My Superhero

Grayson, my two-year-old grandson, hasn't voluntarily worn a stitch of clothing since late last September.  The fateful day occurred when his family went the Disney store to pick up Halloween outfits.  It was right then that he discovered his new passion in fashion:  COSTUMES!  He walked into that store as Grayson but left as Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

The first costume

Generally, his ensemble includes fingerless gloves, green rubber boots and, for special occasions, wings that attach to the back with Velcro. At first it was all Buzz, all the time but as the days turned into weeks, he expanded his repertoire to include Spiderman and Ironman.  Now his wardrobe also boasts The Hulk and Wolverine.

Wolverine at the Zoo

Spidey is a favorite

Even his pjs are costumes

The last time I visited, he was running around inside wearing just a pair of spidey undies which he had on backwards so he could see the picture.

"Aren't you cold?"  I asked.

"Yes," he replied.

"Want to get dressed?"

"Where's my costume?" he eyed me suspiciously.

As I was helping him into his Ironman outfit, I said, "Grayson, you are my secret superhero."
He faintly smiled as he paused a minute to give this statement some thought.  Then, he raised an eyebrow.

"Tell me more," he said.

www.StillSwimmingUpstream.com

Stylin'

2013 is MY YEAR!!  Oh, YES, it SO IS!!  Good things have been happening to me right and left already and my newest thrill is from, of all places, the fashion industry!  Being in style never happens to me.  Never.  Not ever.  Neverrrrrr....

I have this vivid memory from sixth-grade when my friend asked me an uncomfortable question which still haunts me to this day: "Would you rather be stylish or comfortable?" 

What?!?  Thanks a lot Bev.  That question ended my childhood innocence, BAM!  Until that moment, I hadn't realized that dressing was an "either/or" proposition.  I couldn't take the pressure.  I didn't even answer her.  Over the years though, as I 'passed' on miniskirts, stilettos, noodle straps and even Spanx, I fell solidly into the "comfort camp" by default.  (Decades of horrifying photos featuring questionable wardrobe choices verify this decision.  In my defense though, I'm rarely cold.)


Stylin' in my vintage skimmers

Back to my little kiss from the fashion gods.  This year they decreed, and I quote "The ankle skimmer is the key trouser length to try this season."  That's RIGHT, people.  Just when I thought things couldn't get any better, the new IN length in pants in 2013 just grazes the ankle!! I AM IN STYLE!!  Nobody who knows me would have ever guessed that THIS day would come!!  Hallelujah!

To think that I was SECONDS away from DONATING my high-water pants (the target audience of my largess being chubby third-graders) when I happened upon that advertisement in the Sunday paper!  Now my jeans have morphed into SKIMMERS, "the trouser length to try this season."  As an added plus, I don't even have to go shopping for any.  My closet is full of pants that I shrank in the dryer.  I am GOOD to GO!!!

Just for this one season, I CAN have comfort and style!!  How about THAT, Bev?

My suspicions have been confirmed.

I just read an interesting article on my facebook feed that confirms what I've always known.  The gist of this scientific piece was that studies show that daughters do not dress like their mothers. (Duh...did we, the people, pay for this study?) Interestingly though, they say that mothers who feel their daughters have fashion sense take cues for their own style of dress from their girls.  In other words, daughters don't dress like their mothers but mothers dress like their daughters.


So there you have it.  I'm being dressed by Barbie.