If you listen closely, you can hear alexiarnps' head exploding

[cupcake_goth]

I'm trying to figure out why I like the MAC Cosmetics Barbie collection (clicky link!) so much. I mean, besides all the pink, thankyouverymuch. I'm really tempted by the eye makeup on the blonde model in the slideshow; I'm considering calling the local MAC store and finding out when they're getting the collection so I could schedule Zany Fun Makeover Time. Heck, I even like the lurid pink lip color, even though I would probably never wear it.

(Now comes the meta part)

Eeeurrgh, Barbie makeup collection. The fact that I reallyREALLY like it makes me conflicted and twitchy. On the one hand, it kinda-sorta makes my skin crawl. A whole collection of makeup that's designed to celebrate a plastic fashion doll that is the poster child for unreasonable expectations of beauty and the lengths women should go to in order to always be pretty is, when you stop to think about it, scary. (Of course, compared to the Bratz dolls, Barbie looks positively quaint and staid, but that's another rant, and I don't feel up to it at the moment.) Yes, it can be argued that Barbie is a great example of a modern career woman, that Barbie has been anything and everything; but then there's those pesky facts that her feet are molded to wear nothing but high heels, and that she wouldn't be able to stand upright if she were a flesh-and-blood woman.

On the other hand, I am a big fan of all the floofy frilly pink trappings that are part and parcel of being a girly-girl. Being self-aware means that you can choose to present a frothy, frilly exterior AND have a brain, and even combine those things without drowning in hipster irony. Do I think everyone MUST wear makeup all the time and dress in pretty pretty clothes? No, of course not.

(Okay, the honest answer from me IS yes, actually, because it would make me happy, but I acknowledge that not only is that impractical, that it's Not Right Or Fair to everyone else. Just because *I* think everyone looks better with concealer and powder and mascara doesn't mean there is a moral imperative for everyone to bend to my wishes.My aesthetic is not everyone else's. Really, I do know that.)

I wish that everyone who might purchase something from the MAC Barbie collection would be doing so with a sense of playful irony, a sense of (to use the correct buzzwords) subverting the dominant paradigm. However, I'm not going to hold my breath for that.

Comments

[sirriamnis.livejournal.com]

Oooo, the eyeshadows!!!!!

Alas, they are sold out of the Toast of the Town nail polish. I love that color.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

1) MAC's site is timing out on me, dang it.
2) Your taste in colors and mine don't match up all that often, so I'll guess that what's there wouldn't make me squee. What if it did, though? Dear Bob. Association with Barbie would nudge me that much further toward drag queendom, where I don't want to go.
3) When I become Imperatrix Mundi, I will insist that everybody can look the way they want to, and that includes the cross product of the sets {girly, butch} and {girl, boy}.
4) I sure am commenting on you a lot today, not too much, I hope. It's probably a sign that it's been too long since I saw you in person. Le sigh.

[staxxy.livejournal.com]

a limited edition colour collection specially created for all you living dolls.

that's why you love it, in a nutshell.

[water-of-fire.livejournal.com]

Hello, you're in my head again. :) I received the newsletter announcing the Barbie collection and momentarily thought (hoped!) it was a joke. The photographs are terrifying beyond belief, and I find the whole thing vomitous for the exact reasons you state.

I am certain that enough women will purchase something from the Barbie collection will be doing it with at least a modicum of irony. That or they're complete idiots. I don't like to underestimate the idiots, but at the same time, I know some highly intelligent women.

[dj-stitch.livejournal.com]

Whoa. Yeah, I'm right there with you on the knee-jerk "blearg" reaction. That ad campaign is a thing out of nightmare. Pretty colors, though.

[lilmartini.livejournal.com]

I was in Nordy's this weekend and saw the collection. I did immediately think of you when I saw the bubble gum pink lipstick. But yeah. couldn't they have called it the cotton candy collection or something?

[shoindiematrix.livejournal.com]

Hey, if we all had the money, I'd certainly share the Lady's ideas about how people should look, and without restraint, to boot. Maybe it's me, but I think there's a sense of morbid irony to liking things that draw from the 'modern career woman'- who, if she was a real lady,would find herself carrying her internal organs around in their own Barbie suitcase- that fit perfectly with those of lovely, dark persuasions, such as yourself.

[sistawendy.livejournal.com]

You've probably heard that if Barbie were 5'10", she'd have an 18" waist. Proof that Barbie's a hardcore corset fiend who's probably had her floating ribs removed.

[jeanineers.livejournal.com]

Modern Ms reminds me of the Evil Queen from Disney's Snow White.
http://www.maccosmetics.com/templates/looks/look.tmpl?CATEGORY_ID=CATEGORY23295

[themorgan.livejournal.com]

Oh come on! You could do a total Strawberry Switchblade with that collection. If that isn't old school Goth, I dunno what is!

[amaliedageek.livejournal.com]

Initial reaction: OMG the airbrushing!

Upon reflection: the eye makeup on the blonde could work on you.

Girly-girl trivial confession: I used Sur la Table store credit for a Cuisinart ice cream machine: not only did I bring home a pink model (to match the pink Zyliss ice cream scoop, the world's best ice cream scoop!), but the first batch churned out was strawberry ice cream. (And it was incredible, thank you!)

Sometimes pink is the right choice, regardless of the twitches.

[ex-pennydrea364.livejournal.com]

Hi!
The link does not work....:(
Did you get my lil thing in the mail?

x

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, the clicky link is working for me, how odd.

I *just* got the prezzie from you in the mail the other day! You absolute sweetheart! I love them, and I can't wait to wear them to a fun event. Thank you very much. :)

[cass404.livejournal.com]

I am blaming you entirely for my makeup today.

Which, it turns out, doesn't photograph so well in early light because of the *pink*. And because I only half-attempted it.

PINK! Okay, the pink eyeshadow isn't entirely new. But I even put on blush. Pink blush. And loads of black mascara. I feel like a Cass doll instead of Cass. It's fun. Pink, pink fun.

But I'm not going to buy Barbie makeup.

[cupcake-goth.livejournal.com]

Heh. Part of my evening last night was spent playing with my makeup collection, because I already have eyeshadows that are pretty close to the new MAC Barbie ones. It turned out well enough that that's how I did my eye makeup this morning.

You put on blush? Pink blush? You're ahead of me, then. I still view pink blush with trepidation. Maybe I'll try it this weekend.

So, no pictures of the cute makeup? Taunty-person.

[cass404.livejournal.com]

I went subtle on the blush. But blush in general scares me, much less pink.

Barbie Me in a clicky link! (http://www.flickr.com/photos/95737624@N00/398034078/). I just took a couple of other shots that I will upload later. This one was still before there was really a lot of light outside...

Off to get a hair cut first!

[oracle2c.livejournal.com]

At least I am in good company! I really like most of the colors and would try them...I wonder however if they would wash me out? I have never worn pink pink lipstick.
The Fab blush and Toast of the Town nail polish is really nice.

I admit I bought Barbie makeup

[maiaarts.livejournal.com]

Wheeeee
I got the lip liner, the lipstick, and the lip gloss.
I also got the brownish eyeshadow. I love them all.
The next collection is going to be full of purples!!!!!!!!
Wheeee and again I say wheeeeeeee!