A breath of fresh air fills my lungs as the petrol fumes are exhaled from my system, leaving the retching to trickle back down my throat as the crisp air forces its way down my oesophagus. The clunking of the foregone’s engine slows to a halt, leaving the silence of the hills echoing, in what seems like, an endless valley. The rolling hills are cumbersome with the luscious, emerald grass intertwining with the rocks. The sickness subsiding, leaves my mind to wander through each crevice and crack of the nomadic environment that surrounds me. The drivers speak fast and fluent, the Mongolian words rolling off their tongues like cold ice cream in the summer. I could do with ice cream in this heat. My team mates smile wide and gleeful, their irrepressible laughter resounding against the empty rocks, stiffening as inaudible clicks capture the memories of a thousand senses. Then like an uncontrollable pang of curiosity, one must ruin the sublime transcendence of the Mongolian terrain.
“Are you ok?” And here comes the domino effect.
“Are you tired?”
“Are you upset?”
“Angry?” Well, now I am.
“What are you angry at?”
A meek, monotony of questions to those who suffer from the infamous resting bitch face. The dictionary definition of a resting bitch face is a sullen or scowling expression attributed to or unconsciously adopted by a person when in repose and which seems to be typically referenced to a woman, according to Google. Though there are many men who would disagree with this assumption, I certainly would. Of course, those who endure this will have to deal with the constant, customary set of questions even when perfectly content. Leaving those who do to be plagued with annoyance and anger.
Though in the fashion world this seems to have become a trend in its own right; with models, fashion influencers and moguls adopting this blank expression. Long from the days of actual smiling on the runway, the jaded, disinterested look has swept through the fashion world at full force. It is rare to see the glistening perfection of a model’s teeth unless smiling embodies the aesthetic of a brand itself. In any job or position, there is a purpose to our actions, so why is it fashion insists that the resting bitch face has a purpose amongst the runway and fashion shoots?
The past is as important as the present in examining future trends, to which this expressionless facial feature stems from 19th century aristocrats. It was seen amongst royalty, where the adoption of such an image meant one had a higher status or class; which is no surprise seeing as all brands, luxury or high-street, need to communicate the luxurious and exclusive aesthetic to their consumers. The nonchalant and exclusivity that exhumes the models image immediately elevates their status above ours, which somehow interests us more than a smiling, conventional and friendly image. Fashion is about art after all, and what is art without the dramatic nature to which it exudes.
Perhaps the presentation of this image should not be taken as a negative, but as a symbol of being able to control your emotions and how we choose to show them to one another. Models carry the looks with confidence and strength and the consumer can respond accordingly. After all, if one is resilient when wearing a new outfit, those around you will respond in a much more enviable way than if you ridicule the trend itself, by breaking the image. A fashion brand can utilise the resting bitch face to its advantage to create a blank canvas, in turn generating its own image for the clothes themselves, without the distraction of the face. No matter how unconventional the garment, a face can distract from the clothes. But this in no way suggests that a model is an object, or hanger, for the clothes, but actually that this self-confidence aids in the luxurious nature to which every fashion brand wants to reflect. The resting bitch face rose to prominence in the 1960s, with the rise of the feminist movement, from those such as Brigitte Bardot, as a protest and need for professional women to be taken seriously amongst an oppressive society. It leaves no wonder as to why this expression is one to show self-belief and vivacity amid the runway presently.
Nonetheless, there are some brands who do permit smiling on the runway. The Victoria Secret Fashion Shows are notorious for the cheerful, exultant and joyful image that the models portray, though this is not always the case. The resting bitch face portrays strength, self-acceptance and vigour which is unfathomable and unbreakable and if Google assumes that this image is primarily associated with women, well, then let them think it.
Do you suffer from the resting bitch face too?
*All images are from Google and I do not own them*
No comments
Post a Comment