I used to be cool. I used to be hip and happenin'. I have photographic proof. What happened? Who took my cool?
I believe when this photo was taken that my fashion sense was at an all time high. Note the gloves and sunglasses. Not everyone could carry that look off, but I pulled it all together: Think Carrie Bradshaw at a young age.
PS: This photo was taken on Easter in 1973, the same year that Cynical was born. You do the math.
I didn't think it could happen to me
When I was in high school I wasn't a cool kid, but I wasn't picked on either. I was never quite in style or out of style, just somewhere in between, not goofy enough to be laughed at, but not cool enough to be noticed. (I had a pair of K-Swiss, Zena jeans, some stirrup pants and a huge sweater or two to get me through: remember this was the mid-80s. My Marsha Brady hair, however, didn't help matters.) I blended into the wallpaper and that was just how I liked it.
When I went to college, however, I started to find my own way. I managed to define myself. I started really getting into music. I found myself surrounded by a group of friends. I even kinda thought I was hip and happenin' at least on my floor of the dorm. (This may have all been an illusion, but hey, nothing is wrong with living in an illusion, right? Who needs reality!) I found myself dressing in my own style, as defined by me. Different enough to be cool, but not "out there" enough to be avoided on the street.
Post-college I fell into my preppy/hippie phase. (I know you think the two don't mix, but for me, they did, or at least I thought they did.) I was working for a newspaper and the look fit the world of "journalism". (Or at least my budget.)
I went through a serious flower child phase. I even caught myself in leather sandals, a halter and cut-off jeans for an entire summer. I do believe I braided my hair as well.
As my jobs changed, my attire became more defined according to my position, but I always managed to find a happy medium between the hippie that I really am and what was appropriate.
No matter what phase of my life I was in, I felt that the outward me matched the inner me. I felt what I presented to the world was a reflection of how I felt and who I was.
That was, until now. Somehow I have found myself somewhere in between young and hip and old and frumpy. I am not a teenager and bare flabby bellies are not acceptable at work. I am not my grandmother and even though she was charming in her support stockings and casual suits with elastic skirts, that's just not me either. I am somewhere in between: in no (wo)man's land.
It's official: I have lost my style. I have lost my cool. It may not have been your cool, but it was my cool: my style, my outward self, the external me. Now I get up every morning and just try to cover as much of my body as possible. I even have sensible shoes.
It happened to me, when I least expected. I lost my cool. Now I want it back.
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Somebody stole my cool
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9 comments:
Fabulous! Who's that hiding behind those Foster Grants? I remember when Easter meant not only a new dress but gloves and a hat as well. White patent leather mary janes, and a white patent leather pocket book. Oh how I miss those days.
I could write a sonnet about your Easter bonnet...
Note the corsage! My grandfather always got all the girls a corsage. Mine had apparently taken a beating, but I wore it all the same. I think my grandmother made that dress.
Oh and I did have the white Mary Janes. Who didn't?
Hats are my absolute favorite part of Easter. I grew up in Methodist and Presbyterian churches and Easter ALWAYS meant hats and gloves (as did many Sundays, but Everyone wore them on Easter). I don't know if it's a Catholic thing or just a regional thing, but ever since I've attended Catholic churches (with The Man), there is not a hat to be found. I'm going to post an Easter photo of my Girl from a couple years ago. To show that I'm helping pass on the tradition.
And Ragged, I think it's harder now to maintain a style. As an adult, I mean. Because you don't want to look like a kid, and you're not ready for the typical old lady look...it's tough to find the in between. And more than tough, it's expensive. Boo.
You'll find your cool again.
I love that picture. What a cutie pie. Just like cynical I was born in 1973. I was born at the end of May 1973...probably shortly after this picture was taken...anyway.... you were an adoreable little kid..and I love those sun glasses
You can create the new cool, baby.
Wow! I love the pic. 1973 must have been a busy year. I was born then also.
Ragged. I hate to say that I find myself in the same clothing quandry. Nothing fits like it used to and I am not ready to shop in the old woman section and to old to shop in the young girls section.
What's a girl to do? Is there a store for the 30somethings?
What a sweet picture. I love reminiscing (as you have probably noted).
This was another in a long line of great posts. It made me miss my embroidered hippie shirt of the sixties that I gave to my niece when retro became cool, and my green beaded shoulder bag.
If you girls think you have it bad, try shopping for clothes when you're a couple of years shy of sixty!
I did buy myself a pea-jacket this year, black instead of navy like the one I had in college and I love it, but the bell-bottoms, pigtails, and beads, flowers, and mini-skirts just aren't happening for us older chicks. I wish they were. Well, everything but mini-skirts!
What Not to Wear here we come. I lost my style to three small people who need clothes more desprately than I do. I used to be the grunge, hippie, goth, salvation army, retro, pig-tailed, purple haired girl. Now? I wear discount jeans and t-shirts. I get overly excited by the $3 rack at Wal-Mart and I haven't been in a thrift shop in years. My mom did pick up a royal purple Pendleton jacket for me at the Good Will recently.
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