Prettier Than Everyone Else, Travel Edition No. 1

Being the International Woman of Mystery that I am desperately desire to be, my thoughts turned today towards my upcoming travel adventures .  Being the inveterate shopper I actually am, my thoughts turned not five seconds later towards my travel wardrobe.

I would very much like for you to believe that I embark from long plane rides looking something like a tasteful, vintage version of Our Lady of Controversial Couture, Mrs. Beckham:

(Credit:  FabSugar)

Prude that I am, I would have added pants to this outfit, but - that trench!  That bag!

Sadly, my un-Pretty, coach-class travel reality runs more along the lines of practical comfort.  Unlike Posh here, I intentionally keep the clothes, the jewels, and the accessories low-profile while traveling.  I'm definitely not one of those who thinks she is in harm's way once she leaves the good ol' USA, but it just seems sensible to leave the expensive goodies I can't bear to lose back home.  Yes, on overseas flights, I dress myself for . . . comfort and warmth.  

I know how you kids love the Polyvore sets, so without further ado, here are my in-flight basics - clockwise from the top left:

• "Bose Noise-Cancellling Headphones": (as stolen from the Anonymous Husband)
• "White + Warren Cashmere Wrap":  this is the schmancy version of the pashminas I bring along for my perpetually cold self.  Classes up the casual airport outfit all while keeping me warm & doubles as a more formal wrap while out & about.
• "Michael Stars 3/4 Sleeve Shine Shirt":  just warm enough, but no wrinkling.
• "Merrell Arabesque Shoes":  You don't want to be that girl holding up the dreaded security line, do you? These slide off & on easily.  They're also insanely comfy while avoiding that whole white Reebok US tourist look.
• "Citizen Kelly Jeans": my go-to jeans
• "Smythson Travel Wallet": If I have a few vodka sodas en route & squint, my trusty old Coach travel wallet begins to resemble this beauty.

What I'm missing is a carry-on travel tote.  Yes, yes - I just bought myself a bag (psst - edited the last post to show you which one), but a travel tote serves an entirely different purpose:  it must be able to withstand frisky rounds of "Seven Minutes in Heaven"* with the TSA agents or the occasional spilled drink, and it must hold approximately 500 books and 500 more trashy magazines. My collegiate Vera Bradleys are no longer getting the job done, so I've traveled the internets to find some contenders:

*What?  Like you never . . . hopefully not with a handbag or TSA agent, at least.

• "YSL Muse Travel Tote": This is a contender in the sense that "I love this line of bags and want to make wee babies with it, but unless I also make a wee fortune, it isn't meant to be."  Not gonna happen during These Difficult Times, but a girl can dream . . . 
• "Longchamp LePliage":  I've long admired these utilitarian bags, but they seem to be everywhere.  Can there be too much of a good thing, or does this just mean the bags are that good?
• "Briggs + Riley Baseline Satchel":  I know, I know; this tote is as exciting as whatever millionth season of "Survivor" is still airing, but my friends assure me this is a top-quality travel line.
• "Tory Burch Chrissy Weekender":  This is a bit more logo-y than I prefer to go while traveling, but I like the classic lines and prep handles.
• "LeSportsac Bouquet Print Large Weekender": like the festive print & reasonable price .

What travel basics am I missing?  Any carry-on totes you like or recommend?

Pretty Ice Princess - Victoria Beckham???

Hello again! Please forgive me my blog absence, sweets. I've been off doing my best impersonation of a dutiful housewife, including but not limited to Christmas shopping, decking the halls, and pretending to ignore the outrageous sums the Anonymous Husband spent Ebaying AC/DC tickets, although the latter may prove a useful weapon in my ongoing Macbook crusade. Ahem. In any event, I'm back - or "Back in Black" as the aforementioned band might put it . . .

Anywhoooo, as you might imagine, We here at the Pretty have devoted no small amount of time and energy into the study of what makes an cultural icon of our most favorite flavor, the Ice Princess. It would be easy to merely group together the most famous of the group based on outward appearances alone - Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis (obvs), Princess Grace (obvs obvs), January Jones when in "Mad Men" character, etc. - but surely the question merits a less superficial take. Pets, it isn't often that you'll find me advocating a less superficial approach to anything, so I hereby accept your polite applause and suggest the following as rules in addition to the physical obvious which we should be using in our evaluations:

1) Curiosity about the world, whether it be via travel (according to one's means, of course), keeping up with current events, etc.;
2) Education, whether it be formal or an ongoing personal process of reading and learning;
3) Charitable involvement, again according to one' s abilities and interests;
4) Demurely, deceptively delicate demeanor and deportment (and, apparently, alliteration and assonance);
5) Unapologetic affection for natural glamour, both in one's appearance and one's surroundings; and
6) A private sense of superiority based upon knowledge of #1-5 above, evidenced only by an ever-so-slightly icy and sly smile.

So as a student of the genre, I was quite intrigued to stumble across this Harper's Bazaar feature on Mrs. Beckham herself, in which she explains the machinery behind the "icon" (Pretty Parentheses added) that is Posh:

(credit: Harper's Bazaar via People Magazine)

I won't spoil the fun of reading this yourself, but for those of you wanting an abridged version, here for your delectation are Mrs. Beckham's additions to the Ice Princess Lexicon:

- (when asked about those infamous no-heel boots she recently wore): "Oh, c'mon, they're not that hard to walk in . . . you have to go to a sex shop to get this spray to polish them."

(credit: Daily Mail)

I'm thinking the key accessory here is less the harlot-y non-heels, and more the Arm Charm (hideous pinstripes notwithstanding), don't you?

- (when asked how she prepares for events): "I go into hair and makeup, and I turn into 'Victoria Beckham.'

- (when asked about running out to do errands): "If I go to the supermarket looking like sh-t, that affects my work. I am selling an image."

This all seems, I dunno, a bit heavy on the external, "branding" business, and less concerned about the other stuff that makes a legend . . . what do you think? Have I read too much Jane Austen - wait, don't answer that - such that I expect my heroines to be "accomplished" along the lines of what we discussed above, or is pop culture indeed steering us in the wrong, PVC-clad direction?

ETA: I hope I didn't imply that my jury has definitively voted on Posh per se. Unlike She Who Shall Not Be Named (name rhymes with "Laris Pilton"), I'm confident that Victoria is in on the joke, she has a few undeniably fabulous, non-PVC items in her closet, and I won't deny that she is . . . something. It's the idea that she's an ICON with a capital "i" that I'm not quite comfortable with yet. Let the debates continue!