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Logan's Style Watch
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AN OPEN LETTER TO LAURA BUSH
by Logan Bentley Lessona
ROME, January 18, 2001 --Dear Mrs. Bush: Since I have never voted in any U.
S. election and don't much like politicians I think you could say I'm pretty impartial. Living in Rome as I do I don't see much of the American press although my big splurge is the Sunday New York Times. But I have seen enough articles and comments about your appearance to make me want to write you and say, as a former Time Magazine bureau chief once advised me: "Just IGNORE the b-------s!
I can certainly understand that all the fashionistas have their hands just itching to do a TOTAL makeover from your home-cut hair (do you REALLY cut it yourself?) down to your oh-so-comfy and practical mid-heeled polished pumps with round toes. I think Jackie Kennedy must be the last first lady that nobody wanted to mess around with, but in your case it just makes me TIRED and I wish they would leave you alone.
You are a very attractive middle-aged lady (at least it USED to be called middle age) who is probably as good a representative of the average American woman of your age the pollsters could find. Your smile is charming, and from the photographs it looks like you have what used to be called a beautiful complexion. Despite the jokes about "Marian the Librarian" people who love books are always interesting, and people who say "I don't have TIME to read books just don't want to MAKE the time.
So why doesn't everybody just sit back and relax and realize that we're all looking at what a real woman looks like? A fashion journalist wrote that your daughters looked so nice in their chic coats and high heels. I bet they didn't have to stand around for hours on end on display to the world smiling, looking gracious, and shaking hands. When I read comments by celebrities complaining they can't wear their Manolo Blahnik (sp) or Jimmy Choo shoes without suffering I wonder how women can be so stupid. Chinese foot-binding from 100 years ago anybody?
As women we seem to be conditioned from infancy to aspire to an almost-impossible standard of beauty, be it face or body. From what I read men seem to have begun to suffer from this, too. Being satisfied and content with what you were born with seems almost impossible. Poor Hillary Clinton, after eight years and umpteen hair styles she still doesn't seem to have made a definite decision. But she got down to earth for her senate campaign with her six black pants suits which don't show wrinkles or dirt and always photograph thinner, as those tony fashion editors know.
From toe to top: Mrs. Bush, I do think that possibly your haircut could be a little more flattering, but if you do indeed cut it yourself I think you do a pretty good job (but don't your arms ache when you do the back?). Your hair looks thick, shiny, and neat, and if you cover the grey more power to you. By now it's probably too late but I hope you don't let Vogue or Harper's Bazaar or Vanity Fair and their photographers and stylists put their hands on you. I didn't like those photos of Hillary in black and profile in Vogue at all, Hillary may have a lot going for her but one thing she doesn't have is a great profile.
Uh........ we've done the top and the bottom so how about the middle? I can't say that I am completely crazy about those colored suits I've seen you wearing but I'm sure they are practical and comfortable, and I don't perceive you as the kind of woman who is agonizing about the cut of her suit. They experts would have you wear Armani, or Calvin Klein, or Donna Karan but I see you a bit more as Ralph Lauren.
From what I could see of you on CNN you looked very nice in your evening gowns and again, I would imagine that practical concerns have a lot to do with your decisions. I kept reading about all those over-dressed, over-jeweled, and over-madeup Texas ladies but you don't seem to fall into that category even if you're from Texas and rich.
In My Humble Opinion I hope you just go your own sweet way. I bet you're just as strong-willed as your mother-in-law, so I hope you stick to your guns (excuse me, politically incorrect expression) and follow your (practical) instincts. I have a feeling that although they may not admit it, there are a lot of women in the country who are feeling very relieved about their looks these days. With a ciao and auguri from Rome.
© 2001 Logan Bentley Lessona
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Fashion and Design from Italy has been on the web since February 1995. It was the first ever web about fashion. We're working on a new section about Italian Design - industrial design that includes furniture, ceramics, bathrooms, home and office accessories, automobiles and other articles that have won prizes throughout the world and are exhibited in museums such as the Museum of Modern Art in New York.
