Libertine: On the Prowl

Vidi, vici, veni -- I saw, I conquered, I came. _______________________________________________________________

I Don't Need High Maintenance Barbie Dolls

02:28, 2008-Aug-21 .. Posted in culture/social issues .. 8 comments .. Link

Fashion is a form of ugliness so intolerable that we have to alter it every six months.
-Oscar Wilde

This morning, I read an article at Alternet, The Things Women Go Through to Attract Men.., which prompted me to respond. The author summarized her post by saying:

A mind-boggling variety of torture devices have been contrived throughout history to make women more 'attractive' to men.

My response:

I like women. I like them in all sizes and shapes and I like them just as they are without a lot of artificial embellishments.

I like women who are sufficiently confident and laid-back enough to take on the world with a minimum of embellishment.

Being sexy and attractive is an attitude -- it's not high heels, makeup, fancy hairstyles, and so on. A woman who needs these things in order to feel confident and attractive is missing the boat, in my opinion. I think of women like Tammy Faye Bakker, who once said she didn't even go to bed without makeup, which I think is kind of sad.

A woman who is truly sexy will be sexy no matter what she wears because it's her attitude and bearing that makes her so, not her adornments.

High maintenance types who spend large amounts of time on their hair, makeup, clothes, and going to the gym strike me as being excessively self-absorbed, which isn't all that sexy of a personality trait. A woman who jumps out of the shower and pulls on a clean t shirt and jeans and runs a comb through her hair and is ready to go will always attract me over the "don't muss my hair or kiss me with makeup on" types, hands down.

Of course, if a woman wants to do the Barbie doll routine, that's her right, but I'll pass her up for one of her less flashy, down-to-earth sisters every time. She'll be a lot more fun to be around in most cases.

Your thoughts?

Leave a Comment

Untitled Comment

03:56, 2008-Aug-21 .. Posted by logis
Although i agree with you i am sure you dont like woman with hairy legs and shoulders. So some maintenance is allowed, no? :-)

Untitled Comment

09:13, 2008-Aug-21 .. Posted by DeeJay
I don't think trying to look good is being self-absorbed at all. I happen to enjoy clothes, shoes, and goodies like that. Certainly, I have no problem tossing on a t-shirt and dashing out the door. I just don't make a habit of it. As a matter of fact, today's trek to the grocery store was exactly that - jeans, t-shirt, baseball cap over a ponytail, and no make up.

For me, it is situational - my mode of dress and how much time I put into my appearance. I have a certain way I like to look when I go to work, when I am going to the theater, or when I'm going on a picnic. To me, jeans and a t-shirt aren't the only things I will ever own.

Self-absorbed? Nah, I enjoy taking some extra time with my appearance. To be honest, some would argue with you that people who never put anything into their appearance are slobbish or lazy. I disagree with that stereotype as well. It's an individual thing.

Untitled Comment

10:27, 2008-Aug-21 .. Posted by libertine
Well, Deej, you took it to the extreme. I was talking about the women who can't even go to the mailbox without being fully made up and who blow their whole paychecks on clothes. I wasn't speaking of the average woman who pays a moderate amount of attention to those things.

Untitled Comment

02:31, 2008-Aug-22 .. Posted by LauriesAsylum
I remember once when I was in my twenties, spending the night at my girlfriends house. She had her boyfriend over and asked me to wake her up at 6am. The clock was in the room I was staying in. I asked her why, and she told me she was going to bed with her makeup on and she wanted to wake up before her boyfriend so she could wash the old stuff off and apply new makeup before he woke up. I said..."Huh? Are you crazy?"

Untitled Comment

02:34, 2008-Aug-22 .. Posted by littleMissConfused
I don't have the money it takes to be high maintenance!
I wear make up when I go out or to work, only because with out it people ask me if I am sick (very pale without make up). I've never been one to be too into fashion. Jeans and a t-shirt or sweater are more my style...and I love having a wash and go hair style. One of the nice things about long hair....just wash it and go, might take a few hours for it to dry if I don't use a blow dryer, but blown dry or left to dry on it's own, it looks the same!

Untitled Comment

01:52, 2008-Aug-24 .. Posted by sladewilson
I agree with you. As a matter of fact, when I saw the title of your post, I laughed and said out loud, "what sane man would want that?" The words "high maintenance" scares the heebee jeebees outta me...

Untitled Comment

04:21, 2008-Aug-25 .. Posted by slayerbarbie
Some people play video games or read or watch sports. Others spend their time applying mascara and going to the salon for a blowout. She's doing something that makes her happy and investing her time in making herself look and feel beautiful. As long as the woman feels good about herself, I don't see that the problem is. It's her time and she should be able to spend it as she sees fit.

Untitled Comment

06:04, 2008-Aug-27 .. Posted by Chandramoon
"fashion" is an interesting concept - I'm a virtually no make-up person but I like to keep slim and fit. I feel very sexy and attractive and I wear clothes that I like - not necessarily that are fashionable - an old hippie at heart! I do colour my hair as well because I prefer to stay as a brunette rather than go grey just yet thankyou very much!!