Crisis in Denim

I was going through my mail the other day, when I opened my Banana Republic bill, and found this inside:

Yes You Did. It was on a little card attached to $30 worth of gift cards I’d earned by sprucing up my work wardrobe at Banana Republic, and charging it all to my Banana Republic Luxe Card.

The next morning I was driving down my street and saw an Obama bumper sticker that read “Yes We Did!”

Three simple words, but I realized something. President Barack Obama’s election-night speech has so infused our culture in this last year, that everyone, even Banana Republic, is quoting it.

But it seemed a bit of a stretch. Were these gift cards, with their little “Yes You Did” notice, supposed to inspire the same swell of pride that President Barack Obama’s speech did, before that hushed Chicago crowd, just one year ago? I’m not sure I did very much to warrant channeling the president. I mean, what would the president’s acceptance speech sound like if you applied it to shopping at Banana Republic?

You. You selected the three best pairs of wool trousers out of a dozen styles and sizes. Yes You Did.

You tried them on with low heels and high heels, jackets and sweaters, to create the perfect outfit. Yes You Did.

You browsed the sale racks, searching for marked-down basics like shells and t-shirts, to fill out your wardrobe. Yes You Did.

You shopped strategically, passing up things you knew wouldn’t fit or that you didn’t need, asking the salesperson to show you the latest stock. Yes You Did.

Later, you helped your boyfriend find the perfect cranberry-colored sweater and wool trousers, then charged it to your BR card so he could get another 25 percent off and you would get the points. Yes You Did.

Actually, I am getting a bit misty-eyed just thinking of how much shopping I have accomplished. Thanks BR. You’ve inspired me. Still, I know I can’t grow complacent. To paraphrase that same election night speech: “There is so much more [shopping] to do!”

Pardon me, I need to go on a mini-rant.

I’ve recently been noticing the word “style” being used as a verb, and not just in relation to hair. It could be that I’m more aware of it, since I launched Crisis in Denim and so began reading more fashion magazines and websites.

However, I’ve been reading, and even occasionally hearing, the word “style” used in relation to clothes, as in “How would you style this black cardigan?” or “What nice boots. I have some ideas as to how I might style those.”

I hate to sound like an old fogey, but in my day putting a jacket together with a skirt and some nice jewelry and shoes was just called GETTING DRESSED.

It makes me think of something I read in the New York Times not too long ago about how “curating” isn’t just for museum professionals anymore. No one hosts parties anymore, they “curate” them. No one puts together an outfit anymore; no she “styles” it.

I guess the world is getting fancier. Crisis in Denim must keep up.