So, I don’t know if I shared the fact that I’m devoting my winter break to educating myself about American History (as you can imagine, my boyfriend is thrilled…!) but in a rather surprising manner it proved to be a refreshing experience that truly arouses my “grey matter”. Yesterday, as part of my collegial obligations I crafted together a presentation about an odd “couple” in history (well it’s kind of the point) Eleanor Roosevelt and Halston. Although at this point of my life, I am well familiar with the glamorous creations of the later (Halston was an American fashion designer prominent in the 70′s) I was incredibly inspired by the feisty longest serving first lady that perhaps didn’t fulfill the fashionable quota but surely “made-up” for it in many incredible ways… I don’t know if there will ever be a first lady that will be able to compare to Eleanor but there sure hasn’t been one like her since. I think that many of us, in complete disregard to our gender, give ourselves an occasional “discount” and blame reality on circumstances, where we came from, our appearances or society’s expectations as for what we should be. Eleanor lead truly grand life despite the fact she had lost both of her parents at a young age and never really knew maternal affection (the story tell her mother society belle Anna Hall, was disappointed by her daughter’s “plain looks and lack of manners”…) or got to grow up with a father figure (her dad passed away when she was only 10 due to acute alcoholism…). Her passionate ways to pursue her beliefs for equality, women’s and civil rights touched something in me, and the fact she was so bluntly oblivious to any criticism upon her ways suggests a lesson I was fast to catch… It might sound strange, coming from someone that paid a fair share of bills with appearances, but I feel that today, side by side with women’s obvious progression in the race for power and on the career front, there’s an increasing focus on our looks and what doors these may open for us. And although I’ll probably forever stay enthralled by the spell of true splendor, I can’t help but seriously considering removing beauty from it’s fast placement as a condition for success. Surely, it can’t hurt but cultivating our other talents seems more crucial today then ever before… If you’d like to read further about Eleanor check out this article, perhaps it will spike your inspiration as well…