Surgery
Feb. 14th, 2010 | 11:46 pm
It won't be news to any of you that we are constantly bombarded with unhealthy images of female 'beauty.' To an extent, I will admit that guys can sometimes face pressure to look a certain way - but that pressure is nowhere near as prominent or widely accepted as the bias against women who do not conform to specific visual ideals.
I am not against plastic or cosmetic surgery. I think it is a miracle of modern science, and it can transform lives in many different ways - it's just the way it seems to be used so unneccessarily. Too often I see photo evidence of girls who were incredibly attractive to begin with, who have warped themselves into explicitly man-made creations. Did these women really believe they were so ugly to merit such an amount of surgery? Were they conditioned to think so?
A case in point is Megan Fox. The admittedly stunning Megan Fox - and here it's not my intention to bash her or call her hideous for what she's done. But just a few years ago, Megan Fox looked very different - this is clear. Remember these photos from FHM in her earlier days as a star?
( ... )
To further illustrate the issue, here are some before/after pictures.
( ... )
To be honest, it baffles me; Megan was astonishingly cute before the surgeries. But perhaps more disturbing is the impact her appearance has had on her career. She has sprung up from being a virtual unknown to the hottest chick in Hollywood - and this bears only on how she looks, not talent or intelligence. I don't presume to know how talented or intelligent Megan Fox may in fact be, but it's obvious how well her face and body have helped her achieve stardom. She has become every man's (or so it would seem) ultimate pin-up, and whilst a select few are immune to her charms, her 'hotness' is pretty much universally accepted. The odd thing about all this is that some men I have spoken to did not even notice the changes that took place (even between the first and second Transformers films). They appear simply zombified by how hot she is, and this is the only answer I ever receive from them. Are we so disaffected at this point?
The other reason I dislike what La Fox has done with herself is that it violently promotes the unnatural female form; and further adds pressure onto the average woman to look distinctly less natural. How can we possibly compete with these raging sexbots, when they encapsulate what (most) men seem to desire?
Link | Leave a comment {5} | Add to Memories | Share
Outfits - hanging out on a Saturday
Feb. 13th, 2010 | 07:42 pm
Grey longsleeve: H&M
Black cotton/lace cardie: New Look
Trousers: some outdoors shop (they're thermals!)
Boots (not seen): New Rock
Belt: Primark about 5 years ago
Earrings: New Look
Matrix T-shirt: Cyberdog
Purple shirt: Top Man
Jacket: H&M
Trousers: Mode Wichtig
Boots (not seen): Madfish
Belt: random
Sleeves: Plastik Wrap
Link | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Share
The Orpheum Circuit by Aiko273
Jan. 23rd, 2010 | 10:48 pm
However, I would like to mention that I appear as a model in a new photobook, The Orpheum Circuit, by
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=92.1){kind=small}
aiko273. It's a gorgeous collation of some of Aiko's work with female models, and the image of me featured is from our shoot last September. The book's blurb runs thus:Pull back the rich red velvet curtains on this visual feast guaranteed to tingle your optic nerve. The Orpheum Circuit, a home to the voyeur and the demi-monde, presents a decadent, depraved den of rich colour and bizarre beauties. Recoil in horror at the sight of our very own insalubrious siren, muzzled for your protection. Be enthralled by exotic paragons of feminine allure and be petrified by medusa’s icy gaze*. Gentlemen, keep your daughters close to hand lest they fall for the Circuit’s enchanting enamour as so many have done centuries before. Are the creatures within this sordid world true femme fatales or just victims of ill fate?
*Management takes no responsibility for any loss of material or psychological possessions.
If you would like to preview the book or order a copy, you can do so here: http://www.blurb.com/bookstore/detail/1
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Share
Sales and high street quality
Dec. 29th, 2009 | 10:07 pm
I used to remember the January sales (OK, it's not January yet, but you get it) being a source of endless wonderment, that spot in the consumer calendar where we whipped ourselves up with excitement and stormed the shops on Boxing Day, yielding all sorts of bargains.
The post-Xmas storm might still ring true, but the more people I talk to, the more I hear about sales disappointment - after all the crowds, the pushing and the overwhelming atmosphere of your local mall, the payoff isn't as good as we imagined.
I don't doubt there are killer bargains to be had, somewhere in the great sprawling metropolis of the high street. But for me, a bargain is not a £20 purple patent bag (marked down from £35) that has noticeable, irreperable scratches all over the front, or its twin which is just as battered. I spent at least seven minutes in House of Fraser (the offending items were from Oasis) contemplating the lesser of two evils, but at the end of the day both bags were both in bad condition, and not worth £20. £12, maybe. But as Kris pointed out, were they really worth anything when they had gotten scratched so easily? If a bag can't survive a simple transit from warehouse to store, I don't know if it would be happy with me... I'm a little careless and rough (albeit lovingly so) with most things except the blatantly fragile.
A quick trip to the ocean of weirdness that appeared to be the H&M sale also left me wanting. At our branch in Leamington, which is slightly smaller than the main Manchester store, I didn't recognise much of the sale stock. It seemed that they had kept back a bunch of hideous sweaters until the sale period, purely to then unleash them on the unprepared public. After digging around I found a few nice coats and jackets, but the overall noise of the cluttered racks made browsing a royal headache. Even so, the markdown on certain pieces was not extreme.
The news stories are exclaiming loudly how successful the sales are right now, but this is mostly because of the increase in VAT to come in the New Year (making electronics sales before Christmas very popular) and also because most retailers did not begin their sales pre-Christmas, unlike last year, hence the Boxing Day sales were better anticipated. And even if sales shoppers have been impressed with their bargains, is this representative of the prices or what they actually got for their cash? In my view, a bargain is only a bargain if it's worth much more than you paid for it.
Which takes me to another issue. The most major trend on the high street this year has been an increasing price tag on previously inexpensive clothing. Or, the sudden materialisation of choice items that carry an extortionate number on the label, regardless of the lowly status of the retailer as nothing close to a high-end brand. I wouldn't mind if the quality matched up to the going rate. But invariably, it does not.
I stopped much of my browsing at Topshop years ago, thanks to two primary factors: 1) I can't wear most of their stuff, I look like I'm sixteen and auditioning for Skins, and 2) I quite honestly can't afford a £40 shirt that is likely going to fall apart after a few wears. If I want disposable clothing, I go to Primark (and even they have raised their prices in recent years). I wouldn't previously have expected it from the likes of Topshop, and also River Island and even H&M - but now I proceed with caution with everything I dare to try on, checking carefully for pulls in the knitwear, loose threads lurking inside jackets, and plainly bad craftsmanship (for which I laughingly use the term). I am not a fashion snob by any means, but I truly cannot reach the heights of Chanel with my nonexistent income, and for what I can afford (which is rarely 'cheap' in the traditional sense of the word) I would rather it not be terrible quality.
The recession has of course played a major part in this upping of markups, but in contrast, the quality has become decidedly wretched. It's still possible to snap up a decently made piece of clothing on the high street, but it takes a bit of looking to discern the better from the worst. As a result I'm beginning to be even more choosy about what I buy, and this makes shopping more of an exhausting feat rather than a fun day out, especially when stuff doesn't mean my (not especially high) standards.
'You get what you pay for,' has not been a trustworthy adage in a while. The fact is, the truth becomes more apparent during the sales, when the shops have no qualms with slapping an 80% off tag on their £80 skirt, making everyone question how it could have been worth £80 in the first place.
On a happier note, if anyone HAS been able to strike gold in the current sales, please do share what you found!
Link | Leave a comment {2} | Add to Memories | Share
An Ode to Socks
Dec. 15th, 2009 | 07:15 pm
With the winter in full swing and the fact that hosiery is in season - it's time for me to make a confession. I'm a sockaholic.
Well, not just socks. I love tights too - I'll take pretty much anything that covers my legs. (Aside from the footless variety, and leggings. I missed both of those boats).
The socks obsession started in my teens; I have always suffered from ezcema on my legs, and when it flared up I would have to hide the unsightly scars. Luckily now, it only attacks in small patches and I can go bare-legged more often than I used to, but the comfort of hosiery remains. I do actually like my legs - they're not especially toned, in fact they're fairly chunky, but they're reasonably long. Over the years it's become a trademark of mine to wear above-knee-high socks with short dresses or skirts and heels. I'm aware that this often makes me look like a high school student (but hopefully an attractive, privileged one).
Over the years I've become more selective about my sock choices. I'll still buy socks from Primark, but they have to be striking and in a pattern that I haven't seen anywhere else. Since they're so cheap, I'll probably buy more than one pair. My high-street dealers include H&M, New Look and Marks & Spencer.
I remember when the online store, Sock Dreams, first launched in 2003 (as Fetishize Me) - and I was a straight-up worshipper from then on. I've bought tons of pairs from there, ranging from stupidly inexpensive anklets to steeply priced, thick woollen tights. The quality of products on offer is usually awesome, because the site owner, Niqkita, is just as passionate about footwear as her consumers. Sock Dreams now has a physical store for those lucky enough to visit Portland, Oregon.
I don't buy as much from there anymore as I used to, as the number of pairs of socks I'd like quickly adds up to an astronomical amount. But I constantly rack up a wishlist for the site just in case I come into enough cash to make a giant order.
I'll admit that hosiery as a fashion fetish has many connotations - the most tantalising of which is wrapped up in swathes of silk and fishnet, but actually I prefer function over excessive style. Particularly when that style happens to be made of scratchy, filmy faux lace, digging tightly into my inner thigh when I'm supposed to be feeling 'sensual.' As such I wear lingerie-oriented stockings quite rarely, and don't get me started on garter belts - I reserve them for special occasions thanks to their fernickety nature. I did go through a phase of trying to wear stockings and garter belts on a near-daily basis. Needless to say I got sick of this very quickly, particularly when it didn't make me feel any more alluring than usual. As a rule, I want my socks to be sexy, but warm and comfy - and nothing is better than a thermalising pair of lush cotton knee-highs on a cold winter morning, pulled on over bare, goosebumped legs.
I used to own a very large drawer at the bottom of my wardrobe, its purpose was only to hold my vast collection of socks. Since then I have downsized somewhat, but the tiny drawer I'm currently using (in my dressing table) is not really suitable for the job. Essentially, I dream of having an empire of socks, perhaps a whole room dedicated to their storage. But for now this dream is linked to the one where the odd-sock phenomenon never happens, and your favourite socks never get worn into holes.
P.S. Don't ever Google for pictures of knee-high socks, the amount of unsolicited pussy I came across was astonishing (admittedly the girls WERE wearing knee-high socks, so at least it's topical I guess).
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Share
Moulin Rouge
Dec. 1st, 2009 | 11:02 pm
In 2001, for my sixteenth birthday, I went along with several school friends to see Moulin Rouge. A month or so later, its influence on fashion had taken full force - the high street was awash with faux-corset tops, lace and skyscraper heels. Looking like a lady of the night had never been so chic. But my obsession with Moulin Rouge and its unmistakable style continued far beyond flimsy basques teamed with skinny jeans (don't do it, please!)
I am a fan of musicals - not all of them, but I do have my absolute favourites, and Moulin Rouge came completely out of the blue for me, a burgeoning goth with a penchant for period costume dramas. It is, by and large, not a traditional musical at all - whilst the score and a select few compositions are fully original, many of the most memorable numbers are mash-ups of contemporary music. The soundtrack is a milkshake of Madonna, Nirvana, U2 and Bowie, topped off with French dancehall and straining violins. This admittedly unique approach provides a perfect setting for the amusing, romantic and tragic story that unfolds in the legendary Parisian nightclub.
As such, I was glued to the cinema screen from the word go. There are a few unnerving early moments, which the director Baz Luhrmann has alluded to in interviews, wherein the audience must choose whether the opening of the film seems far too crazy, or that they should stick with it and give it a chance. Power through the first five minutes and you are rewarded with a sumptuous story, stricken with true love and true loss.
For the more aesthetically minded of us, there's another treat. The costuming and scenery both feed the sartorial beast and combine to create a gorgeous vision of something exquisite. This is captured in the sense of decadence and decay, tattered silk, powdered faces and blood-red lips.
When I think of Moulin Rouge, a flurry of images flash before my eyes, and describing them would exhaust the dictionary.
The female lead, Satine (Nicole Kidman) is a statuesque porcelain doll, alternately swathed in red satin, rhinestones and black lace.
But the glory of Moulin Rouge's inspiration lies in everything it portrays - the lowly prostitutes of Montmartre are intoxicating enough in themselves. During one of the most striking sequences in the movie, El Tango de Roxanne, they dance with the men dressed in dishevelled lingerie, their smudged, kohl-lined eyes and rouged cheeks seductive though soiled.
Despite it almost paling into insignificance amid the splendour of everything else, I always take note of Christian's (Ewan McGregor) outfits, particularly when he is suited up for his first encounter with Satine. It's safe to say that this look, the dapper gentleman of 1900, may not have had quite the same effect on the fashion world as the courtesan, but top hat and tails is always a winner in my book.
I used to watch certain scenes from the film on repeat, discovering new fetishes every single time. Ideas thrive in every frame and it's one of the most creative and beautiful pictures I own, for the extremities of humour against tragedy, and the reality amongst fantasy.
When asked about my most cherished films, Moulin Rouge is not usually the first that comes to mind. However, it never fails to give me chills down my spine, and a fond realisation that actually, it is near the top of my list.
More pictures?
( ... )
Link | Leave a comment {2} | Add to Memories | Share
Mascara Reviews
Nov. 18th, 2009 | 03:10 pm
When I was a teenager I always used to get asked what mascara I was wearing - usually when I wasn't wearing any. Unfortunately as I started getting more into goth, the natural thickness of my dark eyelashes diminished - thanks to me scrubbing my eyes every day to remove layers of black make-up.
My eyelashes are still dark and slightly longer than average, but I need a little help to imitate the look I used to have without even trying. I like outwardly theatrical eyes, bold and flirtatious. I leave the falsies for special occasions, but my regular mascara is normally one of those marketed for 'dramatic evening looks.'
I'm a mascara junkie - I've tried numerous brands over the years and have sometimes owned three or four high-end names at once.
Here I'm going to review some of my favourite - and least favourite - mascaras.
I'll also note that I have EXTREMELY sensitive eyes which flare up at the slightest thing, so you don't necessarily need to worry that a certain product will do the same to you. Most people are nowhere near as sensitive as me!
DIORSHOW
Often cited as the Holy Grail of dramatic mascaras. Diorshow has had various incarnations. The ones I've used are the original Diorshow, Diorshow Blackout and Diorshow Iconic.
Diorshow is a straight black, pretty thick in the tube and even moreso on the lashes. The consistency can be a little difficult to work with - it had a tendency to gloop on me and made my eyelashes look spidery. I found Blackout to be the same, except the shade of black was much deeper and more striking. Iconic seemed somewhere in the middle of the two blacks, but the consistency wasn't as thick in the tube I had,
Generally Diorshow can be tricky to get used to, but the payoff is incredible (I'd recommend using a lash comb after applying).
7/10
YSL VOLUM EFFET FAUX CILS
The final effect is similar to that of Diorshow, but I find it clumps less on the lashes. Oddly though, it seems to dry out much quicker than any other brand I've tried (within two months) despite how well I look after my mascaras. I've gone through two tubes in total.
On the bright side, Faux Cils has never really made my lashes look spidery and so it's easier to layer up. The shade of black is not as dark as Diorshow.
8/10
MAYBELLINE THE COLOSSAL VOLUM' EXPRESS
This is the mascara I'm currently using, because I was broke when I bought it but still needed a drugstore brand mascara to fill the gap my YSL had left behind.
And it's actually quite good. I still prefer Faux Cils, but this one is excellent for building up, doesn't clump and is an average shade of black. The packaging also looks like a Cadbury's Creme Egg (as my mum says).
6/10
MAC ZOOM LASH
I'm not keen on MAC's mascaras. This one in particular I got as a gift from my aunt who works at the airport and sometimes gets stuff from duty free. It did absolutely nothing for my lashes and was a little too sticky in consistency.
4/10
BENEFIT BADGAL LASH
I'll admit right now to my bias - I despise this. I read great reviews and had high hopes, but after shelling out £15 I was disappointed in the performance of Badgal Lash. I put it on and it seemed pretty awesome, but an hour later I was informed by my friend that it was running down my face. I looked in the mirror to see the ultimate raccoon eyes and emo streaks of black tearing towards my cheeks. I later discovered this had happened to a fair few other people as well. I took the tube back to the counter and got my £15 back. I might try it again if Benefit changed the formula or something.
3/10
L'OREAL LASH ARCHITECT
I actually quite liked this, though it was much more 'natural' looking on my eyelashes than my usual mascaras despite the fact it's supposed to be buildable for dramatic eyes. Ultimately I gave up on it because it appeared to be irritating my eyes.
5/10
My mascara quest is nowhere near over - I see myself trying still more brands in the future, because as yet I've never come across one which I could call perfect. There is almost always at least one drawback to a great product, especially the 'cult' ones!
And with that in mind, feel free to enlighten me with the names of your favourite mascara/s!
Link | Leave a comment {9} | Add to Memories | Share
Style Interview: Dr. Kris Ether
Nov. 10th, 2009 | 01:53 am
In the second of this series where I dig into the style of the people around me, I'm putting the questions to my other half, Kris - AKA the esteemed Dr. Ether. Kris is a theoretical chemist who originated from the darkest wilds of Herefordshire, England. Needless to say he has a pretty striking style - I appreciate a man who can dress.
Dr. Kris Ether
Photograph courtesy of Shelley Selwood. http://www.shelleyselwood.co.uk/
Kitty: Sum up your style in six words.
Kris: Dystopian, cyberpunk, military, functional, streamlined, EGA (Elegant Gothic Aristocrat).
Kitty: Tell us how your style and image has evolved over the years.
Kris: Initially, I dressed purely in a way reminiscent of early '90s skater when I was at high school, but this evolved slowly into something that seemed more gothic, or at least was inspired by The Matrix - obviously. After all, it was 1999 onwards! During undergraduate studies, I guess it would be fair to say that what I wore was more combat trousers and old Cyberdog tops. It tended towards that Hackers kind of look, as it was at about this time that I started to bleach my hair and also wear it spiky. At the end of undergraduate studies and the start of my PhD, in order to disassociate myself from my lifestyle as an undergrad, I had more of an opportunity to discover myself and explore other types of music. This brought me into the goth scene, or more specifically, the industrial and cyber scene. It was then that I started to find and buy clothes that were more typical of cyber goths - the dark clothing with UV active colours as accents, big boots and clothes made of more interesting materials. I came to accept my physical build and so took advantage of the fact that I could wear close-fitting pieces. It was also at about this time that I started to wear eyeliner, and then eventually I began getting into steampunk when I found my 'iconic' Plastik Wrap coat (in fact a ladies' coat) whilst at Infest. Since then, I would consider myself less of a UV-clad cyber goth and in fact describe my style as mixing elements of Victorian, military, and modern cuts, designs and colours. My wardrobe now features not just black, but greys and muted colours.
Kitty: What do you dislike about typical male fashion?
Kris: Typical male fashion, unless you go to expensive, high-concept labels and brands, is homogenous. For example, the pieces of clothing found in Topman are very similar to those found in H&M. But this problem is not just limited to mainstream fashion stores. Many online stores catering to gothic/alternative men often just consist of 'mosher' trousers, band t-shirts, clichéd long trenchcoats, and the compulsory New Rock boots. Is it any wonder that when the only other option that is accessible is Cyberdog that goth/alt men have a tendency to all look the same?
Kitty: Your hair always attracts a lot of attention, does that flatter you or annoy you?
Kris: At times it is flattering, as in, it's a very simple thing to be noticed for, and it does have its advantages when at conferences for my work! It makes me memorable. However, this attention is not equal to the actual effort I put into having my hair this way. Honestly, for fifteen quid anyone can have hair like this. Weirdly, mainstream 'normal' people also comment on my hair in good ways and bad ways. I find it weird when louts shout 'Spike!' at me, even though many emo kids and scenesters walk about town with hair that is more elaborate than my own. I guess this is just jealousy and not that it's actually weird.
kris_etherLink | Leave a comment | Add to Memories | Share
Outfit: Halloween
Nov. 6th, 2009 | 05:29 pm
Apologies for the lack of posts recently - I'm working on new ones, but have lost time with travelling and studying. In the interim, my Halloween outfit.
Kitty costume worn for the Club Antichrist Halloween Party on October 30th.
Lace babydoll: La Senza
Kitty ears, gloves and collar with bell: Ann Summers
Not seen - tights (New Look) and boots (random shoe store in Manchester)
Link | Leave a comment {1} | Add to Memories | Share
When Good Cosmetics Go Bad!
Oct. 20th, 2009 | 06:06 pm
It's a sad truth for those of us who stockpile make-up - it does have a shelf life.
I used to have a fairly obscene amount of MAC - mostly eye shadows, liners and lipsticks - when I had a disposable income. A few months ago, I had to go through the painful process of tossing out two thirds of it. Not because I'm utterly anal, but I had honestly owned the stuff for a few years, and if anything, the lip products had to go. I don't regret buying it all in the first place. I did use it. But the fact is I had so much choice that the only products I ever used up were the blackest of shadows and liners. The blues, greens and purples got enough play, but not quite enough for me to scrape the bottom of the eye shadow pan.
Whilst there is a little leeway to be given for all make-up expiry dates, I do believe in buying fresh versions when it's necessary and feasible. Here are some general guidelines for expiry:
Foundation: 6-12 months
Blush (powder): 2 years
Blush (cream): 12 months
Eye Shadow (powder): 2 years
Eye Shadow (cream): 6-12 months
Eyeliner (pencil): 2 years
Eyeliner (liquid): 3 months
Mascara: 3 months
Lipliner: 2 years
Lipstick: 2 years
Nail Polish: 1-2 years
Perfume: 2-3 years
Of course, none of these are set in stone, and some products will randomly go bad on you within a few months. Others might last for years. I know certain people with vintage make-up collections that are still good to use. As a rule, cream and liquid products such as mascara and lip gloss will spoil much faster than powders. Powders are generally not the happiest place for microorganisms to grow, so keeping these longer is usually fine. Cosmetics companies often have their own expiry dates on the packaging, so feel free to refer to these as well.
Meanwhile, there are things you can do to preserve the life of your makeup. As someone who is training in make-up artistry and beauty therapy, hygiene is very important whether I am working in the college studio or freelance. Here are some tips. They don't include things like not double-dipping, because that's pretty much a trade rule to avoid cross-contamination between clients.
-clean your make-up brushes often. I have a decent collection of horsehair brushes from MAC and from my college's own brand. I have a sweet little spray that you can use on the brushes, wipe with a tissue and then they dry within a minute or so. I do this between clients, but I like to fully clean my brushes at least once a week with the MAC brush cleanser. I don't recommend the little sponge-tip things you often get inside make-up compacts. They're no good for application and they harbour germs very easily - if you use them, just get rid of them afterwards.
-don't wet your eye shadows. It's true that applying shadows wet increases colour payoff and intensity. If you want to do this, swish your brush into the eye shadow and then dampen the brush under the faucet before applying. If you're tempted to re-dip your damp brush in the shadow, you could try an alternative - apply the shadow to your eyelid with a dry brush, then use a damp brush to blend. A bit of a fuss, but worth it to make sure your powders don't go all clumpy.
-sharpen your pencils regularly. This is a quick and easy way to get rid of bacteria on the tips, and obviously gives you better application as well.
-don't pump your mascara wand. This will force air into the tube which makes the product congeal more quickly. Mascara lasts a short enough time as it is!
-I'd say store your liners, lipsticks and polishes in the fridge. But that might be a) confusing b) annoying or c) not possible, depending on who you live with and how full your fridge tends to be. This method does help with shelf life and ease of application however.
-check your products! Liquid and cream products tend to smell quite odd when they go 'off', plus their consistency also changes - you'll find it difficult to apply them evenly, they will seperate... and generally you will just know.
I hope these notes are useful in preserving your gorgeous beauty collections (and in turn your gorgeous faces)!
