Wharton - Pulling it all together: essential style advice on being beautiful, confident & (most of all) happy!

PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER Copyright 2018 by Paul Wharton

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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data is available on file.

Interior book design by Aidah Fontenot

Logo design by Michael Woestehoff

Cover photo by Chris Mills

Print ISBN: 978-1-5107-2234-7

Ebook ISBN: 978-1-5107-2235-4

Printed in China

Note: Before undertaking any exercise, using recipes, products or suggestions set out in this book, please consult a medical professional to ensure that you have no allergies, injuries, or conditions that may be exacerbated by any of these steps. Exercise and food references in this book are illustrative only and may not be suitable for all people. Please diet and exercise responsibly.

DEDICATION

TO MY DEAR

Mother, Brenda Herian, and father, Paul Wharton Sr., thank you for encouraging me to continue to try again each time I was discouraged. The love youve shown me will never be forgotten. To Cynthia Wilson, thank you for being one of the first people to believe I had something special to offer the world. To Holly, Anasia, Nadia, and Seana, you are the best cheerleaders a brother and uncle could have. And to my dearest friends, Jemaja, Timothais, Sidra, and Mikail, my life wouldnt be nearly as joy-filled or pulled together without your friendship. I love you to the moon and back.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

IVE BEEN INTRIGUED

by the story of Edith Big Edie Bouvier Beale and her daughter Edith Little Edie Bouvier Beale since I saw the 2009 HBO original film Grey Gardens, starring Drew Barrymore and Jessica Lange. I immediately set out to find the 1975 documentary film and other materials to learn more about the aunt and cousin of Jackie Kennedy Onassis and exactly what transpired in their lifetimes. As life would have it, years later I would become friends with the homes owners, Sally Quinn, Ben Bradlee, and their son Quinn (who married my close friend Pari). Ben passed away in 2014 and since then, things were never quite the same at Grey Gardens for Sally. In the summer of 2017, Sally extended an offer for my Mother and I to vacation at Grey Gardens. I was in the process of finishing this book and thought why not take my manuscript and my Mom to East Hampton for an inspired vacation where wed make amazing food and a lifetime of memories. Photographer Barry Harley came along with his wife Julie, as well as my friend Rebecca James from NYC to help us recreate some iconic Bouvier Beale shots and enjoy the beautiful home and gardens. Every night after dinner, I headed up to Sallys writing room, which overlooks the pool and beautiful gardens. Id pop open my laptop and go to work, sending pages to my editor Mikail Chowdhury for review. On the final evening, as I was rounding out the last chapter and before I took my evening walk around Grey Gardens, I received a note from Mikail, Job well done, mate. Your book is complete. I was elated! As I finished my celebratory libation, I felt thankful for creativity and guidance, and I raised my glass to Big and Little Edie and to Sally Quinn for sharing the magic of Grey Gardens with me. Ive used several images from our time at Grey Gardens throughout this book. My hope is that Pulling It All Together serves as a source of inspiration and motivation to you, just as Grey Gardens did for me.

LOVE, PAUL

THE GREY GARDENS

CONNECTION

PAUL AT GREY GARDENS

INTRODUCTION

MOST OF US REMEMBER

the first time we felt our look wasnt totally pulled together. For me it was sitting in my sixth-grade classroom at James H. Harrison Elementary School in Laurel, Maryland. Id known picture day was coming for months and rejoiced in fantasizing about my supremely stylish picture day outfit. I couldnt wait to see the look on the faces of Eric Globerman, Nicole Girard, Chris Horn, and my other classmates when I whisked into the classroom with my fresh-off-the-rack, perfectly coordinated designer duds and carefully coiffed hair. I was going to take the best picture in the school (possibly even in the state of Maryland) and everyone would clamor for a signed copy of my picture. My photograph would set the standard for all picture days across the county for generations to come.

Oh yes, this all happened in my head! Two weeks before picture day, I mentioned to my mother that I wanted her to start looking for new outfits for me when she went to the mall. She may or may not have heard me, but I wasnt overly concerned because I was lucky and my mom bought me new clothes often. Another week went by, no new additions to my closet were noted, but I still had time. The week of picture day was very busy for me. I had a new Sega video game and instead of asking my mom again about a new outfit or planning something nice to wear from what I already had, I decided to fully dedicate myself to my latest video game. After staying up way past my bedtime mastering my Segaand sneaking two pieces of pecan pie out of the kitchen at around midnightthe morning of picture day finally arrived.

I slept right through my alarm, and when I finally came to from my sugar binge I didnt even have enough time to take a shower, put a drop of product in my hair, nor had I selected or ironed an outfit. In fact, I was in such a haze from the pie and late-night gaming session that it was all I could do to pull out a pair of wrinkly jeans and a faded T-shirt. As I ran to school I fought back the tears as I realized that my dream of picture day supremacy would not become a reality. When it was my turn in front of the camera, I almost collapsed from disappointment. (No, I did not become this dramatic later in life; its obviously who Ive always been!) I took the worst picture in history and felt awful about it.

From that moment on, I vowed to take a little more time each day to pull myself together. In a few short months, it was time for sixth-grade graduation and I showed up in the school gym looking like a cross between James Bond Jr. and a Calvin Klein kid model. I had carefully planned my outfit, which consisted of a sleek tuxedo that I tailored myself, a crisp white shirt, and bright red bow tie. My shoes were perfectly shined, and not a hair was out of place. I felt strong, confident, and totally pulled together.