Photos of Live! Vintage on the Plaza Event

Hey all! This last weekend, we had our very first live model fashion show benefiting the YWCA. It was a success! We hung out during the Plaza Walk with great food from NANI  and our models showed off their stuff to everyone who came to check it out! We were able to raise money to support the YWCA (see our last post to learn more on the organization) all while having a great time. And congratulations to our raffle winners! Those who entered were asked to guess how many small pairs of undies could fit in a H-cup bra. The result was 26 for those of you who were wondering. Anyway, our lovely photographer for the evening, Mason Morrow, got some *great* shots and we wanted to share some of them with you!

Models: Nayelly Salinas, Alaina Hunt, Marin Harper, Carmen Deveraux, Zitta John, Cat Carter, and Becca Johnson

Hair: Allison Henrion

Makeup: Carmen Deveraux

Photos: Mason Morrow

Food/Appetizers: Nani, Colin Stringer & Andon Whitehorn

YWCA Ambassador: Staley Stidham

Managing Coordinator: Ashley Davenport

YWCA Fashion Show

As many of you may know, this weekend, July 11^th, the Ruff Life is hosting a fashion which will be benefiting the YWCA, so what a great opportunity to share some facts about the YWCA and their importance in our community. Established in 1858, the YWCA is not only the largest, but the oldest multicultural women’s organization in the world. Their mission is to not only empower women, but to eliminate racism. The YWCA is important to our community, not only because they provide a safe haven for women and girls who come to them in times of crisis, but because the YWCA also advocates for women’s and civil rights in Congress. With over 25 million members spread over 106 countries, the YWCA certainly has the power and the means to reach out to women in many communities.

      The YWCA offers job training, counseling, child-care, health and fitness services. One thing is for certain, no matter what women come for, they leave with a set of new skills, and a stronger self.

       The YWCA is the only certified center to provide services and programs to victims of domestic violence, stalking and sexual assault. Their domestic violence services include: housing victims of sexual assault and domestic abuse, which includes providing shelter, legal services, transportation, medical care and child care for up to two months. Currently, the YWCA is the center that provides shelter for battered women and children in Oklahoma County. They also offer transitional housing, crisis services, Domestic Violence Victim Assistance Program (DVVAP), counseling and community groups, a children’s counseling program, and Prevention Education and Economic Empowerment Program (EEP).

            Sexual assault services include providing support for victims of sexual assault, hospital advocacy and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).  The YWCA has a 24 hour rape crisis hotline, and have hospital advocates that are on call 24 hours a day to provide emotional support, advocacy and counseling. These services are offered at hospitals, police stations, and in the legal system.

        The YWCA is so important because every year upwards of 10 million children are exposed to domestic violence at home, between 30%-60% of children in households with domestic abuse are directly abused, thus causing problems with youth as they grow up, causing them to be more likely to follow these patterns of abuse, be at a higher risk of death, and face more hurdles with succeeding in life and school. One of the reasons women in domestic abuse and sexual assault situations stay in relationships with their abuser is because they lack the financial independence and means to escape the situation. The YWCA offers help and support to these women and children by helping them get back on their feet through job training, counseling and support. Without the help of the YWCA and their services many women would be stuck in these less than ideal situations and continue to put not only themselves, but their children at risk.

            One question many people have is, ‘how can I help?” the YWCA accepts donations online, through several options: a one time gift, making a pledge to monthly donations, or making a gift in honor of someone special, all of these options are available online on their website. You can also mail your gift to their OKC location:

YWCA Oklahoma City
2460 NW 39th Street
Oklahoma City, OK 73112

You can also donate stocks or other securities to the YWCA, or use planned giving to

Include the YWCA in your will as a beneficiary and more complex trust arrangements.

Donation information:

https://www.kintera.org/site/c.7oJELRPuFgJYG/b.8087319/k.2CD8/Donate_Now/apps/ka/sd/donor.asp?c=7oJELRPuFgJYG&b=8087319&en=buJLK0MHJaKUIaOKL9KRK6MULuIYK2MQKjLULcOVInKZIdPXJyF

or contact Nicole Wright, Director of Development
405-948-1770 

To volunteer visit the YWCA volunteer page at: http://www.ywcaokc.org/site/c.7oJELRPuFgJYG/b.8087309/k.FABE/Volunteer.htm

To visit or use YWCA services, Oklahoma has 3 locations which are:

YWCA Enid                             

2460 NW 39th St 
Oklahoma City , OK 73112-8956
Phone:405 948-1770
Fax: 405-943-7177
URL: www.ywcaokc.org

YWCA Oklahoma City
525 S Quincy St 
Enid , OK 73701-5456
Phone:580 234-7581
Fax: 580-234-1284
URL: www.ywcaenid.com

YWCA Tulsa
1910 S Lewis Ave Ste 200 
Tulsa , OK 74104-5724
Phone:918 587-2100
Fax: 918-587-0277
URL: www.ywcatulsa.org

The Oklahoma 24 hour Domestic Violence Hotline is: 405-917-9922

The Oklahoma 24 hour Sexual Assault Hotline is: 405-943-7273

All information in this blog post was found on the YWCA OKC website: http://www.ywcaokc.org

LIVE! Vintage on the Plaza

Join us at the Ruff Life for free hors d'oeuvres, drinks, and fun! We are having a live model vintage fashion show to benefit the YWCA. 15% of all proceeds go to YWCA. There will also be a raffle with prizes from the shop! Can't wait to see you there! Did we mention there is no admission fee? Yep, it's free! So come and go as you please! 7pm- 10pm July 11th!

Wearable Slips

Wearable Slips by therufflifeokc featuring black boots

AG Adriano Goldschmied vest
stylebop.com

TWIN SET Lingerie black lingerie
$110 - yoox.com

Rick Owens black boots
ssense.com

Forever New long necklace
$22 - forevernew.com.au

A Historical Timeline of the Thong

I enjoy a good boyshort or hipster, but thongs and pasties have my heart. Both thongs and pasties sprung forward as a clever legal loophole. Perhaps more titillating, both have the ability to be more provocative than 'obscenity' the laws were meant to prohibit. We'll talk pasties another time, but for now, I present my tribute to the beloved and despised thong. 

The thong is though to have originated from an adaptation of the loin cloth, a traditionally male garment developed to protect men's more delicate parts. While versions of the loin cloth may be found Egyptian, Greek, Roman, African or Japanese history, the modern thong has a more concrete raise to fame.

In 1939, shortly before the World's Fair in New York City, New York mayor Fiorello LaGuardia required nude dancers to cover their genitals. Most articles regarding 'thong history' (there are not many) cite LaGuardia as the creator and this as the origin of the women's thong.  The idea being the thong was borne from LaGuardia's regulations, as the bare minimum to meet these standards.

Tsk, tsk, do not mistake cause for effect. Perhaps LaGuardia instituted regulations leading to the creation of the thong, but the creators of the thong (and pasties for that matter) were the ingenious young women and promoters associated with burlesque.

Furthermore, I am suspicious that thongs and g-strings originated in 1939. In 1941, The G-String Murders, a novel by Gypsy Rose Lee, was published. Perhaps the publishing industry was wildly efficient, and Gypsy was a exceptionally quicker author.

Geinrich's thong. Male version included for your viewing pleasure.

Outside of burlesque, early pornography and stripping, the thong did not gain attention until 1974, when Rudi Gernreich developed the first thong bathing suit. Gernreich allegedly hoped it would work as a solution for American women seeking to create the cultured, European sensation of a nude beach.

Above shown, Reard's bikini. Louis Reard invented the first bikini in 1946. While not called a thong, there is probably sufficient butt cheek (whatever that is) to qualify. No model will wear it, so he had to hire a Parisian stripper, Michelle Bernadini.

Brazil also claims to have invented the thong bikini around the same time as Gernreich, but as it was called a tanga, some confusion exists.

Thong sales were available throughout the 80s but were most visible as bodysuits, leotards and teddies. The cardio and diet crazes of the 80s often pictured fit models in thong leotards over leggings. During the same time, Fredericks of Hollywood mass-marketed lace teddies with thongs.

1980s Fredericks of Hollywood teddy.

 From the revelations that Monica Lewinsky flashed her thong to President Clinton in 1998 to the 1999 Sisqo classic, The Thong Song, thong fame hit record heights at the turn of the 21st century. Shortly thereafter, thongs went...awry. The popularity of super low jeans made 'whale tail's' a mainstay at every suburban mall. Christina Aguilera's VMA appearance with high g-strings as focal point. Abercrombie & Fitch's thongs for tweens debacle in 2002.

One of many of Abercrombie's mistakes.

Oh, honey...

Though thong sales are still steady, current attitudes appear to be based on personal preference and desire to avoid panty lines rather than a mass trend.

VPL

P.S. You never know what the future holds. Rihanna, Lady Gaga, and Miley Cyrus have all performed recently in them.

7 Reasons Masturbation Matters

May is National Masturbation Month, and today, May 7th, is International Masturbation Day. In 1995, this honor was created by Good Vibrations shop to destigmatize the infamous solo sport. In case you're fuzzy about the events at that time, in 1994, President Clinton fired his Surgeon General Joycelyn Elders after she suggested masturbation being included in sex education programs.
 
In the early 1800s, Rev. Sylvester Graham rallied against masturbation and hoped to alleviate the world of this "self-abuse" through dietary measures. His Graham Diet consisted of a bland vegetarian diet, and most notably, introduced a special bland cracker to calm those unsavory urges, the Graham cracker. Following Rev. Graham's death in the mid 19th century, Dr. John Harvey Kellogg followed suit by creating Corn Flakes.These anti-masturbation efforts are down right charming compared to many so-called solutions for these urges, from steel chastity belts to the application of carbolic acid.

In light of this history, we feel quite strongly about masturbation at The Ruff Life, and here's why:

1. Masturbation also gives you a chance to understand your body. Whether you use toys or your hands, self-love provides a safe environment to determine what you enjoy.

2. Masturbation releases endorphins and dopamine, which are beneficial for pain management, stress relief, and relaxation.

3. Masturbation can relieve cramps by increasing the blood flood to your pelvis. 

4. Masturbation helps you keep your sex drive up. Apparently, the old adage "use it or lose it" rings true.

5. Recent studies found women who masturbate regularly have a higher resistance to yeast infections.

6. Knowing how to get yourself off can help you tell your partner how to as well.

7. On a similar note, if only one partner orgasms, toys can make up the difference.  We see many couples buying toys together, because it is a fun way to relieve the pressure of worrying about whether a partner is satisfied. Women generally take longer to orgasm than men, so extra time prior to penetrative sex can be make up for this disconnect.

 XOXO,
The Ruff Life