The Runway

Here's something I don't think I get or will ever get: fashion.

I don't think I grasp or understand the idea of something being so last season or so last year or so last minute. I don't think I could eye someone and guess brands or labels or their position on the fashion hierarchy. And I really don't think I get why certain things must be worn for certain parts of the year and not others: like white after labor day or some such.

Maybe I don't get seasons cause I'm such a bay area kinda girl. It's summer in the winter and winter in the summer and there's barely anything of spring or fall.

Here's the things I do get: some things are just downright ugly. No ifs, ands, or buts about it. I was once told by an asshole of a guy that beauty may be in the eyes of the beholder but ugly is universal. While I don't exactly prescribe to this state of philosophy, I will admit, that some things are just really ugly.

But I know more than ugliness it's important to factor in comfort level and attitude. In my mind there is no other word that "Rocking It." Ok, that's two words but it's one sentiment.

Once my sister and I were laughing in a shoe store about these really horrendous boots, joking that we should buy them. As we were leaving another woman was entering. We looked in another store, came out, and found ourselves face to face with that same woman, wearing those very same ugly boots. And she was rocking it. She is still, to this day, the epitome of the phrase and of sexiness and confidence. She was wearing a torn, xxl, open backed, tie-dyed cotton shirt that bared her ridiculously flawless, dark skinned backed, super short shorts, and these new absolutely awesome looking brown boots with fur all over them and pom-poms attached to the shoe laces. ugh, even now, just imagining it my jaw drops to the floor. She strut down that city street with a walking stick like a goddamned peacock on parade. That was high fashion to me. If you can walk like a model in crowd wearing exactly what you want, how you want, making a statement and not caring who hears: mad props.

Here are some more things I'm pretty sure I know: Don't wear booty shorts on cold days, stay away from being TOO trendy, colored jeans make me cringe, the 80s should stay there and let the 70s shine like it damn well should, and avoid ever wearing clear heels.

Here's something else: some things are really awesome looking. They just look nice. For me, the things I think look nice are usually randomly stated, don't fit the rest of my wardrobe, are out of my life budget, and make my heart ache.

Do you think it's true that fashion is just another sexist invention by The Man? (haha). Or is it more plausible it's just another way for corporate something or others make us feel bad about ourselves because we can't afford 200 dollar shirts or thousand dollar shoes or shiny bags that make my heart go aflutter? Is the fashion industry similar to the pharmaceutical industry? Workin' on makin' you feel good but more interested in the bang for the buck? (don't get me started on medicine prices!)

or is fashion a natural human nature kind of deal? That humans have been judging, copying, loving, and working on the physical for as long as our brains evolved too big for our bodies?

Oy vey, I'm thinking myself into oblivion. Either way, something that somehow eludes me.

oh well