I came across this article at Mental Floss about a series of French illustrated cards produced for the 1900 World's Fair that depicted what daily life might be like 100 years in the future. They're all pretty great and some are downright hilarious (underwater croquet and eel racing, anyone?), but naturally the one portraying a woman's beauty routine was my favorite. This particular image was produced in 1910 by an illustrator called Villemard.
Seems rather complicated for something that should be more efficient in the future, no? Lots of levers to pull and buttons to push – I think I much prefer the gadgets we have now to the contraptions in this picture.
What do you envision people using in their daily routines in the year 2100? Assuming I'd live that long, which obviously I won't, I would love to have something that dries and styles your hair perfectly every day in a matter of seconds – no more wrestling with tangled hair and blowdryers! Villemard's image hints at that but I'd like something less cumbersome and more streamlined, like a helmet of some kind.
Yes, bring on the hairdryer from Blade Runner! I personally want more fast-drying, non chip, easy to remove nail polish options so I can manicure my crafty hands more often.
In any era, there may be a limit to how many gadgets we want to fuss with at one time, especially if we might feel like we’re at the mercy of our machines, as Madame above seems to. Beauty is social as well as technological – many rituals have recently returned to salons….
Yes, bring on the hairdryer from Blade Runner! I personally want more fast-drying, non chip, easy to remove nail polish options so I can manicure my crafty hands more often.
In any era, there may be a limit to how many gadgets we want to fuss with at one time, especially if we might feel like we’re at the mercy of our machines, as Madame above seems to. Beauty is social as well as technological – many rituals have recently returned to salons….
Hi Meli! Yes, fast-drying, no-chip, easy to remove nail polish (especially glitter!) would be great too!
You bring up an excellent points about having too many gadgets and how beauty is social. I’d add that the rituals are important at the individual level as well…I’d never want a machine that applies my makeup instantly for me because I so enjoy the ritual of applying it myself.
Thanks so much for stopping by!!
Hi Meli! Yes, fast-drying, no-chip, easy to remove nail polish (especially glitter!) would be great too!
You bring up an excellent points about having too many gadgets and how beauty is social. I’d add that the rituals are important at the individual level as well…I’d never want a machine that applies my makeup instantly for me because I so enjoy the ritual of applying it myself.
Thanks so much for stopping by!!