Happy Independence Day from NtB and Twistie!
Once upon a time, men (and women!!) in a country on the eve of its birth laid down their lives to cast off the yoke of tyranny. In the present day, those of us who live in the grand ol’ U.S. of A. celebrate their sacrifice by setting off Chinese fireworks, drinking too much, and laughing our butts off at people dressed in red, white, and blue.
Not that there’s anything wrong with dressing in red, white, and blue. In fact, a smart nautically-inspired suit that makes one think that one might like to travel back in time to the 30s can look chic and sharp! Generally, however, I think I’d prefer to wear my reds, whites, and blues separately or in groupings of two to avoid any erroneous implications. I say think because my everyday uniform is black on black with a little touch of black.
For those who can pull off color or the lack of it without looking like some crazed she-beast, here are three luscious frocks — two from Nicole Miller and one from Vera Wang
— that could conceivable be used to send a message like “I love America” or “Why settle for something from David’s Bridal” or “Hey, I’m not afraid to grab two friends and make a spectacle of myself on a patriotic parade float.”
Looking at this gown lineup, I can even imagine some bride-to-be who loves her country very much dressing her bridesmaids in red and blue…hey, I said I could picture it in my head, not that I would actually suggest someone actually do that.
Happy Fourth!
NtB, I love you like a sister, but we have got to get you past this colorphobia. Trust me, there are plenty of colors that you can wear without looking like a ‘crazed she-beast’.
Pretty dresses. I like.
Color rules! Maybe, you can branch out into grays as a first step.
NtB, I would also like to remind you that not only men served as soldiers – Deborah Sampson enlisted as a man, and took a bullet out of her own leg to avoid being discovered as female, and she wasn’t the only one to serve in disguise as a soldier. Molly Pitcher and countless others served the army as women, and without the work and support of the women on the home front, there wouldn’t have been a home to come back to. In the spirit of ’76, every 4th of July, every Veterans’ Day, every Memorial Day, I call my little sister to thank her; she spent some long hard years overseas in the Navy, and I’m prouder of her than I can find the words to say. (I also try to do the same with all the vets I know – and there are quite a few, as it turns out.)
And colour’s not a bad thing! It’s not to be feared! I wouldn’t necessarily take advice from flowers for everything,* but they come in more colours than black, grey and white, and seem to do all right.
*Actually, I don’t know that I’d take a lot of advice from flowers, necessarily, but “wear a colour!” isn’t so bad, as advice goes.
I humbly apologize for my oversight, La BellaDonna, for women have indeed played an important role in armed forces from time immemorial! I remember reading about Deborah Sampson in elementary school and being utterly fascinated.
Kudos to your sister for making the choices she did — the veterans I knew have all passed on, but I still think of them on Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day and the 4th.