Billboards of the 20s

This photo shows two walking billboards during the 1920s for "run-free stockings." I initially intended to just post this photo and be done with it, but then I started thinking about stockings.

There have been rules around stockings for a long time. A tell-tale sign of a woman who doesn't have it together are is runs in the tights. I definitely could have used these "Durasil" stockings this week. In one day, I got runs in my stockings, went to CVS for new ones, and proceeded to get runs in those stockings while putting them on. Not exactly my day. Luckily I was able to hide the second run under my skirt. I'm not entirely sure why, but I just consider people with runs "trashy."

Another stocking "rules" occurs in the winter. You must always have something covering your legs, even if you go with the sheerest of nude stockings. My boyfriend will always say to me, "That's crazy, I know plenty of girls who don't where stockings in the winter." My response? "They are floozys then."

I'm not entirely sure what that says about me, but I do find it interesting that these stocking "rules" actually define the type of woman we're perceived to be. What are your thoughts on this?

Tweet of the Day

Do I really have to point out why?

#WWedsChat with Adclub: Q3

Leading up to the 2011 Adclub Women's Leadership Forum, the Adclub twitter avatar sent out questions to the working women to see their responses. The following question caught my eye:

TheAdClub

Q3: To those who are seeking a new job, which is more important- the opportunity or the pay? #wwedschat

The first two answers were typical, it's about growth and the opportunity for improvement. But the last one nailed it:

KatrinaKibben

A# I'm not looking but the last time I did, I wasn't settling. Both $ and oppt are impt for my long term goals #wwedschat

As someone who just successfully finished a job search, I couldn't agree more. This has always been my sentiment, I will not settle. I you are talented, work hard, and have great results, then there is no reason to take a step back in either category (pay or opportunity).

Work It at the Gym!

Nope, I am not saying do your work at the gym. Instead I'm saying just go to the gym.

K and I are both huge proponents of exercise. Whether you are female, male, young or old, getting a good work out into your day really helps stimulate the brain making you smarter, happier and more awake. Now who wouldn't want that?

But yesterday while I was running on the treadmill I realized something else: when I'm working out I feel good about myself. I feel like I can do anything. I had a good playlist going, and I was ready to conquer the world. So if you don't already, get your bod to the gym and feel good about yourself!

Want to know what I was listening to? So do I, but I think my iphone was playing some of these artists:

1. Discovery http://www.myspace.com/discoverdiscovery

2. Eric Hutchinson http://www.myspace.com/erichutchinson

3. John Brown's Body http://www.myspace.com/johnbrownsbody

4. Amanda Blank http://www.myspace.com/amandablank

5. Roisin Murphy http://www.myspace.com/roisinmurphy

Female execs talk advancement

The Boston Business Journal posted an article yesterday highlighting female executives and their advice on how to advance as a female in the corporate world. I pulled some of my favorite quotes:

"We need to give ourselves a break and acknowledge that no one can 'have it all' at every moment of every day. I think 'having it all' is as much a myth as the fairy-tale prince, and it can pressure women into feeling that they must achieve perfection in every facet of their lives. We need to set realistic goals, balance our professional and personal lives in ways that matter to us as individuals, and recognize that there are many definitions of success."
- Sandy Lish, Principle and founder, The Castle Group

"The workplace is full of incredibly talented women also pursuing family life, elderly care, education, etc. Today's knowledge economy, combined with the latest telecommuting and remote workplace technologies, means there is no reason not to provide flexibility to employees - female and male. Face time is not a good substitute for impact, and a life that works means a leader who works hard and well."
- Tiziana Dearing, CEO, Boston Rising

"Exclusion of women from the ranks is insidious but not willful. Tips to prevent it include: (1) incentivizing men and women to mentor, share networks, offer exposure to decision-makers and recruit from the pipeline of women, (2) eliminating double-standards such as 'maternity leave' and 'flextime' versus men's 'family leave' or 'time off,' and preventing men from shirking flex-time pays for flex-hours, and (3) training women in rainmaking and leadership. Organizations must create an environment where women can advance."
- Lisa Cukier, Partner, Burns & Levinson


Read more: Women execs talk advancement | Boston Business Journal

How do you reach a woman?

I pulled this from an article I read on BzzAgent's blog today. They make an amazing point about how marketers don't seem to be targeting women, yet women control 85% of the purchase decisions in a home. So what's the problem? This "problem" happens to be one of the major reasons T and I started Playing with Cards - THERE'S NO FEMALE CREATIVE DIRECTORS. According to the article, only 3% of advertising agency creative directors are women, making the creative side of advertising heavily male dominated. Maybe agencies should really think about who they're trying to reach when they looking to hire the people in charge of doing it.

Hail to the "Tech" Female

An article popped up today on BostonInnovation talking about how "2010 marked the first year that women became the majority of the US workforce. At the same time, the technology industry is thriving in this digital era. Data shows that women make strong leaders and company founders, often bringing more efficiency and profitability to the table than men. So, why is it then that women are still largely absent from this sector?"

Here are some snapshots from their infographic:

Click here to see more

Equal Pay Day

I just discovered on one of my favorite blogs, BrandFlakes For Breakfast, that April 12 is Women's Equal Pay Day. The day symbolizes how far into 2011 women must work to earn the amount of money men made in 2010. Pretty crazy stuff that it takes us 3-4 extra months to earn money for the same exact jobs. I had never heard much about this "holiday," but apparently there are rallies and "un-happy" hours with 78% discounts on drinks (women on average earn 78% of men's pay). All around the world, women take a stand on their respective days:

New Zealand: February 18.

European Commission: March 5: 17.5% pay gap

Switzerland: March 11: 19,3% pay gap

Canada: March 18

Germany: March 25: 23% pay gap

Belgium: March 30: 26% pay gap

Austria: April 14: 27% pay gap

France: April 15: 16,5% pay gap

Australia: on September 2011: 19% pay gap

This video is part of Belgium's campaign for Equal Pay Day:

Women's Leadership Forum

Too bad I'm in Turks and Caicos, otherwise I would love to attend this event. It's on this Monday starting at 11am. There are some speakers that caught my eye, like Pam Hamlin the president of Arnold Worldwide, Maya Luz a fashion designer from Project Runway, and Nergis Mavalvala a quantum astrophysicist and MacArthur Genius Award Winner from MIT.

Visit the Ad Club for more information.

Tweets of the day: from @okcookiepants at #NERDWHM

Sexual Harassment on Business Trips

I found this article recently on the New York Times that talked about how women deal with sexual harassment on business trips. One of the main issues with sexual harassment, generally speaking, is that women simply don't report it. Ironically enough, my last post was about how people who speak their minds are called a bitch. Similarly, women who speak up about sexual harassment are "problems."

A group of young women from around the world started an organization called Hollaback!, which uses social media and crowd-sourcing to raise awareness about the issue. It's basically a storytelling platform for women who have experienced sexual harassment. I think it's an awesome way to give women a voice - check it out!

Tweet of the day: Lord_Voldemort7

How can you support Int'l Women's Day?

Mashable tells you how:

International Women’s Day is a big deal. And this year it is celebrating its 100th birthday. International Women’s Day (IWD) takes place on March 8, every year. It’s a time not just to celebrate the achievements of women worldwide but to raise questions about discrimination, equality and basic human rights.

The day’s etiquette, like most holidays, is understandably vague: How do you publicly show your support? Is there a color to wear, petition to sign or event to attend? While some may choose to shower appreciation on their female loved ones, social media offers a bunch of ways to show your support for a variety of social good initiatives focused on women’s rights.

Below you can find some interesting social good campaigns ranging from Twitter auctions to Daniel Craig dressed in drag (yes, really). The common thread, however, is the desire to not only “love” but to make an impact. Let us know in the comments what other sites and campaigns you’ve found, and share how you’ll be celebrating International Women’s Day.

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What You Can Do: Read More

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100 Years of Celebrating Women

Brought to you by Google!

Women, where are you? SXSW 2011

Stacey Higginbotham, a writer for GIGAOM, discusses the lack of women at South By Southwest Interactive and how women are actually succeeding in technology:

Women: Wherefore Art They?

(Reposted from GIGAOM)

> Wither the Female Tech Founder?

> Where Are The Women in Startups? Um, Everywhere!

> Breaking Glass Ceiling - Fearless Women in Technology

> Sausagefest: Getting more Women Into New Media & Tech

Women in technology is perhaps the easier topic to handle given the issue has received mainstream attention this year from TechCrunch and the Wall Street Journal. Personally, I think the issue is bubbling up because of two reasons: for one, women have always been entrepreneurial and now it’s easier for them to create “tech startups” that might appeal to other women and men without requiring deep technical expertise on their parts or on the parts of their audience (I am not saying women can’t be technical demigods, just that they are underrepresented in the traditionally tech-heavy professions).

The second reason is that those who build and create consumer businesses are realizing that their audience is no longer comprised solely of male geeks, but a wider swath of humanity that includes women, and so designing products and services that appeal to them and put their experiences first can make lots of money (I’m not saying men can’t design perfectly wonderful products aimed at women, just that a female perspective has more value as more women adopt technology). I wrote about the dearth of women last year, but this year, women are getting a share of the spotlight at SXSW. Let’s see how we use it.

I’ve been attending SXSW Interactive for nine years and have seen the conference grow from a relatively manageable festival for the emerging world of web design and blogs to a conference that tries to be all things to almost all of the softer segments of technology and geek culture. As that culture has expanded, so has the show, but the trends bubbling up each year are also good reflections of how the spread of technology is reshaping our culture.

Inspired by Bonnie Raitt

“There were so many great music and political scenes going on in the late '60s in Cambridge. The ratio of guys to girls at Harvard was four to one, so all of those things were playing in my mind.” ~Bonnie Raitt

Although John Prine is the original song writer of Angel from Montgomery, this has always been my favorite Bonnie Raitt song. There's a few lines in here that, like good lyrics do, continue to sit in my head:

If dreams were thunder and lightning were desire

This old house would've burnt down a long time ago

also

How the hell can a person go to work in the morning

and come home in the evening to have nothing to say

Back to the Beginning

My very first post on Playing with Cards was about being on an all boys' little league team. Last night over dinner my brother and I were talking about recent drama concerning my mom and the town board. My mom is the president of the Rec board in a wealthy little town outside of NYC. Recently a woman on the town board has been asking my mom to resign, because she thinks my mom won't follow through with the town's ideas (more like this woman's personal ideas).

The reason I'm writing is not really about this recent particular issue. It's about what my brother told me. He said the reason my mom ever became involved with the Recreation Department was because of me, and my experience on the all boys' baseball team. I had no idea. Apparently she was very much aware of my discomfort and had recommended to the board creating a girls' little league. The town really liked where her head was and requested she join the board.

This is the woman who has taught me everything about speaking my opinions and pursuing my dreams no matter what society may still believe. She always said, if you see a road block, figure out a way around it.

I'm writing for my mom today, because I want her to realize why she had once joined this board. She needs to not let the bureaucracy get to her, and stick to her passion. Even though right now it seems impossible to stay in the fight, hold tight, you'll figure out a way around.

Career or marriage?

This 5 year old says career - vehemently.

Networking Events for Women

Antler, a Boston-based experiential and digital marketing agency, recently posted a listing of great networking events for women around the country. I thought it was a great resource, so check it out!

Cool Event Spotlight: Women's Networking Events

Cool Event Spotlight is a blog series that highlights cool and interesting events around the country.

About one year ago there was an article posted in the UK Times that caught my attention and has been bothering me ever since. The article claimed that women are bad networkers because we are less capable of showcasing our talents then men. There are countless reasons to network and if women are, in fact, less than effective at networking then we need to start practicing. To get you started in the right direction, here is a short list of great female networking groups and/or events around the country.

Boston

• Girls Pint Out: We were recently introduced to the ladies of Girls Pint Out and became instant fans. These ladies know a thing (or 10) about beer and have put together a unique group that mixes networking with something we love… beer! Stay tuned for some upcoming networking events in March and April.
• Wonder Women of Boston: Whether you work in the corporate or non-profit world, are a community leader, entrepreneur, job-seeker, or student, Wonder Women of Boston is a fantastic place to make connections with ambitious and accomplished women of all ages. We hope you already signed up for their event on February 24th here at Antler HQ; however, if you were slow to the punch you can sign up here to be added to the wait list.

New York

• Stylefixx: Join New York City’s most fashion-forward women for two nights of dream shopping, featuring over 55 cutting-edge designers and brands. This event is an opportunity to connect with various consumer brands and the women who love them. Don’t forget your business cards, and try (we said try) not to get so caught up in shopping that you forget to network! (This event also takes place in Boston, Chicago, DC, Atlanta, and LA)

• Urban Girl Squad: A social group for women in their 20s and 30s who love to try new things, spend time with friends, and meet new people in New York City.

San Francisco

• Girls in Tech: A social networking group focused on the engagement, education and empowerment of professional and influential women in technology. Girls in Tech also has chapters in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, LA, Miami, NY, Washington, DC, and many other cities around the country. Check in with your local chapter for a list of events.
• Business Builder networking program (presented by StartOut): One of StartOut’s main goals is to connect gay and lesbian entrepreneurs. For aspiring entrepreneurs, this means meeting others who may also be looking to start or build up a business. For current entrepreneurs, this means meeting others who can provide opportunities, advice and other resources to help them build and grow their businesses.

Houston

• Women & Wine on Wednesdays: A group that meets monthly for building new relationships – both professionally and personally. It provides an opportunity for women to share resources and discover new opportunities in the Houston area while enjoying great local venues and sipping wine.
• Fabulous Working Ladies of Houston: Each month, one of the group’s members gets to do a spotlight presentation about herself, her business, her charity, her career or other approved topic. This is a great group for women who juggle careers, companies, children, families and homes and the demands of everyday life.

Chicago

• Junior League of Chicago: An organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism. Proceeds of all events help fund community projects and volunteer training programs. One of our favorite events is the Summer Soiree, a golf-themed evening where women can enjoy food, cocktails, silent auction, raffle, photo booth and putting games all while schmoozing with other influential Chicagoans.
• Flirty Girl Fitness: This is a women-only fitness and lifestyle facility, which is transformed each weekend into a social club for women complete with a fully licensed bar! They open the facility several times a year for member appreciation parties and networking events for women.

Miami

• Fabulous South Florida Women: This is a group of positive, progressive women from various ethnic backgrounds. The group organizes luncheons, plays, community volunteer events, dinners, movies, girls night out, festivals, concerts, and a Monthly Business Networking Event.
• The Women’s International Film Festival: This event takes place every year in Miami. Participants enjoy national film premieres, fashion shows, visual arts, panel discussions, workshops, and other artistic expressions – by women, for women, and about women.

Lady in Red

When T told me I wasn't allowed to wear my red dress to my interview, I jokingly told her that while it may not be an interview outfit, it could certainly be a first day outfit.

So I've decided follow through on that joke and sport my bright red "Joan" dress from Zara with black tights and black flats.

I've chosen this for a pretty simple reason: it makes me feel confident. Any first day is nerve wracking and stressful; so, I need something to make me feel comfortable and "ready to take on the world."

I've also chosen it because I've worn it before. I went on a little shopping spree on my week off between jobs, but I wouldn't dream of wearing a brand new outfit to a first day. There's nothing worse than finding out a skirt rides up your butt every time you walk when you're trying to make first impressions. That's recipe for hives and high blood pressure.

What's your ideal first day outfit?

Who is John Galt?

First of all, I'd like to apologize for my accidental hiatus this week! One week off from work puts my head in the clouds for sure. But I've been wanting to write about the new movie, Atlas Shrugged, opening in theatres on April 15. When I saw the first tweet with the trailer, I was giddy as a child.

My mild infatuation with Ayn Rand (author of Atlas Shrugged, 1957) began in high school when this one boy who I disdained (but also crushed on) challenged me to read it. He said it would change my life, and it did. To give you a little background, Rand was one of the most confident, intelligent, logical women I've ever come across.

She founded her own philosophy, called Objectivism, which in an overly simplified description holds that reality is an objective absolute, independent of man's hopes; man's only source of knowledge is reason and logic; man must exist for his own sake, not for the sake of any other person; and the ideal political-economic system is a laissez-faire capitalism.

And yes, Rand always spoke using "man" not "woman." Oddly enough, for how powerful she perceived herself to be, she held men on a pedestal. In all of her books, the male is the hero, not the woman. The leading lady is always strong and smart, but she still needs the man. Then again, he seems to need her too.

I always use this example from her biogrophy to describe just how ridiculous she is. She decided that she wanted to have an affair with her biogropher's husband. So she simply convinced, the biogropher, the husband and her own husband to be okay with it. She said, very logically of course, that the other guy was better than her husband - may the best man win. They all went with it!

Okay so enough of my psycho-babble! My point is, go read the book because I'm worried they're not going to come even close to doing it justice on the big screen. But if your too lazy to read all 1368 pages, then go watch the movie. :)

Tennis in Ads

Here's an advertisement for a vacuum. It uses a female tennis athlete vacuuming. Step forward: we used a female athlete. Step backword: she's still doing what the typical "stay at home wife" does, clean.

Ad Cap: Sky, I Returned

Found this advertisement for Sky Television this morning on Ads of the World. Here they show the husband coming home from traveling and the wife is all excited to greet him. First off the wife is supermodel Gisele Bündchen. So not only is the man coming home to one darn gorgeous wife, but she's dressed in a lacy little dress doing chores. This one hits home to me. When my boyfriend comes back from work (which is four months at a time since he's a fisherman) I casually act as though the cute outfit I am wearing is something I wear everyday. I blow out my hair, I put on jewelry he's gotten me, and just like her I go about my day acting as though everything is completely normal.

However, this ad has a twist. It's funny, for a man, but it would really piss me off if this happened to me. Just saying. But as an ad, it's successful in targeting men, it's funny and it shows one hell of a hot woman. Watch and see.

Inspired by: Audrey Hepburn

"Why change? Everyone has his own style. When you have found it, you should stick to it." - Audrey Hepburn

(Reposted from The Love List)

Ass Cam?

A coworker sent me this one on Boston Egotist today. Interesting, not sure though if people are just going "what on earth is in her pocket" though, or actually checking out her butt.

Your call.

Hello neighbor

Well thank you, T, but you forgot to mention that you may also be leaving the boys club for a much bigger firm around the corner from me. Hopefully (very soon) I will still get to criticize you on mid-week lunch dates and after work bevs! :)

So Long K (not really)

Here's my chance to by sappy. Today is the last day that K and I will be in the same office together. She is moving on to a much bigger firm for a very cool opportunity and I am so excited for her.

What I am not excited about is the upcoming battle for me. At our current office the boy's club has been a constant battle (if you couldn't already tell). Together K, myself, and one other strong woman played our cards and wedged ourselves right in there. The other woman was the first to go a week ago, now K. I am officially the only woman left that even bothers to deal with the men's club, and I just wonder how that's going to work out for me.

K is an unbelievable, hard working strong woman. I know that the next place she goes she will stand just as tall as she did hear. No matter what the challenge, whether it's a new boy's club or something else, I have complete faith that she will approach every situation with brains and power. Congrats K, I'll miss you calling out my outfit choices and my ridiculously emotional moments. You are a best friend and I know that although you've left this office you still have to write Playing with Cards with me. Who knows, this may bring some new topics to the blog!

Best of luck!

Long live high-waisted pants!

Ah T, you said something that totally struck a chord with me: "Now my boyfriend hates them. He always points out how dated they look. "

My boyfriend hates some of my favorite clothes! I love high waisted pants - I think they flatter a curvy woman's figure way better than low riders do. I've worn high waisted pants for years and don't see myself changing anytime soon. I have these riding pants, in particular, from Zara, that I get tortured for. He and my family conintuously tease me about them, calling them my "horsey pants." Guess what, I LOVE MY HORSEY PANTS!

I've told him time and time again, "Sorry, I will not change my old lady pants for you!" Of course I also find outfits that I think he will like me in, but when it comes to the every day, I think we need to stick to our guns and wear what makes us comfortable. When it comes down to it, he understand that my personal style is what makes me feel good.

Just the other day he said to me: "If you feel great, you consider yourself to look good." - I guess he does know a thing or two :)

What We Imagine vs. What is Seen

Ok, so I have these pants that I love. They're from H & M and they are very cerca 1970. Now my boyfriend hates them. He always points out how dated they look. Do I care? No, I continue to try and make these pants work, because I imagine in my head this tall, slim woman with shaggy hair, with shaggy pants, and an awesome top (wow, first off, I am not tall, second, my hair is pin straight, third I don't own very many "awesome tops").

I've been close to giving up on this look, but then today I saw this post from Inspired by This an excellent blog about wedding insight, and she had posted about Emerson Made, a unique shop with eccentric and adorable clothing. There right in the middle of the page is exactly how I imagine myself in those jeans!

So here's why I'm writing this post. Not because I love my pants, but because there is a difference between how we imagine ourselves in an outfit and how we actually look in it. No, I am not anywhere near as tall as this model, however I can definitely do things to make this look work for me. I can wear shoes with a heal. I'll make sure to have a cute belt, and when I wear these jeans, I'll make sure my top is adorable and not flowy. Double flowy puts me in the 70's. I'm trying to avoid that.

I think the advice is this, while imagining your awesome self in the outfit you're getting ready to purchase, make sure it actually fits you, and that you'll keep up the dreamt look each time you wear it. Otherwise you just have another item in your closet for Salvation Army next year.

Tennis

Well K, you have really given the opportunity for a big discussion with that last post. There is one successful sport that is cross gender, and it's tennis. In 2000 the average salaries of the top ten tennis athletes was 1: .67 men to woman (Woman's Sports Foundation). In 2006 Maria Sharapova made $3.8 million while Roger Federer brought in $8.3 million (Ask Men).

Now to throw you a comparison, so you understand how great these numbers are look at basketball: the WNBA maximum salary is $87,000 and Shaquille O'Neal's 2006 salary was $20 million.

One simple answer to why the WNBA salary is so low, is that the viewer rate in comparison to the NBA is laughable. The NBA has been around for much longer than the WNBA and it's been very successful. WNBA had a late start, and to be honest I don't see very much promotion for it.

So why is tennis different? I actually think it has a lot to do with that the men and women play at the same time. For the US Open both genders compete (not against each other), but you know what I mean. The advertisements all go out together incorporating both genders. This gets fans interested in everything going on, not just the men.

I think it's similar to the Olympics. Since everyone's competing together we wind up watching both male skiing and female, male gymnastics and female. We realize we like both, and start rooting for the collective US, not just the men's gymnastic team or vice versa.

Now in the article from Woman's Sports Foundation they think the reason we like female tennis players is because they're "like you and me...Tennis can be mastered by women through commitment, effort, and talent. It's not a sport where by the tallest, biggest, or strongest athlete has inherent advantages". Well I don't believe this, because female golf players are no more taller than any other woman, and they still have a hard time rivaling men's golf.

I truly believe it has to do with timing and the fact that tennis women now play at the same time as the men. It also has to do with being around longer. Sorry ladies, but men established their professional teams a while ago, it's still going to take a long time to rival. But doing it by saying the athletes are nice? That's just a cop-out, I think golf should find a better way. I agree with K.

Playing with Approachability

An article posted today by AdAge talked about how the LPGA is launching its first ever brand campaign to gain more fans. With sponsors pulling out and viewership down, the women's golf organization needs a major boost.

They've picked a theme of "approachability," highlighting how these women are great golfers because of their accessibility to fans. Take a look at the spot below, which features a unique autograph experience with Natalie Gulbis.

My reaction: Really? That is supposed to get me to watch the LPGA? Why aren't they highlighting how badass these women are at golf? Sweetness isn't exciting when it comes to sports. I think it's especially important to emphasize their athletic skill because they are women. It's pretty safe to say that women are traditionally expected to take on the characteristics of warm, motherly and approachable and less expected to be incredible athletes. So why not bring the unexpected and focus on what they're really good at - golf?

Ok, the campaign aside, this is also an exposure issue. Most people simply aren't exposed to women's golf. According to the AdAge article, "of the 94 official rounds of golf played on the LPGA Tour in 2010, 38 were shown on tape delay and 11 rounds had no live TV coverage at all." That means over half of the rounds had no live coverage; instead, they were played at random times at night. Who watches golf at night? No one. It's a Sunday afternoon, chill on the couch with your family, kind of viewing experience. This statistic tells me that the potential for a strong fan base isn't necessarily impossible, they just haven't been tapped into yet.

Has LPGA ever even been given a shot to establish and prove its popularity? I don't think so.

#notsexy

I rarely look at my trends column on twitter, but for some reason today's caught my eye because in it was #notsexy #verysexy and #thatssexy. I was curious so I clicked first on #notsexy. Here's the examples of what I saw:

So then I clicked on #verysexy. It showed a lot of woman shouting out what they find sexy in guy. Interesting. As for the last trend: #thatssexy, this one has a mix of everyone throwing out what they find attractive.

So my curiosity drove me to try and figure out where this trend came from. I was unsuccessful but I did find an interesting article from The Independent that gave a little more information about the trend.

But again, where does this trend come from? And how come #notsexy and #verysexy have such opposite genders reacting so differently? It's interesting to see how the chance to point out the negative was scooped up by the male population of twitter, and how the positive the female. Maybe I should start paying more attention to trends on twitter.

Inspired by Tamara de Lempicka

I first saw Tamara de Lempicka's artwork at a club in Dublin and immediately fell in love. Unfortunately, there was so signature at the bottom of the print, and none of the staff knew where it came from. I saw her again at Cuff's in Boston's Back Bay Hotel, but once again there was no signature on the painting. Somehow I managed to search through enough "art deco" before I rediscovered her!

Lempicka glorified females in her work by nearly always painting the "provocative woman." She was also openly bisexual in the 1920s, which was rather scandalous for that time. I'm inspired by her because she was able to fearlessly expressed herself both personally and professionally. I think that's something we can all learn from.

Poker Face

I love these portraits by a New Orleanian artist Hayley Gaberlavage.

(Reposted from The Love List)

Express yourself

Yes, you are completely right, T. In October, I said "I love you" for the first time, and I was the first to say it. I think it's important to express yourself openly in a relationship, just like it's important to express yourself in a work setting. If you don't say what you believe, then know one will ever know it. Neither your boss nor your boyfriend are mind readers. So open up and express yourself ladies!

Attention Please!

Alright, so this post relates back to Gaga, but also to something a friend said to me today. She said "I love him, but I think he should say it first, you know". No I don't know. I also don't think he knows.

When Lady Gaga dresses up and does a show she is screaming for attention. She is calling out for everyone to stop what they are doing and check out her act. It works. It is so over the top, bazaar, and like K said, art directed. People take note, they look and wonder "what is she up to?".

How does this relate back to what my friend said? Men, well not just men, people in general are not mind readers. Gaga's act may be extreme but it gets people's attention. If you want to know if someone loves you back, say it first. If you are in an office scenario and you want something, it takes an act, it takes a move. Want to get promoted? You need to work hard, be your best, possibly kiss a little ass, maybe directly ask. Either way, whatever you do, it's an act.

Well friend, get him when he's looking, have his undivided attention, and let him know how you feel. Tell him you love him.

Lady Gaga and the Art of Fame

T and I talked about the issue of sex in advertising and pop culture the other night. We came to the conclusion that a lot of the issue has to do with who's behind the sex. In terms of music, is it the producer or the artist? T had a good point. She said to look at Lady Gaga. She is clearly the one behind her wacky/contraversial stunts. That's what makes it genuine and intersting. I was fascinated to hear her speak on 60 minutes last night and see how strategic she is about her career.

She talked on the sociology of fame and how so many people fail at it. As the "art director" of her life, she uses her costumes and strong political statements as a way to distract people from the things she'd rather keep private. She's full-disclosure and honest on so many topics, that it keeps her hungry "monsters" and the paparazzi under her control. Every public appearance she makes is calculated and purposeful, making her even more than a performance artist. She's a phenomenal business woman. She's the director of her own life and career.

After seeing her speak, I realized she's an amazing inspiration for all career women. Her philosophy is sort of the basis of this entire blog. We're trying to successfully art direct our lives in order to get ahead in advertising.

We actively direct our colleagues and bosses to see what we want them to see. In the past, I've dropped into conversation that I was going to different networking events or that I was asked to speak at another agency. Why not let your boss know that you're not a commodity? Why not let him know that you're well connected in town? As long as you stay honest and tasteful, it's both acceptable and helpful to your career.

How do you direct people's perceptions of you in the office?