Psst... Did You See That?

My husband often sees something that someone is wearing and nudges me with a ‘Did you see that?’.  It usually includes a very incredulous look and if we are in close proximity, it is whispered.  Sometimes I see the fashion faux pas before he points it out to me.  It might be an unusual tattoo or piercing, a bright orange spray tan, maybe something that someone said or even an odd hair cut or color.  

While I have never seen anyone look quite like the photo above, I have seen some interesting things.  And definitely different then what you would find in Fort Wayne, Indiana.  

It is so easy to stereotype, isn’t it? When we see people dressed certain ways, with piercings, various tattoos, bright orange fake tans, outrageous hairstyles.... it is so easy to go down that road.  They are making a statement, no doubt.  In particular, I have to be careful where I lead myself when going down that road.  It is so easy for me to get caught in thinking the negative, particularly so because I am related to people that have lived the negative lifestyle that can come to mind when you see some of the aforementioned things.

I always wonder what leads people to choose what they have tattooed on their bodies.  Tattoo are a permanent marking. I have one, it is a yellow rose on my ankle.  It does have significance to me, my Aunt Adrienne, who died when I was in college, loved yellow roses.  I know that sometimes people get them impulsively.  Look at David Beckham, his arms are covered in tattoos.  Do they all have a significant meaning to him or were they an impulse?  I have a friend or two that is my age that have had their tattoos removed.  They are smart women and just found that they were not what they wanted anymore.

If David decides he does’t want his anymore... on advice of my friends, apparently they hurt like hell to remove.

Then I started to reflect on piercings.  While I do not find some piercings particularly pleasing to look at, obviously some people do.  Piercings are becoming more and more common.  Here they are very common, many women have their noses pierced.  My husband often teased me before we moved to the UK and said that I would be wanted my nose pierced, because so many of the women that he saw had them.  So far, I can report that I have not gained anymore piercings, while living here.  When I was in my 20’s, I wanted to have my nose pierced and I still contemplate having my naval done .  I am really glad that I did not go through with having my nose done.  I have enough trouble trying to remember to wear earrings!  Plus, it turns out that I scar very easily.

At least the hair styles and orange spray tans are something that is not permanent.  The area that I live in, the orange spray tans are known as “Essex Orange”.  When we are out Saturdays doing errands, we always see one or two women in Harlow with an orange tint to their skin.  Personally, I’ll skip the Ompahloompa look, that is unless I want to dress the part at Halloween!

And if I ever start wearing more then one item of animal print at a time, please friends, start an intervention!

I am sure it would never get that far.  My husband would never let me out of the house...