TracyT
04-28-2018, 11:16 PM
1. Last night, in the local Lucky's market, I was dressed in my everyday wear: capri tights, woman's long-sleeved scoop-necked top, white zip hoodie, and white Keds (the "Chillax" laceless style: https://www.keds.com/en/chillax-basics/044214412297.html ). I was in the aisle where a young woman was on a ladder restocking shelves. (She's very pretty and I've seen her at work a few times and she'd never acknowledged my existence.) I stopped next to her and bent down to grab some tortilla chips. "Cool shoes," she said, so matter of factly and monotone it took me a moment to realize she was talking to me. I straightened up and smiled and said "Hey thanks." She was already back to restocking. I went on my way.
2. Today, after a spectacular bike ride (it's finally spring!), I put an athletic skirt over my bike shorts and walked into the athletic club (where I'd parked while I cycled). The woman behind the counter is someone I see regularly , though we've never actually introduced ourselves. After exchanging greetings she said "Cute skirt!"
"Oh thank you," I said.
"Where'd you get it?"
My wife got this one for me, I told her, and I think she got it at Costco. We proceeded to have a brief chat about shopping at Costco and how cute and fun women's workout clothes can be these days.
Needless to say my week was made. The thing about both of these exchanges was that they were "gender-neutral." It wasn't "Oh you're a man wearing a skirt isn't that cute!", it was just "I like your skirt, where'd you get it?" and "Your shoes are cool."
I sincerely believe this is the way the world is evolving. And that every time one of us shows up in public confidently wearing what we want to wear, we hasten that evolution a bit.
2. Today, after a spectacular bike ride (it's finally spring!), I put an athletic skirt over my bike shorts and walked into the athletic club (where I'd parked while I cycled). The woman behind the counter is someone I see regularly , though we've never actually introduced ourselves. After exchanging greetings she said "Cute skirt!"
"Oh thank you," I said.
"Where'd you get it?"
My wife got this one for me, I told her, and I think she got it at Costco. We proceeded to have a brief chat about shopping at Costco and how cute and fun women's workout clothes can be these days.
Needless to say my week was made. The thing about both of these exchanges was that they were "gender-neutral." It wasn't "Oh you're a man wearing a skirt isn't that cute!", it was just "I like your skirt, where'd you get it?" and "Your shoes are cool."
I sincerely believe this is the way the world is evolving. And that every time one of us shows up in public confidently wearing what we want to wear, we hasten that evolution a bit.