Anonymous wrote:I am a typical northern 30 something DC dwelling female. I dress pretty frumpy and don't have a clue about how to be flirty or attract a guy. My twenty three year old younger sister is friends with this "southern belle" and watching her is like a revelation on how to be beautiful or feminine.

Get this; this girl is only 23 but she is just so...self aware and so sure of herself and her womanly wiles. She is petite, has bleach blonde curly hair, wears bright colors and always has her nails and toes done. She also always wears a full face of makeup and is so naturally feminine. The way she flirts with guys and walks and talks. Its SO new and strange to me.

Wish I knew how to do that!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all have to spend a little time in the morning to be presentable for work (agree with PP who said to do otherwise is to sabotage yourself). The difference is the mindset and the amount of time and money spent. Smart northerners do the bare minimum. Southerners of the type we're talking about spend 1-2 hours per day on hair/makeup. That is insane unless you consider your body your only/most important asset.

THIS.

I couldn't agree more. For many of these women, their looks/bodies are their ONLY assets. Yuck.

And I hate that fake preppy / Lilly Pulitzer / Vineyard Vines look. It's so infantile, useless, and unattractive.

The unfortunate truth is that women are often judged entirely on their looks and acting "nice." Southern women understand this. you can refuse to admit this but you're not doing yourself any favors.

The truth is if you buy into that, you're going to hit the glass ceiling about 5 years in

I hope that doesn't happen to me. I don't know what you mean by "buy into it." I've tried my best to look good and will continue to do so. However I'd be an idiot if I thought there isn't a glass ceiling or that hard work will help me break through it.

If you try to be successful in the workplace by focusing on looking good and acting "nice," it may work for the first few years because people (especially men) will like you, but you will top out quickly because those same people won't take you seriously. It's more the acting "nice" part than the looking good part, but sometimes they go hand in hand - both are about being pleasant and pleasing to be around. It's an easy trap for young women to fall into, I think, because you are rewarded for it at first. I'm not saying you have to be mean or look bad, but long-term, being firm, serious and a little pushy in your interactions with people, and not worrying about how likable you are, is a much better approach if you want to be thought of as leadership material.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's like a cult. Yikes.

It's another sorority recruitment party. They have matching outfits because they are at a recruiting event.

Y'all are making fun of a bunch of 18-22 year old college students.

Here's a hint: petty bitchery looks good on no one.

+1

Part of the reason women from this part of the country appear so dull and ugly. Because everyone backbites, tears other people down, looks down on people over material things. The women around here don't appear to enjoy life. That's what makes you different from other women (not just Southern women). It's ugliness on the inside even if you have decent style and looks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's like a cult. Yikes.

It's another sorority recruitment party. They have matching outfits because they are at a recruiting event.

Y'all are making fun of a bunch of 18-22 year old college students.

Here's a hint: petty bitchery looks good on no one.

+1

Part of the reason women from this part of the country appear so dull and ugly. Because everyone backbites, tears other people down, looks down on people over material things. The women around here don't appear to enjoy life. That's what makes you different from other women (not just Southern women). It's ugliness on the inside even if you have decent style and looks.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all have to spend a little time in the morning to be presentable for work (agree with PP who said to do otherwise is to sabotage yourself). The difference is the mindset and the amount of time and money spent. Smart northerners do the bare minimum. Southerners of the type we're talking about spend 1-2 hours per day on hair/makeup. That is insane unless you consider your body your only/most important asset.

THIS.

I couldn't agree more. For many of these women, their looks/bodies are their ONLY assets. Yuck.

And I hate that fake preppy / Lilly Pulitzer / Vineyard Vines look. It's so infantile, useless, and unattractive.

The unfortunate truth is that women are often judged entirely on their looks and acting "nice." Southern women understand this. you can refuse to admit this but you're not doing yourself any favors.

The truth is if you buy into that, you're going to hit the glass ceiling about 5 years in

I hope that doesn't happen to me. I don't know what you mean by "buy into it." I've tried my best to look good and will continue to do so. However I'd be an idiot if I thought there isn't a glass ceiling or that hard work will help me break through it.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's like a cult. Yikes.

It's another sorority recruitment party. They have matching outfits because they are at a recruiting event.

Y'all are making fun of a bunch of 18-22 year old college students.

Here's a hint: petty bitchery looks good on no one.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Southern women are beautiful inside and out and make good wives.

Some I suppose but not all. My mother in law is pretty and put together but not accomplished and mean and petty. I'm famine pretty a mother kind and accomplished and not southern. The southern mystique is a myth

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

It's like a cult. Yikes.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We all have to spend a little time in the morning to be presentable for work (agree with PP who said to do otherwise is to sabotage yourself). The difference is the mindset and the amount of time and money spent. Smart northerners do the bare minimum. Southerners of the type we're talking about spend 1-2 hours per day on hair/makeup. That is insane unless you consider your body your only/most important asset.

THIS.

I couldn't agree more. For many of these women, their looks/bodies are their ONLY assets. Yuck.

And I hate that fake preppy / Lilly Pulitzer / Vineyard Vines look. It's so infantile, useless, and unattractive.

The unfortunate truth is that women are often judged entirely on their looks and acting "nice." Southern women understand this. you can refuse to admit this but you're not doing yourself any favors.

Anonymous wrote:This look just screams "vapid" to me. The only men you are going to attract with this look are the equally vapid preppy bros. It's like interesting-person repellant

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I lived in SC for a few years and picked up some of the style. I really love bright colors and easy fashion. It really doesn't take much effort. Cute, comfortable skirts. Wear prints. Natural makeup (doesn't have to be heavy!). It really is just a few easy tweaks.

Dressing like that in DC is a fast way to get yourself categorized as dumb and not serious at work. It doesn't translate to this city's culture -- which, let's face it, contains elements of the northeast and has a big delegation of frumpy-but-super-intelligent people who disdain southern fashion. It's important to know your audience. This isn't South Carolina, which, bless its heart, will never be the nerve center of the US.

I totally disagree. I am from the northeast and I've never seen so many bright prints as in DC. I think it depends on who you hang out with and which political party. there are plenty of bright prints here to go around.