Susan Boyle (AP)
Now I am completely guilty of making a first judgement. See my eye is trained to spot good and bad fashion and create ways to change, update, or reinvent. Not only that, but as am Image Consultant, we teach that first impressions are everything and that within the first four seconds of looking at somebody you have already evaluated in your head exactly what you think about them. It’s cruel, but we all do it. So here comes Susan Boyle to the world in all of her glory and I did it again. I made an extremely incorrect judgment and was floored with how wrong I was.
What I love about Susan Boyle is that she embodies what Hollywood is so against. Lets face it she’s not your average lady. Susan is somebody who would never make it in the eyes of the pretentious media. And the inevitable is going to happen...an extreme makeover.
So In light of that, I’d like to suggest how I’d like to dress Susan for the world. Now as somebody who does like to see great style but style that compliments the wearer, I’ll look at a couple things. Her skin coloration, her body type and her height. From that I deduce what color clothes will make her shine, what silhouettes will be the most flattering and what details to add to make her stand strong. With my fashion formula in place I would like to see Susan in a mauve and silver brocade Sixties style shift dress with a matching fabric covered 2” belt with a square buckle. The dress should be scoop neck, slight belled elbow sleeved, and the skirt length should hit just below her calf. Simple, clean lines and close fitted to her figure is going to be the most flattering for her. On the jewelry spectrum, a pair of grey pumps, simple pearl earrings and one oversized cuff at her wrist will do just fine. But no necklace. This will help de-emphasis some of her stronger neck features.
Overall it's simple, understated, not fussy, while also put together, and very classy, as she should be!
So now as the phenomena that is Susan Boyle keeps grabbing our attention again and again, let’s all hope that Susan will always stay and be Susan. As Jamie Freedman the San Francisco Music Examiner says “ Susan Boyle represents the possibility that human beings crave better images of heroes that remind of us ourselves.”
So mind your judgements, I will too, and I’ll see you on the streets.
Comments
And so it begins.
jefftompkins.blogspot.com/2009/04/what-susan-boyle-means-to-world.html
I think she's fine just the way she is. Why make her over? Just accept her unconditionally and enjoy her fabulous voice. Just let her be Susan.
After the 'roll eyes'and 'laughable' grin from audience and judges when Susan said her age, notice how she reacted with her body language - with self-confidence.
Like many women who are often put down because of her age, single status, without a husband or boyfriend, her body size, height, etc. all with prejudice and 'cast aside' remarks and dispositions, women often have to grapple with their inner zeal to overcome such degradation when they are faced with them, most times silently.
Notice how Susan mustered up her inner strength when she rotated her hips and said "and that's just one side of me". She was literally saying, 'don't knock me down - wait till you see what I am all about.'
Then notice how she noded her head with confidence. She was reassuring herself as well as saying to the audience, "I know who I am."
Body language helps women to express their confidence and sometimes others misinterpret it as her being too bold, abrasive, unfeminine and other such ridiculous interpretations. It is important to recognize this body language trait that women often employ to overcome attempts at mocking her or trying to bring her down.
Susan, you showed the world something that has been long overdue. Paris runways and other modeling world should take an example of how you overcame the degradation and prejudging by just being yourself and knowing who you are deep down - a wonderful human being. Your body language naturally emerged as a woman of self-confidence. Indeed, you 'rocked' the audience and the judges.
You go girl...
How lovely to see a REAL Scottish woman rock our plastic world; she can sing to me anytime, and I don't care what she wears or if she's been kissed. She's so comfortable in her own skin, something many don't accomplish in a life time. Can't wait to get my hands on her music!! I love it!!
So here is my question...or rather- one that was presented to me by a voice authority...if she looked more the part, would we really be that impressed with her singing? If some pretty young well dresses thing sang that song- would the world have really reacted so? Is it the drastic juxtaposition of her look vs. her sound that makes us all react and feel the human condition??
What inevitable make over ? Susan doesn't have to submit to anything and from what we have seen to date, by guess is she probably won't. There are already MILLIONS of fans who couldn't give a rats about that and accept and love her exactly as they first saw her. I hope hard that it never happens. Who of us would turn down some pampering and some nice new things if given the opportunity and Susan may enjoy that opportunity too, as she has every right to. God Bless that woman !!!! Yes - bring on the album !
I was also blown away when I first viewed Susan singing and have probably watched it 30 times since. There is a video of Susan singing 25 years ago and she was really an attrative young lady. Go to her name and find the link.
The band kind of drowns her voice out but you will love the way she looked. It is hard to buy how she has never been kissed. A definite YES to buying her albums.
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