Out Dated

Blame my 9 year old, but i have been watching the latest series of Glow Up, for the uninitiated it is a BBC programme presented by Stacey Dooley that sees aspiring make-up artists compete weekly to be crowned the winner, the judges are experienced and very successful make-up artists and my daughter who has recently developed a taste for pink eyeshadow listens intently to the critique and constructive criticism given to the contestants. I have a huge respect for make-up artists, its so much more than just a smoky eye and contoured cheeks, from stage make-up to movie prosthetics its such a skill, an under-rated art form and this show really highlights it as a career in a positive light. It made me reflect on how badly fashion has been represented on TV over the years, made to look cruel and patronising. Rewind to the year 2000 when Trinny & Susannah popped up with What Not to Wear and i was hooked, back then i thought they were amazing, transforming women lives with a cinch of a belt and a natty necklace, but looking back it was brutal, even their self-deprecating comments don't exonerate them from the insults they flung at their victim, using words like saggy is a questionable way to empower someone and and don't get me started on that 360 degree mirror. While its true that optical illusions can be created by wearing certain shapes, enhancing your waist, lengthening your legs, playing with proportion, it wasn't a programme about fashion, the objective was to flattering the figure in order to show it off in the way we are told is the most attractive to other people, but we all know a v-neck top and kick flare jeans wont give anyone instant confidence. Fashion isn't about dressing in a formulaic way, confidence can be found in comfort, happiness can be found in bright colours, i agree that certain shades flatter certain skin tones or “bring out our eyes” but in my eyes fashion doesn't abide by rules or foster insecurities about body shape, it celebrates and empowers, its fun, sometimes its silly and outrageous like wearable art, like Art its subjective, we don't all like the same thing, and thats the best part. 

Picture Credit BBC Website / BBC Three