Puzzling: Fashion Trends
Our social trends never fails to be a source of amusement for me. (Though I suspect that my highly unfashionable ways are equally amusing to them). Every year, I look around at the latest styles, latest crazes, and I wonder WHY?? It seems that the more unlikely the item is, the more in style it's doomed to be.
Anyway, forgive my little rant.
Low-carb diets:
My favorite bread company (www.naturalovens.com) recently came out with two low-carb breads. I'm a little disappointed that they gave in to the craze, though I understand. I read an article a few months ago about how so many small bakeries are going out of business because their old customers decided to try the low-carb diets. As a result, those that remain are forced to included low-carb items (never an easy thing for a bakery) on the menu. I'm sure that's probably what happened with Natural Ovens). Still...this reflects a trend that has puzzled me from the beginning.
I'll admit to some bias here: I was a runner for years, and had the importances of adequate carbs drilled into my head. Personally, I also think that life isn't worth living without bread (real bread, not the fake stuff), fruit, and chocolate--all of which are high in carbohydrates. Perhaps it makes a difference in perspective that I've never been overweight, and I can't understand the desperation of wanting to lose weight, and just not succeeding (as a teenager, I was a on prepentual diet--like every other teenage girl with typically low self-esteem...but even then, I think I lacked this desperation). So maybe I should reserve judgement...
But that aside, someone explain to me how one can live eating only protein and lots of fats, with miniscule amounts of carbohydrates. I remember something about that Atkins diet being a "lifestyle," and I assume that means one gives up high-carb foods forever. Is that possible? Food isn't merely a source of nutrients (I won't even go into the nutritional deficencies of low-carb diets), but it's also a source of pleasure. I can't give up chocolate or fruits for a week (we'll see what happens over Lent, I might try giving up caffeine instead. Religion or not, the period of learning control through restriction is good for me)...much less forever! Is it really worth it? I don't know--I'm lucky enough to have it both ways (the waistline and the bread). For those who feel that they have to choose between the two, maybe giving up 1/2 the food choices is worth it for them. Still, I don't understand how a low-carb diet works any better than simply cutting calories and adding some exercise.
Jeans 3 sizes too small:
This one has being around for years...I can remember it from junior high. It hasn't made any more sense to me. WHY do girls put on jeans which must be uncomfortable, pinches against either their fat or bones, and makes skinny girls look even more gaunt, and average girls look large, and larger girls look extremely unappealing? Those things flatter no one, so why does everyone where? For all the girls who ask, "do these jeans make me look fat"--the answer is a resounding "YES" if wear such an odd style. I've been talked into buying one pair (though it's actually a little bigger then my size)...and that has to be the most second most uncomfortable thing I've ever put on (see throngs below for #1). It pinches against my hipbone (#@$%@#!), and I feel almost too crippled to walk, though the (female) friend I wa with kept complaining that it's not tight enough.
Blah.
Corsets:
The one fashion item this year that I actually like, though I think it's either not enough, or overdone. Maybe it's because I'm a purest or a history buff, but when I think corsets, I'm thinking of exact replicas of Victorian/edwardian styles, made to fit the specific body (like in the old days). I'm not exactly thinking of clothing that's meant to vaguely resemble corsets, but (in my eyes) fails rather miserably. It's just tight enough to outline every curve that one might not want outlined, but not tight enough to smooth those curves the way corsets are supposed to.
And the latest trend spills into some unique s/m clothing that's interesting only if I'm not wearing it. Corsets have become the latest fetish (or maybe it's always been that way, and I was too naive to notice). I really don't know how to respond to this trend. Perhaps I'm guilty of it too, as I spend over a hundred dollars (absolutely outrageous, by my standards) for a custom-made, exact replica of a Victorian style corset...or perhaps I'm just being stubborn.
Really high heeled shoes:
I'm 5'2 on a good day, and if I stretch. By all fashion standards, I should practically SLEEP in these things. However, the tallest shoes I own are the boots I received for Christnas, with a puny 3" heel...and I suspect that I'd only be able to wear them on a date (when I cling on to my date's arm, as that's the only way I'm ever going to balance in those things). How do girls do it? Don't they end up with massive shin splits from walking in those heavy, clunky things? (I know I would...but it could just be a deficent shin on my part). When I'm walking through Chicago or my dorm on a weeknight, I see them all the time...and I don't understand how anyone could actually pull it off.
Unlike my earlier rant on jeans, I actually have to admit that these shoes (worn correctly, and if you're not falling off-balance like me) are actually visually appealing--they do add height especially to your legs, and I can definitely see why girls my height views them as a necessity.
But I can't walk in them to save my life.
Throngs:
One question: how could anyone possibly claim that they are comfortable? The same friend as with the jeans above had me try a pair for a day. After a day's worth of having a string rub against my tailbone (probably the equivalent of being kicked in the crotch for men), I could barely sit down...and I was ready to kill her. I can understand why men find them appealing...but why do women wear these? Is it only for their boyfriends/dates/husbands? Does wearing next to nothing make them feel more attractive, and therefore act more confident? Are there any s/m types who actually enjoy this pain?
Spare me.
Anyway, forgive my little rant.
Low-carb diets:
My favorite bread company (www.naturalovens.com) recently came out with two low-carb breads. I'm a little disappointed that they gave in to the craze, though I understand. I read an article a few months ago about how so many small bakeries are going out of business because their old customers decided to try the low-carb diets. As a result, those that remain are forced to included low-carb items (never an easy thing for a bakery) on the menu. I'm sure that's probably what happened with Natural Ovens). Still...this reflects a trend that has puzzled me from the beginning.
I'll admit to some bias here: I was a runner for years, and had the importances of adequate carbs drilled into my head. Personally, I also think that life isn't worth living without bread (real bread, not the fake stuff), fruit, and chocolate--all of which are high in carbohydrates. Perhaps it makes a difference in perspective that I've never been overweight, and I can't understand the desperation of wanting to lose weight, and just not succeeding (as a teenager, I was a on prepentual diet--like every other teenage girl with typically low self-esteem...but even then, I think I lacked this desperation). So maybe I should reserve judgement...
But that aside, someone explain to me how one can live eating only protein and lots of fats, with miniscule amounts of carbohydrates. I remember something about that Atkins diet being a "lifestyle," and I assume that means one gives up high-carb foods forever. Is that possible? Food isn't merely a source of nutrients (I won't even go into the nutritional deficencies of low-carb diets), but it's also a source of pleasure. I can't give up chocolate or fruits for a week (we'll see what happens over Lent, I might try giving up caffeine instead. Religion or not, the period of learning control through restriction is good for me)...much less forever! Is it really worth it? I don't know--I'm lucky enough to have it both ways (the waistline and the bread). For those who feel that they have to choose between the two, maybe giving up 1/2 the food choices is worth it for them. Still, I don't understand how a low-carb diet works any better than simply cutting calories and adding some exercise.
Jeans 3 sizes too small:
This one has being around for years...I can remember it from junior high. It hasn't made any more sense to me. WHY do girls put on jeans which must be uncomfortable, pinches against either their fat or bones, and makes skinny girls look even more gaunt, and average girls look large, and larger girls look extremely unappealing? Those things flatter no one, so why does everyone where? For all the girls who ask, "do these jeans make me look fat"--the answer is a resounding "YES" if wear such an odd style. I've been talked into buying one pair (though it's actually a little bigger then my size)...and that has to be the most second most uncomfortable thing I've ever put on (see throngs below for #1). It pinches against my hipbone (#@$%@#!), and I feel almost too crippled to walk, though the (female) friend I wa with kept complaining that it's not tight enough.
Blah.
Corsets:
The one fashion item this year that I actually like, though I think it's either not enough, or overdone. Maybe it's because I'm a purest or a history buff, but when I think corsets, I'm thinking of exact replicas of Victorian/edwardian styles, made to fit the specific body (like in the old days). I'm not exactly thinking of clothing that's meant to vaguely resemble corsets, but (in my eyes) fails rather miserably. It's just tight enough to outline every curve that one might not want outlined, but not tight enough to smooth those curves the way corsets are supposed to.
And the latest trend spills into some unique s/m clothing that's interesting only if I'm not wearing it. Corsets have become the latest fetish (or maybe it's always been that way, and I was too naive to notice). I really don't know how to respond to this trend. Perhaps I'm guilty of it too, as I spend over a hundred dollars (absolutely outrageous, by my standards) for a custom-made, exact replica of a Victorian style corset...or perhaps I'm just being stubborn.
Really high heeled shoes:
I'm 5'2 on a good day, and if I stretch. By all fashion standards, I should practically SLEEP in these things. However, the tallest shoes I own are the boots I received for Christnas, with a puny 3" heel...and I suspect that I'd only be able to wear them on a date (when I cling on to my date's arm, as that's the only way I'm ever going to balance in those things). How do girls do it? Don't they end up with massive shin splits from walking in those heavy, clunky things? (I know I would...but it could just be a deficent shin on my part). When I'm walking through Chicago or my dorm on a weeknight, I see them all the time...and I don't understand how anyone could actually pull it off.
Unlike my earlier rant on jeans, I actually have to admit that these shoes (worn correctly, and if you're not falling off-balance like me) are actually visually appealing--they do add height especially to your legs, and I can definitely see why girls my height views them as a necessity.
But I can't walk in them to save my life.
Throngs:
One question: how could anyone possibly claim that they are comfortable? The same friend as with the jeans above had me try a pair for a day. After a day's worth of having a string rub against my tailbone (probably the equivalent of being kicked in the crotch for men), I could barely sit down...and I was ready to kill her. I can understand why men find them appealing...but why do women wear these? Is it only for their boyfriends/dates/husbands? Does wearing next to nothing make them feel more attractive, and therefore act more confident? Are there any s/m types who actually enjoy this pain?
Spare me.