Howdy Carolyn, and ROFL to hear your motto "I'll wear hose when the men wear hose". Thanks and back at'cha, I love your posts too! And I just gotta say "Hell, if the men wore hose, and the outfit that goes with 'em, I'd wear 'em and everyday too!"
Funny you should mention it, just today I was looking at two framed pictures on a wall: beautiful old color fashion drawings from the Revolutionary era (about the best decor for restaurants where fruitful eavesdropping on WS types over an Early Bird Special is almost a certainty, BTW). So here's the lady, looking demure in a bonnet matching a long blue coatdress... and all that showed of her legs was a foot in a narrow pointed shoe peeping out. Couldn't tell if she wore hose or not; but probably she did, along with a pantaloon slip and a corset, even! Then here's the man, looking so manly and macho (no kidding either) in his hose - wearing pointy slippers but the foot placement was machoman, arms crossed over a velvet short jacket with a ruffled shirt under it, skintight toreador pants, and cleanshaven with a ponytail. This guy was an absolute hunk, like the way Brom is described in "The legend of Sleepy Hollow"...black curly hair, mischievious cupid face, all bulked up from farmwork and taking care of his horse...you know DaKine. The wearing of hose sure didn't hurt the look of masculine charm of that beautiful era. I know I love those times...I get a little thrill especially to see minuet reenactments (sexiest dance ever invented IMHO, watch and watch close you'll see what I mean) at those Christmas parties fundraising groups sometimes give at historical sites here in Revolutionary War Country (we got a few "George Washington was here" places right here in my hometown). For whatever reason, whether for the beauty and to attract the opposite sex; or practicalities useful then but no longer necessary today (bugs?).... Our Forefathers/mothers seemed to glory in complex modes of dressing; wearing layers of suffochating clothes even at the hottest days of summer. They say that the first explorers from Europe saw Native Americans going naked in the freezing cold winters, too....that it was the Anglos taught them how they could be more comfortable covering themselves up more in the snow with furs rather than slicking on the bear grease/herbal potion and calling it a day; while the Indians taught them how to dress lighter in the summer for comfort.
Did it take til the 20th Century for people to prioritize health and comfort above Tradition, Conformity, Formality, and, sometimes yes, Beauty? Looks like it. I like modern ways best. Taking a ride to The Jersey Shore and jumping in the ocean popped into my mind spontaneously today, to comfort myself after wearing a complete businesswoman get-up for just a couple of hours! Oh Yeah, It Was Bad, especially the way it felt to wear those hot sticky itchy hose on a day of a Joisey Heat Wave, with humidity almost as high as the temperature and rising. But the stockings and heels did look nice with the summer business outfit, and sometimes it's important for my work to give a formal and professional appearance. People that know me in my usual mode gape at me like they're looking at a ghost or something when they catch me wearing "the getup".... Now That's What I Call FUN!!!
Yer pal,
Joan
ps. So there you got "A Day In The Life Of Joan"...more to come, getting offline now, see if I can install one of the three air conditioners I bought yesterday. We lost a tree last year and so now that part of the house needs 'em. Now That's What I Call A THRASH!!
Wish me luck, hope I don't bang up my hands. |
