It’s the vogue for beauty all round

Kate Winslet’s Vogue cover was in the news this week for being too airbrushed and unrealistic, as though Vogue is the go-to for realism.

This isn’t the first time Winslet has been the “victim” of over enthusiastic airbrushing by a magazine – back in 2003 she demanded an apology from GQ for printing pictures of her with legs better suited to a giraffe.

In 2009, she successfully sued The Daily Mail for accusing her of lying about her exercise regime, saying that “women should be encouraged to accept themselves as they are”.

In the latest Vogue, Winslet appears utterly flawless, with gleaming marble eyes, and plastic skin. In fact, she looks so “good” she may as well be laminated.

I imagine some rogue photo editor at Vogue went crazy with the de-noise setting and decided to turn Winslet into a CGI-ed avatar. Unlike us mere mortals whose “friends” seem to positively thrive on posting ugly pictures of us on Facebook – stars such as Winslet remain safe in the knowledge that Vogue et al actively wants them to appear stunning: “stunning” sells magazines; “ugly” trends on Twitter. As much as I imagine there’s some relief for celebrities in this knowledge, it’s also incredibly rude when a picture is altered so much. It explicitly says you – in your natural state – are just not good enough. So there.

That judgment alone is grounds to sue. It isn’t just celebrities who get this kind of treatment though.

A friend of mine went through her wedding photos and airbrushed her own image, and also the images of her new husband (ouch), her parents (weird) and even some of her guests.

I believe I probably got a little touch up, too, being one of the bridesmaids.

Part of her reasoning was to make everyone feel happier about the pictures she would post online, and therefore have happier memories and connotations surrounding her special day.

However, part of it was to further extend the vision of her beautiful life, based on the premise that we judge by association.

Gone are the days when you chose bridesmaids who were uglier than you in order that you appeared prettier by comparison, nowadays everything in your life – including your friends and family – must be utterly beautiful at all times.

We’re all in the editorial office, preparing our own Vogue cover, to ensure our lives and online image are as glossy and polished as possible. Because God forbid that we ever let someone see us for who and what we really are.

Editor’s note: Rebecca’s photograph, right, has not been airbrushed. She doesn’t need it yet. (Just joking.)

 

Learn when to keep your distance guys

I was walking alone to a girls’ night out on Saturday, and strolled by The House bar on Blue Boar Street and up an alleyway towards The High.

As I did so, a guy shouted for my attention and ran to stop me. He then proceeded to walk me to the High Street, trying to persuade me to head to a different bar with him (I politely declined) and asking me to say – on a scale of one to 10 – exactly how attractive I found him (I impolitely declined). When I returned home and recounted this situation to my (all male) housemates they were astonished.

The audacity of the guy was the first thing they couldn’t quite believe, but there was also concern for my well-being, and anger on my behalf knowing that – as a lone woman – a strange man yelling and chasing me down an alleyway may be somewhat intimidating.

But the main question was: Is this how other guys get the girls?

I had to think back, first to how typical this type of behaviour is (quite typical) and secondly to how many of the guys who have ever done likewise I’ve actually dated (truthfully nil). The next obvious point became “why do they bother?”.

Well, we can all imagine why they might bother – I don’t need to draw a diagram. But there is a marked difference between casually strolling over to a girl in a café and complimenting her (my preferred approach) and chasing her along a street in Oxford.

Is it time we educated our men folk on Approach Etiquette?

No: they should damn well know already. Another male friend of mine feels bad merely walking behind a girl on a deserted street, concerned (like the good, well brought up gentleman he is) that his proximity may intimidate her unwittingly, so he normally crosses the street to send the express message: ”I am not some weirdo following you. Please don’t call the police.”

It’s not rocket science, guys.

You don’t need an Oxford degree to navigate this one: keep a reasonable distance, particularly if the lady is on her own.

If you must approach her (which can be flattering if done correctly) then do so in a well-lit public place, introduce yourself and maintain a reasonable level of eye contact, preferably above the neck.

Done correctly, this may be the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

Done incorrectly, it could be the beginning of a prosecution.