I got this dress sometime last year on a thrifting trip with my Mom. I loved the dropped waist, and the handkerchief hem. I was in a 'twenties' vibe that day. I got home with it and realized it has a hole in the bottom. My Mom, being a seamstress just said to 'fix' it. So, I cut, I chopped and stitched and re-stitched the darn thing until it was wearable. Bet ya can't even tell :)
It was easily camouflaged - Which got me thinking...
There has always been a time honored tradition of camouflage.
I'm not talking about the kind used in Vietnam, or just fixing a rip in a dress - but the way we try to hide our 'flaws' or just improve on what the good lord gave us. And yes, it's generally the ladies who take part in this kind of cammo. It's genetic, dating back to cavemen days - the need to appear young to continue to procreate. To remain desirable.
It began for most of us in our teens. Zit cream, perms to give our flat hair 'Farrah' locks, and earlier teens teased their hair to monumental heights and donned really bright red lipstick. (Another sign of youth - a post-sex lip glow...). Even the photos from the 30's had fake pink cheeks and really blue eyes painted onto their black and white photos.
Then, there was the first on camera TV image I really noticed a new type of cammo. It was unforgettable to me. The show Moonlighting! Cybill Shepherd had a angelic glow, but Bruce Willis looked normal.
Bruce finally caught on...
Today, we have mad skills and products to hide our perceived 'flaws'. A bathroom full of youth. Hair color is a staple in mine. Base, false lashes, curling irons, "repair" creams, spackle, staples and so on...
Of course, If you have the cash, You can make such flaws completely disappear.
Poof! Your 50 year old ass is now 25!
They can even make you look just like a Barbie...
However, for us Bloggers, we have a much easier,
more sophisticated kind of camouflage.
We call it PHOTOSHOP! Picmonkey, Lunapics, and PhotoMania!
We have our secret poses to hide our belly fat, boobs and even turkey neck!
My hat's off to all the beautiful, smooth skinned, thin 40-somethings out there who don't need a little cammo. But, I also gotta give props where props are due! YOU GO Picmonkey! Blur my fine lines, and while you're at it, could you do something about my ass?
Reva ;)
Links: Lunapic, Picmonkey, PhotoMania
17 comments:
You may think I'm, 27 but I'm actually 75... thanks to my beauty staple routine!
Love the pink and black combo so much - it really suits you. Yes, I totally agree with you about the camo, we all do it, birds do it, bees do it, its all about looking our best. I confess I trash all the photos which show the pimples on my chin or just crop the photo. I have not yet mastered all of picmonkey's features. Just caught up on reading your posts and the tunic from Frocktasia is amazing, and I really like the sheepskin sleeveless jacket too. Hooray for scissors and cutting and restitching - the dress is lovely.
That dress is the bees knees..and those shoes..so much love. I loved Moonlighting! :D You are gorgeous!
You look really great , love the Pink!
The thing i most fake is my hair colour! Hate the Grey thats sneaking up on me. Tried to dye my hair lavender! But it did not work - sadly .
You look fabulous! I love the colour combination, pink and black are so striking together.
I laughed so hard at the photoshop picture...that glow is so funny...maybe I will do that from now on!! I refuse to go gray! I do not have the money to deal with expensive treatments for tightening and wrinkles, but I can keep my hair color and it pleases me to do so...glow or not!! BTW, you always glow without the image manipulation...its your great smile!
Love you in pink and black and that dress is just fabulous.
I love my dyed hair, fake tan, massive high heels, false lashes and prosthetic hip joint but
what the heck's "spackle"? Will it improve me? xxx
Great dress-- love the asymmetrical hem and drop waist-- I have always loved drop waist dresses but they are very hard for me to pull off. I constantly try to find that medium between self-acceptance and taking care of myself. The guys are much more into their own camo these days, not just the ladies anymore.
Becky :)
First off you look amazing. I love the peek of ankle socks in hot pink. Hot Reva!
Cammo- now you're sharing our secrets, lol. And you look divine, honesty and all!
I love that dress, particularly for the handkerchief hem! Yes, we all partake in a bit of the camouflage whether we like to admit it or not. I haven't seen my natural hair colour since I was about 35, and occasionally, I'll make use of the "healing brush" in photoshop if I'm having a bad skin day...
I think that regrettably some of the peeps that go under the knife to achieve a youthful look end up looking like freaky dolls. I'd rather look like a wrinkly old prune than that Wildenstein woman any day. My motto is 'Do the best you can with what you've got'...a generous helping of make-up, the odd application of henna (when I can be arsed). I also swear by a veggie diet, loads of sleep, daily walks in the park and massive amounts of canoodling with my beloved hubby. I like to play around with the effects on picmonkey for fun but I'd never go out of my way to airbrush myself...I am flawed & imperfect, I am me :)
You look wonderful, thank you for a yet another brilliant post.
...xXx
My 57-year-old ass looks 57, but oh, damn! it's still freaking gorgeous. Attitude beats Botox, every time.
I love your 20s style dress with that pretty pink added!
I like Farah hairstyle until now and will try it again when my hair has got the perfect length, but barbie never was a beauty idol for me, too expressionless her face.
Thoughtful post, Reva. Your skirt looks like it hasn't been touched by your chops and stitches, and floats like a dream. And you are equally beautiful.
I've never tried Picmonkey and don't do photoshop, but maybe I should learn and give it a try. But I'm not about to give up my red hair this month; maybe later on in this decade I'll give that a try too.
That is one awesome outfit!
I don't know how to picmonkey or photoshop...I just figured out how to use my camera's self-timer and am experimenting with poses. I dye my hair because the stress of my useless ex turned it gray too soon (20's)and I love makeup and nail polish. I have maybe too much fondness for perfume, especially indie oils from etsy because I can at least smell like an exotic spice market vixen even if I can't always look like one.
Happy spring to you!
You look beautiful in pink, Reva! I hope your dad is feeling better soon.
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