Where Are the Fashion Police When You Need Them?

Honestly, when did it become desirable to look undesirable?




























It was announced last week at Miss J’s worplace, that owing to this being a short work week, coupled with the fact that there are no meetings scheduled, “business casual” would be acceptable attire. No denim, natch, we are still very conservative here. Yet, everyone was SO EXCITED about being able to dress down a bit, you’d have thought Christmas had come early. It made Miss J wonder, “What exactly is so BAD about looking GOOD?”

Since he has addressed this same topic on his blog today, Miss Janey MUST quote the Maestro of Bloggers, The Manolo:

“Claiming to not care about the clothes, to not be concerned about what one wears, is the paradox, for the clothes worn by one who claims not to care make as much the statement as those worn by one who dresses with purpose.
These inescapable facts obtain: that clothes are always necessary, and that others they will always judge us by them. These are the reasons why the Manolo he would have you dress with the purpose, to consider carefully what you would wear, and to think about the effect your clothes, and how you wear, them will have on others.
Of the course, this does not mean that you must dress to please others, nor that you should follow the lowing herd, but rather that you should be conscious of the image you are projecting.
For the example, if you wish to project the image of carefree disdain for the high fashion, be aware that your dirty t-shirt of the Oakland Raiders, torn sweat pants, and flip-flops may not be conveying that exact message, may in the stead be saying to the by passer, “Cross to the other side of the street, lest this person’s disdain for personal hygiene and grooming infect you with the parasites.”
Manolo says, the fashion, it is not the nuclear rocket brain surgery.”

Miss J admits- she used to rough around like a sloven herself. Until a friend Miss Rachel related the following story:

“My therapist asked me once why I wear torn jeans and t-shirts all the time. I told him I liked to be comfortable. He told me, “The way you present yourself to the world is a reflection of the respect you have for yourself. If you don’t respect yourself, no one else will either.” Miss J hears those words each time she dresses now.

She recalled them yesterday when she saw a teenage girl awaiting a bus. She appeared to be sporting her older, taller brother’s basketball shorts, and her younger, smaller brother’s dirty and too-tight t-shirt. Her stomach peeked out of the bottom of the shirt and hung over her waist band, her feet were shoved into Vans as though they were slides, with her heel crushing flat the back seam of the shoe. This wouldn’t be good look for a BOY, let alone a young female on the verge of womanhood. Miss Janey despaired a bit for her. Hopefully, she has a friend or parent who will soon give her the self-respect speech. Miss J considered it briefly but Basketball Girl was much bigger than Miss J and a bit scary so Miss J kept her despair, and her opinion, to herself.