SUNDAY, JUNE 20, 2010
KLMNO The bullies of style: Bloodless, but so brutal
that it could speak elegantly and eloquently on a woman’s behalf. She also recognized its capacity for trash talk.
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One of the most striking moments in the new film “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” comes when Chanel, in the midst of a sweaty affair with the very married Stravinsky, approaches the composer’s beleaguered wife, Katarina, with a gift. The designer hands the scorned woman a bottle of her freshly realized Chanel No. 5 fragrance. This is a film that delivers a nearly two-hour-long, vicious assault on the sanctity of marriage and the dignity of a wife who stubbornly adheres to her vows. Yet, that little expression of largess stands out as a particularly brutal moment. Call it style bullying. And it is not limited to history, Hollywood or high school. To understand how style can be deployed to deliver such bloodless wounds, it’s important to remember that style encompasses far more than good looks. In fact, it trumps beauty because it’s rooted in deep cultural knowledge and self- confidence. Style is an expression of choices — a declaration of individuality. And thus, the lack of it is not a matter of poor genetic luck. It is, a particularly judgmental soul could argue, your fault. Style rises above trends and the fashion industry’s abundance of cliches. A woman who dresses with both self-awareness and panache has, in essence, the ability to construct a public persona that speaks with power and precision.
ROBIN GIVHAN On Fashion
In the film, which opens July
9, Chanel cuts a striking figure. She is tall and lithe, with dark hair. It would be fair to say that rival Katarina also has a certain delicate beauty, with her ivory skin and fiery red hair. But Chanel has a powerful weapon that she uses to chip away at Katarina’s confidence; she has style. Indeed, she built an entire empire on it. Style at Chanel’s level turns heads; it swaggers. But even at more modest degrees, it can make others feel terribly old- fashioned and parochial by comparison. Having conquered wardrobe insecurities — that sense of uneasiness that perhaps you’re not appropriately attired or simply not quite pulled together — suggests that a woman knows something that others do not. Even if her audience doesn’t favor her aesthetic sensibility, it still recognizes her certainty. What is her secret? When Chanel makes a gift of
her fragrance, the gesture is at best condescending and at worst taunting. Chanel stands over Katarina. The designer wears her usual controlled black-and-white wardrobe. Her haircut perfectly complements her face. Hers is an impeccable look that seems untouched by any of the day-to- day frustrations of life. She seems unflappable. The wife,
“SO YESTERDAY”: Carly Fiorina, above, bearing the earmarks of a style bully, is heard on a mike talking about Sen. Barbara Boxer’s hair.
abrielle “Coco” Chanel understood the rich language of style. She knew
Instead, the phrase was an assessment of Boxer’s cultural knowledge, of her connection to the here and now. It suggested that she didn’t understand what it meant to be in sync with the times. Boxer has a social disconnect. Those were all the nuances stuffed into that derisive little dig. That’s a particularly rough
SONY PICTURES CLASSICS
POWER PLAY: From “Coco Chanel and Igor Stravinsky” (with Mads Mikkelsen and Anna Mouglalis), in which Coco has an affair with the composer and gives his wife a bottle of perfume.
poor dear, almost disappears into her chair. And when she stands, her clothes swaddle her in a chaotic storm of color and pattern. Chanel’s gift to Katarina is highly personal. Is there anything that touches the body in a more intimate way? The fragrance is a potion Chanel dedicated months to perfecting. On the marketplace, it will be a pure expression of who and what she is. It is an expression of her independence and success. But as a gift, it isn’t offered as a get- to-know-me gesture. It isn’t given out of friendship and respect. The move is a power play. Has Katarina already
smelled Chanel’s scent on her husband’s clothes? On his skin? The gift is a quiet obliteration of the wife — a hand grenade in an elegant glass flask.
Such fashion bombs are dropped every day in real life. Women — and men — use style as a tool of intimidation, self- promotion and belittlement all the time. U.S. Senate candidate Carly Fiorina’s off-topic remark about Sen. Barbara Boxer’s hair caused quite the explosion when it was captured by a live microphone. Fiorina quipped that Boxer’s hair was “so yesterday.” Fiorina has said she was quoting a friend, but her tone oozed delight in the
observation as she happily repeated it. The comment was quickly
categorized by political observers as catty; it was an example of “mean girl” behavior. But those designations imply that the remark should be dismissed as wholly superficial and petty — pure nonsense. In fact, the comment was loaded. The words weren’t a negative judgment about Boxer’s beauty. Looking “so yesterday” doesn’t necessarily mean that one looks unattractive. (See: Sophia Loren, Raquel Welch and Catherine Deneuve, with their heavily layered, set and fluffed — and, thus, dated — hairstyles.)
characterization to make of a politician. Isn’t an elected official’s entire existence predicated on her ability to gauge and represent the current sensibilities of her constituency? What good is a politician who can, in any way, be labeled “so yesterday”? Fiorina’s words weren’t, by any means, vulgar or angry. Indeed, she had the cutting tone of a gossipy girlfriend who knows a thing or two about hair travails. But as she gently fingered her own chic pixie, while relaying an insulting description of Boxer’s hair, the polite smile never faded from her face — until she realized her microphone was on. She bore all the earmarks of a style bully. Many folks might argue that women are burdened by an unfair emphasis on their appearance. Certainly there is more emphasis on how they look. But unfair? With their rich style vocabulary, women can say so much more than men. On film, a mistress can make her lover’s wife blanch with a single bottle of perfume.
And in real life, what man could make as nuanced and layered an assessment of a competitor with a single remark about a hairstyle? Style speaks softly, but it can deliver a cruel blow.
givhanr@washpost.com Engagements | Weddings | Anniversaries ——Engagements——
To place an announcement: email:
weddings@washpost.com phone: 202-334-5736 fax: 202-334-7188 ——Weddings——
Megan Elizabeth Hyland&JohnWilliam Casterline —October 2010—
Megan Hyland and John Casterline Karen Benson&
William Jonnard —Fall 2010—
Christine and Carl Hyland of Oakton, Virginia and Maryann and William Casterline, Jr. of Chantilly, Virginia are pleased to announce the engagement of their children, Megan Elizabeth Hyland and John William Casterline. A graduate of Linton Hall and Paul VI High School, Megan earned a BS degree in psychology at James Madi- son University. She received her Mas- ter’s in Education in School Counsel- ing (M.Ed) from the College ofWilliam and Mary. She is a middle school guidance counselor in Loudoun Coun- ty. John graduated from Chantilly High School and graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Virginia Tech. He majored in philosophy and sociology. He also holds a law degree from the University of Virginia. John is employed by an international monetary firm in Wash- ington, D.C. An October 2010 wed- ding is planned at St. John Neumann, Reston. Megan and John send Happy Father’s Day greetings to their dads and to their grandfathers, Edmund Sumpter of Reston and William Cast- erline, Sr. ofWilliamsburg.
Sarah Ashleigh Fulton& Mark Gregory Hutchins
—October 2010— Ms. Karen Benson
Mr. and Mrs. John Benson and Mr. and Mrs. Aimison Jonnard are pleased to announce the engage- ment of their children.
Karen is the daughter of John and Jo Ann Benson or Rockford, Illinois. Mr. Benson is a retired banker. Bill's parents are Aimison and Jean Jonnard of McLean, Virginia. Mr. Jonnard was the former Chief of the Energy Divi- sion of the U.S. International Trade Commission in Washington, D.C. & Mrs. Jonnard has been a realtor in McLean for 35 years.
Karen is a graduate of Boylan Catholic H.S. and Rockford College, both in Rockford, Illinois, where she was a psychology major. She works in Human Resources with the Social Development Commission in Mil- waukee,Wisconsin.
Bill went from grammar school through high school in McLean, graduating from Langley H.S., after which he graduated from Purdue University in West LaFayette, Indiana with a degree in Computer Science. He is the Technical Services Project Manager for Wage Works, where he transferred from San Mateo, Califor- nia to Milwaukee last year.
A fall wedding is planned. Tip #8:
Write thank you notes as you receive gifts, so you don’t have too many to write when you get back from your honeymoon.
Declare Your Love!
Announce your Engagement,Wedding or Anniversary in The Washington Post’s Sunday Arts & Style Section. (Birthdays, Graduations & other Special Events have moved to Thursdays.) You may provide text and photos. Color is available. Many packages include keepsake plaques of your announcement.
To place an order and for more information, including rates: Contact Alexa McMahon at:
weddings@washpost.com Or call 202.334.5736, toll free 877.POST.WED, fax 202.334.7188
All materials must be received by Monday at 1 p.m.
Steven Fulton of Great Falls, Virginia, and Suzanne Fulton of Reston, Vir- ginia, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Sarah Ashleigh Fulton, to Mark Gregory Hutchins, son of Carol and Gregory Hutchins of Rocky Mount, N.C. Sarah Fulton grew up in Great Falls, Virginia, and graduated from Langley High School in 2000. She attended Vander- bilt University and graduated in 2004. She later went on to attend William & Mary School of Law, graduating in 2008. She is now an Associate at the law firm of Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein, LLP, in Charlotte, North Carolina. Mark Hutchins is employed by Technocom, Charlotte, N.C. He is a 2003 graduate of Appalachian State University. The couple is planning an October, 2010, wedding.
ElizabethWarren Norton Marries Matthew Bennett Scholder —May 22, 2010—
Willingham 49th Anniversary
—June 17, 1961— ——Anniversaries——
McCall Golden Anniversary
—May 7, 1960—
K
E9
Mr. and Mrs.Willingham Elizabeth Norton and Matthew Scholder
Elizabeth Warren Norton and Matthew Bennett Scholder were married on The Terrace of La Fonda on May 22, 2010, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. A reception followed. Talitha Arnold of The United Church of Santa Fe officiated. R. Buford Brandis, cousin of the bride, read from a love letter postmarked May 22, 1945, written by their grandfather to their grandmother while he was a Navy Officer in the Pacific during World War II. Julia Brandis Wyman, cousin of the bride, Nicole Barsalona Tonelli, and Frances Wu Giarratano, were among the bridesmaids. Tedric Holdsworth was Best Man. Guests traveled from as far as Abu Dhabi, and Australia.
The bride is the daughter of Sue Whitley Norton and Phillip S. Norton of Frederick, Maryland. Elizabeth is a graduate of Georgetown University and received her Masters Degree at New York University. She has worked since graduation at the Guild for the Blind, and theWalden Street School. She will be studying at the Boston Institute for Psychotherapy this Fall.
The groom is the son of Anne Rosemary Scholder of Santa Fe, and Alan David Scholder of California. Matthew earned his undergraduate degree at Georgetown University,and his Masters Degree at Harvard Business School. He will be working at MFS, an investment management firm in Boston.
After a honeymoon in Europe,Mr. and Mrs. Scholder will reside in Boston, Massachusetts.
PLANNING A WEDDING? FREE COPY REGISTER NOW to receive your
of TheWashington Post Wedding Planner.
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Mr. and Mrs.Wagman
Congratulations to Ruth and Sy Wag- man, celebrating their 65th anniver- sary on June 18, 2010. May you have many more years of love and happiness together. Best wishes and love always from your children, Bar- bara and Robert (Lucinda), grandchil- dren Nick (Lara), Meryl, Kyla and Perri, and great grandchild, Alida.
FREE COPY REGISTER NOW to receive your
washingtonpost.com/ weddingplanner
Tip #2: Getting married
away from home? Travel two days or more before the ceremony to be sure you’re there in time.
David Geary Willingham and Kathleen Pauline McGowan were married at the Navy Chapel in Washington on June 17, 1961. Dave, a dashing young naval officer, was introduced to Kathleen, a beautiful Irish schoolteacher, by friend John Kennard. Their tours of duty included Annapolis, Maryland; San- gley Point/Cavite, the Philippines; Columbus, Ohio; Christchurch, New Zealand (with side trips by Dave to Antarctica); Monterey, California; Philadelphia/Cherry Hill, New Jersey; the Pentagon/Springfield, Virginia; and Memphis, Tennessee. After retir- ing from the Navy in 1979 and return- ing to Northern Virginia, Dave joined CACI and Kathleen worked at libraries in Fairfax County. Since retiring for good a few years ago, Kathleen and Dave have traveled extensively, including visits to their children in Australia, Spain, California and Falls Church. Daddy and Mama, we love you very much and wish you a very happy anniversary. We look forward to celebrating your golden anniversary next year! Love, Peg and Michael; Eileen and Joe; Rosemary and Stephanie; and your granddaughters Rebecca, Moira and Fiona.
Wagman 65th Anniversary
—June 18, 2010—
Mr. and Mrs. McCall
James F. McCall and S. Yvonne McCall celebrated their 50th anniversary at Antioch Baptist Church and at Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas on May2&8, 2010. Mrs. McCall is a retired Fairfax County School Administrator. She was the 1993 National Distinguished Prin- cipal of Virginia. Lieutenant General McCall retired as the Comptroller of the Army after 35 years of service. The couple has two children and six grandchildren. They keep God at the head of their relationship and try to treat each other as King and Queen.
Seay 25th Anniversary —June 14, 1985—
Mr. and Mrs. Seay
Crossover Church is delighted to acknowledge their Pastors, Timothy & Robyn Seay's 25th Wedding Anniver- sary. The Seay's were married on June 14, 1985 at Evangel Temple in Washington, D.C. Pastors Timothy and Robyn Seay founded Emmanuel Covenant Church which is now Crossover Church in October of 1987. The Seay's are blessed with two won- derful children, Noel and Timothy and plan to celebrate with family and friends at a formal dinner later this month.
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