Everything old is new again. That’s true, especially in fashion. If you wait long enough, the outdated clothes you wore in high school will reappear on the racks at every department store, at about triple the price you paid when you were 16. I know because I never thought I’d see bell bottom jeans or hip huggers come back but they did, with a new name. Now they’re called “low-rise” and “flare” but they’re still hip hugger bell bottoms. Trust me.

Anyway, I love vintage clothes. Some of the nicest dresses I own are from the 40s, 50s, 60s and 70s. The quality of the workmanship is just one advantage of buying vintage. The real appeal, at least for me, is that the chance of seeing the dress or shoes I’m wearing coming toward me on the street or at the office is pretty slim if my outfit is vintage. I love having a one-of-a-kind and with vintage items that’s often the case.

While I have a closet full of vintage dresses, I have one that I want so badly to wear but I need to fine the proper undergarments, preferably a strapless corset, to wear under it. I’m on the hunt for the right one. I can’t wait till I can fit into those great old dresses again!

I love cosmetics. I always have. I love making myself look different. It isn’t so much about not liking who am I as it is loving to use my face as canvas to create something different. It’s about having fun.

And yet there are many young girls who use makeup, plastic surgery, extreme dieting, etc. to try to conform to some mythical “ideal” as proclaimed by our media driven society. Our daughters are not simply trying to be better; they’re trying to achieve something that doesn’t even exist.

The beauty that fills the pages of the fashion magazines is not real. It’s computer generated. Don’t believe me? Well check out this post from my friend Cass. Now go show that to a young girl needing to learn the truth about the beauty industry.

For a more interactive experience, take a look at Greg Apodaca’s photography website. Pay special attention to the beautiful, exotic, bikini-clad woman and the young, perky, blonde girl. Look closely at the picture, then hold your cursor over the picture to see it as it was originally taken. There are additional photos on the right side giving close ups of the photos.

Now isn’t that amazing? And wouldn’t that be great if all young girls could see the truth about beauty in the media? For that matter, wouldn’t it be just as good for our sons to see it, too. They need to know that most of what they see as desirable is a fantasy. Maybe if we can show our kids this truth they’ll finally start liking themselves enough to respect and care for their bodies. Maybe a healthy self-esteem in adolescence wouldn’t be so rare.

It’s Saturday, I’m doing laundry and need a treat. Time to catch up on my absolutley all-time favorite blog, Go Fug Yourself. If you’ve never been there before, go there now! It’ll warm your winter, brighten your night and get you chuckling even if you don’t want to chuckle.

Heather and Jessica, the fashion fanatics of the site, along with their delectable assistant, intern George, get right to the nitty gritty of celebrity fashion. I love it!

Now I’m not advocating picking on people but let’s face it. If we had the kind of money these celebs have and were going out in public, especially to red carpet affairs, would we not be sure to check ourselves in the mirror at least once before heading out the door? I know I would. And I’d surely find someone with style and good taste if I didn’t have any of my own, to help dress me appropriately for various functions. As the GFY girls say, “Fugly, however, is a self-inflicted state…”
Besides, the Fug girls make me laugh. They say what I’m thinking but in a much more entertaining way. So check them out. Just remember the entire site is under a spew alert.