know the advertisers are generally more interested in their own bottom line than our best interests, but maybe the reminder to get into better shape is a positive thing. Still, I’m pretty sure that 99% of the “get in shape quick” programs are about as effective as the “get rich quick” programs that regularly cheat people out of their money.

Do you reflect about your body and your state of health a little more in January? How are you affected by the media’s relentless messages on how to lose weight, eat healthily and exercise more at this time of year?

Ps. One little irony: as soon as we publish this I predict that some sort of “get in shape quick” ad will appear on this page. This is the marvel of targeted advertising that analyses the content of the page and serves up relevant ads. We have a policy of blocking the ads that we find offensive or questionable, but sometimes they sneak through.