“Here’s your reality check, diva,” Jools Lebron said in a recent viral TikTok video in which the former cashier and content creator offers tips on how women can be more “low key,” “cuter,” and “more attentive” in the workplace. Just when you thought you were ahead of trends with your regrettable “brat summer” antics and disheveled “hot rodent” boyfriend, it’s time for a U-turn. Charli XCX wasn’t lying when she said being a girl is so confusing sometimes.
“I don’t look like a clown when I go to work,” Lebron told the camera from the seat of her car. She shows off a well-executed, if not apparently understated makeup with heavy eyeliner, eyelash extensions and rosy blush. In a follow-up video, she presented a more subtle, simple alternative, mentioning “a little hair oil on the wig,” “a little tinted moisturizer” and “a little eyebrow gel.” The look is described as “very considerate, very approachable, very understated,” in contrast to some women who appear to show up at work “like street girls with low-cut shirts.”
The internet has heeded LeBron’s call to action, flooding TikTok with demure suits and tongue-in-cheek how-tos for living a more mindful and cute life, from home decor to walks of shame. But is this really such a new trend?
Several museums have rushed to join in on the fun, sharing TikToks proving that the Old Masters, too, had a penchant for demure and considerate ladies. But don’t worry, there are no clowns on these canvases. Here’s what was featured on our FYP.
Rijksmuseum
@rijksmuseum Very considerate, very reserved ✨ 🖼️Three Regents and the “Housemother” of the Amsterdam Leper Hospital, Werner van den Valckert, 1624 #reserved #amsterdammuseum #rijksmuseum #arttok ♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron
With their somber black robes and white ruffs, the regents in Werner van den Valckert’s Three Regents and the “Housemother”: of the Amsterdam Leper Hospital (1624) are certainly models for restrained, professional clothing.
MAK Vienna
@makvienna How to behave ✨modestly✨ in a museum🫶 #modestly #mak #makvienna #art #museum #museumtok #fyp ♬ Original sound – MAK vienna
In a practical guide to decent etiquette when visiting a museum, the MAK Vienna recommends not standing directly in front of a work of art, but leaving enough distance so that everyone can see it. Clothing recommendations include wearing inconspicuous shoes and choosing a smaller bag.
Brooklyn Museum
@brooklynmuseumDid someone say “very reserved”? 💅 See how the artworks in our collection model this quality for our visitors? Very respectful, very attentive. 🖼️ Jean-Bernard Duvivier (Belgian, 1762-1837). Portrait of Madame Tallien, 1806. → Walt Kuhn (American, 1877-1949). Dressing Room, 1926. → Henri Fantin-Latour (French, 1836-1904). Portrait of Madame Léon Maître (Portrait de Madame Léon Maître), 1882. → Woman with Earrings, 100-105 AD → Beauty Rubbing Ink to Write Poems, First Flower Contemplation. → Laura Wheeler Waring (American, 1887–1948). Woman with a Bouquet of Flowers, ca. 1940. → Mummy cartonnage of a woman, 1st century AD. → Giovanni Boldini (Italian, 1842–1931). Portrait of a Lady, 1912. → Daniel Huntington (American, 1816–1906). The Draughtsman: A Portrait of Mlle Rosina, a Jewess, 1858. → Seated Buddha, 14th century. ♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron
A heavily made-up, scantily clad figure in Walt Kuhn’s dressing room (1926), the second painting the Brooklyn Museum shares, is not exactly restrained, at least not by Lebron’s definition. But who could claim to be more mindful than Buddha?
Minneapolis Institute of Art
@mplsinstart Very reserved, very mindful ✨ #reserved #mindful #paintings #artmuseum ♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron
Ladies of the 18th century knew a lot about how to wear a wig, so anyone looking to achieve a cuter look in the future might want to head to the nearest art gallery.
Guggenheim
@guggenheim Artfully understated. #Understated #MuseumTok ♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron
Was Degas reserved? The Impressionists loved the seedier side of Paris, and so many of their female models were approachable and considerate during the day, while serving as “street girls” at night.
Sacramento History Museum
@sachistorymuseum What we wear in the Sacramento History Museum print shop is very modest. #SacHistoryMuseum #verymodest #modest #sacramento #museum #history #printshop ♬ Original sound – Jools Lebron
Apparently, some employees at the Sacramento History Museum have been surfing social media after work, throwing away their makeup brushes, and opting for a more mindful, understated look at the office. And rightly so!
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