<h3>an open letter.</h3>

   when i began blogging, more than a year ago, i never imagined the community that came along with having a personal style blog.  i am constantly inspired by the amazing women and men that take the time each and every day to spotlight the styles they wear and believe there is a certain confidence and positivity that come from these blogs.  it is in this vain that i am doing an editorial post tonight.
    today i found myself very disheartened by a publication that i have been a loyal reader of for more than ten years.  every month i look forward to the newest issue of glamour magazine, and i have to admit that reading it each month has become one of my guiltiest pleasures. today that changed for me.  the april issue, which features kate winslet on the cover, contained all of the pieces i look forward to each month; articles on powerful and stylish women.  at the end of the issue was an incredible piece entitled 'stop the bitch wars!' by sarah hepola.  the article discusses the way women tear one another down with gossip, bullying and general cattiness, and i found myself agreeing over and over again.  it then outlined five ways in which we can each take part in ending this terrible woman vs. woman culture.  i left the article feeling a sense of understanding about the things i do on a day-to-day basis that add to the mean-girl dynamic and felt that just realizing the issue was a big step in the right direction.
    so how could i possibly be upset after happily reading a great piece of writing?  well, my friends, just fourteen pages later is glamour's monthly feature, 'dos & don'ts.'  i usually give a quick glance to the final page, but today i found it ironic that just pages ago glamour talked about the terrible epidemic of women tearing women down and so quickly there are photos calling women fashion 'don'ts.' 
    i'm not sure how others feel about this feature, but today i have to say that i was repulsed.  worst of all is that these women don't realized they are being photographed. (don't get me started on summer issues with pictures of women in bathing suits...)  and sorry glamour, but the tiny black boxes you put over the eyes of these women do not at all camouflage them from the recognition of their sisters, friends or coworkers.  i thought of all the times i leave the house in an ensemble not ready for the runway.  the sick days.  the lazy days.  the days my heel breaks and i'm left wearing moccasins to walk home from the office.  should i be concerned that i may end up on the pages of a national publication because my outfit did not match up to the hollywood standards present throughout the magazine?
     blogging has proven to me that personal style is a point of view and everyone's point of view is incredibly different.   by deciding that all women must fit into the same style mold i think we only perpetuate the stereotype of women being catty, bitchy and cruel to one another.
     i wonder what others think of this.  considering the feature has been around for as long as i can remember, i assume it is popular and well-liked.  was i the only one who noticed the irony this month?  does anyone else find this a bit backwards?  i would absolutely love to hear your opinions! 

{image by found here via here.}