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Friday, October 2, 2009

A Nice Cold Meat in Aspic

Some things never go out of style. A black pencil skirt, for example. Buy a good lined skirt, try not to gain any weight, and you’re going to get a lot of use out of it.

But some things kinda came and went, didn’t they? Is there a Nehru jacket in your closet? A dashiki? A pair of gauchos? (Which amuses me to this day, as I believe a “gaucho” is Spanish for “cowboy”, in which case I may not have a pair of gauchos in my closet but would certainly entertain the idea of adopting a couple – for altruistic purposes, of course.)

I told someone once that I would wholeheartedly endorse a work uniform; and I’m still up for it. Hell – I’m thinking of doing it without it being a requirement. Would anyone notice if I were to, say, come in to work every day in a blue skirt, a white blouse, and maybe a scarf around my neck, just for a bit of “look-how-I’ve-dressed-this-up” jauntiness?

And it’s not just clothing. Even foods seem to have eras. At one time in the U.S. it seems that every fast food joint had a “potato bar”. Chili? Cheese? Jellied eel? Honestly, who doesn’t want to see how much stuff they can pile on a baked potato?

And when was the last time you had fondue? Don’t you think it’s time?

We get bored, I think. How else to explain that this year’s “teal” is different than last year’s “aquamarine” or that the square-toed sturdiness of a Birkenstock differs from the square-toed sturdiness of a pair of Börns?

Maybe it’s not boredom. Maybe it’s the need to be able to judge others based solely on having the right shade of blue on. Or maybe it’s a way of generating year-over-year profit.

Either way, I’m thinking a nice, proletariat “work uniform” never goes out of style.

19 comments:

Lidian said...

Talk about serendipity! I just wrote about a 1950s ad for revolting canned liver loaf, at the same time (nearly) as you. I think that also classifies as an obsolete fad - perhaps not a fad, precisely, but a terrible retro idea anyway.

darsden said...

Yep and everything old becomes new again.. dang I wish I would have kept a lot of my shoes and clothes! I would really be hip today!
Never had a pair of gaucho's and if I did they would still drag the ground I am so short! I always wanted to be a cowboy when I grew up.
I always in ALL my jobs wanted them to switch to uniforms it would have made it so much more easier. YOU know till I started blogging I didn't realize HOW lazy I really am!
You KNOW you would Rock any 'proletariat uniform'

anon said...

You are exactly correct about the black pencil skirt.

I like the idea of canned meat in aspic as a uniform, I think your cats will like it too : )

Dar, we have so much in common! You wanted to be a cowboy, I wanted to do a cowboy. Small world.

The Jules said...

One of the beneifts of a wearing a uniform at work is not having to think what to wear every day.

Although, because they're NHS uniforms, it always comes as a surprise on works nights out when half of our colleagues suddenly look pretty and have legs and boobs and things.

The women I mean.

the fly in the web said...

Do you think the 'Spudulike' chain will ever be revived? I used to pass it coming home from work, but was not attracted by the idea of eating potato skins. Then it closed.

SparkleFarkel said...

I could easily buy into that uniform idea, even being at home with my work. Huh, what would look nice with pearls while I'm sorting the laundry? Hmmm. I Think there might be an old leisure suit stashed somewhere. Have you noticed? Tyra Banks seems to be trying to revive that one-piece fashion and work-on-the-car-engine statement.

Douglas said...

Look at my picture. Could I ever blend in? I wore a uniform while I was in the Navy (didn't have that beard, though), it seemed appropriate. After a couple of years, it even seemed natural and comfortable. In a couple of weeks after I got out, that feeling was gone... vanished.

Pearl said...

Canned liver loaf. Oh, my. How bad do you have to be to be subjected to the canned liver loaf?

I have to agree that the primary reason I want a work uniform is so that Monday through FRiday -- wait, Monday through THURSDAY until the economy gets back to normal -- I don't have to think of what to wear. And think of how exciting weekends and nights out are when people wear their regular clothes, showing up with heels and skirts and boobs? And think of how great the WOMEN will look! :-D

And cowboys? Oh, yes. I like a man in good shape. I don't do lazy.

Unknown said...

It's definitely the profit thing. I've seen so many fashions come and go only to be reborn again, just called something different. Now, fondue, I don't ever want to give up.

Chris said...

HAH! I had fondue a few weeks ago at a great restaurant called The Melting Pot.

It was awesome. Pricey, but worth it.

Madame DeFarge said...

I suspect that we all wear a uniform anyway at work. Marks and Spencers is the middle ranking female civil servant's best friend. Where would we be without their striped blouses?

Red Squirrel said...

I bought a Nehru jacket the other day - it's very cool.

Admittedly I'm odd, but they're coming back I say! :)

Kevin Musgrove said...

For years I complained to a friend that the world had cause for complaint that she'd never bought a black pencil skirt. Once into middle age she finally bought one. It was worth it.

"For God's sake! Tell her she looks like Grace Kelly," hissed her partner. "We'll get no peace if you don't."

Ann Imig said...

A) The title of you blog post made me gag in a smiling sort of way. Didn't know I could do that.

B) A dear friend of mine and fashion designer is WAY in favor of the uniform. She will probably write a book on it. Finding your own uniform so you never have to think about what to wear for day to day.

C) congrats on over 300 followers! Quite a conga line you've got going.

Pop and Ice said...

Potato bars? Never heard of them. I must not eat out enough or, perhaps, not at the right chain restaurants.

My shoes are all pointy-toed and I'm pissed about the switch from aquamarine to teal because I hate teal.

But I'm all over the uniform thing. It would make things so much simpler!

WendyB said...

I remember the potato bar. They should bring those back. I LOVE CARBS!!!

Inspector Clouseau said...

Try 1971 - Loud, neon colored, double knit, double pleated, baggy pants with 3 inch cuffs, coupled with a crepe shirt with big, baggy sleeves.

Reddirt Woman said...

Can we talk about bell bottoms, bowling shirts and furry vests and high heeled clogs and ugg type boots before they were a brand name... My problem is I grew out of all my old fun clothes and my shoes... just two years ago I finally gave up my high heeled, up to the knee woooha c.m.f. disco boots...

Oh, the agony of da feet...

Uniforms would be good.

Joanna Jenkins said...

I'm a fan of uniforms-- especially for school kids. But as an adult, it would sure make life a lot easier to get dressed in the morning.
xo