Smashing Fashion

Victoria & Albert Museum, in London, England, is ripe with elegant and beautiful design. In particular, their recent Couture exhibit has some wonderful, timeless fashionista artwork. As the daughter of a former dress designer, I appreciate the sophisticated Vogue drawings and paintings, of long and lanky models.

As a child, I recall trying to draw and paint glamorous women like that, and my mother explaining to me how fashion artists always make the women in their pictures seem awkwardly thin, more so than is natural. So, I made the necks longer, eyebrows a bit more raised, and waists only a bit wider than the long necks. I suppose people like that do exist in real life. Most that I know, however, have "better fed" physiques than the models of yesteryear.

I appreciate what Dove is doing, with their Campaign for Real Beauty. It makes us "regular" folks feel better about ourselves--more hip to the groove. Oh, I know that they are making money off their campaign, and some would say that's wrong, but I'd rather they capitalize off of healthier self-image promotion, than off of stick-figured, anorexic prototypes. Maybe others will follow.

On a related note (that note being the name, Victoria), I wish a very happy birthday to my dear friend, Victoria Marie!