If you lived in the States during the late 60’s/early 70’s, you may have watched a weekly series for a few years called “Lost in Space”. A family-the Robinsons-was sent into space for a short jaunt; the father was a space engineer, the mother was a doctor, and they had 3 children. Accompanying them was a co-pilot, and, unbeknownst to them, the resident bad guy, Dr. Smith, who snuck on before takeoff for his own devious reasons. Due to his intruding, plans were foiled and they found themselves…ah…lost in space. The galaxies offered grit for many sagas, even though today’s kids would scoff at the makeup and costumes of the aliens. Even the story lines were tame by today’s sci-fi standards, such as the alien who traveled across the universe, collecting beings for his zoo. People hadn’t yet experienced high tech special effects, so what the show offered was the height of coolness, even in the early black and white episodes. My personal favorite was when a female alien became enamored of the never-trustworthy, always lazy, Dr. Smith. His memorable character acting was never as funny as in that particular story line. The sexy femme fatale would appear outside of the spaceship window cooing “Dr. Smith” as she floated back and forth. Dr. Smith would run screaming and crying in his cowardly way, giving viewers a big laugh-or at least a smile. But none of this tops Robot. I loved Robot. Robot was the genius, the pet, the comic foil, and most importantly, the thorn in the side of Dr. Smith. He’d wave his stretchy-pipe arms and intone, “Danger Will Robinson, Danger”, and you knew something horrible was coming. He and Dr. Smith would trade insults until Dr. Smith would pull out Robot’s power pack and Robot would collapse with a sound that defies description. But by the end of every show, the family would escape the clutches of whatever evil alien being was intending to harm them, and be on their way to the next adventure. The movie version failed to do it justice, and I don’t recollect any board games, dolls or merchandise connected to it-true class.

Thinking about this earlier today again made me wonder if we, as a human society of the future, will ever wear the clothing that science fiction writers and designers portray. In this show, as in many other television and movie productions, the future means unisex attire, usually as a jumpsuit, and most often with long sleeves. It’s rather understood that we will have the joy of miracle fiber in the future, material that will keep us cool in summer, warm in winter, never need special laundering or any ironing, will come in flattering colors-or metallics-while still able to conform to our body-with the supreme advantage of not allowing any bulges, rolls, or other drawbacks to be apparent. This is a bit different than the clothes presented on the future world cartoon “The Jetsons” because in that, everyone did have unique styles, albeit quite geometric looking. (Of course, there is always the realm of future depicted by the entertainment industry in which everyone walks around in rags because the world has been practically destroyed, but we won’t go there today.)

My question is, do you think that the day will come when everyone will dress alike in unisex clothing? If it happened upon us in the next year-however absurd that may seem, would you go for it?

On one hand, I can see where a far-off future society-say thousands of years away-may be much more enlightened than we are, and will be at an intellectual and emotional place where attire isn’t important. In that case, unisex clothing would be much, much simpler in terms of decisions, packing, washing…not to mention what we could do with all the time and energy we now spend shopping, trying on, sewing, and accessorizing. It actually would be quite nice to be at such a place. But as far as things look to me, I can’t see that ever happening in our lifetime; we’re a far way from being that enlightened. We still want diversity, interest, fun and uniqueness. Our great, great, great, great, great grandchildren may never understand, but right now, fashion is fun, isn’t it?

For me, the decision to be a stay-at-home mom was clear. Knowing that working a minimum of 45 hours per week without job sharing or part time options would be difficult, I sadly resigned from an enjoyable job. This choice enabled me to share many precious moments that I would have missed, as it would for any mother. However, I’ll never forget how hard it was for me to live with my choice on a day to day basis. There were countless days that I would have jumped at the chance to have gotten dressed, left her with a sitter, and resumed my life as I knew it. I’d even dream about doing so-at those times when I could actually sleep. I missed the camaraderie and having someplace to go every day. I missed having business goals, results, and my own paycheck. And I really missed going out to lunch with other adults. All of my friends were at work, and with mostly elderly neighbors, I had no neighborhood connections, on top of not having siblings, cousins or in-laws nearby. My days consisted of feeding, changing and quieting a very fussy infant; motherhood wasn’t as I imagined. Had I disliked working to begin with, it would have been different, but my work was my life. However, fate arranged it for me to start a whole different direction. That said, today’s column is going to focus on a stay-at-home-mom’s wardrobe, or, better yet, the mindset transition from a working wardrobe.

Since I had the luxury on not needing to leave the house to attend to other children, I became used to wearing loose pants and t-shirts until the baby fat came off. Even back to my pre-maternity size, I still strived for comfort, so hubby’s old shirts fit the bill-and made nursing easier. As much as I feared becoming a household drudge, I also saw no need to wear nice clothes when staying inside all day. A walk down the street or to the park relied heavily on comfy running/tennis shoes-especially because foot size tends to increase with pregnancy-and regular shorts. I started saving t-shirts for home and used occasions of going out, such as grocery shopping, to wear tops that were a bit more attractive while still informal. When my daughter started preschool, I was encouraged to see that other stay at home moms didn’t let motherhood get the best of their fashion style. Now, they weren’t decked out in dry-clean-needing silks, but no one was frumpy, either. For the most part, moms used preschool time to run chores or keep appointments, so their classic clothes were not only getting some wear, they served as an ego-booster. It’s good for woman to feel like she looks good, even if the only ones who sees her are strangers.

As time went on, I altered some of my former work attire for casual wear, and it became quite pleasant to not be concerned about shopping, feeling like I could travel to the beat of my own drummer. All stay-at-home-moms can. Don’t like jeans? Wear casual pants. Like skirts? Wear them to the drug store, the vets, or church. Do you like to live in tailored blouses? Go ahead; why not? And as for sweat suits, sweat pants and oversized sweaters are concerned, yes I have them, but I don’t live in them-just like with our working sisters, there’s at-home and going-out choices. It’s great to not be cemented into any particular look or wardrobe style.

The primary requirements for a stay at home mom’s wardrobe are: ability to be easily laundered (kids make a lot of messes), practicality (will you be able to wear it to a casual dinner as easily as to Gymboreee?), comfort (when you’re sleep deprived and cranky, anything uncomfortable will make your day even more miserable), and whether you feel attractive in it. When you spend much of your life at home, you need your morale boosted in as many ways as possible. So go for whatever calls out to you; no one is judging you and there’s no such thing as a dress code!

And remember that Supermoms can do almost anything, but not all at the same time!

Perhaps it’s just my impression, but I swear that different neighborhoods have distinct personalities. Revisiting them at least once a year allows me to feel that those old pals are still doing just fine. And just like getting reacquainted with someone after a long absence, I take pleasure in enjoying their unique gifts once again. They may not remember me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t missed them! They are so diverse, in fact, that I can indulge myself in dressing for the locale-sort of like saving eccentric fashion looks for Soho or Greenwich Village, and designer looks for the Upper East Side.

Although Pittsburgh is not New York, we still have opportunities to dress for outings. One of my favorite places is Squirrel Hill. As the Jewish center of our city, many Orthodox and Hassidic followers fill the streets, wearing yarmulkes, dreadlocks, traditional black attire, and women in long, dark skirts. Visiting ethnic stores and dairy eateries, a woman may feel just a bit out of place showing too much skin-or she might not. Since stepping into this world is escape into old world living, I prefer to err on the side of conservatism.

A neighborhood not far from there is Shadyside, consisting of older, expensive homes and an upscale shopping district is only about 4 blocks long. I go there to treat myself, as it’s a little too fancy for every day shopping. You could easily pull out those items that are one of kind or logo-labeled and fit right in, using this visit as the chance to finally use those long scarves or out-of-the-ordinary jewelry.

A slightly more bohemian neighborhood is found in older parts of our city’s South Side, where antique and specialty shops compete with tattoo parlors and biker bars. There is a newly recently section, but my verdict about that is still not in. The preppy folks gathered in the central rotunda outside of the Cheesecake Factory prove that it’s popular, but I’m still partial to the original blocks.

Oakland is the academic hub of town, home to two major universities, two colleges and an extensive health complex. Young adults abound everywhere, as do their band clubs and bars. Since people flock from all over the world for education and health care, there is a huge diversity of population. Seeing saris, turbans, and mid-eastern veils mingling with a sea of denim means wearing indulging your identity and youthful creativity-such as hand painted shirts, tie-dyed items, baseball caps, and university alumnae gear-especially if you studied in this ‘burg.

Then there’s the Strip District-quaint, comfortable, and exciting. Primarily known for wholesale provisions, it’s where restaurants obtain their wares at dawn. But anyone can enter a fish market and pick out dinner from huge tanks of eels and lobsters and enjoy the dozens of ethnic markets, restaurants, and shops. Walking here is like stepping into other countries; employees speak their native tongues, and the vacuum-sealed atmosphere we’re used to isn’t always evident. Neither are grocery carts. What you buy, you carry, and since parking is at a premium, it could be a long haul. Since this is the place where working folk go for good deals, one doesn’t want to look too conspicuously fancy. Think packing district décor, where comfy, closed shoes are a requirement. The old world charm of mesh shopping bags carried by the little old ladies and the brown wrapping paper of meats and cheeses echoes nicely with today’s Green movement. This is not a place to dress to impress, at least not during daylight hours. (There are some dance clubs on the outskirts for that.)

Going to any of these places is a great break chain stores. They show us what life is like outside of our own little circle. These towns are also close to my heart for their original and residential living not far from its business area, allowing residents to forgo cars. Energies are different from the suburbs, and I find the cultural mix stimulating-along with the wide variety of focus in fashion. I love neighborhoods with personality; just like individuals with personality, they’re hard to forget!

Consider your wardrobe before visiting unique parts of your city and your visit may be even better!

Recently, as I flipped through a new fashion magazine, an ad caught my eye. It was for Sketchers, and said, “Nothing Compares to Family”. It used a photograph of Tori Spelling and her son, Liam…assumingly both wearing Sketchers. The ad included the fact that Sketchers joins Ms. Spelling in support of the K.I.D.S. Foundation, and to visit www.SKETCHERS.com/charities.

Now, I liked that. It is uplifting that not every company is only looking out for number one. When one considers how much money is being made on overpriced clothing that costs a fraction of its price tag in terms of material, it does seem almost sinful that our purchasing power is just making executives rich. It seems that, with so much emphasis on “going green” these days, we, as a society, would be much more conscious about how we make our choices. The last time I remember any strong emphasis on such considerations was a few years back, when we found out the abhorrent conditions under which many foreign workers slaved to give us the clothes we so nonchalantly toss in our closets. So, I was pleasantly surprised to see Sketchers take a step in the right direction.

My faith was even further renewed in mankind’s altruism when I found yet another page encouraging shoppers to “do good” with their purchasing power. On just this one page, six different organizations are inspiring to rise above petty greediness for their own bottom line and allow their sales to offer help where it is urgently needed. I don’t know about you, but I’m much more apt to part with my cash if I think it is providing assistance instead of just filling some corporate pocket. If you agree, here are a few starting points to get you going in the right direction:

Small Flower-30% of sales of L’Aromatheque Cassis Perfume Extract benefits the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The price is $9.50 at smallflower.com for .28 ounces.

Erica Weiner-30% of sales of a gold-toned, filigree ring at $20 will benefit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The ring is wide, etched, and appears to be able to fit most fingers. It can be found at ericaweiner.com

Shop Daja-They are offering an origami dress for $363, 30% of which will benefit the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Their website is shopdaja.com. The one advertised is a royal blue and A-line, with black tank top-like straps, a black belt, and black, lacy fringes around the neckline.

Figments-Figments Designs will donate 30% of sales from a $62 coin purse to Humane Society of the United States. Check out figmetnsdesign.com to see this beautifully gold and ivory embroidered bag with one central clasp.

Shop Intuition-Unique summer sandals can be found for $154; asymmetrical straps, crisscrossing below where the 3rd toe would lay and topped with a small band, have a very modern appeal. With the wider strap across the instep, the look becomes funky, as well. The ones pictured appear to be either white satin or white patent leather. The Humane Society of the United States will receive over $46 of each pair sold.

Violet.Com-Offers a magnolia and baby’s breath patterned platter, of which 30% of sales benefits the Humane Society of the United States. It is square, off white in color, with dark gray, pencil-like botanical designs stretching from diagonal corners and meeting in the center. It is truly lovely, for $75.

Clearly, these are Animal Welfare organizations, which need help just as much as all other charities. If you want to find out about other animal organizations that will profit from your purchases of tops, bags, jewelry, scarves and other items, check out animal and pet lover magazines. In the back there are many ads of items where your money not only gives you something a bit out of the ordinary to wear and/or use, you’ll be doing a wonderful thing to help “those who cannot help themselves.” (I once bought a pretty t-shirt with an outline of a cat, which benefited a group named Felines, and I felt wonderful every time I wore it.)

If you know of such an organization, please feel free to share it here so that we can all know about it. Thank you!

I love books in a series. They are rather comforting, like returning to the familiarity of a favorite restaurant or catching up with an old friend. For the most part, there are the same characters in the same setting, with the same problems, and the curiosity of what’s been going on in their lives is too great to ignore.

Invariably, I choose series of prolific authors, so I get to spend quite a while with the main players, and feel like I know them quite well. I mourn a series coming to an end; it’s saying goodbye to someone without their hearing, and then wondering what has become of them. Unfortunately, Ed McBain’s 87th Precinct series came to a premature end with his passing, so there’s a definite sadness in knowing that the personal sagas will never reach closure…Until Sue Grafton reaches the end of her alphabet-based private eye series, and Dianne Mott Davidson concludes her story about her caterer/detective character, I’ll be OK.

From my teen years, I’ve had to reads series books in order, on the surmise that being out of order would not make sense. But with my current favorite, I am stumped. Robert Parker’s Spencer series must include 30 books, but do you think I can find a chronological list of publication anywhere? I’ve taken to checking every book in local libraries for its release date and borrowing the oldest ones, but I’m still not reading in sequence. It’s unsettling. One way I know where I am is by his wonderful and ongoing descriptions of characters’ clothing. In fact, that’s one of the most fascinating aspects of reading older books-learning about how they appreciated current styles.

In the 1976 installment I finished last night, there were no fewer than 6 references to maens’ leisure suits. Maroon checked, pale blue, and white linen were some of the colors. Apparently they were best worn with shirts that had long lapels and open necklines, on some occasions with white belts and white shoes. Hmmm…I have vague recollections of my dad having one leisure suit, but it was a sober, conservative beige. And I don’t think anyone ever had the chance to see any of his chest hair. Another principal player was noted as wearing a white leather cape with a hood. Does anyone out there ever remembering men wearing such a thing 30 years ago? In Mr. Parker’s later editions (which I read before becoming aware of the multitude of his works), he expounded a great deal on his male friend’s love/hate relationship with clothes. The man scorned preppy gym attire like designer logo shirts and fancy sneakers, but made sure he always had a decorative handkerchief in his breast pocket, matching tie, and real gem cufflinks. (The same guy with the previous white cape, by the way.)

Authors have a tremendous ability to flesh out a character by simply focusing on their clothing.

Tamara Meyers’ main character in her series about a Mennonite bed and breakfast owner-and gets caught up in murders-makes frequent references to her “sturdy, Christian underwear” while her eccentric sister stuffs her bra with unexpected items and wraps yards of chiffon around herself. Now, can’t you just picture these women? If you love learning about New York happenings in the 1940’s and 1950’s as I do, you should read Rex Stout’s Nero Wolfe series. Every character is thoroughly described to where you can’t help but get an absolutely clear image of their lifestyle-at least back then. With an emphasis on class and social position, “ladies and gentlemen” changed for dinner, always wore hats, and never wore anything not freshly “pressed.” Mr. Wolfe himself, although never leaving his house on business, was daily outfitted in an expensive suit (which he kept on during his twice-daily escape to his penthouse orchid room) and an ever-present yellow shirt. Archie Goodwin, his assistant and narrator of the events was no slouch in the fashion department either-he always noted a desire to keep his new summer suits and shoes looking good in the midst of shooting and roughing up the bad guys.

Reading continuing series like these is more than an escape; it’s a pleasant mini-vacation to places offering more than our usual daily lives. Do so if you can.

About 18 months ago, my teenaged daughter began to be mesmerized by the fad of streaking hair with colors holding such dubious names as Bubblegum, Lime and Blueberry. Although these food-oriented titles might reflect usually delicious treats, there’s nothing natural about seeing the colors on anyone’s head. But it’s apparently considered status-quo nowadays, at least in real life, if not in many high-fashion venues. Have you ever really given the issue any thought? If you’re a mom of teens, you may have. If you’re under 25, you’ve probably done it. But, I need to ask, what was the reason?

About six years ago, a friend mentioned that other mothers “hated” her because she often allowed her high schooler to put those colored streaks in her hair. Her response was to shrug and say, “It’s only hair.” I think that’s one more dividing line among people-those that see such things as “No big deal” versus those to whom it is a big deal. I never in a million years thought I’d fall into the latter category, but wouldn’t you know that’s where I happen to be. What’s funny is that I don’t know how I arrived there.

Perhaps having my daughter in my 30’s instead of my 20’s made a difference. Now, I can only envy those girls, who, simply by virtue of the fact they’re young, are beautiful. Their hair is naturally shiny and free of grey, and even doing absolutely nothing, their exuberance and youth radiates. They’ve no need to spend 15minutes applying toning cream, plastering makeup, and covering that which needs covered. Sun makes them glow pink instead of causing wrinkle worries, and even with no sleep, dark circles rarely appear. So, given their gorgeous natural state for which those of us “more experienced gals” yen, why would they do something so blatantly artificial and contrived? People then notice the streak of color instead of their lovely face or naturally pretty hair. (And, if it happens to be a white streak in black hair, how could they not think “skunk”?)

I am stumped, just as I am over face piercings and obvious tattoos. (See my article from February.) I ask the same thing about unusual-color streaked hair, and that is, do women really, truly think it makes them more attractive? It’s bad enough to resort to artificial color when you don’t want grey; to do it unnecessarily seems rather wasteful, doesn’t it?

Last year, I dropped my daughter off at the house of an older girl I’d not yet met. When she answered the door, I think my mouth dropped open. She not only had facial piercings, she had bleached all color from her hair, and then did a rather fanciful design with pink dye. Minutes later on my cell, screaming at my husband for not warning me when he’d previously met the girl, I received the simple answer that she looked “normal” when he’d met her. Even though I see pictures of this look on MySpace folks and occasionally in public, it’s not a look most mothers want of their daughters who are not even out of junior high. Regardless of whether the streaks are in platinum blond or dyed black hair, the first impression of the person is fake, hard and attention-getting-not what we wanted of our daughters as we’d gaze into their sweet little infant faces, surrounded by pink blankets. (For those of you who aren’t yet mothers, let me say that never changes, either.)

Anyway, every few weeks, my daughter would ask and my answer would be the same. Finally, she wore me down. I figured I’d let her do a washout hair pen, which goes on like mascara. I chose the pink version, since I figured that would show up best on her dark brown hair. Of course she tried it immediately, and loved the results. I must admit it didn’t look bad-but then again, you really couldn’t see it anyway.

So, you ask, has she now become a streak freak? Do we now have all the colors of the rainbow? Are outfits co-ordinated with hair highlights? Hah! You guessed it…she’s never used it since. When I asked her why, she said she doesn’t like it washing out so soon, but wouldn’t mind having our hairdresser do more permanent ones…purple, preferably.

Does anyone want to take bets on whether or not it’s going to happen? As the waitress from the TV shoe “Alice” used to say, “When donkeys fly…”

Perhaps it’s just my impression, but I swear that different neighborhoods have distinct personalities. Revisiting them at least once a year allows me to feel that those old pals are still doing just fine. And just like getting reacquainted with someone after a long absence, I take pleasure in enjoying their unique gifts once again. They may not remember me, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t missed them. They are so diverse, in fact, that I can indulge myself in dressing for the locale-sort of like saving eccentric fashion looks for Soho or Greenwich Village, and designer looks for the Upper East Side.

Although Pittsburgh is not New York, we still have opportunities to dress for the locale. One of my favorite places is Squirrel Hill. As the Jewish center of our city, many Orthodox and Hassidic followers fill the streets, wearing yarmulkes, dreadlocks, traditional black attire, and women in long, dark skirts. Visiting ethnic stores and dairy eateries, a woman may feel just a bit out of place showing too much skin-or she might not. Since stepping into this world is escape into old world living, I prefer to err on the side of conservatism.

A neighborhood not far from there is Shadyside, consisting of older, expensive homes and an upscale shopping district is only about 5 blocks long. I go there to treat myself, as it’s a little too fancy for every day shopping. You could easily pull out those items that are one of kind or logo-labeled and fit right in, using this visit as the chance to finally use those long scarves or out-of-the-ordinary jewelry.

A slightly more bohemian neighborhood is found in older parts of our city’s South Side, where antique and specialty shops compete with tattoo parlors and biker bars. There is a newly recently section, but my verdict about that is still not in. The preppy folks gathered in the central rotunda outside of the Cheesecake Factory prove that it’s popular, but I’m partial to the original areas, even if parts seem just a bit tired.

Oakland is the academic hub of my town, home to two major universities, two colleges and an extensive health complex. Young adults abound everywhere, as do their band clubs and bars. Since people flock here from all over the world for education and health care, there is a huge diversity of population. Seeing saris, turbans, and mid-eastern veils mingling with a sea of denim means indulging your identity and youthful creativity-such as hand painted shirts, tie-dyed items, baseball caps, and university alumnae gear-especially if you once studied in this ‘burg.

Then there’s the Strip District-quaint and exciting. Primarily known for wholesale provisions, it’s where restaurants obtain their wares at dawn. But anyone can enter a fish market and pick out dinner from huge tanks of eels and lobsters and enjoy the dozens of ethnic markets, restaurants, and shops. Walking here is like stepping into other countries; employees speak their native tongues, and the vacuum-sealed atmosphere we’re used to isn’t evident. Neither are grocery carts. What you buy, you carry, and since parking is at a premium, it could be a long haul. Since this is the place where working folk go for good deals, one doesn’t want to look too conspicuously fancy. Think packing district décor, where comfy, closed shoes are a requirement. The old world charm of mesh shopping bags carried by the little old ladies and the brown wrapping paper of meats and cheeses echoes nicely with today’s green movement. This is not a place to dress to impress, at least not during daylight hours. (There are some dance clubs on the outskirts, for that.)

Going to any of these places is a great break from chain stores. They show us what life is like outside of our own little circle. These towns are also close to my heart for their original and residential living not far from their business areas, allowing residents to forgo cars and enjoy public transportation. Energies are different from the suburbs, and the cultural mix of people and clothes is stimulating.

I love neighborhoods with personality; just like individuals with personality, they’re hard to forget-especially when they all have a fashion focus.

If you’ve been following my column since its inception in January, you know I’m not your usual kind of fashion writer. Yes, I’m intrigued by clothing and accessories, and all that goes with a presentation that’s flattering, healthy, and appropriate for the circumstances. What I’m not, and what I’ve trying to convey almost weekly here, is a little sheep that’s waiting to follow any kind of fashion guru, I don’t care what his or her name is or how much they charge. In fact, if you’re familiar with my views by this time, you already know that I like to point out flaws in the reasoning of a great many “style” concepts and fall short of actually poking fun at some of them. (Well, OK, maybe sometimes I do, but not that often…)

Today I may do something just a bit different; I’m going to flip through my latest copy of a popular fashion glossy and tell you what “they” have decided will give us a certain kind of look. I’ll give you my comments about the fashion insights of the pros, and you should feel free to leave your comments as well. This should be fun.

1. The well dressed gal, by donning skinny jeans (of course over her skinny hips, thighs and calves), a layered, ruffled, spaghetti strapped top, and pointy toed, sling back heels should feel not only “summery but a little bit rock and roll…”

Hmmm…Don’t you think that if it’s hot enough to wear such a skimpy top, it’s probably too hot for skin tight, long pants? On the other hand, if you’re off to an air conditioned club, you’d probably need to dance a lot to stay warm up top-just like Ann Margaret did in her famous ruffled top in “Bye Bye Birdie” – but she wore capri’s and flats. Furthermore, what is the concept that we sall want to feela little bit rock and roll?

2. According to a 4 page, Calvin Klein jean ad, right now we’re supposed to be interested in purchasing velvet jackets, high boots, ¾ sleeve sweaters and hoodies, mini skirts worn with long scarves, and pea coats.

Hello-it’s 90 degrees and July; I for one don’t want to go there. Cal must have known that some of us are summer folk; his contribution to us is one model who’s topless, yet not abashed enough to stop hugging her pal-who I think is male but I’m not 100% sure. By the way, what happened to fall?

3. Ribbon fringe-loose strips of fabric hanging off necklines-are supposed to offer movement while providing a “half tuxedo, half flapperish” look.

Well. I can’t say I’ve ever worn a fringe of anything up that high, and am not sure I’d find it “easy wearing.” You bend down and several strips hit you in the face. Forget wearing a necklace that day. If you have a baby, he or she could have a field day yanking on them, as would any cat you happen to pick up and pet. Still, it’s not unattractive, especially in the same color and material of the dress or top.

4. Kirna Zabete has new shoes for sale on line by the name of “Garbo.” Picture, if you can, a moderately width heel about 3-4 inches, with a shoe back that stays at the same level around the foot, whose two sides meet in a tied front (like a man’s shoe) which travels the length of the instep. Finish the picture off with pointed toes, and then imagine them in red patent leather. The ad says that you “would look a little hip-librarian.”

Uhh…I don’t know many librarians, but the ones I do know wouldn’t wear those. Maybe some gals could carry it off, but I for one, aren’t aware of any. If you happen to be a baby boomer and remember seeing nuns out in public in pairs, this is what they wore-in black, but with low, squat heels. They weren’t shiny either. (The word was that patent leather shoes would allow guys to see up your skirt.) These shoes are what I’d see someone wearing with one of those black and white nun outfits for their costume at Halloween. It’s not sexy; it’s not functional; it’s just sort of a strange hybrid.

That’s it for now; I’ve filled my fashion skepticism quota for awhile. Thanks for bearing with me. It’s good to express frustration at what appears absurd, and the world some designers think we wish to inhabit.

Do you have a problem with wearing anything that has the designer’s name plastered on it, making you into a walking-yet unpaid advertisement? As you can probably guess, I do. Maybe if a person has no real sense of self, they want to identify with a name designer in order to feel some kind of prestige, or perhaps if a person is a young adult, they want to flaunt an expensive designer item. However, some people simply don’t mind wearing such apparel and don’t connect it in the least to any kind of emotional need. But I still wonder how such stuff gets bought.

Identifying logos-like the Nike swoosh-aren’t that bad, but blatant initials on garments and purses (like those of Donna Karan, Michael Kors, Etienne Aigner, Louis Vuitton and Gucci), and full company names on sports merchandise, is too discomforting for me. Back in January, I asked you all if you were designer followers, and today’s piece is expanding that question to include wearing a name on your chest, across your behind, or scattered over any accessory.

The next question to ask yourself is why have you allowed yourself to market someone’s product? Not only are you doing it for free, you’re actually paying for the privilege. That concept is ingenious, isn’t it? It makes those millionaires even richer. Taking that query even farther, would you wear an expensive designer item if no one was to know the designer-either due to their being relatively new, the label well hidden, or the style unrecognizable? If you’re like most people, you probably admit that most of the fun of wearing a famous person’s creations is having everyone know that you’re successful enough to have acquired it. Names, in every sense, are intricately woven with ego.

Names are also tricky when it comes to merchandise in general. Some companies purchase other companies and have lower-priced lines, but the same high level of quality. Other companies have distinctly lower-quality and lower-priced items, but rely on consumer’s brand identification with their high-end products…in other words, you really can’t trust the name in all instances. But there are many lines of apparel that are produced by “no name chumps” that are still recognized within their own industry as offering quality, and are able to offer reasonable merchandise due to distancing themselves from high-end advertising. In this case, the name is known by those who are really “in the know.”

On the other hand, names can make our search for products easier, if we happen to find a line that seems to fit us perfectly, or specialize in a manner we require. Surprisingly, certain companies don’t even appreciate this opportunity, and consequently make life more difficult than it needs to be. An example of this could be found in technology, like cell phones or computer components, as well as in some styles of lingerie. Often, such items are labeled with no semblance of rhyme or reason, carrying product numbers that are at least 3 digits long, and never in chronological order. The numbers are more like 8734, followed by 492, followed by 1100i; it’s enough to make one go crazy after awhile. Who the heck can remember such identification?

Is there anyone out there who can explain why companies don’t give their items names? Many shoe and brasserie makers do, but most refer to generic labels, such as “Bermuda Shorts” or “Pullover”, which can cover a realm of variance. Yet it seems that designers and manufactures apparently don’t want us to remember product names; they want us to remember their names. This seems like putting the cart before the horse, because if we can’t find a certain style in the Reebok section, we’ll go to another vendor. However, if we know we want the “Reebok Princess”, we can order online and it’s win/win for everyone. (Notice that it’s much easier to remember names instead of model numbers.)

The car manufacturers have known for years that people can relate much more to a product with a name than a number. (They’ll also remember those products better, as I just did with the Princess.) Let’s get names back where they belong-on the tags instead of our bodies.