My Wonder Years

As I was driving home from Super Wal-Mart, one of my most detested yet most often visited stores, I couldn't help but think about some of the clothes that are so en vogue right now. While in the store I looked at the popular styles and at the many teenagers and young adults who were wearing them and felt like I was back in middle and high school. Ruffles, mini's, and leggings were hanging off the H-racks waiting for a pair of young legs to give them a new home. And suddenly, I was nostalgic. Fashion is cyclical and unbelievably I was wearing leggings during my high school years and am almost ashamed to admit I do own a couple of pair now. I could not help but think about being in high school, which was more than 16 years ago and wearing the styles that are so fashionable today. At moments, I can't help but wonder "what was I thinking?"

That's right; I was trendy, stylish and fashionable but at what price? Would I be mortified to see pictures of myself back in the day? You're darn right I would! My reverie continued to the days of living in California when I was the righteous owner of "Her Highness" hair. To this day I'm still not sure how I didn't overdose on mousse and hairspray. How my hair didn't dry out and fall off is beyond me? Besides the eighties big-rock-band-hair I can look back at the clothes and see them as clear as day and in our clothing stores right now. Skinny jeans were everywhere, just as they are now. Did they look any better on me when I was 14 years old? No; I don't think so but I had to have them; just as I admit I had to purchase a pair three weeks ago.

So what set off this little reverie? As I was sitting behind a VW with a young man in the driver's seat who was wearing a hat I had seen some place in my past. Not just any hat but one that was "oh sooo" popular when I lived in California. It was a black military hat with splashes of neon green, orange, yellow and blue. I could not believe my eyes and was even more frightened by the fact someone was wearing it in 2010. I'm sure it looked nice on him but I don't miss those days. The days of "seven-day-crappers" aka MC Hammer Pants are too much for me to handle although I did see them on a fashion editor in Elle Magazine and she pulled the look off nicely.

Perhaps my style has changed or I have grown as a person; I am not sure which. I have to admit I do indulge in the trendy piece every now and then but the difference are in the subtle touches. When I was in high school I would have worn my black or denim skinny's with a pair of flat shoes or low heeled gladiators but my look has evolved since then. The next chance I get to wear my leopard print skinny's I'll add a pair of my red, gold buckle cork soled five inch stilettos to the mix for my own sense of creativity. I never said my style has gotten better; it's just been re-created.