My Closet Myself, Hot Pants No Chance
Most women I know have a problem throwing away clothes they may just perhaps maybe wear again some time in the future. Women who have reached a certain aged understand that what was old is always at some point new again. Oh sure the names may change, but the style usually returns in some form or another.
So, just in case…
In a failed effort to empty my closet recently I came upon the reality that almost half of my clothes are now “In waiting,” in case the styles come back or I fit into them again or I have an occasion ten year from now to wear them.
It was then I realized that I need a psychic to tell me the future of all those unworn clothes.
Could it be any easier?
The psychic could walk through and predict if I’ll wear that leather skirt from 22 years ago I never even had on my body because I gained weight and it became too tight. So it has hung “in waiting” for me to slide it on once more. However my body has changed considerably over the years. What women forget is that as we get older, unless we are at the gym a whole lot, our bodies become less muscular and more flabbyish.
Not always in a bad way, I’m not saying we get fat, I’m saying that as we lose muscle mass we loosen up. So we can weigh the same as we did twenty years ago but our bodies look and act far differently.
I’m not trying to depress anyone here, but excuse me I need a Hershey kiss before I can continue.
Okay, that’s better.
So therefore although a skirt or blouse or anything that might have fit at the same weight twenty years ago is now a challenge to fasten.
So that’s where the psychic comes in. They could tell us if we’ll ever wear that skirt again or if it will ever fit us the same. What are the odds? Vegas would love them. Into the charity bag it goes.
A simple and easy way to organize the clothes we may wear again someday but probably won’t.
Although is that always the case?
I’ve noticed to my chagrin that even when a style is repeated years later it is never done quite the same.
There is always that subtle and sometimes not so subtle change that makes it just a bit askew of the latest trend.
Is that on purpose? Do the fashion mavens know that we save our clothes for the future; I think yes.
Like everything else mass produced there is a component of planned obsolescence. Being from Detroit I am well aware every car had a shelf life to ensure repeat customers. So it is also with the fashion industry. Even worse perhaps because they know no woman wants to be seen in outdated shoes, a dress or heaven forbid a skirt the wrong length and style.
Am I saying women are slaves to fashion?
Yes, when you’re young. At my age, who cares?
Now it’s all about comfort. My friends and I have seen the wisdom in a tunic top, elastic waists and oh my Lord, low heeled shoes. Add a big floppy hat and that’s Baby Boomer couture.
My feet hurt just thinking of trying to fit my sore aching arches into Christian Louboutins. OUCH!
Sure we still know how to look stylish for our age, but it’s the “for our age” thing isn’t it?
Would I like to be in my twenties again wearing hot pants? You bet.
Will hot pants ever happen on my body again? Sure, as soon as Bill Clinton stops chasing woman.
So you see no chance at all here.
Women of a certain age, and the only thing certain about the certain age thing is that it certainly means you’re old, understand that we can still look good without the need to be wrapped up like a sausage or pinching our feet like a vice.
So why save all those clothes?
Well, let me tell you why. It’s because I myself and I can’t speak for everyone else, don’t want to believe those hot pants-mini skirted days are really over.
As long as I look into the closet and see my youthful fashions I can still believe I will wear them again one day. I live with the hope my thighs will once again be firm and my flabby arms won’t lift me off the earth in flight when a wind comes along and my fingers will once again show no signs of arthritis.
That the glow of youth will return permanently to my cheeks without the need for a serious dermabrasion treatment.
I am fully aware we can all stave off the ravages of time these days more than ever before. There are skin treatments, plastic surgeries, Botox, creams and lotions that help a great deal. However unless I am willing to go to the gym, lift weights, and spend a lot of time doing something I detest, which is exercise, the hot pants wearing body is gone with the wind.
We can look good at any age, but is trying to squeeze into our old clothes with a new body really a good look?
I’ve tried it and I’m here to tell you no, no, no.
Stuff leaks out over the edges or that waistline seems to be an inch or two shorter than it was and there is nothing fashionable about looking like an Oscar Meyer wiener bursting out of its casing.
I think it would be better if a neutral party came in and went through my closet because these clothes and I have a real history. Clothes carry memories sewn into the fabric and some we never want to forget. Okay some we do, but it doesn’t matter. What we wore when is a part of our memory storage bin and although at this age it’s overflowing, the happy ones aren’t easy to eliminate. Maybe I should take pictures of the special ones as it does take up less room.
It’s like breaking up with a boyfriend you can’t stand to be around, but you just might need a date for a wedding in a year or two from now so you stay in the relationship.
As Journalist and humorist Helen Rowland wrote,
“A man never knows how to say goodbye; a woman never knows when to say it.”
So to all the now donated clothes in my closet I’ve loved before, goodbye, goodbye parting is such sweet sorrow and I can’t wait to go shopping tomorrow.
Chocolate Pasta With Hot Fudge Sauce
Chocolate Pasta recipe
1 pound of 00 flour
2 cups cocoa powder I’d use 60%
Water as needed
Whisk together water and cocoa flour. Slowly add water to create pasta consistency. You can really cut any pasta shape for this recipe.
Hot Fudge Topping
½ cup whole milk
1 pound of caramels
½ pound of good chocolate
½ pint vanilla ice cream
1-teaspoon vanilla
Add milk and caramels in a double boiler over medium heat. Stir constantly until caramels and milk are incorporated.
Mix in ice cream and vanilla until all combined. Serve over ice cream over the pasta.
NormaZager.com 