Saturday, May 5, 2012

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?

9 comments:

  1. I've always been a very boring dresser. I favor black t-shirts or tanks and blue jeans/cut-offs. I wear size 11 shoes, so I never get to wear cute shoes as many shoe manufacturers stop at 10. But, I am a huge fan of Merrell shoes and yesterday I treated myself to a new pair of sandals to show off my pedicure.
    If I had a lot of dough, I'd get pedicures, facials and massages on a weekly basis. I love being pampered. I'm not a touchy feely kind of person, so perhaps that's why I like to do those things. Plus, getting your hair washed by another person is fantastic.

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    1. Black tank tops are so cool and jeans always work. I would get a weekly massage and pedicure too, if I could afford it. The massage is especially nice as I know it helps with all the tension I carry in my neck and shoulders. The funny thing is that, up until about six years ago, I had had only one professional massage . Then a friend was going to massage school and she needed a body on which to practice. I volunteered mine and now I see her about once a month (unless the stress is really bad - then twice a month).

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    2. Yeah, massage schools are a great place to get inexpensive massages. I mean, even if it's not great, it's still better than nothing.

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  2. Great post mama! I love u beautiful!

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  3. I usually wear what's comfortable (and clean!), but one thing I adore is shoes. I recently bought a pair of wedge heels that I'm eager to wear--once I buy the right pair of jeans to go with them. :)

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    1. I like heels but I don't wear them to work - too much walking around the campus! And I don't go out to places where heels would be nice...but I can find and wear lots of fun flats! ANd my boots have heels - only about 2 inch but they work well at school.

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  4. This is probably one for my ways I'm not a grown-up series (and/or ways I'm not technically a "girl")--clothes have never been my thing. I struggle for "presentable" in the clothing department and I'm never willing to sacrifice "comfortable" to get there. I often wish it were different.

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    1. One step at a time, then - choose one thing with which to play and go for it!

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