Think you’re presentable? Your clothes may suggest otherwise. Read on to ensure your name never makes its way on the “don’t” list.

Surviving in a World of

Bad Role-Models

By Cari Steiner

Earlier this summer, as I lay soaking up some sun, catching up on some light reading, I noticed a shot of Mary-Kate Olsen and her giant-of-a-boyfriend, walking side by side. He, whose bank account is probably just as large as he is tall, looked…nice – enough, anyway, to be bombarded by the paparazzi. Mary-Kate, on the other hand, was a completely different story. And as difficult as it is for an avid Olsen-twin fan to admit, the beloved Mary-Kate looked like she had just stepped out of a homeless shelter. I ask this question out of the goodness of my heart, if she has the money to look put together and presentable, why on earth would she, or anyone else for that matter, choose not to?

Perhaps it's because most people don't realize that they don't necessarily need to have star-status in order to be observed, respected and even talked about by others. From celebrities to students, people are studying not only the way others dress, but how they carry themselves in everyday situations as well. Mary-Kate, along with oodles of A-listers fail to take advantage of this, which in turn provides the rest of us with numerous opportunities to learn from their mistakes.

Granny’s Not Off Her Rocker After All

Let’s think back, for a moment, to that grungy photo of Mary Kate. What would your grandmother say? Well, if you’re lucky (yes, lucky) enough to have a Glam Gram, who grew up in a time when appropriate appearance was everything, she would probably make some sort of ‘tisk-tisk’ fuss and toss it down with frustration. Almost all of us can remember our Grandmothers lecturing about what it is to be a proper lady. So, what of it? Well, as we grow older, wiser and more mature, we begin to have a more realistic view of the world and the career goals and expectations of our professors and future employers. It’s not until then that we fully begin to understand and appreciate the words of wisdom our Nanas, Grammys, and Grandmoms used to bestow upon us regarding what's socially acceptable, as well as their incessant etiquette and primping habits.

“A lady never uses vulgar words where grace is expected,” my own Grandmother used to advise. While she had many rules (most of which I thought were pretty intense, if not unnecessary), one in particular seemed to give me the most trouble.
“Don’t touch your hair in public. You had plenty of time to fix it before we sat down for dinner.” Even if it was just one strand of my super curly hair that I thought was out of place, my fingers seemed to have this magnetic attraction to it. Plus, in my world, people could touch their hair in public or slouch at the dinner table. It was fine to wear jeans and a t-shirt to a play, or to go shopping looking like I just fell out of bed. In my world, it was completely fine to live without manners and act like a slob. Much to my grandmother's dismay, I couldn’t have cared less about her old-fashioned-fantasy-land and her “how-to be a lady” crap. The 1950s were a very different time, and frankly, I wasn't concerned as to what others considered to be polite or proper. I didn't care that post-war women and children ran the household or that the ‘burly men’ brought home the bacon. To me, A-line skirts and pearl necklaces were just the frosting on the cake of a somewhat blissful era.

The Comfort Zone

Now, however, as I find myself living in a generation that has become lost in what I’ve named the 'comfort zone', I often wonder: how did it get this out-of-control? My grandmother's vocabulary didn’t include sweatshirt, pajama-pants or messy buns, especially when dealing with an ensemble to be worn in public.
My grandmother was a lady, and somehow, somewhere in time, she, and the rest of her kind, were forgotten. For some odd reason, may it be women's rights or the sexual revolution, our generation forgot the importance of looking nice both in and out of our homes.

Trend Misinterpretation

The infamous 'vintage - boho' style is an excellent example of trend misinterpretation. While this particular fashion trend has the potential of being fabulously presentable, hoards of young ladies today take full advantage of it by wearing 'vintage' to polar extremes. A pair of barely-there-because-of-so-many-tears jeans and an oversized, scroungy T-shirt constitutes neither vintage nor boho.

Sienna Miller, the inspiration of this fashion craze, never looks rushed or unflattering. Instead, she incorporates accessories like jewelry and belts, as well as her own personal touches, such as embroidery, to make each ensemble complete.
Sienna proves that dressing this way can be both tasteful and fabulous; especially when you take a treasure you’ve found and make it your own. But, the way Mary-Kate presents her style via vintage-boho is in no way, shape or form acceptable. The thought alone that millions of amazing young women saw that same photo, as well as countless others, only to undertake MK's fashion faux-pas makes me cringe.

Do Dress Boho - Don't Dress Hobo

It is embarrassing to know that people actually go out in public in attempts to resemble homeless orphans. There is a big difference between wearing a nice piece of vintage clothing, or a high fashion ensemble, and a nasty t-shirt the length of your entire body with some ripped jeans. Boho is still a style ladies, and style always connotes individuality and appropriate preparation and occasion consideration. If you're going to take the time to put on a full face of make-up, and spruce up your coif, why not take another 15 minutes to organize an outfit that looks anything by thrown together. In any case, just remember: stay POISEd and dress for the occasion, even if it is just a trip to the grocery store. Someone is going to look at you, whether you took the time to get dressed or not.