In Defense of my Inner Girly Girl

by Tracey Flower

A male friend of mine recently saw my stack of fashion and beauty magazines on my coffee table. He gave me a disapproving look and a short lecture about reading such useless fluff. I laughed him off and told him to let it go, it’s my thing. I have to admit, though, his comments kind of bugged me. I’ve been reading fashion and beauty magazines since I was a preteen. I used to buy Seventeen and clearance makeup from MacDonald’s Drug Store and spend Saturday afternoons studying the magazine for tips on how to apply the makeup. And it makes my day every month when I find a new issue of Glamour in my post office box. I’ve never really thought twice about these little guilty pleasures but after my friend’s comments I can’t help but wonder; is this something I’m supposed to be ashamed about?

I’ve always been a girly girl. My dad likes to tell a story about me on my first day of Kindergarten. I stood in front of my dresser with all the drawers open, threw my hands up in the air and declared, “I have nothing to wear.” Not much has changed since then.

I like to shop and get all dolled up. I like to get cozy with a cup of tea and read about boots and handbags (and the real life stories in those magazines too, it’s not all fluff, you know). And I like to give myself facials and pedicures. It just plain feels good and, more than that, it’s part of who I am and I’m not going to apologize for just being myself.

Why, then, do I feel the need to defend my guiltless enjoyment of my guilty pleasures?

Perhaps it was the conversation my fluff-hating friend and I were having before he saw my magazine stash. I had been going on and on about all the things I want to do with my life, mainly travel, write and change the world. I gave this grand speech about how I want to make something good of my recent heartache and use this as an opportunity to grow and really better myself. And more than that I want to help other people because there are so many people who have it even worse than me (I told him this as if I had stumbled on some grand original light-shedding idea). I think he believed me until he saw my magazines.

I really do want all those things for my life. And I really do want to put some good out into the world. Stories of violence and poverty absolutely break my heart and I feel compelled to do something somehow someday to help ease the pain of others.

BUT I think it’s equally important to take care of myself, of my pain and my happiness.

I was in a yoga class a few months and the instructor shared a quote that is very relevant to my argument here but unfortunately I have forgotten the exact wording (and the quoted’s name but I’m pretty sure it was either Ghandi or the Dalai Lama). The message, however, was along the lines of this; you should go out into the world and take care of others but you first must take care of yourself because you’ll never be able to help others if you don’t first help yourself.

Embracing my inner girly girl is part of taking care of myself. I must also exercise, go to work, sleep, meditate, and write (and, yes, maintain a balance of those things and more). The magazines I read might be full of fluff and it might seem frivolous to paint my toenails or shallow that I get so very excited about finding the perfect boots on sale but it’s part of who I am and taking the time to nurture that part of me supports my mental health (and helps me hang on to at least a little bit of sanity), which in turn ensures that I can better focus on putting some good out into the world.


What about you? What guilty pleasures do you feel guiltless about? What silly things keep you sane, ensuring that you can better focus on putting some good out there?

First Anniversary Bonus Post

I wrote the following article for Vail PM about a month ago but it hasn’t run on their site yet and I’m not sure if it ever will. I put some work into it, though, and I had fun writing it so I thought I’d share it here.


Spring Forward into Spring Fashion

Spring is here. We’ve seen plenty of sunshine in the last few weeks accompanied by temps in the 40’s and 50’s (anywhere else that’s still cold, here that’s flip flop weather). Daylight Savings made its debut last month and Easter is right around the corner. And while this winter has been a bit mild compared to the last few it has been winter nonetheless. It’s always bittersweet to bid adieu to ski season, but the pain of saying good-bye can be eased with the promise of longer days, Hot Summer Nights, and summer sports. And, of course, the thrill of shedding a layer or two or five and stepping into some spring style.

A friend of mine who used to live in Vail returned this winter for an extended holiday from her native Melbourne, Australia. Before she arrived she expressed to me her anxiety over what to pack. After two years in Melbourne, often regarded as Australia’s fashion capital, she wasn’t sure how or if her trendy wardrobe would fit in here. She packed some skinny jeans and bought a couple new hoodies and some sneakers and hoped for the best. After being in Vail for a few weeks, however, she said she was pleasantly surprised to find that folks in the Valley seemed to be dressing trendier than the last time she was here and that she felt comfortable wearing the majority of her Melbourne duds in Vail.

Yes, it’s true, fashion is alive and well in Vail. You can see it in the chic boutiques in the villages or at events such as the fashion show fundraiser for the Susan G. Komen Foundation last month at Samana. We have to be creative about the way we apply trends in fashion to life in the Rockies, though; we have to adapt them to the climate and lifestyle we enjoy in the mountains. And, while there’s something to be appreciated about living in a place where it’s perfectly appropriate to show up to happy hour in bike shoes or snow pants, it’s just as nice to peel off layer after layer (of dirt or ski gear, depending on the season) and step into something a tad nicer.

With a hint of spring in the air, this is the perfect time of year to update your wardrobe with a few new items to take your look into spring/summer 2010 (even in a place where spring is called mud season and it can snow in July). Consider the following trends when stocking up your closet this season.

The Boyfriend Blazer: Perfect for layering on cool mud season days or for a Hot Summer Nights concert this trend, featured in spring fashion issues of magazines like Lucky and Glamour, is an essential staple for the mountain girl’s wardrobe this spring/summer. The blazer should be a little too big as if you borrowed it from your boyfriend’s closet. It should fit long in the torso and should be worn with the sleeves rolled up. Try throwing one over a flirty flowy cami to make the look more feminine or layered over a cute hoodie with a scarf for brisk spring days. Shop Billabong in Vail Village, Quicksilver, or Arriesgado, both in Lionshead, for camis, hoodies, and other perfect tops to wear with your blazer.

Tights and Leggings: Are a mountain girl’s best friend, and still very much on-trend this spring. What better way to wear a sweet floral skirt this spring, before things heat up, than paired with tights, flats, and that boyfriend blazer? From standard black to a striking yellow, tights and leggings give you an opportunity to wear summer prints and cuts before it’s warm enough to do so. Also stay warm and show off your legs (c’mon you’ve been skiing all winter, you know you want to) by wearing shorts over tights. This look, seen on celebs such as Nicole Richie and Sienna Miller, and sported by my fashion-forward friend from Melbourne, is another great way to wear your warm-weather clothes now. Arriesgado Clothing Company in Lionshead has tights and leggings for sale as well as a selection of sweet and sexy summer dresses.

Sportswear as Streetwear: Hallelujah ladies, it really is trendy to après in ski gear. Well, almost. From ballerina chic to tomboy tumbled this trend is perfect for life in the valley. This look is more sophisticated than your favorite hiking clothes but just as comfortable and effortless. Fashion networking site fashionising.com breaks down the details on how to pull it off. For cute sportswear that’s also functional check out Roxy Athletix, the surf-wear brand’s latest line of ladies athletic clothing available at Quicksilver in Lionshead.

Accessories, Accessories, Accessories: Even as the economy creeps toward recovery, finding ways to spruce up your wardrobe without breaking the bank is key this season and accessories are the perfect way to do it. Accessories are also a good way to experiment with trends in pattern and color without going all-out. Hot colors this season are bright but not neon, bold but not over-powering, think turquoise or coral. Try a lightweight scarf in one of these colors paired with a more neutral top. Or, give the new warrior trend a try with a studded leather belt or a piece of jewelry inspired by ancient cultures. Knee-high socks are also big this season and another way to stay current while staying warm this spring. Knee-highs can be sporty or dressy, worn alone or layered over tights.