Beyond Barriers: The Power of an Image
Credits Brenda Putnam American Sculptor “Brenda with bust of Jean” (1941)
Whether superficial or not, the choice to control your image in the modern age is more powerful that we realize.
One of my regular clients a 1990's Pamela Anderson type, blonde bombshell, enhanced body, and overall strikingly beautiful. She would come in a give my all of my tabloid gossip and then some, with stories of her escapades with younger men. Carried herself confidently and without a care in the world, except this day was different. She said," It's great dating younger men, but I can't seem to understand women that hate me for it." She went on to describe how she would get disapproving looks from other women her age when out with her younger men, and also for her choices to "improve" her body. Her accounts of how often she was given disproving feedback about her aesthetic choices was staggering. From her accounts, not one day went by without at least three negative comments from other women, including those closest to her.
A deep realization set in early on in my career: my hands create self image, creating self image is powerful.
The next woman on my books was a young, about 23, hopped in my chair with the longest locks I’ve seen, looked me straight in the eye and said, cut it all off. As a stylist who has a spark for spontaneity I immediately got excited; this woman was on the verge of ultimate triumph from some life event. As we continued with the consultation, she explained how she had recently ended a long relationship with a partner that controlled her image. One day, she just gathered all of her belongings and walked out and slammed the door, without a second thought. Our image is personal, and uniquely individualized to our own sense of appeal. Cultivating that image is powerful. When used properly, the tools of beauty and aesthetics can bring us closer to owning ourselves literally and figuratively. It’s always exciting to be a part of someones transformation, being the catalyst to create the change they desire. She left with a twelve inch pony tail, and a firey pixie cut for the first time, along with her renewed sense of self.
If self image is so powerful, how we choose to wield our weapon should be the choice of the warrior.
My last client was a women who was well into her late 60’s with an acute sense of fashion a powerful and intriguing gaze, with a glide, not a walk. A very Devil Wear’s Prada type, with silver short cut, large glasses, and a sense of accomplishment with each item she adorned herself with. Gliding to my chair, she sat down turned to me and said, “You know what to do, make this look fabulous and effortless. Not too short, I’d like to be back in 6 weeks.” This woman knew exactly what she wanted and yet trusted the hands to create her look. I found myself thinking how rare I meet women with such clear direction, and I found myself appalled by that very thought. She began to speak about the businesses she owned, how she ran them, and that the best decision she had ever made was leaving her husband. Without making that firm decision she wouldn’t have had the determination to be as successful. “I left that day knowing the reason why I had to leave him was because my potential was far greater than he could handle.” The strength of her statement, her presence, and her full actualization of her feminine self was beyond powerful.
Meeting this woman solidified a complete understanding of feminine power. The fractures in the feminist movement are easily reconciled by our power of choice; the choice to see other women as powerful.
Whose gaze we appeal to is of little consequence to the aesthetic tools we use to use to fully own ourselves physically and figuratively.
Aesthetic discrimination as a focus may in fact be the patriarchy’s only way of attempting to fracture the feminine agenda from within. Questions of whether it may or may not be ethical to pass judgement on another woman solely based upon her beauty choices, or the validity of a woman’s place in the movement based upon her aesthetic choices alone are arbitrary and irrelevant. Beauty is the tool we use to change how we and others see, perceive and interact with us. We can use it to our advantage. Wield your weapon wisely.
From a Master Stylist,
C
XOXO