Why do we wear makeup? Part I

© Alice Luker; makeup by Natalie James Makeup

Every couple of months, my friend and I – storyteller, blogger and all round ball of energy Chris Packe – meet for coffee. We have the most wonderful conversations, many of which seem to circle around one particular topic: human behaviour. 

This morning, as Chris eked out a large pot of Darjeeling and I necked my second cappuccino of the day (argh, must cut down)...the word 'primal' came up. A lot. 

This is unsurprising because Chris is fascinated by the role primal instincts play in our daily lives. He is also intrigued by our ability (and to a greater extent society's) to suppress them. From my side, well, I guess it got me thinking about the role makeup plays, specifically in the workplace, and whether we would define the act of wearing makeup as a primal activity? And if (for argument's sake) wearing makeup were a primal activity... just WHO are we wearing it for?

© James Champion; makeup: Natalie James Makeup

There's no doubt, it's a big question to ask and one that engenders all sorts of awkward shifting in chairs. I'm sure many of us would balk at the idea of there being any underlying, subconscious sexual impulses at play when choosing how to dress or what makeup to wear to the office (unless we're single of course but, even then, there are limits aren't there girls!).

For me, to question why we wear makeup is a question worth asking, particularly given the social shift taking place currently in the workplace (What’s that then?)

© Seun Shote; makeup & nails: Natalie James Makeup

Ladies (and gents) something is happening in business circles that I refer to in my talks as ‘The Rise of the Feminine’. It's a hot topic right now for women in business and commentators on the subject refer to it in different ways. Essentially The Rise of the Feminine represents a cultural shift in the way women are perceived in business...that feminine qualities, in particular feminine leadership qualities such as the ability to listen, to nurture the group and to multitask, are being heralded and actively sought out by companies because of the positive impact fostering such qualities can have on business growth.

But what do feminine leadership qualities have to do with wearing makeup?

Well for one, this shift alters our view of what a successful businesswoman should look like. Gone are the days where a woman feels the need to dress and act like a man to get ahead. Women are dressing in a much more feminine way (Note, I don't mean sexual here, but feminine in the sense of softer fabrics, more feminine cuts and patterns). I once interviewed a female banker who said 'the more feminine I dressed the better I performed'. Why? I'd chance a guess it has a lot to do with authenticity.

Of course there is always a balance to be struck depending on your industry, your role and your age (controversial I know) but The Rise of the Feminine is visibly changing the status quo and for that reason alone it's worth thinking about. Right?

Part II of this conversation continues here.

To continue the debate on whether makeup is a primal activity or more of a social acceptance tool, post your thoughts in the comment box below.

For more information about The Makeup Debate talks and workshops, visit our website.