Saturday, July 29, 2006

As the seasons change

So, I was watching my favorite movie on television a few weeks ago, Scent of a Woman, and it is still as good as ever. It made me remember why it is that I love the movie. It also got me to thinking about a new topic to write about in this new forum.

When you live in a city where a large amount of commuters walk or take public transportation or both. There are many things that you notice that raise the brow. Unfortunately, driving commuters do not get this opportunity.

So let’s get right to it. First of all, women are fascinating and frustrating creatures at the same time. It is at this time we shall observe the fascinating part.

Winter clothing for women is subtly and secretively seductive. It isn’t revealing but it happens to draw the attention nonetheless. The long form fitting skirts. The high boots that announce their presences even in the snow. How about the scarf that draws attention to the neck and chest area only to lead the eyes to the jacket wrapped tightly around the body for warmth. Even the jacket, tapered and fitted at the waist (or drawn tightly with a belt) gives a nice silhouette of what hides underneath. This may all seem simple and dull, but when you see it everyday, morning, afternoon and night, it captures the eye and imagination. And you cannot help but look because it is 12 blocks to your metro stop and your ipod is shuffling through the same songs you heard yesterday. So what else to keep the mind active?

And just when you thought you had seen it all, Mother Nature flips it on you and here comes spring and summer. If you thought winter/fall were secretly seductive and enticing, the eyes get a shot of adrenaline come March 21. The first significant changes you notice are the colors. Gone are gray, black, and dark blue. No more wool, fleece or heavy lining on the inside of the leather. The streets abound with bright colors like pink, purple, blue, yellow and every pastel color imaginable. Forget the long fitted skirts and high boots. Now it is time for long, flowing skirts that catch every piece of wind one way and toss of the hips another. No kidding. It is as if someone knitted together a grass hula skirt, threw in some dye and started selling it at Macy’s.

I think I have seen my wife beater go walking by in all different colors. Have you noticed that women will walk around in basically lingerie, put on a pair of capris or jeans and call it a summer outfit? And I will admit to not knowing much in detail about female footwear. I know what doesn’t work, but I have to see it on a foot before I can make that determination. Anyway, open toe shoes (flip-flops, sandals and heels) are a big plus this time of year and they accentuate the feet very well. Those feet however need to be well kept and maintained. Good looking feet are an overlooked attribute. Eddie Murphy knew what he was talking about in Boomerang.

And guys don’t fret. You do have superhuman powers in the spring/summer time. Our x-ray vision is all-powerful when it comes to white pants, shorts and skirts.

They say there is no aphrodisiac like power. Well, spring and summer run a pretty close second. And what I described is just a sampling of what you see when the sun comes out. I didn’t even get into baby tees, tank tops and mini-skirts that would make any catholic schoolteacher send everyone to detention. The ruler above the knee rule has definitely been left behind. It is like women cannot wait to show off what they have been hiding all winter. Every bit of skin that has been moisturized, arms and legs that have been toned showing a hint of muscle from all those Pilates and resistance training classes and dvd’s. It could be considered somewhat primal and animalistic. I just call it my walk home.