Fashion follies & shoulder pads; an introspective look at beauty
I have to admit ‘Groundhog Day’ isn’t my favorite movie. In fact, I think I’ve only seen it three times. Maybe four. But we had to watch it in a class today and it got me wondering what; what were people thinking in the 90s?!
The hair. The absolutely atrocious hair and the absolutely horrifying shoulder pads paired with absolutely horrible 70s-inspired patterns.
For starters, Andie MacDowell is a beautiful woman, but her hair in that movie is one of the frizziest things I’ve ever seen. Bill Murray is no looker himself, but I’m here to concentrate on the women in this film. Overall, I think images speak louder than words.
What’s with the frizz?
And why the 18th century updo?
It all makes me wonder if we’re going to look back on our own movie stars and celebrities of the 2000s with horror and disgust. I mean, look at Andie now.
Older, yes, but definitely gorgeous.
Or is she? And what does that say about the ever-changing standard or beauty in today’s world? Is there any way to win?
In the end, I think the only way to win is to change with the standards over the years. Look at Cher; she’s been rocking it for decades and doesn’t appear to have plans to stop. But is that possible for the every day woman or the every day college student, and more importantly, is it even worth it?
Sometimes I get out of bed and simply don’t want to put any effort into how I look. Ideally, I’d like to go to class in whatever I slept in without even glancing at a mirror as I leave the house. But sometimes, I do want to play my daily dress-up and slap on some mascara and straighten my unruly hair.
I’m not a feminist, but I believe in equality. For those women out there who say putting effort into your appearance is submitting to male dominance and becoming things for men to objectify – you’re wrong. As a woman, I think it’s great that I have the opportunity to play with how I look, whether it makes me look better or worse. I can go to class not wearing a speck makeup and have hair that looks like I just touched something that was electrically charged, or I can go with my eyes more accentuated and my hair pulled up into a polished bun.
Guys are pretty much stuck with what they’ve got.
So why do I watch ‘Groundhog Day’ and cringe when the actresses walk into the shot? They’re simply doing what I relish; playing with their looks to fit the times because they can. Maybe that means I’m the one objectifying them, not men, and that’s where the true problem lies.
Women dress for other women; to be honest, 99% of my male friends wouldn’t notice if I wore the same shirt three days in a row. Four days might be pushing it.
^Also, why does this happen? Come on Mark Zuckerberg, get it together.
So, ladies, the next time you’re criticizing and scrutinizing the actresses and models in a magazine or movie, remember that it all comes around full circle. I don’t have a solution other than to try to better myself and the way I look at beauty in the world around me, so maybe you’d like to join me in that. Maybe we can turn a molehill into a mountain. Or a groundhog hill – whatever.
RamblingAnna 