Dressing for Success Teenage-Style

Why did we all dress the way we did as teenagers? I think we should all answer that question realistically, assertively, and with no fear whatsoever. Also, we should answer this question, "Who were you thinking about when you got dressed in the morning?" For that matter, maybe we should all answer that question referencing who we dressed for THIS morning. Today, I dressed for me. My exercise clothing would not entice the oldest or infirm of men.

When we were teenagers, let's face it, we wanted
            a - That cute guy to notice us.
            b - Our girlfriends to admire our fashion sense.
            c - Not to embarrass ourselves or be noticed for the wrong reason, i.e.
                accidentally wearing elf-slippers to school, forgetting your bra,
                wearing too tight pants that split open to expose bum. (Yep - I did
                all of those.)
               
Wanting to be noticed and at the same time NOT noticed was a heavy burden to bear. So we did what all teenagers did and still do:  follow the popular fashion trends. Come on. Admit it. What did you wear or do with your hair that was completely ridiculous? I myself will freely admit that I wore short skirts, platform shoes, huge earrings, extreme eye makeup and bangs hanging in my eyes. Was I insane?

First of all, there is a difference between what I would have worn if I had free choice and an unlimited budget, and what I wore because that was what my parents bought. Also, if you went to public school, the dress code figured in - for me it was dresses only until my senior year, then only slacks. I wore a combination of what my mother bought on sale (Shopping with her is a whole nother story), hand-me-downs from my older cousin (aack), and stuff I borrowed from friends.

In the spirit of full disclosure, I think we should all post a picture that shows us at our teenage fashion worst. Won't we all feel better afterwards? As a warning, I should mention that one of my husband's students got a hold of a picture of him with long hair and mutton-chops. It is still popping up on the internet and at award banquets when least suspected.

Who didn't roll up their skirt at the waistband before going to school? Who didn't spackle on make-up to hide breakouts? Who didn't shave their legs several years before their mom said they could? Who didn't pierce their ears with an ice-cube and a needle the minute they went away to college? Maybe that was just me...

Don't we all wish we could go back to the past and inject ourselves at age 13 with some common sense and comfort-ability in our own skins like we have now? Or put thoughts in our minds like "High heels give you plantar-fascitis." "or "Don't date that guy when you are 18."  "For the love of everything holy, please wear sun-screen!! Especially when you go to Lake Mead!!"

We can't, and what's more, it wouldn't do any good. I probably wouldn't have listened to me either. Thank goodness I feel comfortable in my own skin today. Now, excuse me, but I have an appointment to have my skin resurfaced, hair dyed, and brows tinted.

Susanne Evans
(whew, signed my real name, feels great to purge.)