Retrending to be Someone I’m Not
You know you’re getting old when you find yourself shopping for the same clothing trends you shopped for back in junior high.
My teenage stepdaughter won’t leave home right now without her side ponytail and cropped bolero jacket. She just bought legwarmers last week at American Apparel, and she’s appropriated her mom’s over-sized plastic hoop earrings, circa two decades ago. I often fight the urge to throw my body in front of the door rather than allowing the poor girl to leave the house looking like Moon Unit Zappa. It’s. So. Over.
But it’s not. In fact, it’s just begun. Again.
Does the fashion industry just think that we don’t remember that prairie skirts are soooo 1987? That off-the-shoulder ripped t-shirts had about the same shelf life as Jennifer Beals? That Izod is for nurds (remember when there were two spellings? I do…) and Bermuda shorts are okay only if you’re part of the shuffleboard set? Is fashion dead?
Or am I just getting…. old?
Now that I think about it, not so long ago I took huge glee in my first pair of hip-hugging flares. Ditto the cool poncho and the bug-eyed Gucci sunglasses. It was all new to me- and wearing it evoked a little bit of the feeling I used to get dressing up in my mother’s clothes… except that this time, everything fit.
But maybe there’s an angry horde of 40-something women out there I’ve never noticed, women who were pretty steamed to see the return of ironed hair and wrap dresses and moccasins and dashikis… women who laugh to see my disgusted expression as I eye the ribbon belts on all the Macy’s mannequins.
I’m learning that there’s a huge gulf between 29 and 30. And I’ve crossed over to the other side.
But there is a bright side. I suppose this means that one day about ten years from now, I’ll get to gleefully look on as the Lindsay Lohans and Paris Hiltons of the world realize that chunky, clunky shoes are in– again. Along with Burberry plaid, Ugg boots and Coach handbags.
Meanwhile, I’ve learned to carefully save all of my outdated gear in the back of my closet. Because you never know when you might need it again…
Image via liquene/Flickr
HAHAHA! what a funny post! my mom saves all her clothes since she is 20, so I just have to look into her closet to get huge glasses and chiffon skirts.
I pray every day for big hair to come back. I loved my big hair and teasing comb and bottle of hairspray and that I be caught in a tornado and my hair WOULD NOT move.Ahhhhh……the good ol’days
Oh, hair spray… I used to go through a bottle a week- or more!Here’s what I want to come back: over the knee socks (so sexy), 60s gogo dresses, velvet and jeans that aren’t cut so low that your butt crack shows every time you bend over!
Very “Sex and the City”, much enjoyed. I say dress how you think looks good, you’re an intelligent woman who has had the opportunity to experience various fashion trends and are therefore weary of the dreadful mistakes of previous generations/decades. After all, that’s one of the great things about being older, knowing better. Another great thing is that you actually have the courage and self-esteem to know you look good in whatever you wear.Well, I must dash to lunch, litteraly, for some reason we are having our bi-weekly staff luncheon 20 minutes away from the office today.Take care hun.