I know such a serious title to this post. I usually title my posts after I finish writing them. This is one of those things I somewhat think about but never read anywhere.
I remember Karl Lagerfeld the Chanel Fashion designer wrote a book around five years ago about his diets. I heard it was his doctor that actually wrote it or something to that extent — half and half of sorts.
Regardless he lost some 92 pounds in about a year. After wiki-ing it looks like it was an extreme diet that required about 1000 calorie intake a day or so.
He was over 70 when he started his diet. He is one of the most iconic fashion designers of the last 40 years. But it was still interesting that a man of his age would go to such extreme to look good. I am not saying he is almost dead but you know what I mean. It just doesn’t seem like a health issue as opposed to a social issue.
But I have noticed that the cultural trend is more the body shape than the shape of the nose now as opposed to the past. I think the post nineties trend is the marathon and protein shake than the facelift. The percentage of porn in the MILF category is closer to the TEEN category than it ever has been. I made that part up, but I think it’s true.
I don’t want to quote the clichéd idiom about beauty but it’s a fad. Cindy Crawford’s mole is not the most beautiful thing I have ever seen, but I think that was accurate when I was 13 years old.
Apparently a firm body is more important and more fashionable than the color of your eyes and the shape of your symmetrical face.
And yes I have joined a gym and am working out regularly. At least till this fad passes by, 30 years from now.
The only good thing is that beauty is not a pie that exclusive to Hollywood and the marketing department of Coco-Chanel; it is not exclusive. Thanks to factions like Black Consciousness Movement or similar empowerment slogans like black is beautiful or black power or hip hop songs — with lyrics like the ‘dopest Ethiopian’ everyone and especially black people are defining their own definition of what beauty is.
Published by November 16th, 2010 in Current Issues and Social.
The article encompasses multiple points …just want to say that beauty is like having a preemptive strike against anything the owner is trying to accomplish, whether it be a job interview, a long line at the DMV or a flat tyre on the freeway; in most of life’s circumstances, a beautiful person is prone to a positive outcome than a mediocre looking.
In this case, my def of beautiful is someone who has symmetrical face and kick ass body—and YES very shallow…
In Ethiopia, if a chick doesn’t have a look of “YeBeteh Kristain SiIll”, she would be called “AsKeYami”.
It is unfortunate for Lagerfeld that he is in a the fashion business because he fell victim to the impossible beauty standards of his industry which perhaps he has a hand in creating (or is it really divine justice?). I cant imagine a worst fate than having to diet and restrict oneself at that age. At 70 I have earned the right to indulge in everything I want, in fact I think I want to start smoking and doing all the things that are supposedly bad for me.
On the subject of beauty standards though, it is truly in the eye of the beholder I think. Even though there are definite standards and preferences. But these standards are often influenced by fashion magazines. These magazines are beholden to the multi-billion dollar diet, cosmetic, etc industry that have a vested interest in setting these impossible standards.
Nolawi, yet another good article…keep’em coming! It’s always a pleasure reading ur pieces–provocative, honest, insightful,at times controversial and always interesting. Avante garde habesha.
Good point I think there is more focus on the body now than before….
Maybe Karl lagerfield imposes on himself the beauty concept that he is imposes on his models, which at least make him fairer than other fashion designers who wants their models looking like 14 year boys.
I am all for bone structure that will survive the ravages of time without having taking the surgeon’s knife route, a trim body and beautiful eyes and lips.
Can abesha setotch compete with their _face_only beauty in this day and age? I think not. Most abesha setoch,even the one who were born overseas still have the same genetic and bone structure with their “pin” leg:-)
hey thanks..all
@ManNeh Intinah what exactly is “YeBeteh Kristain SiIll” ??
@helen agree
eneza tililiqe ayen yalachew se’eloch lol @nolawi
for some of us it’s always being about the body some times about the brain. welcome to the club nolawi
can’t it co-exist ?? i mean beauty and brain ….beza lai demo it is all subjective like some of you above mentioned .a girl does not have to be above average brainy to be well-rounded.as for beauty it is all subjective on race,culture ,age,money and even generation .Like maneh entina said my grand father’s ideal konjo is a lady who looks like ye afork tekle lai yalechiw kaba yelebesechuw setiyo .also it depends on culture as well …latino’s consider curvy women konjo and west africans consider generous hiny beautiful.I for one consider any one who is generous and considerate beautiful .When it comes to men it is another story .there is one fundamental neger attractive yemiaregachew .
@biskut – “generous hiny beautiful” – is that what we’re calling it. i like that.
where does health come into this ? i think healthy bodies are attractive. the over obsession with body image and yo-yo diets etc can be very unattractive in a woman. or any person i would imagine. people who’re comfortable in their own skin is what i find attractive.
@biskut–
“When it comes to men it is another story .there is one fundamental neger attractive yemiaregachew”
what’s that?
@corpalum
bet you she is thinkin swagger.:)
@biskut–
“When it comes to men it is another story .there is one fundamental neger attractive yemiaregachew”
what’s that?
^cosign that??
Did I already tell you just how I love each and every articles on your website ?
My sister insists “Yewend lij wubetu walletu “.
As for me the fundemental neger wend lij attractive yemiaregew is KUMET.sorry for all the shorties out there .Mind you i said attractive not handsome .
@biskut- not sure what the big diff is bn attractive & handsome, but i sense that you’re trying to make some point by highlighting their ‘differences’– are you?
I will have to agree with Biscut on this one, even though I feel like some men with small stature make up for it by having a great presence. I remember thinking when I was an unmarried young woman who was taller than most Abesha women and trained in a man’s field, that my options are pretty limited.
If every chick,tall or short, is only after all tall dudes. Who is going to sympathize with the shorter dudes?
lol ManNeh Intinah… cheer up dude
, like biskut said, i am sure you can make up with your wallet. on the flip side, what about guys looking for taller girls? seriously, am not seeing them around either. most habesha chicks can only stand around shoulder level, even with 6″ heels.
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