Comments on: Less Skin

By: VeddyVeddyBadMan

VeddyVeddyBadMan — Fri, 10 Jun 2005 18:08:44 +0000

I just wonder why these girls don’t feel uncomfortable with all their skin showing. I’m 32 and in okay shape and I still feel uncomfortable showing too much cleavage or if my belly accidentally comes into view. Maybe it helps that I grew up in a house with a father and three brothers (plus a Mom who wouldn’t all my skirts to be too short, within reason). I remember in the late 80’s and early 90’s, we would wear those tight knit tube skirts that would ride up when you walked - those could certainly be kind of risqué. But they did come up to our waists, and on the top, we wore big oversized sweaters and shirts. These days, you don’t just show off one part of your anatomy, like in the good old days of “pick one thing and go with it”. Now, you have to show off your cleavage, your belly, your butt and your legs! All at the same time! My husband and I walk through the mall in amazement, wondering just how much more these kids can show - I think it’s about at the limit right now. Hence the (hopefully!) trend of going back to being stylish, not slutty.

And on the topic of waistband-flab: I can’t help but smile in amazement whenever I see the big fat rolls sticking out of the tops of pants. It’s so embarassing, but they seemingly have no idea.

By: Moledog

Moledog — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 22:03:05 +0000

Giabella, you are a chauvanist.
What Italian mother would not prefer a boy?
I know, I’ve got one. (an Italian mother)

By: JoeB

JoeB — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 17:02:16 +0000

The JoeB would only like to echo the many brilliant comments in the thread. I shudder to think of what my own daughter might be wearing if the trends did not shift. When we reach a point where the barbarians at Aberzombie and Bitch are selling thongs to preschoolers, we must bring things back into a more respectable place.

Besides, demure is so sexy.

By: tia nieve

tia nieve — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:59:15 +0000

The Tia is interested in the theory of the Karla, that extreme and ornate fashions are popular during times of turmoil while simple fashions are popular in times of confidence, and she would like to research it.

However, the Tia wonders if perhaps the horse is following the cart — that is, as economists look back they assess a fashion period as “simple” or not subjectively to fit their theory. The granny skirts and disco clothes of the seventies might equally be considered more, or less “extreme” than the clothes of the sixties, while the big hair and huge shoulderpads of the eighties might equally be considered a step more extreme or less extreme, depending on one’s point of view.

The Tia points out, also, that one reason the fashions of the forties included shorter skirts and less flowing fabrics than the fashions of the thirties was the effort by US and British governments to conserve fabric and divert resources to the war effort — no more bias cut gowns, my dears, rather the spare and simple suit-skirt for the use of less yardage.

The Tia is grateful to the Manolo, the Karla, La BellaDonna and the Annalucia for posing this topic to divert the Tia from the oh-so-dull duties the Tia should be performing this morning!

By: Giabella

Giabella — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:50:21 +0000

The Giabella agrees with the alex, and silently thanks the Madonna that the only offspring of the Giabella, he is the boy.

By: Muffy Wong

Muffy Wong — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 16:29:23 +0000

When, oh when will the fashion practice of women be “Knowing their bodies and wearing what fits” rather than wearing what is “in?”

It’s as if 85% of women (and men) don’t check the mirror before leaving the house. Trends come and go but they’re pointless if people just mindlessly follow them. Large pearls are great but only on the right necks. Low waist jeans are fabulous, but not when they pinch and all flab is hanging over and out.

By: Gina

Gina — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 15:16:04 +0000

Hooray! I work near the Jr. section in a dept store, and I’m soooo tired of seeing flabby teenaged bellies and butt crack.

By: La BellaDonna

La BellaDonna — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 14:40:58 +0000

La BellaDonna, she agrees with the Annalucia; she thinks that this economist has perhaps heard vaguely of the theory that the economy, it is tied in with the length of women’s hemlines, and has taken that ball and run with it. The “ornate” and “funky” styles of “today”, if the Karla is referring to ethnic influences on the Western fashion designers, come to us from cultures where they have been worn for the generations, regardless of the turmoil in the rest of the world. The poor ladies in their burkhas, they are not wearing the “funky” and “ornate,” yet there is the great turmoil.

La BellaDonna, she buffs her pearls and raises her glass with the Scarlett, the Annalucia, the Camera Obscura, the Tia, and all others so inclined.

By: Tia nieve

Tia nieve — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 14:22:49 +0000

The Tia is proud to be associated with a woman such as the Scarlett, with her Mikimotos and her oh so appreciative husband. Brava!

And it is the opinion of the Tia that the aptly named Tara McBratney has not been observing fashion long enough to have witnessed a complete cycle of which she speaks.

Perhaps one could call it “return to dignity”, but the Tia hopes it will be a “return to quality and classic style.”

By: dowdydiva

dowdydiva — Thu, 09 Jun 2005 14:18:03 +0000

Hootchie couture will always be with us, as will understated sexiness. But it is certainly nice to see the starlets and the junior misses underplay that front and back cleavage and dress more age-appropriate.

I now have to work “boobs on the half shell” into every sentence I say today.