“I say that half your life is spent trying to get out of a small town and the other half trying to get back to one.”–Kelly Cutrone

A few years ago, I lived with a girl who was addicted to reality TV.  Addicted.  And her drug of choice was The Hills.  

One day, she burst into my room and exclaimed, “Belle, you’ve got to come watch, this woman is just like you.”  That was how she introduced me to my idol, Kelly Cutrone.

Girls are taught to be deferent, selfless, nurturing.  Then we spend most of our professional lives trying to unlearn this programming, desperately searching for the balance.  So a woman who was successful, unapologetic, and willing to be disliked, appealed to me.  

Finally, a woman whose professional advice consisted of more than, “You catch more flies with honey!”

(My political science professor almost died when I told her I wasn’t interested in flies.  I liked accolades and money.)

My copy of Cutrone’s first book, If You Have to Cry Go Outside, is riddled with Post-It flags.  I received her second book, Normal Gets You Nowhere, on Saturday.  I’ve already read it cover-to-cover.  Twice.  

Reading her book, I’m reminded of a quote from Lauryn Hill, “Fantasy is what we want. Reality is what we need.”  

So when Miss M told me that Kelly Cutrone was coming to The Front Row event in Bethesda on May 20th, I almost fainted.  

If you’ve never been, The Front Row is the area’s best fashion event of the year.  Hosted by Federal Realty and the shops on Bethesda Row, the multi-day event features a screening of the Bill Cunningham documentary, a fashion show and a number of amazing sales and events.

I know that Bethesda is a bit of a trek, but the event is worth every minute of hell spent on the Red Line.  As for Kelly Cutrone’s book signing, the line forms behind me, ladies.