How are tits, lips and high heels aspirational for young women?

[Bouncealot]

Just watched The Apprentice on BBC and am following Rise and Fall on C4. Why are all the women styled like this? What does it say to younger women? Is it to signal feminine power? None of the successful young women I know dress this way. The equivalent dress code for men doesn’t bear thinking about, and guess what? We don’t see young men’s chests on display in the office, or even on TV.

I agree with OP, in the context of the programme, as there’s definitely a costume uniform for The Apprentice, you could also see that when the men were forced into full suits, with tie, in the challenge at the boiling hot holiday resort, it was ridiculous. For the final- and all episodes when shown going to the cars- it seemed like the women were ‘paraded’ a la virgin airlines cabin crew in 90s advertising and yet, even the airlines have changed their uniform policy to reflect the different times we live in. Sir Alan obviously prefers an 80s financial district vibe for the brand.

Some women like to dress like that. I always wear heels to work, I rarely wear anything that shows my cleavage but I work in an environment where the dress is conservative but professional. I used to wear shorter skirts and dresses w tights but I think I’ve aged out of above the knee now. I do think it seems a bit like the problem is you OP - it’s not your style (or mine tbh) but the women aren’t dressed for a nightclub.

No she isn’t, she’s saying it’s odd they all present this way.

Obviously the channel does it because it looks glossy, but the OP’s point that more diversity would be better is fair enough, isn’t it?

Each to their own I guess. I wouldn't want to look like that and I wouldn't want my daughters to end up looking like that but who's to stop the women on telly? It's not very typical of the real world. If you want to be seen with these inflamed lips and boobs falling out of your dress then you should be able to show them I guess. Still a bit blurgh to my mind.

Porn stars brought huge filler lips, boob jobs, the current caked-on makeup looks etc. into the mainstream.

hopefully their filler will wear off by the time it goes out of fashion

Will they regret it I wonder? Will the skin on their lips be stretched permanently? Like a balloon 3 days after a party.

No her question was ‘How are tits, lips and high heels aspirational for young women?’

@Ttwinkletoes I disagree. I've used Botox, worn heels, bleached my hair all while building a career. Last time I checked I was still 'me'. I've only ever done this for myself. Because I prefer to dress myself this way. It's no different to a woman choosing to dye her hair pink. People are too judgmental and it reeks of jealousy.

@SinisterBumFacedCat the male equivalent to dowdy for men is probably nerdy

Do people really believe they style themselves in a vacuum and they would do this stuff if they were alone with no one to see them? Obviously everything we wear etc. is done with regard to others. Just own it say you do it because you look more attractive for others thats fine we are social creatures. Its the ridiculous I do it for myself thats so annoying.

They haven't been styled by the tv company but they have been cast by the producers, usually to appeal to a certain kind of demographic. Also, Karen Baroness Brady is Botoxed and fillered, so why can't the contestants be too?

To continue using The Apprentice as an example, if you look back at earlier series - Ruth Badger, Lucinda Ledgerwood and even Katie Hopkins did not subscribe to this kind of dressing or look, so really, it's just a sign of the times that hopefully, will change soon.

@Lolreally

You could apply to that to everyone who decided to just put clothes on in the morning instead of pyjamas. I mean with that attitude why even brush your hair or teeth? It’s perfectly possible to do these things for yourself and to not want to look like a rotter on a day to day basis.

@Chilloutsnow thats my point we all dress style ourselves etc for others, to claim otherwise is nonsense.
Whatever our style its for others to see and to show the world a quick snapshot of us and our personality.
So I totally agree with you.

It seems impossible to discuss this phenomenon of absurdly inflated lips.

No one can express dismay at young women compelled to conform to an over sexualised, surgically altered look; inspired by online porn and fed on an endless stream to teens from a young age on social media platforms.

Why? Because anyone who doesn’t praise this identi kit look it is accused of being judgemental and jealous, or accused of “tearing women down”

She said 'heels' no mention of clothing

She didn't mention anything about lips either just 'lips'!

It’s not nonsense to view things in a different way to you, your view on this is bizarre in my opinion, yes plenty of people wear clothes to look a certain way to others, but generally people wear what they feel good in. I wear what I wear to work for comfort, and seen as clothes exist in all different shapes and styles I wear what I like, not so that other people think ‘oh she likes flowers and looks alright’.

I’d love to go on the apprentice but there’s no way I could run around in those heels and I don’t have lip fillers but I do have big boobs that I can’t hide and I would dress nicely.

There is an increase in lip fillers, fake tan, fake eye lashes, fake nails etc but I guess that’s because they want to look nice on TV which is understandable but a bit sad.

I do always love the womens outfits though and the men always look so smart.

Why is it sad to want to look nice on tv? The men do their hair, wear make up and nice suits because they want to look nice, does that make you sad too? Whats wrong with wanting to look nice exactly?

The week when they pitched to the three women from Waitrose, who were all in what I see women wear in the city in real life, the difference in styles was stark. I think the way the apprentice styles the women says a lot about Alan sugar.

@SmileyClare hear hear 👏🏻👏🏻

I agree OP. I'm surprised by some of the comments here.

I like wearing high heels. I can't seem to wear as high as I used to but it's not through lack of trying! I'm fed up reading people on MN calling other posters stupid or internalised misogynists because they don't want to wear trainers to work or for a night out.

Isn't feminism partly about women making choices about how they want to live their own lives and not being judged for it?

I don’t agree. Our office manager wore a whole face of make up, smart clothes, and did her hair every day in the Covid lockdown. She never had any Teams calls where she’d need to show her face, she said it helped her feel like she was in work mode. She also said she does her make up and hair every day regardless of what she’s doing as otherwise doesn’t feel like herself.

I’m always amazed when they show the contestants waking up in bed being told their cabs are arriving in 20 mins and then the next minute the women are striding out the door with styled hair, fully made up, contoured, eyebrows brushed, teeth cleaned and dressed like characters in Dynasty.

It takes me 20 mins to eat breakfast, have a coffee and do a poo 😂 before I even think about doing my hair, make up and choosing something to wear.

It’s widely known that the cars arrive in 20 minutes… they don’t leave in 20 minutes, that bits not a secret