What’s a girl to wear..?
It shouldn’t be that hard – especially when one has decided that less is more – “just stick to the basics” – partly because life is too short these days to be making decisions and partly because person or persons unknown decided to undertake step one of the traditional wardrobe review – kindly relieving me of the bulk of my wardrobe while I was busily engaged elsewhere. And seeing that nothing they left seemed worth saving – well – what better opportunity – and excuse – to start anew!?
And so it was that – remembering the advice of Tim Gunn from that fashion-designer-show-whose-(whiches?)-name-I’ve-forgotten – I wrote down his list of essentials as well as I could remember it and took myself to the nearest shopping mall!
No shortage of clothing outlets – the usual range of chain stores from the cheapest to the slightly better quality/more expensive, a couple of outlets stocking the usual more expensive designer rags and a couple of designer outlets featuring the designer’s own whimsical pieces –
OK – so – item number one – a pair of jeans. Sounds easy enough. May as well go for good quality that will last so I stop at the designer shop first and find a tiny little stand – somewhat like one of those metal stands that are popular on cooking shows for keeping one’s pots and pans in order – with about four choices for style. Firstly a pair made from cheap chambray-looking “denim” with embroidery-like white stitching and wide bellbottoms that no girl with legs that don’t go all the way to her bottom could wear. The next pair were so distressed it bought me to tears – where on earth would a gal over 20 wear those I wondered? And what girl under 20 would shop in this staid environment with sternly disapproving shop assistants peering over their glasses..?
Pair number three looked OK but were cut so low – yeah – not falling for that again – a girl has to bend over now and again and would prefer if her pants came up again with her! Pair number four were again made of something that didn’t look like denim to me but – what the heck – maybe they’ve found that denim is a threat to birdlife somewhere so out of desperation I tried them on. Oh dear – those sneaky sweatshops – they’ve cut them out on an angle to save material so that the side seam comes round to the front – before they’re even washed – at least they’re honest!
“That’s OK “, says the cheery saleslady! “We can just pull them round to the side!”. Yeah sure – and they’ll stay there, right? Off to chain stores 1,2,3,4, & 5 – none even worth trying on – come on guys – this ain’t denim!
OK – Tim’s next “essential as I remembered was a white shirt. Being a Kiwi girl I took it that he meant the black sweater or top that we traditionally wear with everything – especially jeans. Surely that won’t be a problem!?
Well I don’t have time to give the full rundown – suffice to say that even that kiwi staple isn’t available in any of the retail outlets that are bleating about the internet having ruined their businesses. Seems a lot of them maybe need a look in their own magical mirrors – but that’s another story…
Rubytoos 