Now to understand my feelings you have to understand where I came from; the south. Texas specifically. And Texas women do it up! One of my earliest and fondest memories is being around 2 or 3 and sitting at my great grandmother's dressing table, with her on one side and my grandmother on the other, while they put perfume on me, powder, lotion and told me what it was to be a southern lady. I don't have any memory of what they said but I loved the stuff!
When I was in elementary school we had a little bathroom off the kitchen where my mother kept her makeup and knee highs (nylons that only go up to your knees). I would go in there for hours, put on her knee highs, thigh highs for me, and play with everything. The knee highs felt so soft and pretty. The perfumes, lotions and powders smelled so good. I was in there only for my own enjoyment.
My favorite grandmother make up story is when I was 13. We were in Minnesota by now and she'd come up to live by us as she needed assistance. One Saturday in the summer we were going to take her on errands and to the library. We walk in her place and she gasps when she sees me. I don't have a clue what's going on. She looks at me, at my mother, back at me then turns to my mother and says, "What kind of daughter are you raising!?!?" I look down at my shorts, t-shirt and hair in a pony tail. Dumbfounded. My mother got annoyed with my grandmother easily and barked back "What?!" "13 years old and leaving the house without her lipstick!!!!" "Well throw her a lipstick to put on and lets go!" Oh no...we don't just throw on lipstick. "Well what's her colors? What's her ensemble?" My shorts and t-shirt ensemble. So we had to sit down while she mixed colors, lined my lips, put on lipstick and a highlighter. She went on to add that this was the bare minimum to be out in public. It was so funny to me as my friends were begging to merely wear a lip gloss and I was expected to have a full face! So yes, being that my mother's side of the family was southern I was allowed to play with any and all makeup to my heart's content...and I loved it.
So I thought about our current predicament and how many women are enjoying not having to mess with all the aesthetics. And initially I was looking pretty haggard too. But as I've adjusted to my new normal I realize I do want these things back...for me. I love having different colored nails daily. I wear ridiculous colors at times, and do them myself so I can change it out quickly. Not to attract men, not to appease society, not to even live up to other women...for me. I was hating seeing 2 inch roots and my hair not looking how I like it. So I dyed it pink and purple...something I've always wanted to do...for me. I just got out of a bath and saw my perfume on my dressing table (inherited from my great grandmother - I could give a shit about material possessions but I love this with everything in me), and realized I hadn't put on perfume in forever. I love perfume, I buy scents I like, so I sprayed some on, smelled and had a moment of happiness...for me.
For anyone out there now saying they'll never put on makeup again, nail polish is off, and clothes are for comfort...good for you! I'm happy for you! I applaud you! I love that you are making a choice you want! But I'll admit...I can't wait to have a place to wear some stilettos, every possible make up option on my face, hair spot on and getting my strut on...for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment