The College of St. Scholastica has a rich and beautiful history… Seriously-- those ladies knew fashion. (1) Perhaps every student was born with high-style, but columns in past newspapers like “Shelia Shops” (2) or selections from Mademoiselle Magazine (3) kept early Scholasticans up-to-date with the latest fashion trends.
In fashion, classics are always in style. Wanting to be a stylish lady myself, I decided to dive into the past to update my modern wardrobe. I discovered quickly that the classic fashion may uphold, but the classic mentality leaves a lot to be desired.
The April seventh, nineteen thirty-seven article “That Mysterious Bag” cautions women to be neat, fresh-smelling, and tidy with their purses because that is the true mark of a feminine lady. The article even states:
“As far as character and temperament are revealed by the contents of handbags, surveys of the situation show that women have been caught with…miscellanea in their bags…We’re no crystal gazer but we think we can give as good a performance…when a female purse is opened to our inquisitive gaze.”
If a purse reveals a character of a woman, (4) then my over-stuffed satchel with a notebook, a deck of cards, some tissues, and pens only lead to one conclusion. I am Indiana Jones, with a cold.
Even having a full bag is an issue because, as the article states,
“The woman whose bag practically explodes in your startled face-she’s the one…handicapped by her muchness in career or home life.”
It is possible I am ambitious, but to me, that’s not a problem. I like being a driven, modern woman who wants my purse to be a second home. I am not the ideal lady of the late-thirties (5) with a clutter-free bag, lightly perfumed, and dripping with feminine charm. Like many women in the twenty-first century, I’ve got places to go, people to see, and things to do. Plus, how are you supposed to sneak in snacks to a movie theater with such a dainty bag?! Priorities, ladies.
While past fashion is fun to look at, it may not be applicable to me. My love of functionality in a bag will always win over dainty, lady-like purses.
**Pictures can be found on weightywording.blogspot.com
**Highlighted numbers SHOULD NOT be spoken
No comments:
Post a Comment