Intelligent life on planet Beauty.

This NYT video of stylish cyclists taking to the streets in Manhattan is happy, colourful, and fun. Not only will you look great riding on wheels in style, but it is an active, healthy way to get where you need to go.

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Lookism is discrimination towards people based on their appearance. People often allow what a person looks like to influence what they feel and believe about that person.

For example, based on the audience’s reaction to Susan Boyle on Britain’s Got Talent it is evident that they were surprised by her good singing voice. This may have been, in part, because the audience did not expect her to sing well based on her appearance, even though appearance is not an indicator of vocal talent.

Lookism has important economic considerations, as academic studies have indicated employment and income discrimination based on looks.

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“Clothes are a social statement; make-up is closer to our secret hopes and fears.” — Kennedy Fraser

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The last two posts about supermodels have got me feeling nostalgic…

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What do famous models over 35 look like without make-up? In this refreshing pictorial from Harper’s Bazaar, we get to see. Shalom Harlow is looking especially stunning.

What might have been even more interesting though, would be to see them sans make-up and photoshop.

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Christy Turlington is featured in the August issue of Vogue.

In the article, Turlington shows her self-reflective, honest, down-to-earth side. She says that her busy life has left little time to do yoga and speaks candidly about her relationship with her sisters. She is completing a Master’s degree in Public Health at Columbia in New York. I already knew of her role with the World Health Organization, but completing such a degree is a whole different ball game.

Grad school, huh? I start an MSc in Health Studies this fall. It’s practically like Christy and I are twins. Except for the whole supermodel thing. And the World Health Organization phones her. Never mind.

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If today’s Master’s degree is yesterday’s Bachelor’s degree, then perhaps tomorrow’s Botox injection is squeezing out today’s education altogether.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery reports that in 2006, 11 million Americans received cosmetic procedures of some sort or another. In the same year, approximately 1.8 million American were awarded bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees (yes, that’s 11 million cosmetic procedures compared to 1.8 million degrees). Almost 85% as many Americans underwent liposuction (403,684) as earned master’s degrees (481,118). And an incredible 660% as many American opted for Botox injections (3,181,592) over master’s degrees. Let’s hope people are spending on either one or the other, not both. I would hate to see an Elective Surgery category on a Curriculum Vitae.

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But just as you don’t need cosmetic surgery to look pretty, you needn’t be a student to look preppy. The preppy, private school look is a big trend this fall, especially (but not only) if you are headed back to school.  The Star reports on prep style and Anna Sui’s new Gossip Girl-inspired fashions.

Harvard is in on this trend, too. The school is licensing their name to a clothing company for a new menswear line, Harvard Yard. There are bills to be paid at Harvard, I guess.

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And lastly, if you are among the stylish and smart crowd that I know you are, FASHION will help make sure you don’t mispronounce anything important. Remember how unfortunate the models on CNTM looked in Episode 4 this season when they butchered some of the top names in fashion during one of their challenges? I’d rather not remember it either, but it is an important lesson. Don’t let it happen to you.

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Lipstick Feminism is a type of feminism which considers it acceptable, even favourable, to both support female empowerment and indulge in beauty and fashion to enhance one’s appearance. In fact, lipstick feminists support the notion that things like wearing high heels and make-up actually empower women.

Traditional feminists disagree with lipstick feminism because they feel something like wearing lipstick is objectifying, not empowering.

Examples of those who support lipstick feminism include authors Theresa Riordan (Inventing Beauty) and Linda M Scott (Fresh Lipstick).

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“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.” - Sohpia Loren

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Model Naomi Sims, often considered to be the first black supermodel, died on August 1st, 2009 of cancer. She was 61.

Eric Wilson of the New York Times has a nice article about her life and career online today. One cannot help but admire her determination, entrepreneurial spirit, intelligence, and beauty. The modelling industry was lucky to have her.

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