When I read the scenario, AuntyK seemed presented as a reasonably, but rather informally, dressed person, attending a fairly formal event, not a far out kook in really offensive clothes (which is why I asked if the socks had nasty sayings on them).
One of the many interesting things about watching this scenario play out has been observing the assumptions people are making about her attire based on their attitudes about her.
This is what I actually said. <<I showed up in my usual attire--elastic waist pants, a tunic-length cotton-knit shirt, flat shoes, and socks.>>
What I had in mind when I wrote that was my actual usual attire, which is a color coordinated, usually black, cotton knit pant and tunic top, black cotton pant socks, and a black loafer. Except for the shoes, Auntie's outfit would be indistinguishable at a distance from the pant suit you suggested save for the fabric, which you correctly said was an important difference. It has been interesting to see Auntie described as a bag lady with smelly, soiled tennis shoes, slouch-style athletic socks, extra droopy, and a t-shirt straight from Walmart's Hanes counter. And perish the thought of elastic waist pants, particularly given that the tunic top covers the waist and hips and no one would ever know there was elastic there except by the relaxed smile on Auntie's face. Interesting, indeed. |
