“In terms of makeup, I could write pages about just glitter alone”
BY MARY O’CONNELL, IMAGE BY RACHEL SHERLOCK
I’m an insecure bisexual. I’ll be the first to admit it. I’m insecure because my track record of dating has predominantly been men, which out of all the options, is objectively the worst one. Sorry men! We all took a vote (men included) and it was unanimous.
Joking aside, the fact of the matter is that I have mostly been in long term relationships with men and therefore worry that I’ve damaged the mysterious, cool, bisexual image that I so desperately want to cultivate. It can be quite alienating being a straight-presenting queer person and what with the streets already being rife with bi-erasure sometimes you have to figure out how to be loud in your bisexuality outside of your relationship. No I don’t mean shouting “I’M BISEXUAL. PLEASE LOOK AT ME” in the smoker’s area of Dalston Superstore. I mean with your personal style.
Obviously there is no one way of dressing for any sexuality. I’m a big believer in dressing how you want, if a bisexual is wearing the fit, then it becomes a bisexual fit.
For me personally, although I’m somewhat straight-presenting, I’m not super femme in the way I dress. I don’t usually wear skirts or dresses. I’m much more into jeans, combats, and flares. But what I do like, and what just gives bisexual to me, is contrasting the super femme with the super butch. I feel my most bisexual when I have my long, slightly pointy almond nails on, a strong lip liner – we’re talking Lola Young levels here – paired with just a simple white “wife-pleaser” (are we ok with that rebrand?) vest and some cuffed jeans. Maybe even a double denim. I really like my shoulders, they’re quite broad, and for me, they’re as much of an accessory as a pair of earrings would be, so I try to accentuate them in what I wear. They’re usually perfectly framed in a Calvin Klein bralette.
In terms of makeup, I could write pages about just glitter alone. But I think eyeliner is still probably the most important makeup accessory for bisexuals – please bear in mind that I am 30 years old, so if my cool Gen Z sister informs me that it is now blush, I will have to defer to her.
Specifically coloured eyeliner. When that became part of the bisexual uniform I was very happy about it. Coloured eyeliner is being appropriated by other people who are just good at and do interesting things with makeup, but “live and let live” I say, maybe they’ll come out later when they get a septum piercing. Anyone who can do a coloured cut crease eyeliner probably has the patience of a member of the queer community.
I’m a big fan of a yellow liquid eyeliner in the inner corners of the eyes, or a variation like two cute little dots. I also love a pink eyeliner in the outer part of the eyes in the shape of half a butterfly.
Honourable makeup mention: I do think that deliberate over-blushing conveys a bisexual aura.
I don’t wear loads of rings but I feel that having a crescent moon on one hand, and a sun on the other hand has understated bi-vibes. I don’t have any tattoos but if I were trying to look super bisexual with my tattoo choices then I would get a moth, some floral patchwork tattoos, and a moon.
If I actually do eventually get tattoos then I’ll probably get a dandelion one, just because I do believe in dandelion wishes and isn’t believing in hope the most bisexual thing of all?
Mary O’Connell’s second stand up hour Dilly Dally will be at the Pleasance Courtyard Attic at 7.15 pm for the entire fringe for tickets go to www.edfringe.com
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