Blake Lively--An Impossible Ideal

Hi everyone!

Having just watched "The Age of Adaline" I'm beginning to feel a bond with my female MFP friends here. Blake Lively took my breath away in the movie. Never one for TV, I had seen some images of her in "Gossip Girl" and knew she was quite the fashion icon, but had never seen the series. I first learned of Blake when I saw her in, of all things, "Green Lantern." Albeit a cheesy movie, I was hopelessly smitten with her in that film, all pencil skirts and heels...and that was before I reconciled myself with my inner demons.

Five years later, after watching her effortlessly dominate eight decades of feminine fashion, I'm left wondering what the hell I'm doing. There are those fortunate few, male and female, who have won the genetic lottery. I could eat nothing but one Saltine cracker per day for the rest of my life, and never look as good in a high-waist skirt as Blake.

I'm sure there are guys here who pine to look like Dwayne Johnson, but will never crack 150 without some serious help from Big Pharma. If I just look at weights, I get big...and yet all I want is to be small. Ironic...

I'm beginning to glimpse the plight of women here, held up to an impossible aesthetic ideal perpetuated by a never-ending media barrage. I feel like giving up sometimes--who am I kidding? It may sound ridiculous coming from a guy, that I feel utterly jealous of Ms. Lively, but I do. She can wear anything! How do you gals deal with this? I'm feeling a bit crushed right now...and yet, I think there is hope. Here is a 60-year old crossdresser who has kept slim and looks quite convincing--I would say beautiful--as a woman:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/8132331@N02/

Hmmm...I'm 48. Could I achieve that in 12 years? I hope so. Maybe not Blake level beauty, but certainly a feminine, classy style that is age appropriate. I will never be Blake...but I am not giving up, and I exhort you ladies to do the same! I didn't win the genetic lottery. Size 0 or 2 will never happen for me. My sights are on size 12. That may seem huge to those waif-like girls who inherited a revved-up metabolism, but for me will be a major victory. I'm hoping it resonates a bit with those of you that, despite the shallow aspect of aesthetics, just want to look good in pretty clothes. Does that make any sense to anyone here? Or have I sold my soul to big media and fashion?

Happy Labor Day Weekend--I will hit the exercise hard tomorrow! Cheers!

Gretchen