Totally random thought #1,794: Why do models in clothing and make-up commercials look like they want to kill you?

@TheHorse (220275)
Walnut Creek, California
December 27, 2022 11:24am CST
I've seen some exceptions to the rule in recent years, but in general, models always look like they're Really Mean. It may be female models especially--I'm not sure. My first thought when I see clothing and make-up models on-line or in Glamour Magazine is, "Man I'd never date that gal. She'd kill me." With the guys, it's a bit different. I suppose I pay more attention to how the shirt looks than the guy wearing it. Is the "mean look" supposed to provide a sense of "power" to the women considering this or that brand of make-up or clothing? Inquiring minds want to know.
15 people like this
12 responses
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
27 Dec 22
You aren't supposed to focus on the model herself, just on the make-up and clothing she's wearing. (If you had to undress and dress with strangers pulling your hair and touching you/your clothing all the time while other people were constantly taking your picture, would you be enjoying yourself?) The clothing and make-up manufacturers want as little expression on the models' faces as possible so the consumer isn't influenced by what the model thinks about what she's wearing.
4 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
Are those your hypotheses? I can't say if I'd be enjoying myself. If everyone was doing their job and having a good time, I probably would. I'm convinced there has to be a marketing "reason" for the "b*tchy" expressions.
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137602)
• United States
27 Dec 22
@TheHorse Those are my opinions, yes... I've never been a model so don't know for sure, though.
3 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
@DaddyEvil I don't know for sure either.
1 person likes this
@xFiacre (13152)
• Ireland
27 Dec 22
@thehorse I’ve never dated a model, although my wife was a hand model and her hand graced a few magazine pages. A friend was a face model for Warhol - he wasn’t interested in the rest of her which would have made me feel not good about myself. My wife also tried on a lot of the confections dream up by a weirdo we knew when we lived in Paris. All shoulder pads and not much else. Give me a girl wearing just a nice smile any day.
3 people like this
@xFiacre (13152)
• Ireland
27 Dec 22
@TheHorse So that’s why they don’t smile. I see. I did sit on a seat that Elle had sat on 10 minutes previously. My brother was an accountant in a model agency and she was in picking up a cheque from him. I thought they had people to do that for them.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
@xFiacre Maybe she needed the scratch extra quick. Should I know who Elle is? I thought it was French for "she."
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
Me too. But they're marketing all of this BS to woman, not men.
1 person likes this
@much2say (56088)
• Los Angeles, California
27 Dec 22
I guess I never thought of it that way! I often thought that's the "model" look - lookin' rather pretentious with a contrived emotionless expression and a stare.
2 people like this
@much2say (56088)
• Los Angeles, California
28 Dec 22
@TheHorse I feel silly for even trying to make that kind of face. I guess that's why I'm not a model .
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
I guess that look sells sh*t for some reason. I've never really researched it.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
@much2say My music friends and I jokingly call it the "album cover" look and strike it up now and again. We try y have that "too coll for you" look while gazing off in different directions.
1 person likes this
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Dec 22
Here's a thought: If you were starving to keep thin wouldn't you look mean too???
2 people like this
@rebelann (112983)
• El Paso, Texas
27 Dec 22
Ain't got a clue, I don't pay much attention to junk like that.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
Aha! Good point! But aren't "more realistic" looking models the rage right now?
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
@rebelann I try not to. But people selling sh*t are everywhere.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (80784)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
27 Dec 22
I have no idea but I think that the main focus should be on all the clothes and accessories and not the models, I checked and this might interest you
https://janetcoburn.medium.com/why-do-models-look-so-mean-44e75ea34565
2 people like this
@RasmaSandra (80784)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
28 Dec 22
@TheHorse glad to be of help and I was curious also
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
Ah, thanks! I will read this.
1 person likes this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 22
It's just the fashion these days, it isn't cool to look happy
2 people like this
@Fleura (30541)
• United Kingdom
27 Dec 22
@TheHorse depends what you call a long time. Back in the 1960s and 70s they were sometimes smiling, and in the 1950s they generally looked happy and as if they were having a great time!
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
@Fleura I'd have to check. I didn't start looking at grown-up magazines until the 1970s.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
27 Dec 22
But it seems its been that way for a long time.
2 people like this
@BarBaraPrz (47677)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
28 Dec 22
No, they're just hungry, having not eaten anything more than a single pea in the last few days so they could look "good".
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
Hah. Maybe that's it. I'll have to see if the "plus size" models look grumpy too.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Dec 22
I think that look is supposed to be sexy.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (168334)
• Boise, Idaho
29 Dec 22
@TheHorse ........I feel the same. Just a exclusively model look I guess.
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
Others have said it's supposed to be "neutral," to show of the clothes, not the model. To me it just looks "scary."
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472077)
• Switzerland
28 Dec 22
It is a strict rule for the fashion models and it is imposed. They want to show the clothes and not the models' faces. If they smile people focus attention on their faces and not the clothes.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (472077)
• Switzerland
29 Dec 22
@TheHorse No one likes to look at a "mean face" so it is the best to let people focus on the dress.
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
That makes sense. So what I consider to be "mean" is actually supposed to be "neutral"?
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (342146)
• Rockingham, Australia
28 Dec 22
That's pretty true although I hadn't thought about it before. The dress models are probably upset that they have to wear such weird clothes.
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (181741)
• United States
28 Dec 22
It's just what they do. Maybe to concentrate the viewer's attention on the clothing itself.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
That could be it. Others have suggested the same thing.
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (27753)
• United States
28 Dec 22
I have always wondered that myself, why do they look so mean or mad or pissed at the world in general. I guess that is the thing to do but seems to me a little smile might be easier to look at. Maybe they hate what they are wearing. Not sure that is helpful to sell said item.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220275)
• Walnut Creek, California
28 Dec 22
I may do a bit more research on the subject. The fashion and make up industries are billion dollar industries, I'm sure. I also wonder if some woman-hating male invented high heels.
1 person likes this
@Bensen32 (27753)
• United States
29 Dec 22
@TheHorse LOL, good luck on your research