Just last week we were extolling the virtues of being a late arrival to the pretty game.

"Being a late bloomer," our clever blogger Jed wrote, "usually means you're either super smart, really good at something, or used to be, well, less attractive. In any of these cases, it's a positive."

Indeed, wouldn't most of us — if forced to choose between the two — rather grow into our looks than out of them? We think so. But that got us to thinking about something else: What happens if you start off not so pretty and never grow out of it?

According … Read More

At first look, taking advice from How To Love Like A Hot Chick: The Girlfriend-to-Girlfriend Guide to Getting the Love You Deserve might seem imprudent. The authors, Jodi Lipper and Cerina Vincent (from Not Another Teen Movie) are two decidedly hot chicks, so the idea that they'd be able to relate to everyday Plain Janes is as believable as The Supermodel's Guide to Getting Pants Hemmed.

But, then, beauty is both relative and subjective. While looking pretty might get you free things, … Read More

A Current TV reporter recently hit the streets of London two days in a row in search of free goods and services: cab rides, slices of cake, drinks. The first day she dolled herself up in a form-fitting dress, makeup, blown-out hair and heels. The second day, she hit the streets in the "dowdy" version of herself: long skirt and loose-fitting blouse, no makeup, hair pulled back.

As evolved as we try to be, humans are still suckers for good-looking members of the species. This is why the line between trophy wife and gold digger is often blurred. … Read More

I've been thinking a lot about beauty lately: construction involving saws, drills and copious amounts of dust is being done out of my apartment, so I haven't been at home. For a week, I've gone granola and lived without makeup, a blowdryer, cute outfits or more than one pair of shoes. With the exception of a hairbrush, none of the worldly possessions I've lugged around NYC in my LeSportsac overnight bag have anything to do with primping.

I realize a lot of women -- sadly -- can't imagine living like that. I never thought of myself as particularly shallow, but I've … Read More