“Fashion-Optional Beaches” The Collaboration of Nudists w/ Fashion
Kurt Lindner Photography
Many questions have been addressed in regards to the methods and reasoning of Blacksbeach.com pertaining to the high-fashion photo shoot taken at San Onofre State Beach last month in collaboration with Bright Lights L.A. One of the examples of comments and concerns we received is that high fashion is a waste of money especially when there is excessive money spent towards dry cleaning. When you go nude, the only costs you have to worry about are for general hygiene products. “Nude fashion” is 5-10 minute shower while “High fashion” is dry cleaning. Another fellow nudist is curious as to what market this fashion shoot is directed towards and if not nudism, what is the purpose of shooting on a nude beach? I am hoping to address all of these concerns and even elaborate to the underlying reasoning of promoting this trend in a “Fashion Optional” era.
Throughout my years as a nudist and even prior, I have been assisting my sister in her productions at Bright Lights L.A. with the knowledge that there is a extreme desire for fashionable promotions in Los Angeles County. It is within these shows, I have learned to develop an understanding and relation of the needs that the designers have to show their products exclusively without worry of excess attire and other name brand clothing. Some of the hoops we had to jump through to do this was usage of body paint, saran wrap, pasties, etc. No matter what additional accessories were used, the creation these designers were proudly displaying had some form of distraction diminishing their goal to show off their work exclusively. Furthermore, designers are discouraged to photograph or model their clothing, while sharing the same aggressions and fears we nudists face on a regular basis, anti-nudity ordinances.
Roadkill "The Recycled Dead"
It was not until the “Roadkill” runway show at the Echo, that I realized the controversy nudity had within the fashion industry. My sister asked me to model topless in this show due to unfortunate circumstances of another model becoming ill. Even though I am not of height requirement for runways, the designers were very appreciative of me taking the role while having a full body golden tan thanks to many days spent at the nude beach. While I was in the backroom getting hair and makeup, it dawned on me how insecure most models are with their own bodies even while gleaming the mirror image of beauty and perfection to most outside viewers. I as well admit to have my own insecurities and do not deem myself perfect by any means; however, I had learned to become comfortable in my own skin by having the prior experience of exposing my image as a whole to the public eyes.
During the fittings, the management of the venue received word that the show was going to be performed topless and threatened to put an end to it unless the nipples were concealed. We luckily overcame this problem by painting the nipples with foundation and continued the show with no further complications.
Kurt Lindner Photography
In relation to the fashion event and the nude beach scenery, I feel it is important for us nudists to be open minded by allowing others to share the same freedoms that we have. Within the L.A. area, it is clearly impossible for designers to show off their products with a semi-nude model in the public environment. For most of us, it is about being nude at its entirety; however, we forget to remember that the most important principle of our nude beach freedom is being comfortable with who we are in our own skin. In general, the only reason for nudists to wear clothing is either for means of protection or simply legal necessity. Although, I do recall a few times when I have comfortably gone to the nude beach and felt like wearing a single article of clothing or two; my pure enjoyment was having the option to be nude.
For many “textiles” I have spoken with, there is an overwhelming sense of intimidation linked to the stereotype of nude beaches where one can only associate the necessity of revealing their body parts at its entirety as nudists. This stereotype can be damaging to the reputation of optional nude recreation. It will be in our best interest to create new relationships with outside interested parties and open up clothing optional beaches to a new realm of nude recreational opportunities. Positive public participation with collaboration can only bring additional support from others willing to fight with us for the cause of maintaining nude beach freedoms for the sake of each individual on a personal level of passion.
Kurt Lindner Photography
For this reason, I am in the process of building a site called “Fashion Optional”. If you are a designer, model or simply enjoy fashion, please send an e-mail to nakedmisstery@blacksbeach.com. Bright Lights L.A. and will be doing photo shoots regularly for designers interested in a naturalistic setting on semi-nude/full nude models. Designers like Road Kill jewelry are highly encouraged as jewelry is a part of fashion. Later on down the line, we are in hopes of putting on a fashion show at a local resort or beach. It is within these fashion shows where the audience will have the freedom to purchase the clothes directly off the models. The best part about all of this…there will be no censorship!
The video footage of the Naked Fashion Photo Shoot is merely directed along the lines of a documentary from the models perspective. Although the producers, photographers and models heard about nude beaches existing in Southern CA, this was their first time ever stepping foot on a nude beach. Shy and intimidated at first, it did not take them long before adapting to the euphoric feelings of peace and independence within our natural environment. One of the models even posed semi-nude for this photo shoot, which would have never been possible should this had taken place at any general public beach.
Since the beginning of nude sunbathing, our nude beaches have been politically labeled as “clothing-optional beaches”; in this day and age, we really should call it “fashion-optional”.
Kurt Lindner Photography
