Fashion in Film

Here's another one for the fashionistas. If you love movies like I do, you appreciate that there is a lot more to take away from a film than the plot and the acting. There's also the scenery, the music (both score and soundtrack), and the wardrobe. I often find myself in a desperate search for the song I heard during the end credits or during a particularly poignant scene. But I've recently realized that I also pay attention to the costumes in movies - if you could really call them that. I am talking of present day characters (at least present when the movie came out) and their fabulous clothes that I covet. Most recently, I rented "Catch and Release," and I became so distracted by the fine tan suede jacket worn by Jennifer Garner in the beginning of the film. This made me think back to other movies where I have obsessed over finding a certain article of clothing featured. In no particular order, here is my list:

1. Catch and Release - that beautiful beautiful suede jacket worn by Jennifer Garner.

2. The Devil Wears Prada - I don't know how you could have a list like this and not have this movie on it. There are so many to choose from, but I am again going with outerwear - that lovely cream colored coat and beret in that montage scene showing Anne Hathaway going to work every morning after her makeover.

3. Love, Actually - the cream colored short sleeved sweater worn by Keira Knightly when she answers the door to Mr. Unrequited Love. I searched for that sweater for months, conveniently forgetting that I am neither 20 years old nor 98 pounds.

4. Clueless - It's been over ten years, and the fashion in that movie is still great to me. I particularly loved the burgundy dress with the ever so slightly poofed sleeves and ribbon sash that Alicia Silverstone wore (and which Amber eventually copied).

5. When Harry Met Sally - An oldie but a goodie. There were so many outfits of Meg Ryan's that I loved, but for some reason in the 9th grade, I just had to find her dark loose fitting jeans, cream colored mock turtleneck and a nice brown leather belt to finish it off. I found something passable at The Limited, but I knew it wasn't exactly the same.

6. Pretty Woman - who didn't want that light brown polka dotted dress Julia Roberts wore to the races? I didn't have the hat, but I did have the dress knock-off (and matching Arsenio Hall "woo woo" motion).

Then I just thought I would add some dishonorable mentions. I don't obsess over these, but I sat through a few viewings of these movies and YUCK. Just goes to show that being attractive doesn't get you all of the way:

1. Picture Perfect - wedding outfit worn by Jennifer Aniston. Green and orange dress with green tights. Or was it orange tights? It doesn't matter - it was yuck.

2. Two Weeks Notice - I know Sandra Bullock's outfit at the end with the faux silk shirt and dowdy skirt were supposed to make her look "free clinic," but I just couldn't stand to watch the disgrace. There's no excuse for that.

3. Pretty in Pink - only not so much. Years later, I've grown accustomed to the gown Molly Ringwald designed herself by ruining that perfectly lovely '60's Annie Potts number, but at the time, I freaking HATED that mess. Way to emphasize Molly Ringwald's worst features (but as an aside, I did love her ensemble in The Breakfast Club).

Bull in a Hotel Fitness Center

Okay, so I was pretty proud of myself this time away from home on business. Time and time again, I've pledged to hit the treadmill before heading out to my meetings. Or before my head hits the pillow at night. But my trip to Indianapolis this week was a red letter trip: it was the first time I actually made good on my workout pledge. Perhaps I was feeling more restless than usual; perhaps it was the excitement over my trips to Meijer (see previous post). But regardless of the impetus, I hit that gym two times over the course of 2 1/2 days, and I am giving myself a high five for that (screw the middle school "no contact" rule).

I do have a HOWEVER, however. And that is this: what is the deal with the cheap ass equipment in there? The first day wasn't a big problem. I marched all of the way through "Friends" on the Lifestyle elliptical trainer. I think the machines went on strike for the second day, though. I couldn't get the elliptical trainer computer to stay on (it's only worth it if I can count calories burned - even if there's no way that is accurate). So I reluctantly switched to the one treadmill in the joint. My warm up at 4 miles/hr. was no sweat. But when I decided to go for a little jog, it was like an earthquake. My blackberry was bouncing all over the place, as was my room key (which actually jumped off the resting ledge on the instrument panel), and each step I took sounded like Godzilla (even with my iPod on in the background). So my question is, who is the target consumer for these cheap ass treadmills? I am 5'4", and well under 150 pounds, not to mention the fact that my little "jog" was, at its fastest, 6 miles/hr. And this is the kind of ruckus I caused? I shudder to think what a 200 pound man could do. I bet I could feel the vibrations all the way up in my room.

And speaking of gyms (the ones with the decent treadmills), why is it that they can charge all of that money per month and yet can't afford to lend me a towel that covers my ass?

It's all a mystery to me . . .

No Hugs For You!

While sitting at one of my favorite bars in DC, the Bottom Line (also known as the Purdue bar), last night, some news channel had a story about a school banning all physical contact for their students - this includes hugs and hi-fives and anything remotely related in that nature. Imagine my surprise when my husband informed me that the school was right in our backyard - Vienna, VA. The school is Kilmer Middle School and I found the article here:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/17/AR2007061701179.html

I read it and thought, 'How ridiculous!' For those of you too lazy to read the entire article, I will give you the Cliff's Notes version here:
Middle school boy puts arm around middle school girlfriend. Boy gets sent to principal's office and reprimanded. The Principal then puts a school-wide ban on physical contact...no touching allowed. The reason? These kids don't understand their boundaries as far as what's appropriate and what's not. Also, the school was built for 850 students and they have 1100 and everyone needs their personal space.

So with no physical contact, does that mean that in order to avoid bumping into anyone and intruding on their personal space, everyone's going to have to walk sideways? During gym class or sporting events, do they have to resort to the hi-fives where they start to hi-five eachother but then stop when their hands are 2-inches apart as if they were psyching eachother out?
At first when I heard about it, I thought, 'The parent that instigated this has just successfully made their kid into the social outcast of his generation.' But then when I finally read the article, I saw that it was the principal that actually instigated the rule.
So here are some situations that might be awkward in school should the 'no physical contact' ban continue:
1) gym class (of course) - no one gets congratulated for good plays anymore so even the worst athletes will never have to feel left out of that good play again
2) kid is having a tough time at home and needs to talk to someone. they breakdown in school in front of a teacher...does the teacher console the kid with a hug (cause sometimes you really just need a hug) or tell them there's no crying in school?
3) what do you do in the nurses office?
4) group projects - personal space is personal space - do they huddle around and stand at arm's length so as not to crowd eachother?

If you haven't noticed, I think this is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. And I don't believe that at 12 -14 years of age, kids don't understand the difference between what is and what isn't appropriate. And if she really doesn't believe they do understand, then maybe they should cover it in health class. (And while they're in health class, show that 'Stoned' movie with Scott Baio - yes!)
I hope that the new and returning kids at Kilmer Middle School don't have to live with the ban when school starts up again.
And here's to hoping their principal gets some hugs this summer...sure sounds like someone could use one!

No Ma'am

Nothing makes me bristle more than hearing someone call me, "ma'am." Upon hearing it directed at me, I always stop and think, 'Was s/he talking to me?' and then I walk away muttering, 'I'm no ma'am!'
I tend to find this word directed at me more at the grocery store. I guess management at Wegmans train their employees to be polite, right down to the cart boys. I had one say, 'Thanks and have a nice day, ma'am' when I returned the cart to the cart return. I just turned around and stalked to the car mouthing, 'Do I look like a ma'am cause I don't feel like a ma'am!'
I still get carded at bars - even college bars. For being 31, I think I can pass for low-mid 20s, at the very least. I understand that these cart boys are like 15-17 years old, but still, I'd rather they don't address me at all. You want me to have a nice day? Don't call me 'ma'am.'
I had another situation occur earlier this year when I was shopping in the Brass Plum section of Nordstrom. (For those of you that don't know, Brass Plum (BP) is Nordstrom's junior department.) I was actually having a string of good luck finding some really cute things in there for myself and so when I happened to be in Nordstrom, I'd venture down to BP and check things out. One day, one of the sales girls walked by me and said, "Are you finding everything okay, Ma'am?" Ugh. Okay - maybe I don't have the body of a 'juniors' girl (I've always hated odd number sizes anyways) but if you want my business, don't call me 'ma'am.' I can't remember if I left shortly after that cause I felt like the sales girl might've been asking after me as if I was looking for a gift for my niece or something. I don't venture down to BP very often anymore.
Who should be a ma'am, then? Maybe someone over 40 or someone that looks like they're over 40. I'm thinking June Cleaver.
So where does that leave the 30-somethings? Hmmm....to quote Britney Spears, 'I'm not a girl...not yet a wo-ma'am.' So maybe you just shouldn't address us at all - just tell us what you want and leave it at that. I think most of us would be much happier if you did - at least I know I would!
When I reach 40, we'll see how I feel about it then. In the meantime, no ma'ams for me.

Meijer's Thrifty Acres

You know you show signs of shopoholism when even discount shopping can generate some excitement on a trip. I am here in Indianapolis for business. My hotel is near a Meijer's Thrifty Acres. For those of you who don't know, Meijer's is a Midwestern "everything but the kitchen sink" store offering discounted prices on everything from baked goods to floor mats. It's like a Super Wal-Mart. Only way better. Slightly less cramped together, and from what I've noticed, fewer check writers and extended families all huddled together in one aisle (it also appears significantly cleaner, but I haven't been there during the graveyard hours or on a weekend in a very long time). I knew I had to stop somewhere on the way back from my meetings for some contact lens solution (I always forget SOMETHING), but I did not know I would be so lucky as to stumble on a Meijer's so close to my hotel. I probably spent a good hour in there, picking up some Purdue paraphenalia (including a football jersey beer coozy and two shirts for Shawn - sadly, no girlie gear...), running shoes, gum, a diet coke, the contact lens solution, and a duffle bag. The duffle bag was so that my new stuff could come home with me. I nearly acquired a new hair dryer and some workout shorts, but at a certain point enough is enough, you know? Of course, there's always tomorrow night . . . .