You might think it’s because she speaks French. (Et moi, aussi.)
You might think it’s because she’s a brunette. (Me, too.)
You might think it’s because Ms. Paré charmed us with her saucy rendition of Zou Bisou Bisou a few weeks back on the small screen.
You might think I love Jessica Paré because her character Megan Draper speaks her mind, and won’t relinquish who she is – even for the man she loves. But it’s more than that. It’s more than the way her role is written in the hit AMC TV series, Mad Men.
It’s her teeth. Her gorgeously imperfect teeth. And I say – Hallelujah.
Have you paid attention lately, to the blinding smiles on almost any current television show or film?
Smiles that are Whiter than White, Brighter than Bright
In comparison, you may have noticed that prior to 2007 (or so), you have the opportunity to revel in intriguing faces as well as the epically beautiful, of course. And you’ll see real teeth – some veneers, some caps, some who-knows-what – but genuine smiles that reflect “reality” in ways we continue to attempt to alter via the media.
For me, this is true beauty. The mole. The elongated nose. The imperfect something.
My own choppers?
Oh, they’re nice enough I suppose. But they aren’t veneered, they aren’t routinely bleached, and they’re far from perfect. In any event, I surely don’t resemble Jessica Paré – she must be a foot taller for starters – but I love that she is beautiful while looking real.
As for the Pass-Me-My-Sunglasses brilliance we take for granted on our pseudo-reality smiles, I say – enough already.
Changing Beauty Standards (Celebrating “Real”)
Beautiful teeth? Of course they’re an asset. But I dare say that women have too much already on our “Must Do” Beauty Expectation List.
Changing beauty standards?
What ever happened to radiance that derives from a combination of confidence, smarts, compassion, playfulness, humor, talent – and yes of course – good looks, however you define them? May we celebrate those who dare to be real? May we enjoy a distinction or two that is individual?
The full figure on the woman who flaunts it and oozes sensuality? The lines on the forehead that reflect worries as well as wisdom?
The real mole, the wild hair, the unremodeled breasts, Meryl Streep’s spectacularly interesting nose, and for that matter, highly individual and expressive beauty?
I love Jessica Paré – and hope to see more of her – and more like her – exemplifying standards of beauty (and talent) in the media that are more varied and far less artificial.
Image of Jessica Paré, AMC TV (Mad Men).
For more musings on Mad Men’s women, and weekly Mad Men reviews, pop by here.
© D. A. Wolf
Photoshop has ruined “beauty” and photography. You used to have to be a natural at both. Now it’s all BS. Women have always worn make-up, bras that perk up our assets, girdles and such. Plucking of the eye browns, dying of the hair, it’s always been done. I personally don’t mind whitening of the teeth. But photoshop has absolutely destroyed our image of the human being. Remember the old Brook Shields photos? All those People magazine covers from the ’80s with Brat Packers all over them? Remember how, despite the fact that they had make-up on and were thin and cute to begin with, you could still see hair follicles, cellulite (even on the teenagers) and skin tone differences? In other words, you could still see that they were HUMAN??? Yeah. And now because of all this grotesque Photoshopping everybody looks liked a glazed over cartoon.
It’s ridiculous. We need to get rid of it. It’s beyond false, it’s gross. There will always be differences of opinion as to what’s more beautiful, curvy or skinny, brunette or blonde, roman nose or nordic nose, dark skin or light skin. That’s just personal taste. But these photoshopped images are pure ridiculousness making everybody looked out of this world creepy. Can we stop it please? And the Botox: that is getting ridiculous too. Humans have pores for God sake! They’re actually essential to life. Why be ashamed of them?
So happy to have you stop by and comment, Michelle.
I have friends who whiten their teeth at home – lifting some coffee stain and wine stain. I have others who don’t. But what we see on tv? Yikes!
You summed it up. It’s ridiculous. And yes, it’s more than a little creepy. But how do we get women to stop falling for it? And personally, I think it’s the women who are chasing after the Impossible Dream (?) more than men nudging us along to do so.
So weird to be in Portugal and not see Any of the female transformation we see elsewhere in our travels. Like there’s one place where they’d laugh at the prospect.
Or maybe we’re just too far into the countryside and ladies in Lisbon all sleep with whitening strips 😉
Love, tg xx
Lisbon, tg! (You do get around…) No blondes blondes? 🙂
When I first arrived here in Britain I was given to understand that Brits admire natural looking teeth. I think a crooked incisor can be devastatingly sexy. Over the years, though, politicians and royalty have gone for a more and more American look – perfectly straight and blindingly white (Duchess Kate, for example).
I think she’s stunning, too! Imperfect teeth and all!
Couldn’t agree more, TKW! (And I love the character she plays… there’s more to her than meets the eye…)
Most people have too many teeth. An oral surgeon friend of mine says take ’em out, a healthy mouth is an edentulous mouth.
I’m with you. It makes her more interesting, somehow. I remember once reading about how Giselle Bundchen has a “strong nose.” That after Christie Brinkley spawned a generation of Grecian looking models Giselle changed things up because she had a different face. (Also legs that go on for miles, but still…)
We’re still catching up on Mad Men so I haven’t been reading your posts on the show. But once I’m current I’ll come back and read them all. Promise!