WTF Wednesday is a semi-regular feature of this blog. It documents the things that have made me pause, slap my forehead and say "What the f**k!" Well, that and I just like saying WTF. I'm retired. I don't have to watch what I say anymore. I'm not any one's role model.
I went Christmas shopping last week. Mid-week the mall, while not deserted, was considerably less crowded than on the weekend. At least many of the small kids were in school so the high pitched wails were limited to babies crying. Macy's was having another one-day sale, selling the same stuff that was on sale yesterday and would be on sale again tomorrow at "the best price of the season!" People were carrying around huge bags of purchases. Cashmere sweaters were on sale...buy three get 50% off. Even jeans were an additional 30% off. Judging by the amount of merchandise leaving the store, we should have the best dressed population in the state.
As I looked around the customers at the mall I thought that all the purchases must be for mailing to out of town relatives. The crowd isn't dressing up to the standards of the clothing shown in the stores. Why is this?
People spend a lot of time shopping and there are lots of cute styles in all shapes and sizes. Why then, when I look at a crowd in the mall, is it hard to find anyone who is well-dressed? I sat in the food court and watched the shoppers stroll by. There was lots of flannel, torn jeans and sweatshirts...and these were not the stylish versions of those items. What happens to all that fashionable clothing once it is paid for and wrapped in tissue for the trip home. Is it all sucked into a black hole, never to reappear?
Does everyone save their "good" clothes for some special event that I am not invited to? Perhaps it is time to break out the good clothes anytime you go out in public. What if you were to run in to Oprah or George Clooney and you weren't wearing your best outfit?
Sometime back I wrote a post about the website People of Walmart. The site shows photos of shoppers at Walmart. The mall shoppers weren't quite as outlandish as the people of Walmart, but they were sloppy. When did it become appropriate to wear pajamas and slippers to the mall? When is it ever good for an ample woman to show bare midriff? Why spend so much money on fashionable clothing and not wear it out in public?
If you see me in the mall during the holiday season, I'll be the well-dressed one in the classic, tasteful holiday sweater.
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Nana, all he rules went out the window. How about the way kids dress to go to school? They look like they're headed to a rock concert or a sports event. Remember when a man had to wear a jacket and tie to get into a nice restaurant - FOR LUNCH?
ReplyDeleteHow often do you see the words, "appropriate dress required?" And, does anyone even know what "appropriate dress" means anymore?
Boy that's sure the truth, Nana. Nobody dresses well to go out in public any more. I wear cargo pants and t-shirts almost all the time. When I want to get dressed up, I wear a nice t-shirt. :-)
ReplyDeleteHoliday sweaters are quite lovely, and I see a lot of them in Bellingham, though. Not on me, though. I wonder if it's different in different parts of the country.
These would be the same folks who serve Christmas Kitties.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I wonder where all those fashionable people are hiding. I bet you'll look great in your stylish sweater cruising the mall :) Merry Christmas!!
ReplyDeleteI have four pairs of Not Your Daughter's Jeans, and half a dozen long-sleeved knit shirts from Chico's. That's about all I wear except t-shirts. When I go out I usually wear very light makeup, or I look too much like my mother, who has been gone for two years.
ReplyDeleteI have no holiday sweaters. I should go to Macy's and pick one up on sale!
A good question! Perhaps we don't buy those cashmere sweaters for ourselves, but for people we love, and wish to see beautifully dressed.
ReplyDeleteThere's lways a good laugh on Wednesdays when I visit your blog. Good question. I'm glad you are wearing your holiday sweater.
ReplyDeleteI found one of my teacher holiday sweaters in the basement. It had shoulder pads, so you know how old it is. I'm trying to decide whether or not to gross out the kids and wear it on Christmas Eve.
What Not To Wear is one of my favorite television shows and I love to see the transformations those people go through but one of the things that gets me every time is that the people nominating the bad dresser in question are sometimes dressed even WORSE than the nominee! I hang around my house in sweats & hoodies. Hell if I'm not going anywhere on a Sunday I may not even shower but if I'm leaving the house I try to at least make an effort. Even if its just mall shopping. Geez.
ReplyDeleteThe wearing of pajamas and slippers out in public (past the mailbox) thing is one of my biggest pet peeves in the world. I bet your holiday sweater probably isn't full of moth holes or rips. And you're not talking about wearing it in April either lol
Have a very merry Christmas!
PJs and slippers in the shops, I've yet to see that!
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