Friday, January 20, 2012

I'm just a girl....

This is what I wore AFTER I changed out of the leather skirt from the last post!  I was FREEZING!
JACKET:  Doncaster, inherited from my mom (why don't I wear this more?!), SCARF:  gift from my sweet husband, JEANS:  Kenneth Cole via TJ Maxx, WEDGES:  BCBG thrifted, SWEATER: Same as here, GAP thrifted.



Today I read an article about a couple who did not reveal the gender of their child for five years.  It seems that they believe that gender is societally imposed and did not want that for their child.  What was interesting about their choice, however, is that they allowed the child (turned out to be a boy) to choose whatever he wanted to wear with the exception of  "hyper-masculine outfits like skull-print shirts".  He WAS allowed to wear a shiny pink girl's swimsuit though.


How much does the role of gender play in what we wear?  For me, it plays a HUGE part!  I'm a girly girl through and through, albeit, MY interpretation of girly girl (I don't wear ruffles); but still dedicated feminine.    When I get dressed, part of the whole experience is that I FEEL so very womanly.  Whether its the fit, the style, the parts making up the whole; I'm really looking for that feminine experience.


Without forming too much judgment over something that's basically none of my business; this article intrigued me.  We really aren't an androgynous society.  And even when women wear men's wear inspired clothing; they still bring their feminine form to it.  Think Marlene Dietrich.  Known for her penchant for masculine clothes, she was still decidedly feminine!


Source
My mom used to tell me that when I was a little girl, I used to cry when she tried to put me in pants.  I LOVED dresses!  One of my earliest memories was of my sister and I going shopping for Easter dresses and matching purses (another accessory that I've always had a weakness for!).  


I don't remember anyone really TELLING me, "Serene, you're a girl!".  I just KNEW.  A couple of years later, my older sister and grandmother teasingly tried to convince me that I was really a boy, but that my father wanted a little girl so badly that they dressed me up in girls' clothes and pretended that I was one!  I actually BELIEVED them!  I didn't understand at that young age the anatomical difference in genders.  All I knew was that there was a marked difference between boys and girls and I REALLY wanted to be a girl!


Apart from traditional gender roles, do you think it's possible to be truly gender neutral.  To just embrace EVERYTHING?  I don't think I buy this.  Because it seems like all of us break to one gender or the other; either physically or mentally.   


Do you enjoy dressing "feminine" and what IS your idea of feminine dress?  Would love to hear your thoughts on this!





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10 comments:

  1. I'm with you on the girly-girl dressing--sans bows! Not a big fan of the men's wear for myself--but it fit Marlena Deitrick's personality and other's as well.

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  2. I've changed through the years, I went through an only jeans and t-shirt stage and then through a punk stage also (wore all black and purple hair) during my late 20's I turned into a girly girl, I love ruffles and pink and anything feminine but I also like men-inspired looks.
    You look great Serene, as always, this look is very classic with that chanel-like jacket. =D

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  3. oops it's a sweater, but looks like a jacket. =D

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  4. First, let me say that you look radiant with the white scarf around your neck and that jacket of your mother's should be worn more.

    As I understand it, our biological sex is something we are born with, but gender represents a choice about how we choose to act on our sexuality in our lives. I see them as two different things. I believe that all human beings possess masculine and feminine qualities on a sliding scale. I know my DH is one of the most nurturing people I know.

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  5. You look so gorgeous in this outfit, I especially love that white scarf so close to your face, beautiful! And I'm going to do a manicure tonight because your nails always influence me (I'm doing a dark chocolate-y purple). I do like to dress feminine but still wear jeans most of the time (still in the mommy trenches, you know). I just can't seem to wear a skirt around the house, I don't know why that is. When I worked at Bloomingdale's over the holidays I wore a skirt nearly every day. It was great! XO, Jill Oh, and I love your new header. I am going to try to work on my blog next month, based on your tips (thank you once again). I'm so busy this month planning bd party for my daughter and signing her up for kindergarten!

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  6. I raise two boys and a girl and although I never really confine them to a gender I see that they have many differences and preferences true to their gender. Girl likes to talk on the phone and boys like to fight and be physicaly active.I 've never encouraged them to do so,yet they do.It's in the DNA,that's the way it is.

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  7. You are simply lovely in your tweed jacket and white scarf! As Terri wrote, I agree that we are on a sliding scale in how we express our femininity/masculinity. When I took a psych test once, I was told that I have "strong traditional feminine values", which kind of surprised me because I think of myself as a very strong, independent-minded woman. So I think we are complicated, with many genetic and cultural and parental influences mixed in. I still ask Sandy to kill the big bugs! xoxoxoxoxo

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  8. I read that article too. It was intriguing, to say the least.
    I love this Chanel-inspired jacket and the crisp line of the trouser jeans. This winter white is a particularly pretty shade with your dark hair, Serene!
    Ps. The new header is fun!

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  9. Lovely jacket! Yes, you should wear it more. I also am familiar with the story...I don't believe God makes mistakes...we are either male or female. Just my two cents worth. Happy weekend to you!

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  10. You look lovely in this outfit. The jacket is gorgeous.

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Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment! ~Serene