There’s No Crying In Fashion*

I had no idea what I was in for when I picked up my Valentine’s Day present to myself, Kelly Cutrone‘s “If You Have to Cry, Go Outside: And Other Things Your Mother Never Told You”. I could not have asked for a better gift to myself to celebrate my singledom. Cutrone tells it like it is and is a major breath of fresh air in the vapid world of vanity and air kisses. It’s painfully truthful and heartbreaking at points, but most of all it is truly inspiring and an eye-opening look into the real business of fashion as well as an intimate memoir of a woman who, I am sure, has a few more volumes of tales to tell.

If You Have to Cry, Go Outside

I’d had brief (though irregular) glimpses into Cutrone’s world and work with her company People’s Revolution on The Hills. Then her reality show Kell On Earth aired last week and through the magic of Twitter was able to find and watch the first episode online. I have since become obsessed with learning more about this woman who people revere and detest – both strongly it seems.

This video actually breaks down a lot of what is in the book:

I think we share a bit of the same universe: we’re both determined, intuitive and honest women carving out our own destiny and figuring out that we don’t have to fall into what Western society has bestowed onto the female population – though some of her hardcore business practices are a little much for me. But I do wish this book had been around when I was 19 years old and just starting out in the industry. My business role model at the time had been Madonna, but the views into that side of her world were closed off and I could only imagine what went on in those board meetings. (I always imagined Madonna to be completely like the authoritative Catholic nuns she herself was taught by.)

Anyone who is looking to start a career in fashion, public relations, events management – you have to read this book. I gobbled it up all in one day!

*Bonus points for anyone who can name the movie the title of this post is inspired by.