A few nights ago I was having dinner with two of my really good girlfriends. Enjoying each other’s company over Italian food and candlelight we were discussing the usual topics: career, men and beauty (not necessarily in that order). While discussing beauty we somehow got on the topic of how we take ourselves for granted and sometimes don’t present ourselves to our full potential.
I was telling them that earlier in the day I had worn a dress I don’t usually wear and had received several compliments from total strangers while working and running errands (granted some of those strangers were homeless- but hey, every compliment counts). This, of course, got me thinking. Why did I never wear this dress? Is it because I’m afraid that it will draw attention to me?
Incidentally, my girlfriends related. We found that we usually “play down” our beauty either because we don’t want the attention or simply can’t be bothered. What a shame! My friend J said this reminded her of the catchphrase: “don’t waste the pretty” from the bestselling book He’s Just Not That Into You by Greg Behrendt. Whether stressing over a man, your career or your perceived beauty flaws, women everywhere are wasting the “pretty”- and we were some of them!
Then, yesterday I got my bi-monthly delivery from Amazon (I have a slight addiction and always have books on the way to my house) and was delighted to find in the stack of books I’d ordered Carmindy’s new book, Get Positively Beautiful- The Ultimate Guide to Looking and Feeling Gorgeous. Carmindy is the makeup artist on TLC’s hit show What Not to Wear and is single-handedly responsible for educating me on the application of makeup thanks to her first bestselling book- The 5-Minute Face: The Quick and Easy Makeup Guide For Every Woman.
In Get Positively Beautiful, Carmindy urges women to look at their beauty from a positive angle. Rather than looking in the mirror and focusing on what you dislike about yourself, she encourages us to focus on what’s fabulous and flaunt it- in other words, don’t waste the pretty! She denounces the unfortunate beauty standard that the industry and celebrities have placed so high. The book is filled with tips for makeup application in every season- for every type of face- and even has a section in the back with real makeovers (and we all know how much I love a makeover).
The book is also full of positive beauty mantras to say to yourself in the mirror. Call me crazy, but I believe mantras work. One of my favorite television shows of all time is Absolutely Fabulous, that whacky, farcical delight about two women navigating their way through life in a constantly heightened state. In one of my favorite episodes Edina and Patsy are in the bathroom and Edina asks Patsy: “When you look in the mirror, what do you see?” Patsy promptly replies, “Me looking Fabulous”.
Now that's the type of attitude we could all benefit from...
Get Positively Beautiful by Carmindy is available from: www.amazon.com
Image of book courtesy of: www.barnesandnoble.com
Image of Patsy courtesy of: www.bbc.co.uk
Love it!
ReplyDeleteI, of course, will be spending the majority of the day in my robe. But when I look in that mirror, I will still try to see "Me looking absolutely fabulous!":)
Darling, you are ALWAYS fabulous- you just don't know it :)
ReplyDeleteOh how I adore patsy and eddie "SWEETIE DARLING!" Have you tried Carmindy's make-up line for Sally Hansen? It's really nice. Appreciating one's self can be so hard though in this society; so really a mantra is needed.
ReplyDeleteJena- I'm glad to see another Ab Fab aficionado! I haven't tried Carmindy's line for Sally Hansen yet- I have always been slightly afraid of drug store make up (maybe because they don't usually have samples for you to try- you have to guess the correct color) but I have heard great things about this line...
ReplyDeleteBTW- did you catch Tim Gunn's Guide to style this week? I swoon!
This is great advice, I need to be better about not wasting the pretty, especially now that it's getting cooler and it's tempting t just wrap up in big jumpers and scarves.
ReplyDeleteI adore Ab Fab, I literally weep with laughter sometimes.
Hi Rose- Yes- especially when it gets cold- I tend to want to hide away... what are the alternatives though? I suppose wearing alluring make up, not forgetting the hair, keeping up the nails, good posture, a great smile and of course- the perfect scent...
ReplyDeleteI love Ab Fab too- it is like comfort food for me...
I love this post as I feel so many of us do it. I remember wearing shapeless clothes to hide my body and not liking people looking at me as I prefer to study people and not be the object of attention. It makes me smile when I see younger girls today who flaunt imperfect figures (ie big stomachs) with no concern. A healthy attitude! It's amazing how many beautiful people can have very low self-esteems as well. To me one of the best things you can do for beauty is aim for grace and kindness. You see great looking people with mean faces and that is not beautiful. In contrast, you see old ladies with radiant sweet faces. That to me, is the essence of beauty and elegance and style
ReplyDeletePrimrose- you are spot on there- inner beauty is the most important factor in real beauty. Living in LA I meet a lot of "beautiful people" that have serious attitude or self -esteem problems (not pretty)... I also meet a lot of inwardly beautiful people as well... and their beauty is, by far, the most interesting...
ReplyDeleteI am still working on the "inner beauty" issue- but I think so many of us are...