“STYLE is like Herpes, you either have it or you don’t, Joan Rivers!! But I admit I have digressed even before I have started. This is not an indictment on the person, but a mere call to improve and add the final seal to the package of professionalism, appearance, and personal delivery.
As a young girl, I was always connected to the physical representation of who I was. I guess you can refer to my opening vignette. Nevertheless, as I came into more self-awareness, societal norms, international ideas, and the fashion pages of the many magazines I’ve read, I’ve realized more and more, that every person is a package that begins first with a physical and visual presentation.
It is what it is, so there’s no reason to dispute it nor start an empty argument because according to Proverbs 31:25: “She is clothed with strength and dignity, she can laugh at the days to come”. It is blatantly obvious that there’s strength in the way that one presents oneself, first through one’s appearance. And of course, the way you dress is a component of your personal equation.
August 5th, was the swearing in ceremony of the Cabinet of Ministers presented by the winner of the recent elections, the St. Lucia Labour Party. The Prime Minister and most of his henchmen looked dapper in their various suits and ties. It was the men’s show as far as my eyes could assess and that’s pertaining to their fashion offerings if you’re trying to determine the subject of scrutiny. I have deliberately gone the “Gender Wars” route because there was a clear and distinct difference in the attention paid to the detail of style between the men and the women attending that auspicious and historic event.
After all, whether you like it or not, prefer not to believe it or not, or to bury your head in the sand, that occasion will be written about and there will be a copy of that tape somewhere, in some part of the world, to be seen for years to come. We will never be able to escape the accolades, the sweet smiles and yes, the twisted noses of a myriad of fashion opinions which will, for the most part carry an unfavourable taste.
I asked myself loudly and coherently, what was going on with the fashion choices of the women at the event? I couldn’t believe my eyes as I waited with bated breath to list my best dress and then chuckle at the worst dress list. After all, the acclaimed show “Fashion Police” didn’t have the ratings it did just for style, pun seriously intended; it was because people look to the fashion of big events for several reasons. We want to admire our ladies at such events, we want to see them shine in the best way, we want tips, we want to dote at them in amazement and most of all we want to laugh at the few who will obviously miss the mark and trip into a fashion faux pas.
It is all part of the entire situation of the day. Suffice it to say, I had no space left on the worst dress side of my list. The best dress list comprised of just a few names, and it seemed that all the other women in attendance had conspired to make “Hot Mess Appearances”. Of course, it’s not necessary to mention names on the list but I will tell you this, the competition for the top spot of the worse dress was fierce like one of Beyonce’s concerts. You should know that for normal laughter, there were about two men who disappointed the almost 100% best dressed men’s list. To keep you guessing and stressing, one is in government and the other in Day-classay media, wink wink.
But on a more serious and constructive note, I believe there should be an adequate and classily beautiful dress code for parliament and all official functions. I know that we can do better and look better, because when we present ourselves visually better, we can move on to the pressing and important work that is waiting to be done. Does the local consultancy budget accommodate Fashion Masterclasses?? Asking for a friend.