Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Does this giraffe print make me look taller?

I've never been a huge fan of animal prints for clothing or decor. Can't really explain why. I know lots of people who can pull them off, but for me they either look really retro and cool or really trashy... and it's a fine line I've never felt brave enough to walk. Thinking about it, my aversion makes no sense. Why is making a print inspired by the coats of animals any stranger than say flowers or fruit or paisley?

But shopping a while ago I was desperate for a new top that was not too casual but not too dressy and tried on this bright blue and black top in a haphazard kind of polka dot silk. It fit (miracle). The colour was good on me. I liked it. It was on sale. I knew it looked animal printy, but couldn't pinpoint which animal so I decided it didn't fall within the parameters of my personal animal print boycott.

Then a day or two later, I spotted a giraffe on TV.

It's a giraffe print. I bought a giraffe print top. I'll bet most three year olds could have spotted it (no pun intended). I didn't. LOL.

But seriously, does it make me look taller? (I could really use a longer neck.)

9 comments:

Kimber Chin said...

No, doesn't make you look taller but you do blend in with blue and black trees. (Grinning)

Not a print fan myself (on me, they look great on other people). Stripes are about as crazy as I get.

L.A. Mitchell said...

Maureen,
You are too funny. Are the spots kinda square-ish? Dead giveaway for a giraffe.

I'm sure you look beautiful :)

Barbara Martin said...

I really don't understand why wearing an animal print bothers you. If you are going to boycott things that are made from animals or represent animals, perhaps you ought to get rid of your leather items which consist of purses, shoes, belts, and jewellery made from coral, pearls (the oyster is killed to get the pearl). If you are a meat eater, perhaps its time to become a vegetarian. There's the gamut of fur and leather coats, and probably one of the worst is persian lamb.

As to your giraffe print, think of it as camouflage. The giraffe is coloured that way for a reason, and when used in clothing it does the same thing for the person wearing it.

Myself, I like animal prints on clothing accessories. I don't wear animal skins anymore, but have in the past. Even a persian lamb coat, which I found an interesting conversation piece when people would ask how the furrier got the hair to curl up that way. Very warm to wear in the winter.

A giraffe print -- harmless, Maureen, but certainly evokes food for thought.

Maureen McGowan said...

Oh, it's not like that at all Barbara. More of a fashion issue than a save the animals one. I guess I should have made that more clear.
I simply don't usually like them even though I'm not sure why. I think it's because I associate animal prints with slinky sleazy clothing... I always think of things like skin tight leopard print cat suits. Crazy, I know... Lots of animal prints aren't like that. That's just where my brain goes when I see animal prints -- hence my aversion

But I love my giraffe print top. It was a joke. Not very funny, I guess. (And I really hope it makes me look taller.)

Maureen McGowan said...

Hey... Did Julie Newmar wear leopard prints when she was cat woman in the original Batman TV series?

That's it. I've traced my aversion. Scarred in my youth by TV.

Anonymous said...

For me it's because animals are supposed to be outside (with the exception of domesticated ones).

I went through a similar thing with decorator pillows on my sofa. Lovely lions and tigers and bears, oh my, but not for the house.

Nancy

Wylie Kinson said...

I passed a very fashionable shop in the mall yesterday and saw a beautiful giraffe-print shirt in navy-blue. Made me think of you!
btw-it was gorgeous. Giraffe is the new black ;)

Barrie said...

Hey, I want a pic!

And I can't imagine you look anything less than beautiful!

Jess Riley said...

I LOVE that you bought it before you know what the animal print was. :)

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