I'VE BEEN a faithful reader of Jenice Armstrong's column since returning to the area after retiring last year. I enjoy the way she puts issues out in such a professional manner.
I'm writing about her Sept. 26 column on the "b-word." My comment isn't about that, but writer Jake Johnson's comment on big women wearing tight jeans.
I worked in an office with men and women, white and black. The men were always commenting on the big-butt women wearing pants suits or just pants so that it brought out their biggest feature.
Friday was dress- down day so the women could wear jeans. Tight, seam-busting jeans. We could never figure out why the older women did this. Was it for us men?
Or was it a competition to show the other women that they still look good in jeans? Or a message to their husbands saying, "I still got it, honey"? We always looked forward to Friday.
I always told everyone in the office if I ever became office manager the first thing I would do was change the dress code for everyone. Men would be required to wear shirt, tie and dress pants. Women to wear business suits or dresses. Except on Friday.
You can imagine the reaction. The thing is, every once in a while, a woman would wear a dress - and what a difference it made. She would look great, and be smiling and pleasant.
The thing I have always wondered is why wearing pants is so popular with women? Is it a feminist thing? A convenience thing? Practical thing? Does it take any longer to dress if you wear a dress? Do women think they look better in pants??
One other thing: Women seem to think pants or pant suits are acceptable for any occasion. In my opinion, they aren't. Specifically at a viewing or funeral.
Men also, particularly young men, also seem to think that jeans, Dockers, open-collar shirts, even T-shirts are appropriate for showing respect for the deceased and the family. Not so.