Guest Bird #9 - Melissa
Melissa Taylor is a mom, teacher and freelance writer. Melissa loves writing about her passions -- education and parenting. She blogs at Imagination Soup http://imaginationsoup.net , a fun and easy learning activities for inquisitive kids. Her writing portfolio is on her website http://melissatayloronline.com.
Another day and my kid has out styled me again. And what a style. We're talking so many patterns it's a knock you down dizzying effect. But the topper is the pink cowgirl boots. People all day long stop us to compliment the pink boots. Really, it's excessive. Perhaps a bit ego inflating for my young impressionable child. "Everyone likes my boots, mom," she says to me happily.
As for me, I'm clothed yes but far from stylish. Mostly I just try to make sure I'm wearing something fairly clean. I go for basics, no patterns that require matching, solids, jeans and black shoes.
Then, last week at a Denver Woman's Press Club event, I took it up a notch and wore a dress - clearance rack dress but none the less a dress AND black high heeled boots.
What do you know? I got compliments. Surprised, I mentioned that generally it's my daughter and her pink cowgirl boots that attract any notice. My standard outfit is jeans, a t-shirt and Doc Martens. Horrified, one of the ladies said, "But you're such a lovely girl!" Clucking together, the women agreed that yes, I was lovely and it didn't seem possible to imagine I could possibly wear such shoes.
Really? That's not what I was expecting. First, how do you know about Doc Martens even being much older and second, why are Doc Martens so bad? . . . they're so comfortable and clunky and go with everything. I'm sure they must have the wrong impression of how very lovely people like me wear them. Right? Don't other lovely people wear them?
Let me just address the "girl" word. I'm not called a girl very often now days. However, the Denver Woman's Press Club seems to be comprised much older women than me. When I joined, they were so exited. The president said I lowered the median age. Me and my 38 years. So youthful. With my clearance dress and high heeled boots. Them and their gray hair, jewelry that matches and hoes and heels. (I like the girl part!)
It has occurred to me that no one else I know wears Doc Martens. Probably they don't know how cool and comfortable they really are. Maybe they think they're for punk rockers or unlovely people?
Most people I know wear Dansko clogs. I like those, too. But I'm still not understanding how Docs are much different than Danskos. Flat, comfortable, recommended by foot doctors. (Yes, my foot doctor said that Doc Martens are the best shoes for feet - seriously!)
Am I stuck in a high school time warp, oblivious to style? I don't have a bi-level hair cut with purple bangs any more. I don't have posters of the Cure and U2 up in my room.
What can I say? They work for me. Why change something that works? Just like the pink cowgirl boots work, my Docs feel like me. Even if I'm misunderstood to be not as lovely or get any compliments.
I will be wearing my Doc Martens at the next Press Club event. Maybe even with my clearance dress.
Scandalous is better than stylish anyway.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=2edc5fa2-c8d4-4f7b-a463-0b53da652e9a)
Melissa Taylor is a mom, teacher and freelance writer. Melissa loves writing about her passions -- education and parenting. She blogs at Imagination Soup http://imaginationsoup.net , a fun and easy learning activities for inquisitive kids. Her writing portfolio is on her website http://melissatayloronline.com.
Another day and my kid has out styled me again. And what a style. We're talking so many patterns it's a knock you down dizzying effect. But the topper is the pink cowgirl boots. People all day long stop us to compliment the pink boots. Really, it's excessive. Perhaps a bit ego inflating for my young impressionable child. "Everyone likes my boots, mom," she says to me happily. As for me, I'm clothed yes but far from stylish. Mostly I just try to make sure I'm wearing something fairly clean. I go for basics, no patterns that require matching, solids, jeans and black shoes.
Then, last week at a Denver Woman's Press Club event, I took it up a notch and wore a dress - clearance rack dress but none the less a dress AND black high heeled boots.
What do you know? I got compliments. Surprised, I mentioned that generally it's my daughter and her pink cowgirl boots that attract any notice. My standard outfit is jeans, a t-shirt and Doc Martens. Horrified, one of the ladies said, "But you're such a lovely girl!" Clucking together, the women agreed that yes, I was lovely and it didn't seem possible to imagine I could possibly wear such shoes.
Really? That's not what I was expecting. First, how do you know about Doc Martens even being much older and second, why are Doc Martens so bad? . . . they're so comfortable and clunky and go with everything. I'm sure they must have the wrong impression of how very lovely people like me wear them. Right? Don't other lovely people wear them?
Let me just address the "girl" word. I'm not called a girl very often now days. However, the Denver Woman's Press Club seems to be comprised much older women than me. When I joined, they were so exited. The president said I lowered the median age. Me and my 38 years. So youthful. With my clearance dress and high heeled boots. Them and their gray hair, jewelry that matches and hoes and heels. (I like the girl part!)
It has occurred to me that no one else I know wears Doc Martens. Probably they don't know how cool and comfortable they really are. Maybe they think they're for punk rockers or unlovely people?
Most people I know wear Dansko clogs. I like those, too. But I'm still not understanding how Docs are much different than Danskos. Flat, comfortable, recommended by foot doctors. (Yes, my foot doctor said that Doc Martens are the best shoes for feet - seriously!)
Am I stuck in a high school time warp, oblivious to style? I don't have a bi-level hair cut with purple bangs any more. I don't have posters of the Cure and U2 up in my room.
What can I say? They work for me. Why change something that works? Just like the pink cowgirl boots work, my Docs feel like me. Even if I'm misunderstood to be not as lovely or get any compliments.
I will be wearing my Doc Martens at the next Press Club event. Maybe even with my clearance dress.
Scandalous is better than stylish anyway.
I still have the two pair of Doc boots, black and brown, that I purchased 11 years ago on a trip to Ireland. Each time I clear the closet of old shoes, I contemplate donating those boots but never do. I pull them on here and there. I think my biggest problem these days is the length of my jeans - the styles are so long they require a boot with a heel.
Promise to sport my Docs the next time I know I'm going to see you!
I have 2 pairs of Winter shoes (not including boots.) They are brown and black Danskos. Not sure how they feel compared to Doc Martens, but I love them. I have repeatedly been told how ugly and style-less they are, and don't care at all. They are the only shoes that I don't rush to get off my feet when I walk thru the door. Love, love, love them!
I seriously thought Doc Martens are for hip people. They are not CHEAP shoes. They are for confident people who don't need showy pieces of clothing, who values comfort and quality. This says a lot about their preferred life style, etc. Perhaps the lady simply didn't understand the cultural significance of Doc Martens. Or I could be just full of BS. LOL. Good for you, is all I really want to say. But yes, 38 is young, to a 40-year-old midlifecrisishappening person... ;-)