A Few Good Reads

I am always about a week (or month) behind on my reading. One might ask when it is that I have time to read, with being so busy with my kids, work, and life in general. Have any of you ever looked at my hair and wondered why it always looks a little "off?" Well, here's my secret. I read while I dry and straighten my hair. I think of myself as pretty well read, but not pretty! My hair sacrifices, but I am up on current events. I think I am teaching my children a valuable lesson here - it's more important to know what you're talking about than to look like you know what you're talking about, yes?

Two of my recommendations are magazine articles. First was an interesting profile on Rachel Zoe in the New York Times Magazine. Rachel Zoe is the stylist to celebutauntes and stars like Nicol Richie, Lindsay Lohan, Anne Hathaway and more. This is the article in which she slams on Anna Wintour, editor of Vogue, and says that Vogue has never influenced fashion the way she has when she styled her girls who were then photographed by the tabloids and then created fashion frenzies with whatever it is they were wearing that was so cute. Rachel Zoe might be a little nuts and look like a blonde raisin, but she knows what she is doing. She has turned the role of stylist into an integral part of any star's contract. In fact, the article states that Nicole Kidman declined to attend a movie premier because the studio refused to pay the $6,000 per day (yes, per day!!!) fee of having a stylist on hand. I don't agree with bashing one of the most influential and legendary women in the industry. On the other hand, she has created an empire. The article didn't delve into her background as much as I would have liked, but it was interesting and I learned a thing or two.

The other fascinating article was in the September issue of Vanity Fair -my favorite magazine. The article was about Hermes. It gave a history of the family, talked about the company's core values and business acumen. It was very interesting. I've been obsessed with Hermes since high school when my aunt had a belt with a big gold "H." Right after college graduation, my parents gave me an Hermes scarf as a gift. It's so beautiful I am afraid to wear it. And, a little secret, right before Abby was born I blew an entire paycheck on my very own Hermes handbag which is stowed in my closet awaiting the day when it can be carried without the fear of having to old a sippy cup or fruit snack. Anyway, the article was really interesting. I read it twice!