Why do we wear makeup? Part II

© Chris Bretz; hair & makeup: Natalie James Makeup

In Part I of this post on why we wear makeup, I posed the question: Is wearing makeup a primal activity? Secondary to this question is this: if (for argument's sake) makeup were a primal activity....just WHO are we wearing it for?

Throughout history, humans have marked their faces, bodies and nails as a form of communication, self expression and to attract others (initially sexually and latterly to signify social status). We know that modern day makeup has the ability to enhance and in some cases completely alter a person’s features (think eyelash extensions, coloured contact lenses). When we go on a date we might choose to wear a brightly coloured lipstick as we know this draws the attention of the viewer (male or female). Or we might wear slightly more eye makeup to draw more attention to our eyes (therefore encouraging eye contact). But at work? What’s appropriate? And if we do wear a little makeup (or a lot), just who are we wearing it for?

I recently did a quick survey amongst a handful of businesswomen and the majority (verbal) response was that they wear makeup for themselves (to boost confidence and poise) but – AND HERE'S THE INTERESTING THING – they wear it *mostly* for other women.

Is wearing makeup to work therefore perhaps a way of gaining kudos from other female employees? A way to fit in?

When a woman wears an item of makeup – or say a pair of shoes – that are fashion forward and subsequently openly celebrated by her female colleagues, what’s the effect on the men in the office?

Q: For as many points as we’re scoring with our female peers, could we be giving out completely the wrong signal to our male counterparts?

A businesswoman told me anecdotally that she’d bought a fuchsia pink lipstick one Saturday (bang on trend for S/S13, top marks!) and had decided to wear it to the office on Monday morning (hmm). Whilst her female colleagues cooed at the 'brightness and oh, the texture!' of the lipstick (not to mention how it off-set her navy silk top beautifully), the male members of her team found it distracting. Kinda gets you thinking doesn't it...

Have you ever worn a shade of lipstick or eye shadow to the office and regretted it? 

If you missed out on Part I you can read it here.

To continue the debate on whether makeup is a primal activity or more of a social acceptance tool, post your thoughts in the comment box below.

For more information about The Makeup Debate talks and workshops, visit our website.

Why do we wear makeup? Part I

© Alice Luker; makeup by Natalie James Makeup

Every couple of months, my friend and I – storyteller, blogger and all round ball of energy Chris Packe – meet for coffee. We have the most wonderful conversations, many of which seem to circle around one particular topic: human behaviour. 

This morning, as Chris eked out a large pot of Darjeeling and I necked my second cappuccino of the day (argh, must cut down)...the word 'primal' came up. A lot. 

This is unsurprising because Chris is fascinated by the role primal instincts play in our daily lives. He is also intrigued by our ability (and to a greater extent society's) to suppress them. From my side, well, I guess it got me thinking about the role makeup plays, specifically in the workplace, and whether we would define the act of wearing makeup as a primal activity? And if (for argument's sake) wearing makeup were a primal activity... just WHO are we wearing it for?

© James Champion; makeup: Natalie James Makeup

There's no doubt, it's a big question to ask and one that engenders all sorts of awkward shifting in chairs. I'm sure many of us would balk at the idea of there being any underlying, subconscious sexual impulses at play when choosing how to dress or what makeup to wear to the office (unless we're single of course but, even then, there are limits aren't there girls!).

For me, to question why we wear makeup is a question worth asking, particularly given the social shift taking place currently in the workplace (What’s that then?)

© Seun Shote; makeup & nails: Natalie James Makeup

Ladies (and gents) something is happening in business circles that I refer to in my talks as ‘The Rise of the Feminine’. It's a hot topic right now for women in business and commentators on the subject refer to it in different ways. Essentially The Rise of the Feminine represents a cultural shift in the way women are perceived in business...that feminine qualities, in particular feminine leadership qualities such as the ability to listen, to nurture the group and to multitask, are being heralded and actively sought out by companies because of the positive impact fostering such qualities can have on business growth.

But what do feminine leadership qualities have to do with wearing makeup?

Well for one, this shift alters our view of what a successful businesswoman should look like. Gone are the days where a woman feels the need to dress and act like a man to get ahead. Women are dressing in a much more feminine way (Note, I don't mean sexual here, but feminine in the sense of softer fabrics, more feminine cuts and patterns). I once interviewed a female banker who said 'the more feminine I dressed the better I performed'. Why? I'd chance a guess it has a lot to do with authenticity.

Of course there is always a balance to be struck depending on your industry, your role and your age (controversial I know) but The Rise of the Feminine is visibly changing the status quo and for that reason alone it's worth thinking about. Right?

Part II of this conversation continues here.

To continue the debate on whether makeup is a primal activity or more of a social acceptance tool, post your thoughts in the comment box below.

For more information about The Makeup Debate talks and workshops, visit our website.