Girls Dressed Like Farmhands
And beach bums, visiting The White House. Okay, so the French are a bunch of commies. Still, we have a lot to learn from them about how to get dressed in the morning. Here's Northwestern's women's lacrosse team, many of whom look overweight (already, at what, 20?) and some of whom went to The White House in flip-flops:
A front-page story in the Chicago Tribune included the headline "YOU WORE FLIP-FLOPS TO THE WHITE HOUSE?!" inspired by an e-mail sent to player Kate Darmody from her older brother after he saw the photo on the team's Web site.Family members of other players expressed similar dismay, insisting the summer footwear staple was too casual for a visit with the president.
"Don't even ask me about the flip-flops," said the mother of player Aly Josephs. "It mortified me."
During an appearance Monday on NBC's "Today," Darmody and teammate Shelby Chlopak said players planned to auction off the flip-flops they wore to the White House, with the proceeds to go toward a fund for a 10-year-old girl with a brain tumor.
The women have defended their attire, arguing they wore a dressier version of the casual sandal.
"Nobody was wearing old beach flip-flops," said Josephs, who wore a $16 brown pair with rhinestones.
Oh, slay me with your elegance.
I responded o a woman's question about having the confidence to go out to bars and restaurants alone for this week's deadline. One thing I couldn't fit in was about women in Paris -- the way they walk down the street, completely self-possessed, and how so many have their own unique style. Even a woman who isn't beautiful at least dresses like she's somebody (and not just like somebody who rolled out of bed and accidentally fell into a pair of sweatpants and a ratty old shirt).
While I agree that these young women should have dressed better for their White House visit, I disagree with your comment that many of them are overweight. Sure they're not L.A. or Paris skinny. But they're athletes. They look bulked up and fit (whether you like that look or not) and comfortable with their sporting bodies. Money says these women could outrun you and out-whatever you in any physical sport. In my book that's something to be celebrated.
Newcomer at July 20, 2005 8:25 AM
*In my book that's something to be celebrated.*
Yeah, right along with sloppiness!
Frania W.
Frania W. at July 20, 2005 10:14 AM
Actually I started off by agreeing that they were sloppy and that they were wrong for it. But are you actually saying that muscles and the sometimes bulky bodies of real athletes are not something to be accepted if not appreciated? Not everyone has to be a size 2, despite what every advertising campaign insists is the only standard of beauty. Isn't physical fitness and health the best barometer of the right size?
Newcomer at July 20, 2005 10:29 AM
This item has pretty much horrified me - or it would if I didn't find it so confusing. I have a pair of beautiful, expensive shoes that are technically flip-flops, but which are elegant and far from sloppy. Is it the bit between the toe that makes these so unacceptable compared to, say, strappy sandals?
Jackie Danicki at July 20, 2005 11:40 AM
Last Saturday I attended a funeral, and was the only person there in a suit/tie. Even the immediate family showed up in jeans. The same old rules of attire have been discarded by the last two generations.
And you should see what people wear to jury duty here in Idaho!!
eric at July 20, 2005 11:46 AM
Newcomer, I doubt it. I run seven miles easily, twice a week. With ease, I emphasize. These women are not muscular. They are fat. If you look at my arms and legs, you'll see muscles. And don't give me that PC crap about size two. Americans are fat. Fat, fat, fat. That's different from fit. I'm fit. I just marched three miles across Paris, and I meant to go for a seven mile run when I got home, but I'm spending too much time here. Oh, and PS, I don't diet. I had, for dinner, foie gras on toast for an entrée (appetizer in France), the main course was veal and potato gratinée (with red wine), then I had profiteroles and an espresso.
Regarding Jackie's comment -- it's the heel -- the absence of one -- that makes a great deal of the difference. I still probably wouldn't wear toe thongs anywhere formal or nice. It just seems the wrong thing to do...has to do with too much exposed foot.
And Eric, you're right. It's amazing to me. The Americans at the cemetery in Normandy -- a tremendously solemn place -- were largely dressed like they were going hiking in the Adirondacks.
Amy Alkon at July 20, 2005 2:51 PM
Basically I agree -- I was even surprised that most of the young women at 20th Century Fox studios wear flip flops to work. But I have a hard time with that "French women are so elegant" line after commuting to work dozens of times on the metro and RER from the suburbs into Paris with hordes of secretaries and cashiers all wearing dirty white pumps with rundown heels. It's true, there's nothing as elegant as some French women, but perhaps there's nothing less lovely than downtrodden Frenchwomen either.
Pat Saperstein at July 20, 2005 3:38 PM
I'm not talking about les midinettes (is that the name for it) -- cashiers and bridge and tunnel types, but French. Sure, they aren't dressed to kill. But just look at, in our own circle, Emmanuelle Richard. This girl knows how to spend a few dollars at a thrift store and look like she has a stylist and a wardrobe allowance from a studio. (scroll down in link)
http://www.advicegoddess.com/archives/2005/05/spano_smokes_ou.html
Amy Alkon at July 20, 2005 4:12 PM
A newspaper here in London had the headline yesterday (right across the top of the front page - damn, I knew I should have taken a photo of it) asking: "Do French women just do everything better?" Heh.
Jackie Danicki at July 21, 2005 2:31 AM
The Three F's, The Three F's, Jack...as my friend Mark from the Bronx, now a Parisian, says:
FOOD
FASHION
FUCKING
But be Oprah and get to Hermes after closing, and don't blame racism when you can't get in. It's the socialist work ethic, silly! There's a saying in French that I don't quite recall...something with "l'heure" in it...basically, when it's before the hour, it's not the hour, and when it's after the hour it's not the hour. The average French employee in a store has no intention of working even 20 seconds past closing time. That said, I got some GORGEOUS scarves yesterday at Galleries Lafayette, for a STEAL. And a brillo pad with jewels for my hair. Trust me, it looks much better than it sounds. Geniale! as they say. And I had a croissant this morniing -- so good I nearly wept.
Amy Alkon at July 21, 2005 6:51 AM
"Avant l'heure, c'est pas l'heure.
Après l'heure, c'est plus l'heure."
From a 1951 song interpreted by French singer Edith Piaf (words by Marcel Achard, music by Marguerite Monnot).
The French have brought a slight change to the words of the song and now say:
"Avant l'heure, c'est pas l'heure.
Après l'heure, c'est trop tard."
Meaning, "Ahead of time, it's too early, afterwards, it's too late. (Loose translation!)
Frania W.
Frania W. at July 21, 2005 10:14 AM
Merci! Not just a walking history book, you're a walking dictionary, too!
Amy Alkon at July 21, 2005 1:21 PM
I am a 28 year old woman who grew up involved with business organizations until I gratuated from college and now work for a very conservative computer company. I go from suits to "ratty" tshirts and oh yes flip flops at night. I do think the girls should have dressed better for the occasion and some sort of discussion should have been had about what they were wearing. I do however have a huge issue with with you calling them fat. I myself was a college athlete that started lifting weights when I was 15. I felt pressure to perform then and I was not at a Divison 1 school nor did my education rest on my performance. I do not know if any of the girls are on scolarships but I do know that athletes have more pressure than ever to excell and do all they can to do this. If this had been a cross county team- maybe the girls would have looked more to your standard of fit. ****Also remember we were all not blessed with a slim bone structure. some of us would have to run 14 miles a day to look like you.
Erin O at August 1, 2005 8:50 AM
I don't run 14 miles a day. I would have to if I ate like an American, as I was raised to. From coming to France, I've learned how to eat sensibly -- no lowfat or diet anything, EVER. I eat meat, and butter, and eggs, and fish, and chicken, and cheese, and tons of vegetables, and ice cream and dessert. Very little bread, but if I eat bread, it has lots of fat in or on it. Small portions. And very fine, chemical-free food. I buy $3 bars of chocolate, but guess what, they're so rich, I have one square after lunch and that's dandy. I've been an athlete my whole life, and that's not a figure you get from athleticism, but failure to eat properly. Sad that young women look that way.
Amy Alkon at August 1, 2005 8:58 AM
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