I’ll admit: I’ve never been a Fashionista. I come by it honestly.
When Jordache jeans (with their distinctive script label) were popular in the 80s, my mom found a batch of fabric labels that used the same font to spell, “Who Gives A Shit” and stitched them on her own pants. (Or actually, maybe my dad did that – since he’s the one who taught me to sew.)
The highlight of my middle school fashion was a t-shirt featuring a jogger running past a gas station with the caption, “Passing Gas.”
And as a young professional sporting what I thought was a very chic, all-brown suit, I had my confidence shaken when one of the guys on my team (now a good friend) casually remarked that he knew it was going to be a bad day for everyone when I showed up wearing, “The Turd Suit.”
Correct. Apparently all of my fashion influences come from Uranus.
So it should come as no surprise that I still rarely nail my wardrobe. This is fresh on my mind because every time I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror today, I would shake my head and think, “The Legend of Bagger Vance.” Or jump and think someone had let a man from the 1920’s into the bathroom.
If you’re not familiar with Bagger Vance, I’m talking about a golf movie set way back in the early 20th century. The people in it dressed like this:
Knickers and Cardigans. What’s not to love?
Yes. Something about my outfit – knickers and an Izod shirt – looked like I should be talking tee times with a bag slung over my shoulder. So I posted something to that effect on Facebook.
And almost immediately, people wanted photos. Partly because they’re bored with their jobs, but also because everyone loves witnessing a fashion disaster. And also because my friends are kind of assholes. In a good way.
I asked one of my co-workers to snap my photo. Since Los Angeles is super-fashionable, I thought I’d start by seeking out the harshest criticism first, so I sent the photo to my friend Sharon, who works in our LA office. But she politely pointed out that golfers do not wear high heels, that my pants were capris not knickers, and that I didn’t have a golf cap on, so I needed to stop beating myself up.
I felt good for a few minutes, glowing from her endorsement of my fashion, until I trekked to the bathroom. And almost screamed to find a man in there. Then realized it was me. And then I realized that the photo I sent Sharon was deceptive: it was dimly lit and framed by an office, so it might be hard to make the Bagger Vance connection.
About this time I remembered that my sister (who loves Photoshop) was stationed Up North (which means north of Ann Arbor, Michigan) for the week, probably relaxing since she left her kids at home bored out of her mind. So I sent her the photo and asked her if she could feel the Bagger Vance vibe I was rockin’.
This is what she sent back:
I am pretty sure I might have just started a fashion revolution. FORE!
pithypants 
Very funny! I think that if you get the word out, people will follow your trends soon enough. 🙂
I don’t know. I’ve been trying to get people to make the word “corn” dirty for some time, and that hasn’t exactly taken off.
I have those pants!! No polo, though. 😦 If I wasn’t so shopping-averse, I would go out immediately and get one. Vive la Revolution!
I don’t think they sell polo shirts any more. Unless you can prove that you’re a gym teacher. Mine are circa 2006.
Had i known it was for Pithy, I’d have tried harder.
I love that I made the blog!!! But, Alicia, I agree… you can still kinda see her high heel on the golf course 😉
Be glad you made it as the fashionable friend. Most people are horrified when they make my blog.
So when it’s just for me = not much effort. When it’s for pithy fans = you’ll actually open BOTH eyes when you work on it?
Wait. Is this bad? Because this is… I mean… we are the same. Freaking. Person.
Oh sure, Single Cell. I suppose next you’re going to start your own blog and…
They cannot possibly be the height of fashion because they aren’t hammer pants. I saw those at the mall the other day. I immediately signed “Too Legit to Quit” without a thought.
Glad I’m not the only one who can still throw out 2L2Q. It makes me feel a wee bit less crazy.
Tag, you’re it! I’ve tagged you at http://tennizzlle.com/2012/06/05/tag-youre-it/.