She's the commuter I saw this morning, stood in a packed tube train, against the open window at one end (you know, where standing there is like being in a wind tunnel and you're Michelle Obama on a state visit to the UK) And what is she doing? applying mascara, eyeliner and a little touch of blusher. Standing up. Yes, bag on shoulder, someone else's elbow near her face, putting the fine points on her lashes. The woman should be in the circus. It's like painting the sistine chapel standing on a vibration plate. Brilliant!
Oh yes, some of you may taunt. Disgusting? No way. She's a testimony to modern womanhood. Not above caring about her looks enough to put make up on at all, but couldn't care less how many people there were around her to see it, and oblivious to the odd jostle from another commuter's elbow.
In Japan they regularly make up on the underground despite having that famous Japanese sense of etiquette. In fact, in 2008 they printed posters telling people not to (see Annie Mole's underground blog). In London there aren't any posters but sometimes the odd grumble behind a copy of the Times.
Apparently it's all about denying we're not alone, say researchers. We're just extending our personal space in a crowded city says one article in the Evening Standard... . I disagree. It's about confidence and liberation of course. Well certainly according to our Make Up Michelangela this morning.
And why not. Here's to adding make up on high speed trains as an olympic sport! I hope though they don't have to wear the same gear as the beach volleyball girls.
(ps, in case you were wondering, yes, I've done a little bit of the art of motion make up myself. Conclusion: overground trains are much smoother than the tube)
It's fascinating voyeurism as a man watching women do makeup in public
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