Isn't it ironic?

Isn't everything?

I think so. For example, I had this idea that I would write about Christmas sweaters. I brought my camera to the mall when I was home in NC over Thanksgiving, thinking I'd get some photos of holiday knit-clad families and maybe even a few Santa hats. After all, it was just after Thanksgiving and that's usually the time you start seeing that seasonal wardrobe staple of country grandmothers and school teachers, and those people who are just very cheerful. I used to like them when I was a kid (I liked EVERYTHING about Christmas when I was a kid, I had absolutely no discrimination at all) and then I sniggered about them when I got older. But now, I find there's such a goofy obviousness about the message the wearer is sending (i.e. Yay, it's Christmas!) I consider them part of the whole holiday spirit package.

But even though the mall was pretty full, I only saw one (and actually, that was a vest - not even any sleeves!) and no Santa hats at all. I missed them, especially since all the holiday news was pretty horrible (fatal stampede at Wal-Mart, shooting at Toys R Us, not to mention the attacks in India and upheaval in Thailand). I wanted to see something silly, happy, and sweet.

So I was trying to think about how I'd write something that was still light-hearted but sort of wistful about Christmas sweaters, which isn't the angle I originally thought I'd take at all.

And then another twist to my plans... Since I couldn't find any sweaters to photograph myself, I looked for pictures online. Oh, and I found them. Lots and lots! And almost all of them were on blogs about Ugly Christmas Sweater Parties. I have never had nor been invited to an UCSP, but apparently it's a whole big thing, at least among people who take photos and write about them. How ironic!

That started me thinking about irony and clothing. Another example: I slipped while taking sailing lessons and landed on my chin, leaving me in some pain and with a strong resemblance to Jay Leno, only my big chin was lopsided and purple. I realized for the sake of my safety and looks that I needed to get some appropriate shoes. Before I found my cool orange Volvo Ocean Race Pumas, I considered getting Topsiders - but I would wear them ironically, since they're totally not my style. I'd like to say I'm kidding, but I'm not. I was seriously thinking about how to show my irony without maintaining an annoying smirk on my face. I couldn't - thank God for Puma! That reminds me of a piece of advice from a relative: you can drive the wrong way down a one way street if you put your lights on. You're still going the wrong way and it's still illegal, but at least people know that YOU KNOW you're going the wrong way. (I've chosen not to follow that advice, btw.)

I digress. But I do think that irony might be a useful money-saving tool. If you just put any ugly old thing on, but with a sheen (or slather) of irony, you can always feel that you look cool. The risk of course, is that you don't.