I definitely don’t want that skirt, it ate half her leg!
I have an ex-boyfriend who used to talk about how attracted he was to mannequins. We used to pass stores and he would say, “That mannequin is really hot.” I generally try to avoid talking smack about exes, but that’s weird, right? They don’t even have heads. And, they’re not real.
I’ve been thinking a lot about style recently, in part thanks to my new writing gig, in part thanks to a recent conversation I had with my friend Sarah. Sarah is one of those people that has a style. She rocks vintage wear like it’s still 1952 and always looks hip and darling. I, on the other hand have always sort have been a mass market kind of girl. I pretty much wear what Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, and the good folks at H&M tell me I should wear.
Over a drink last week Sarah asked me, “Who is your style icon?”
“My who?”
“Who has a style that you love and aspire to emulate?”
“I don’t know, I don’t really notice peoples’ clothes.”
“Well your homework is to go home and start researching movie stars and come up with an icon.”
I’ve been thinking about it a lot. I’ve decided that if I have to have a style icon, I’d like to go with Grace Kelly.
Now, I consider myself a reasonably attractive young lady, but I’ll never be a “Grace Kelly.” Having said that, I love how well coiffed she always is. She’s conservative, but elegantly beautiful…and girl knew how to rock a dramatic neckline.
Sarah’s suggestion once I determined my style icon was to go through my closet accordingly and find the outfits that most eximplify my icon, and if nothing does go shopping! Well I can’t afford a new wardrobe; I’m not about to die my hair blond, or most likely even cut it…but I think I may be getting a wee bit too old to be rocking the “Lazy Bohemian” look I’ve become so comfortable with.
Now that we’re halfway through the month, I’m adding a resolution to my list:
Coif.
Do you have a style icon?
Is this a new concept to anyone else?
Breakfast
Oatmeal with banana and almond butter
Green tea
Lunch
Sandwich: Ezekial bread, organic turkey & ham, mustard
apple
Snack
Oooh, I’m totally in love with the chocolate chip peanut butter bar!
Dinner
Trader Joe’s black bean and corn enchiladas over brown rice, w/avocado
Tonight was a running class night: 1.5 mile warm up, 2-mile speed interval, 1.5 mile “cool down.”
I don’t have a real style icon but I have a lot of people who influence what I like and what I try to dress like. I love Claudia Schiffers daywear style as well as Diane Kruegers (something about German models?). I also love Michelle Williams style but then I love everything about her.
The closest to a style icon I have is Jane Seberg in “Breathless” – she looks absolutely wonderful. “Annie Hall” is also great fashion inspiration for me.
I don’t know if I actually dress like this but I love that kind of style.
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Kimberly Rae Miller Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 7:42 am
I’m so glad you said that! I agree 100% about Michelle Williams, in fact, she’s the only person that came to mind during that conversation.
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One of the great things about your choice is that Grace’s style is so classic. You don’t need a new wardrobe! I bet you have lots of what you need in your closet.
And now you’ve got it in my head: Maybe, just maybe, it is time for a dramatic haircut.
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Kimberly Rae Miller Reply:
September 15th, 2010 at 7:43 am
No. No dramatic haircut.
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I agree with Sarah about Grace Kelly’s style–it’s beautiful and simple, classic and chic–there are so many pieces you probably already own that fall into that category! I think you already have a simple elegance about you–sheesh, you dont even need make up! I will say though, I think your hair is the biggest “potential” of a makeover…any ideas???
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I make a bi-monthly resolution to coif. Seriously.
There’s a reason why it keeps failing – I have a lot of hair which is not pin straight, and I have very little time. As a result, it spends most of it’s time wild and unruly, and daily goes into seven rotation sets of the following (in no particular order): bun, half bun, pony tail, cinched pony tail, loose and parted, loose and side swept, half-up/half-down, or swept away from my face with the presence of some sort of writing utensil.
That said, I decided that I would cut it short (chin-length) when I started a professional gig with the goal of always look clean and neat instead of wild and unruly.
Lesson: It does not matter the length. If you don’t put in the time to coif, short is not going to help. In fact, it gives you fewer options with buns, pony tails, etc. So if you look a mess, you don’t even have the luxury of pulling it back into a somewhat tamed state. This makes you look messy more, not less, often.
Also, if you like your hair, you miss it. I miss my long hair, and as it slowly grows back, I catch myself admiring it more and more. This made me realize I avoided looking at my shorter hair because I didn’t like it as much. Which helps contribute to a lack of coifing. Also, short hair didn’t really cut down on the time it takes to style because I just have thick hair. Reducing the length barely made a dent in drying time. And let me tell you, I reduced the length quite a bit.
In sum, don’t cut your hair short unless you really, truly want to. It won’t look styled at any length unless, well, unless you actually spend the time to style it!
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Ok, yes, your ex sounds weird.
That said, I am totally with you on the style thing. I always say, I appreciate good style, I just do not inherently possess it. There is a big difference. I am not sure I have a style icon per se, but I pretty much think anything Gwyneth Paltrow wears is fabulous, even when it’s hideous.
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