The quintessential 80s princess, Molly Ringwald will forever be a teenager in so many people’s minds. As I get older (I am actually about 10 years younger than Ringwald) and am feeling blue, I always pop in her movies and they make me feel better. Whether she was playing rich and beautiful (The Breakfast Club), poor and uniquely trendy (Pretty in Pink), or just horribly misunderstood (Sixteen Candles) I always found a way to relate to her characters. While some of this (perhaps even most of this) is to the credit of John Hughes, Ringwald, as the actress, also played a big part. Today she lives in the hearts and minds of many as that red headed pretty girl that was part of the brat pack.
Still, in the real world Ringwald has aged with all of us. She left high school, got married and has three kids. She’s turned 40 (now 42) and is currently starring on a popular television series. I remember hearing Ringwald would be playing a mom. I wondered where the time went. Now I realize, as long as you can still apply your lipstick with no hands then age is just a number. Life is about more than that, and anyone that thinks otherwise needs to do a little re-evaluation.
Getting the Pretty Back is all about Ringwald and her quest to once again be pretty after the age of 40. As she points out, pretty is a state of mind, not necessarily just about age or fashion. Pretty is taking your shoes off and walking in the rain. It’s about not caring who is watching what you’re doing. It’s about doing it because you know it’s you. The prettiest moments for any woman occur when they are comfortable with themselves, happy, and content to just do what feels right. Ringwald wants to help all women achieve that again.
As you can tell, this is not an autobiography. If you’re hoping to find out what it was like to work with Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, John Hughes, and the other members of the pack then you probably won’t be that interested in this. She mentioned Emilio once, but it’s just in passing, as he gives hair advice on the side of the street.
Instead, women of all ages get essential fashion advice. The advice is perfect for the seasoned pretty girl that has lost her way or the fashion victim looking to become something prettier. You learn the essential closet items, some of the best brands and colors of makeup, and hair advice based on Ringwald’s preferences. Some might think that the goal of this book is to create a bunch of Molly clones, but it’s clear to me that Ringwald’s point was to share her own preferences while encouraging women to go out and find what is right for them.
I will openly admit that I only read this book because it was written by Molly Ringwald. Normally, I wouldn’t bother reading a fashion guide. Still, I was charmed and enchanted during the entire reading process. I also got a lot of good fashion advice. Most importantly though, I was entertained. Ringwald provides a helpful and amusing book filled with adorable graphics and decent advice. I highly recommend women of all ages check this one out.
Technorati Tags: Molly Ringwald, Getting the Pretty Back, Book Review, Fashion, Hair, Makeup, Lipstick, No Hands
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