I have long held the belief that women adhere to social standards of beauty not to win the admiration of men, but to stave off the relentless judgment of other women. It is our own sex that so readily picks apart a woman's flaws until they rest a gaping wound which no amount of makeup could cover. Beauty trends occur completely independent of the male opinion.
Rest assured there are those of us who could care less what either sex thinks, though I would be lying if I said their opinion didn't affect even the bravest souls slightly.