This song is so ridiculous I couldn’t resist. Christina Aguilera’s “Vanity” (featuring images of the Evil Queen from Sleeping Beauty)
I’ve been thinking about the concept of vanity a lot lately. It’s a term that usually takes a negative connotation but for me it all depends on your point. We are all vain. Some people more so than others but we are all vain.
We care about how we look and hope to be considered attractive. You can go as far as plastic surgery or just spend an extra little money on that hair gel that “really” works for “your” hair. (Unless you’re like Suave or my brother, and then you may pay a little extra for the best shave gel or blades to keep your head “smooth.”) I know that I feel better when my hair is permed, eyebrows arched, toenails painted, legs shaved, clothes fitted, shoes unscuffed, jewelry matching, perfume on, etc. I spend a lot of time (and money) on maintaining what I have or distracting from what I don’t. Nice butt? Pencil skirts. Long legs? Slim pants. Small chest? Ruffles. No upper lip? Play up the eyes.
Now do I work that hard every day? No, I don’t have enough energy for all of that. Although I value being well put together, I do my best to just look put together, not obviously spending 45 minutes on my hair, 30 minutes on my makeup and an hour assembling that ensemble. (Hint: It helps when your entire wardrobe is black, white and grey. J ) Regardless, I get upset or feel bad when I look in a mirror and my hair’s doing something crazy, my mascara has smeared or I get a run in my stockings. And if it’s not something easily fixable, it can bug me for hours.
But if it’s just caring about how you look why consider it vanity rather than just looking good? Because my mascara is just as unnecessary as a nose job. It simply costs less and doesn’t involve cutting and therefore is more “normal.” If I can’t be happy with the way I look clean faced and in sweatpants (or god forbid naked), everything I do to look better after that is due to vanity. I go to the gym to look good in my existing clothes, not for my health. Therefore it’s vanity. The things I do to my hair are not good for it but I’ve convinced myself harsh chemicals and prolonged heat make me pretty. Vanity. Acne is not unhealthy but it sure is unattractive, so two face washes (one for deep cleaning and the other exfoliation, haha) and two acne products later, I’m closer to clear. Vanity. Showering should be sufficient but perfume lingers (in a good way). Obviously my eyelids are not a dusty lavender with dark brown shading but it matches my outfit. Crooked teeth don’t affect my well-being, just my self-esteem. So thousands of dollars and years in braces later, I can confidently smile. Vanity.
My point: vanity is normal. And although we all get annoyed at the people who constantly strive to prove how attractive they are or drive us crazy with their complaints of a lack of beauty, we’re all there is some way. When we step out of the shower, into our closet, in front of a mirror, out of the salon/barbershop, into of the tanning booth, out of the gym, or into a dressing room. So when I get annoyed at those that go overboard, I have to remember it’s not hard for someone to tear apart my regiments.
I admit and embrace my vanity. How about you?
Jo’van
1 Comment
Comments RSS TrackBack Identifier URI
The Truth: According to Jo'van 
I think in the end, if you feel good, you will look good. It usually goes the other way when it comes to actual cause and effect for us silly humans because we can’t consistently make a choice in being happy either because we choose not to or life throws curve balls.
to take the cheesy righteous path for a second, if you feel good (healthier, happier), it’s about as good as looking your best. I notice so much these days that when I’m happy even if i’m not necessarily smiling lots, i’m giving off something extra and people that day are immediately friendlier or whatever. People come up to me more or I just have more ease in approaching them socially, romantically, professionally, you name it.
Although i feel I looked better with hair, I think I look pretty darn good with a shaved head. Instantly I noticed a change in me and in people’s responses to me because I had become so self conscious about it in the year prior and was giving something off. I FELT better and was liberated in embracing the inevitable and I attracted people a lot more. And my luck is I think I pull it off well or at least have ocnvinced myself I believe so. I don’t think I’m delusional…
We’re always going to be vain and some are “blessed with natural good looks” where others feel the need to enhance the natural. I believe in work whatcha momma gave ya so I believe in people doing what they want but strongly believe 9/10 people need to not go under the knife. If you’ve been in an accident and your natural looks have been scarred, I can see that. I’d do it if I’d been in a fire and surgery could fix it. If at birth you had an unfortunate abnormality, yeah sure. But bigger boobs just for the sake of them, nah. Lipo…I guess maybe I’ll have to re-visit that in 10-15 yrs when I can relate more.
We’ll always be vain. And it’s probably twice as hard for the females. I guess I’d say we just need to push to gently enhance our health inside first and just feel better because it works wonders. I still have my lucky shirts and jeans and love my goatee permutations. I wouldn’t have it any other way. It makes me feel better.
p.s. I got kinda very excited at getting mentoned. I have no problems admitting that.