Because you can't have depths without surfaces.
Linda Grant, thinking about clothes, books and other matters.
Pure Collection Ltd.
Net-a-porter UK

Wednesday 20 February 2008

Deception

One of the advantages of having a soi disant relationship with the media, is that you do get to know about what the press cannot, for various reasons (usually legal) report. So from time to time one hears things that are not in the public domain but for which the the word is so firmly out, that it's only a matter of time before it goes mainstream. Charles and Diana's marriage being on the rocks, was one such story I remember hearing, as early as the late 80s.

You go along for years thinking that certain fabulous women in their fifties and sixties look fabulous because of a combination of personal, beauty, lucky genes, good diet, exercise, facials, and make-up artists, and believe that if only you could put the same dedication into your appearance as they do, why, you too could look - not as good, but a bit as good.

And then you find out that all is an illusion. Facelifts, botox, fillers. They have all had it done. Do I blame them? No, I don't. If your career is dependent on how you look, then you do what you must do. And we can stop beating ourselves up because we don't look like that. For unless we're prepared to go under the knife, the fact is, we won't. I hope I have made myself clear.

8 comments:

Susan B said...

Oh please dish...not La Mirren????

Linda Grant said...

_______
[sealed lips]

I was looking at a picture of Helen Mirren's younger sister only the other day, who has the same little jowly bits on her jawline as I have. And as Helen does not. And for which the knife is the only option, according to my enquiries. But that must surely be the luck of the genetic draw, on Helen's part, no?

D said...

off topic
here is a dress dkny prob comes in other colors - model is tall 5-11 so should be below knee on
http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/31813

Linda Grant said...

I ordered a dress from net-a-porter which was that length and it didn't quite come below the knee on me - I'm 5'5"

Anonymous said...

As someone who failed "Putting in hard contact lenses 101" and who also believes in how difficult it is to outrun one's genes, I learned at a fairly young age by looking at family photos on both sides that my jawline was doomed. My only comfort(especially when looking at photos of my Ukranian-Jewish great-grandma) is that I won't look like her, simply because I still have all my teeth.

Anonymous said...

Well I don't know if I feel relieved or disappointed - a little of both I guess

Joan Brakeley said...

There is so much I wish to change,
and so much I am not willing to do in order
to achieve that wish.
Now I wish to accept those things I choose
not to change.
Ah fear...

Anonymous said...

I can't recall where I read this (maybe here?) but Issac Mizrahi (as usual) says it best, "If you want to look 70, get a face lift."