FASHION IS NOT ABOUT RULES
BLAME my nine year old, but I have been watching the latest series of Glow Up. For the uninitiated, it is a BBC show presented by Stacey Dooley that sees aspiring make-up artists compete 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 critiques and constructive criticism given to the contestants.
I have a huge respect for make-up artists, there’s so much more to it than just a smokey eye and contoured cheeks.
From stage make-up to movie prosthetics, it’s a skill, an under-rated art form, and this show really highlights it as a career in a positive light.
It has 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’s 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 people on the show.
Using terms like ‘saggy’ is a questionable way to empower someone and don’t get me started on that 360-degree mirror.
While it’s true that optical illusions can be created by wearing certain shapes, enhancing your waist, lengthening your legs, it wasn’t a programme about fashion.
The objective was to flatter 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 alone won’t 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.
Yes, certain shades flatter certain skin tones but fashion doesn’t abide by rules or foster insecurities about body shape, it celebrates and empowers, it’s fun.
Sometimes it’s silly and outrageous – like wearable art – and like art, fashion is subjective, we don’t all like the same thing, and that’s the best thing about it.