Pretty? Talented? Smart? Happy?

[zingerella]

I have just fallen in love.

(Relax, my loves, it's with another author function. I'm unlikely to go bowling with Erin anytime soon, or to further shock my mother by inviting her home for dinner.)

It's just that A Dress a Day is so pretty, from both a visual and a literary perspective that an e-crush was inevitable.

Then Erin wrote You don't have

Comments

[onceupon]

I do not thing "pretty" and "attractive" are interchangeable. I think "pretty" is a very specific kind of nonthreatening pleasantness.

For instance, I know I'm not ugly. But I also don't think I'm pretty. Especially when "got up" in something fairly outlandish. Maybe striking. Maybe lovely. I might even approach beautiful sometimes. But "pretty" seems too vague and easy.

I think the rest of the post, where she talks about Vreeland, is the best part. Because I think going beyond pretty and into defining one's own look and personality is what it's all about.

[onceupon]

Of course, I've seen pictures of you and I think you are totally beyond pretty. Just thought I'd mention that.

Awww ... thanks!

[zingerella]

I totally suck at "elegant," though. I became much happier when I gave up on elegant and accepted the value of cute and vivacious, since those come naturally.

Re: Awww ... thanks!

[onceupon]

Elegant is HARD! You can't have a proper laugh with elegant.

Cute and vivacious are way more fun at a party.