Nuthin' to Say Here

I have nothing to say, which is enough of something to say that it's worth writing about. Just when we thought our lives could start returning—we all know "back to normal" is an oxymoron—along comes the delta variant and out come those masks again. Ugh. 

We are beginning the dog days of summer, as I'm sure are most of you. Vacations are either done or so needed you are about numb with anticipation. The bloom may be off your summer clothes but no way do you want to think about a fall wardrobe. Good thing, too, because the fashion magazines seem to be treating fashion like avant garde performance art. Some stuff may be great to look at, but where/when/why would I ever wear it? The magazines, too, are still playing catch-up with the Me Too and Black Lives Matter movements. I get it, I really do, but basta.

However Dr. Jill Biden does look great on the cover of "Vogue".

I just love calling her "Dr."

What will the future hold for fashion? Madame's crystal ball is foggy, very cloudy. I do know many women seem to be cleaning out their closets. If it's true that millennials are way more into thrifting than buying new, I should be seeing some of my donations on the street anytime now. 

Retail, what's left of it, is already retooling. Nordstrom are expanding their idea of a storefront for pick-ups, returns and basic services like alterations. My mall location Nordstrom is stripped bare of any amenities. I swear they even took up the carpet. The Lovely Boutique Where I Work has told us to let customers know they better buy the stock coming in now as reorders will be thin. Companies are ordering less so as not to be stuck with unsold merchandise again. And online shopping is not going away. If anything more is being done to encourage it (look ma! no overhead!). What this will mean for the future of retail is anyone's guess.

No men need apply

 
All is not gloom-and-doom of course. I still dream about putting outfits together and finding the perfect (fill in the blanks). I've been going through my stack of vintage fashion magazines—old Seventeens, Vogues and Glamours from the '50s. I just re-watched "The Women" with its fabulous technicolor fashion show finale. "Funny Face" is always in rotation. Fashion, Paris, Audrey Hepburn, Gershwin—what could be bad? I still enjoy fashion history books. I've just been gifted with a goodie:

Worth-y reading

I also discovered that Trinny Woodall, of the original "What Not to Wear" duo, is alive and well on Instagram, Facebook and You Tube, carrying on just short of over-the-top but so mesmerizing you can't help but watch. And she still has some damn good ideas.

There's no stopping her for sure

 
So while I can't get all excited about the future of fashion, maybe the best way to make it through is by enjoying the past...