Recently I came across an interesting post on one of the many talented
blogs I follow. The title was something like, “Skirts in the winter…it’s a thing!” To be perfectly honest I have no idea what
the exact title of this amusing rant actually was. In fact, if I was really going to fess up I
would admit I didn’t even read the actual article but merely scanned it while thinking, “Yep, I knew it. I knew
I wasn’t the only one!" Sometimes the tiniest bit of vindication is
the only thing a lady needs.
I freely
admit I love wearing long, flowy, bohemian style skirts and
honestly think I could convert to solely them if not for the plunging South Dakota winter
temperatures. However, in my mind that’s
why God made leggings. Let me state that
again. God made leggings in order to
have something warm to wear under a vintage skirt in the winter…as an undergarment…not a
primary piece of clothing. If I want to
wear a pair of comfy pants I bust out the Champion brand sweats…coordinated
with a pair of baggy gym shorts over them…and a sweatband around my head. Okay, maybe I don’t go all hardcore, “Goonies,”
on my days off, but I kind of want to.
Actually, it wasn’t so long ago that I was
on the hunt for a new pair of Champions.
I was standing in the middle of Kmart, feeling defeated, when I ended up calling
my brother in a tizzy seeking comfort for the fact that there was not a pair of
drawstring sweats to be found in all of town. “All
I see is freakin leggings and yoga pants,” I raged. At this point he had to, yet again, remind me
that it was no longer 1984.
I think it’s obvious I can’t
stand the athletic wear movement that has taken over mainstream women’s
clothing. This is probably a statement that
will not earn me a lot of popularity. However, I just feel like these garments have become a uniform that makes the general public extremely
boring to look at. I mean what ever
happened to individuality?
I experienced this firsthand the day I wore
the outfit in the above images. I had
dressed to meet a friend for the afternoon and decided to get groceries
after. Unfortunately, I ended up going to a store that I usually don't frequent since I was closer to it's location. Basically, I’m super cheap when it comes to food and I don’t
see the point of buying Ben & Jerry’s for twice as much, simply to be seen
shopping with the, "Who’s Who." As I was
walking the aisles I began to feel self-conscious of what I was wearing. “This is odd,” I reflected. "I thought this outfit was dynamite twenty
minutes ago. What the heck is wrong
with me,” I wondered. At this point I
took a good look at my surroundings and noticed the glaring fact that I wasn’t, "in uniform." Every female who walked by had
on a pair of leggings, a back puffer coat, and a pair of Sorel boots. The fact that I was wearing a now embarrassingly
loud 90’s, relaxed fit, leopard print jumper with fringed cowgirl boots suddenly seemed tacky. “This would have never happened at Walmart,”
I silently cursed.
This last statement brings me to the real
issue I’ve been pondering. I can’t stand it when people mock the style sense of those who shop at good ol’ Wally
World. While I understand that Walmart
is the ultimate evil that puts many beloved mom and pop shops out of business,
I also acknowledge that this company employs and empowers a lot of individuals
that otherwise may have a hard time finding a job. Lastly, I'll admit that I make fun of Walmart. A lot of strange stuff can happen at that
store…especially if you find yourself there in the wee hours of the
morning. However, I will never speak
evil of what people wear while shopping there.
I can honestly state I have never seen such a fascinating mix of style. Whether it be good or bad, there is no better
place to witness individual character on display through fashion. Most importantly, one can wear a leopard
print jumper to Walmart and fit right in.
-r.
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