Hey:) i would love to know your thoughts on taylor bearding since she may be together with karlie? I mean karlies bearding was just hand holding five times in five years but taylor really kissed tom for example..
Hey Karlie and Taylor bearding style anon…
First, I must say that you posted an intriguing question that really made me stop, step back and have a deeper look! I love challenging and worthy questions that can enrich the trail of breadcrumbs that this fascinating pair dropped! Thank you!
Secondly, I must also emphasize that only Taylor, Karlie and those privy to such knowledge know the exact answer and reasons of why they each behaving as such in their bearding. It could be intentionally staged as such, it could be personality or level of comfort related, or it could be driven by the certain conditions in the agreement. My response is - as always, not intended as a definitive answer. It is primarily based on logical analysis of my observation, and constructed as such to help you and others making sense of the particular subject in question, using common sense, basic logic and the relevant industry/market psychology or behaviour. How you are going to take my response and construct to your subsequent thinking or conclusion, it is entirely up to you and those who read this. And also - though I am sure I do not need to say this but I’ll say it anyway, your responsibility in bearing the subsequent consequences that come with that thinking of yours!
Now that I made myself clear on this part, let’s get down to business. Here is the logic and perspectives you can use to help making sense of the difference bearding style between these two cutie pies. And as per my usual way, this will be another not so short one, so have your tea or koffee and kookies ready!
The characteristic of influencing aspects (that may come to play in) shaping Karlie and Tay’s difference in performing their ‘obligation’.
(1) The industry behaviour on sensitive matter
Fashion industry where Karlie hinged her existence upon is relatively much more exposed and conditioned to gay environment. This in comparison to music industry where Taylor is. I do not know and do not have the statistics on this - those familiar with the industry may have it, but from outside perspective the industry is more known for its gay population of industry movers and shakers.
This condition will naturally creates a natural familiarity, acceptance and permissiveness of such matter. Within the industry itself as well as in the interfacing agents/industries within the business ecosystem
One example of how accepting and permissive the industry on gay matters, you can look into Swarowski’s commercial where it (although subtly) push a visual of w|w ‘closeness’.
When the producing industry has that level of acceptance or permissiveness, it will become a natural part of the industry, translated to - in simple term, a no big deal for others interfacing with the industry.
Much as the longevity of brands and business of the producer dependent upon market perspective - I have touched on this market perspective risk in my other post (here), this ‘no big deal’ situation makes fashion industry has more leeway in ‘getting away’ or managing this sensitive issue compare to other less permissive industries.
Based on this train of thought, there will be relatively less need/pressure for the talent involved (such as Karlie) to devise precautionary measure or cover up needed to circumvent the sensitive matter-related risks. The industry itself, i.e. fashion brands and houses, who will create this measures, through their marketing, branding and commercial strategy.
How does this work in influencing Karlie’s bearding style? In Karlie’s case, this is translated into less need and pressure for her to push a ‘believable’ act in her bearding to the end consumer (the fashion brand buyer, and her secondary market - connect this to my explanation in point 2). What she does need to do is to ensure that her conduct do not violate the fashion brand/houses standard (her direct market). By logic, the one factor that makes Karlie need to create such precautionary measure in this matter is when it is related to her connection and relationship with Taylor.
Music industry where Taylor’s existence (and success and fortunes) very much hinged upon is a different landscape altogether when it comes to sensitive matter, which in this case is being a gay artist. I have re-blogged a post from @100percentsunshine which gave an insight from Chely Wright who had gone through the ordeal of coming out. Here is the post.
As you saw and heard in the post, there is an entrenched system within the industry which makes talents’ success and existence is very much contingent to their conformance to the industry’s standard.
Rather than creating a conditioning to favor the matter (i.e. being gay or non-conformance to the ‘standard’) as opposed to the situation in fashion industry, music industry went to the other extreme, i.e. create the condition to defy that. And country music where Taylor started her career is very much conservative - the industry and the market itself. This is the invisible force that made Taylor had to create a hetero persona which defy who she really is, hence all those bearding games.
This is what makes Taylor has no option but to create hetero persona and subsequently a believable act in ‘living’ that persona to ensure the narrative meets the expected conformance. In this case, a hetero rising star (at that time) supported with proof of hetero relationship. Due to this expectation, naturally the person involved need to create a believable situation. One example in Taylor’s case she cannot just get away with hand holding or being seen together. She needs to give more believable act, hence the kissing with her beard for example. If you look closely into Taylor’s body language and expression when she was around/with her beard and comparing to hers when she is around/with Karlie or girls/women, you’ll see the obvious contrast. Lots of posts in the blogs I put in the additional notes below showed this.
(2) The market risk
As I have mentioned, the longevity of both fashion and music industry - or any consumer driven industries in this matter, is dependent on (consumer) market perception. As such both Karlie and Taylor will to certain extent be subjected to the expectation to create or safeguard this perception in their creative delivery.
The difference between Karlie’s market and Taylor’s:
Karlie’s direct market are fashion brands and houses, and not the end consumer, i.e (us) fashion goods buyer. The end consumer is secondary market to her since the end consumers buy the product from the fashion houses and not from her directly. As such, it is the fashion brand and houses responsibility and need to devise the precautionary measures to circumvent the risk coming from consumers’ perception.
The standard that Karlie needs to conform is the fashion house’s. And as I noted in point 1, Karlie’s market do not forcefully expect this hetero persona due to (partly) their positioning in this sensitive matter. I.e. a non-issue.
There is certain market sensitivity that must be taken into account, however, this is not Karlie’s direct responsibility to circumvent or shape this. It is the fashion house or brands responsibility. (How the industry circumvent or manage market perception risks is commonly done through, for example, selective region/country commercials released, selective product development or distribution, etc.)
By logic, this condition do not warrant her to strongly create a hetero persona, translated further into less need to present a believable interaction in her ‘hetero relationship’
Whereas Taylor’s direct market is the industry as well as the end consumer, with the later holding more power to make or break a talent’s success. How does this work in influencing her bearding act?
End consumer, including any of you who buy Taylor’s album do not care who produced the album. Some may not even know that they are produced by BM. Their loyalty is not to the producer or music company. But to the artist, i.e. Taylor. As such, everything that Taylor represent will (unfortunately) directly influenced by consumers’ perception.
This condition is made even more difficult for Taylor, and other artists for that matter, by the industry stand on gay matter or other ‘moral’ standard. (my explanation on point 1)
Taylor started her career in an industry that is very conservative, i.e. country. Her audience are young girls whom not only mostly coming from that conservative segment, they also mostly in formative years, grew up with her. So the pressure of being a good role model within that conservative perspective is paramount to her success. And this, in short what made her need to create a believable act on her bearding. Kissing, or over the top act and narrative, such as in Hiddle-farce case or Prada boy.
There you go! I hope this helps in sensing why things are and need to be done in certain way! Have fun making sense of their fascinating bearding style.
You know where I am if you have dissenting view or further questions. Cheers!
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Additional notes on bearding related posts -
For those who haven’t seen it, I had posted (a long) explanation on Karlie’s bearding. Here is the post: Karlie and Joshua anon (This post is extensively enriched with the helped of mutuals)
You may also want to look into @taytaysbeard ‘s blog who has extensive and primary coverage on Taylor’s PR game to get further sense and understanding on bearding.
My other go-to Kaylor blogs to find relevant information I need in any particular time, subject or context are:
@tallcurlygirl - for her knowledge on relevant industries and mostly level headed perspective. Until someone asked her to whoop their behind with impolite or stupid provocation.
@kaydar - for picking up the clues and connecting with evidence to construct or strengthen certain perspective
@larrienation - for Kaylor evidence master post
@all-my-possessions - this is my go-to for everything related to lyrics, primarily for the thorough, factual- and historical-based approach
@jennyboom21 - for her penchant for dropping bombs to provoke different thinking of the mainstream perspective!
@whaler13bg - for the lyrics insight and in connecting the dots
There are a lot more valuable information that others bring with their expertise and perspective. I just did not have the reason to really deeply look into their blogs at this stage. I am sure one day, as the situation needs me, I will!
To all Kaylors, especially those I mentioned above, I welcome any additional points - or even different perspective on this. Cheers!
