I think the attitudes you’re describing are rural, not geographical. I live in southern Oregon, which is a combination of red hat voters and old hippies who had communes in the 70s and who sell organic everything now. There are probably more chickens than people in this county, and even though the town closest to me boasts a population of 86,000, it’s rare to see fake eyelashes, hair extensions, Botox or fake boobs. Those women and their cosmetic procedures exist but are uncommon. I moved here from LA and thought I’d retain at least my fashion sense. Within a year, my daily wardrobe became jeans, Tshirts and flannels. Birkenstocks replaced every stylish shoe. There’s no pressure to perform femininity here. It’s frankly a huge relief.
I was going to add this in! I’m originally from Oregon and then went and lived in LA 13 years but no longer live there. Definitely no makeup (or very little…or very alternative) is valued in the Portland metro area. I think the internet presents a false reality of beauty standards.
This really reminds me of the vibe of northern Michigan and the upper peninsula of Michigan - definitely a place that is less focused on looking a certain way, compared to other places.
Oh Emily this piece is wonderful. I left New England after college and lived in DC's political/corporate world for 35 years. I had a skincare routine. I read fashion magazines at every six-week salon visit, I wore panty hose and high heels and pantsuits. And every day I felt like an actor putting on a costume to go perform. I'm grateful for that time in my life and the opportunities it afforded me.
BUT it wasn't until I finally retired to Maine 11 years ago that I became the authentic me. I live in jeans and t-shirts or turtlenecks. I donated my formal wear to a Bangor group that supplies prom dresses to high school kids. I have a skin care regimen...goat milk soap and moisturizer 2 times a day. I love the freedom to be myself 24x7.
And I have finally convinced visiting city types that dressing up in Maine usually means putting on clean jeans.
Thank you for capturing so clearly this hidden aspect of Maine's beauty.
LaVerdiere’s!!! I grew up in Maine and split my time between an island on the midcoast and Scottsdale, AZ—two of the most diverse places when it comes to weather/landscape (obviously) and beauty expectations. Proud to say I still wear the “they don’t make makeup for Maine girls” ethos in both places. Let’s keep it real.
Ah, maybelline ‘great lash’! That unmistakable pink and green mascara tube. To this day it’s a staple in my purse or work bag, my mom grew up using the same stuff haha 😂
I grew up in Maine, I was a teenager there in the 1980s. And women wore makeup! Not everyone; teens wore way more. It was the era of MTV, hair metal, “punk” (of a filtered kind), and big hair. I think it all evaporated in the grunge era, but kids were very conscious of and followed trends, even if they took a bit longer to hit Maine shores.
Add Alaska to your list. Alaskan casual meant jeans pretty much everywhere - performing arts shows, church, etc growing up 80/90s
We didn't get a Walmart til 96 and it took around 20 more years to get a Target.
Fleece is a standard apparel, those ridiculously long puffer coats may never go out of style, though make up seems to have crept in here or there depending on the crowd. I'm part of the lets just not bother, though I do appreciate moisturizer and hygiene.
As a NH gal who was in NYC for awhile, this resonated hard and with emotion. I wasn't taught much about make-up, skincare, or fashion. Those subjects were oddly taboo, and reserved for the most formal of events. Moving to the city, I had to learn how to cultivate a style and remember to put on make-up on in the morning (spoiler alert: I forgot a lot). Then, when I came back I worked at a bra fitting store in NH, and that *really* revealed the depth of how puritanical ideals go DEEP into what Northern New England women chose to wear and what they feel comfortable and uncomfortable with.
I moved from Dallas to a small mountain town in Colorado and the culture shock was real! (And I actually think my town is swankier than some others.) 6 years here and I wear my hair natural, dress for the weather or activity, and my only make up is putting on sunscreen with a little tint to it.
RT as a New Hampshire native, the puritan practicality really resonated with me. I saw the comment of city v rural, which makes sense. Maybe a cold climate v hot climate (but I hate sweating my makeup off in the heat). Maine has a lot of French Canadian and Scandinavian heritage as well. I wonder how that weaves in.
Wow, was this a fabulous piece. Not a Mainer but the daughter of one and going up to visit all through my adolescence, I understood the difference in how Maine women carried themselves versus the women I saw in my suburban neighborhood in Massachusetts. I will say, they wore their duck boots like they were Prada! And I was always a little bit envious of that mountain girl inner-beauty shtick.
I think the attitudes you’re describing are rural, not geographical. I live in southern Oregon, which is a combination of red hat voters and old hippies who had communes in the 70s and who sell organic everything now. There are probably more chickens than people in this county, and even though the town closest to me boasts a population of 86,000, it’s rare to see fake eyelashes, hair extensions, Botox or fake boobs. Those women and their cosmetic procedures exist but are uncommon. I moved here from LA and thought I’d retain at least my fashion sense. Within a year, my daily wardrobe became jeans, Tshirts and flannels. Birkenstocks replaced every stylish shoe. There’s no pressure to perform femininity here. It’s frankly a huge relief.
You're not wrong! Though I do think Maine has its own distinct flavor of this phenomenon.
I was going to add this in! I’m originally from Oregon and then went and lived in LA 13 years but no longer live there. Definitely no makeup (or very little…or very alternative) is valued in the Portland metro area. I think the internet presents a false reality of beauty standards.
This really reminds me of the vibe of northern Michigan and the upper peninsula of Michigan - definitely a place that is less focused on looking a certain way, compared to other places.
This is how my county in walla walla is as well. Its jeans/leggings and flannel. We have the influx of Seattle folks, but they don't count.😂
Oh Emily this piece is wonderful. I left New England after college and lived in DC's political/corporate world for 35 years. I had a skincare routine. I read fashion magazines at every six-week salon visit, I wore panty hose and high heels and pantsuits. And every day I felt like an actor putting on a costume to go perform. I'm grateful for that time in my life and the opportunities it afforded me.
BUT it wasn't until I finally retired to Maine 11 years ago that I became the authentic me. I live in jeans and t-shirts or turtlenecks. I donated my formal wear to a Bangor group that supplies prom dresses to high school kids. I have a skin care regimen...goat milk soap and moisturizer 2 times a day. I love the freedom to be myself 24x7.
And I have finally convinced visiting city types that dressing up in Maine usually means putting on clean jeans.
Thank you for capturing so clearly this hidden aspect of Maine's beauty.
Keep on writing...
LaVerdiere’s!!! I grew up in Maine and split my time between an island on the midcoast and Scottsdale, AZ—two of the most diverse places when it comes to weather/landscape (obviously) and beauty expectations. Proud to say I still wear the “they don’t make makeup for Maine girls” ethos in both places. Let’s keep it real.
Ah, maybelline ‘great lash’! That unmistakable pink and green mascara tube. To this day it’s a staple in my purse or work bag, my mom grew up using the same stuff haha 😂
I grew up in Maine, I was a teenager there in the 1980s. And women wore makeup! Not everyone; teens wore way more. It was the era of MTV, hair metal, “punk” (of a filtered kind), and big hair. I think it all evaporated in the grunge era, but kids were very conscious of and followed trends, even if they took a bit longer to hit Maine shores.
My favorite exfoliant is lake sand and gravel. (Not even kidding, a soak on the shore and rubbing that all over my feet is a treat 😆)
Loved this. Exactly like New Zealand and Australia.
As someone with very dear friends from NZ, I can testify to our many similarities!
Woah, I think I’d really like Maine
I’m back in Alaska after 20 years and having a Sephora log is an anomaly
Add Alaska to your list. Alaskan casual meant jeans pretty much everywhere - performing arts shows, church, etc growing up 80/90s
We didn't get a Walmart til 96 and it took around 20 more years to get a Target.
Fleece is a standard apparel, those ridiculously long puffer coats may never go out of style, though make up seems to have crept in here or there depending on the crowd. I'm part of the lets just not bother, though I do appreciate moisturizer and hygiene.
As a NH gal who was in NYC for awhile, this resonated hard and with emotion. I wasn't taught much about make-up, skincare, or fashion. Those subjects were oddly taboo, and reserved for the most formal of events. Moving to the city, I had to learn how to cultivate a style and remember to put on make-up on in the morning (spoiler alert: I forgot a lot). Then, when I came back I worked at a bra fitting store in NH, and that *really* revealed the depth of how puritanical ideals go DEEP into what Northern New England women chose to wear and what they feel comfortable and uncomfortable with.
I moved from Dallas to a small mountain town in Colorado and the culture shock was real! (And I actually think my town is swankier than some others.) 6 years here and I wear my hair natural, dress for the weather or activity, and my only make up is putting on sunscreen with a little tint to it.
RT as a New Hampshire native, the puritan practicality really resonated with me. I saw the comment of city v rural, which makes sense. Maybe a cold climate v hot climate (but I hate sweating my makeup off in the heat). Maine has a lot of French Canadian and Scandinavian heritage as well. I wonder how that weaves in.
Wow, was this a fabulous piece. Not a Mainer but the daughter of one and going up to visit all through my adolescence, I understood the difference in how Maine women carried themselves versus the women I saw in my suburban neighborhood in Massachusetts. I will say, they wore their duck boots like they were Prada! And I was always a little bit envious of that mountain girl inner-beauty shtick.