So I bought myself this dress today:
Except it is an electric blue and I couldn't find the picture online. I took a picture of myself in it, but this lovely morena looks much better in it so you can appreciate the dress for what it is.
I bought it because I was already in the store buying some makeup. Why was I buying makeup? Because of this article a colleague sent to prompt critical thinking among students about gender role construction.
I can't tell you why I am so disappointed in my own actions today but I will share them with you in an attempt to have you explain them to me.
1) I bought the makeup so I would look more competent. Collaborative, but competent. I asked the 19-year old girl working the make up counter (who knows nothing about me) what looked good on me and trusted her instinct. I did NOT buy the very heavy black eyeliner she put on me, but I did buy the other stuff. I walked around wondering if people thought I looked more competent.
I went upstairs and asked if they had any wrap dresses. I so love them, but they are hard to find and expensivo. The cute little 19-year old who worked there was thrilled with herself when she showed it to me. I put on the dress and fell in love with it. It is a sleek fit, perfectly tailored, and has such a nice karma about it. It feels like a lovely dress and plus, the Nordy mirror! It is such a divine mirror, I wish I had one of my own. And the dress was 50% off!! How could I have such luck??!! But when I got home this is what I got:
Oh. I have never seen that color on you before.
2) And then I read the reviews here on the site where people said they thought the fabric looked cheap and I was going to take it back.
WHAT ON EARTH would motivate a 36-year old supposedly confident woman to take back a dress I fell so perfectly in love with an hour previously? The unenthusiastic response of a man who loves everything about me and doesn't care a thing for clothing? A review of a snobby woman who probably thinks everything in my closet looks cheap?
And why would I buy makeup so other people would think I look more competent? Shouldn't my actions speak for themselves?
Save me from myself, advice needed (but seriously, isn't it a beautiful dress?)
Do NOT take that dress back! I couldn't access the article, but I know that a pretty new dress and make-up changes the way I feel. Competent? Perhaps not the word. Confident, maybe. Wear that electric blue dress with confidence, baby!
ReplyDeleteI think I saw that article when it came out a week or two ago. I thought the point was the women who wear zero make-up give the impression of being incompetent via not taking care of their appearance. You have a great professional look with basic, lovely make-up. And I bet that dress looks great on you. I've never bought a thing from Nordstrom--I'm sure the fabric is way classier than the Target-brand everything in my closet.
ReplyDeleteGreat post. I have thought over the issues you bring up here quite a lot. Especially after moving from a place where some people wore some make-up sometimes, to a place where hardly anyone wore any make-up ever, to where most people wear make up all the time. The "right" amount and style of make-up the definition of cultural relativism. I find it funny whenever anyone tries to say there are absolutes, because I think a lot depends on where you live and who you work with.
ReplyDeleteInteresting, interesting. I couldn't access the article but I've always thought you looked beautiful just the way you are. You've never been one for makeup and I can't imagine you'd start now because of an article. One minute with you and everyone in the universe can know how competent you are. However, confidence can carry mucho weight with how other people perceive you. And, unfortunately, part of my confidence comes from my appearance.
ReplyDeleteTry this:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/13/fashion/makeup-makes-women-appear-more-competent-study.html?_r=3&sq=psychology&st=cse&adxnnl=1&scp=3&adxnnlx=1318597252-jiafxyhO6j9lWJr3TLKaCQ
Actually, I think this really all goes back to the time you got a makeover, and the woman said you look dead without lipstick. (you don't, by the way)
ReplyDeleteThe dress is so beautiful. How I wish I lived nearby, and that we had Nordied together.