Lauren Conrad covers the January issue of Cosmo. It’s basically just a celebration of her engagement, which… sure, that’s fine. In the past, I’ve made fun of Lauren’s “career” as a mass-market fashion designer and lifestyle queen, but yesterday I was in Kohl’s and I spend a lot of time looking at LC’s jewelry collection, and it’s really pretty. I can’t vouch for the quality or anything, but her jewelry collection is beautiful and it’s perfect for young women or women who don’t like big, garish “statement” pieces. Kohl’s carried her mass-market fashion line too, and some of the sweaters were really cute. I’m just saying… I might have to give LC some credit. Her stuff is nice. Anyway, you can read LC’s Cosmo piece here, and here are some highlights:
On her engagement to fiancé, musician and law student William Tell: “I had no idea it was coming. I thought he would wait until he finished law school.”
On her engagement ring: “He didn’t even ask my friends, which was a bold move. He said, ‘I know you, and I know what you like.’ And I love it. It’s perfect.”
Cosmo: You’re engaged! What would you say to readers who feel pressure to get that ring?
LC: “You have the rest of your life to be married. Enjoy falling in love. When girls get caught up in the timeline, it becomes more about the wedding than the marriage. You should be with someone with whom you could elope this weekend and be happy.”Cosmo: What tells you it’s time to settle down with one guy?
LC: “William hates it when I say this, but he really is a very nice guy, and when you meet a nice guy who also manages to keep your interest, that is the dream…If you’re going to settle down, it should be with someone you can’t stop thinking about. Especially if you’re in your 20s. If I were single in my 60s, I would totally settle. I would!”Cosmo: What’s the biggest mistake you’ve made with friends?
LC: “Being on television all those years, I got to view my own behavior. One thing I realized is that I was too hard on my friends when it came to guys. Instinctually, I wanted to protect them. But then you come off as judge-y and people are reluctant to come to you with a problem. I had to cut “I told you so” from my vocabulary.”Cosmo: What is the best way to fall in love with your body?
LC: “I’m so jealous of people who completely love their bodies. I think most women have trouble areas as well as areas that they like. So you play up your favorite parts and learn to dress around the others. I used to hate my legs, but now I always wear minis. It was an accident. In an effort to look taller, I started wearing really high heels with shorter skirts and ended up showing off my legs a lot.”
I kind of admire her honesty: “I thought he would wait until he finished law school.” Meaning, I guess, that she was expecting a proposal but she was prepared to wait until he finished law school. What do you think of this though? “When you meet a nice guy who also manages to keep your interest, that is the dream… Especially if you’re in your 20s.” I think it’s awkwardly worded and maybe she doesn’t mean to make it sound like she’s marrying the first “nice guy” who asked her? Because I kind of think she’s just marrying the first nice guy who asked her. And I think she’s doing it to extend her lifestyle brand into wedding crap.
Photos courtesy of Matt Jones/Cosmopolitan.
She’s got great hair.
its extensions!!!! I was always jealous of her hair and then I saw a pic of her getting extensions and I said even I was fooled!!!!
But she still had great hair way back when on Laguna Beach!
Most milquetoast, BORING, blandest person to ever become a celebrity. I was so happy when this girl fell off the radar. Here’s hoping this doesn’t mean she’s back.
I’m biased because I like Lauren, but she is a decent celebrity to have around. Especially when you think about those that got their start on reality TV. Kate and Jon Gosselin, the Real Housewives, the Kardashians. I think Lauren is a testament that you don’t have to conduct yourself like an idiot and sacrifice your decency to be successful.
I don’t really believe in regretting wasted time, as that’s just wasting more time, but God I wish I hadn’t been so critical of myself at her age and agonized over being “fat” in a size 6, and having less than perfect knees. Young women – celebrate your good parts and enjoy your beauty. Nobody’s perfect. There are so many things more important. Be sweet to yourself.
I think she’s saying (awkwardly) that in your 20s at least you should still hold out for The Dream (in her case – a nice guy who is also interesting). But in her 60s she’d settle for just ‘nice.’
Agreed. I think lots of people are ‘settling’ in their 20s these days, but then I live in the South :/
Her sweaters at Kohl’s are kinda cute. The fabrics are super soft .
She’s a pretty girl. Least offensive person off that Hills cast.
+1. Always liked her for some reason…
I like her too, she’s basic as hell but she’s done a lot more for herself than the majority of those other people off The Hills. I started liking her after I watched an interview where an interview asked her, “what’s your favourite position?” And she said: “CEO”. Such a perfect answer to such a dumb question he had no business asking her in the first place.
I like her too. I am just a few years older than her and was a huge fan of the Hills when it came out (yes, I’ll admit it publicly), and it’s nice to see her doing so well for herself. One of the few people from reality television who made something of herself without having to keep grasping onto TV fame.
Wasn’t she engaged to that actor from that TBS show? Maybe he’s the one she’s implying didn’t keep her interest, although it’s ironic that someone who markets herself as a (bland) “good girl” would complain about someone not keeping her interest. I loved it when she showed her bitchy side in earlier seasons of “The Hills.”
Also, it drives me nuts when skinny girls complain about their bodies in an effort to fish for compliments.
Just because someone may be thin does not mean they are happy with their bodies or fishing for compliments. We all have a different self image from how others see us.
…or maybe there are actually some skinny girls that really AREN’T crazy about their bodies?
I’m thin but I have complaints about my body-I’m only human, after all. Am I not ‘allowed’ to complain about it?
I think almost every woman has “bad days” where they feel their body isn’t *perfect enough*.
It’s a shame because it’s definitely a patriarchal trap, but I don’t think many women-whether overweight or thin-are immune to self-criticism.
+1
Same page. I’m considered thin and I still have qualms about my body.
They were never engaged. There were rumors that it’s because he didn’t want to settle down, and she did.
But if a fat girl fishes for compliments… it’s… better?
I have a pair of LC jeans and a flowey white LC top (both from goodwill, what what!) and I constantly get compliments on both. So many women have wanted to know who made the jeans, it’s always funny to tell them they are Goodwill LC jeans. I am a larger lady, size 16, so it’s a plus that LC makes clothing to flatter all body types. I’m actually very impressed with the line.
About the body love, it’s hard but important. Like I said I’m on the bigger side, but I have learned to give my body love. Literally when I am in the shower I will look at the parts I don’t like and say/think “you work for me every day, you don’t have to be perfect, I love you”. It makes a big difference in how I see myself and makes it easier to take proper care of myself. It has taken me a looooong time, I used to look at my body parts and just have hatred. But when I felt that way I was mistreating myself and making it worse!
I also love her LC jeans — I buy her skinny jeans (since I’m short and they don’t carry petites in-store and the hems on her jeans are LONG) and then let them bunch at my ankles or fold them up if I’m tucking them into boots.
These are basically my holy grail jeans — they fit in the thighs AND the waist and it is impossible to get that fit in any of the other jeans I’ve tried. If they fit in the thighs, the waist is too big, and if they would fit in the waist I can’t get them over my thighs.
Patricia I love what you said! I’m the same size and try to do the same thing – love my body because it’s healthy and strong and does all that I ask of it…it does make a huge difference in how I think of myself and how I let the opinions of others affect me 🙂
@Patricia – I know I’m late to this party (& that most of you gals have probably come home from ‘Black Friday gridlock’ & passed out already), but I was affected enough by what you said, to want to comment anyway.
I think your approach to your body is beautiful. It’s so *reasonable* & healthy to look at it from that perspective. So many people aren’t as fortunate, & struggle with their health/being able to do the everyday things our bodies allow us to do. That’s not to say we don’t have a right to have issues with our own body, but looking at it from another persective is a great way not to harm ourselves with self-hatred. It’s totally okay to be self conscious about things society shoves in our faces every day, that’s human, but we also need to appreciate what we *do* have. =)
“When girls get caught up in the timeline, it becomes more about the wedding than the marriage. You should be with someone with whom you could elope this weekend and be happy.”
THIS. It’s about the marriage, not the wedding. I found her take on her relationship to be pretty well grounded.
Who?
I’ve never understood why people bother replying with, “Who?”
If you honestly don’t know, then Google it. She’s as much a celebrity as half the folks featured on this site.
My Mom took me to Kohl’s last Christmas because she wanted to buy me some clothes. I’m a label whore, I was not excited. I got an LC blouse in two different colors (I’m actually wearing one right now). They are great staples and I’ve worn and washed them a ton and they’ve held up beautifully. I honestly wasn’t expecting that at all! Her clothing line deserves some credit.
I know it’s uncool to like reality TV stars, but I can’t help it! I really like her. I like that she ended up with someone who’s going to law school and seems pretty laid-back, instead of someone who was obsessed with Hollywood and fame.
I understood everything she said. She is in love with a guy she can’t stop thinking about, so obviously crazy about him. But he is genuinely a nice and good guy. Too often we fall in love with a guy we can’t stop thinking about but he is the bad boy or the kind of guy that jacks you around, not your best friend or even a great companion or maybe you just love him more than he does you and you are addicted to that feeling. Just the trauma drama, the passion and fights and breaking up getting back together, never completely fulfilled, that hopefully you grow out of. Sometimes it takes a few heartaches with guys to appreciate and realize that one of the qualities your future husband must have is being a genuinely kind person, which in a long-term relationship is a must-have.
And it’s so true about the timeline and all girls focus on is the wedding itself.
Very we’ll said Jayna. I took her comment to mean exactly what you wrote also, I just couldn’t word it so well :-).
The fascinating thing about her is that years after vacating TV she is still one of the top sellers for magazines.
I have to agree with the love for her LC line at Kohls. Every time I wear anything from her collection people comment on the cuteness of my clothes. I am a little embarrassed but I always tell people it’s from LC at Kohls but then have to add “not the shoes though!”
I only know who she is because of Family Guy – so I’m going to assume that like the Lauren Conrad of that particular episode, she’s a genius who once dated a dog.
@HappyHat – I had forgotten about that! To give her credit, if one is ever going to date a dog, you can’t do better than Brian.
Ugh, but talking about this just makes me think of the most recent ‘tragedy’ on the show, which is going to prevent me from ever watching it again…(seriously). I know it’s ridiculous, but I was genuinely upset about it. ;____;
Noooooo – I’m in the UK so I won’t be seeing that for ages! To be honest, Brian’s been getting on my nerves for ages, and I get the feeling all the people at Family Guy are getting bored of working on the show (oh, how terrible for them!!). Though…who’s Stewie going to play with?!! I feel your pain though!! *cries a little*
I really like/agree with what she said about being less critical of her friends and their romantic choices. As a gay man, women tend to flock to me with their guy drama. I have one friend who is very needy and tends to (always) fall for the wrong guy. She never takes my advice, even after everything I tell her comes to pass (always, always, always). I’ve learned that it’s best to just bite my tongue and listen.
@Grant – I hope this doesn’t come off the wrong way, but it makes me so happy that you’re here to give your perspective on these stories, & your experiences. I was under the the impression that everyone (or at least *almost* everyone) here were ladies, but I love to get a point of view from a different direction (since, obviously, as a woman, I couldn’t see things from your POV). =)
And I agree. It’s something that I need to heed, myself. I can be too judgemental (purely because I want to protect my friends), but end up hurting them, when they need to experience/learn from these things for themselves.
Well I don’t like her collection at all, I mean it is not the worst thing ever and some dresses I might wear, but in general it is to girlie and cutesy for my taste and also looks a little bit cheap.
She’s never really bothered me. She seems harmless. I don’t think she’s as big a fame whore as the others that were on The Hills. It seems that she truly just loves fashion and doesn’t care too much about being in the spot light. I just took a look at her line on Kohl’s website and it is really pretty.
“I’m so jealous of people who completely love their bodies.”
You mean men? Toddlers?
Actually I think it’s more so women under 40 who are most prone to settling. From what I’ve seen. I think in your 20s it’s hard to imagine being happy alone and older, so, you may think you’d settle at age 60, and maybe you would, but, age changes you in ways you can’t know til you get there.
I think it brings self-reliance, enjoyment of your own company, not “settling”.
The single 60-something ladies I know (two divorced, one widowed) have told me they go through occasional lonely times but say it would take a lot to get them into a committed relationship.