Oh, how I love all things Jackie O.
Feel like you’ve lost that stylish edge? Forget what it’s like to have office manners? Unsure of how to deal with family dysfunction? Never fear: Jackie O knows just what to do.
What Would Jackie Do? is a national bestseller and undeniably hilarious. Authors Shelly Branch and Sue Callaway take every day situations and issues and tell us just how Jackie handled or would handle them. Using observations, research and r
eal-life interviews, this book combines Jackie’s reality with answers for us. It warrants a most esteemed book review.
I have a small obsession with Jackie, for a few reasons. First, because she was mysterious, yet graceful under pressure (two things that I often find hard to do). Second, because she was stylish (I’m approximately 50% stylish about 50% of the time). Third, because I once dated a guy who thought he was JFK, which meant I was, in a way that was not anything based on reality, a bit like Jackie.
Here are a few of my favorite pieces of Jackie insight and guidance from the book:
1. Jackie always did everything completely, flaunting her extreme passion for learning. When she was 21 she declared she would like to be nothing less than the “Overall Director of the 21st Century.” How does one do that? Only by knowing a whole lotta stuff. For example, not only did she go to her favorite films, she studied film genres and directors. She not only went to the ballet, she bought books about ballet.
You ask, “Can I also be the Director of the 21st century?” Yes you can. Be more than a knitter, teach a knitting class and get to know famous knitters. If you want to be a circus clown, paint your face every day and practice miming with your co-workers. Dive in.
2. Like Jackie, you shall not be an “Interchangeable Woman.” Dumb women = not attractive to anyone. Flinging yourself at the opposite sex = desperation. (By the way, flinging is different than flirting).
If you’re reading this, I hope you’re not an IW or an IM (Interchangeable Man – I hate to leave out the guys, because they’re fab too). Jackie knew how to share her talents and “charms” with those who earned her time and appreciated her for who she was.
3. JBKO (as the authors often refer to her) embodied a style of her own, not imitated. Yes, she had the money to wear fabulous clothes and shop at fabulous places. Not a surprise that her wares have been auctioned at Christie’s for massive sums.
However, I have no problem trying to imitate Jackie’s style. But, most of us don’t have the kind of money she did. The authors reminder us that JBKO was simple, yet elegant. So, feel good about buying your basics at Banana, the Gap – just remember that if you want to be like Jackie, flashy and trendy are not the way to go.
I’ll leave you with one other piece of Jackie observation included in the book: Do not date men who weigh less than you do or have smaller feet. She never did. What a wonderful piece of advice.
In my opinion, Jackie O showed us what being authentic means. In your everyday life, how do you stay true to who you are?
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Very fun and insightful post, Laura. I loved Jackie O too. How could you resist that charm, that beauty, that grace. I loved Audrey H. and Diana too. All of them taken from us much too soon. Style, grace, and manners are so hard to come by these days. I worked at a male-dominated engineering office where the guys looked at though they had just rolled out of bed…I was grateful for my little cubicle “privacy” but I certainly wished for a tad bit more formality and manners, that’s for sure!
Hi Farnoosh! I love Audrey Hepburn as well…so much grace and style in her being, philosophy and actions. I just finished reading her biography and am now starting to read Coco Chanel’s (another favorite!)
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