Aging: Kate Winslet vs. Cosmetic Surgery
I saw in the news the other day, Kate Winslet, along with Emma Thompson and Rachel Weisz, speaking out against the increasing trend for cosmetic surgery. You can read more about it here, but the premise is that there is a hyper-focus for women to continue to look young and “perfect.” Not to mention, an overall emphasis on women feeling as if they need to conform to a set aesthetic in order to be beautiful.
Obviously this is no new issue, but I find Winslet’s approach refreshing and a good reminder for us not to get caught up and carried away in an unattainable and arguably misleading goal. Weitz said it well when stating that people "who look too perfect don't look sexy or particularly beautiful."
Given that I spend a fair bit of my time working with and writing about fashion and beauty products at She She Shoppers, I obviously enjoy the process of finding beautiful things and taking care of myself. I hope that it is more about good health and having fun with how I express myself. However, I have certainly been guilty of looking at a magazine spread and catching myself envying the hair, skin and bodies on the page more than the fabulous clothing. Where do we draw the line between a healthy and motivated desire to take care of oneself and something that is more detrimental to our sense of self?
This really comes down to the deeper psychological issue of beauty and the ideals and images we all put out into the world. The effects are obvious. You see beautiful young women who have morphed themselves into what they think is the perfect form. Heidi Montag is a glaring example, but there are more subtle signs all around us – a small tweak to the nose or slight boost to the bust line. Not to mention women, and sometimes men (have you seen Kenny Rogers or Burt Reynolds lately?) striving to hang on to their youth and ending up looking like frightening flotation devices – often the lips alone could save you in a flood. Sorry, that was mean-spirited and judgmental in a whole other unhealthy way.
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