FemmeJolie

09.28.00

I have a good friend who likes to be referred to as "Princess" by her boyfriends. Some of you are probably thinking "That's right, I am the princess of all I survey," and some of you are probably thinking "Oh, for heaven's sake. It's the year 2000--aren't we past that kind of sex-role posturing!?" To all the members of group two, I call bull.

Come on, admit it. There's a secret part of most of us--or maybe not so secret--that really likes being spoiled. I'm not saying that there is only one definition of what makes us feel deliciously doted upon. What makes a good Princess is that she is unique, and so the way to spoil her must also be unique. There may also be big differences among us in terms of exactly who we want to spoil us.

It could be your Mom, taking you shopping for a fabulous new outfit, or your best girlfriend, showing up at your house with an emergency kit of ice cream and Kleenex when the breakup or the bad day at work has you in a tailspin. Of course, there's the obvious boyfriend/ spouse alternative who treats you to a day of your favorite things-- like he volunteers to go garage sale shopping, and buys you at least one frivolous thing you MUST have at every stop.

Or, ladies, it could be YOU who spoils you best--with the bubble bath and juicy novel you've been dying to read, or the insanely expensive new shoes. Princessing isn't a bad thing, as long as you keep it in perspective. We all have a license to be indulged, so you must use it carefully, lest you become spoiled rotten and have it revoked. Everyone loves a girl who is happy and satisfied with her life, but they love her a lot less if they find out that Miss Princess's satisfaction comes at the cost of forcing everyone around her to treat her with kid gloves. The lesson? Make sure that for every day of spoilage you get, you give one away. When it comes to being pampered, turnabout is more than fair play--it's good karma.

To honor the princess in all of us, we offer you this collection of goodies and gab. Enjoy! By the way, we're always looking for great writers to submit 300-500 word articles about all manner of girlie things. Send me your feedback and suggestions, and any article ideas to Betsy@femmejolie.com

Thanks for Reading!

Betsy Boyd, Heather Kendall
Editors, FemmeJolie

One of the perks of working on this newsletter is coming across some of the trendiest sites, people and places on the web. Elizabeth Mason, owner of The Paper Bag Princess a Vintage Couture Designer Resale and the author of The Rag Street Journal definitely hits high on the trendy list. She has class and style all of her own, that adds a unique and edgy touch to the store.

Not only has Mason led one of the hippest trends to sweep the world of antique collecting, she has suited some of the most fashion savvy celebrities, models and socialites along her way. Elizabeth Mason is a dedicated woman who thrives on the treasures that Couture fashion has offered over the years.