Metropolis II (Installation by Chris Burden @LACMA).
Connect … in fancy high-heeled shoes (“pretend” high-heeled shoes are okay, too)!!!
Don’t be shy – reach out and connect!
… in fancy high-heeled shoes (“pretend” shoes will do)!
Happy networking!
3P
That said, it was always so refreshing to become “un-pretty” during weekends.
What does it mean to be “un-pretty”? First, let’s take a look at what “pretty” means:
I define ‘pretty’ as being polite, pleasant and polished. ”Pretty” is the very essence of being a lady — coiffed hair, a manicure, a poise presentation, warm, approachable and socially graceful. (Think of a house party’s hostess – friendly and sociable). Someone “pretty” offers you coffee and cookies when you visit their homes. The “pretty” girl tells you how great you look (to simplify the concept); she is concerned about whether or not you’re comfortable and considers what your preferences are.
When I use the term “un-pretty”, I’m not implying that I made an effort to look unattractive (although, a lot of times, this was the case). What I mean is, my style of presentation was less ladylike and lacked the polish and niceties one would expect from a pageant-trained woman.
How does one achieve a “pretty” look?
Feminine make up highlighting the shape of one’s eyes + full lips + groomed brows and hairstyle + polished ready-to-face-the-camera style + tailored and put-togehter – any piece of hair out of place
I love the “un-pretty” side of my closet as much as the polished and tailored pieces I own. It’s necessary, at times, to wear wrinkled shirts, athletic shoes, cotton tees and unruly hair. I say this because I think it’s an advantage to be comfortable even without having to project the socially-constructed version of “girl”. You can be attractive in various ways — wearing pearls and a tiara or sneakers and a baseball cap.
To me, an un-pretty style can convey the gritty sexiness of Marlon Brando’s Stanley Kowalski.
Un-pretty means dressing with style without having to make a lot of effort — in So Cal this laid-back style is one that many non- L.A. natives try very hard to emulate. It’s the confidence in one’s self without having to look like a doll who took two hours to apply make up.
It’s an image that actors and models (who spend their working days in full make-up) naturally have on their days off. A look that conveys the understanding that if they wanted to, they could very well shave their scruff and be as pretty as they come. The “unpretty” girl doesn’t necessarily say ‘please’ or ‘thank you’ in a bubbly voice. She may give you a smirk or a nod of acknowledgement if she’s pleased with you.
Simplified, the “unpretty” girl asks you for a smoke without taking into consideration whether or not you approve of her smoking. She is not as self-conscious as her socially-graceful “pretty” girl counterpart.
How does one achieve this un-pretty too-cool-to-care style?
“undone hair” + cotton tee + element of relaxed or athletic gear – bubbly persona – string of pearls – “matchy-matchy” accessories + grit + attitude…
girlfriends
“I’m pregnant”, she happily delivers in a text message. Continue reading
I finished sending the first batch of holiday cards to friends and family last week. I’ll be sending the second batch tomorrow. This is an exciting time for me. I love wrapping gifts, making cards and most importantly, the holiday and new year cards I purchased at discounted prices throughout the year redeem their value and reward me for my early holiday preparation.
It may seem silly to buy holiday cards in March and April despite their discount, and many naysayers who see me shop probably think to themselves that I’ll only lose the cards before Christmas. But I know better. I feel great about not spending a dime on holiday cards especially because some of the finer paper cost a fortune!
I wonder if my dream about Shaquille O’Neal had anything to do with above thought (see journal entry to understand reference to Shaq).
Here are examples of topics I highlight in my blog:
I have junk in my living room, in storage, in boxes, in my closet, in other people’s homes, …(I’ll stop here as this list could take me a while to write).
A lot of the “junk” are neatly packed inside boxes as a result of having to move out of my apartment unexpectedly and without a plan. I never wanted to go through the ordeal of packing and moving out/moving in ever again after that experience. And, for almost a year, I left a lot of my belongings packed away inside neatly-labled boxes stacked on one another like a Tetris game.
This past weekend, my new roommate and I curiously unpacked one of the boxes labeled “decor”. Since I hadn’t seen the items inside the box in a while, I decided they’re obviously of no significance. Afterall, I’ve been living my life without needing to access these “insignificant” things immediately.
We opened the box…
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| vintage clock |
I’ve been living a “gypsy lifestyle” since I moved out of my Hancock Park apartment last Fall.
This means, I tow around most items I need or think I need at all times in a shopping cart (just kidding). I have my library and closet and vanity in tow scattered about in the backseat of my car, in my monogramed Longchamp bag, in vintage LV bags, in Paper Source shopping bags, in beautifully-printed Stephanie Johnson toiletry bags, and other seemingly useful containers that are no match for the gypsy lifesyle.
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| glazed green vase |
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| 1 of 2 glazed turquoise bud vases |
But, as I sat there with my big ambition carefully unpacking each delicate item after delicate item, I started to remember why I kept these items instead of my Frye boots and all the other expensive things I threw away when I moved out…
…I fell in love with each piece and each piece made it a pleasure to come home…
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| minature antique bicycle, lacquered stationery box, little clock. |
These items aren’t “extraneous” at all. They’re special and that’s exactly why I’ve kept them instead of the five purses I sold for $5 bucks a piece. There’s something fantastic about being in your own space surrounded by a collection of items that make you smile.
Somehow, these small reminders of who you are – outside of your crafted self-image and social “armor” or facade – helps the loooooong day melt away. Sure, I could get a massage or do yoga, but having a room’s ambience to one’s exact specifications can do wonders for the soul.
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| antique container, 2 blue bud vases, ceramic postage stamp box. |
Each item was hand-picked and carefully considered. Sometimes visiting the store more than twice before making the purchase. These weren’t impulse buys…
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| red container with feet + gold gingo leaf letter-opener |
Actually, finding each piece at different times, then putting them together in the same space one by one, and somehow making them all connect and contribute to creating just the right “mood”, was an adventure in itself.
It’s easy to blame our failure to meet our goals or to live our dream lives on a lack of energy, and we don’t always stop to think about the quality of energy in our lives. Yet we can choose to create and manage our own energy flow.Think of an instance when you’ve been so involved in an activity that you’ve lost track of time, and then identity the passions and energies you were feeding. Who was there with you? What were you doing? What will you do to make time for moments like that one more often?(Author: Julia E)
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the buy one get one free sale @ Betsey Johnson this weekend is the best time to buy quality petticoats to wear underneath A-Line dresses and skirts.
Thank you for the rockstar treatment…
and the illuminating info about Nars’ trajectory to being the biggest brand in make-up!
Xoxoxoxo,
myprettypinkponies.Blogspot.com
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Uzo:
More on Francois Nars’ accomplice, Uzo:
Vogue article (June ’11)
Youtube clip (July ’11)
L.A. Times.com
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may 2011
storefronts on rodeo drive
