Dear Art Lover,
Not
everything works in Italy. I say that as
a person with little fashion sense.
Saturday, my neighbors took me into town. I had to pay a bill and do other
errands. Also, I am gradually trying to
prepare for this upcoming surgery and thus I decided to shop for pyjamas since
I have none and do not want to be embarrassed when I have an overnight stay in
a hospital. But, I am ahead of myself.
We passed
the fruits and veggie vendors in a small piazza and headed into the Saturday
market in Pescia, Italy, in Piazza Mazzini.
We first saw a booth selling lots of red panties. So, I had the opportunity to share with my
British neighbor the New Year’s Eve tradition of wearing red panties that I
learned about in a fun way many years ago.
 |
| Italian New Year's Eve Tradition: Wear red panties that night for good luck |
So, ready
for a pigiama party?
So, it seems that what is available for single women my age (or even
non-singles I suppose) in the “non-lingerie” category of PJs is either to dress
like a nonna (grandmother) or like a little girl. But here is the thing: More and more you see English, or rather, an
attempt at English, being used on products or store names in Italy. They do not always work. Sometimes we English speakers cannot even
make out what words are intended, as in this hanging pyjama top, which caused my Brit
neighbor and me to tilt our heads in confusion.
I never
appreciated that fashion fad in the US over a decade ago in which women were supposed to
wear an outfit in black and white with obvious patterns that resemble those of
a cow. Along those same lines, look closer at this top with the nonsensical English: What woman, especially a “mature” woman,
wants to wear a dangling udder between spread legs? I understand that sheep are the symbol of
sleepiness (or not), but seriously, who comes up with this stuff?
Or how
about this farting cow with the snow-capped letters spelling out “Happy”? The text says, “Feel with your heart, and
strive to forward, to be grateful” At
least the designer did not punctuate that with a “full stop” as the British
call it or a “period” as Americans refer to the end of a complete sentence. I am also a bit surprised because I rarely
think anymore that there is a place in Italy that does not have easy access to
a native English speaker.
Sigh, and
in case you are wondering because I KNOW you are curious: I ended up buying a
men’s pair of jammies in a solid color of slate blue with very soft fabric and
lounging room… with pockets for phone and camera, no less. Hahah.. well, I still will not ever win any fashion
awards, and I am likely to remain single for the rest of my life.
See the red panties
tradition post here: http://artbyborsheim.blogspot.it/2012/01/italy-new-years-eve-tradition.html
.
Peace,
Kelly
P.S. Please check out the “Raccolta e Regalo” sale
I am having on selected artworks.. good through Dec 31, 2016. http://www.borsheimarts.com/SaleArt2016-LaRaccoltaeIlRegalo.htm
