For Love of Blondes

(xpost)

I'm genuinely curious because it doesn't strike me that, by and large, people really actually don't discriminate that hardcore based on criteria like that, or have like a "oh that's so passe" attitude.

Also, I have secret-shame crush on Sienna Guillory.

But anyway I think I see part of what Remy's saying, in that certain kinds of real natural blondeness don't actually have anything to do with the blondes everyone supposedly likes. Veronica Lake in this picture, for instance:

http://www.skylighters.org/photos/pinups/veronica.jpg

It seems to me that throughout the '80s and '90s sexy DeFactoBabe was conspicuously big-boobed, washboard-abbed, collogen-lipped, with peroxide blonde hair. A Pamela Anderson, Nicole Eggert, NASCAR dad girl, Hefner honey.

As tastes have run toward a very slightly more exotic look (Alba, J.Lo, that pretty Texan girl from Lost), it seems there's a sort of intellectualized backlash against blondes. Maybe I'm imagining it, but I think that it's kind of a hip guys'-night-out thing to say "I don't like blondes" or "I prefer latina chicks" or some commment about how blonde girls aren't natural enough (or ARE trashy enough, you know… ) that I don't remember being in place a few years ago.

I don't think anybody is actually discriminating in any hardcore way based on hair-color (and christ, i hope they don't start to) but I got to thinking that there might've been a cultural shift (U.S.) in presentation of what's most desirable, and most popular, and most in-your-face sexy.

It seems to me that what you're saying is that you like blondes when they have all the other qualities that tend to come with blondeness, the ethnic features that the "blonde" construct was actually mostly opposed to: massively pale skin, freckles, flat-chestedness, gawky facial features, thin lips, etc.

nabisco -- i think you're right, actually. and i hope this doesn't suggest i'm gonna turn one of those guys who refuses to let his girlfriend wear makeup or shave because it's undercutting her 'core of self-beauty.'

another thread: 'for love of massive, belly-reaching, untamed pubes'

The hell?

the ethnic features that the "blonde" construct was actually mostly opposed to: massively pale skin, freckles, flat-chestedness, gawky facial features, thin lips, etc.

I'd argue that that's a relatively recent construct but that such constructs endure and even proliferate more now because of a longer mediatized memory (film, TV, magazines with color photography, the internet, etc...) and that even saying 'gawky' facial features belies your participation in a modern 'blonde' aesthetic which didn't apply to, say, 19th century European artists or 14th century European aristocrats, nor, frankly, to me at all.

For every svelte highly 'ethnic' ice blonde there's a parcel of lovely, busty, voluptuous, dairy maids. I like them all, but I think the Hitchcockian ideal has become a stereotype that's rather facile to reject. If only just to brag a little, I went out with a tow-headed little slip of a thing once and she was neither frigid nor particularly refined and I remember her (mostly) quite fondly.

Ironically, I think that they sometime ARE 'refined'. When the ruling class decides on an esthetic, it tends to breed it (in both the genetic and upbringing sense, naturally).

When I was 11, I was at a sleepover and we were talking about girls, and one guy's sexual ideal -- to the extent that you have a sexual ideal at that age (and you kinda do, but well, it's complicated) -- seemed to be Vanna White and Dolly Parton. Which I never really understood. I knew that guys were supposed to like busty blondes, but I never did. And actually, who knows if my friend really did, either -- that's what I mean about it being complicated at that age. I just know that ever since I was 7, I preferred brunettes.

So this day, I'm pleasantly surprised when I find a blonde attractive, although it's also happened often enough (Naomi Watts, Michelle Williams, Reese Witherspoon, Emilie de Ravin) that maybe I shouldn't be anymore.

I am imagining this sung to the tune of Roxette's "It Must Have Been Love."

http://www.x-entertainment.com/updates/pics/walker.jpg

yum, but this type usually goes with a more muted blonde flavor that I think is different from what remy's talking about?

As you can plainly see, I'm well aware of the name of the item, but if you don't think they're creepy, I question your judgement.

http://bksschoolhouse.com/cart-imgs/prod10320_sm.jpg

yeah, sometimes i really do!

fwiw, i get what you're saying. and i've got nothing against people finding natural blondes especially striking. it even runs pretty predominately in my family - my aunt actually was one of those waifish/hippie chick blondes of the late 60s/early 70s.

http://www.hagstrom.org.uk/kathy_robertson.htm

OTM

I wish the last line was applicable to me. Alas no, I'm stuck with my blonde hair. :-( I hate'em. (More so in men. Sorry Kate!) I just hate being blonde. It doesn't go with anything: if you're too tanned, you look like a freakazoid. If you're pale, like I am, you just look... like a light bulb or blanket. Especially in pics. I can't explain it, I just don't LIKE being blonde at all. If I would have the nerve, I'd change the colour but usually people will say:"Oh but you look so nice with yer blonde hair! Why change?"

Why? Because it looks awful. Duh.

Self loathing? No no no, self-knowledge. ;-)

i absolutely love being blonde and its nothing to do with attracting guys (dark haired girls get way more boy action) or standing out. its just this one thing where i might be walking down the street and some hair falls in my face with the sun behind it and it glows this magnificent gold that fills up your entire vision for a moment. its beautiful and its as simple as that. im easily amused, i guess, but when i have dark hair i just feel kind of dead.

all that said, i think a beautiful girl with dark hair trumps a beautiful girl with blonde hair every time. and, like nathalie says, it doesnt go with anything. suddenly most of what looked good on you doesnt anymore. im pretty much limited to sky blue, black, chocolate brown and bright red clothing these days which is pretty sucky. and, worse, it looks completely different in different lights. wheatish in the bathroom, yellow in the mall, white in the sun, sandy in the office, brassy in the rearview mirror.

anyway, i still love it.

also, best blonde: brady blonde.

Eh, blondes with a tan can usually wear orange, fuchsia (if you like that kind of thing), olive green, kelly green, etc. If you're the sun-avoidant type, yeah, it does limit things, but it could be worse! You could be a redhead!

There's also the part where vivid lipstick colors look really, really funny cos there's no weight of eyebrow or anything to balance it out -- I'm not even all THAT blonde and I can't wear lipstick.

I could wear bright red then which I can't now. But the whole burgundy/wine/dark red range has opened up for me instead.

Also, Laurel, I have reddish blonde hair...and I can wear lipstick (though I'm way too lazy to actually do so beyond rare super special occasions). So there Miss "You could be a redhead!" :P

On a more elevated note: yes, the buxom milkmaid thing is TOTES separate from the uber-refined ice queen. Also, that picture of V. Lake looks an awful lot like Carly.

I feel the Joan F vs. Olivia de H controversy may bubble up again at any minute

I think the Pipette on the left looks like her more so:

http://www.londonist.com/attachments/londonist_mark/pipettes.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v230/possumblog/People/catherine_deneuve.jpg

Ahh, CDN: maybe my favorite blonde ever.

Me, too! Toe-headed kid, mousy brown adult. BUT I'm starting to go gray now and the overall effect, for now anyway, is to make my hair appear lighter and blonder. So full circle, I guess.