Have I Lost my Sense of Style?

This is the question I've been asking myself lately. Have I totally lost it? As a mother of a two-year-old and living on the other side of the world, it can happen. I came to this country and was initially shocked to see fashion faux paux like white socks with black pants and shoes, mismatched pants and shirts, socks with sandals, you name it. Slowly, I’ve learned to appreciate the ease in which people create their fashion ensembles. Some people really don’t care what they look like when they leave their house. The main staple of women’s wear here is often an interesting coordination of 1) similar colors with various patterns or 2) similar patterns with various colors or 3) similar patterns and similar colors. Recently, I purchased one of these staple women’s wear outfits for an employee and was proud of my coordinated efforts. I thought of keeping the scarf for myself when I threw it on with a black t-shirt. “Hmmm, not bad. Actually, kind of nice,” I thought. “But not my usual style.”

Besides the fact that I’ve gotten used to the funky fashion here. I’ve also been away from American fashion for long enough that I have NO IDEA what is in style. Long or short shorts? Long or short t-shirts? Tight or loose t-shirts? What, t-shirts aren’t in style? Bummer, I’m screwed. What about my 4-year-old gray Gap sweater that, besides a hole near the neck, just formed a hole on the bust. I will wear it here, I will. With a gray t-shirt underneath. And no one will care, or notice for that matter. But if I return to the US, I will leave my favorite gray sweater behind. I know not even Goodwill will take it. But, despite the fact that my fashion is suffering, no one seems to know or care here. In that, I find comfort. I also find comfort in the fact that I can wear my clothes until they wear out or go out of style, whichever comes first. And if need be, I can give my clothes away to people who will be appreciative.

But back to the women’s wear. Two months after I purchased it (and the employee departed), I tried it on. “Oh, Lord,” I thought. “I could definitely get away with wearing this here, as long as I never see any of my embassy friends.” But after a few seconds of looking in the mirror and throwing the scarf over it, I realized something. The pattern looked vaguely familiar. Definitely something I had seen before. Then it hit me. Something like my grandmother would have worn in the 1970’s.

That’s it. I have totally lost my sense of style!