Friday, March 1, 2013

Beauty Blogosphere 3.1.13

What's going on in beauty this week, from head to toe and everything in between.


I love a man who isn't afraid to show a little deoxyribonucleic acid. (via)

From Head...
In your face:
"Information artist" Heather Dewey-Hagborg reconstructs faces from shreds of DNA—and in doing so, calls attention to genetic surveillance.


...To Toe...
Toeing the line: I try not to be alarmist about these things, but I was genuinely disturbed to learn about these sneakers—for girls as young as toddlers—that have a hidden wedge heel inside. It's one thing for girls to mimic adult women in an overt way, because that can prompt discussions about self-presentation, maturity, sexuality, and appropriateness that kids could benefit from as they navigate the world. But heels disguised as sneakers? Ugh. So I was particularly pleased to be called upon for comment by writer Misty Harris for her piece in the Vancouver Sun covering the matter.


...And Everything In Between:
Inglot founder dies: The founder of Inglot cosmetics, chemist Wojciech Inglot, died unexpectedly last week at age 57. He started the company in 1987, when Poland was under communist rule, using military equipment he purchased after a dictatorial command that unneeded equipment be sold off. After the fall of communism, his fledgling company floundered a bit before he hit upon the idea of allowing women to test makeup before purchasing it, a concept unheard of in Poland at the time. Inglot found unexpected success with Muslim women with the development of a nail polish that allows water and oxygen to reach the nail, allowing compliance with a pre-prayer washing ritual that states water must run over the hands, including fingernails. (More background here.)

Americas divided: In North America, "prestige" beauty products (like department store brands) are driving industry growth; meanwhile in South America, mass brands (i.e. drugstores and the like) account for 90% of sales, as opposed to 65% up north. Now, I'm not trying to suggest that prestige brands aren't worth it if you like 'em, but whenever those crass "countries with the most beautiful women" lists are published, don't South American nations always top the list? Just sayin'.

Emerging markets: The ins and outs of marketing cosmetics in Africa. (Who knew South African men would go wild over Vaseline for Men?)

"The treatment of Sarah Bartmann during her life and after her death speaks of suffering, dispossession, sadness and loss of dignity, culture, community, language and life. It is a symptom of the inhumanity of people."  —Marker at the burial site of Baartmann's repatriated remains

A tale told too late: The story of Saartjie Baartman—or, as she's sadly better known, the Hottentot Venus.

Mating game: Some fascinating findings on attractiveness and coupling up. Contrary to popular belief, women don't tend to trade their beauty for men's status—in fact, people tend to trade their attractiveness for...attractiveness, since similarity across all measures is what largely guides partnerships, according to the study findings. That doesn't mean That Episode of Girls is any less real, though, thankyouverymuch. (Thanks to Parisian Feline for the link!)

Purim's beauty myth: Purim was last weekend, but it's not too late to learn about (well, "learn about" if you're goyim like me) the link between female beauty and the celebratory Jewish holiday; apparently Esther's milkshake brought deliverance to the yard.

Lululemondieu!Yogapantsgate was last week when I was away, but in case you missed it, check out Caitlin Constantine's response to it. Like her, I wear form-fitting workout clothes not so that my ass will be checked out by strangers, but because form-fitting clothes don't get caught in equipment (like baggy pants do), don't slide down when I'm moving around (like the more generously sized yoga pants do), don't reveal too much when I'm doing floor exercises (like baggy shorts do), and keep me warm enough when going to and fro (like fitted shorts don't). To be told by a man that I simply couldn't be wearing them because I actually like wearing them is—hmm, more insulting or annoying? Not sure.

Mirror mirror: There's this idea out there that women are competitive about their looks and bodies—so what is it like to be in a same-sex romance and feel that competition? The Hairpin's Queer Chick takes it on.

Best for Last: Given that Adele was the one person at the Oscars whose beauty every woman in the room at the Oscars fĂȘte I attended commented upon, Beautycism's question is well-taken: Why doesn't she have a beauty products contract? Perhaps she doesn't want one—or perhaps companies are still hesitant to have a non-rail-thin woman as their spokesperson, even when she's as utterly stunning as Adele. (Seriously, any makeup company that could promise me her lipstick's staying power would at least get my trial dollars.)

Body shop: Why do maternitywear retailers target women in their seventh month of pregnancy, when women's bodies start showing significant changes at the fifth?

Actually, my mom did tell me, which was horrifying in 1982 but which I appreciate now: Listen to the Stuff Mom Never Told You podcast on vaginoplasty, then take a moment to love your labia in whatever way you choose. (Light a candle? Sing "O Vagina" to the tune of "O Tannenbaum"?) A neat complement is the episode on a population that may get vaginoplasty for reasons that aren't exactly cosmetic: transgender folks.


Darling Nikki: The average porn star is a 5'5" brunette B-cup brunette named Nikki. No, really.

Exhaust: Hey, did you hear that the Oscars and assorted happenings were a misogynist shitshow? Among the incredible amount of ink that's been spilled this week on the matter is Lindy West's fantastic piece titled "Sexism Fatigue: When Seth MacFarlane Is a Complete Ass and You Don’t Even Notice." This was sort of my experience: I wasn't terribly worked up over many of the things that so many people have been enraged about, like the "We Saw Your Boobs" song, which I actually saw as being a comment on the expectation of female nudity in film. But I think the deeper reason I didn't get too worked up is exactly what West is describing here: I saw MacFarlane's airless jokes about women as simply being par for the course—and that, my friends, is sexism fatigue. There's also the question of why so much ire has been (understandably) directed at MacFarlane as an individual when, as Cassie points out, the Oscars are a highly choreographed event involving a lot of people.

Pretty as a picture: One of the arguments for photo retouching is that the principle has been around for centuries—unless, of course, royals through the ages were perpetually rosy, unlined, and sparkling of eye. But as this "unretouched" portrait of Elizabeth I shows, that was hardly the case.

Eye catcher: Rachel Hills at Daily Life on fashion and the "attention economy." (Apparently there are "street style stars" who change outfits several times a day to maximize social media exposure. Who has the time?)

Oh my god Becky look at her bustle: Baby got behindativeness.

Pink think: I'm not a fan of Valentine's Day myself, but Nahida frames it in a way that almost makes me want to defend it: Which sex is it that's supposed to put in the labor for Valentine's Day? Hint: Not the sex that's expected to create Easter baskets and Thanksgiving dinner and Christmas decorations. 

Reality check: Elisa poses some intriguing questions on beauty (some of which provided fodder for my two cents on the "why can't women say they're pretty?" discussion). Have you ever, like, ever seen a group of men actually get all tongue-tied ga-ga when a good-looking woman walks into the room? I haven't either, so why is the male reaction to beauty in films always painted in this way? And in a follow-up post: Do women tend to know how good-looking they are, objectively speaking? (If such a thing as "objectively speaking" exists, that is, which is a whole other question itself.)

Critical reading: If you enjoy fashion criticism, check out this meta-fashion-criticism of sorts, with an entire issue of journal Fashion Projects devoted to examining criticism, including interviews with critics like The New Yorker's Judith Thuman.

Smile, baby: Thanks to The Closet Feminist for making me question why I got crabby about seeing Kristen Stewart's lack of smileyface at the Oscars. I enjoy her as an actress but was like, C'mon, girl, you're at the Oscars, would it kill you to smile—in other words, I was doing what I hate having done to me: C'mon, baby, just gimme a smile.

"Junk in the trunk" is a pain in the ass: All in favor of banning the phrase "junk in the trunk," say aye (aye!), and then read Anytime Yoga's Tori guest post here about why it's problematic.

11 comments:

  1. Oh, a lot of comments..

    Living in Brazil i can tell you one big reason that the higher end make-up makes up so little of the market: Price! Anything imported is insanely expensive here and even drog store make-up tends to be pricier than when I've lived in the states/Europe.
    As for the S. American beauty... I've always wondered if that is more down to the diversity here. Going out on the streets you can find men and women who easily look Caucasian, African, Asian, Arabic, Slovic etc so it might be easier to find your type. Whereas in the US or Europe depending on your region you just don't have as much variety.

    For the porn stars... I highly doubt the avg. is a 32B. Most women's underbust is within 3" +/- of their waist size (http://www.bralessinbrasil.com/2012/03/underbust-survey-part-5-clothing-sizes.html). Than means for a 26" waist she should be (on average) a 26 band bra. Now, a 32B corresponds to a 32" underbust with a 34" bust size. Assuming the bust size was correct that would put her in a 26F (UK size) or a 26G in the US.

    Also, thank you for the link on sexism fatigue! Unfortunately, I can relate to that...

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  2. Great links. Thanks. And I agree with you about the Oscars; I did a post saying the same thing. Now off to do some reading...

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  3. Well, I suppose I should be grateful to learn that I don't really care about clearing up my confusion regarding whether my butt is supposed to be big (Saartjie Baartman) or not big (junk in the trunk) - and now I just have to give thanks that I don't comprehend current colloquialisms regarding male or female sexual parts that, on the surface, seem to mean several things at once. As always, your survey is thought-provoking.

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  4. First Downs and Second Guesses

    Players, coaches, and VIPs are allowed to choose their gifts from Nike Air Max 90 a variety of items, including electronics, mountain bikes, recliners, and back packs. At least 14 of the 2011 bowl games offered gift suites to players.Here is a sample of the 2011 bowl gift list:Famous Idaho Potato Gift suite, North End winter coat, Kombi gloves, Nike beanie, Ogio Fugitive backpack, Big Game souvenir football.Beef 'O' Brady's Sony PlayStation 3, Oakley Eyepatch 2, Oakley backpack duffel, mini helmet.Belk Estimated $400 shopping trip to Belk's flagship store in Charlotte, NC, Fossil watch.Military presented by Northrop Grumman Amazon Kindle Fire, Apple iPod Nike Air Max 2011 Leather Mens nano, Deuce watch, LunaTik wristband (to hold iPod), beanie, Nike backpack.Insight Gift suite, Fossil watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack.Chick Fil A $250 Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Russell Athletic ski cap, Russell Athletic travel bag, $15 Chick Fil A gift card, commemorative football.Capital One $420 shopping trip to a local Best Buy, Timely Watch Co. watch.Rose Bowl Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era hat, Oakley Flak Pack 3.0.Tostitos Fiesta Gift suite, Kenneth Cole watch, cap, Ogio Convoy backpack.All State Sugar Gift suite, Reactor watch, New Era cap, Majestic fleece pullover.AT Cotton Fossil watch. Note: Bowl Nike Air Max 2015 Couple committee would not disclose additional details about participants' gifts.Gator Fossil watch, GatorGear performance headwear, rolling luggage bag, Jostens ring, commemorative football.Liberty Best Buy gift card, Fossil watch, Nike training shoes, Nike sport sandals, Nike sunglasses, Nike Air Jordan backpack, commemorative game ball.BCS National Championship Game Gift suite, Fossil watch, New Era cap, Boxer and Stone shirt.Now you understand why bowl games are so important to players and coaches.Corner Canyon High School, a brand new Utah high school to open in Draper, Utah, in 2013, asked its student body to vote for the team name. The kids voted for Cougars. The Nike Air Max Humara Mens school board vetoed that name because it decreed the name "too racy" and chose the Chargers instead.The Salt Lake Tribune said the board in Draper nixed the results of the student vote on the grounds Cougar was a derogatory term because of its use as a nickname for single women on the prowl for younger boyfriends.Superintendent David Doty said that his office had received complaints from concerned parents and decided to head off any problems before the school opened in 2013.

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  5. First images of the Nike LeBron 9

    Here's the dirty little secret about the NBA and the lockout: nobody cares right now. That's a little harsh to say of course; NBA junkies are dying because the season should have already started and thousands of people who rely on the league for their income this time of year are hurting tremendously. What I mean is that the casual fans you know, the ones the NBA used to cater to Nike Air Max 2010 Mens by playing Elvis and (skinny) Christina Aguilera songs during their commercials do not have Jordan 7 basketball on their minds yet. For many people, the season does not really start until January. And Air Max 90 when do they get that signal that the season has already begun? During Christmas Day, which has been Nike Air Max 90 EM Womens one of the biggest dates on the NBA calendar for years.

    (Check out pictures of the Nike LeBron 9 "Christmas" here)

    Nike has also played up the Christmas Day games for years, debuting new sneakers or having Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse Couple their signature athletes wear special colorways on that day. Kobe Bryant has worn exclusive Christmas Day shoes for years, and LeBron James recently got into the act with last year's highly popular Christmas edition of the Nike LeBron 8. This year's Nike LeBron 9 will follow in last year's trend of Nike Air Max 2010 Mens an all red shoe with green accents and laces. The big question now is whether we will see LeBron wear these shoes on Christmas Day.

    Dior to offer virtual access to its shows this JuneThe Fashion industry has often been slow to adapt to the changes that technology is bringing to the industry as a whole and until recent tech companies merging with fashion brands were almost.

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