Here’s the video from the Health Care Reform Fashion Show from Sunday, September 13. We’re sending it to the Obama Administration so they can see our support!
And here are photos of the successful show. We handed out 50 free Health Care Reform buttons and 25 pairs of Obama earrings, collected over 100 signatures on our letter of support, sold a bunch of Health Care Reform designs, and overall had a great time. For more photos, see my flickr album or facebook album.
Thanks everyone for participating or coming out to support Health Care Reform! How’s that debate on the Public Option going, Congress? Not so great?
Rockefeller, Schumer and likeminded liberal senators begrudgingly acknowledge the votes are not there in the committee for the public option.
But they intend to force their colleagues to take a stand on the issue and possibly face the wrath of powerful interests such as labor unions and grassroots liberal activists.
The vehemence of support for the public option among liberals can hardly be overstated. Rockefeller summed up that view on Thursday when he said, “A healthcare plan without a public option is not much of a healthcare plan.”
Schumer declared that he and likeminded liberals would triumph in the end. “The healthcare bill that is signed into law by the president will have a good, strong, robust public option,” he said.
More votes on the public option are promised once the bill hits the Senate floor.
The issue will then become a headache for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) instead of Baucus.
Before a healthcare bill even reaches the Senate floor, Reid will have to decide whether to abide by the Finance Committee position (no public option) or the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee position (strong public option).
Reid sent a clear signal that he is prepared to compromise on Thursday.
Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe’s (Maine), a crucial swing vote, has proposed establishing a “trigger” for the public option that would be pulled in markets with insufficient private competition. During a conference call with Nevada reporters, Reid described the trigger as a “pretty doggone good idea,” according to the Las Vegas Sun.
“My first choice is a public option, because I think it will create competition and make the insurance companies more honest,” Reid said. “My No. 2 choice is the trigger that Snowe talked about.” A trigger would be preferable to co-ops, Reid indicated.
I’m awfully skeptical of this trigger business. Especially because Nancy Pelosi says it’s “an excuse for not doing anything.” Why can’t these Republicans and the Blue Dogs just get on board? Even Bill O’Reilly supports a Public Option…
Call your senators! Tell them to vote FOR the Public Option so I can get Health Insurance! And call Senator Schumer to thank him: Charles Schumer (212) 486-4430. Say: I HOPE WE GET A GOOD, STRONG, ROBUST PUBLIC OPTION TOO, MR. SCHUMER. KEEP FIGHTING!
After breaking my collarbone and not having health insurance to cover my $1,500 of medical bills, I’ve become obsessed with health insurance reform. I support Obama’s Health Care Plan WITH a strong public option, so to show my support, AuH2O and TEICH are hosting a Health Care Reform Fashion Show for Fashion Week. Here are the details:
Where: Outside AuH2O and TEICH (84 E. 7th Street b/t 1st and 2nd aves)- Sidewalk Runway!
When: Sunday, September 13, 5pm
What: Models in Health Care Reform and Public Option shirts and dresses
FREE Health Care Reform buttons
FREE Obama earrings for the first 25 people!
There will be a table where we will be handing out info on Obama’s plan and why we’re in favor of it. We’ll provide information on how to call your senators and encourage them to vote for it, and we’ll have a letter of support everyone is welcome to sign that we’ll send to the President.
Models will be walking in AuH2O for Health Care Reform tops and dresses, carrying bags by TEICH, and wearing jewelry by LaureLuxe. Also, my intern who’s taken amazing care of me and the store during my broken-boned state, Alexa Stark, will be showing her eco-friendly designs as well. AuH2O for Health Care Reform tops and dresses are hand stenciled and made from old clothing, as always. Shirts will be available for $20 and dresses will be $40, and the proceeds will go to paying my medical expenses and hopefully getting insurance in the future!
And here’s the Nolita mini clutch by TEICH, who was just in this past issue of Oprah’s magazine! Check out the article: Cushy Clutches:
Here’s a few pieces by LaureLuxe, a line of handmade metal jewelry by Laurel Mae DeWitt sold at AuH2O.
Also, there will be a live band and a DJ! The Curtana Veil, which is Ryan Kanterman, David Kaplan, and Chris Wall, will play a few songs (see video below of my favorite song) and Avi Flombaum will DJ the fashion show.
So come out on Sunday, September 13th to support Health Care Reform and celebrate Fashion Week!
Here’s what I did over the most historic weekend of my life:
Here’s me with my friend Pat Reis who hosted me. He’s one of my best friends from high school and one of the funniest people I know. He said all the tourists walking the mall this weekend were really going to ruin his fields for Spring soccer; I thought that was hysterical but he wasn’t joking. We walked the mall for awhile anyway, and we saw THE MOST AMAZING SIGN held by a religious fanatic:
In case you can’t see the words, it says “Beware: Baby Killing Women, Porno Freaks, Sports Nuts, Drunks, Homos, Jesus Mockers, Mormons, Judgment Coming.” Of course, I asked for someone to take our photo with us pretending to hold the sign. We thought it was especially interesting that “Mormons” made it onto the list of sinners, and Pat put it well, “There’s probably about 10 people here in this city right now that agree with them, and three of them are Mormons.” Why would they want to alienate them? We thought team hate would probably want to stick together. But what do we know, we’re just some baby killers and sports nuts. Then, we went to one of Pat’s favorite places, the Botanic Gardens:
We tried to go to a Wisconsin “breakfast” (it was from 2-5, but I’d slept in until noon that day, so I considered it breakfast. Pat had been up since 7:30 for work so he wasn’t amused.) Unfortunately the lines were too long and we’re pretty impatient people, so we just called it a day and went back to his house. We stopped by the African American Civil War Monument on the way:
Then we went out for delicious Ethiopian food on U Street, and later to a party and to some bars in Adam’s Morgan. Not trying to be cliche, but I really did feel such great positive energy and some sort of connection to everyone. One guy I met worked on the campaign in Pennsylvania and lives in New York, and quoted the Onion article about how our country was finally shitty enough to make social progress, and I knew these were my kind of people.
Sunday night after the concert at the mall, I played tourist with Shannon and Jill. We saw the monuments at night, Lincoln, Washington, and especially the new World War Two Memorial which we agreed was a little bit much with all the eagles and “Victory” engravings everywhere. Definitely built during the Bush administration. I’m very glad we won WWII and all, but still, there’s an excessive amount of eagles. Then we headed out to Dupont Circle and had a great dinner at a little French restaurant where five people bought Obama earrings right out of my ears. I always feel a little sleazy about that… “Oh, you like these earrings? Well, I happen to have ten pairs in my bag! And in five different designs! Look at that!” But what can I do? Everyone wants to wear Obama gear.
On our way to Jill’s sister Chrissy’s bar, Red Rocks, we swung by Krispee Kreme and Jill asked me to order a free abortion donut. I didn’t know what that meant, but I like donuts, especially free ones, so I went ahead and asked. Here’s Jill’s transcript:
Kate: Hi. Can I have a free abortion donut please?
Krispy Kreme Dude: Uh… a what?
Kate: A free abortion donut. I heard you were giving them out.
Krispy Kreme Dude: Abortion donuts?
Kate: Yeah. For the inauguration. Free abortion donuts.
Krispy Kreme Dude: Abortion donuts? Did you have an abortion?
Kate: No. But I think if I did, I would probably want a donut.
Then Jill explained to me and the Krispee Kreme dude how Krispee Kreme was offering free donuts on inauguration day and had put out a press release using the word “choice” so The American Life League got all up in arms:
“Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (NYSE: KKD) is honoring American’s sense of pride and freedom of choice on Inauguration Day, by offering a free doughnut of choice to every customer on this historic day, Jan. 20. By doing so, participating Krispy Kreme stores nationwide are making an oath to tasty goodies — just another reminder of how oh-so-sweet ‘free’ can be.”
The American Life League got upset about this and asked their supporters to protest Krispee Kreme’s “abortion donuts.” Ridiculous. Read this post up at Feministe to learn more. Needless to say, I went back on inauguration day and got my free abortion donut.
Monday night I didn’t go to any inauguration balls, and honestly balls aren’t really my thing, I’m into dive bars and house parties anyway- not just saying that because I wasn’t invited to any! Though my friend PJ had a “creative black tie” ball at his apartment, and this guy was wearing a tie made out of a plastic Obama banner. If I worked at a shmancy office/firm, or went to private school like Constance Billard, I would copy his idea and wear this every day.
Here’s a Metro ticket with Obama’s face on it. So awesome. Also, why are the DC Metros SO clean? And they tell you when they’re coming, and they run every few minutes! But they stop running at midnight. Even on their busiest night arguably ever in history (Monday evening,) they stopped running at 2. While waiting at the platform, Pat asked me, “So, what’s your plan for tomorrow?” and I said, “I’m going to the inauguration.” He was like, “Oh, right, you think you’re going to the inauguration tomorrow.” What a jerk. He didn’t think I could wake up in time. I sure showed him.
I got up at 10am, left his apartment and walked/ran the 45 minutes there since I’d heard the Metro would take hours. Getting through the thousands people wasn’t easy. I didn’t have any purple or blue or any color tickets (which was fine by me, really,) so I didn’t have to wait to go through security. All I had to do was maneuver my way over to the far end of the mall, but there sure were some crowds in the streets.
I finally made it in the back end of the mall, just in time for the swearing in. I found my new favorite protester of the day holding a sign that told me I wanted change not with Obama but with Jesus. Please note that he’s wearing a “Turn to Jesus or Burn in Hell” sweatshirt . Good thing I got that Christmas tree this year, maybe now JC has my back.
Here was my view of the inaugural address. I was pretttty far back, but all I wanted was a jumbo tron and to be near my 2 million pals. My favorite parts of the speech were when he gave a little shout-out to nonbelievers, when he said our country should be known for what we can build, not what we can deconstruct, and that it’s not about how big or small government is, it’s whether or not it works. So true. And this is what really got me in tears, along with everyone else around me:
“a man whose father less than 60 years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.”
I just can’t stop crying every time I think about how amazing that is.
Anyway, after the most moving 20-something minutes of my 20-something years, I went to the Brightest Young Things Inauguration Party held at Bohemian Caverns. It was an all day and all night event full of DJs, live bands, burlesque acts, comedians, and sponsored by Colt 45. I was there to party, duh, but also to sell my AuH2O Obama shirts, dresses and earrings. Here’s my little booth:
I was lucky enough to be selling next to the free cupcakes. They were so incredibly delicious and I want her to bake for all my future fashion shows. Here’s Rebekah Calo of Sweet December
Huge thanks to Libby Ellsworth-Kasch. Libby hooked me up with this party so I could sell my Obama stuff. Much appreciated! Do yourself a favor and read Libby’s posts on Brightest Young Things EVERY DAY. They’re hilarious and interesting. I live for her “Rise and Shine” posts where she gives a daily round-up of must-visit links. For example, she turned me on to this gem: Guess what I did last night?
Jeanne Brooks, a customer, wearing her AuH2Obama dress she just bought
Another customer in her AuH2Obama purchase. Photography by Dakota Fine: www.dakotafine.com
Finally, the party ended, it was 4am, and I had a 5:15 bus to take back to New York. I tried to go to Ben’s Chili but it was closed, and nowhere else was open for me to eat or hang for an hour. The subways don’t run until 5am, but I figured maybe I could at least go sit there and read (don’t worry, I have mase) to at least stay warm, but they were gated off. Shit. Right outside the subway, there were two guys standing talking, and I complained to them about the subways not running and nothing was open and what am I going to do for an hour and fifteen minutes until I have to catch my bus? They said that I could hang out with them and I did for awhile, learned that one of the guys, Carlos, was born and raised in DC, and Winston was from “all over this beautiful country” but goes to school in Atlanta. He was from Harlem and knew all about “Clinton Hill where they keep it ill” (where I live.) When they offered to walk me to my bus stop, I said “I don’t know… I don’t think that’s a good idea…” and Winston said “Why not? Cause we’re black?” And I said, “No, come on. Because I’m a woman and you’re guys and it’s 4am. It’s just hard to trust anyone.” He said “Alright, well we can’t trust you any more than you can trust us, you know.” He was right. On this night, he was right. They were good guys here to celebrate Obama’s inauguration, just like me. They were stuck outside after the bars closed at 4am, leaving tomorrow to go back home, just like me. Any other time I would have thought to myself, “This isn’t safe, you can’t just walk through the street with two guys you’ve never met,” but not on this night. I was going to trust these guys. And I did, and it felt wonderful. They ended up walking me exactly where I needed to go and I made my 5am bus back to the city. We exchanged information, I googled and facebooked them, and it turns out Winston Shaw is something of a poet. “Almost a Poet” to be exact, which is the title of his book available on amazon. Well done, slim. Keep in touch, okay?
To view all of my photos of the weekend, check my flickr set: “Inauguration, baby”
And Obama’s been in office for what, five days, and he’s already ending torture and shutting down Guantanamo, reversing the Global Gag rule so women overseas can have access to health care and family planning services, regulating emissions standards and proving he’s true to his word on climate change, and keeping things grassroots so the people who got him this far by twittering, blogging, and making clothing with his face on it (okay, that wasn’t mentioned) can still be involved. I could not be happier.
Finally, here’s a video of Obama dancing. I wasn’t at any of the balls, but if I were, I think he and I would make a good team on the dance floor. We both bounce a lot and take big steps. He’s definitely better than me, but I think there’s a resemblance.
AuH2O is in this week’s TONY for our Obama merchandise! Pick up a copy today or read it online here. Thanks Michael Ventura for a great article. Earrings are $7-$25, shirts are $10-$20, and dresses are $35-$45, so stop into the shop to get Obama-ed out for your inauguration party, or check out the online store. Speaking of the inauguration, heck yeah I’m going to DC! I just got the invite from the “Presidential Inauguration Committee” in the mail and I couldn’t be more excited. I’m sure they send it to everyone who donated, but I still felt really special. Thanks, Mr. Obama. Yes, I’ll be there. Just for you.
I’m going to be there all weekend, baby. I plan to sell my AuH2Obama designs at some bars in Dupont Circle and Adam’s Morgan the first nights, then am going to spend the actual inauguration day and night at this sweet party thrown by my friend Libby Ellsworth-Kasch and Brightest Young Things. If you don’t have plans for the day of (other than going to the National mall, of course) come to this party, it should be awwwwesome. Email me if you want to meet up in DC or have any recommendations for me: kate -at- auh2odesigns -dot- com. SO EXCITED!
Obviously I’m joking, but since I took so long to post these, I’ll make up for it by putting up a bunch. Here are finally some photos from the last AuH2Obama fashion show from October 23 at Kabin:
Before the show:
Group shot at Jill’s apartment before the show (left to right): Rachel Northrop, Kate Goldwater, Pauline Ma, Jill Filipovic, Jolanda Porter, Carmen Ongsiako
Group shot 2 (back row): Nydia Parries, Elyse Piker, Liz Gillroy, jewelry designer Patricia Alonzo, Jeremy Green, Alice Forbes Spear (front row) Marie Asinovski, Marcia Robiou
Getting ready- Me, Dana Tarasavage, lovely intern Antonia Kuyumji, and general manager Helen Frank (photography by Gianni Cipriano - www.giannicipriano.com)
Jamia Wilson and Alice Forbes Spear (photography by Gianni Cipriano - www.giannicipriano.com)
Rachel Northrop and Dana Tarasavage
And now for the Runway show:
Leanne Linsky
Jill Filipovic wearing a “VDAY: Until the Violence Stops” dress
Anika Paris (this top still available at my online store!)
Marcia Robiou
Sam Mehlman in the collection walk
Me with jewelry designer Patricia Alonzo- her stuff was beautiful and went with the AuH2Obama dresses so well. The dress I’m wearing is still available online here for $35 and all Obama earrings pictured are online as well for only $7, just in time for Holiday shopping. Happy Hanukkah!
Great news! Our iReport video “Fashion For Change” about the Oct. 2 AuH2Obama show has been selected as a FINALIST! Please click on this link and vote for ours (top row, 4th from the right) so we can be on Anderson Cooper:
UPDATE: WE WERE CHOSEN AS SEMIFINALISTS! Keep your fingers crossed that we’ll be on Anderson Cooper!
AND… with the election just a few weeks away, AuH2O is hosting a third and final fashion show fundraiser for Obama on Friday, October 24. The past two AuH2Obama shows were so successful that I just had to have one more before the 4th. This show will be at KABIN in the East Village, 92 2nd Avenue, at 10pm.
As in the previous AuH2Obama shows, all models will walk the runway in Obama wear. We’ll be selling Obama tops for only $20 and dresses for $40 (50% of the profits going to the campaign.) And as always, we’ll be handing out free Obama buttons, stickers, and window signs. Grab a bunch and send them to your family and friends in swing states!
There is no cover charge for the show, drinks will be only $4- beer, wine, and well. Cupcakes will be for sale for $1, and any additional donations will go to the campaign. We will feature the jewelry of Patricia Alonzo, who will also be selling her pieces and donating a percentage to the campaign. The show will start at 10pm, DJ’ed by Avi Flombaum and featuring hot models:
Mona Asinovski
Hilary Blasco
Alana Corbett
Margaret Fasolo
Jill Filipovic
Elizabeth Gillroy
Jesse Greenblatt
Sarah Hyde
Rachel Kay
Antonia Kuyumji
Malorie Leogrande
Lauren Lewis
Leanne Linsky
Pauline Ma
Rachel McKinney
Sam Mehlman
Rachel Northrop
Carmen Ongsiako
Anika Paris
Nydia Parries
Elyse Piker
Jolanda Porter
Annie Raso
Rachel Rosen
Marcia Robiou
Valeria Smith
Alice Forbes Spear
Dana Tarasavage
Jamia Wilson
Here’s the info again:
Where: KABIN, 92 2nd Avenue (b/t 5th and 6th streets)
F to 2nd Ave, walk five blocks North
When: Friday, October 24, 10pm
The Second AuH2Obama show was as successful as the first! Thanks to Avi Flombaum, Hilary Blasco, Rachel Kay, Helen Frank, Alice Shyy and Donatella Quintavalle for jewelry, all the models, everyone who came out, and special thanks to my AMAZING new interns Antonia Kuyumji, Caitlyn Leary, and Leigh Peterson. Having interns is the greatest thing to ever happen to me- makes my life so much easier. And also, they’re really damn cool.
Still in the mail are professional photos from my favorite photographer, Bridgette Auger, but here are a few from my digital camera the meantime. See more on in my flickr site:
Morgan Roberts, Valeria Smith, Lia Stone, Namrata Singh
Dana Tarasavage, Rachel Goldman, Kaitlyn Large
Alex Tsocanos and Cameron Cole giving us an “08″
Rachel Northrop in an AuH2Obama SKIRT
Jill Bee, Elena Cohen, and Annie Raso (Annie in her own Obama creation!)
Valeria Smith in a “I <3 Pro-Choice NY & Obama” top
Hilary Blasco (dress made by Annie Raso)
Sarah Hyde
Rachel Kay in an AuH2Obama/Brett Favre jersey dress
and finally…
… Cameron Cole showing off the Obama shorts
Though a bunch of these items have already sold at the show or in the store, there are several more online at my etsy store www.auh2odesigns.etsy.com and some at AuH2O. If there’s something you like that you don’t see online, MAYBE it’s available at the shop, but I can’t promise that. Send me an email and if still I have it, I’ll hold it for you or mail it out to you: kate -at- auh2odesigns -dot- com.
And can anyone believe this bail-out business? I know we need to do SOMETHING, but I’m not sure putting 700 billion in the hands of those who caused this problem is the answer. I’m no economics expert, but this article in the Times bothered me, especially this part:
Treasury officials do not plan to manage the mortgage assets on their own. Instead, they will outsource nearly all of the work to professionals, who will oversee huge portfolios of bonds and other securities for a management fee.
The Treasury is expected to name a senior official to supervise the program. For now, various working groups creating the program are reporting directly to Henry M. Paulson Jr., the Treasury secretary.
Mr. Paulson has recruited several former colleagues from Goldman Sachs to advise him, though administration officials took pains to say that they were not dominating the process, pointing to other Treasury employees who were playing major roles.
I don’t like the words “outsource” or “management fee” or even “Goldman Sachs” in that context. But what do I know? I just make clothes. But clothes that people wear and remind others to vote Obama, at least.
In a few days, AuH2O will be celebrating its 2-year anniversary! I’ve been open now for almost TWO years. Pretty exciting. In honor of this, Obama kicking ass in the debate last night, and the success of the last AuH2Obama fashion show, we’re having another this Thursday, October 2 at LUNASA on 1st Avenue between 7th and St. Marks. It will take place directly after the VP debate!
All models will wear AuH2Obama wear down the runway, I’ll be selling Obama tops for only $20 (guys and girls, 50% going to the campaign) and handing out free Obama buttons, stickers, window signs, and VOTER REGISTRATION FORMS as the deadline to vote in New York is approaching: October 10th. I know you’re already registered, but you can grab a bunch and bring them to work or hand them out wherever.
There is no cover charge for the show and drinks will be $5- beer, house wine, and well drinks, and any donations will go to the campaign. The show will start at 9pm, get there early to get a good spot!
What: AuH2Obama Fashion Show
Where: LUNASA
126 1st Avenue b/t 7th and St. Marks
When: Thursday, October 2, 9pm
Who:
25 Hot models:
Afruz Amighi
Meghan Asha
Annabel Auger
Jill Bea
Lindsey Blank
Elena Cohen
Cameron Cole
Rachel Gold
Sarah Hyde
Bri Johnson
Rachel Kay
Fiona Korwin-Pawlowski
Kaitlin Large
Lauren Lewis
Leanne Linsky
Rachel Northrop
Annie Raso
Annelle Sheline
Sarah Simon
Namrata Singh
Val Smith
Najva Soleimani
Lia Stone
Christie Rentas
Dana Tarasavage
…and DJed by Avi Flombaum.
There will also be vegan cupcakes by Bitchin Vegan Kitchen for sale, all proceeds going to the campaign.
Hope to see you there!
ALSO- I will be selling AuH2Obama tops at a Beers For Barack event this Monday, September 29th at D.B.A.- 41 E. 1st Avenue b/t 2nd and 3rd street. D.B.A. has donated two kegs, so all the proceeds from the drinks will go directly to the Obama-Biden campaign. The fundraiser starts at 6pm and goes til around 10. Come by if you’re in the area and forward to friends!
Thanks everyone who came out to the AuH2Obama show last Thursday! The show was a huge success with 21 beautiful models (plus one adorable dog,) an amazing DJ, delicious cupcakes from Bitchin Vegan Kitchen, 17 AuH2Obama shirt and dress sales, and over 100 people in attendance who went home with free buttons and stickers. Not to mention the event was filmed by the Associated Press, and once I get the video, I’ll post that here as well. Thanks so much to all the models, Hilary Blasco and Rachel Kay for hair and make-up, and Cafe 81 for being a great venue.
Here’s the breakdown of the money raised:
$45 in online donations
$20 door donations
$50 in cupcake sales
$380 in AuH2Obama shirt and dress sales, $190 (50%) to the campaign
TOTAl: $305 to Obama (that’s MY form of community organizing, donations made in honor of Sarah Palin)
Because the show was such a success, I’m going to have another AuH2Obama show October 2nd with new outfits and new models to raise even more for the campaign. No location has been set yet, but hold that date: Thursday, October 2nd at 9pm. Depending on how well that goes, there may be one more Thursday, October 23 too. If so, that show will have a liquor sponsor and that would obviously be awesome.
Below are a few photos from the show. See more on in my flickr site.
Some stills before the show:
Elena Cohen and Leanne Linsky
Lindsey Blank
Alex Tsocanos and Valeria Smith
Annie Raso and me (in AuH2Obama and Donatella Quintavalle Obama ring)
Chloe in AuH2Obama dog dress
Lia Stone on the runway
Dana Tarasavage in “Wholesome Midwestern Girl for OBAMA”
Anika Paris
Cameron Cole
Lauren Lewis and me at the end of the collection walk
Also, I received a bunch of emails from out-of-staters who were interested in purchasing AuH2Obama wear but couldn’t come to the show. So, I’m finally starting up an online store on etsy: www.auh2odesigns.etsy.com. The only problem is- I’m going home to Wisconsin tomorrow, so I won’t be able to manage and ship orders until next week. Therefore, I won’t be listing anything until Wednesday, September 24. So please check back then! Those of you who really, really like AuH2O or live in Florida, Ohio, Virginia or another battleground state can email me if you’d like to have a look at items before I post them online- you have TOP priority. PLEASE wear Obama stuff all up in everyone’s swing-state faces.
