Author Helen Lette recently launched her new novel, “How to Kill Your Husband”. The dynamic launch provided an opportunity for powerful conversations about the intersections of ageism and sexism. The plot focuses on four women looking to exact revenge on men who have derailed their lives because of menopausal barriers. Artist Daphne Lette addresses the ingrained chauvinism that all women face, especially as they grapple with expectations from society on what it means to be growing older.
During the launch event program, Lette unapologetically wore her individualism on her sleeve. She had on a black blouse, little black skirt, stockings and garters – the garter held that knife discreetly. Her bold ensemble matched the intense themes found in her novel.
Lette’s own experiences with common, ageist beauty concerns give her craft a strong foundation to address these topics. As she approached her 50s, she started to experience both health and beauty issues, which led her to have several cosmetic surgeries performed. She admitted to narrowing and lightening her lady parts. Then, she got a little jazzy and created “vajazzling”, which uses Swarvoski crystals to decorate freshly-waxed nether regions.
In contemplating the intolerable burden of getting older, Lette didn’t mince words about her annoyance with cultural norms of appearance. Fashion with a purpose Dress to kill, that was her comment, underscoring the importance of women taking back their self-image. She humorously noted the absurdity of surgical options available today, such as labiaplasty and the “Barbie clamshell” appearance.
The other thing that I really wanted to get across was just the increasing popularity of these procedures substantially. Consumer concerns In 2017, labiaplasty was the fastest-growing cosmetic procedure in the world, per the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery. She recognized that some women, including her blue-friend adventurers, take daring adventures like climbing Everest or gallivanting through the Amazon rainforest. At the same time, people are grappling with the pressure to live up to harmful beauty standards.
Lette’s candor extends to discussing more extreme procedures, such as Brazilian butt lifts and the “trout pout,” which involves taking fat from the backside to enhance lip fullness. “With the ‘trout pout’ procedure, you would be talking out of your arse,” she joked, illustrating both the absurdity and societal pressure surrounding beauty enhancements.
Lette noted that reaching her 60s has liberated her from worrying about external opinions, leading to a refreshing sense of self-acceptance.