body image « love library

I was planning on writing a post today about our outing to the Great Dismal Swamp last weekend. It was beautiful and I took some pictures FROM A MOTORCYCLE AT 60 MPH! But instead, I feel the need to write about my first “ack” wedding experience. Judge me if you must.

As of this moment, I think I am going to wear this dress during our after-wedding party and buy another dress for our ceremony.

So, today I made an appointment to try on dresses. Le sigh. It wasn’t as I had hoped. I felt like I was judged on my budget over the phone. So before I am even at the salon, I’m judged. Am I overreacting? Maybe. Maybe the girl on the phone just had an annoying voice, or maybe she has no phone manners? Maybe, but…

The dress that I’m in love with online isn’t even available in their store or anywhere in NC until the fall. Ack.
I’m already nervous about my mom being judgmental about my dress budget. Ack.
I’m nervous about feeling fat and uncomfortable when trying on dresses. Ack. I’ve cried in a dressing room before. Ack. I’m sure most of you girls and maybe some dudes have too. Ack.

I can be a real Cathy sometimes. Rationally, I know this is a dumb thing to stress about. Really, it isn’t that bad. I haven’t even gone to the salon yet. Maybe I haven’t even seen THE DRESS. Maybe there is no such thing as THE DRESS. Maybe it is like Santa, he/the dress are real if you want to believe.

I just love fashion and I put a lot of importance on THE DRESS. I want to love it and feel amazing in it. ME.ME.ME.ME.ME.

Rant over.

Video Commence:

Cathy – SNL

Was your dress-buying experience a positive one?

love,
melanie

I have an unhealthy love of J. Crew. I’d die happy (and fashionable) if my entire wardrobe was J. Crew sweater sets and ballet flats.

So when I noticed that the new J. Crew Style Guide arrived in my mailbox on Monday, I tore through the pages of the book before I even ripped open my birthday card– sorry, Grandma.

But when I turned the last glossy page, I was left with a feeling of utter disappointment.

The style was impeccable. The clothes were colorful and gorgeous. But all I could think about was: “why are there no ‘real’ women models?”

If you haven’t seen the style guide yet, in the Men’s section of the book, “real” men are modeling the majority of the clothes. No doubt, the “real” men are not your everyday Joe Schmo. The “real” men are hip investment bankers and restauranteurs, wear no socks with their sandals, and they are all gorgeous. But the women’s section didn’t have a “real” woman in sight. All models.

Model and Restaurateur, Michael Chernow.

I know J. Crew has a history of sometimes using real people as models and I appreciate it. It’s better than most companies. But the contrast between the men and women’s sections of the catalog was unsettling.

Are real women not hip enough? Do we not have interesting jobs? Do we not occasionally go sock-less? Are we not gorgeous?

I know this is barely grazing the tip of the iceberg. This could be an entire novel about the fashion industry and body image and women, but I think it is high time we started bringing real women into the picture.

What do you all think?

love,
melanie

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Tag Archives: body image

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J. Crew I love you, but you’re bringing me down.

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