Taking a Royal (-ly Silly) Stand

The need to identify oneself as "for" or "against" something or someone seems to gain traction every now and again here in the Blogosphere - for example, you're either entirely for or against the President, and then there was that tete-a-tete involving a certain clothing brand Lilly Pulitzer here in Port au Prep . Maybe it's just the mommy blog / mommy blogger conventions / mommy blog takeover I see mention of now that I'm a mommy myself. Whatever the reason, it seems as though the pressure to "brand yourself" as a blogger, be it a Prep, stay-at-home-mom, Democrat, etc. is alive and well.

It's not just us naughty bloggers, either - witness the enthusiasm civilian people put into cataloging their interests in places like Facebook, "I Change Diapers!" being my recent favorite. There's a drive shared by blogger & non-blogger alike to wear certain interests on your web sleeve, as it were.

It takes me back to those storied junior high years, when young (ahem) ladies were forced to keep actual written diaries vs. the glorified digital versions we now keep here on the internet. Back then, I lived to Brand myself, to let the world - as defined by my family, a few friends, and dreamy Matt in Pre-Algebra - know where I definitively stood on vitally important topics such as the environment (yes) and Christian Slater (yes times pi)(whatever that is)(someone may have been reading "Sweet Valley High" under her desk during Pre-Algebra)(Parentheses).

My yet-to-be published memoir cover - as created & written in the 7th grade, that is. Apparently I stood for the environment and pre-crazy Tom Cruise. Yes, my parents remain proud.

Having grown up a smidge since then, there aren't as many things I see in black & white anymore, hence my usual hesitation to enter the occasional blogosphere quibble. There are the Pretty fundamentals about which I will say my piece, of course - my faith, thank you notes, my membership in the Tory Burch cult of leather goods, for starters. Otherwise, I fancy myself old mature enough to know what I like, to acknowledge that I may be wrong* & many won't agree, and have little interest in adding to the drama over whose preference reigns supreme.
*Unless in reference to the Crocs issue, because . . . no. I'm right.

In short, I don't miss junior high - at  all, though I never met a "Saved By the Bell" rerun I didn't adore. Fake junior high I miss.

There comes a time, however, when a blogger must choose a team. One can only remain on the sidelines for so long while one's heartfelt beliefs are being bandied about on Twitter like so many fascinator feathers (hint: foreshadowing).

Let me make it clear: I'm a feminist, albeit one of the pearl-wearing sort, who's also an ardent believer in stuff like representative democracy and tradition only within reason. I harbor no illusions of being nor desire to be an actual princess, frequent overuse of the Royal "We" notwithstanding.

Photo credit: Simon Spicer, with thanks to the IWOM for sending this utterly perfect card.

I am also . . . on Team Royal Wedding. There, I said it!

I, Pretty, - the one who was up at 3 am not long ago, quite involuntarily, thanks to dear Master P - have programmed my DVR & am considering setting the alarm & the Keurig for that same time this Friday. I, a person allergic to collectible anything (books & shoes don't count, because I said so), am awaiting a shipment of the tackiest royal wedding "tat" pounds can buy from my dear UK-based friend, the International Woman of Mystery.

Fire away, Team #icouldntcareless, but this Episcopalian never met a Pomp nor a Circumstance she didn't adore, fancy-pants weddings especially included. Or much involving England, for that matter, but my Anglophilia aside - it's just a compelling love story. Royals or no, that just doesn't get old to this Austen fan. A hard news story? Not even remotely, but I'll take this felicitous distraction over the usual La Lohan fluff.

So let's live & let watch, or not. Besides, it's an improvement over the Christian Slater years - right? Right???

Important, Special Note to Tory Burch

Pretty Headquarters

10 Malevolence Manor

Principality of Monaco, via Austin, Texas

March 31, 2009

Tory Burch Upper East Side HQ

456 Please Don't Screw This Up Street

New York, New York

Dear HRH Tory:

Like that glorious VH1 show of old, I love the '80s.  If I'm driving a car, Wham! and Def Leppard are likely involved.  If I'm gazing into my closet, a small (albeit ashamed) part of me misses those neon blazes of glory known as puffy paint shirts.  If I hadn't met the Anonymous Husband, I'd still be gazing earnestly out my window, waiting for Jake Ryan to slowly drive up*.

*Best.  Scene.  Ever.

Although your provenance does not extend back to that storied time of slap bracelets, Tory, my ardor for you is nearly as strong.  You manage to make clothes both classic yet not boring, traditional but also modern.  Your clothes reference the past, but are not entirely beholden to a certain era as it is with so many of your counterparts.

Which is why I'm so perplexed by these:

(Credit:  Saks)

Like, these are SO not tubular.  Not tubular at all. In fact, I'd trade you my circa 1987 Madonna cassette tape** if you can tell me why I should pay $95 for a pair of jelly shoes that would have set me back one week's allowance in Huey Lewis' day.

**"True Blue", the best

HRH T, we have a good thing going here.  I adore your clothes.  You look very nice, if a tad perfect and thin; naturally I prefer to keep those designations to myself, but I will be generous here - particularly if you'd like to underwrite this blog.  No?  In any event, let's stop this silliness now.  Be warned, if need be I will break out my personal, entirely punitive "Living on a Prayer" rendition, because I - and Jon Bon Jovi, presumably - take fashion seriously . . . 

Warily Yours,

Legallyblondemel

The Grace Experiment, Part 8

My attempt to start each week off with those things, big or small, that make me happy and potentially annoy (but hopefully also delight) you.

1.  Fug Madness, a tournament for the rest of us.

2.  My weekend hanging out with my delightful little brother, who may or may not be on his way to Iraq shortly.  Having a tough time believing this, since he remains to me the little brat who plays GI Joe in make-believe, not real life.

3.  Bought tickets to fly home soon.  My occasional homesickness had been on the wane, until I stumbled across this modern, California-style beauty with a view:

(Credit:  Architectural Digest)

I adore it here in Texas, but there's just something about home.  Helps if "home" = "Southern California", I'll admit.

4.  The arrival of my Revas, ie Pretty Shoes, followed just days later by the arrival of more Pretty Shoes.  In related news, I'll be in the back of the Internet Sales Anonymous (Tory Burch subcommittee) meeting down at the Y tonight.  See you there.

5.  Meeting my workout goals for the week.  In case you were wondering what those are - and why wouldn't you be, since I'm spectacular and all? - I try to get some Hateful Exercise in 4 days per week.  If I actually do this, fine; if not, I live to elliptical another day.  

Ladies & gentlemen, there is just too much champagne to be had to sweat this stuff. Quite literally.  

From Tory to Target, A Budget Look

Just back from a successful Junior League meeting in which the controversial topic of Miss Posh didn't come up event once, unfortunately. Absent such thought-provoking subject matter, I dedicated myself to trying to make friends here in town, or as my BF-EM so elegantly puts it, "hitting on the Ladies of the League."

In any event, I figure it's been at least 5 minutes since we've done a Target shopping round-up, and with the holidays coming up and the economy tanking and tigers and bears oh my, blah blah, we all could use some budget-friendly holiday attire ideas. After all, I'm all about being Prettier Than Everyone Else, not Less Financially Responsible Than Everyone Else.

So imagine my delight upon entering Target on one of my daily occasional visits and seeing a few pieces clearly, ahem, inspired by some festive holiday Tory Burch and J. Crew pieces I've been intrigued by but not been able to / willing to justify. The Target Limited Edition collection in particular is such a welcome relief after that Sigerson Morrison / Elf Attire debacle we talked about here.

Here is the fancy-pants TB / J. Crew version of the object o' my holiday party frock eye (which looks somewhat garbage-bag esque in photos, but is gorge in person) & shoes:

(Credit: Tory Burch)

Tough to see in this photo, so just take my word for it that this is lovelier in person. Perhaps not $995 lovelier (gaah!), but nice nonetheless.

(Credit: Tory Burch)

Love the jewel details. Hate hate hatey hate the $850 price.

(Credit: J. Crew)

Remeber these J. Crew Gabrielle beauties? Love these both in the heel and flat editions.

And now for the Target version . . . bear in mind the legendary horribilityness of the Target website and web photography. Again, these are so cute in person:

(Credit: Target)

In person, this is a yummy brocade shift with a great, 60s-ish neckline. And:

(Credit: Target)

OK, so it isn't identical to the Tory, but it also isn't (gulp) $850. And finally:


(Credit: Target)

(Credit: Target)

A nice twist on both the J. Crew and the usual Revas.

Target, I'm so glad we're friends again. Now if only I didn't have those pesky Christmas presents to buy for, you know, other people . . .