Fashion Designs

Seeing these "undressed" dress forms made me ponder a bit about fashion. I thought about Bravo's hit series Project Runway and how each individual would have taken this blank canvas and created something entirely different. Wikipedia says about fashion "The term 'fashion' usually applies to a prevailing mode of expression, but quite often applies to a personal mode of expression that may or may not apply to all."  How true!

What I see as fashion others don't see as fashion, and visa versa. Of course, as I've aged my fashion has aged along with me.  I'm driven, as most in mid-life are, more by personal comfort then by fashion industry standards.

As far as comfort is concerned I've become much more modest as my body has changed.  No more sleeveless shirts in public for me.  I've that under arm waddle that hasn't been stopped even with years of triceps extensions and pull downs. I still do them, just to keep things from going downhill too quickly.  Thank goodness for the 3/4 sleeve.  Then there's shorts.  I can't remember the last time I wore a pair of Daisy Dukes, probably 20 years ago.  I was so glad to see the come back of Bermuda length shorts this year, although I'm sure a lot of men weren't  happy about it!  I'm sure that my 23 year old niece won't be wearing longer shorts, at 23 I wouldn't either. But at my age, most women no longer have the thighs that Daisy Dukes were meant for.  Daisy Dukes are for young 20 somethings who look good in them.

Along with being driven by personal comfort levels my fashion choices, and the choices of millions of other women are driven also by our wallets. Believe me, I would love to own a closet full of high fashion designs such as Emilio Pucci silk jerseys and dresses, Missoni tops and dresses and that Roberto Cavalli Chiffon Tunic that's on sale for $560. My favorite fashion shoe designer is Manolo Blahnik. I did buy a pair of Manolo mules in denim with an adorable bow and a kitten heel years ago off of e bay for somewhere around $300. At that time it was a bargain. Unfortunately, I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth.  I'll have to leave those fashions to those who have endless sources of wealth.

For me it's shopping Filene's Basement and Nordstrom's The Rack. I've also found out that there are a lot of other places I can buy all the latest fashion trends cheap. They're not high end fashions from top fashion designers or celebrity fashions, or "Bollywood" fashions but they are fashionable enough for me.

Then, there's whether or not a jacket is worth $500 or a simple silk shirt $300.  I love to watch TLC's What Not To Wear for their great fashion advice, and have to admit that the last six months to a  year whenever I shop I think "What would Stacy and Clinton think?"  I haven't done bad. I actually found a $150 jacket on sale upstairs in Nordstrom for $100.  It's a medium weight denim and has the proper seaming to help give me a shape, and it looks nice.  It was worth $100.  I probably would not have paid $150. It was also a steal as my hubby had just cashed in a bunch of credit card points and had given me several hundred dollars worth of gift cards to Nordstrom (what a Sweetheart!)

Then there is how we want to be perceived by others.  I worked with a gal years ago who wore short-short skirts and dresses, spike heels and tousled and teased long blond hair.  I was always amazed when she would be put-off by all the come on's she got from guys.  Huh? What did she think was going to happen? She put it out there, and got it back, in spades.

So, prevailing fashion trends become our personal modes of expression.  We express fahion by how we feel about our bodies, our wallets and how we want to be perceived by others.