Cute Pens For Us Girls!

[msnovtue]

Okay, having reread people's responses, let me add a few things.

 

First, I just dislike the term "girly". Feminine, sure. Pretty, fine. But let me explain. I am a very pale-skinned natural blonde. For much of my childhood, I was expected to be all about "girly" and "cute" things. Pastel colored frilly things were a staple of my wardrobe until I was allowed to start picking my own clothing. My parents caught on pretty quickly, thankfully, but it wasn't until about age 30 I was able to escape cute and girly assumptions.

 

The bigger problem was that the cute and girly assumptions were accompanied by the "dumb blonde" assumption.

 

I am no Albert Einstein. I freely admit that. But I'm not an idiot either. For one thing, I doubt I'd have survived my education if I was.

 

So please keep in mind, for a lot of people, "girly" is not a positive thing. It's also not a lot of people's taste, female or not.

 

And personally? I'm more than a little weird. I loved my Transformers as much as the handmade Barbie clothes my Mom made. I think a Monet painting is as beautiful as a hand-built vintage sportscar.

 

As for pens, like I said, none of them are girly, but they are all beautiful. Frankly, though, I get tired of seeing yet another plain black pen with a few metal bands for trim.

 

I want variety, beauty, good performance, and durability. I wouldn't mind seeing some elegant pink or rose colored pens. But I'd like to see more beautiful red, blue, purple, gold, etc. pens, and pens in more creative designs and patterns.

 

As for gifts, regardless of gender, it's simple. Watch what the person chooses for themselves. For example, if you notice a woman always wearing a basic steel mens' watch, don't get her some delicate, tiny thing loaded with diamonds. Watch and learn-it hasn't failed me yet.

[inkstainedruth]

Just made a visit to the Parker pen site to check up some facts on a recent pen, and thought I'd try out the Parker Pen Chooser.

 

Guess what? First question: are you male or female?

 

So I went through twice, giving all the same answers EXCEPT for my gender.

 

Guess what? Completely different answers. Woman gets a 5th, man gets a Duofold.

 

Anyway, Parker completely screwed up both times by suggesting (1) the monstrosity and (2) a ballpoint.

 

Wonder if the Pen Chooser ever suggests a fountain pen?

You mean you actually got the Parker website to load?

Wow. I thought the current management sucked *before*. Now they want to give er, *sell* me a fancy schmantzy looking magic marker? Yuck.

I thought BIC was bad.

Ruth Morrisson aka inkstainedruth

[mhguda]

I tried it and got NO recommendation - just a blank?

They must not want to sell me a pen.

[amk]

Well, now I'm REALLY intrigued. Wish I could see the software behind the Parker Pen Chooser... but I suspect the word "random" may be in there somewhere :-)

[jenna]

Pelikan M320 Ruby? I saw one at the Boston Pen Show. Probably the cutest thing ever, in terms of a serious, high-end pen at least. I mean, look at it...Image is from DaveyB's blog.http://justdaveyb.files.wordpress.com/2012/11/rubyreds_20121101_tn.jpg?w=955

 

 

This is completely gorgeous.

[PhatMan]

Hello to All,

 

My wife uses a Montblanc 139, and likes it just fine

 

Gabrielle - I noted on the first page of the thread you mentioned rose scented shaving creams - you would be surprised at how many men use rose scented shaving creams/soaps it is a quite traditional fragrance, and a lot of straight razor shavers use them, myself included

 

Have fun !

 

Best regards

 

Russ

[Dillo]

 

 

This is completely gorgeous.

I really wanted the M320 Ruby until I got my Optima mini in burgundy auroloide. They're about the same length, but the Optima mini is a bit chunkier. The thinner M320 is more comfortable for me, but the Optima seems a little more solid and carefully built.

 

Dillon

[Dj Shift]

I'm a man but i have used pink ink many times before. I spent most of 10th grade using pink ink.

Edited August 7, 2013 by Dj Shift

[WirsPlm]

Thank you OP, for starting this thread!

 

@Everyone being fussy - it's a shame the English-speaking world hasn't come up with a better shorthand for 'visually interesting with bright colors and patterns', but it's no reason to get upset with the OP. If you care that much, come up with a better phrase and start using it.

 

I've ignored fountain pens for years because I thought they were all huge monochrome things since that's all my calligraphy set had. But this thread has a lot of beautiful and visually interesting pens that I would be happy to use.

 

Frankly, though, I get tired of seeing yet another plain black pen with a few metal bands for trim.

 

I want variety, beauty, good performance, and durability. I wouldn't mind seeing some elegant pink or rose colored pens. But I'd like to see more beautiful red, blue, purple, gold, etc. pens, and pens in more creative designs and patterns.

 

As for gifts, regardless of gender, it's simple. Watch what the person chooses for themselves. For example, if you notice a woman always wearing a basic steel mens' watch, don't get her some delicate, tiny thing loaded with diamonds. Watch and learn-it hasn't failed me yet.

Quote for truth.

[Scrawler]

I went to a Society annual dinner last night and pulled out my black and gold Slimfold, filled with pinkish-red ink to write a note and the guy I was talking to said "hey that is a girls pen".

[WirsPlm]

Follow-up question: Can anyone provide links to cute/insert-your-phrase-here and cheap pens? Any Hero or other Chinese knockoff brands that would work? I lose pens all the time and am kind of leery of buying an expensive pen right off the bat.

[Rubicon]

I'm a female and I really don't like to be spoken for, just because I have two X chromosomes. It's all well and good that SOME women want girlish and "cute" pens and the current selection out there is unsatisfying. I don't, and actively avoid these pens. While I might admire the Princess Grace pen once in a while, I wouldn't take it even if you give it to me for free. Maybe I would take it to sell it and buy one I really want. Things deliberately designed to be "girlish" really make me cringe. I thought the current selection is wonderfully gender neutral. How would one have a "masculine" pen anyway? My Montblanc Kafka might be considered "masculine", but I don't think about that when I see it. I see it as an elegantly understated pen with a slight edge to it.

 

There's no "women's" pen or "men's" pen. There's only pen you like.

Edited August 8, 2013 by Rubicon

[Fabienne]

PenZ 4 us girlz? I like the 146 when I have to kick ass and take names, with an OB. Fill it with some Heart of Darkness and start signing those pink slips. (Pink slips? YES! That will teach you to think pink is sissy!).

 

OK, when I am in a more benevolent mood, it's either the TWSBI Mini or the Kaweco Sport which has been converted to a sac filler all by myself.

 

It is good...to be a gurl.

[be202025]

I always thought the beautiful Princess Grace pen is the epitome of feminine class.

 

 

REALLY want one!

 

This is a really beautiful pen!!!

[ethernautrix]

I'm a female and I really don't like to be spoken for, just because I have two X chromosomes.

 

I hear you.

 

Seems many folks are more comfortable with pigeon-holing and relying on stereotypes rather than dealing with individuals. I suppose it's one way to make sense of the world, but not the only.

[WirsPlm]

I hear you.

 

Seems many folks are more comfortable with pigeon-holing and relying on stereotypes rather than dealing with individuals. I suppose it's one way to make sense of the world, but not the only.

I agree completely. But it goes both ways. Some people in this thread have been reacting very defensively or negatively to the thought that people don't like and don't want the dark-with-metal look of fountain pens, and that is just as wrong.

[ethernautrix]

I agree completely. But it goes both ways. Some people in this thread have been reacting very defensively or negatively to the thought that people don't like and don't want the dark-with-metal look of fountain pens, and that is just as wrong.

 

Yeah. If what people like doesn't impinge on me in any way... I have a hard time having a strong opinion about it. Like pink pens? Like black? Like cheap plastic? Like ornate silver filigree? Like whatever? I am totally cool with all of it.

 

As long as no one is telling me what I have to like or don't like -- and let's be clear, no one here is -- then... party on, Garth.

[Cyber6]

... party on, Garth.

 

Party on Wayne !!!!!

[amberleadavis]

Okay, having reread people's responses, let me add a few things.

 

First, I just dislike the term "girly". Feminine, sure. Pretty, fine. But let me explain. I am a very pale-skinned natural blonde. For much of my childhood, I was expected to be all about "girly" and "cute" things. Pastel colored frilly things were a staple of my wardrobe until I was allowed to start picking my own clothing. My parents caught on pretty quickly, thankfully, but it wasn't until about age 30 I was able to escape cute and girly assumptions.

 

The bigger problem was that the cute and girly assumptions were accompanied by the "dumb blonde" assumption.

 

I am no Albert Einstein. I freely admit that. But I'm not an idiot either. For one thing, I doubt I'd have survived my education if I was.

 

So please keep in mind, for a lot of people, "girly" is not a positive thing. It's also not a lot of people's taste, female or not.

 

And personally? I'm more than a little weird. I loved my Transformers as much as the handmade Barbie clothes my Mom made. I think a Monet painting is as beautiful as a hand-built vintage sportscar.

 

As for pens, like I said, none of them are girly, but they are all beautiful. Frankly, though, I get tired of seeing yet another plain black pen with a few metal bands for trim.

 

I want variety, beauty, good performance, and durability. I wouldn't mind seeing some elegant pink or rose colored pens. But I'd like to see more beautiful red, blue, purple, gold, etc. pens, and pens in more creative designs and patterns.

 

As for gifts, regardless of gender, it's simple. Watch what the person chooses for themselves. For example, if you notice a woman always wearing a basic steel mens' watch, don't get her some delicate, tiny thing loaded with diamonds. Watch and learn-it hasn't failed me yet.

 

 

Ooo... we are sharing the same brain!

[Dioxazine]

(didn't read the whole thread)

 

The Lady Sheaffers look really, really nice. If you can get ahold of them.

 

This isn't something that crosses my mind a lot, but seconding the Noodler's pen thing, - just tossing this out here- what about the Ahab Pink Tiger? No, really. Because women often have tendon problems, and Ahabs are lightweight and large. They're excellent for when your hands are really crampy (which is often for me). that and the pink tiger Ahab is real easy to find going for real cheap (apparently because they don't sell at full price very well ahahahha), but no, really.

 

But I wouldn't recommend warm magenta hues or red-violet inks because in my experience, those inks are dry and don't flow well. Turquoise and Indigo colored inks, though, are really nice and oozy. Cool magentas flow well, but I find them to be ugly on their own. But that's a tangent.

 

Pink Tiger reminds me of a strawberry dessert, actually. But it smells very differently.

 

And of course there are dainty little Nib Creapers in delicate colors. I guess. IDK. (I haven't used mine in a while, due to hand problems. That's where my Ahabs come in)

 

Or a really over the top sparkly/shiny/pretty pen is nice. But the ones I've touched (very few) weigh a ton and as individual pens, have other issues (with drying out and being disobedient).

 

There are some gorgeous new Konrads coming out (or maybe they already did, been a while since I've checked) with shiny acrylic colors.

 

Or maybe I'm just showing how super cheap and pedestrian my tastes are, idk, whatever.

Edited August 10, 2013 by Dioxazine