French tell US beauties, spare your blushers

Scotland on Sunday ^ | June 4, 2006 | ELAINE SCIOLINO

[MadIvan]

TYPICAL French chic or bare-faced cheek? The simmering diplomatic war between France and the United States has taken an ugly turn after French women accused their American counterparts of being "painted dolls".

French madames don't wear make-up, or at least pretend not to. Their new goal is to glow, with invisible pores and highly polished skin. Too much make-up, they claim, makes a woman seem older, or worse still, appear as if she makes a living walking the streets.

And they have singled out American women as the worst examples, while putting forward their own versions of perfection such as actresses Juliette Binoche and Audrey Tautou.

Led by French fashion experts, the attack will stoke tensions based on cultural differences that neither country pretends to understand. Laura Mercier, the French creator of a line of cosmetics, who lives in New York, said: "It really astonishes me the way American women wear so much make-up.

"In the US, even teenage girls are overly made up. And when you are overly made up, you send out the message that you are overly sexual, that you want to be visible to attract men."

By contrast, Mercier added: "French women are not flashy. They must be subtle. The message must not be: 'I'm spending hours on my face to look beautiful.'"

Michèle Fitoussi, one of France's leading social commentators and a columnist at French Elle magazine, branded the "painted-doll" look "vulgaire".

Certainly, the French delight in placing themselves in opposition to the US, no matter what the topic - food, wine, diplomacy, and now beauty. A recent issue of French Elle poked fun at what it called the "too much" look of "California Beauty", illustrated by a model in a shocking pink shirt, bicycle shorts, an orange print scarf, mirrored sunglasses, a Louis Vuitton handbag and gaudy, gold, high-heeled sandals, earrings, necklaces, chain belt, bangles and rings.

The French say Nicole Richie and Britney Spears have adopted the "overdone" look, while Madonna is forgiven since she is seen as a hard-nosed businesswoman and free spirit.

Jennifer Lopez escapes criticism because she is Hispanic and therefore culturally more exotic.

But the French disdain is aimed less at specific women and more at the overall 'overdone' look. This season, the unadorned look is more in vogue than ever in France. The weekly magazine L'Express calls it "Le no make-up" look.

To women in France, it represents something more profound than simply one's taste in skin care. Make-up is also the mark of the desperate housewife type who tries too hard.

They cite Yves Saint Laurent's famous quote: "The most beautiful make-up for a woman is passion. But cosmetics are easier to buy."

Even for Olivia Hollert, a 22-year-old nurse who considers herself a make-up fanatic, Americans overdo it.

"American girls worship the cult of the 'ideal woman'," she said. "No part of the face seems to be forgotten. And when you use too much make-up, it means you are hiding from yourself."

In a poll by the market research group Mintel, 64% of American women said they sometimes used foundation, compared with 47% of French women; 81% of Americans use lipstick, compared with 70% of French women, and 59% of Americans use blusher, compared with 43%.

The image "du jour" of "le no make-up" look is Audrey Tautou, with magazines featuring the 29-year-old Da Vinci Code star without jewellery or any visible make-up, except for a slight tint on her lips. Even her beauty marks have not been airbrushed away.

Actresses Juliette Binoche and Nathalie Baye are also regularly featured in magazines for embracing the natural look

In political circles, the Socialist politician Ségolène Royal, a presidential contender, is successfully seducing the country in part because of her grass-roots style, broad smile and fresh-faced look. When she had an upper tooth straightened last year, the daily newspaper Libération labelled it an un-French act.

"The French people's favourite Socialist is now endowed with an American smile," Libération wrote.

That may be because French women still lag far behind Americans in cosmetic surgery and sundry injections aimed at making them appear less flawed.

Catherine Deneuve, for example, with her painted face, is sometimes seen as an object of pity. Deneuve, 62, the icily beautiful star of Belle De Jour, was once considered so perfect that she was named France's "Marianne", the idealised embodiment of the French Republic. She now admits to wearing make-up even when she is gardening.

"Poor Catherine," said Terry de Gunzburg, creator of the By Terry make-up line. "She let herself get hooked by the syndrome of Dorian Gray, of eternal youth. It's sad."

On the whole, French women like to portray themselves as more balanced, more inclined to pamper themselves and take pleasure in daily rituals than Americans. In its most extreme form, the US is seen as a youth-obsessed, throwaway, quick-fix culture where women are more likely to look artificially young and totally "done".

Instead, French women invest more time aiming for perfect, blemish-free skin.

Even French women of modest means are much more likely than American women to get treatments in spas or clinics that scrub, polish, buff, massage and cream their skins.

In this, the French government is complicit. Any woman who can claim to have a medically diagnosed skin condition, from eczema to acne, can receive a regimented "thermal cure" at spas in France once a year.

The French taxpayer covers as much as 65% of the cost.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

I must confess that I think French women the most beautiful in the world, followed closely by Indian women.

I think African-American women are the prettiest.

[Allegra]

French madames don't wear make-up, deodorant...

[beyond the sea]

Is that Paris, Kentucky?

[beyond the sea]

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/fash2.htm

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/original/fa047.jpg

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/original/fa066.jpg

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/original/fa042.jpg

****

This is my favorite.

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/original/fa029.jpg

[beyond the sea]

http://www.kmmod.com/lcasta/fashion/original/fa029.jpg

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

Well..."African American" or "black"? - I mean I really don't perceive that much difference between, say, a Jamaican woman and an African American. But perhaps you meant the personality?

[FatherofFive]

I must confess that I think French women the most beautiful in the world, followed closely by Indian women.

I think African-American women are the prettiest..

Well, east coast girls are hip I really dig those styles they wear And the southern girls, with the way they talk They knock me out when I'm down there

The midwest farmer's daughters Really make you feel all right And the northern girls, with the way they kiss They keep their boyfriends warm at night

I wish they all could be California girls Wish they all could be California I wish they all could be California girls

The west coast has the sunshine And the girls all get so tan I dig a French bikini on Hawaiian island girls By a palm tree in the sand

I been all around this great big world And I seen all kind of girls Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back in the states Back to the cutest girls in the world.

[stands2reason]

All I wear is lipstick, blemish stick and face power with a tiny bit of mascara, and that's only for special occasions. Usually it's au naturelle for every day.

I have a sister-in-law who has never worn makeup, not even on her wedding day.

[stands2reason]

Two words: Pamela Anderson.



I still catch myself checking her for an adam's apple...

[CaliGirlGodHelpMe]

Heh heh....

[Minette]

I'm an American woman living in France and it is true the women here, in general, have a certain style and natural beauty. I rarely see a young woman with much make-up, although older ladies tend to wear it more. The skin care business is booming - my favorite products are from Yves Rocher (also available in the US).

I don't know why everyone thinks that French women do not shave or wear deodorant. I am sensitive to odor issues and have only twice been overcome by someone's fumes in almost a year and a half of living here. Both times were due to immigrants, not native French. Skirts and short pants are popular here, so it would be easy to tell if someone wasn't shaving. I've never seen a girl with unshaven legs here, although I'm sure they do exist. It's just not on a grand scale, as everyone seems to think.

[ken5050]

I finally found something the French say I can agree with..

[ken5050]

Bonjour, mademoiselle.....LOL

Seriously, all those on this thread who will agree with this POV ( including moi) are American males who are tired of waiting incessantly for women to finish "putting on their faces" ( now there's a expression for you) and the endless trips to the powder room to "freshen up"

Want to see a female have a panic attack?. Watch when they're going out for a big night on the town, all dolled up, and they're carrying one of those very small, very expensive purses...which holds nothing..and they try to figure out what to put in it...I've had to carry my wife's and years back, daughters COMPACTS in my jacket pocket more times than I care to admit..

[mewzilla]

The French taxpayer covers as much as 65% of the cost.

Snort. They may be beautiful, but I can't say much for their brains.

[horse_doc]

This, from the country that gave use mimes?

[advance_copy]

The prettiest girls in the world are in Texas, followed by North Carolina. France, way far down the list from there, ranks only slightly ahead of West Virginia.

[Caipirabob]

I think it's really hard to peg any given society for it's women. I mean outside of the obvious disdane for hygeine the French have, they have their share of beautiful women. OTOH, America has some of the most impressively gorgeous women in the world, moreso than any other country. That's also because many other gorgeous women come to America if at all possible and become gorgeous "American" women.

My legal, naturalized American citizen "Colombian Import" for example...

Two kids and she looks like...ah-HEM!...

At any rate, the French impress me not at all. Been there, and dealt with their idea of femine beauty. Their women are brilliant and beautiful, however having experienced it, I can state that cat-wretch smells better. For those who learn the function of a bar of soap, I have great hope, so they are not a complete write-off. That being said, the French should not be regarded in any matter of beauty until they have mastered the dark secrets of personal hygeine as a whole.

[HereInTheHeartland]

The thing that bothers most of the French, is that most Americans really don't care what they think.

[maica]

If this author is judging by the newsreaders on Fox and other "news" channels she has a point about the painted look. French women take great pride in having beautiful skin.

Ask me if I care what French women think!

[Vinnie]

Vizcaya?