In 2009, I Resolve to be More Mutinous.

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banana republic ad.jpg I thought it would be cute and fun to do a “resolutions” post on December 31st, but I wasn’t sure how to approach it. After all, just asking you what you plan on not accomplishing in the new year seemed rather bleh. So, imagine my glee when I discovered a frothy fashion article about this exact subject with no less than 1.5 brown connections to exploit! Problem solved.

Via Vogue.com:

We asked some of our favorite women what they hope to do (or do a little bit better)—from family to food and fashion—in 2009.

I’ve only quoted about half of the resolvers here:

Vera Wang, designer “Work more and work out more.”
Venus Williams, tennis player “I think it’s time to give up leggings and add more prints to my closet in 2009. I also think it’s time for more accessories, but I want to avoid those big chunky pieces.”

While she is a tennis player, Venus isn’t our “0.5” connection. 😉

Chanel Iman, model “Step back into my closet and re-create the things I haven’t worn in a while and do wardrobe swaps with my friends. After the swap, you can go shopping for that one item that will make the trade pop. It’s kind of a green way to go.”
Sophie Buhai, designer, Vena Cava “Monochromatic fashion that feels elegant (but is almost boring) paired with an eccentric large metal necklace is what I am wanting to wear. As far as giving things up, I’d say it’s time to give up flashy designer bags. The new year and a new economy are all about buying vintage Ferragamo and Bottega on eBay.”
Coco Rocha, model “Wear more jackets. This is the time to bundle up, and a girl cannot have too many coats because it is what you are seen most in during the winter season.”
Marina Rust, contributing editor, Vogue “I know if I squeeze a lemon into a cup of hot water and honey every morning I will actually feel and look better. Maybe this year I will remember to do it.”
Tory Burch, designer “Keep things in perspective and not sweat the small stuff. I always try to focus on the big picture and remember if my family is happy and healthy, nothing is worth getting too stressed about.”
Chiara Clemente, filmmaker “Eat at home as much as I can. Maybe it’s because I am Italian, but you have to start with the basics. And that’s food.”

waris and chiara.jpg

Clemente’s film Our City Dreams (ourcitydreams.com) has its theatrical release at the Film Forum in New York this February.

Chiara is Waris Ahluwalia’s girlfriend. See? Kinda brown. 😉 That’s a picture of them, over on the right.

Sarah Mower, contributing editor, Vogue “Ask not what your country can do for you. You can be just perfect-looking, but if you’re not contributing something worthwhile, however small, how can you feel good about yourself?”

And now, for not just a brown but a coconut-flavored connection:

Lakshmi Menon, model “A place everyone should visit is Ladakh, situated on the northwestern frontier of India and the last stronghold of Tibetan Buddhism. It’s a place that has lessons to teach all of us with its wisdom of old ways, which we have forgotten in the consumerist frenzy of our times.”

FYI- the picture adorning the top of this post is a shot of lovely Lakshmi posing for everyone’s favorite store for casual Friday-wear: Banal Republic. She has also worked for Givenchy and Hermes. Not bad, penne. Not bad. 🙂 I am definitely a fan.

Liya Kebede, model “I recommend people visit Africa—that is what I want to do. I want to try and see all the different countries. I also think people should get involved, volunteer, and simply help others in any way you can. This is the way forward.”

I appreciate that the models from India and Ethiopia are exhorting us to travel to interesting places. We need such encouragement. How else will we inflict boorish American behavior (while wearing white athletic shoes with EVERYTHING) on every part of the world we could loudly and rudely visit? I keed, I keed. Kinda. 😉

What are you feeling all ambitious about for 2009? The usuals suspects, i.e. the gym, smoking, dieting? Or do you have something more fascinating in mind? Feel free to share your resolutions in the comments below, so those of us who are lazy, less creative, less introspective or any and all of the above can mooch off your great ideas, I mean, FEEL INSPIRED by them.

Happy 2009, mutineers. Ring it in safely, we’d miss you if you weren’t here to lurk or comment.

31 thoughts on “In 2009, I Resolve to be More Mutinous.”

  1. In 2009, I fervently hope that there are less comments to delete. Please don’t ask why something is filed under something. That is not on topic. Or festive. Or useful.

    And please don’t give them a reason to lock me in the bunker tonight. I have tickets to BOLLYWOOD ON DEMAND’S NEW YEAR’S BASH!

  2. My New Year’s resolutions are as follows:

    1) Learn how to cook. Microwaving and Taco Bell should not be options any longer. 2) Get a 180 on the LSAT. Pray for me, everyone. I need it. 3) Finish reading The Last Mughal without getting emotionally affected like I did last time (couldn’t finish the book because it was too painful, which is a pity because I love William Dalrymple). 3) Finally convince my grandmother that dark skin is BEAUTIFUL and that she needn’t loudly despair of me ever finding a husband.

    Happy New Year everyone! 🙂

  3. i’m trying to cut down on smoking 🙁 This is not mutinous, but it probably does some good (tobacco companies have generally sucked). sigh…the life of a liberal.

    🙂

  4. sort of describes my perspective http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/01/fashion/01ANNA.html

    The key phrase ” NO one at Vogue, least of all its editor in chief, Anna Wintour, could have been seriously stung by a recent letter from a reader complaining that the magazine was in a rut. After all, Ms. Wintour chose to publish the letter, which chided the magazine for featuring the same women — “Gwyneth Paltrow, Caroline Trentini, Gisele Bündchen, Nicole Kidman, Sienna Miller, blah, blah, blah,” as the reader, Kathryn Williams of San Diego, said. “I could make a calendar of your cover girls, and it would probably repeat year after year.” “

  7. Wow, Sam, that’s a heavy load. I’d much sooner give up leggings and add more prints to my closet.

    1. Emit more potent gas from the anus around people that I don’t like
    2. be more calm and more healthy and not so stressed
    3. unlearn sexist and racist trash thats been internalized
    4. Emit less potent gas from the anus around people that I do like
    5. give more to family and friends that have been neglected and less to ass-goblins
    6. smoke an L every now an then…

  12. I am going to try to be less awesome and not go to the gym as much so that my 8 pack turns into a grotesque 6 pack.

  13. I resolve to explore more of this language of ours. For instance, in what other language can “beer belly” and “six-pack abs” be total antonyms? Instead of saying “I’m going to try getting a flatter abdomen”, one might try saying “I’m going to add cans to my belly”, except that sounds like a flabby man’s botched surgical attempt to become a Hooters waitress.

    And, SM Intern, why aren’t your nails filed under the cuticle?

  17. 2) make progress on that novel I keep talking about writing

    And updating your blog … or stop linking to it. 🙂

  18. hmm

    1) get a job, so i can stop lying to my parents about where the money on “party favors” is going. 2) find some stuff so that i can cook easily. 3) stop dwelling on the past. 4) attend all my classes, even if the lecture is pointless (so i can be on amiable terms with all the profs) 5) quit avoiding pictures in fear of an unflattering facebook tags

  19. BTW. I ♥ the material that Lakshmi’s shirt is made out of!!! Especially how the shades shift in the light!

  20. 1) lose about 40 pounds 2) earn enough money of my own to get laser surgery for my stretch marks

  21. To dress like Dynasty, live like House on the Prairie, to give like Oprah, to drink like AbFab. Happy New Year!

  23. My heart felt desire for this year: to be a mother

    My resolution for this year: to do everything I can to prepare for bringing a new life to this world through me.

  24. A reader writes to our tipline (which is preferable to thread-jacking, so we do appreciate that):

    Thanks for your good work, all of you…but my friends and I are always curious as to why a blog like SM pretty much ignores the Palestine-Israel situation? We were kind of hopeful when we saw the title “I resolve to be more mutinous” but it was just fluffy stuff :)…especially at this point of crisis, it seems really callous to stay studiously silent.

    We don’t blog about stories unless they deal with the diaspora, we can add something to the story, we are interested in writing about them and we have the time to cover it, which is consistent with a thematically-unified, volunteer-run endeavor. The truth is, we have no obligation to write about anything, no matter how important it seems, because we have no obligation to blog, period. No one is forcing any of you to read a site which ignores your interests.

    More and more people seem to think SM is somehow the voice of the desi establishment, when in actuality it is simply a collection of unique South Asian American perspectives. If you can’t find intelligent exploration of the South Asian issues that interest you, that’s not our fault, that’s a failing of the South Asian media– and maybe yourselves? A simple google search turns up the interesting fact that the letter-writer has a blog (with no discussion of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) and is no stranger to writing herself– so then why is it on us to be all things to all people?

    In 2009, I hope people stop feeling entitled when it comes to SM. Everyone likes something different and everyone’s desires are valid. Even if they are “fluffy”. None of us in the bunker expects “thank you” notes, but we can do without the “thank you, BUT”s.

    1. take better care of myself, physically and mentally
    2. find a way to drink more without it having such ill effects (which, btw, has been my dad’s dream for many years ;))
    3. walk more
    4. say no to others more often without feeling so guilty about it
    5. get a husband (j/k – but apparently, it’s everybody else’s[/ 2009 resolution for me, so…

  26. @ sam #2 – if you’re weak in the logic reasoning portion, i highly, highly recommend buying some of those logic games books they sell at magazine stands – it helped me tremendously and it went from being my weakest to my strongest area on the LSAT…

  27. 27 · ak said

    @ sam #2 – if you’re weak in the logic reasoning portion, i highly, highly recommend buying some of those logic games books they sell at magazine stands – it helped me tremendously and it went from being my weakest to my strongest area on the LSAT…

    Now THAT is a tip I can use. This post is fluffy? Not if it helps me get in to law school. Viva la fluff.

  28. To be the lead actress in my own life, and not the ‘friend’ (thanks to cute-old-writer-guy-who-befriends-Kate-Winslet in the Holiday).

    Also please don’t anyone try to get into law school – says a wee person stuck inside! Go be a journalist/novelist/historian/political scientist/activist/community organiser (Barack did it!) instead. Which is secretly what all people at law school want to do (really).

  29. i never make resolutions, just goals… which for some reason makes more sense to me… i also try to make them attainable, so my goal for 2009 is (drumroll please): to floss more.

    ta da! 🙂

  31. Not all the resolutions can be accomplished for some reason or the other. I think we should stick to one or two resolutions every year that make us a different person for that year.

    -Mini