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Twisted Christmas
How to glide through the hectic holiday season like a cool Hitchcock heroine.
By Rita Silvan
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For her fall/winter 2003 collection, Carolina Herrera, the Venezuelan-born socialite and fashion designer for drop-dead-chic women everywhere (but especially those living above 60th Street on the East Side of Manhattan), paid homage to the Hitchcock heroine. The best of Hitch's women -- Grace Kelly, Kim Novak, Tippi Hedren and Janet Leigh -- were cool blondes who would do practically anything for love. At the time, feminists criticized Hitchcock for his depiction of the psychological traumas his female characters suffered. Today, however, many critics, such as pop-culture devotee Camille Paglia, applaud his reflection of the female point of view on what society expected of them at that time.
Even though we're no longer living in the "happy valley '50s" but the post-irony/personal-trainer naughts, there's nothing like a big family Christmas stayover to crank up the time machine. First, there's the matter of preparing the holiday feast: free-range turkey or tofu loaf? And then, what about the family prying and spying? Does cousin Midge really need to know about that bottle of Vicodin in your medicine cabinet?
If you get a wee bit stressed about family visits during the holidays, take comfort in knowing that you're in good company. According to a survey by Expedia.com, more than 60 percent of respondents said they feel like they need a vacation after family visits during the holidays. It seems that the biggest stressor is feeling the need to please a spouse's parents. One in 10 people said they would "rather eat a whole fruitcake in one sitting than spend a week with their in-laws."
How would the Hitchcock heroine negotiate the family holiday visit today? Would she Dial M for Murder, escape through the Rear Window and recreate The Lady Vanishes or simply go into a Frenzy of domestic activity without a Shadow of a Doubt?
To help make you the mistress of your domain this Christmas, ELLE went to the experts on everything from throwing a swell dinner -- without so much as fluffing a mashed potato -- to asking a real spymaster for tips on booby-trapping your bathroom medicine cabinet. If all else fails and you still need to find a little quiet time for yourself amid the household hubbub, you can always take a long, hot shower. (Just remember to lock the door nice and tight.)
The Lady Vanishes
The best way to avoid holiday stress and anxiety? Disappear. Make use of Call Display (or just turn off the ringer), close the blinds and keep yourself entertained with your favourite DVDs. Or try skipping town. The Last Minute Club's $40 membership gives you access to massively discounted last-minute travel packages. Christmas in Hawaii, anyone?
Young and Innocent
You've inadvertently answered the phone. Now you find yourself having to explain why, unfortunately, your cousin Ginny and the kids can't stay with you this year. What you need is a good excuse. "Don't let yourself get caught off guard," says Rochelle Wilson, an improv teacher at Second City in Toronto. When telling a white lie, delivery is key. "You need confidence. If you sound guilty, they'll see through it." Also, never give too much information. The more convoluted and detailed your story, says Wilson, the more likely it is to backfire.
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