RSSThis Month In Allure July 2008 : Sex Again!
July 15, 2008
If it had been on the cover of any other magazine, I would not have bought it. Last month, I didn’t buy Vogue because the cover said “Let’s Talk About Sex” in reference to the movie, Sex In The City. I don’t care or believe what media tells me about sexiness. Actually, I disagree with most of it.
Sure enough, on the cover of July 2008 Allure, we have the header in the largest font saying “Get Sexy Now”.
But it was Allure!
I had to buy it. Allure is my gift to myself each month. I have mostly outgrown it but now and again, there is still something that I can identify with. I love to read about products and see what tactics the cosmetics industry has devised to move them. The photography and design are fantastic. The grand claims are silly.
The photo retouching is a thing to behold. Check out the Lancome ad in the front cover for High Resolution Collaser-5X. See how they’ve blurred the edges of the model’s nose? I think they made her nostrils smaller too. They’ve done a whole lot more to that photo, but now I can’t stop looking at that strange, small nose. I guess small noses that diffuse into the face are youthful. It’s how my 10 year old’s nose looks.
The Sex article
I’ve made my peace with my sexiness or lack thereof. If it ever increases or doesn’t makes no difference to me. It really never crosses my mind. Is that odd? Do the women reading this think about how sexy they are?
I guess some do because I see many women my age (47) dressed in far more revealing and provocative clothes than I would wear, presumably to attract the attention of men. Or maybe they just feel attractive without wanting to be overtly sexy, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In my way, I do it too.
The woman who wrote the article, Meghan Daum, has intelligence, which is probably the best marker for sexiness. Looking like one of the undressed 20 year olds in the magazine is sexy in the way that is the least creative or inspired. That’s just a mathematical formula that works.
Youth + Fluffed hair + Tight butt = Sexy.
Linked to source.
Seen it + Seen it + Seen it = Meh.
Brains and strength are better.
Kimberlee Kessler Design. Linked to source.
Of the interviews with various experts in human behavior, the Acting Coach interview was my favorite. Or maybe it was the questions Ms. Daum asked that were great. In looks and youth-obsessed Hollywood, it seems that appearance is only half the battle. Turning time back too far can have an opposite effect from the intended, especially if the behavioral age is reset to match the apparent physical age. The most memorably sexy women are those who have grown up to talk the talk and walk the walk of maturity in all its glory. I couldn’t agree more.
Editor-In-Chief
Linda Wells (linked to Amazon interview)
Linda Wells’ Letter From The Editor is always interesting. She seems to be more a businesswoman and less someone who’s gone off the deep end about how she looks. She has not lost herself in an industry where many have come to believe themselves a little too enthusiastically. Despite what her magazine publishes, her letters always seem to value the person and their contribution over their appearance.
This month, she discusses her disinclination to get teary or otherwise emotional. There are probably other stereotypically female behaviors from which she abstains. I wonder if that’s why she’s Editor-In-Chief of Allure magazine. I also wonder why she always seems to wear black. It must be an urban NYC thing, but she looks like a Summer to me.
She always wears tasteful, neutral makeup. She spoke once of her search for a perfect pink lipstick when her Bobbi Brown go-to ran out. Though there are 10 tubes rolling around at the bottom of her purse, they’re all a little too pink/brown/peach. I feel your pain, Linda. My search is for the perfect peachy brown and I have tubes in my purse, car, bathrooms, kitchen, desk…but they’re all a little too something.
She has also authored a book, shown below.
Listening to your true voice
Cheryl Strayed wrote a beautiful story about her first marriage. He was wonderful, she was 18, and it was just easier to say yes. That awkward untimely voice that told her she wasn’t ready allowed itself to be silenced for awhile.
Eventually, Cheryl realized that safe isn’t right. It’s not true to yourself. It’s just familiar and easy. She’s learned to hear that Yes-you-can voice more loudly. Those other voices that feed her doubts are the ones she’s ignoring now. I’m always a sucker for stories about finding your true purpose and Your Deeper Self because that particular project is on my list as well.
Linked to source.
Back to real life
Didn’t see any makeup I’d buy. Can’t wait for the issue where they do the makeovers on the 3 women in the Total Makeover. It’s one of the few chances to see makeup artists put beautiful makeup on real women. I have found some of my best products from that issue. Too bad it’s only once a year.
So I keep the magazine hidden from my children. They don’t need to see the cover or the article on The Sexiest Peep Show. Now why is Allure printing that? Could they not have tossed in an article on antioxidants and the sun, or working out on hot days? Jeeez.
Next month, Victoria Beckham! Should be interesting.
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