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?

Speedskater, Sartorialist, ???

Speedskaters are known for many things - Tight Man Tights, ginormous thighs, and taking up large chunks of each Winter Olympics broadcast between curling (the Canadian sport, not the hair device) rounds. However, until last night, I had no idea fashion was one of those things. So imagine my surprise upon tuning into "Project Runway" and discovering this:

(credit:www.bravotv.com)

Bravo TV, was it the fetching goatee, the sassy look on Apollo's face, or the very fact that he is named Apollo that led you to think, "This man is the next face of fashion, he MUST be a judge!" ??? I like your show too much to speak what I'm thinking - that You May Have Jumped the Shark.

Anywhoo, I will say that the challenge turned out a very obvious winner:

(credit: www.bravotv.com)

Korto is a force to be reckoned with, and I'm not just saying that because I'm in complete Hair Envy of her. Plus, she's got a touching Life Story and stuff.

**Important, Secret Note to Tim Gunn: I'm still standing in the very long line of women hoping you would be my GBF forever. Speedskaters or no, you're still the best.