Clean & Cool/Sweet & Sexy

When attempting to keep up with 15-grandchildren and 2-great grandchildren, I find yourself thrown into a greater mix of young folks. That said, I cannot help but notice 'fashion changes.'

I still note young girls with the pony-tail and young guys wearing jeans. However, somewhere along the way it became a necessity for those higher costing jeans to display a  faded -torn look. I recall my Levi pegged jeans dark-blue and rather heavy and no holes.. That little red Levi red-tag on the right rear pocket certified authenticity. Fifties teenage girls' teamed dad's white shirt sporting rolled up sleeves with jeans or shorts.

Hair styles for women always appear propelled by a movie starlet or the current 'First Lady.' Teen boys of the Fifties did not know if they wanted to keep the " crew-cut' or work on 'Ducktails.'

Shoes have undergone drastic fashion-changein the past sixty seasons. Back in the day, we had one choice of acceptable tennis shoe...white or black $10.00, Chuck Taylor Converse All-Stars. Today the tennis shoe market offers multiple brands with endless color combination and  endorsed by well known sports' personalities. Some of these shoes will demand $200.00 a pair. Remaining with the shoe thought,  I recall the mid-fifties fashion with teens of both genders wearing Penney-Loafers, black & white Saddle-shoes or the boys wearing the White or Tan Buck shoes.

Girls' skirts today show more girl than anytime before. The fashion went from 1955 straight skirts  (low mid-calf-length) and Poodle skirts to a decade of mini skirts and today's 'your butt's showing skirt.' The contemporary skirt fashion is often complimented by tattooed Bible Verses displayed on more visible  body parts. Makes a fella dizzy and embarrassed while reading.

In the Fifties' when 45% of Americans' attended church regularly, the women customarily wore hats and the men wore shirts & ties. The 14% of Americans who attend church today might enter wearing cut off shorts and flip-flops...but hey, Jesus wore something similar to flip-flops, did He not?

I remember vividly the day I got dressed for a Fox Theater movie date night wearing a white big brimmed Stetson hat, 'St. Louis 'orange' plain-toed leather shoes, blue cord trousers and a pink Billy Ekstine (big-collar) shirt...reminded me of that other 'cool cat.'

       (Touch)

Dodie Stevens