GLAM VS JE NE SAIS QUOISince the beginging of fashion history Paris, France has always led the way in fashion and femme icons. The indulgent fascination with Parisian women came to an ease when development in the entertainment industry made Hollywood stars- and American women, the new appeal. Whilst Americans have the upper hand of having their culture and women continuously and unpoetically broadcasted worldwide, the appeal of the French women has not been lost. Books like How To Be A Parisian are a testimond to the still current fascination of the Parisian woman. The modern counterpart of the elusive Parisian women is the New Yorker (women), who’s contrasting body image and fashion style is the direct opposite of the Parisian women. Both are a reflection of the cultures they belong to. The New Yorker is loud, colourful, diverse in shape, flashy, pays attention- and money to frivolous detail, whilst the Parisian women is slender, blonde or brunette, effortlessly classy and elegant and does not pay attention to the latest fashion trends although she is always abreast of them. Of course ideas of body and culture can be a tool used to distract the female species from progressing with anything other than the concerns of her physical appearance and how close it matches to the ideal, they do exist.
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Both cultures put a great emphasis on weight. In both cultures it is an extreme element of importance in the discussion of ideals. Common areas that should be free from ‘fat’ in both cultures are; the neck, chin, arms and waist. Americans seem to favour the impossible and idolize wide hips, big breasts and a small waist. A small waist is part of the French ideal as well but a more slender overall shaped is favoured as well as smaller breasts(Friandises, 2011). In both countries blonde/brunette hair is ideal on a women and fair skin is more favoured that pigmented. Americans however have shown a inkling for women with ‘tanned’ skin. Tanned however does not mean darker it is understood to mean ‘golden’ or brighter form of white skin. In the American eyes this is seen as ideal (Mulroy, 2016).
The American acceptance and want for ‘tanned’- which is understood to always be fake as the appeal is ‘golden’ and not darker, insists upon glamour and perceived perfection even if it isn't natural or real. |
American Women spend much time on perfecting the elements of their body (hair, make- up, nails...). While the French women believe in the idea of natural ‘come as you are’ beauty and enhancing their natural features instead of conforming to an ideal social appeal (Zatat, 2016). This can even be seen in the cultural attitude towards gyming. Gym culture is extremely prevalent in America but the French ideal of feminine and natural refrains women from becoming muscular or ‘toned’, whilst American women have no reservations against it (Heller, 2017).
Americans prioritize symmetry whereas the French believe in 'jolie-laide,' which translates to 'beautiful-ugly' or 'unconventionally beautiful'. The American women ideally have more face changing make-up on. The eyes are heavily exaggerated with make-up and face contouring is extremely common. The ideal French beauty is not the most symmetrical face but rather the appealing slim face with |
its own unique features that are proportional (Ellenburg, 2014). "Jollie-Jollie" is an ideal that literally translates as "A snaggletooth, a bump in the nose, and closely set eyes are just a few examples of unconventional physical traits that are embraced under the notion of 'jolie-laide,'" (Heller, 2017).
Body ideals, like fashion are a mirror into the culture of the people who execute them. Americans revel in grand gesture and perfection, although fake it is expected and accepted. The French appreciate the odd intricate details of the natural figure- so long as you are slender with small breasts. Neither of these ideals represent the mass majority of either population but ideals are simply that. Ideals. Both these places represent the either end of the female's body ideals. Aside from the specifics of bust and waist size it seems natural or composed beauty is an ideal that determines that 'actual' beauty or appeal of a women. |
Sources Consulted:
Ellenburg, C. (2014). The French Girl Beauty Rules: Makeup Artist Violette Shares Her 8 EssentialSecrets. [online] Vogue. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/french-girl-beauty-secrets-hair-makeup-artist-violette [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Friandises, E. (2011). European women's body types | Fitnesstreats.com Fitnesstreats.com. [online] Fitnesstreats.com. Available at: http://www.fitnesstreats.com/2011/05/european- womens-body-types/ [Accessed 11 Aug. 2018].
Heller, S. (2017). The biggest misconceptions about French women, debunked. [online] INSIDER. Available at: https://www.thisisinsider.com/things-we-get-wrong-about-french-women-2017- 7#french-women-dont-work-out-9 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Mulroy, Z. (2016). 'Ideal' female body type revealed - but it depends where you live. [online] mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/ideal-female-body-type-revealed- 8648426 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Zatat, N. (2016). Here's the ideal female body type in 7 different countries. [online] indy100. Available at: https://www.indy100.com/article/heres-the-ideal-female-body-type-in-7-different- countries--bkgcprGNdwW [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Ellenburg, C. (2014). The French Girl Beauty Rules: Makeup Artist Violette Shares Her 8 EssentialSecrets. [online] Vogue. Available at: https://www.vogue.com/article/french-girl-beauty-secrets-hair-makeup-artist-violette [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Friandises, E. (2011). European women's body types | Fitnesstreats.com Fitnesstreats.com. [online] Fitnesstreats.com. Available at: http://www.fitnesstreats.com/2011/05/european- womens-body-types/ [Accessed 11 Aug. 2018].
Heller, S. (2017). The biggest misconceptions about French women, debunked. [online] INSIDER. Available at: https://www.thisisinsider.com/things-we-get-wrong-about-french-women-2017- 7#french-women-dont-work-out-9 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Mulroy, Z. (2016). 'Ideal' female body type revealed - but it depends where you live. [online] mirror. Available at: https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/weird-news/ideal-female-body-type-revealed- 8648426 [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].
Zatat, N. (2016). Here's the ideal female body type in 7 different countries. [online] indy100. Available at: https://www.indy100.com/article/heres-the-ideal-female-body-type-in-7-different- countries--bkgcprGNdwW [Accessed 10 Aug. 2018].