This blog is about family travel around the world without leaving the UK. We do this in a bid to be less polluting and tackle climate change while at the same time keeping a global outlook. Spotting an unusual van got me thinking about underwear...Words by Nicola Baird
For the past few weeks a large white van emblazoned with the magical worlds "Camel Milk UK" has been parked near where I live. I've seen this van around the area before although I've yet to find a bottle or carton of camel milk on sale. It's not that hard though, you can just pop to www.camelmilkuk.net to organise.
Rude
I know very little about camels, so I was surprised when I mentioned to one of my daughters that in the hilarious YA book I was reading, a character told her teenager to change their outfit rather than going out in an outfit that looked "gynaecological", that my daughter immediately translated this dress mistake as "camel toe".
Camel toe is slang. Slang for the outline of a woman's labia should they be wearing super tight clothing such as leggings or very tight shorts. It's in surprisingly common use. Today I read it in the Guardian's fashion column.
If you look on wikipedia you can compare a woman in hot pants (pity the jobs some models get) with a camel's toe. Or you can search for Kim Kardashian in her allegedly photoshopped flesh-tone Yezzy outfit (designed by her husband Kanye). Either way scrutiny shows that women and camels are different.
I guess a whale tale - when thong underwear gets exposed thanks to low rise jeans - doesn't look much like a whale either. It's just another of those creepy expressions that belittles what women do and wear.
There are so many animal expressions used to knock an outfit choice, no doubt from all around the world. I can think of two more - dog's dinner; and mutton dressed as lamb.
What about you, do you know any expressions like this used in other parts of the world? And are they used kindly or with intentional cruelty?
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| Waiting for Callback by Perdita and Honor Cargill tackles camel toe without using such a derogatory phrase. |
I know very little about camels, so I was surprised when I mentioned to one of my daughters that in the hilarious YA book I was reading, a character told her teenager to change their outfit rather than going out in an outfit that looked "gynaecological", that my daughter immediately translated this dress mistake as "camel toe".
Camel toe is slang. Slang for the outline of a woman's labia should they be wearing super tight clothing such as leggings or very tight shorts. It's in surprisingly common use. Today I read it in the Guardian's fashion column.
If you look on wikipedia you can compare a woman in hot pants (pity the jobs some models get) with a camel's toe. Or you can search for Kim Kardashian in her allegedly photoshopped flesh-tone Yezzy outfit (designed by her husband Kanye). Either way scrutiny shows that women and camels are different.
I guess a whale tale - when thong underwear gets exposed thanks to low rise jeans - doesn't look much like a whale either. It's just another of those creepy expressions that belittles what women do and wear.
There are so many animal expressions used to knock an outfit choice, no doubt from all around the world. I can think of two more - dog's dinner; and mutton dressed as lamb.
What about you, do you know any expressions like this used in other parts of the world? And are they used kindly or with intentional cruelty?
1 comment:
From Facebook:
Shamini: So true! Muffin top tends to apply just to women as well, and I wonder what the male equivalent of mutton dressed as lamb would be. I am writing in part about the comments I get about how I look and dress as part of my dissertation - it is so sexist and, I think, designed to "keep me in my place". Did you see Sara Petty's response to the horrible comments she got when she posted photos of herself wearing different outfits? http://indy100.independent.co.uk/.../this-woman-silenced...
This woman silenced body-shaming trolls - in four amazing photos
INDY100.INDEPENDENT.CO.UK
Robert H The only time I've ever heard this term used was by a woman friend. I've never said it or heard it said by male friends. For what it's worth.
Nicola Baird > writer Women seem to be as critical of each other as they are of themselves. We all need to move on and talk about politics rather than fashion mistakes... What an interesting dissertation you are doing, can I eventually read it? Lots of love. I meant to say that whenever i hear the word muffin I immediately add "the mule" so in a way a muffin top has got an animal link!
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