Pretty Muses, Fall 2008

Usually a girl - say, a girl very much like me - is hesitant to bring to your attention other women who are indisputably more pretty, witty, intelligent, professionally successful, and/or generally inspiring than myself, er, herself. However, having just experienced that Halley's Comet of hair, the first-time visit to a salon in which both (ahem, totally natural) color and cut are perfectly executed, I'm in a rather magnanimous mood. It *might* also be the tasty fume blanc I'm drinking as well, but whatever . . . my point is that I'd like to pass the Pretty Tiara around a bit tonight to those other women who have recently gone above and beyond the call of their famous duty, inspiring me to be a little bit more pulled together, or confident, or kind than I'd be if left to my own devices. I hate using the phrase "girl crush", but I suppose that may also apply to these utterly awe-inspiring ladies (at least from what we know - if you know otherwise, please alert me immediately so I can commence feeling smug):

(credit: AskMen.com and Flickr)

Dame Helen Mirren. How often do we get a female role model who shows that we can grow professionally and wildly-off-the-charts foxily (yes, "foxily") past the age of 25? Without attempting to act or appear 25 in the process?


(credit: AskMen.com and Flickr)

Giada de Laurentiis. She's adorable, she knows how to cook, she makes recipes that I can actually follow, she seems so nice, she has a nice little entrepreneurial empire going, she has big, um, eyes . . . she so pushes all of my insecurity buttons (yes, for all of the Pretty Posturing, there are a few) that I can't quite figure out why I don't loathe her. Nonetheless, I am tickled to have won Mojito Maven's Giada giveaway, so I can run around pretending to be her cooking yummy Italian dishes, to the utter surprise and delight of the Anonymous Husband. Not that I want him getting the idea this will be happening regularly, but you know that thing about throwing the occasional bone?

(credit: Daily Mail and Flickr)

Georgina Chapman, co-designer of Marchesa. In addition to wanting just one - just one! - of her flirty and femine formal dresses (and a place to wear it to), is it to much to ask to have a clothing empire and to look like this at 30?

(credit: Getty Images for ING and Flickr)

Korto Momolu, runner-up, Season 5 "Project Runway". To create beautiful pieces of wearable art is one thing. To lose in front of a national audience, including your husband and daughter, and to do so with grace and a humble spirit in the same way you carried yourself throughout - suffice it to say, I for one am better off for having watched this season, and that is one lucky daughter. How often can we say something like that about a TV show?

(credit: Variety and Flickr)

La Joan Holloway from "Mad Men", as played by the iconic Christina Hendricks. Oh, to be a bombshell, even if for just one day. Thank you for reminding us, even Ice Queens like the Pretty here, of the power of being a woman (sounds like a cliche, but there's something to that), and that Pretty comes in different shapes and sizes.

Now that I've shared my myriad (and admittedly celeb and fashion driven) girl crushes / muses with you, darlings, it's your turn - who is inspiring you lately?