Clothing as Art

      In a recent post I wrote the worn out rag on why why why the big deal about appearance for women - why is there such a focus on what a woman looks like on the outside, on how she shapes up (as it were), particularly in comparison to others?  The finger keeps getting pointed at the media and the desire to sell products.  Fair enough

    The comments made on that post were thought provoking for me.  It occurred to me that I actually like clothing.  I see getting dressed most mornings as an artistic endeavor.  My sweet daughter has been instrumental in helping me develop an eye for clothing and now I like putting stuff together.  I will never wear anything in which I do not feel comfortable.  I won't wear shoes that hurt, or underwear that won't allow me to breathe, or a top that is more revealing than I care to be.  I do, however, like to dress in a way that suggests that I can have fun, that I still like to flirt and play, that I care about how I look.  I don't have a lot of time or money so I make do with what I do have.  My Sissy Girl goes through my closet with me periodically and helps me see different combinations.  She will go shopping with me once every four or five months.  She is especially good at helping me find shoes that I like, that are eye-catching,  and that fit well.  She is amazing.

      And this is all good.  I do get my hair cut about every six weeks and play with the color about every three months.  I have very little gray (thank you, Papa) but my natural color is now kind of a mousey brown so I enjoy sparking it up with some darker shades and some dark red - or something.  Whatever the stylist wants to go do.  It;s fun to experiment and it's just hair - it grows and fast.  I like my skin.  It surely shows my age and I am okay with that.  I still like to apply some foundation, little powder, a brushing of mascara, and a little lip color.  Voila! Less than five minutes and I don't look at it for the rest of the day.

      It's funny.  I work at a middle school.  I am always surprised at how much the kids are watching the adults.  Just about every day, a student (girl or boy) will comment on something that I am wearing - anything from shoes (my recently acquired Carpe Diem Toms are quite popular as are my leopard flats), my earrings (the more sparkly the better), my shift in hair color (I have many of them convinced that the salon will not do blue streaks if you over 30..... my way of avoiding that one), my skirts , or just about anything I wear.  I do notice what they wear and comment often to kids (just another way to let them know I see them).  I guess what I am saying is that clothing can be fun.  Clothing is personal expression. It is art in the world.  It can connect people and it can define people.  My boots and a cool jackiet can take a gray day and turn it into something more fun.  It's the little things, you know?