While we must wear masks, let's make the best of it.
I would have loved to sport a dramatic mask with black lace and rubies embellishing the stark covering of nose and mouth, but the hygiene issue prevents me from going any further than emitting a wistful sigh.
However, there's absolutely nothing to prevent Victorians (in particular the women of Victoria, as I'm not a fan of guyliner) to give their eyes some grand treatment with mascara, the cat-eye look, shimmering eyeshadow, well-defined eyebrows, etc.
We save on lipstick.
We also save on foundation.
We've become experts on how to avoid glasses-fog. (I hope we have, at any rate.)
We bear the wounds of our masks with dignity - the tender spot behind the ears, those tell-tale criss-cross marks on the cheeks...
We saunter, rather than run, to avoid fainting from heat exhaustion while wearing the masks out in public.
We could match the mask fabric to our clothing to make an eye-catching designer ensemble.
If a sudden impulse arises to commit a mugging, we're already in disguise.
If sudden superpowers flood through us, we're already in disguise.
DISCLOSURE: I'll candidly admit that I have frequently failed to take the opportunity to glamourise my eyes. Ah, the missed opportunities...
I'll also candidly admit that I haven't accessoried my mask; I tend simply to wear the close-fitting plain white N95s.
South Australians, you will be joining Victorians in getting to know all about masks.
I hope that they serve you well, and remember that even though buying single-use P2/N95 masks can quickly add up to a fair amount of money, you will only be using them at most once a day for a short time, over the next 6 days. I don't know if that's really any comfort...
