I start today with a question:
Why in the world do so many models in bridal magazines have what appears to be severe scoliosis? A typical example, at right. This is an extremely common pose in these magazines. Is it meant to show the back of the dress off? To simulate the bad posture of many young women? Are they in the midst of a dance move with which I am not familiar? Is her bouquet extremely heavy and she has forgotten that all-important lesson our middle-school P.E. teachers taught, “lift from the legs, not from the back?”
Remains a mystery.
Today I am flying to Boston for the New England Romance Writers yearly conference, where my agent, Deidre Knight, my critique partner Marley Gibson, and I will be giving a talk on Networking. (There’s a description of this workshop in the workshop section of my website.) There’s also going to be a costume party, where we are supposed to dress up as either our or our favorite literary figure. Theoretically, I have packed an Amy costume. I still don’t know if I’m going to wear it.
Speaking of my website, it’s been updated! Yay! Check it out: http://dianapeterfreund.com. Excerpt of Under the Rose to come.
I’m also spending the weekend grinding a secret project. Can’t say anything about it yet, but it’s very very cool.
Yesterday, because I’ve been out of town so much, Sailor Boy and I spent the day hanging out with one another, We went hiking, went to lunch, and just had a good time. The weather, for once, is beautiful here in DC. I’m kinda sad to be leaving.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:15 am
I will go with the idea that this back-breaking poses show off the dress. And that’s what you’re supposed to be looking at, right?
Can we please move on to a new wedding dress style now? It’s been several years that this stupid strapless crap has been going on, and I’m sick of it.
How about cap sleeves? Those are cute. Come on, designers! Could you PLEASE be a little more original?
Diana, I am so sorry you must look for a wedding dress amidst all this strapless nonsense.
March 29th, 2007 at 8:25 am
LOL re the scoliosis - and you’re spot on. Maybe the photogs all have a back fetish?
Please take pics of the Amy costume! Will she be wearing the yellow wellies?
Oooh, secret project. The suspense mounts.
You sure know how to keep the fans on the edge of their seats…
(Note: three dots only for the three-dot girl.)
March 29th, 2007 at 8:33 am
Can’t wait to see you! The champagne is in the back of the car, ready to haul out to Natick. You must let me in on The Secret. = )
As for the pose…well, don’t you watch AMERICA’S NEXT TOP MODEL? Mama Ty-Ty (otherwise known as Tyra Banks) always tells the girls if they slump like that it’s “high fashion” and when they stand straight and thrust their chests out, it’s “hoochie” or “for a men’s magazine.” I don’t know if I buy into it, but she’s always giving examples of contorting your body to get a higher fashion photograph.
Like this perhaps?
Although…I think the model in your picture is saying “Is there a zit on my shoulder? Can someone look?”
:::EEEEEG:::
Marley = )
March 29th, 2007 at 8:51 am
Kristin, AMEN!!!
I had the hardest time trying to find a wedding dress and most shops’ answer to the “sleeve” problem was “Oh, look, we can add a little swatch of material to make off the shoulder cap sleeves. Just make sure you don’t lift your arm at any time during the wedding to, you know, put your hand on your groom’s shoulder during a dance or toss a bouquet or toast, or, heaven forbid, raise the roof.
It’s disgusting. No sleeves, all poof. So sick of that. Anything without that upended sieve silhouette also costs about 17 times as much. Claire Pettibone makes some gorgeous and different looking dresses — if you want to spend 5k. Forget it!
March 29th, 2007 at 9:17 am
Have a great time in Boston. I would love to see an RWA conference there as I’ve never been! Can’t wait to hear your stories.
March 29th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Bwa, scoliosis brides. After trying on bridal dresses last night for the first time, I have a theory: some of them weigh 1.5 metric tons. How are we supposed to walk around swathed in all that fabric??
Secret project is very intriguing… can’t wait to hear more.
Congrats on the web site update. Looks great!
March 29th, 2007 at 11:03 am
Love that you spent your day hiking with SB. What a perfect dose of renewal.
Boy, am I with you on the slouchy posture thing. It’s something that drove me crazy in the Keira Knightley version of Pride and Prejudice. Why is slouching cool? Or is it just that no one wants to call pretty girls on their laziness?
Please get to the bottom of this and report back.
And have fun at your seminar!
March 29th, 2007 at 1:15 pm
Have a dress made! That’s what my best friend did. She found a woman who specializes in wedding gowns and historical costumes and had her recreate a 1953 Dior ball gown (but in champagne silk, not black). It rocked, and cost way less than the gowns we were looking at in the bridal magazines!
March 29th, 2007 at 1:38 pm
Dude if I’m dressing up as Rayne, you are so dressing up as Amy…
See you at NEC!
March 29th, 2007 at 1:52 pm
I love the NEC conference. I went years ago and it was fab. Have a great, great time! Have a Sam Adams on tap for me…there’s just something about drinking a Sam Adams in Boston or the surrounding area. Can’t say what it is, but my mouth is watering.
I’m with you on the strapless gowns. Yikes! I saw ONE with small cap (not puffy) sleeves in a bridal mag at the salon and I nearly ripped it out to send to you. I didn’t, though, since I knew you’d already made your choice.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:01 pm
“Can’t say anything about it yet, but it’s very very cool.”
Why am I NOT surprised.
OMG. If high fashion means to walk around like a Pilates posture hating freak, than I guess I’ll have to pass.
March 29th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Bill Clark said: Maybe the photogs all have a back fetish?
More like a backbone fetish . . . Uggh!
And I’m so with you Kristin on the sleeveless strapless thing. It’s not just wedding dress. Trying to find any kind of formalish dress with actual sleeves is a nightmare!
March 29th, 2007 at 2:42 pm
Have to agree with the dresses and the pose comments. Turns me off in the worst way! But what are you doing still looking at gowns?? I already sent you a picture of the PERFECT DRESS!!!! (hehe)
Hope you have a fantastic trip to Boston!!
March 29th, 2007 at 4:46 pm
So, to dress like Amy, do you do the sweater thing on the paperback cover? Just wondering.
Have fun at the conf!
March 29th, 2007 at 5:41 pm
Luckily, I did find the perfect dress… and I am generally a “strap” kind of girl, being from Florida and all.
Phyllis, I’m dressing more like Amy is wont to dress in the books than on the cover. T-shirts, etc.
March 29th, 2007 at 6:44 pm
Hope you have a great trip!!
March 30th, 2007 at 7:48 am
Egads. I haven’t looked at wedding dresses since I worked at a bridal salon back in the early nineties. What have they done to the models?! Ewww. Contortionist wedding anyone?
Glad you could find a nice and pretty dress to wear, Diana. I hope you have a beautiful wedding day.
March 30th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Sometimes living in the middle of the country sucks. I’d love to go to the NEC conference. Have fun and hug Mahhhley and D for me!
And that pic makes my back hurt *g*
March 30th, 2007 at 8:24 am
Makes me want to grab the models and force them to walk with a book on their heads LOL.
Love the idea of an Amy costume!