On TV: The Makeover

Boris Kustodiyev. Merchant Wife with a Mirror. 1920

I just finished watching Oprah and a re-run of "sexy" makeovers.

It strikes me that these shows always select women who are already gorgeous-- what about helping someone look/feel great who isn't going to be stereotypically beautiful when they're finished? As a glasses wearer, it also annoys me that they always select "sighted" women or remove their glasses and give them contacts. I can't wear contacts; I know this, so am I doomed to unsexy-ness?

I do recall one show where the stylist used "familiar" chains like Old Navy. This was one I could appreciate! I do pay more attention now to how pieces are styled in the chain stores-- I may not have the right shirt to make a skirt work, for example, and would need to buy both for them to get a workout in my wardrobe.

Here's what seems to be the ideal of beauty, at least on TV: lighten/brighten/highlight your hair. I get that, as my hair looked fantastically expensive when I had it professionally highlighted. Wear "glowy" makeup. I get that, too, although I wish they'd spend more time showing/discussing products. It's really hard when you're over 40 to straddle the line between "glowy" and "shimmer stuck in fine lines". I have fairly decent skin and I know that too much shimmer makes me look ridiculous; blush, as I also discussed before, seems to be an issue for me now. How about selecting a mass-market blush that doesn't highlight age spots?

Also on the "beauty" agenda: long hair. Whoops, sorry Mr. Caroline, I've struck out there, too. Couldn't a famous stylist show how to style very short hair in a sexy fashion? Jamie Lee Curtis, for example, is sexy and her hair is both naturally grey and very short. Why not do that for someone?

Finally on the agenda: high, high, high, high heels. Whoops, I've missed there too. I'm on my feet eight hours a day and there's absolutely no way in the world I can wear heels. Why not show sexy flats? There's tons of them out there-- I should know, as I'd be buying dozens of pairs of Chanel and Lanvin flats should I win the lottery.

I love makeover shows in general, but this one made me cranky. Make them sexy for real life. I work with many beautiful women who make t-shirts, flats, and other "no no's" look great.