Growing Old

3rd December 2021 Mrs Annie R Teo

The Mirror

You must have experienced checking yourself in the mirror of an aeroplane lavatory?

 I started “flying” when I was about sixteen years old and that particular reflection there and then threw right to my face a whole network of wrinkles! Forward a few decades of amazing progresses by the aviation industry, the light bulbs have not changed and I am running out of humour. Would it be farfetched to suspect that airlines actually invest in the cosmetic industry?

To be honest, I have not been on a flight since before the pandemic started; however, only yesterday, I had to go to the mall down our street and I got tempted to explore the ladies fashion department of the store. I found something I fancied and since it happened to be in my size, I decided to brave my fear of the fitting room (SOP). And so, I entered the little cubicle with confidence, feeling good, as good as perhaps forty years old and came out only a few minutes later feeling well over eighty-five! Time travel in Dr Who’s cabin? Or did you guess it was the reflection? Did I overreact? Perhaps a bit, but much more than that I saw a great opportunity to write a few light lines which I hope will make you smile. Now that I think about all this, I am just wondering how Narcissus would have reacted to his own reflection in an aeroplane or a fitting room mirror? Would he have fallen in love with himself after all? Lucky for you and I, we do know that love and self-esteem are much deeper than a reflective piece of glass.

My friend Beena gave me the idea of featuring one of my dolls with this story. Her style and personality came to me as I was preparing for a talk on Threads of History – Sarawak Chinese Women: Cheongsam, Sam Fu and Nonya wear. I guess this is my version of Sam Fu with a French twist!

She is 50cm tall, made with fabric and a few wires for the fingers. I painted her skin. Her top is made with a very popular French cloth: Toile de Jouy. She is turning her back to the mirror to avoid revealing wrinkles.

2 thoughts on “Growing Old

  1. Hi, thank you for making me smile:).

    I love the way you used a unique fabric called Toile-de-Jouy. I have always loved this design. But you have created a fashion statement on a doll wearing a Sam Fu. The history of toile though it began in France, became very popular in many parts of Europe.

    Now Annie has given this a truly Asian twist!!! It means we can use it anywhere in the world.

    I also loved that story of the mirror. When I turned 50 and saw myself in the mirror in a shopping mall trying to buy a pair of pants, I was dismayed :(. It made me realise that my body had changed, and I didn’t notice it.

    But now, no mirror will upset me, as I know it is not the image that matters, but what you are as a person. Thanks, Annie, for sharing that delightful story.:):)

    1. I can really relate to feeling good before walking into a fitting room and then leaving it feely rather deflated. Perhaps the lighting should be more muted and mirrors designed to be flattering, with a bit of curve to change our shapes a little….

Leave a Reply to Beena Devi Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

The maximum upload file size: 1 GB. You can upload: image, audio, video, document, spreadsheet, interactive, text, archive, code, other. Links to YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and other services inserted in the comment text will be automatically embedded. Drop file here

Subscribe

Sign up for our newsletter and stay up to date

*