Tank Tops

Tank tops are part of almost everyone’s fashion vocabulary. Fascinating name too. Though until about a day ago I realised that all that I presumed to know about tank tops was false!! I had thought of putting in a little post about the origins of the word only to realise that the kind of top I have insisted on calling a tank since school is actually a crop top.
A tank top is a sleeveless, collarless, broad necked top worn by men and women. It gets its name from the top half of the kind of swim suits people wore in the US in the 1920s. These outfits were called tank suits because you wore them and swam in a tank.

Leonardo Dicaprio in a tank suit in The Great Gatsby. The movie like the book is set in 1922 America.

The Great Beret

Beret pronounced berr-A, is French for those flat, round, unpretentious caps usually made of wool or cloth. I researched a bit on their history, and as far as headgear goes suffice it to say that berets have been runway material since at least the Bronze Age. Berets have enjoyed widespread popularity in Europe and among the militia of many countries- including India.

My earliest memory is of my Dad’s dark navy Indian Army Beret. In fact I was in awe of it and of just how grand Daddy looks in it. I was even allowed to try on the discarded ones (as long as I wasn’t seen outside the house in them.(That’s highly disrespectful to the uniform). In fact the concept of the beret to me has been so deeply associated with something powerful and well military that it took me a long time to appreciate that some form of it could be considered a fashion accessory. It still comes as a bit of a shock to me if for instance I see a bright pink, fluffy contraption perched
precariously on a pretty head, being called a beret.

On the very other end of the spectrum, in absolute contrast to the military image, see a civilian in a beret and you may just conclude that the wearer is a musician or a painter. Berets have long been associated with the stereotype of artistic, intellectual or otherwise bohemian people

Henry VIII in a beret (picture source: Wikipedia)

The iconic Che Guevara beret (picture source : Wikipedia)

That’s me in what may or may not qualify as a beret.

Ever wondered about those pointy toed men’s shoes? Since there is no escaping them (they come in all shapes, sizes and colors. My favourite ones are those which end with a pronounced flourish), might as well know what they’re called. Yes they have a name! Winklepickers!! You just got to love that name!! The shoe […]

Trivia: Halter Necks

For something which I personally find extremely attractive, halter necks have a definitely unsexy name.
The word itself is derived from Germanic words meaning ‘that by which something is held’ according to Wikipedia.
Halter may be used to refer to something you put on a domesticated animal to lead it by. Very medieval and uncomfortable looking contraption.

That’s what it look’s like. Picture courtesy Wikipedia.
Even more sinister the term may refer to a rope for execution by hanging or simply death by hanging.

So here’s a picture of a horse (source Wikipedia) flaunting a halter.

And that’s me in my favourite halter top.

Why the officious, academic Name

My relationship with anything to do with fashion has always been uncomfortable. it’s one of those things where you feel slightly out of your depth and definitely not qualified to make any kind of profound insights. A bit like trying to discuss the strategic implications of the company’s newest acquisition with your boss over those tedious coffee breaks. You wish you knew more, make a mental note to read up on it and well never read up on it.
Unfortunately it’s also one of those things that seem to come naturally to a lot of people and is an ubiquitous conversation filler, conversation starter or even something people form instant connections over. And this is not just true for women to women interactions though it may be less obvious in other social interactions. Having said that, the stakes are definitely higher for women. If you’re a girl you are expected to have this sixth sense about fashion. If you are intuitively impaired you do research. Hence the project. But this is one project I expect to have a lot of fun researching.
So I have some ideas for this blog. More to the benefit of this project, I have some wonderful modern day fashionistas as my closest friends. More on them later.
So here’s my primary hypothesis (oh yes we’re going to follow the rules and do it right).
1) Fashion is about self expression and is highly personal- but not really.
2) it’s all about social identity-again not really.

Disambiguation to follow soon.
Meanwhile here’s a picture of a cat who’s got it all figured out.