it was a terribly hot sultry day. the sky was gauzy because the sun was partially blocked out by vast amounts of smoke that had risen to the cloud layer.

and here's the look

the woman was maybe 25, medium height, medium thin
she had dark hair, white blouse, white skirt, and a white cotton hat pushed back on her head. at first i thought this is ridiculous, how could she come up with a look like that, how did she find the nerve to wear it. but then as i started to pass her as i drove by, i turned my head. no matter what anyone else thought, or what she thought, she knew her look had turned at least one head.

Ummm, so I take it that she pulled it off?     I mean the look worked? 

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 12:59:37 AM

Quote from: buttercup on October 26, 2007, 12:29:02 AM
Ummm, so I take it that she pulled it off?     I mean the look worked? 

yu-----up! i think she totally did, and i guess i kinda admire her for it.

Kudos to her then, I wasn't too sure whether 'the look' was flattering or not.  I admire women like that too, they are just so confident. 

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 01:54:18 AM
yeah, i like to see an unusual look that not everyone can pull off.

i mean, i knew one woman -- i'm sure you've seen her -- who could wear just anything and get away with it, because she had such an incredible booty.
but what can you say about her? does she inspire one to think about her and write about her on terribly hot sultry days?

I know what you mean.  These women inspire us in so many ways...we swoon after them, think about them days or even weeks after we've seen them, write great poetry and songs for them and of course, paint them in all their splendor.  Woo hoo!! 

I saw a lady in a turquoise babygrow (sleeper) and combat boots in Camden. You see lots of silly things in camden.

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 12:21:40 AM
it was a terribly hot sultry day. the sky was gauzy because the sun was partially blocked out by vast amounts of smoke that had risen to the cloud layer.

and here's the look

the woman was maybe 25, medium height, medium thin
she had dark hair, white blouse, white skirt, and a white cotton hat pushed back on her head. at first i thought this is ridiculous, how could she come up with a look like that, how did she find the nerve to wear it. but then as i started to pass her as i drove by, i turned my head. no matter what anyone else thought, or what she thought, she knew her look had turned at least one head.

I don't get it. That sounds like a normal look to me. Or is it one of those 'thou shalt not wear white after labor day' things?

I think I know the hat, and I see plenty of them in stores in Montreal.
Maybe its because you live in the boonies 

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 07:27:02 PM
yeah, combat boots are tricky.

probably should not be worn with dresses.

Oy, now you tell me this

zythyra

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 09:11:50 PM
Montréal looks like it's in the boonies, if you ask me. But it looks lovely!  is it very fun to live there?

European designer types often release new fashions in Montreal before they risk the rest of N. America. They figure that Montreal is European enough that their offerings won't bomb too badly, but that it's American enough to serve as a testing ground to find out what will go over in New York and LA. Because of this phenomenon (and the fact that these 'cutting edge' clothes are sold affordably in Montreal and see a big jump in price if they make it to the US and the rest of Canada) Montreal is pretty much the best-dressed city in N. America.

And it is lovely. I haven't visited all that many of the world's premier cities, but of the ones I've seen, Montreal is the most interesting and charming. New York City, London, Madrid, Bangkok, Tokyo, eat your hearts out. Denver, Dallas, Toronto, you're not even playing on the same field.

But the winters are killer and the summers sweltering.

Quote from: ell on November 01, 2007, 08:48:23 PM

Quote from: y2gender on October 26, 2007, 08:12:07 PM
Oy, now you tell me this

ha ha! you're so cute.

Thanx Ell I live in the north country, heels are pretty silly in ice and snow. Wearing boots with skirts is a much more reasonable combination.

Z

People in the US dress like hell on a daily base, except for NYC. 
In general, the north-east has the best dressed, but NYC is much better
than in style and taste than the other north-east cities.
Everywhere else, It's like people are deliberately trying to look their worse.
Maybe its because there are so many overweight people!

I've been in just about every major city in the US so I know what
I'm talking about. In some areas of San-Francisco, its fashionable,
but on the whole, even there, not so great. And don't talk
to me about the LA bassin, oh my... Very bad.

I lived 3 years in San-Francisco, so hey, it was my city too.
The city's fantastic, I lived on telegraph hill.
But, people don't dress so stylish.

I can it be bad manners when I'm telling my opinion on reality.
I don't think that's how manners are defined.
In Europe there's plenty of cities that dress better than Montreal
and all US cities.
Spanish women, dressed very stylishly when I visited in the late 80's and eary 90's.
In Madrid especially. Paris, about same level as New-York, though the fashion is very different.

Every city or region has its own charm.
But, dressing neatly is not the US's charm except for NYC.

Quote from: Pica Pica on October 26, 2007, 04:36:27 AM
I saw a lady in a turquoise babygrow (sleeper) and combat boots in Camden. You see lots of silly things in camden.

For those who don't know Camden is a part of North London, U.K where anything goes....

even in camden a turquoise baby grow is pushing it.

Quote from: ell on October 26, 2007, 07:27:02 PM

Quote from: Pica Pica on October 26, 2007, 04:36:27 AM
I saw a lady in a turquoise babygrow (sleeper) and combat boots in Camden. You see lots of silly things in camden.

yeah, combat boots are tricky.

probably should not be worn with dresses.

i like how Aimee Mann looks in them on her Whatever cover art

http://img.verycd.com/posts/0601/post-329248-1137688448.jpg

Tricky? Actually, two of my roommates (both gg's) have combat boots and wear them with a skirt and look pretty. I wear my converse boots, and my semi-combat boots (they look like combat boots, but have a heel). Boots and a skirt looks sexy! Everyone in my house wears combat-looking boots. Although, I'm the only one wearing converse boots -- which I get a lot of compliments on, actually. Ironically, another friend of mine wears hers all the time too (exact same pair, exact same size -- grrr! Actually, we look alike, we're the same height, too).

But anyway, boots are really popular up here. Well, in my group of friends, anyway. Platform boots are big, as well. I was thinking of getting a pair, maybe.

And, actually Aimee is wearing docs in that picture (I'm thinking of getting a similar pair for winter, since my converse don't have much grip).

--natalie

Quote from: Keira on November 02, 2007, 04:17:13 AMPeople in the US dress like hell on a daily base ... It's like people are deliberately trying to look their worse.

I live in the Washington DC area and while DC is relatively better dressed than America on the whole, that still isn't saying much. Kiera, I was so glad you said what I always think but rarely say out loud because I get flamed for saying it.

In America nowadays, you're not supposed to put any effort into looking good. There was actually an article in the Washington Post recently about the prevalent attitudes that if you look like you spent time on your looks, it means you're a bad person. Social peer pressure is very strong to avoid makeup, skirts, and dresses. If you dress nice, you stand out from the crowd and people think you're odd.

There is a lot more that could be said about style intersecting with gender issues and feminism, but I'd better shut up now.