Suffering for fashion and beauty is not a secret and at some point, most of us have sacrificed comfort. In recent news, Kirstie Clement the former of editor of Vogue Australia revealed in her book Vogue Factor that models were ingesting tissue paper to stay skinny and curb hunger. Apparently cotton balls do the same trick too. Its atrocious to hear women going through such extreme measures to achieve beauty.
While most of us dont go as far as eating cotton, our everyday beauty routine could be slowly affecting our health. Think about all the chemicals in nail polish or hair spray we use nonchalantly. Even the makeup you use can affect your health if it contains chemicals that degrade your skin which is the first line of protection for your body. A simple tip is to change your makeup every 6-8 hours and dont sleep in your makeup. Choose products that have been tested and come with sunscreen to protect your skin. Even though these products may run you a little on the pricey side, its a payoff in health benefits. These products will often require a small to moderate amount of application for their intended effects so it lasts you awhile.
The most common fashion health habit committed by most women is not what we put on our faces but rather what we choose to wear. I cant deny that nothing makes me feel better than a good pair of heels (especially if youre a little vertically challenged like me). It really does take a look to new dimensions instantly. However, some beautiful heels are really not made for walking and can really hurt your back and toes. Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker recently revealed that her toes have been misshaped from the years of trolling around New York in signature Manolo Blahniks while on set. Talk about sacrifice.
Designers and fashion editors are listening and are attempting to push lower heels and flats for summer. Notable fashion contributor Andre Leon Talley from Vogue even released a video on flats in his recent post on Mondays with Andre. It looks like fashion editors are now pushing for the luxury of a great pair of shoes with an equal emphasis on comfort as well.
Along with sky high heels are also tight dresses that constrict your ability to breath. If it doesnt fit, dont wear it. Theres no denying that although summer is great for get togethers, but being in shorts and a bathing suit can send the skinniest girl into a place of insecurity. A balanced and healthy diet is key. If its one thing Ive learned talking to men its the fact that seeing a girl push around her salad and eat two bites of it on a date is a major turnoff.
You can stay stylish without breaking your back (literally). After all, isnt the saying you wear the clothes, the clothes dont wear you?
Amy Yew is a contributing columnist at Vancouver Courier. Tell us what you think and submit any questions you have to [email protected]. You can also tweet your thoughts on Twitter @AmyYew.
