The Fruits of the Baekeland family...

To say that the Tom Kalin film Savage Grace (based on the book by Natalie Robbins and Steven M.L. Aronson) is harrowing would be an understatement. Not exactly sure what compelled me to see a film about mother-son incest and timeless decadence last night but the one good thing that came out of this film about the true story of Barbara Daly Baekeland and her social climbing ways is that I got into a bit of a Bakelite searching frenzy. This material created by Leo Baekeland made his family rich but this fortune ultimately ruined the third generation Baekelands (Barbara was the wife of Brooks Baekeland, grandson of Leo...). I think I'll ignore the incest, murder, depression, adultery and suicide and concentrate on the shiny plastic accessories unearthed on eBay and Etsy...

Still, Savage Grace is a superb film even if it does at times make you feel so uneasy you need to look away. Everything is visually lush and it goes without saying that there's some fine clothes in it too, though probably more interesting from a menswear perspective...

A bit of cheap...

Whilst luxury brands are buoyant and many people are fast realising that cheapie Primark frocks have their consequences and are moving into a slower and more expensive way of buying into fashion, on the flipside, there seems to be a 'tendance' for the cheap and a bit of tackiness. I don't mean dresses constructed out of Tesco bags or such ironic 'cheap' statements but I'm talking about things like polyester getting a new lease of life, exemplified by the 100% Italian polyester dresses seen at Lanvin SS08 or the lux-tackiness expounded by Balmain's AW08 collection (I suspect there is one Christophe Decarnin-obsessed stylist dressing the whole world in Balmain but I'm not complaining...).

It's always a hint though, a subtle nod towards tackiness that doesn't veer right into universal bad taste. When I see Bjork & McElligott's AW08 collection modelled by Ben Grimes (no comments about her 'bigger' size please because I think she's a beaut....), I see that lux-tack vibe coming through. If I'm honest, some of the clothes do remind me a little of this shop called 'Selene' on my local high street back in North Finchley when I was a teen and I'd see orange lace shirts and black lurex dresses ahoy. I don't mean that in a derogatory way though because the great thing about lux-tack is that just as you think it's a little bit 'cheap' looking, you touch the fabrics and see the construction and realise that it's not. There's a certain accessibility about 'lux-tack' that is way less overwhelming than full on lux-lux. It's that awkward/sexy thing that I'm always attracted to, which springs out to me when looking at the collection...

Lily of France Bow Thong

It's hard to believe another week has gone by here at the Intimate Guide. It seems like just yesterday that we were featuring the lovely Opin Divin thong from Aubade. But alas, it is once again Thong Thursday and this week we have something that (by name) might seem similar to last week's thong, but is actually quite different.

While the Opin Divin thong is well suited for a romantic evening in, the Lily of France Bow thong is perfect for a casual night out. The low 4.5 inch rise is perfect for your low rise jeans and even if you do show a glimpse of waistband during a dance at the bar or concert, you'll only be showing off the flirty ribbon and bow print detail. The trim of this thong is scalloped and elasticized. As an added bonus, it's even tagless!

The Lily of France Bow Thong is available in nude (barely beige) with black ribbon, black with grey ribbon and white with black ribbon. The white and black is our favorite because the color contrast really sets off the print. It's fantastic in any color combination, though. You can get all 3 for only $21!

The Pointed Toe Returns

Manolo says, as the Manolo predicted earlier this year, the pointy toed shoe has returned!

Round-toes have pretty much ruled the shoe world for the past decade, with a tenacity that belies their innocently girlish appearance.

But a decade is a century in fashion years (like dog years, but longer and potentially more fatal if underestimated) so it was inevitable that the point should return at some point. And lo, it has come to pass.

At Balenciaga - pretty much the bellwether for trends that the high street masses will be adopting - the gladiator sandals it knocked out last season have been replaced for autumn/ winter by shoes so pointy they will probably double as weapons for the requisite eastern European villainess in the next Bond film.

Even Marc Jacobs, who is surely Coco Chanel's successor in his tireless promotion of the sweet and girly look, has pushed aside his beloved mouse pumps (literally, ballet pumps with little beaded eyes and whiskers fixed on the tip) for decidedly more grown-up and less rodenty pointier toes, at both his own eponymous label and in the current collection for Louis Vuitton. Similarly, the Lanvin woman seems to have matured from the pretty, round-toed mademoiselle she was just a few seasons ago to a full-on vamp, with black, sharp-toed teetering heels. “Round toes are on their way out and pointy toes are marching back into our wardrobes!” one fashion magazine gleefully announced this month.

And to celebrate the changing of the fashion guard, the Manolo recommends to you this handsome, comfortable, and reasonably priced, pointy-toed demi-d'orsay pump, the Cherry Hill from the Kenneth Cole New York.

Many thanks to the Manolo's friend Linda Grant, who keeps the Manolo abreast of the English media

What did YOU wear today?

finding out that such a fashion web 2.0 specific book was being published via Bits and Bobbins and reading the VERY stimulating comments that ensued because of her post, I literally got on the phone to the publishers and requested a review copy pronto. So we have a book called 'What I wore today...', the premise of a lot of fashion blogs that we all read and view with. The book isn't written by any particular author but by Korero the publisher. I'm not entirely sure who gets a mention in the book tough I'm expecting the likes of Style Bytes (*sigh*...), Wardrobe Remix, The Fashion Spot WAYWT ('What are you wearing today?' ah...I miss that thread....), Fashion Toast etc.... I don't THINK Style Bubble is in it as I never got any email asking for permission which is usually the norm with these things but then again the blog is not really of the 'What I wore today...' ilk either so I doubt I've made an appearance in it. It's the tagline 'Online Fashion Narcissism' which has sparked all the interesting controversy. As Tricia of Bits and Bobbins said, she's not entirely sure whether the publisher has used the word to shed a negative light on people sharing their outfits with the world via forums, Flickr, blogs etc but she asks a ton of questions relating to the topic of 'narcissism' on the web.

I have to be honest.... I do find blogs that purely consist of outfit posts with no accompanying text or perspective on things a little dull... whilst I'm all for pretty pictures, I like engaging with text too. People say that I blather on and am rather long winded here on this blog but I'm a thought expounder. It's very rare that I post images up with no contextual background or explanation. Yet I do feel the need to defend those of us that are posting images of ourselves. I'm not even seeing narcissism as a negative thing because that is someone who takes pleasure in looking at images of themselves as opposed to people who take pleasure in having other people look at them. I am concerned though that such taglines as in the case of this book, expound the idea that bloggers or WAYWT participants are doing it because they are keen to get their style out and say to the world 'Hey, my style is so amazing...check me out and send me praise because hip-hooray I'm so effing cool!'.

That couldn't be farther from the truth. At least in my case... It's true that for a lot of people, there's a confidence level in their own style that propels them to post pictures of themselves, be it conscious or sub-conscious. However, in my own case, sometimes, after the pics are up, I realise I'm getting 'it' (whatever that means...) completely wrong or things look godawful, yet I leave them up there. I'm not aiming to put the best of me out there or representing my style in the most positive light possible purely because that would be impossible and because I like things that are a work in progress. It's the documentation of a moment that is part of a progression or a thought process I was going through. The crux of it is that posting pictures of myself is an easy way of communicating the thought process behind the style decisions I take and with that comes an explanation, a description and something to back up the images. I think it's all too simple to write off people taking pictures of themselves as people just looking for a bit of praise and I don't doubt that there are those that seek that sort of gratification but for me those pics communicate not an just an image of myself, but an idea, something to do with the outfit backed up by the text (sometimes I suspect people don't actually read what I write but anyhow....), hence why I did faceless shots for such a long time and even now, the only reason you see my face is because the mirror that I use to take shots in gets dusty and sometimes the light just isn't that great for my poxy crappy camera...

Still, I'm not going to dismiss this book as lazy journalism yet without reading the content. If it turns out to insinuate what the tagline indicates then it's going up there in the banal chart of blog cliches along with that pesky question which I get asked most often...'Are blogs going to replace magazines?'...the less said about that one, the better...

Sarah Michelle Summer Break

Sarah Michelle Gellar

On March 10, 1998, Sarah won a Blockbuster Entertainment Award in the Best Supporting Actress - Horror category for her role in I Know What You Did Last Summer.

On August 12th, 1999, Sarah signed a contract with Maybelline to become the first celebrity spokeswoman since Lynda Carter in the late 70's, and can be seen in television and print advertising for the makeup company.

In 2000, she won a few awards given out by the Teen Choice Awards and the MTV Movie awards.

Sarah also enjoys rollerblading, ice skating, water skiing, and occasionally goes cliff diving. She was a competitive figure skater for 3 years and was ranked 3rd in the New York Sate regional competition. She has taken 5 years of Tae Kwon Do and is active in physical fitness. Sarah is an only child and considers herself a workaholic. She attended high school at Professional Children's School in New York and graduated two years early with a 4.0

Rating: 4

Nobody knows summer like Sarah Michelle. Tiered summer dress, check. Strappy sandals, check. ; Oversize satchel, check. Oversize sunglasses, check.

[Source]

Find your Supermodel Strut

(A public service announcement.)

There are times, days, and longer stretches when a woman doesn't feel her best. When this happens to you, whatever you do, don't lay around depressed. Get out there, do errands, meet friends or just take a walk. And no matter how you feel, exhausted, hot, sweaty, whatever—push through the “pain” and walk like you're on the catwalk. Yes, find your supermodel strut every woman has. May I suggest, unless you prefer not, wedges or heels as well. Put one foot in front of the other, quite literally, hold your head up high, and this is a time when it's okay (and will help you concentrate on keeping up the pace) to pout, also like on the runway. There might be a reason even models pout, they have woman problems, too, and it's a chore to walk so perfectly - yet while it's a chore it makes you feel as good as accomplishing such work. Despite that pout it will cheer you up, you'll feel your womanly power and you might even get to your destination more quickly. I also bet it's better than a leisurely stroll for burning calories and building muscle.

Find your inner supermodel strut and confidence will shine from you, and it will even seep into your mood!

Fashion Hangover

'm experiencing the biggest fashion 'hangover' ever. If there are two kinds of fashion hangover; one being that you regret something you bought with every look at the offending item incurring a wince and a shudder from you, then the other would be moaning and groaning about passing up on something and NOT buying something despite having the means to. It's a feeling that you feel in your gut whenever your mind wanders and 'D'oh', you slap your forehead and scrunch up your eyes and think 'Why did I do that?'. Well it happened with the Preen sample sale over the weekend (has finished now). Apologies for not putting up a notice as i didn't know about it until the 11th hour. I was expecting it to be a quite normal Preen sample sale selling 'vintage' Preen, very old pieces. There was that but then also a sale selling the recent, more recognisable seasons with showpieces with hefty 80% discounts. The pieces that immediately caught my eye for obvious reasons were the hot pink pieces from the AW07-8 collection, the last that they showed in London before defecting to New York (it makes me sounds like an embittered LFW fanatic but I do think the designs have been a little watered down since the move...... *she says in wee voice*). In particular, these dresses were knocked down from around £500-600 to £240 and £195 respectively I um-ed and ah-ed in the tiny shop, spending about an hour in there (and trust me, it's a tiny space to spend an hour in...) going in and out of the changing room, picking those pieces up and putting them down again and generally making the shop assistants think that I was a bit of a twat. The fit was perfect, the zips were very zippy and the pink....it is that perfect shade of hot pink which I'm quite obsessed with because it has some real depth to it (unlike the £7 cheapie I bought which I love still but the pink doesn't quite hit the right note for me...). Yes, the obsession got to the point where I was chairing a mini-debate in my head about whether a shade of pink had depth. Physically, after wiping the perspiration of my sweat drenched head (like I said...small space), I put all the pink down and opted for some black leather panelled trews (see my Betty Catroux look...) but I can't quite get the pink out of my head. When I was soul wardrobe searching yesterday, a flash of pink would bring up that bottom of the stomach feeling. Why oh why did I put the bloody hangers down?

I have realised I've just spent a lo-ong paragraph babbling about some fluffy pink bit of Preen.... but these are really at the top of the pink hierarchy...the heavy fabric, the subtle stretch, the slanted pleats...oh the stomach groans again... I doubt that other type of pink; Pepto Bismol will cure this hangover....

It's that time of year again . . .

Time for the rhododendruns to bloom. And time to drag Boris out there and try to get him to pose in front of them for a photo. There he is, Little Doggie, feeling perfectly fine now, no breathing trouble at all. Super engergetic and rarin' to go! My Dad had to sit next to him to keep him still long enough for a photo.

1 week old!

Here are the latest photos of our little girl. I don't know why they are in black and white, or maybe the lighting was low. Her ears are down now and she's getting fat. Her hair looks thick for being so young. Look at the little wrinkles on her leg.
I bet she's a squeaky little thing.



She'll be ours August 7th.

Everything Shows Up On eBay Eventually

I think it was two years ago that I fell in love with this bag from Luella Bartley's Target line. It has lots and lots of pockets and it's bright yellow: of course I loved it!

I bought one (the only one my Target had) and looked for it at the other Targets in Chicago, but of course I didn't find one -- everyone loved this bag. So, once it was clear that I was going to wear it into little tiny bits (and I did; I broke the top zipper and washed it until it was more of a grayish mustard color than yellow) I started an eBay search for it.

I used the keywords "Luella yellow" and yesterday my search finally came up gold. (Or, rather, yellow.) Some seller dug up a new-with-tags version and put it up, and five hours later it was (notionally) mine. (I still have to wait for it to come in the mail, and I just realized I didn't remember to have it sent to my PO Box. D'oh! Time to email the seller ...)

So my recommendation to you is to save those eBay searches (check out this page if you need help) and keep renewing them. Everything shows up on eBay eventually. You just need to be patient.

Jewelry Bargains at Ross-Simons

Ross-Simons, a trusted jeweler by over 4 million customers since 1952, offers a fabulous collection of jewelry that sets the standard for exquisite design. Their jewelry experts work hand-in-hand with artisans from around the world to bring you the most extraordinary styles at exceptional prices.





Multi-Gem Compass Ring In 14k Yellow Gold

Blue Topaz, Peridot, Amethyst, and Citrine around a 3.2 carat Citrine cabochon.

North, south, east and west: all points are colorfully covered with .75 ct.

Set in embossed 14k gold.

$199.75





Cultured Pearl Dangle Earrings In 14k Yellow Gold

Freshwater pearls are housed safely in 14k yellow gold cages.

$106.25





14k Yellow Gold Graduated Wide Laser Cut Band

A wide band of 14k yellow gold with a contemporary edge.

Laser cuts create a modern hatch-work pattern.

Dimensions: 5/8"

$212.50





14k Yellow Gold Engraved Heart Locket

A graceful floral motif frames a pretty engraved heart on this heart-shaped locket.

On a fine 1 mm rope chain with spring-ring clasp.

Set in polished 14k yellow gold.

$165.75





Diamond Braided Band In 14k Yellow Gold

Luxe brushed-finish plait of 14k yellow gold.

Edged top and bottom with .10 ct. diamonds.

Band measures 1/2" in width.

$420.75





Multi-Gem Bangle Bracelet

4.10 ct Amethyst, Citrine, Peridot, Blue Topaz, and Garnet.

In multi-shaped bezels dot a textured vermeil bangle.

18k Gold-plated Sterling Silver.

Slip-on.

$85





Mother-Of-Pearl and Hammered Disc Earrings In 14k Yellow Gold

Plenty of glow with hammered 14k gold circles.

Mother-of-Pearl discs.

Hanging length: 5/8"

Clutch/posts backs.

$148.75





Yellow Gold Textured & Smooth Geometric Pendant

Bark-textured diamond shape drops from its glossy, curved counterpart.

Rope 1mm chain with spring-ring clasp.

Bold and graphic in 14k gold.

Fits chains up to 7mm.

Hanging length: 2 5/8"

$276.2575





14k Yellow Gold Fanned Oval Loop Earrings

Three loops of lustrous 14k yellow gold with a triple-ribbed clasp.

Hanging length 3/4"

Post closure.

$191.25





Tiger's Eye & 14k Yellow Gold Bar Bracelet

Polished bars of tiger's eye.

14k gold geometric links.

Box clasp.

$505.75





14k Gold Scroll Motif Dome Ring

Swirling scrolls sweep over this shimmering dome ring.

Ring measures just over 1/2" in width.

$212.50





14k Dot Detail Hoop Earrings

Velvety satin-finished hoops.

Bright polished dots.

Snap-bars.

3" long.

$199.75



Have a great week!

Maggie

See full article.





Related Entries:

Matisse Designs' New Jewelry Collections - 03 September 2006

Jewelry Bargains at Amazon.com - 04 November 2006

Jewelry Stocking Stuffer Bargains - 28 November 2007

Designer Jewelry Bargains - 20 April 2008

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Yes, you too can have that Unshaven Legs look!

It's a sandal! It's a boot! It's .. sasquatch? How these shoes by Etro don't get less praise and more jabs than Uggs is beyond me. I didn't pay them much mind until I read recent reports saying these ... yes, these hair-like fringy tall shoes, are the IT shoe of Spring 2008.

Ummmm at least they conceal those missed patches??

Where did the sloppy come from?

For those of you that love leaving comments/sending me emails about my sloppy style, I can present you an explanation as to why that is. The ugly truth is that I'm living in a shambolic and sloppy mess with the way that I organise my clothes. It's not so much 'organise' as trying to cram everything I have all into a limited space with all the strength that I have. This involves hanging about ten things on one hanger, rolling and scrunching things up to squeeze into a tiny space, stuffing things into drawers that won't close, using several suitcases to hold things, heaving bags littered everywhere, cardboard boxes full of tights/leggings/slips and just general mess mess mess...

Why the jumble? The place where I'm living now was supposed to be a transition period. This transition having lasted well over a year now and I still don't really have the time/energy to get it into shape. Still, I see light as I will FINALLY be moving out and in with the boyf to a haven somewhere....preferably with many fitted wardrobes. The boyf and I both have plans ahoy as to how to get the best out of my numerous garments and I'm hoping something pretty-pretty will emerge from all the mess berow but all shall be revealed later when I find said haven.

For the next month or so I shall also be doing something that I've rarely done before which is 'cleaning out my wardrobe'. Yes this concept is a ritual for some but alien to me. I'm a hoarder. You ask me to throw away something and you'll get a terror-stricken expression on my face. Parting is difficult. The last time I culled anything was when I left student halls in 2003 and I still get pangs about a certain something something that I donated to a charity shop. Or when my mum chucked away some Rick Owens AW08-esque curvy wedge platform boots that I bought from Hong Kong, I'm still feeling the pain. Nonetheless, be it via eBay or charity shop, a cull must be done...

Elle MacPherson Intimates Evoke Thong

We often talk about the imagery that a certain piece of lingerie evokes when we feature a product here at the Intimate Guide. For instance, last week's DKNY Classic Curves thong evoked imagery of the “chalice” symbol - which is good because the chalice symbol represents femininity.

So, we're not exactly sure why they call this thong the “evoke” thong (our calls to Elle MacPherson Intimates were not returned), but it does have an initial appearance of academia. The black and gold - sorry, “jet” and “biscotti” - color scheme coupled with tassels on the front brings to mind the pomp and circumstance of graduation. Since most academic regalia comes from medieval times when those who wore it were considered wizards, we can only assume that the designers use the word “evoke” here to refer to some type of conjuring. Indeed, we can envision Harry Potter's Hermione Granger wearing this thong underneath her dress robes to the Hogwart's Prom.

The thong is styled with a semi-sheer spot design featuring lace embellishments that curve to form the appearance of a Peter Pan collar. This faux collar is neatly tied with a delicate ribbon capped with golden tassels. The spot pattern continues to the rear where coverage is, of course, minimal. Everything comes together for a sophisticated, elegant look in the end - pun intended.

Last Laugh

Last April I mentioned:

I think the recent spate of fashion criticisms directed at women belonging to the polygamist sect in Texas to be distasteful. I'm not defending their religious practices but I think it's the height of tackiness to level superficial criticisms during what must be the most stressful event of their collective lives.

I am dismayed by people who feel compelled to kick people while they're down and over something that doesn't even matter. In that vein, John sent me a news piece today. Now who is having the last laugh?

Mothers say Texas raid forced them to market their clothing style. A new clothing brand may be born out of the Texas raid on a polygamous sect. FLDS women for the first time are offering their handmade, distinctive style of children's clothes to the public through the Web site fldsdress.com. Launched initially to provide Texas authorities with clothing for FLDS children in custody, the online store now is aimed at helping their mothers earn a living. The venture, which has already drawn queries from throughout the U.S., is banking on interest in modest clothes, curiosity and charity to be a success.

Personally, I'm thrilled. I wish them all the best. I'd send them a book if they'd think it'd help. They certainly have the patterns down and they've got the workforce. What an exciting experiment to witness; barn raising a manufacturing company overnight. I wish I were closer and had an invite.

Beyonce

Beyonce on her way to the Cleveland Cavaliers vs. Boston Celtics game during the 2008 NBA Playoffs at the TD Banknorth Garden May 14, 2008 in Boston, Massachusetts.

Now, I’ll be the first to admit that Beyonce looks extremely well put together here but in general, her style choices are hit and miss. She’s one of those celebrities that always look presentable but doesn’t have a discernible style of her own. In any case, she knocked this look out of the park and the goods news is it won’t cost an arm and three leg to recreate. See below for some tips.

This Should Be Easy...Right?

Today, dear readers, yours truly the DCGF has on a very cute black empire-waist dress and - wait for it - turquoise shoes. Now don't get me wrong: I love to add a touch of color via my footwear and accessories. But I've been searching...nay, I've been on a quest to find a great pair of black flats for the summertime with zero success. Am I too picky? Too hard to please? Too hard to fit? I'd like to think that's not the case. I mean, we're talking black flats here, not cerulean stilettos. Although I'm beginning to think the latter might be easier to find!

Let's start with what I have currently. It's the "Willy" style from NaNa and yes, I know these are blue, but mine are black. I love the snub toe and low heel, not to mention the edgy strap detail on the toe and cut-out pattern on the heel.

Problem is, mine are about two years old now and the soles are almost worn through. And the heels are, well...not in great shape. Plus, the shoes are really more for fall/winter. They don't breathe and are a bit unpleasant in the summertime. I highly recommend the brand, though, overall, especially to gals who are large of foot, like moi. Their flats run about a half size big - woohoo! You can find them at zappos.com or, if you're in the D.C. area, at Shoefly on U Street and in Clarendon.

So with my NaNa's on their last leg (so to speak), I decided to try a new brand from Piper Lime, the online shoe store owned by the Gap, Inc. I was a bit nervous about these OroNero's, because their size 11 was equivalent to a 41, which usually means they'll be too small. But returns are free and found a couple of other pairs I liked, so I threw caution to the wind.

And they're so cute! And way too small. My toes were literally pressing out of the end. But I love the bejeweled strap and stretchy upper, not to mention the fact that they seem like they'd be cushy and comfy for a day of walking. Alas, it's not meant to be. I'm going to be sending them to my sister. If you like them, though, they're still available in black, red, and yellow patent in a variety of sizes for just $49.99.

So now, dear readers, I'm thinking that I might go for the BCBGirls "Almond" style from Nordstrom. They're available in a size 12 and are on sale for $44.90. I like the low heel and pointy toe, for sure. And a patent finish is always great for summertime.

But I'm torn about the rose cutouts. Too girly? Too young? Certainly they'll keep me cool on the hottest of days, but I don't want to look like I just stepped out of a "My Chemical Romance" music video. What do you think? Any other suggestions?

Oh perfect pair of black flats...where are you?!

Goodwill’s fashion blog provides detailed knowledge and insight on vintage and contemporary clothing and accessories that are valuable to fashion shoppers. The facts and opinions shared present readers with entertaining, exciting and value based information on vintage and contemporary fashion and shopping trends.

Studying for the California garment exam

Kind of off topic but pertaining to employment law, Yahoo posted an article today about five reasons one can be fired for lifestyle choices, leaving one without recourse. All states except Montana and Arizona are "at will" states. At will means someone can be fired for no reason at all.

-----------

Ellen (thank you!) sent me the study materials used to prepare for the California garment manufacturer's licensing exam. I'm not linking to her in case she wasn't supposed to do that. Having had time to look over the information, I don't know why they don't post it to their website. This would save paper and educate lots of people about labor law in general. I realize state laws vary but if someone wanted an orientation to labor law while in the research process of considering the responsibilities of hiring, this would be a good start (California is picky). Ellen also put an asterisk on the materials she says from where the exam questions were taken. It is because I adore you and want you to start your enterprises with the utmost integrity that I won't tell you which these were.

The first booklet (blue cover) is thirty pages and printed in six point font making for difficult reading. It is comprised of excerpts of The laws relating to the time, manner and payment of wages. Two pages are a useful FAQ cross referencing questions to the pertinent section of law. This is also on the web and while it's prettier, cleaner and easier to read, it's not question guided from the main page, something I liked in the booklet.

Pucci for the Monday

Manolo says, it is Monday and you are back at your desk slaving away for The Man and his Minions, slowly breaking your spirit into tiny pieces on the keyboard of your workstation, as surely as the convict turns the big rocks into little rocks with his sledgehammer.

Oh, how you dream of freedom, fame, and great wealth, and of tall, bronzed, well-oiled men in tiny swimming trunks who bring you fruity drinks and peel plump grapes for your enjoyment.

But then, at the peak of this daydream, just as Fabio leans into view, briefly obscuring the warm Riviera sun, you remember that there people who depend upon you, the hard-working husband and the two kids in school, who need you and the mighty efforts you expend to make their lives better.

Yes, it is not glamorous, nor exciting, nor especially self-actualizing, this mundane reason for enduring the unsatisfying job, but it is, in its own way, noble. Serving those whom you love gives your life purpose and meaning, makes it possible to endure that which is difficult.

Of course, sometimes, at least in your mind, you must cut loose and let your inner Joan Collins rage. Clad in the bright red Dynasty power suit with giant shoulder pads, you would teach that biotchy regional manager the thing or two about eye-scratching, hair-pulling, and cat-fighting.

Ayyyy! Quick, we need happy-making shoes, and nothing makes the Manolo happier than shiny sandals from Pucci. Breathe deeply and enjoy the bliss.

Pucci makes the smiles!