spruced by marlene

Every month I get to test a different fashion trend for a magazine column. I’ll think about whether I like it, whether it suits me, maybe go down to the supermarket to see how the check-out girl reacts to someone wearing a gold lamé jacket on a Saturday morning (she didn’t even blink). Basically, I wear clothes and write about it. And you are right in thinking that there are worse ways to make a living. However. This month I’m testing capes. You could also call them blankets. Or, even more fittingly: man-repellents. I think James actually wanted to take off in the opposite direction when I came walking down the street in what is essentially a beige and brown wool blanket – with tassels.

Now, there are many items of clothing that women appreciate purely from a fashion standpoint and men, on the other hand, don’t appreciate at all (and, I think it’s fair to say, some women don’t either). A random selection: harem pants, blouses with shoulder pads, wedges. Wedges! The word alone sent the husband of a friend into a fit of giggles recently. That’s never kept me from wearing harem pants, blouses with shoulder pads or wedges. Because while I do like dressing for my man, I’m fairly certain he usually trusts my taste and likes the way I dress anyway. And the person I’m mostly concerned with pleasing when I put clothes on is: me. Also, I’m a sucker for silly trends, so there’s that.

But the cape? I don’t know. It’s not even that men don’t like it. It’s not even that I’m troubled by what to wear it with (Jeans? Denim shirt? Anybody casting for a Wild West Show?). It’s not even that it’s impractical for riding a bike, carrying a bag, walking, you know, things I like to be able to do. It’s that there seems something wrong about an item of clothing that looks better on my sofa than on me.

What do you think? The cape: Yay or nay?