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Dating Triumphs and Tragedies
by Nicole Roberge

Dating, Beauty, and Fashion from the Past

I am painting my nails right now.  Normally I would leave them plain, or let them grow, bite them down, let them be whatever they are naturally.  But, my friends, Nicole is painting her nails a pretty shade of pinkish-red.  Why?  For a boy, of course.

Which brought me to wonder…why do girls primp so much?  Do guys?  Hmm…I tend to think not.

Ladies that I know tend to put on makeup, lotion, get their hair done, lather on nail polish and have the occasional wax.  What do men do?  When did it start that women had to put so much effort into their appearance when guys can just be their attractive selves, and do it so effortlessly?

Did it start with corsets?  The fake mole?  The wigs?  What is it?  From the corset to the fake boobs…what do men want, and what do women think they want?

Let’s have a little history lesson here, folks.

Is beauty truth?  Or is beauty in the eye of the beholder?

The standards of beauty have changed throughout the years.  Today’s vision of beauty is not the same as what beauty was in the 1900’s.  Times change and so do people.  Yet, all along, beauty has been present.  So, what is it?

If you do a quick search, you find things like:

“Beauty is Shape.”
“Beauty is Cosmetics.”
“Beauty and Body Image”
Blah blah blah blah blah.

And it all relates to women.

The real definition of beauty is: the quality present in a thing or person that gives intense pleasure or deep satisfaction to the mind, whether arising from sensory manifestations (as shape, color, sound, etc.), a meaningful design or pattern, or something else (as a personality in which high spiritual qualities are manifest). <dictionary.com>

So essentially, it is not looks, it is the whole package.  But why can’t people always see the whole package.  More importantly, why do some want to mask their being?

Did you know that women of Georgian high society were stunning, but did not bathe?  Instead they just doused their belongings in perfume.  They also had false hair, teeth, bosoms and calves.  Foxy.

A hundred years ago in China, women mutilated their feet, because small feet were desirable for marriage.  Cut and bound, the woman would limp when they walked, but wow, the men loved those tiny feet.  Well worth it, right?

Now, corsets…how do those things feel ladies?  You ever see those old movies where the gals are being laced up and practically screaming?  Well, here’s some info.  It’s not because they are too tight.  Well, yes, they are, but they are actually squeezing their internal organs and lungs, so that they cannot breathe.  And, damaging their insides.  Would you do that for a man?

As for fashion, and I do like fashion, but us ladies have been through it all.  Let’s look at the 1940’s for example.  Padded shoulders and knee length skirts.  Is that hot now?  It was feminine then, but like I said, times are changing as are us women.  And I guess the story is, we must always be primpin’.  So give us some credit, cause we’re doing it for you, boys.  Without you, would we really need to do it for ourselves?  Well, a manicure the girls is a fun time, but it’s more fun to show it off for you ;)

Doesn’t it make you happy we live in a society where painting your nails and throwing off a smile will get a guys attention, or get your guy to give you a smile and a hug.  I can tell you this for sure.  I am not shaving off my feet, or wearing a corset.  If a guy doesn’t like me the way I am, he can move back a few centuries.  Have fun, buddy, I’m sure you’ll find your own issues there.

Dating Triumphs and Tragedies is published every Sunday by Online Dating Magazine columnist Nicole Roberge. She can be reached at [email protected].