Wednesday, September 7, 2011

pinstriped pants and pearls


today i am wearing pants that make me feel like a man. they are pinstriped and a little too short.

i've tried to feminize them with lipstick, and hair that has a little bit of swagger and sway. i made sure my pocketbook was a matching shade of camel, and that my vintage belt hung low enough on my hips as to say, yes i am a woman.

but that's just it. i am a woman. i contain multitudes, to paraphrase. i can be sharp-edged and slick, and i can be crumbly and so soft its devastating. in my closet hang dress slacks and evening gowns. i'll blast backstreet boys in my car then quote rilke. it's the contradiction of it all that makes it so very beautiful.

just yesterday, i developed a powerpoint, wrote proposals. calmed frantic salesmen. and in my little office, the one right next to the highway, with the window beside the parking lot that catches the late afternoon sun, i was at home in my corporate corner. then, i came home to a dog stricken with allergies, and spent twenty minutes bandaging him up and cooing into his wet nose. and again, i felt at home.

so today my pants flap a little in the breeze and would look more appropriate on the legs of the man sitting in front of me. it's nothing new and nothing a fresh swipe of lipstick won't fix. and compared to the girls wearing teensy shorts, ushering the summer out in a special style, i like to think the modesty of them makes me a little mysterious.

and what is a woman if not mysterious, no?

14 comments:

Emily said...

I am so glad im not the only one who still listens to backstreet boys haha and all my friend make fun of me for calling a purse a pocketbook so thank you for being with me on that one.

Lauren Quinn O'Neill said...

My mother always said it was best to leave some things up to the imagination. A little mystery is a wonderful thing!

Blondie's Journal said...

We can be all things if we want!! Contradictions are mysterious!

XO,
Jane

Anonymous said...

Yes darlin'! You are a woman and you can do it all! And I'm sure you look mighty cute in your pinstripes! :)

erika said...

...'cause you waaant it thaaat way. ;)
(Now it's playing in my head.)

Victory Garden Yarn said...

Now that was lovely. And here here to pinstripes! Boyfriend got me pocket squares for my birthday and I am soo excited to wear them with my blazers once it cools down a bit here in the PNW. Girls wearing pocket squares?! Yep, we can do that, too! :)

Unknown said...

I think all working women own a pair of pants that make us feel that way. Unfortunately! And yes, women are mysterious and that's the way I like it :)

Southhamsdarling said...

I agree that a little mystery goes a long way! Isn't it amazing, the different facets of a woman's personality? Nicely put my friend.

Amber said...

if anyone can pull those pants off its you.

Always in Love said...

i love dress pants on women. i imagine you made it look more fabulously woman than you think :)

Off the Cuff said...

mysterious is one of my favorite words...I bet you look amazing...just wear it with that confidence you have when you write and you can pull off anything!

Eleanor at Mirror Of My World said...

i love this post xxx

sarah nicole said...

Love this! Aren't women amazing things? : )

xo,

Sarah

Some Korean Website Highjacker said...

cheers to the multidimensional ladies and all they bring to the table! Courtney, the way your mind focuses on things like this topic and so many others helps my mind/soul to stretch and breath. xoox ♥

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