Thanks to Coastal Senior for the wonderful article about Kiki and the Statue of Liberty. To get the entire story “Family History sets sail in print” with pictures, click HERE or visit www.coastalsenior.com, click on July Issue and go to page 22.
July 13th, 2010
I like to write about style and fashion because there’s so much to criticize. However, since I’m not an expert, I did some research in the newspaper and magazines to find out what was new and coming this summer and fall, Instead, I came across several very comical articles.
Our local paper carries articles by George Will, columnist for the Washington Post. He isn’t a fashion writer, but in a recent column entitled “Forever Blue Jeans”, he hit the proverbial nail on the head. To paraphrase Will, he writes that fathers with small sons dress alike- running shoes, T-shirts, and jeans. ( I would like to add, baseball caps) He considers this an example of arrested development on the part of the father. Will quotes writer Daniel Akst who has noticed the same thing. Writing in the Wall Street Journal, Akst says “the modern trend toward undifferentiated dressing is symptomatic of deep disorders in the national psyche”.
Will writes that denim was manufactured for tough men who knelt on the muddy banks of streams during the California gold rush and for driving steers up the Chisholm Trail, not for men with today’s inactive life style. He goes on to say that denim is the infantile uniform of a nation in which entertainment frequently features childlike adults, such as “Seinfeld”, “Two and a Half Men” and cartoons for adults, such as “King of the Hill”.
So, the message here, guys, is put away childish things and dress like a man. Throw away the denim and the baseball hat. If you are not sure how to go about it, Will suggests this rule: “If Fred Astaire would not have worn it, don’t wear it. For women, substitute Grace Kelly.”
I would like vote for the return of the sexy fedora. Ah…shades of Frank Sinatra, Humphrey Bogart, and Clark Gable…
The story that made me laugh out loud was in the March 6, 2010 Savannah Morning News. The byline was Ellen Warren, McClatchy Newspapers. I want to give the writer credit because I wouldn’t want anyone to think this is my idea.
Ms. Warren writes that women can look more fashionable and cut expenses in half by only worrying about what to wear above the waist. She goes on to write that when sitting in a restaurant, you are only visible from the waist up. In the office, sitting behind the desk, the same situation is true. So, spend your money on a really beautiful dressy top for the restaurant and a stunning blouse and jacket for the office. There were pictures long with the article, showing three different “Tabletop Dressing” suggestions. This woman was really serious.
But, you can’t stay behind a table or a desk all day? Imagine a woman getting up from the table wearing a fancy expensive top with cut-off jeans and flip flops on her feet. Or, the business woman coming around the desk to shake hands with a client, wearing the stunning blouse and jacket with cargo pants and running shoes. I bet that mental picture made you smile.
Another amusing article advised what style of bikini bottom a woman should choose. The writer said that having a round or square shaped derriere should determine the type of bikini to purchase. I would think the size of the derriere is more important than shape. After some sights I have seen at the beach, I say unless you are younger than sixteen or have a perfect body, forget the bikini altogether.
In conversation with some senior women at line dancing recently, one attractive lady (I’m guessing a size 10) said all she could find in the stores were sleeveless dresses with hems that stopped at mid thigh. (We can blame Michelle Obama for the sleeveless dresses.) Another woman said she loves pretty shoes, but the heels are so high, she cannot wear them. Why can’t someone make pretty shoes with lower heels? I am not sure where we can put pressure to have attractive clothes manufactured for our age group. Maybe we should speak with the buyers in the stores that we frequent.
It seems that fashion is like the weather. Everyone talks about it but does nothing about it….except maybe ignore it and laugh about it. One good thing, what is in style today will be out tomorrow.
The original article can be found at Coastal Senior HERE.
July 12th, 2010
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