If you didn't spend part of your weekend viewing "The Human Face: Disc 1" (Netflix) . . . a BBC production narrated by John Cleese, you can order it and learn amazing information about faces.
A year in the making, this unique miniseries has been hailed as the definitive guide to the human face. Combining comedy sketches with serious interviews, this innovative exploration of the human face is conveyed in simple yet interesting terms. The four episodes examine the face from every angle . . cultural, historical, biological, sexual, physiological and psychological.
"I found that working on this series I learned things that changed my way of relating to human beings," John Cleese states at the beginning of the series.
What is beauty and is beauty in the eye of the beholder? A scientific approach found that even babies responded to beauty and ugliness - just like adults. All the studies show that beautiful people get better jobs, earn more money, and have more opportunities in their lives. If you have beauty it brings many hidden advantages. Let's start by saying what most people think.
Most people think beauty is in the eye of the beholder! Others think beauty changes with the trends.
Many scientists think that there are universal rules for beauty which can be measured. Facial Surgeon Dr. Stephen Marquardt was curious about why people agreed on the "who" but not sure about "why" certain people were considered more beautiful by all cultures. In a study using photos of 18 different women, he found that when the subjects were asked to rank the faces from most attractive to least attractive . . .nearly everyone in the world (China, India, France, USA, etc) ranked the 18 photographs in exactly the same way.
Scientists suggest that youthful good looks peak between the ages of 14-24 for "sexual" purposes. Almost all scientific theories regarding beauty stem from the biological urge to mate and have offspring. The advancements in makeup have extended a woman's good looks by making her look younger and sexier.
After making love, the lips of a woman enlarge . . .the right lipstick can create the same phenomenon to appear to be true. Makeup that enlarges the eyes can create the same illusion of youthful sexuality. Foundation, concealer and blush can add symmetry to a face that may (in reality) be asymmetrical.
Men and women with blotches, warts, scars are often cast (in Hollywood) as "the bad people . . .distrustful. . .criminal characters." Men and women with asymmetrical faces are also cast in "character" roles rather than "leading" roles. As we all know, there are many wonderful people who have facial "spots" who are honest, hard working, and respected. Today, makeup can conceal nearly all flaws that appear on the face.
It turns out that a ratio of 1.618 is the mathematical formula for beauty. A beautiful face always includes these same mathematical ratios. The "golden divider" is a tool that can actually read a person's beauty in the mathematical sense. "When you smile you can actually see a pentagon" . . . says Dr. Marquardt, who created a grid that can be placed upon a full face photo and actually determine the dimensions of your beauty.
The reading from this grid can help us in many ways . . .makeup application, plastic surgery, dental improvements (to name a few). It can also be used to understand how your face might be interpreted by others.
"Beauty is the passport to success . . .well that just isn't true! Beauty is the visa to success - because it does expire!" But if you learn how to adapt to the changes (just like we must in nature for survival) . . . you can do (what we call) age gracefully. After a while we "earn" our faces.
Would you like to know how to put your best face forward? Make an appointment, bring a "close up" photo, and learn specific makeup tricks that lead all those who view you to see your face in perfect symmetry.
Saturday, December 20, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
THE PRAGMATISM OF STYLE
A group of attractive, bright, eager Wellesley interns were introduced to (what my husband calls) "the pragmatism of style" last night in a 2 hour seminar designed specifically for them.
Each young woman (or "Whippersnappers" as Lisa Belkin called them in her NYTimes article - 07-26-07) had her own style, personality and presence. Each chose to wear a business casual "look" that exposed her "take" on fashion. Each would've been recognized as an intern in every corporate hallway across the country. Not a "bad" thing . . . not a "good" thing.
Because they are smart . . .they knew that "image" involved perception. However, they had very little idea how perceptions could sabotage or advance their life's chosen mission. As each woman revealed what other people "think" about them . . .only a few had developed specific strategies to create an "image" to deflect a particular (negative or unjust) judgment.
One even stated, "I care what other's think about me." (Did you hear me say "yes" emphatically?!)
"There are some things in life that you can't change," I stated, "one of them is your height; another your bone structure. Luckily you are women and, if you choose to wear them, high heels can extend your height from one to four inches. Furthermore, the manipulation of color, fabric, and texture choices will create the illusion that you are taller, shorter, smaller, bigger."
BUT, the real question is: "what purpose have you assigned to your image."
As an intern it might be good to have a "restrained" persona. A wonderful way to listen and learn from those "Geezers, Boomers, Gen Xers" who've walked the corporate halls for 5+ years. Be your own detective; who's style impresses you and "why" . . .who's style annoys you - "define" it . . .who's style makes you feel at ease - "embrace" it. What does somebody who impresses, annoys or puts you at ease "look like" . . . after all they're judging you and what they're learning about you will inform every decision they make about your future.
Wouldn't you rather be in control of your future?
As the evening progressed and each woman went through a "mini-transformation" . . .meeting her "potential" self . . . getting a clearer understanding of what was possible (and real) . . .in a room full of her peers, the real changes were reflected in sudden bursts of self-esteem. Some of them have only looked in the mirror through the eyes of a father, mother or roommate. With clearer vision, one-by-one, they began to embrace their beauty (along with their intelligence) and learned that not only is it OK to expose their assets but necessary.
The rather timid, slightly worn out, over-worked women that entered the room left recognizing their unique style, beauty, and potential as individuals about to enter a world over which they have more control than they originally believed. "To understand and manipulate your image is a pragmatic way to approach life, " I said, "after all, if you don't take charge of your 'brand' someone else will . . . and that's a whole different journey!"
How many of you really understand the "pragmatism of style?"
Stand beside me and watch these Wellesley women use what they have to change our world!
Each young woman (or "Whippersnappers" as Lisa Belkin called them in her NYTimes article - 07-26-07) had her own style, personality and presence. Each chose to wear a business casual "look" that exposed her "take" on fashion. Each would've been recognized as an intern in every corporate hallway across the country. Not a "bad" thing . . . not a "good" thing.
Because they are smart . . .they knew that "image" involved perception. However, they had very little idea how perceptions could sabotage or advance their life's chosen mission. As each woman revealed what other people "think" about them . . .only a few had developed specific strategies to create an "image" to deflect a particular (negative or unjust) judgment.
One even stated, "I care what other's think about me." (Did you hear me say "yes" emphatically?!)
"There are some things in life that you can't change," I stated, "one of them is your height; another your bone structure. Luckily you are women and, if you choose to wear them, high heels can extend your height from one to four inches. Furthermore, the manipulation of color, fabric, and texture choices will create the illusion that you are taller, shorter, smaller, bigger."
BUT, the real question is: "what purpose have you assigned to your image."
As an intern it might be good to have a "restrained" persona. A wonderful way to listen and learn from those "Geezers, Boomers, Gen Xers" who've walked the corporate halls for 5+ years. Be your own detective; who's style impresses you and "why" . . .who's style annoys you - "define" it . . .who's style makes you feel at ease - "embrace" it. What does somebody who impresses, annoys or puts you at ease "look like" . . . after all they're judging you and what they're learning about you will inform every decision they make about your future.
Wouldn't you rather be in control of your future?
As the evening progressed and each woman went through a "mini-transformation" . . .meeting her "potential" self . . . getting a clearer understanding of what was possible (and real) . . .in a room full of her peers, the real changes were reflected in sudden bursts of self-esteem. Some of them have only looked in the mirror through the eyes of a father, mother or roommate. With clearer vision, one-by-one, they began to embrace their beauty (along with their intelligence) and learned that not only is it OK to expose their assets but necessary.
The rather timid, slightly worn out, over-worked women that entered the room left recognizing their unique style, beauty, and potential as individuals about to enter a world over which they have more control than they originally believed. "To understand and manipulate your image is a pragmatic way to approach life, " I said, "after all, if you don't take charge of your 'brand' someone else will . . . and that's a whole different journey!"
How many of you really understand the "pragmatism of style?"
Stand beside me and watch these Wellesley women use what they have to change our world!
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