As regular readers know, I “cracked the code” on my missing picture boxes and now have them safely stored in my closet. As I cruised through them yet again, I enjoyed revisiting some of the clothes and accessories I wore.
I’ve never considered myself a style maven, but I enjoy feeling comfortable and vaguely stylish (in an Old School kind of way) in my clothes, but I’m not good at accessorizing. And as Truvie said in Steel Magnolias, “The difference between man and animal is the ability to accessorize.”
Now, as I look at those old photos, I realize I once was better at it.
An early photo shows me beside our car, wearing a pinafore any little girl would love, and, at age three, carrying a purse matching my shoes. The next photo shows me all decked out to attend a wedding. The dress is navy blue voile with white polka dots and white ruffly sleeves. I’m wearing white wrist-length gloves, a white hat with navy trim and navy anklets inside white Mary Janes.
At my throat is a delicate necklace and a contrasting white flower blooms at my waist. Written on the back: “Carol loved this dress.” Truer words were never spoken. I still remember it vividly, even though I was only eight.
Later pictures show my progression to stylish wear for school. My feet are in saddle oxfords and cuffed bobby sox looking like ankle donuts, beneath a straight skirt and sweater, while a fake collar peeks out from its neckline. Another fake collar appears in a close-up, with a dangling, droopy bow, resembling a dog with his tongue out. At least there’s no drool.
Scarves were popular accessories, too. While still in grade school, I’m wearing one knotted and tucked under my shirt collar, with the tails cascading down my chest. We also wore ones tied at our throats and spun to the side, above sweaters buttoned up the back.
By junior high, we favored crinolines, which made us look like Marilyn Monroe on the air vent. We carried bucket bags and wore Corot jewelry, when we didn’t have on our pop beads.
A high-school outfit might be a matched sweater and skirt, worn with hose and Ferragamo flats. After school we thought we looked VERY cool in madras shorts and Bas Weejun loafers.
The purpose of our Old School attire was to help us fit in – all-important at the time, without a single animal in sight.
Reach columnist Carol McEwen at carolwrites4fun@gmail.com.
