Defending Gwyneth

This week's front page of the New York Times "SundayStyles" section headline reads "Martha, Oprah...Gwyneth?" The article highlights Gwyneth Paltrow's recent projects which include a cookbook, opening a gym in TriBeCa with her trainer Tracy Anderson, and GOOP.com, her new lifestyle website I've mentioned here before. All of this, of course, is in addition to her role as an actor and style icon. Her "foray into the arena of lifestyle guru-dom" has garnered much criticism in the media and the writer, Bob Morris, questions why.

The general criticism is that Gwyneth has "Marie Antoinette-like tone-deafness to the times" meaning much of the fashion or travel featured on GOOP is well out of the price range of her average reader. That's a predictable criticism of a problem that will be easy for Gwyneth and GOOP to address. And I think the critics have missed the point. My experience so far is that GOOP intends to promote a mindful, holistic lifestyle. They encourage readers to take responsibility for themselves (including what they can and cannot afford), live a purposeful life, show some style and make home cooked meals in the process. Most of the depth on the site comes not from Gwyneth, but from the experts who respond to her questions such as the recent "how to BE with one's children." The insights shared - "we must see our children for who they are without constantly projecting our own needs and wishes onto them... we must spend time with them, listen to them and most of all, HEAR them" - are not groundbreaking, but they are thoughtful reminders.

GOOP is no doubt coming from a spiritual perspective. That tone is set on the home page with the tag line "Nourish the Inner Aspect," which this article claims "positions it deeply in the New Age realm" - and this is the statement I disagree with most of all. It's like saying Coldplay's music is deeply positioned in the psychadelic rock movement of the 60's. Evolved from? - yes. Inspired by? - sure, but it is 40 years later and the scene has changed. GOOP does not look, feel or sound like the New Age to me. I believe Gwyneth is onto something. She's tapping into what many people are not willing to acknowledge yet - that the interest in our spiritual dimension is no longer on the fringe. It is becoming mainstream, it shows up in popular culture more and more and it can look modern and stylish. In fact, what she's doing with GOOP is in many ways what I'm trying to do with this site. But with all of her money and influence she's able to do it much better and faster than me. Just kidding. Go GOOP, I'm a fan.

you can read the article here