Remember Glamour Shots? Not so much? Basically, they were a chance for otherwise dumpy women to live out their vaseline obscured fantasies while flaunting borrowed and bedazzled leather jackets or the occasional boa.
I have a vague memory of dragging my mom into a Glamour Shots type of studio at Bellis Fair mall. Located right next to the Disney Store, this classy little enclave appealed to all of my little girl senses. There were photos of women all trussed up, surrounding a centre island where one could purchase a makeover and photoshoot package. Although I had no idea what exactly this store was, I knew that it peeved my mom and was relentlessly tacky – which of course is the way to a young girl’s heart.
Obviously I wanted in. I made a connection between these women and the Disney Store, forming some sort of unstoppable princess fantasy. At Bellis Fair. Luxury.
These studios seem to have targeted average women and offered them a taste of glamour, as though it was something they were incapable of in their everyday lives. I can’t deny that I would love to get my makeup professionally done and then have flattering photos taken…but there must be some kind of commentary on how we regard beauty and women hidden in here. And, regardless of era, is there any way that these images evoke glamour? Most importantly, why is that collar-pop stance a supposed glamour standard?
The fuzzy lense is so intense, that it’s hard to determine this lady’s age, gender or sense of irony.
The company, shockingly, still exists. While the general look of the photos has progressed, the contrived poses and generous blurring remain as trademarks.
For the record, I would totally be down if they still had all those props and I could coyly look past my sparkly lapel into a vaseline lens.
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