Never Fear Being Vulgar, Only Boring

Dedicated readers will know too well that I am not really into feminism, not into girls nights out and in general prefer the company and skills of the opposite sex (for example, you will not catch my hair in the hands of a female hairdresser again).

But, I have recently found a women who I wish to aspire to.

Diana Vreeland was quite a remarkable woman. She was introduced to His Majesty King George V and Queen Mary, made knickers for Wallis Simpson, supposedly invented the word pizazz, was a dancing girl in a London club, “discovered” Lauren Bacall and was an occasional style advisor to Jackie Kennedy.

Born in Paris and later lived in London and New York (Sigh, lucky bitch), she threw fabulous parties attended by fabulous people.  A columnist for Harpers Bazzar, she later became editor-in-chief at Vogue.

This is my sort of woman. She hated casual dress, “loathed narcissim but approved of vanity” and thought that blue jeans were “the most beautiful things since the Gondola”.  She  rarely made it to her office before noon and was responsible for brining animal prints in style.  To top it off, she wore wore Chanel No. 5.

Her “Why Don’t You” column that ran in Harper’s Bazzar is full of whimsy, whit and words that make me sigh -

Why Don’t You… paint a map of the world on all four walls of your boys’ nursery so they won’t grow up with a provincial point of view?

Why Don’t You… have an elk-hide trunk for the back of your car? Hermès of Paris will make this.

Why Don’t You… wash your blond child’s hair with dead champagne as they do in France?

She inspires me.  She left a mark on the world.  I hope, that in 80 years, some starry eyed twenty something year old sits down and writes about me, like I write about her.

From Suffrage to Donkey Vote

Last Saturday night I found myself glued to the television as I watched Election 2010: The Nations Decides on Channel 9.

I’ve never been overly interested in politics, but I had the feeling that this election was an important one and the banter between our former treasurer, two morning show hosts a political expert and some random wannabe’s was highly entertaining.

But it got me to thinking. We are actually incredibly privileged to live in a country where we can hold a democratic election. We are lucky to have the right to vote.

In the UK Roman Catholics were denied the right to vote until 1829.  As late as the 19th Century only the wealthy were allowed to vote in many Western democracies.

African-Americans fought vehemently during the Civil Rights movement for their right to vote. Australian Aboriginals were not allowed to vote until 1968.   

In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, women the world over campaigned for suffrage.   3,000 women took to the streets of London in 1907 to advocate their cause.  A cause which some of these women died for. 

And today, in 2010 it astounds me there are people that don’t bother enrolling to vote, that people would cast a donkey vote or informal vote in protest.  That in countries such as the USA and the UK, voting is not compulsory. 

For hundreds of years people of all backgrounds protested the right to vote. And for them, I am proud to have been able to cast my vote in Australia’s Federal Election last Saturday.

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day today. 

I found myself thinking, as I was attending a business woman's breakfast, that is men decided to hold an International Men’s Day there would be an UPROAR. 

I thought that it was just one of those touchy feely days, however some google research has shown that this day has been celebrated since 1910! Its origins are from Soviet days. But does anyone really care? Not really.

All I know is that because of International Woman’s Day I received a glass of champagne (well technically sparkling wine), eggs benedict and got to listen to a highly entertaining speaker. 

So I guess, well done to you Bolshevik gals.. I'll take any excuse for breakfast!

In The Company Of Females

 

Today I attended my first business womens networking meeting.  “You?” I hear you say.. “But you don’t like feminism!”

Well this is very true dear readers, but I am a massive fan of breakfast.  With the promise of eggs and bacon, maybe a croissant and a muffin I’d show up to a convention supporting Nazis/Terrorists/Whalers. 

I found this event very interesting.  With my industry I was not going to benefit so much from the networking, but I very much enjoyed the people watching. 

What I found interesting was the amount of women over the age of 35 who dye their hair bright artificial tones.  And not just highlights, I’m talking bright pink and purple hair.  My mother was a fan of the brightly coloured highlights until Dad and I told her she looked like an abstract painting and she went back to one lovely shade.

I think perhaps it is about re-claiming youth?  But really, this sort of hair looks good on no-one.  Very few people can pull off artificial hair tones and I think these people are usually dancers, artists or musicians with very fair skin. 

Also ladies, once you reach a certain age it is important to note that you will look far far sexier in a modest neckline and a knee length dress, than if you wear plunging neckline and a skirt up to your bits like you did in your twenties.  Fair enough go tight if you’ve still got your figure, why the hell not show it off. But there comes a point in every woman’s life when your hemline should be lowered.

This may sound a bit ageist but I think its more a matter of etiquette and class.  Think Helen Mirren and Meryl Streep, keeping it sexy and styling in their 50s and 60s by covering their knees and bingo wings. 

And these observations were all made this morning because my breakfast failed to capture my attention.  My eggs were runny, the bacon fatty and undercooked and there was NO TOAST. Honestly.