There was one of those Twitter flurries the other day, when AA Gill suggested that Mary Beard should not be on the tv because of the way she looks. I'm really enjoying Meet the Romans, and enjoying the fact that Mary presents it, an all too rare sighting of an intelligent middle-aged woman. A rare sighting of a woman on tv who is not employed at least partly because of her looks. Of course I joined the flurry firmly on Mary's side tv is full of men whose looks clearly didn't come into it, why should it be different for us?
But then I started to think, there is a middle way here. I'm writing this in my gardening clothes because I've been gardening, I wouldn't dream of wearing them to work. I have office-lady clothes for that. To be honest I'm never band-box neat, even in my best clothes, I'm a scruffy individual at heart. But if I were presenting a tv programme about one of my great passions in life I think I'd brush my hair and put on my best jeans and t shirt at the very least. Most of the dress rules of my parents' generation have gone, but I think there are still one or two. Notably to dress with respect for those around you (your viewers of you are on tv), and to give a damn about what you wear and how you look, which probably boils down to respecting yourself.
it's funny; I felt v self-conscious the other morning when I went to the health centre; just about everyone else there was in working togs, and I was dressed normally, as in vaguely boho.... o well.
ReplyDeleteThere's a description of Angela Lyne, in Waugh's 'Put Out More Flags', which I think's rather well done; as her being impeccably dressed, but entirely to please herself and to inform. Not sure if Mary Beard could be described as *impeccably* dressed, but I thought she was rather *well* dressed; liked the red coat!
Congratulations, you are my first poster!
ReplyDeleteAnd I liked the red coat too.