". . . little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver . . ."

(William Shakespeare's Othello, I.iii.88-90)

Saturday, July 12, 2008

Out of Step

I guess I'm just an Old Fogey. I see it everywhere and have for years now, but I still don't get it.

I'm talking about the intentional display of bra straps by many of my gender. When I was younger, a peek-a-boo bra strip was a fashion faux pas, one that I did everything possible to avoid, from wearing strapless bras (ouch) to pinning my bra straps to the inside of my tank tops. But now it seems we have shifted 180 degrees in the other direction, turning bra straps into a fashion accessory, so much so that many of the bras I see worn these days are designed with coordinated colors and decorative accents that are obviously intended to be seen. In addition, the revealing of straps seems to be a completely respectable fashion choice by girls and women of all ages in any setting, because I see them everywhere, including in church on Sunday morning.

Am I missing something here? Because to me there is just something inappropriate about intentionally revealing what is basically a piece of underwear. I don't like it when I see young men walking around with their underwear poking out above their pants; why is it any more proper for a girl to show her bra? It's one thing to have it slip out accidentally; it's another to make a conscious choice to do so. To me there will always be an element of titillation involved in such a display, and while it is a natural part of femininity to take steps to enhance one's appearance, it is another thing to overtly tempt or tease. And while I realize that the bra strap fashion might not even reveal as much skin as some other things that could be worn, I still think the style has its root in an effort to be "naughty" by showing a part of one's attire that historically was not intended to be shown.

Just call me Queen Victoria.

6 comments:

Michelle said...

I'll join the Old Fogey club.

I also hate tatoos, and I am seeing more and more of those in our childbirth classes! And they aren't always supposed to be visible, but they make sure that they are visible!

I also hate the short waisted shorts with short tops and the belly hanging out. There's only really a few people who can get away with that style and look good!

Marie N. said...

I'm right there with you! I was disgusted to shop in the pre-teen dept. with my daughter one day and see training bras with rhinestones on the straps. Thank heaven for hand-me-downs, we don't need to shop for clothes for her too often yet.

AmusedMomma said...

I'm so there with you on this issue! I remember pinning my brastraps to my tank tops too!

And the tatoos -- I just wonder what those folks are gonna look like in 20 years or longer.

Proud to be an old fogey with ya!

Paula

Karen said...

The noticeable bra straps coordinate with the young men's noticeable underwear. Equality for the sexes! :(

mz said...

I guess I'm a fogey too! If I'd have ever walked out of the house wearing what passes for fashion these days, my mom would have slapped me silly. Come to think of it, she still would. We won't know for another few weeks yet if baby is a boy or girl, but if it is a girl, I better get on learning how to sew. Like Marie said, shopping in the girls department cannot be easy.

Barb the Evil Genius said...

I'm glad I sew for my daughters. We spent the day at an amusement park yesterday, and the display of underwear (and flesh), giant holes in the ears, tattoos (even on the face), etc. left me disgusted and sad. Also wondering where I will find good, clean-cut Lutheran boys for my daughters. :)