Odd resolution takes courage
BLOG: Making It Work
By Aimee Rancer, Blogger
January 30, 2008 | 10:55 a.m.
Usually I hate cliché lyrics, sappy songs and people who post lines of these songs on their blogs; however, I feel that this is the perfect opportunity for me to do so. My attitude has been captured well by Death Cab for Cutie's “So this is the New Year, and I don’t feel any different.” And I really don’t. I look the same. I feel the same. Should anything be different?
Aside from the traditional resolutions of working out at Ping, eating healthier and being gung-ho about my schoolwork, I wanted a more daring resolution -- something that I have never tried before. Why not, right? It is the New Year after all.
So, after wracking my brain for resolutions, I decided that my other one would be to take risks with fashion. Besides, my other option of professional miming was too unrealistic because I cannot stop talking. Okay, okay. So perhaps some of you are flashing back to this year’s Project Runway where all the designers had to pick a horrible fashion trends throughout the years and make it relevant and wearable in the 21st century.
From neon colors to shoulder pads, the designers attempted to make obsolete fashions modern. After viewing the episode, I kept asking myself “They aren’t really that bad. Are they?”
If ELLE Fashion Director Nina Garcia thinks that neon is out, then why did the pages of Elle a few months back feature neon sports themed accessories from Proenza Schouler? Who has the right to say what is and what is not fashionable? Isn’t fashion supposed to be fun in the first place?
During break, I window-shopped at the various malls in my area, looking at trends and sales. My first shopping excursion was the dreaded "Black Friday." My two clothing-obsessed friends and I loaded into my friend’s car at 6 in the morning, money in hand, ready to shop. Upon entering the mall, which my friends and I have nicknamed our "Mecca," we just snagged things off the racks, not caring how ridiculous they looked or how heavy the price.
After my "Black Friday" extravaganza, I got home around 2 in the afternoon and released all my purchases on my kitchen table to show to my mother. “Aimee! How many sweaters do you own? That’s right. You don’t remember. And because of that, you don’t need any more.”
“But Mom…I live in Athens. Do you know what it’s like to have only two or so clothing stores in town when you’re used to tons of malls? Besides, I’m deprived. Let me live a little.”
Following a little lecture from my Mother, she decided it was in my best interest to write down everything I buy over break. The first week went smoothly but I quickly relapsed, as I went to malls, window-shopped in my spare time and bought clothing with money I really did not have. I have clothing with the price tags still on, which brings me back to my previous point: all the odd clothing with the price tags still attached, I will wear. I am determined to follow through with this resolution.
Among my many fashion oddities, I own a pencil skirt from the International Go collection at Target from last year’s collection. Being daring comes in bursts for me, so I bought that neon purple pencil skirt from the Proenza Schouler line. I have just been too afraid to wear it and have people stare at me with perplexed looks. So, Athens community, be prepared. You might see a girl with a crazy purple pencil skirt walking around town. I am trying to have a little bit of fun. Why not, right? I mean, like I said, it is the New Year, after all.
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