The Latest on R. Kelly and Spotify (all times local):

3:45 p.m.

R. Kelly's management is criticizing Spotify for removing the superstar's songs from its playlists and algorithmic recommendations.

A statement sent to The Associated Press on Thursday says R. Kelly is innocent of allegations he sexually abused women over the years. He was acquitted of child pornography charges in 2008.

Spotify has announced a new policy on hate content and hateful conduct and says Kelly's alleged behavior falls under that policy.

Kelly's team says that the artist has only promoted love in his music and says Spotify is acting on "false and unproven allegations" and notes that other artists on the service have been accused or convicted of crimes. It calls the decision "shortsighted."

10:11 a.m.

Spotify has removed R. Kelly's music from its playlists, citing its new policy on hate content and hateful conduct.

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A spokesperson on Thursday said Kelly's music is no longer available on the streaming service's owned and operated playlists and algorithmic recommendations. His music will still be available, but Spotify will not actually promote it.

The new policy defines hateful conduct as "something that is especially harmful or hateful," such as violence against children and sexual violence.

Spotify says it doesn't censor content because of an artist's behavior. But the service wants programs to "reflect" its values. It says when an artist does something harmful or hateful, it may affect the ways it works with the artist.

Kelly has long been the target of sexual misconduct allegations, which he has denied.

Kelly's representative didn't immediately respond to an email seeking comment.

The Latest on President Donald Trump's rally in Indiana with Vice President Mike Pence (all times local):

8:35 p.m.

President Donald Trump is taking on Indiana's Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly, branding him "Sleepin' Joe" and a "swamp person" at a rally in Elkhart, Indiana.

Trump assailed Donnelly on Thursday, two days after Republicans nominated former state lawmaker Mike Braun to challenge the vulnerable Democratic in November. It's expected to be one of the most competitive Senate campaigns.

Trump says Donnelly will "do whatever Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi tell him to do" and "say one thing in Elkhart," and then support the "radical, liberal agenda."

Before the rally, Donnelly's campaign said the senator had voted with Trump 62 percent of the time "because he works for Hoosiers, not any politician or political party."

Trump's political advisers see the rally as a way to project party unity following a bruising primary.

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7:55 p.m.

President Donald Trump is declaring America "rockin'" as he kicks off a campaign rally in Elkhart, Indiana.

Trump on Thursday talked up the economy and his accomplishments, telling a rowdy audience that the "great news keeps rolling in."

He says he doesn't think "we've ever done better as a country." He says, "We making America proud. We are rockin.'"

Trump is also warning of the potential consequences of Democratic wins in the midterms in November that threaten to derail his agenda in Congress.

He says he's making strides like never before, but that can disappear if voters elect "fools" into office.

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7:30 p.m.

Vice President Mike Pence is praising President Donald Trump's leadership at a rally in his home state of Indiana.

Pence, the state's former governor, in introducing the president in Elkhart on Thursday. He says Trump has kept his campaign promises and is embracing his leadership role on the world stage.

Pence says the president is making progress on North Korea and bringing home three Americans who were held there. He notes that the U.S. is pulling out of the "disastrous" Iran nuclear deal and opening up the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem.

The vice president is blasting Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana. He says when Trump asked him to support his tax overhaul or his plan to end the Affordable Care Act, "Joe voted no." Pence says Donnelly's Republican opponent, Mike Braun "will stand" with Trump.

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12:20 a.m.

President Donald Trump is returning to his campaign roots with big-stage events allowing him to target vulnerable Senate Democrats and mobilize his most fervent supporters on behalf of Republicans.

Trump is set to rally supporters in Elkhart, Indiana, on Thursday night, two days after state Republicans nominated former state lawmaker Mike Braun to challenge vulnerable Democratic U.S. Sen. Joe Donnelly.

Trump's political advisers view the event as a way to project party unity following a bruising primary between Braun and two Indiana Republican congressmen. Home-state Vice President Mike Pence will also attend the rally.

Trump has told advisers he is eager to ramp up his campaign travel on behalf of Republicans.

Jordan Brand‘s fall slate of releases are starting to surface and this new Jordan 12 colorway, set to drop September 8th and part of the upcoming “International Pack”, boasts unique and intricate detailing that has connection to Japan. At first glance, the shoe is a simple navy blue Jordan 12 with white accents, but if you look closely you’ll see that there’s more to this shoe than first meets the eye as the navy suede upper features a debossed traditional floral prints, while the white mudguard is constructed of a scaly textured material for even more contrast. Additionally, Japanese lettering can be seen on the heel as well as on the inner linings of the shoe. The Air Jordan 12 was indeed partly inspired by the Japanese flag, so the connection here is quite clear. Be sure to keep it locked here for updates on Jordan Brand’s fall slate of releases, and check out this recently-unveiled pair of Jordan 3’s, another part of the “International Pack”.

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Air Jordan 12 “International Pack”

Release Date: September 8, 2018

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Vikram’s post on the value of brand dilution lead to a discussion on clothing and cost. As OT’s resident fashionista, Jaybird gently baited me with this comment:

Let’s say that I make one of those $300 shirts that looks exactly, and I mean *EXACTLY*, like a $30 shirt. (SAUL, I AM LOOKING AT YOU HERE)

I wondered that there maybe it was time to write a post defending clothing and fashion as subjects to think about and take seriously. There is a long history of deriding people who think about clothing and fashion as being unserious. There are words dedicated to the subject (and a good deal of sexism and homophobia). The man who thinks about clothing is often thought of as being effeminate and not a real man. Nikil Saval’s excellent history of the Office reveals that the young men who were the first white-collar workers in early 19th century United States were treated as being weak and strange for using brain instead of brawn to earn a living and putting a good deal of effort and consideration into their appearance. Paying attention to fashion and clothing is also considered to be a sign that someone is always chasing after short-term trends instead of what is really important.

I don’t agree with this for a variety of reasons.

One a basic level, I like clothing because it is fun and aesthetically pleasing. You can think of clothing in pure utilitarian terms: I wear clothing so I don’t die of exposure, get arrested, etc. You can also think of clothing as art you can wear out on a daily basis or semi-regular basis depending on the outfit. I also know I have a reputation as OT’s resident art fanatic and my feelings on clothing are no different than my feelings on art, I see it as a variant of human creativity and I don’t see why this is to be discouraged. The joy of fashion is seeing how people change and their own take on classic styles or items of clothing or come up with something on their own. What colors did the designer use? What fabrics? Did they do anything to change the texture or appearance of the shirt, pants, shoes, etc?

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I’m guessing that Jaybird’s comment on spending 300 dollars on a shirt that looked like it cost 30 dollars is about distressing and purposefully scruffing up an item of clothing. Golden Goose sneakers are a good example of purposeful distressing. There is an obvious socio-economic issue to distrssed clothing and that it can be the well off trying to pass themselves off as scruffy bohemians or as the less fortunate. I’ve heard people argue that you should distress your own clothing instead of paying for clothing that has already been distressed. I’m not sure of the validity of this argument. I don’t have the skills to make the stuff that I would want to wear but I know what I like and can work on what skills I do have to be able to afford it.

Like art, fashion is a far and wide subject. The person who likes brands like Engineered Garments or Our Legacy could find a brand like Rick Owens to not be there thing because it is too futuristic and harsh seeming. I know that I would look good in pants like these but absolutely silly in something like this. So I don’t go for the cropped pants or the drop crotch.

Is fashion signalling? Yes. Does the signalling sometimes or often reveal that some people can be assholes? Also yes but everything about our outward appearances is signalling whether we want it to be or not. The person who wears Doc Martens, tartan, and a green army field jacket is showing just as much tribal affiliation as the person who wears Paul Smith shoes and Belvest suiting. I think it is fair to ask whether the Doc Marten uniform would mean anything if it could not be contrasted with a suit wearing person and vice-versa.

One thing I’ve noticed in life is that people have strong opinions about “Item X should not cost above Y.” This can be true for many goods but it seems to come across strongly in clothing even if there are good arguments about the high costs of cheap clothing as supplied by places like H&M. I’ve never been able to figure out why so many guys take a pride in not caring about clothing or aesthetics generally.

When Claire Plauche gets dressed in the morning, she quizzically looks into her closet. That’s not unusual. What is unusual is she’s peering at clothes she’s deemed “man repellent.”

“I typically wear clothes that turn guys away,” Plauche tells USA TODAY College. “So while some girls go with the fitted dress and smoky eye look, I tend to lean towards feathers and purple lipstick. A lot of things I wear leave guys scratching their heads.”

Photo courtesy of Claire Plauche.

Plauche displays these outfits on Crème de la Claire, a blog on which she posts at least three times a week. Entries include pictures of Plauche sporting different outfits, with descriptions detailing where she bought them.

A sophomore fashion merchandising major at Louisiana State University, she started Crème de la Claire after a bad cheerleading accident left her temporarily paralyzed.

“I realized that I needed to find something new to focus my energy on,” she says. “That’s when I had a little epiphany and realized that I have to get dressed every day, so it may as well be fun.”

Photo courtesy of Claire Plauche.

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Unlike some of her fellow fashion bloggers, Plauche is on a college student budget.

An “avid Forever 21 goer,” she takes pride in her clothes being attainable to the average college student, as most outfits cost under $75.

“I don’t have an endless wardrobe or an unlimited bank account,” she says. “So while a lot of the bloggers that I know and follow carry Celine bags and wear Louboutins, I am the first to know about a sale. I’m relatable and my style is attainable.”

Plauche says she received the best fashion advice from her mother, who she deems the “least fashionable person” she knows.

“She would always say, ‘If you like it, then wear it.’ That may have been the best thing she has ever done for me as a parent – let me grow and develop my own style,” she says. “If I wanted to wear something over-the-top … she would never question it.”

Crème de la Claire now gets hundreds of views every day. In addition to displaying outfits, Plauche also posts about designers or style icons.

She specifically enjoys writing her Sunday Six, which is a list of objects or events that made her feel some emotion that week, from a shirt to a movie to her brother.

Photo courtesy of Claire Plauche

“I have a very eclectic style in the sense that my outfits could range anywhere from Blair Waldorf to Nicole Richie,” she says. “I am that girl who wears high heels to the grocery store or furs to the gas station. I love the ‘who does she think she is’ looks I get from people. I thrive off of it.”

Plauche, whose style icon is Rihanna, says her style portrays who she wants to be that day.

“If I wear a structured dress and dark lips, I feel like I could take over the world,” she says. “If I wear denim shorts and a flowy top, you could swear that I am Kendall Jenner at Coachella. It sets the tone for the entire day. I dress for the woman I want to be.”