Thursday, October 30, 2008

1 week in Singapore and one sad bitch.


Our wee little family took a break from life in Sydney to head for Singapore for a week. My husband was more than happy to take time off, because things are kinda quiet in the world of investment banking at the moment. We returned to crazy weather in the last few weeks. There was a hailstorm waiting for us when we got back, with snow falling just outside Sydney. This is late October, y'all! I've never seen this after nearly 2 decades in Australia.
We stayed at Orchard Road, we were able to spend some alone time shopping because we had a nanny come along with us for the trip.

This is my first time back since my time at INSEAD. It was a little bittersweet, seeing the place I spent as a virtual hermit, pursuing knowledge and higher learning- whilst forgetting all and everyone else in my life. (YES! I kid you not, I went weeks and weeks without waxing!!!)


Pics: Most of Orchard Road under renovation and runway rehearsal at Paragon, Orchard Road




Pics: View from the Qantas lounge at Sydney Airport and its interior.

Look at me now. A full time wife and mother with an unused MBA. I don't feel this burning need to go into the workforce just so that I can have a career. I feel secure enough about my intellect, my ability, my experience and my value.

I spoke to a woman, "L", who is married to one of my husband's relatives (whom I also know because he is an Interior Designer) recently. "L" was a successful photographer before she turned to IVF to get pregnant. She is in her 40's, her son is now 5. She is now back in the workforce but as a marketing consultant for a tile company. In her words "Thank God I am working, I would go crazy babysitting all day." WHAT THE FUCK IS WRONG WITH THIS WOMAN? It's not "babysitting" when it's your own kids, you sad bitch! So I told her exactly that- minus the sad bitch part. A "marketing executive"- I know what you are exactly, "L", because I used to be those architects that you salesgirls in mini skirts go to so that you can sell tiles/toilets/carpets/or/whatever/the/fuck/it/is/you/need/to/get/your/sales/quota to. But I think she knows what I think of her. Similarly, lots of other asian friends/older women think like this too.

I'd like to know what other SAHM have to say about women who want to be out in the workforce just so that they can be at work (it's not because of the money, and it doesn't matter what work they do, they just want to be at work) because being a SAHM is boring and brainless work.

How much is your so-called "career" worth, you sad bitches? Are any of you actually earning enough to justify the time away from your kids? Are any of you actually in managerial positions?

Tuesday, October 07, 2008

Androgyny

Just what is it that makes a person beautiful?

Is it an amazing fashion sense? Like Sarah Jessica Parker? A small woman with a somewhat equine face but really cute body, made famous by the clothes she wears?
Is it a perfect body but forgettable face vis a vis Gisele Bundchen?
Is it a symmetrical face? Think Alicia Keys?

What are the terms and conditions that make up beauty?

"Everyone is born with a pre-programmed understanding of what makes a person attractive.", Study from the University of Exeter.







A German study has shown that beauty is created by "averaging" the faces of a spectrum of people. The end product is a face that has wide appeal. This is purportedly the science behind the modelling industry. Each region or nation will have a type of face that appeals to them.

Beauty breaks down all ethnic barriers. Australia's ideal beauty would probably be a dark haired eurasian. BUT the advertising/modelling industry's idea of beauty that sells is: blonde, tanned aussie beach beauty- think Elle MacPherson. Think Sarah O'Hare.

Does beauty then also break down gender barriers? Look at Agyness Deyn, the current face of Dior Homme. Does the marketing work here? "If only she was my man, I'd steal her cologne." Why not? *cough* If only I was Lindsay Lohan. *cough*


Katya Shun is an up and coming androgynous supermodel. Double the appeal- cos she's also Eurasian. Woot! Represent!

What is amazing about these women is that they can look just as gorgeous as women as they can as men. Now, is there a male equivalent to what I'm talking about? Of course there is, but straight men are more anal about what makes another man beautiful, so I'd probably expect less anecdotal evidence.








Men. Beautiful androgynous men were ubiquitous in the 80's. Ahhhh. My favourite era.
The most beautiful of them all at that time? John Taylor of Duran Duran of course. OMFG, is there even a question? He no longer has the androgynous look these days, maybe because he has abandoned the eyeliner...... but he's aged well, like a fabulous Pinot (Noir because it's the best Pinot).
Exquisite.



OK OK I know this was in the 90's, but remember the lead singer for Suede? Brett Anderson?
The embodiment of VainGloriousGlam?

So beautiful.
He was in Suede together with his girlfriend, Justine Frischmann (of Elastica- pic below) who is another androgynous beauty. (Brett is by far more beautiful than Justine.)




















Today's emo and scene boys know it's all been done before and they're not breaking the mold.
That's the predicatment we face in our post-modern times isn't it? The word Neo- is a prefix for every art, fashion, architecture, design movement.

Art has been everywhere; now it has no where else to go.