Macabre make-up - literally?

I think I've just found the ultimate in conspicuous consumption. You force your living relatives to pay, not just for your cremation or funeral, but for your post-mortem cosmetics as well! The Daily Mail reports:

In what must be one of the most unusual collaborations to date, cult beauty firm Illamasqua is to partner up with London funeral directors Leverton & Sons to provide makeovers to the dead.

The British brand - whose co-managing director is Joe Corre, founder of Agent Provocateur - has joined forces with the 200-year-old family firm to offer professional cosmetic transformations to those who wish to make a statement - even in death.

Dubbed 'The Final Act of Self-Expression', the firm say the service will help those who take a pride in their appearance to plan ahead so that they look good in death too.

'It encourages people to plan their final transformation - one that pays tribute to who they were in life and how they want to enter the afterlife,' Illamasqua said, adding that the innovative service will bring 'ritual beauty' to the final act for those who love to 'self express.'




The makeover sessions - costing upwards of £450 [about US $717] - will be attended by a Illamasqua make-up artist specially trained in working on embalmed corpses.

'The rite of passage to the afterlife has been of central importance to human culture for thousands of years,' the firm said on its blog.

'To wear the most fabulous make-up applied by a professionally trained make-up artist for your final journey is the ultimate statement of celebration.'

'It's celebration of life, and one that should be indulged for your last glamorous look.'

There's more at the link.

"The Final Act of Self-Expression"??? Sounds more like a final fling of self-indulgence to me - at the expense of one's survivors! Furthermore, having seen more than my fair share of dead bodies in my time, I don't think I've ever seen one so well-preserved as to supply an adequate foundation for the cosmetic treatment pictured above! On the other hand, that model does offer the ultimate example of "drop-dead gorgeous" . . .

What can one do but salute such an endeavor with the Squirrel Nut Zippers?

One final thought. I hope those cosmetics are highly flammable. At least, that way, they'll help to justify their cost by saving fuel at one's cremation!





Peter