Well, let me tell ya somethin’ ’bout clothes and fashion, though I ain’t no fancy expert or nothin’.
Clothes, Clothes, Just Clothes at First
Back in my days, clothes were just clothes, ya know? Somethin’ to cover yer behind and keep ya warm. We didn’t have much, just plain stuff. My ma used to make dresses outta flour sacks, can ya believe it? And pa’s shirts, they were all the same color, that dull brown, like dirt. But they lasted forever, I tell ya. We wore ’em till they were full of holes, then patched ’em up and wore ’em some more. No fancy fashion back then, no sirree.
Things Started Changin’, I Guess
Then things started changin’, slowly at first. I remember seein’ pictures in magazines, ladies with fancy hats and dresses that sparkled. Seemed like a whole different world. We didn’t pay much attention, though. Too busy workin’ the farm, feedin’ the chickens, and all that. But I reckon those pictures planted a seed, ya know?
- Work Clothes: Gotta be tough and last long.
- Sunday Clothes: A little bit nicer, for church and such.
- Special Occasion Clothes: Like for a weddin’ or a funeral, if we could afford it.
When Clothes Became More Than Just Clothes
I guess it was around the time my daughter started high school. Suddenly, it wasn’t just about wearin’ anythin’. She wanted this and that, jeans that were tight in all the wrong places, shirts with funny writin’ on ’em. “It’s fashion, Ma,” she’d say. “Everyone’s wearin’ it.” I didn’t get it, not one bit. Spendin’ good money on clothes that didn’t even look comfortable? Seemed plumb crazy to me.
This “Personal Style” Thing, Whatever That Is
Now, they talk about this “personal style” all the time. I heard some young gal on the TV talkin’ about it. Said somethin’ ’bout lookin’ at pictures on the internet, on somethin’ called “Insta-gram” and “Pinter-rest,” I think. She said ya gotta save pictures of clothes ya like, then try ’em on to see if they look good on ya. Sounds like a whole lotta fuss to me. Back in my day, ya wore what ya had, and that was that.
She also talked about how clothes gotta be right for different things, like if yer goin’ to a party or just workin’ in the garden. And she said clothes gotta feel good, too. Well, I can agree with that, at least. Nothin’ worse than wearin’ somethin’ that pinches and scratches all day long.
Fashion Changes All the Time, Like the Weather
This fashion thing, it’s always changin’, ya know? One day it’s bell bottoms, the next it’s skinny jeans. Can’t keep up with it, even if I wanted to. The gal on TV said somethin’ ’bout how fashion changes as ya get older, too. I guess that makes sense. I sure ain’t wearin’ the same things I wore when I was a young gal, that’s for sure.
She said that fashion can help ya try new things. I don’t know about that, but maybe she is right for you young people. I don’t have the heart to try something new at my age, getting dressed and not feeling cold is just about all I need. I did see a woman in town wearing some jeans the other day that looked like a carrot. Can you believe that? A carrot! The things these young people think of.
Some Folks Got Style, Some Don’t, I Guess
Some folks seem to have a knack for this fashion thing. They always look put together, even if they’re just wearin’ jeans and a t-shirt. Others, well, they could wear a diamond tiara and still look like they just rolled outta bed. I guess it’s just somethin’ ya got or ya don’t. Me? I’m just fine with my comfy clothes and my sensible shoes. No need for all that fuss and feathers, not at my age.
The younger generation got lost I tell you. Always trying to be someone else instead of just being themselves. This girl on the TV said, “There are two main reasons that you’re struggling to figure out or define your style. Either you’ve lost touch with the part of yourself that cares, and you’ve given up. Or you’re in transition.” I say, why bother? Why try so hard to be someone else, just wear what feels good and what you can afford and forget about the rest.
In the End, Clothes Are Just Clothes, Right?
So, when do clothes become fashion? I reckon it’s when they become more than just somethin’ to cover ya up. When they become a way to express yerself, to show the world who ya are, or who ya wanna be. But for me, clothes are still just clothes, mostly. Somethin’ to keep me warm and comfortable, and that’s good enough for me. Though, I gotta admit, sometimes I do see a pretty dress in a store window and think, “Now, that’s a nice piece of clothin’.” Maybe there’s a little bit of fashion in all of us, even an old woman like me.
