Belle’s Weekly Reading: August 29, 2013

Aug 29, 2013

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You spend your entire career putting yourself in the right place, proving yourself.  But that doesn’t mean that that preparation will be enough to ensure success.  You don’t get what you deserve, you get what you ask for.  So if there is something that you want and it’s not materializing like it should be, grab the reins and go after it.  Ask for the raise, put in for the promotion, make the career change–but don’t think that just because you’re in the right place that guarantees that things will happen.

1) Tim Gunn is taking on designers who don’t see the value in making plus-size clothing.  He calls the failure to address those with specialty sizes, both petite and plus, “repugnant.”

2) This Quotation silk blouse with sequin sleeves is to die for.  It’s a great top to pair with jeans or with a pencil skirt.  I also fell hard for this dark grey Rachel Zoe sweater with a sequin sleeve.

3) Earlier this week, I was standing on a breathtaking mountaintop admiring the view and suddenly realized that every person within ten feet of me was looking at his cell phone instead of the vista.  It reminded me of that photo from Pope Francis’s introduction where nearly every person in the crowd has their cell phone out.  Is life really meant to be viewed through the portal of a 4″ screen?

Comedian Charlene deGuzman produced a short video about the topic of smart phone overuse that is both thought-provoking and depressing.  Maybe there are things in life worth seeing/doing/eating that don’t need to be shared on Instagram.

4) Somehow, I have a red wedge but not a red pump.  How this oversight occurred is anyone’s guess, but it’s time to rectify my mistake.  The only question now is, do I want these red suede Chinese Laundry pumps that my wallet will love, or these Kate Spade Karolina heels?  Neither.  I want these uber sexy Zara pumps.

5) Author John Steinbeck used the pigasus–a winged pig–as his personally symbol.  For him, it symbolized the fact that we are all “earthbound but aspiring.”  I have a winged pig in my office, and now you can too with this bank from C. Wonder.

6) I smelled the new fragrance from Jimmy Choo last week, and while I usually go for lighter scents, I loved the strong citrus and musk notes in this perfume.  So if you’re looking for a fall fragrance, put this one on your list to try.

7) Body language is incredibly important.  I once had a direct report who I could barely communicate with because she always had her hands on her hips like she was frustrated with the world.  American Express (of all places) has a great article on how body language can help or hinder communication and success.

8)  I spent all summer hunting for casual jersey dresses, now it’s time to put my camo on and go out in search of the perfect sweater dress.  I dig this leopard sweater dress from Velvet and this simple McGinn sweater dress in charcoal grey.  But if you need something under-$100, this BCBG ruched sweater dress is awesome.

9) One of my new favorite sites is a Tumblr called “That Kind of Woman.” It’s visually stunning and refined.  I can’t get enough.

10) Deborah Lippmann is out with a new collection of polishes called ‘jewel heist.’  I adore the dark, shimmery green, and the dark as night navy blue is spectacular.

11) Ever been stuck in traffic and you’re sure, sure, that the other lane is moving faster than yours, until you get in it?  Lifehacker explains the complicated science/psychology behind illusory correlation to prove that it’s all in your head.

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  1. Rebecca Wiener says:

    The photo of Pope Francis’s introduction made me think of
    this short-film about living in the age of the smart phone:

    https://gawker.com/short-film-about-smartphone-overuse-is-smart-poignant-1189811144

    It’s amazing how true it is!

  2. Sarah says:

    I love that Tim Gunn article – thanks for linking to it. The comments were shockingly mean, but I guess that’s what I get for looking at comments.

  3. KC says:

    How about tall sizes?

    • GoGoGo says:

      I loved that article too, and I was so happy to hear Tim use his powers for good!

      KC–in the article, he only specifically laments that designers are overlooking women over size 12 and women who are petite. He doesn’t mention tall sizes by name, though it sounds like he’d be in favor of more stylish options across the board.

      What are the shopping options like for tall women these days? That’s not something I know much about.

  4. terri says:

    Tim Gunn’s spot on observations are honest! Sometimes you need someone to be a bit blunt for you to “get the point”…pun intended. And I would rather have that over polite untruth any day.

  5. B says:

    Thanks for the Tim Gunn, article, Belle! As a 5’11” straight size 12-14, I have felt the pain of needing one size bigger in a designer dress and it not existing in a 14. I’ve honestly stood in the dressing room at Neimans and said to a sales girl, “I really want to give you $500 for this dress, but I need a 14” and gotten a ‘sympathetic’ “I’m so sorry, it only goes up to 12… and it’s not like you’re even fat or anything!”. Ugh, seriously?

    And plus sizes, in addition to being terribly manufactured, were not made for women with normal proportions, nor anyone over 5’7″.

    • E says:

      Oh my god, I feel like I could have written this comment. Have you found any designers/stores that have anything to offer?

  6. Sarah says:

    Two things:
    I Loved that BCBG sweater dress and bought it immediately. I’m thinking Thanksgiving….

    The article was spot on. Just as he talks about the hideous clothing in plus size sections, check out the petite ‘department’ at most stores. It’s like they picked all the ugliest items and shrunk them for us small girls.

  7. Lindsay says:

    “Earthbound but aspiring.” What a beautiful way of looking at things. Thanks for sharing.

  8. Lyellian says:

    Belle, I’m loving the weekly reads feature. Thanks for posting these–especially the Tim Gunn article.

  9. Chiara says:

    The videoyou talk in #3 went viral here in Italy. So sadly true.
    Thanks for the links. You just made me discover “that kind of woman”, and I love her.
    And I think I want a pair of red pumps too…

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