As a child, I was supremely annoyed by the plethora of blondes in my fairy tales. Cinderella, Goldilocks, Cinderella. Until Disney got a hold of her, Belle was a blonde too. (Yes, I am ignoring Snow White. If my one hope of representation has that voice, I'd rather not be represented.) More annoying was the fact that even the fairy godmothers were blondes. Brunettes only showed up as witches or wicked step mothers.
Bibliophile that I have always been, I couldn't help but notice blondes described as "golden" and "sunny" while brunettes like me were "mousy" and "dull." The blondes in my decetive stories were beauty queen and rich celebrities. The brunettes were librarians and murderesses.
Thankfully, my parents raised a strong little girl, and I took this all to mean that I had to depend on something far less fleeting than my looks. While I chose to overlook the blonde preference and embrace my milk chocolate locks, I had always wondered why people were so captivated by what is, in an unaltered world, a rare color of hair.
Natalia Ilyin, a blonde professor of myth and symbolism, wondered the same thing when she wrote
Blonde Like Me
. This slim volume of 187 pages is stuffed with personal anecdotes that have absolutely nothing to do with blondeness. I found myself wondering if her well-researched forays into ancient stories and symbolism could mean anything in a culture where most women just want to be blonde like their favorite celebrity. Her conclusions feel forced and she so parceled out virtues to the blondes that nothing is left for the rest of us. In spite of all that, I liked the book, but then we are talking myth.
The author divides blondes into the protected Innocent full of virtue and virginity, my princesses essentially; the Summer-Wheat, a maternal domestic goddess of hearth and home who is most of the blondes you know; the Apollo who is ambitious and striving for perfection, so it is that our blonde starlets and our blonde Mensa
members fall into the same group; and the Moon Blonde, a destructive erotic seductress who shows up in movies or screaming on
Springer. In case she left anything out, Ilyin also created a category for Ironic Blondes such as Madonna who isn't Innocent or Hera, and is too creative to be a Moon (how she isn't the ambitious Apollo is completely overlooked).
Overall, I'd only recommend this book if mythology and symbolism interest you (and you should get it from the library instead of buying it). Those looking to learn about blondes having more fun should look elsewhere.
stripe halter dress, Babooshka Boutique on Etsy $50 
It's just after 6 in the morning. Why are you up? Are the sales really that great? Are you going to brave the crowds and shop 'til you drop?
Top: black patent lace up boot, KORS Michael Kors "Mogul", Shopbop $276.50
Things that are wrong with this ring:
Want a party dress that you can wear again maybe even in non-party environments? Want a dress that's comfortable enough to dance in? A dress roomy enough for you to indulge in a little too much eggnog and pumpkin pie? American Apparel's jersey "Le Sac" dress is $38. The looks pictured are just a sample of ways you can wear it. It can even double as a skirt! "Le Sac" is available in 19 colors.
Top: green with yellow contrast peep tow ankle boot, Pour La Victoire "Lilly", Shopbop $127.50
Clockwise from top left: hunter and chocolate button "Rosebury" ankle boot $520
Pictured:
Pictured:
Pictured:
Top: cobalt paint splatter peep toe shootie, Cindy Jaime, DSW $69.95
Top: red heart ankle boot, Mod Cloth $99.99
When I wear boots, I want my heels and toes covered. Maybe peep toe boots make sense in California or some other warm place that shuts down when there's ice on the road, but in Indiana, such things are laughably dysfunctional. Also defeating the purpose is the slender heel on a boot with a chunky sole. Let's not forget that they're styled as a hiking boot with a 5 inch heel (I can almost hear my mountaineering neighbor sniggering). Of course a shoe like this would come in Barbie pink. I can just imagine these showing up on a Pussycat Doll. "The Fusion" has been reduced to $59.99 at Bakers.
As a child, I was supremely annoyed by the plethora of blondes in my fairy tales. Cinderella, Goldilocks, Cinderella. Until Disney got a hold of her, Belle was a blonde too. (Yes, I am ignoring Snow White. If my one hope of representation has that voice, I'd rather not be represented.) More annoying was the fact that even the fairy godmothers were blondes. Brunettes only showed up as witches or wicked step mothers.
Natalia Ilyin, a blonde professor of myth and symbolism, wondered the same thing when she wrote Blonde Like Me
members fall into the same group; and the Moon Blonde, a destructive erotic seductress who shows up in movies or screaming on Springer. In case she left anything out, Ilyin also created a category for Ironic Blondes such as Madonna who isn't Innocent or Hera, and is too creative to be a Moon (how she isn't the ambitious Apollo is completely overlooked).
Top: cheveron, Urban Outfitters $12
Working at a department store watch counter did teach me the benefits of nicer watches. Someday, I would like a well-made watch that will hold up to daily wear and tear. Since I prefer men's watches to women's watches, this Kenneth Cole men's watch (pictured to the right) with an exposed interior and automatic movement is my current crush at $175. The price it high, but the watch should have a long life to make it worth it. The leather strap version is cheaper and even a little sleaker.
On the one hand, I think a bold woman could completely pull this off as an every day bag. It could also be really cute for evening with a simple dress. On the other hand, I think I had a purse like this when I was in middle school and thus wouldn't be able to carry it without flash backs of frizzy hair and OMG HE JUST LOOKED AT ME! If you're interested, this rose bag by LimeNRose is $24.99 on ebags.
The Cube has some great gift ideas too. There are really fund bags and even some designer cosmetic sets, not to mention great accessories like scarves, tights and leggings.
