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Why does Britney always take out her problems on her body?(Daily Mail Via Thomson Dialog NewsEdge) OH BRITNEY, Britney, Britney. It seems that after all the heartbreak over splitting up with the father of her two children, and the out-of-control behaviour where she shaved off all her hair and attacked a car with a baseball bat, she is doing what young women all over the world, famous or just ordinary, do best: taking it out on her own body. Rather than addressing the deep-seated issues that have ended with several spells in rehab, she is embarking on a rigorous, military, boot camp-style regime of extreme dieting (six mini-meals of raw food a day) and exercise, as well as frequent visits to a clinic in Las Vegas with the incredibly dubious name of LipoDissolve. This woman is rich, she is young (only 25) and she is beautiful but still, still she feels the need to beat herself up and to be as physically perfect as she can be, shrinking from a UK size 10 to a size 6 in a matter of weeks. When Britney first came onto the scene she was carrying a certain amount of puppy fat, and it suited her. But now, the once ample breasts have all but disappeared, and her thighs and arms look all sinewy and scrawny. We have seen it all before, haven't we, what with Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham and Kate Beckinsale, celebrities whose body mass index shrinks alongside the dwindling fame and the lack of recognition. Young women who suffer from eating disorders tend to be high achievers. They set themselves targets, and they stick to them. And those young women who achieve fame in a ruthlessly competitive industry like the music business are susceptible, once the chart position starts to drop, to eating disorders and excessive exercising. Look at Joss Stone, who despite being successful and pretty is always being told by her record company to get a personal trainer, to lose the puppy fat. Or look at Amy Winehouse, who went from voluptuous to scrawny in seconds flat. I had lunch last week with a very famous 41-year-old mum who told me she had spent all her adult life on a diet, that she had been terrorised by the prospect of her bum being photographed while on a beach holiday, but that she was fine now, and at peace with her body. She nibbled a Greek salad, omitting to eat the cheese, and drank only still water. It is pathetic and ridiculous that we allow our lives to be ruled by some arbitrary measure of what size is acceptable. Constant yoyo dieting (I am sure such an extreme lifestyle will soon mean Britney is back on the pretzels) is both ageing (not just because of the constant worry about how you look, but also because of the effects of deprivation of essential nutrients) and ultimately fruitless. Your body simply learns how to survive on less and less food. Anyone suffering from mood swings or more serious psychological problems needs a diet-and-exercise regime that takes those problems into consideration. Too little fat in your diet leads to depression and feelings that you are being persecuted. Too little protein means you are weak, and prone to mood swings. Too little roughage means you will be tired and lethargic. Like it or not, Britney is a role model for young women, and this endless self-flagellation followed by complete lack of control isn't a good example to be setting. Much as I dislike the fact Kate Moss is so revered by teenagers, at least she doesn't try too hard, and doesn't seem to be that bothered by her appearance, never having lifted anything much heavier than a fag. And, let's face it, the area Britney most needs help with is her awful fashion sense. Pastel, velour tracksuits, minuscule skirts and slutty cut-off Tshirts might just about pass muster on a pretty teenager, but once you pass 25 and become a mum that look is very difficult to pull off. I once did a cover shoot with Britney, when she was about 19, and although it was very hard to find designer sample clothes that fit her - she is not very tall, and at that age had a small waist, muscular thighs and a big bust - she looked incredible in a combination of Dolce & Gabbana and Versace. She has never developed her own fashion style, and unlike Scarlett Johansson (also small and curvy), has never had the accolade of being picked for the ad campaign of a big brand. The only comfortable fit, image wise, at the moment would be Primark. She needs to hire a really good, cutting-edge stylist (I hope to goodness Rachel Zoe, who has styled the likes of Cameron Diaz and Nicole Richie, doesn't get her bony hands on her) who could help her look a little more, well, grownup. I really hope that, sometime soon, women find someone other than a demented Barbie doll to look up to. My 16-yearold goddaughter came to stay with me at the weekend and the only video she would repeat purchase on Virgin's Music On Demand service was that of Beth Ditto, lead singer of the Gossip. Beth is very large, very beautiful and very cool. She is confident and interesting, and men like her, too. She is happy in her own skin, has never been inside a gym (not even to buy a sandwich!), is not trying to change herself, and is concentrating on making good music. If more girls were to emulate her, then how much happier and well adjusted would they be? LIZ JONES Q&A Dear Liz I AM 35 and quite tall and slim, but I have a very round tummy - no matter what I do, it doesn't go down! I am worried that with all the shifts and babydolls around this summer, people will just assume I am pregnant. What can I wear to disguise it or hold it in? Karen, Leeds. Dear Karen I THINK you have a stress fat tummy. This is when you are slim everywhere else, but carry excess weight around your waist, not because you are fat but because you are stressed (I have one too). First, you need to figure out why you are stressed, rather than covering up the bulgy, spongy bit, especially with the bikini season lurking. In the meantime, big no-nos for us girls with tummies are hipster skinny jeans (the fat just spills over the top), babydolls (they might seem a good idea in theory, but the wind can often make the fabric highlight your tummy), and very high-waisted trousers or skirts with cummerbunds, which are very in at the moment: these give you an 'apron' effect. A stretch wool pencil skirt with a narrow waistband, just where your waist goes in (I do hope you go in at some point) is flattering (try F&F at Tesco, or the Madonna collection at H&M), as are flatfront trousers that sit just under your tummy button: Helmut Lang are the best cut for this purpose. Dear Liz I AM 24, and have received an invitation to a fairly smart country wedding. My problem is that I am a size 18 and I haven't been able to find anything that isn't frumpy. I don't want to wear a floral sack. Madeleine, Birmingham. I THINK the secret of dressing well when you are a bit bigger is to go tight and stretchy and discreetly sexy. You didn't mention a budget, but I traipsed around every designer store I could think of - Prada, Versace, Donna Karan - and I couldn't find a single suitable garment in your size, so shame on them. The High Street is more open-minded. At Principles I found a linen bow dress in copper for GBP39 (right), and a linen jacket (very Burberry) in oatmeal for GBP75. Monsoon is good for bigger sizes. I found a silk chiffon skirt in blue and ivory for GBP75, which would look fresh with a silk short-sleeved top by Autograph at Marks & Spencer (GBP29.50), and if you hate your arms you could add an oatmeal cardigan (also M&S, GBP18). Bigger girls usually have terrific legs and dEcolletage, so don't be afraid to show those bits off. If you want to wear trousers, though, Anna Scholz (www.simplybe.co.uk and www.sosienna.com) has a great pair in white (GBP40), which you could team with a print top (GBP45), and knitted shrug (GBP40). Dear Madeleine You will be able to lift your outfit with a pair of designer shoes and a bag - the funkier and more colourful the better. Dear Liz I HAVE recently moved to London from Scotland to study at fashion college, and can't believe how expensive everything is. How can I look stylish on a tight budget? C., Edinburgh Dear C WELL, don't do what I did as a penniless student and blow your grant on a hand-knitted snowflake sweater at Joseph, and then have to live off the free peanut butter samples at Neal's Yard in Covent Garden for three months. Finding very cheap clothes isn't a problem these days, but as a fashion student I imagine you want something a little bit different. Vintage fashion can be affordable if you are prepared to search. One of the best shops is Beyond Retro, on Cheshire Street in E2 (www.beyondretro.com), with T-shirts at GBP5, shoes from GBP10. Or visit Laurence Corner, an army surplus store near Tottenham Court Road, for parkas at a hundredth of the price of this season's Dries Van Noten. A great website is www.laredoute.com, for affordable French designs - a silk screen printed T is only GBP9. Ebay, too, has some designer bargains, such as a brand-new Stella McCartney bustier for GBP20. Copyright 2007 Daily Mail. Source: Financial Times Information Limited - Europe Intelligence Wire. |