Fashion Week has arrived in Bryant Park, and once again I'm skiing in Colorado instead of being in New York for the shows. I'm looking out at two inches of new snow at Crested Butte, Colorado, and am very happy with my choice. That's my husband Leigh with me just before our first run of the day.
I have been thinking a lot lately about how fashion trends, as determined by the clothing industry, can influence even the most strong-willed of us. It amazes me how we can be taught to lust after a color, style, or shape one season and a year later be scornful of the very same piece.
Certainly exposure increases our liking of anything. My first day at Disney World I was appalled by all the kitschy Disney shirts, purses, jackets, and hats being worn by other visitors. By the third day, I was thinking some of them were pretty cute and started looking more closely. By the last day I was tucking a Mickey Mouse watch and a Tigger nightshirt into my suitcase. Resistance is futile.
My pet fashion peeve this year has been the Bootie. It's just what we all need: a shoe that cuts us off at the ankle, making our legs look shorter. To compensate for this, we have booties with platforms and dangerously high heels. Remember a few years ago when very high platforms were the rage with young women in Japan? and the rash of broken bones and auto accidents as a result? We're next, girlfriends, if we get "vogued" into wearing these.
On the other hand, Lisa came to a dinner party wearing a pair of booties; a 2-inch heel, but no platform. She looked adorable. I've ordered a pair for spring.
