Of Trends and Fashion

A few days ago, my brother and I went out to buy some pasta at the local mall. Since it's been a while from our last mall visit, we decided to check the computer stores for new stuff that might catch our fancy. Tech-speaking, the shop had nothing new to offer, but I was a little disturbed by the sight of the saleslady that greeted us. She looked to be around her late twenties to thirties and was dressed down in old jeans, a loose cardigan and a simple t-shirt, and over her head was a large, red bow head band. She smiled at us, not friendly, but in the forced, congenial way salesladies are supposed to do, which just made it worst. Now, she looked like a psychotic Alice in Wonderland.

Blair in her signature bow

Helga in her signature bow

I'm not a stranger to trends. I know "Gossip Girl" has for some reason made bow headbands a must have, and lately I've been seeing them on practically everyone's heads. Sure, they look nice on school girls, teenagers, and some women who frequent the mall. But it's rather disturbing to see them over thirty or forty something women, or basically women who clearly are not schoolgirls anymore. I myself won't be caught dead in one, although more so because I don't follow trends.

I can't blame them though. After all, that is point of a trend: to mindlessly emulate the look, irregardless of whether it's even suitable for one. Style for the mass market. The irony of it is that following a trend does not automatically make one look good. I remember an old "Hey Arnold Episode" wherein Helga becomes the "it girl". Suddenly everyone is wearing her signature pink bow and pink dress (much to Helga's annoyance). It's hysterical in cartoons and it's hysterical in real life too.