Andy Warhol's Beauty Tips
[ 5 August 2008 ]
A good plain look is my favorite look. If I didn’t want to look so “bad,” I would want to look “plain.” That would be my next choice.
Weight isn’t important the way the magazines make you think it is. I know a girl who just looks at her face in the medicine cabinet mirror & never looks below her shoulders, & she’s four or five hundred pounds but she doesn’t see all that, she just sees a beautiful face & therefore she thinks she’s a beauty. & therefore I think she’s a beauty, too, because I usually accept people on the basis of their self-images, because their self-images have more to do with the way they think than their objective-images do. Maybe she’s six hundred pounds, who knows. If she doesn’t care, I don’t.
There should be a lot of new girls in town, & there always are.
If you’re naturally pale, you should put on a lot of blush-on to compensate. But if you’ve got a big nose, just play it up, & if you have a pimple, put on the pimple cream in a way that will make it really stand out — “There! I use pimple cream!” There is a difference.
Beauty really has to do with the way a person carries it off. When you see “beauty” it has to do with the place, with what they’re wearing, what they’re standing next to, what closet they’re coming down the stairs from.
Sometimes something can look beautiful just because it’s different in some way from the other things around it. One red petunia in a window box will look very beautiful if all the rest of them are white, & vice-versa.
When you’re in Sweden & you see beautiful person after beautiful person & you finally don’t even turn around to look because you know the next person you see will be just as beautiful as the one you didn’t bother to turn around to look at — in a place like that you can get so bored that when you see a person who’s not beautiful, they look very beautiful to you because they break the beautiful monotony.
Love letters & feather headdresses,
Tags: aesthetic,
beauty,
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oh andy… words of wisdom!
The last tip made me smile really wide n_n.
I love these words of wisdom! Thank you for mentioning weight and that it has nothing to do with beauty. Glow from the inside and it will show outside!
Love these tips ♥
& I love Andy Warhol!
“It’s beauty that captures your attention; personality which captures your heart.”
& Sophia Loren said:
“Beauty is how you feel inside, and it reflects in your eyes. It is not something physical.”
Wow, this really made my day. As someone who is constantly struggling with self-image and identity, it is wonderful to see something like this, because it is really true. SO many try to portray that “perfect” image of beauty, but how boring is that? Individuality and personality really makes all of the difference. I also agree that so-called “imperfections” can really bring life to the way someone looks, and that it can really make them stand out. I love this, thank you Gala =)
his hair looks like mine, only white :)
This is, well, beautiful.
Thank you for the inspiration. :)
Gorgeous. Simply, gorgeous ^^
I love this!
:D
I love Andy Warhol, and this is just another thing to add to my list of reasons why…thank you so much for posting it! This reminds me of a few people I know, because of course no one is perfect, but some of my friends are absolutely fabulous (and gorgeous) no matter what. They work it! Thanks for the encouraging post, Gala :]
Weighing 400 pounds is cool but having pale skin isn’t?
This bugs me.
Really love these tips…although I have to say I’m VERY pale naturally and I prefer to emphasize that with jewel-toned clothing & lots of black and grey cardigans, rather than put on a ton of blush. I think everyone should be comfortable in the skin color they are in (no more of this fake tanning, or wishing for lighter/darker skin! Natural is better).
Totally agree with #5!
If you believe it, it’s true!
Poochie
I really, genuinely dislike Mr. Warhol, no disrespect.
These are really lovely however. I love the pimple cream one.
Ahhhh… I love Warhol.
These tips are hilarious – they’re genius but worded in such an off way!
I’m with Dollface – I embrace my paleness and emphasize it. People look weird to me when they try to change their natural skin colour. I think it’s the one thing you shouldn’t mess with.
Andy’s the shit. I especially like his hair – and whatever is hidden underneath it, inside his head, is magnificent also! :D
Wow, I never new Andy Warhol was so wise.
These quotes are lovely and have made my day, especially #6.
I have always adored this man so much! His quotes are always inspiring and entertaining. If you haven’t you should read his published diaries. What an eccentric, beautiful soul!
Regarding the “pale skin” part— maybe he means to use the blush to contour your face a little… so that the paleness looks better? I don’t know. I’m quite pale myself (I am a redhead) and I am very fond of my skintone, but sometimes I use some soft coral blush when I don’t want to appear so… Corpse Bride.
But let’s not pick these “tips” apart, and instead look at them as a whole— I think the message is really lovely! :) Embrace your imperfections! This is a message I’ve been trying to tell people for some time now. To quote one of my favorite books, The Velveteen Rabbit- “Once you are Real, you can’t be ugly, except to those who don’t understand”.
Besides, helping someone who is overweight (especially a girl) feel better about themselves, even for a moment, is, in my opinion, very inspiring and important.
Thank you for sharing these, Gala! :)
When I’m in a good mood, there are a lot more beautiful people around me than when I’m not.
In fact, when I’m in the middle of a foul mood, almost everyone is downright ugly.
So, if you want to be beautiful, only hang out with people who are in good moods…
(Warning: may have other positive impacts on your life.)
♥
Andy Warhol=Coolest guy ever! But I’m confused on the pale skin tip… Is it telling us to embrace our paleness? Or hide it?
The last three are winners.
And what Andrew has written above me is also very true. :)
When you’re back in the states, you have to go to the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburg, PA. It’s so amazing!
Ooo, a Warhol MUSEUM?? When I move to the east coast next year, I’ll definitely take a day trip to Pittsburg for that! Thank you for telling us about it, Darcy! :)
Ah. I don’t feel bad about not being Swedish and gorgeous anymore. Thanks, Mr. Warhol.
Such positive quotes! Go Andy! ♥ I love it… Confidence and forthrightness—“There, I use pimple cream—so what?” I love a go-to-hell-if-you-don’t-like-it attitude.
“. . . what closet they’re coming down the stairs from” . . . Love it!
I agree with yaffa on the pale skin thing.
Yaffa, your comment gives me the feeling that you don’t think it’s ok to weigh 400 pounds. Am I misinterpreting you?
adore warhol so much
I think that these tips need to be looked at as a piece of art, rather than an actual step-by-step guide to “beauty”. I mean, of course he makes good points, & the piece is pretty charming, which is why I posted it. But how many people are actually going to go out with obvious daubs of pimple cream on their face?!
Anyway, what I’m trying to say is that taking it too literally defeats the purpose. & embrace your pale skin if that works for you! Why listen to him? He wore a wig, for crying out loud! ;D
This has cheered me up quite a lot.
Thank you.
wow he had such an amazing mind, i love the way he saw the world around him.
it’s good to hear a different take on beauty, rather than the usual.
beauty is definately much more than a physical thing.
I’m actually reading the book that these quotes are from right now! :D
hee hee. i lived in sweden for a spell and know the last tip to be true!
i too find warhol fascinating. i’m sure i’m not the only person to spend hours poring over his boxes of wonderful stuff (time capsule exhibition) a couple of years ago.
Oh, this just absolutely made my night, and I just had to go share them with all of my friends who know just how much I like Andy Warhol.
You are amazing, Gala.
[:
Welll…when I was in sixth form, a girl I knew used to sit there in English with it on the end of her nose, so it has been done :D
Lady Julianne le Fay — Ahahah, that’s so funny :>
These quotes are amazing. Thanks for posting… K
I love it!
Hee… Warhol is my man. I think my friend Kenzie, who would’ve married him had she the chance, with definitely appreciate these.
That’s the perfect bit of beauty advice: “Always aim to be the red carnation in a field of white ones!”
And the thing on weight hits very true to home, because I’ve got a bit of extra poundage [stores for winter, of course!] and I do really think I’m beautiful.
its like the things about beauty everyone failed to notice
Of course you’re beautiful, Jelly Bean! Every girl is. :)
Oh, how wonderful! I didn’t know Andy Warhol had this to him.
I’ve always believed beauty holds in the imperfections because that’s what makes us unique. When we fall in love with someone, it’s not because of what that person has of similar to everyone else – or we’d be constantly falling for everyone. What gets me to really love someone is a certain mannerism or look that I find quirky, yet I can’t help but to adore. I always say to my close friends: “I love you because of your imperfections, or I’d be faking it”.
Thanks for these inspirational quotes, Gala! Your writing (and this website) can truly impact lives.
what a fun post gala!
It’s not Andy’s Birthday yet in the states, but tomorrow I plan to run around with a white wig and carry around a tape recorder.
We read Andy Warhol’s memoir at camp last year- a lot of people didn’t get it. I think he was a very interesting man though. His face comes up in my head when I think of the word ‘eccentric’
OMG, where did you find these quotes?
Im so Warhol obsessed!
I’m very, very fair. I pretty much reflect light. Someone told me once that it looked like I had white stockings on under my fishnets, hehe.
When I put on blush it just looks like my face is really red from doing strenuous exercise or something. It looks really bad, so I don’t agree with Andy on that point. I also look really REALLY bad with any kind of dark or red lipstick on.
In saying that, I love being fair, and I hate when people make snide comments about how I ‘should’ tan (mind you, most of these people have deep tans which they then slather with thick orange layers of fake tan). Sigh.
xx
hahahha! what a guy. standing out in a sea of sameness is definitely an attractive idea to me.
hm, interesting piece… i agree gala, this is rather a piece of art. still, the guy has a point with the standing out thing. and his idea about beauty…i like it. thanks!
How wonderful! Excellent:))
i think warhol must’ve said these to convince himself, not just others. he was such a devastatingly self-conscious and elusive man…
Huhuu..! So happy you shared this with us.. But i have a theory that warhol didn’t pick that much of his clothing himself.. Hmm.. Cant explain it, but that’s how i feel when i think of his clothing
I really enjoyed this :D
oh thank you, i always so enjoy reading andy warhol quotes. and i knew none of these. i love how what he says seems to make sense at first but in the end it’s all a little bizarre and surreal even though he pretends that it is not at all.
i agree with you that these are a piece of art and am amazed once again how versatile he was.
i really love this one too by the way: “i’ve never met a person i couldn’t call a beauty” (i have an andy warhol bag with the velvet underground banana on it and this quote is written inside the shoulder strap. i have to smile every time i look at it)
Aw, what a cutie he was.
Although the whole “OMG ALL SWEDES ARE BEAUTIFUL” thing is so old. And inherently un-politically correct, essentially. (Though most of Sweden is very multicultural these days)
HAH! I’m generally a Warhol-hater, but these are some very thought-provoking quotes. I’ll have to give the ol’ boy a little more credit.
one word: awesome :D
AH. (:
I LOOOOOOVE Andy Warhol. I saw the heading and was quite excited.
Amazing post. Possibly my favorite? Heh.
wow. i love those quotes. they are so beautiful. especially the second one. thank you <3
oooh love that! thanks gala! i did a polyvore set inspire by his style here:
www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=19…
I love his pronouncements. I’m going to live my life according to Andy Warhol from now on.
PMS can make you feel larger than life…and not in a good way. This was much needed.
Cheers.
wow. that was a great read, thanks Gala. Really made my morning.
Meh… He’s simply reinforcing what we know intuitively, isn’t he? Although, come to think of it, a lot of daily life (media images, society, idle thoughts) does kind of muffle that instintive wisdom on “beauty”, so in that sense it IS rather magnificent. :)
Good info
Thank you
Why can’t we all think like this?