The glossy cover-page of a popular fashion magazine read in bold letters 'white invisible foundation and concealer'. For added effect, the close-up of a ravishing model with inescapably 'visible' make-up adorned the page. I looked at the woman reading the magazine. She was engrossed in it, leafing through it painfully slowly. And she was so caked up that the word that came to my mind upon seeing her was 'abuse' i.e. make-up abuse.
What struck me about the ad was that they were propagating the product claiming it would be easily camouflaged. The keyword was 'invisible'. Why advertise a fashion product with the catch-line suggesting that it was too subtle to be noticed - almost to the point of being imperceptible? Thats a crafty way of suggesting that women need to keep their vanity secrets strictly under wraps. And its cleverly aimed to hit at atleast two of the many facets of a woman; one - she is too self-conscious to go without make-up, and second - she is too proud to admit that she uses make-up. I suppose a woman's caprices do add to her charm. But take that with a pinch of salt.
To be candid, I've always looked at fashion magazines and make-up kits with disparage. I find it deplorable that in contemporary society, glamour is unduly over-rated and simplicity under-stated. Most fashion magazines are stressing on the inane age factor, giving tips about how to capture beauty and how to increase our sex appeal, thereby deviously suggesting that we are grossly lacking both. Whats interesting is that they always omit the part which mentions what potential harm the crappy chemicals in their products could do, or how addictive it could possibly get, or how it alters a woman's persona and leaves her susceptible to self-doubts. My opinion - they should be charged for recklessly advertising such trash.
I've never been the fashion conscious or glamour oriented types. I have neither the interest, nor the inclination for such triviality. I'm satisfied with my modest looks, and apart from the usual waxing and threading (so that I don't end up looking Neanderthal), there is little else I bother with. On occasions when I wanna pamper myself or experiment a bit, I do indulge in a touch of kajal or eye-liner. Max a dab of gloss. Thats as far as it goes. I'm not obssesive about being caked up 24 X 7. And I don't shriek at the thought of being seen without make-up at an event. I know I'm nowhere near being picture perfect. But I also know that my minor skin flaws do not make me look hideous, neither do they warrant the need for excessive make-up. I'm comfortable in my own skin and I'm confident about being me. I'll bet that no fashion magazine or glamour guru could have taught me that, nor can they change that about me. For me, looking good isn't half as important as carrying yourself well. If you've ever seen a decked up woman strutting around with a self-conscious and awkward body language, you'll know exactly what I mean. I believe its not whats on the outside that matters, its whats on the inside that counts. Its called confidence.
I'm not exactly averse to fashion and glamour, but for some reason I just can't adapt to them. I like being me. And by me, I mean simple and casual. I detest being a painted doll. Ofcourse I like to deck up for parties and outings. But for me, dressing up isn't synonymous with going on a painting spree! I may be a mediocre artist, but I sure know how to distinguish between make-up and face painting! Besides I prefer dressing up commensurate with the occasion. I'm not crazy enough to go to the cinema decked up like I'm attending a marriage on one of Ekta Kapoor's sets! Thankfully, I'm free of the much hyped peer pressure or paranoia affecting teens and adults alike.
I can't comprehend why any person in their right mind would want to smudge themselves with layers of make-up in an attempt to 'look good'. Wonder why the 'look good' factor is suddenly the be all and end all of our existence. The 'feel good' factor has arguably lost all significance. The main problem here is fanatic-lunatic advertising which leaves too many level-headed women vying for a stereotyped look. Ingenuty doesn't exist, and individuality is already a lost concept. We try too hard to fit in with the crowd, when we are originally designed to stand out.
Our glam industry is relentlessly coming up with newer and more bizzare products to make us look virtually celestial. Our sinfully gorgeous celebrities spike the cosmetic sales by inadvertently signing up as their brand ambassadors. The fashion magazines are screaming about beauty being skin deep, and even our better qualified dermatologists are zealously backing them up. Sadly, the commom man has been programmed to judge solely by appearances, and the good old saying about looks being deceptive has long since been tossed out of the window. The word 'beauty' itself is cliched. It no longer lies in the eyes of the beholder. It is simply belied by the artistic skills of the said object of observation
On a more considerate [and less realistic] note, may be glamour isn't all about being superficial. May be glam dolls don't shed their confidence at the end of the day when they shed their pancakes of make-up. It may just be that all these beauty magazines hitting the stands actually boost a woman's confidence. And may be, just may be that innately beautiful women never feel envious, or never try to immitate all the artificial, unearthly beauty portrayed in these sub-standard magazines.
I guess the concepts of fashion and glamour are either paranormal or esoteric. Many women are slave to them, but instead claim to master them. These are the prima donnas and femme fatales of our society. They make much revered style statements and pass flawless fashion judgements. But the real trend-setters are the nonconformists who are gutsy enough to go without glamour and risk being tagged 'plain janes'. These are the ones who are truly oozing with a rare confidence. They may not be beautiful in the conventional sense, but they are bold enough to ascertain and assert their feminity. The unabashed woman of substance CARES NOT, to be called a diva. for she DARES, not to be one. Way to go Woman!
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