Category Archives: beauty

The Five I’s of the Style Equation – Style Lesson #1

The Style Equation

In my non-Napkin Dad life I also consult, design and develop websites and blogs at times.  I have recently been contracted to redesign and expand a style, fashion, and shopping blog and it has been great fun. It included a number of long conversations with the client about how to  get just the right mix of elements into the website.  That in turn got me thinking about what style really consists of and I came up with the Five I’s.  I think I will spend some time digressing about the I’s eventually but before I do I would love to hear your understanding of the I’s as they apply in your own and other’s styles in fashion and other areas.  Or add in new I’s or whatever other alphabet letter fits!

In addition, Let me know what you think style is, where it comes from, how you know it when you see it, and how it differs from fashion, trends, fads, etc.

Drawing, quote and commentary by Marty Coleman, who got 3 new hats this winter.

Beauty vs. Charm

beauty versus charm

I used to work at a great restaurant in San Jose, California called Eulipia.  One night after work a number of us, 3 women and 3 men, were hanging out at the bar just shooting the breeze.  The women got into a discussion of what sort of men they were attracted to.  One had specific requirements.  Another had an ‘ideal man’.  The third had a long list of traits she was not attracted to.  Us men sat silently listening to them explain these mysteries to us. It took quite a while.

After they were done one of the women turned to us men and asked, “So, what sort of women are you attracted to?”  And without missing a beat, all three of us, in harmony said, “Whoever pays attention to us.”

And that is the secret of how to attract men, seriously.  Yes, looks matter. Yes, we can like certain ‘types’.  But within the very wide range of attraction most men actually have, there is one thing that stands out, the clincher. And that is charm.  The woman with charm, the woman who pays attention to a man, is the one with the advantage, not the one who is most beautiful or has the best figure.

And here is another truth for you men who might be reading this.  It works the other way too. Are you worried you aren’t the most handsome, buffed or tall guy?  Worry less about that and more about if you are actually, sincerely showing interest and care about the woman in front of you. THAT is what matters most, even for the 3 women at the bar that night.



Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman, Publisher of The Napkin Dad Daily.

Quote is by me. It’s a variation on a much longer quote by Adlai Stevenson of all people.


The Pursuit of Beauty

Pursuit of Beauty shirt
Pursuit of Beauty - women’s organic t-shirt by The Napkin Dad
Beauty is ever evolving. Yes, we have certain culturally prevalent inclinations. But they are also changing, they always do.  Look at fashion, furniture, appliances, surfaces, landscapes, decorations, makeup, hairstyles, etc. What is the one consistent thing about all of those? They are always changing. ALWAYS. 

What about the ‘beauty’ you don’t like?  I had a long conversation in a Facebook thread this week. We were talking about some people’s discomfort at how much skin is shown in today’s American society. The other person in the conversation (a woman) thinks most of a woman or man’s body should be seen only by their spouse.  She thinks it demeans and dilutes a marriage for people to show off their bodies in skimpy attire and skimpy bathing suits.  

The two of us have very different opinions about this. BUT what we do have in common is the belief we both have the right to define beauty for ourselves.  She should not be made fun of or pressured to show more than she wants, nor should she be pressured to not state her opinion about what is, in her mind, appropriate to be worn in public.

The flip side is to make sure that, while she has the freedom to express and pursue her own ideas of beauty, she shouldn’t take that idea of beauty and make it absolute for others (and neither should anyone else).


The truth is YOU get to decide what is beautiful, whether in yourself, in others or in the world. You have the right and freedom to pursue your idea of beauty. 

Pursue and enjoy it.




Drawing and commentary by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily



The Girl with the Wonderful Eyebrows – Guest Napkin

Today I am in Waco, Texas visiting my daughter.  I am hanging out at Common Grounds, a coffee spot right off the Baylor campus.  I am watching the parade of students come in, order their drinks and go back out to their next class.  The woman serving, Hilary, has beautiful eyebrows she is not sure she likes. Sometimes she does, sometimes she doesn’t.  I like them, and told her so.

Hilary, The Girl with the Wonderful Eyebrows, at Common Grounds, Waco, TX
The guest napkin today is the paper towel that serve as napkins here.
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Drawing by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Red – Beauty, Comfort and Kick-ass Red Lipstick

Have you noticed yet that I am doing a series and I haven’t even told you?  It’s on color.  So far we have white, green, blue and today, red.
Do you like GREEN eyeshadow? THEN why aren’t you wearing it?
Do you like PURPLE bras? then why aren’t YOU wearing one?
Do you like PINK?  Then why isn’t your ROOM painted it?
Do you like RED lipstick? Then WHY aren’t you wearing it?

Finally, are you a cyclops?  No, of course you aren’t.  BUT, you are unique somehow.  Why aren’t you admitting, allowing and celebrating that uniqueness?

You aren’t EVER going to be comfortable in someone else’s skin, only, if you are lucky, in your own.  So, why are you living your life to please those who don’t like green eyeshadow, purple bras, pink rooms and RED lipstick?

I mentioned yesterday that my cousin’s son, Gavin Powell, died in a terrible tragedy this week.  Reading about him in his friend’s memorial tributes online you get the picture of a very unique and fun young man. One who wanted to grow a beard at age 16 and did. Who liked Rastafarian style hats and wore them.  He was seen as a bit eccentric.  My response? Three cheers for it!  The world needs more uniqueness, more eccentricity, not less.

My grandfather, who spent many summers in Colorado, got into the habit of collecting and wearing western style bolo ties as he got older.  My father inherited some of those and would wear them as well.  I, in turn, have inherited them, and have some of my own.  I love bolo ties.  Not only do I think they look kick-ass cool, they connect me to my father and grandfather just the same as a ring might for a woman.  In the meanwhile, my wife isn’t so hot on them. But guess what?  I love my wife, and I don’t want to embarrass her (that’s why I shower once in a while) but I am going to wear bolo ties when I want to wear bolo ties.  And I hope she wears what she wants, even if I don’t think it’s the greatest thing.

Being comfortable in your own skin means be who you WANT to be, in style and substance.
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Drawing and commentary/rant by Marty Coleman of The Napkin Dad Daily

Quote by Gwyneth Paltrow, 1972- not dead yet, American actress
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