I’m not afraid to use the f-word: femininity

Awhile back I came across an article in the newspaper entitled “Summer of Dapper.” Apparently there is an elegant mod movement occurring this summer all over the country, harkening back to the days of slacks, button-up vests, and bowler hats. Guys decide to dress in their swankiest garb, complete with accessories, instead of distressed jeans and t-shirts. Bring in the ritz and the posh. The sass and the smart.

Summer of Dapper is a response to its feminine counterpart: the Summer of Dresses. From what I can gather, a young woman decided that she wanted to break her jeans and t-shirt habit and declared 2010 the “Summer of Dresses.” The challenge is to wear dresses twice a week. She even started a website in which other gals can post pictures of themselves in their newest, sunniest, quirkiest dress.

When I first heard about Summer of Dresses, I suppose I found the notion a bit surprising. Wearing dresses is not anything out of the ordinary for me. In fact, I love skirts and dresses. Depending on the cut, style and color, a dress can serve a variety of functions and moods. Chic. Playful. Powerful. Fun. Classic. Professional. Bohemian. Glamorous. Sexy. Bold.

You can pair a dress with vintage pumps, ballet flats, sandals, and boots. And they are, well, fun to try on. I usually cannot afford half the dresses I observe through a shop window. But I like to imagine. There is something unique about dresses (as well as tops/skirts) that jeans and shirts fail to capture. Perhaps it is the way I feel in a well-cut dress. My confidence soars beyond the stratosphere. I. Am.Woman.

Let me pause and declare that the same kind of confidence can be attained through a pair of skinny jeans and sweater. Or jeans and a snazzy blazer. My favorite article of clothing is actually my black skinnies, and there are long stretches of time (particularly in the Pacific Northwest winters) where I forego dresses and skirts of any kind. It’s too darn cold for that twill skirt and 1940’s blouse.

What I appreciate about this Summer of Dresses is that it promotes a culture of femininity. Now I do not mean cutesy clothes and demure ladylike expressions. I strongly advocate for the empowerment of women, yet I also encourage my fellow girls to engage those qualities and aspects of themselves that make them feel distinctly female. Because, well, you are female for one thing. And two, in this culture of post-feminism there seems to be a sort of backlash, in which women are looked down upon if she adores chocolate, concerns herself with fashion and style, desires motherhood, or any of the other stereotypical “female” attributes. Guess what? You can wear a smart pencil skirt and ruffled-neck blouse to the office and still be taken seriously. This is not an either/or choice. No more need for bra burnings. You can purchase the wildest, sexiest bra out there, wear it under a sheath dress at a work presentation, and blow everyone out of the water with your prowess, achievements, and intellect. Again, it comes back to confidence. Embracing your femininity is one way to feel better about yourself. Looking and feeling confident is attractive, magnetic. It’s about being comfortable in your body.

I say: stop looking to Hollywood and Vogue on how to dress and appear. Take your body back. Reclaim your beauty as your own, whether that be natural, glamorous, or homespun.

Now there is a difference between strutting your stuff with confidence and plain ‘ol tackiness. Ask your closest friends or a shop consultant on what styles work best for your body shape. From Queen Latifa to Carey Mulligan, a well-fit dress accentuates your uniquely ‘You’ features and makes you look good.

Men: how do you weigh in on this? Do you enjoy dressing in dapper clothing? What article of clothing gives you confidence? Are there aspects of masculinity that are fun to embrace? Aspects that you feel to be constricting or unfair? (Guys seem to be receiving the short end of the stick in popular media these days. Commercials profile the lazy, disconnected father or the ignorant jock. An increasing amount of pressure is being placed on guys to be waiflike and skinny, as evidenced in the rise of matchstick jeans. These generalized profiles are just as wrong as the dumb blonde, nagging mother, and obedient, robotic housewife.)

AND LASTLY, the moment you have been waiting for, I give you my Summer of Dresses Vote. I am looking to purchase a new dress for an upcoming special occasion. I cannot give too many details about the event. It will be indoors and during twilight/evening hours. Something versatile that could be worn at both the ballet and a cocktail party. Cast your vote and help me decide!

1. In Dove With You (ModCloth) - Sure, the title has a lot to be desired, but I simply love the color.

2. Sci-Fi Heroine - Sci fi + heroine = love it. The gathered sleeves and oversized collar are bonus points for me. And it's a tad funky. I'm all about that.

3. Velvet Underground. It's classy and understated. Imagine with black pumps and matching clutch.

4. English Seaside Dress - I love this dress. Before you say this is not fancy enough for an evening outing, first add a stylish black belt with matching pumps. Add a long string of black pearls or an antique locket.

5. One Shoulder Ruched Dress. I have been searching for a one-shoulder dress all year. Is this one a keeper?

6. Grecian Dress - Let's advance beyond the blacks, greys, and navys. I love this deep shade of green.

 

summer reads: nonfiction

For those who prefer nonfiction, here are eleven of my summer reading recommendations. They range from fashion to neuroscience, Amazonian explorations to Shakespeare. Pour yourself a glass of iced lemonade and refresh your literary brain with these summer picks.

1. The Lost City of Z, by David Grann
Here is a book sitting on my bookshelf, eagerly waiting to be read. The Lost City of Z holds all the components of that “perfect summer book”: adventure, historical mystery, and ancient legends. Author David Grann happened upon a set of hidden diaries, which then propelled him into the quest of solving “the greatest exploration mystery of the twentieth century.” In 1925, Percy Fawcett—British explorer and adventurer—ventured into the Amazon to search for an ancient civilization and its legendary city, referred to only as “Z.” He and his two companions never returned.

The Amazon has always held an allure for me, and David Grann’s gripping narrative does not disappoint. An accomplished writer for the The New Yorker, Grann’s masterful treatment of the topic results in a thrilling and accessible piece of history. The New York Times hails the work as a novel that “reads with all the pace and excitement of a movie thriller and all the verisimilitude and detail of firsthand reportage.”

2. A People’s History of the United States, by Howard Zinn.

Howard Zinn is one of those figures that I wished I could have met. (He died this past year.) I so appreciate and agree with his approach to history—that of examining history from the perspectives of the “losers.” Of those that did not have the privilege or ability to include their voice in the documentation of mainstream U.S. history. Of the people who have been politically or economically exploited—and then omitted from our history textbooks. Zinn goes back to 1492 and moves through history, telling America’s story from the viewpoint of women, Native Americans, factory workers, African-Americans, immigrants, and the working poor. There is enough material within this book to make one’s blood burn from the past injustices, ignorance, and manipulation. Yet it is also a vivid—and necessary—portrait of all Americans, not just the ones wealthy and privileged enough to write their version of history. This is on my Required Reading shelf.

3. Will in the World, by Stephen Greenblatt

Summer seems to be the time for Shakespeare festivals. I just recently watched my friend perform in Merchant of Venice in The Public’s Shakespeare in the Park production in New York City. Will in the World provides a lucid and fascinating account of Shakespeare—and how he became the masterful Bard. I am admittedly a complete Shakespeare nerd, but even the vaguely curious will find Stephen Greenblatt’s research and hypotheses interesting reading. I know what you might be thinking. Another book about Shakespeare? As someone who taught a Shakespeare class, I skimmed through dozens of books—most of them trite, under-researched, mind-stiflingly dry or stuffed with absurd conspiracy theories—and Will in the World is a winner. Greenblatt knows his stuff, and he transports his readers to the Elizabethan England with style.

4. The Female Brain, by Louann Brizendine

Put away the magazines that describe the best swimsuit for your body shape. Yes, bikinis are as abundant as iced tea during the summer. But let us move up fourteen inches from the bikini zone to the brain. And there, let Dr. Brizendine regale you with everything you have ever wanted to know about the female brain. This is not a treatise on the superiority of the female psychosis. In fact, it is her equal, scientific treatment of the brain and neuroscience that caused this book to leap into my all-time favorites. Dr. Brizendine uses her knowledge as a neuropsychiatrist to show how the structure of the female brain determines “how women think, what they value, how they communicate, and who they love.” The highest praise I can give this book is that I learned so much. Brizendine’s obvious lens of evolution might be difficult for some to swallow, but her overall findings—regardless of personal belief—are fascinating. She has just published another book The Male Brain, which I plan to read quite soon.

5. Proust and the Squid: The Story and Science of the Reading Brain, by Maryanne Wolf

Staying in the brain vein, check out Proust and the Squid by Maryanne Wolf, world-renowned cognitive neuroscientist. I have picked up this book countless times at the bookstore, never bringing myself to purchase it. Well that time is over. This book chronicles the development of the individual reading brain. How do we read? How do those characters on a page suddenly transform into ‘Midway upon the journey of life I found myself within a forest dark’ ? What happens within our brains when we read a line of text? Wolf gives a tour from the brains of a pre-literate Homer to a literacy-ambivalent Plato, from an baby listening to a storybook to a scholar on Proust. Psychology students and avid readers alike are bound to enjoy this book.

6. Dogtown: Tales of Rescue, Rehabilitation, and Redemption, by Stefan Bechtel

This one is for my mom. She is whole-heartedly a dog lover, as are over 37% of Americans (according to the American Veterinary Medical Association). Dogtown is the canine section of the nation’s largest companion animal sanctuary, run by Best Friends Animal Society. There is now a National Geographic Channel show entitled DogTown, in which people can learn about animal behavior and hear heartwarming stories. Dogtown is well-written, though it can sometimes sneak into the realm of over-sentimentality. Bechtel balances stories of dog rehabilitation with thoughtful research and information about animal health, behavior, and affects of trauma. The stories of fifteen dogs are showcased throughout the book—a definite recommendation for dog lovers everywhere.

7. Dreaming of Dior, by Charlotte Smith

If you enjoy fashion—or merely looking at sketches of beautiful dresses—this book is for you. This 292-page book is filled with drawings of vintage dresses, a delightful feast for the eyes. Yet Dreaming of Dior is not just a picture book. The story behind the book is the truly captivating part: Charlotte Smith inherited a vintage clothing collection from her Quaker godmother. Boxes of dresses, totaling over three thousand, arrived to Smith’s address—the pieces dating from 1790 to 1995. Rather than just exhibiting the dresses, Smith located her godmother’s book of stories. The dresses in Dreaming of Dior are not just fashion pieces; they are a collection of snapshots from women’s lives. Each dress in the book includes the real-life story of the woman who wore it. As one bookseller put it, Dreaming of Dior is utterly charming. The perfect escape on a hot, summer day.

8. In Defense of Food: An Eater’s Manifesto, by Michael Pollan

Summertime abounds with farmer’s markets. Fresh produce, local vegetables, simple cooking. Something within me feels so good—so clean—when I use local, healthy food to create meals. There are several cookbooks to help you transform those veggies into luscious entrees (such as Fast, Fresh & Green, by Susie Middleton and Eating Local, by Sur La Table and Janet Fletcher). So how about some theory as to why we should be eating all those greens—and supporting the environment while doing so? In Defense of Food is the follow-up to Michael Pollan’s book The Omnivore’s Dilemma. In case you have not heard them before, Pollan’s advice for eating comes down to seven words: Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants. If you’re interested in food movements and health, this is a good book to check out.

9. A Monk’s Alphabet : Moments of Stillness in a Turning World, by Jeremy Driscoll

I discovered this enchanting book during one of my recent excursions to Powell’s. It was tucked away, somewhat hidden behind larger, hardcover books. I felt as though I had come across a secret treasure, and I’m almost hesitant to share with others. It is a collection of short essays (ranging from a single paragraph to three pages), written by a Benedictine monk. The format is flexible; you can read from front to back or search for a word that resonates with you on a particular day. The essays are all centered around a single word, and they are arranged alphabetically…perfect for daily meditation. Summer can get crazy, despite its best intentions of relaxation. A Monk’s Alphabet provides an exquisite antidote the daily stresses of life.

10. Annie Leibovitz at Work, by Annie Leibovitz

There are summer days where it is far too hot to venture outside, and all we want is to splay our bodies on a slab of cold concrete and lazily flip through magazines. (At least, that’s what I want when the thermometer passes 100 degrees.) Here is one better than the July issue of Vogue: the 240-page compilation of Annie Leibovitz’s photography. I greatly admire Leibovitz and her work. She is innovative, sharply creative, provocative…a master in her field and art. She has captured iconographic images of such figures as Queen Elizabeth, Kate Moss, John Lennon and Yoko Ono, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Rolling Stones. In this compilation, she shares how her pictures were made, along with topics of reportage, fashion photography and portraiture. Drink in the pictures. Your blistering summer day will fade to the back of your mind.

What is your nonfiction recommendation?

 

thoughts from vancouver (not b.c.)

Unless you have been lost at sea or tunneling underground with a teaspoon to India, you know that the Winter Olympic Games are taking place in Vancouver B.C.—a hop, skip and day’s drive away from my hometown. (The ‘other’ Vancouver.) I must admit that I do not like the Olympics. I believe them to be over-hyped and over-exaggerated, complete with inane announcers and not-so-subtle marketing ploys for NBC.

Despite this, I have been tuning in every so often for the pure sake of the sports. It was the snowboard cross that captured my attention. I mean, did you catch that madness? Or the half-pipe? Forget curling and ice dancing, I want to know when the next X Games take place. Yesterday I watched an hour of women’s aerials. These athletes skied up a sloped tower of ice that launched them into the air—four stories high—where they proceed to spin, twist, and flip in the 3.5 seconds before landing on the snowy hill below. Insane. I have to admire those athletes. They possess sheer skill that I cannot begin to imagine, not to mention the fervid dedication and discipline they need to reach that level of skill.

So in the spirit of the Olympic season, I have compiled an entirely unscientific list of my likes, dislikes, and ruminations.

1. My favorite sports to watch: snowboarding, hockey, aerials, ski cross, and anything else that sends your adrenaline rushing. I could never bring myself to strap on a snowboard and fly down a curvy, mountain track with jumps. At the risk of sounding like a fourteen-year old, it is just so cool.

2. As I watched the gold-medal performance of Evan Lysacek online, I realized something: figure skating is rather asinine. To me. In my opinion. I know there are folks out there who defend and love figure skating with a passion worthy of Braveheart. You know what? Good for you. Continue on with your ice skating love. I cannot watch it anymore, which is saying something. I used to be obsessed. (Seriously, I happen to own a Campbell’s “Souper Stars on Ice” bowl from 1998 with the autographs of that year’s U.S. Olympic women skaters: Nicole Bobek, Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski. Remember them?) And when I say obsessed, I mean that I watched every figure skating competition or special that occurred on television. I knew all the top names and the scoring system. I wanted to be Yuko Sato’s best friend.

But now I watch the event with impatience and bemusement. First of all, I do not understand the new scoring system. From what I have read, it seems that the skaters earn points by successfully completing a list of elements. To my untrained eye, this causes nearly all the routines to look the same. The costumes are either grossly ostentatious or so standard I find myself wishing that someone would skate onto the ice wearing a skin-tight lizard sheath. Something weird. Something to rock the boat. The same goes for the music. I can only listen to so many violin-heavy classical pieces before I start feeling drowsy. I was excited to see one of the male skaters wearing a black t-shirt, embellished with colored jewels in the shape of an electric guitar. Rock on. Too bad he fell at the beginning of his routine.

And lastly, while I do admire the balance, strength and grace needed to skate and jump across the ice, I find it boring. I remember skating when each performance told a story. Now I watch the skaters contort their faces into overly exaggerated, emotional expressions and wave their arms in the same fashion as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Fans can keep their ice version of dance. I’ll take my tickets to the ballet.

3. Jacket envy—I’m harboring a severe bout of envy for those navy-blue, puffy snow jackets that the NBC announcers wear. I am perpetually cold, and I have a feeling that jacket would solve all my cold weather woes. And they are super cute. Chic color, snazzy Vancouver 2010 patch. *Sigh*

4. I am not, however, jealous of the U.S. line of athletic apparel. Some—like the alpine skiers—are okay. But I cringed when I saw the snow pants and jacket for aerials. The jacket and pants match so it looks like a snowsuit onesie. The suit is dark blue with light blue stars scattered all over the fabric. It looks like Betty Ross threw up and forgot the red and white stripes.

5. Stephen Colbert needs to grace the Olympics with his presence more. He brings a much-needed sense of humor to the games. If you have not seen the interview with Bob Costas yet, check it out: http://www.nbcolympics.com/video/assetid=9d9ff0ef-ee6e-47f4-a6a8-0ce20fb539cb.html#stephen+colbert+with+bob+costas.

6. Hail to the Nordics. You do not see the utter predominance of orange from the Netherlands during the Summer Olympics. And neon tangerine at that. Makes sense since the Nordic-trifecta (Sweden, Norway and Finland) can experience snow-covered ground for six months out of the year.

7. How does the Olympic theme music still cause my heart to swell and make me feel like I can accomplish anything? I gave up sports back in high school but, damn, that anthem makes me want to pull out my soccer cleats and join the local women’s team.

8. I love love love the dude who starts all the speed skating events. You never see him; you only hear his voice: “Rhea-dee.” (As in, “Ready.”) He sounds so disinterested with the entire affair. And his accent is a delightful mix of French and Canadian. French-Canadian, perhaps? Whatever his nationality, he feels me with glee.

9. I am always amused at the fierce attempts by NBC to create “Olympic stories” in between the actual events. You cannot just introduce Bode Miller.  No, no. You play a specially-created, four-minute video set to inspirational music that paints a portrait of a true Olympian. A fighter. A man who has experienced setbacks and now returned to achieve his goal of GOLD. NBC should partner with Hallmark—they would make amazing movies. Like a sports version of the Lifetime Movie Network.

10. For a global event that is supposed to “bring the world together,” I have been increasingly annoyed with NBC’s coverage. They focus overwhelmingly on the American athletes. I can understand that American viewers want to see American athletes. But this is such an opportunity to showcase the world. In a time torn by conflict, war, and suspicion, it would be nice to hear of the stories from Armenia or Uzbekistan. Did you know that Pakistan is participating in these Olympics? So are Colombia, Ghana and Montenegro. Does the American majority even know where Montenegro is? The Olympics could provide an incredible education in geography and world culture. But it is the Americans in the coverage spotlight, even when other nations place higher in the qualification rounds and event rankings. (Unless, of course, it is the finals round. Those athletes will be covered, as will the stray American trailing behind in 19th place.)

11. While I am criticizing NBC, allow me one more frustration. The Games are covered in such a way that places tremendous pressure on the athletes. The word “redemption” is used to an absurd extreme. If an athlete wiped out four years ago, they have their chance at redemption in Vancouver. And if that athlete happens to wipe out this time around, they have LOST IT ALL. Maybe they are not destined for Olympic Gold. Really? These athletes train every day for years, but I would think that the athletes would say it is for the sake of their sport. And their love of that sport. As Aussie Torah Bright (half-pipe gold medalist) said, performing well is about bettering the sport. The Olympic podium is a goal, amongst many. So stop elevating the Olympic Games to the most important event in which these athletes will ever compete.

12. Does Bob Costas do anything apart from serving as the NBC frontman of the Olympic Games? He has been the main sportscaster for the Olympics since 1992 in Barcelona. That’s eighteen years. No wonder that cup of cocoa in the manufactured, fireside-studio lodge goes untouched. (The answer, if you were wondering, is yes. You can find Costas on the MLB network. Baby-faced Costas and baseball, the all-American pastime? Yeah, I can see that.)

My twelve-cents on the Olympics, for what it’s worth.

p.s. okay, I will not skewer NBC with more criticism on their pitiful coverage here. That would require an analytic essay on media, marketing, and the responsibilities of any network when given the monopoly on an event such as the Olympics. I might write such an essay at a future time. For now, here is an article on the vicious backlash from the network’s decision to cover ice dancing over the U.S.—Canada hockey game on Sunday:  http://www.thewrap.com/ind-column/usa-hockey-beats-canada-nbc-takes-bigger-hit-14466. The “border war” was discussed during the evening news, but not shown…Brilliant move, NBC.)