Double Standard Revealed

Q: A friend of mine is well endowed but really likes to wear low-cut cowl neck sweaters to work. Recently, she made a find that gives her the appropriate amount of modesty required at work – sweaters with built in “naked” mesh. You know, the mesh used in figure skating costumes to make skaters look like their skin is bedazzled? Though her outfits are now of the more modest sort, I can’t help but want to hold up judging numbers as she reminds me of Nancy Kerrigan. Should I tell her that she looks like she is going for Olympic gold or just be happy that I don’t have to be exposed to her tatas on a regular basis?

A: When I was 15, I was sent to Catholic girl's school in Spain (insert inappropriate jokes here). All the girls were required to wear white shirts with collars, gray plaid skirts, blue socks and blue shoes. Certain girls wore white shirts unbuttoned to their sternums, skirts hemmed to dizzying heights, sheer blue stockings and blue stiletto heels. Your friend seems to be playing a similar game, but in the workplace and with a weird figure skating theme. I personally find nude modesty mesh rather disconcerting - it makes me stare all the harder to figure out if I'm seeing human flesh or weird sparkly alien skin. Your friend should either wear something with a neckline in the vicinity of her neck or ditch the pretense of modesty and go for the gold. It isn't fair to the world to play it both ways. After all, if someone came up to me at a party bearing a delicious plate of sushi, I would be extremely sad if it turned out to be plastic display food.

XO,
Ms.Chief

Shear Perfection

Dear Readers:
This is the best ad for the best hair salon in Kauai that I have ever seen. I love this ad because the owner has a classic rock and roll haircut that speaks of moonlight, idealism, fragrant orange blossoms and perfection. Additionally, it is obvious that he confidently owns his mustache without hesitation.The ad copywriter did an exemplary job. We know that the salon owner has been cutting and styling hair for eight years in a small studio by himself. We can only assume that when he started cutting and styling eight years ago, his hair must have reached his ankles.

Rock on, Roy Strom.

XO,
Ms.Chief

Sleeve Peeve

Q: What are 3/4 length sleeves good for? Cold wrists? Lending the look of Frankenstein to an otherwise proportional person? But mostly, I want to know when will they go away?

A: No one is forcing you to wear 3/4 length sleeves. Most stores carry shirts in both full length and 3/4 length sleeves, so hop down off your cross and go to Target already.

I, for one, hope that 3/4 length sleeves remain available for the following reasons:

1. They are an excellent vehicle for showcasing my fascinating collection of bracelets
2. As a sloppy eater, I tend to dredge my soup with my cuffs
3. They are less tempting to use as surreptitious nose-wiping devices than full length sleeves

On the other hand, 3/4 sleeves are simply terrible for:

1. Cold, drafty environments
   
2. Very tall people who have trouble finding long enough clothing and just want a shirt with full length sleeves already
3. Individuals with appalling wrists (scabby rashes, bony outgrowths, poorly reasoned tattoos)
4. People who lack fascinating collections of bracelets

XO,
Ms.Chief

P.S. My friend Tim May has a shirt with accidental 3/4 length sleeves. It's a button down made for a full grown man with sleeves just maybe long enough for a seven year old boy. He calls it his alligator shirt (not as in Izod) because it is perfectly proportioned for an alligator.