A little dignity
I braved the mall today, because my winter party dress got torn a while ago and if I’m to do a round of conferences starting next fall, I’ll need something to wear to the interminable cocktail hours and whathaveyou. And in my experience, the best prices on winter not-quite-formalwear are now.
I do understand why I shop via catalogue and online. Department-store clothes are, like, well, um… I didn’t think it was possible to be both boring and entirely undignified, but those selections somehow managed it. I’m no fashion plate, but I know what I like to wear, and that stuff so wasn’t it.
Then I walked into Coldwater Creek and said “aha!” Clothes with a little dignity to them, some sweep and some color—but not all over beads and sequins and general gaudy uglitude. Found a nice purple jacketed number in my size, half off; snagged it immediately before someone else did.
And then I noticed I was the youngest woman in the place. Which struck me as odd. When I think about it, I’m much less concerned for my general dignity now than I was half my life ago. My wardrobe for the most part backs that up, as those who have seen the Unmissable Green Dress can attest. I didn’t quite realize dignity skewed to certain age groups, I suppose.
When I grow old… ah, hell. I’ll wear purple now.