modern hussy's etiquette

‘Taste’ has been a recent buzzword in my life.

As in ”She (or he) has really good taste. “

I have been thinking about this a lot, because frankly I often disagree with the statement being stated about certain people.

This has lead me to start analyzing what is taste. Some people will swear that the big fashion houses are what dictates taste. Bloggers will define good taste as a mix of vintage finds and expensive items all photographed on themselves by their gay boyfriends. And then there is the world of fast fashion which is a whole other can of worms.

Let’s start with fast fashion.

Do people who shop at H&M and Zara have good taste? You can get the full rip off of the Balenciaga collection at Zara about a month after runway, yet it is also cheap, badly manufactured crap that falls apart and starts pilling after four wears. Zara is amazing at merchandising, giving you the full look option making you look very well put together. You don’t really need to use your brain if you are a ‘Zara girl’, but also you are more than guaranteed to run into someone wearing the exact same outfit as you.

I think we can agree that people with taste have originality and wearing the same outfit as every bitch in town is the opposite of that. Buying key pieces here and there to merge with other finds is ok, but if you run to HM every week to get the item of the moment you are just adding to the landfills. Polluting is not sexy!

Bloggers are a herd of their own. It must be nice to be a SusieBubble or a Blonde Salad or Sea of Shoes… Running off to fashion shows, collaborating with key brands, and being adored by girl fans around the world.

But really… Who says that these girls know where it’s at with fashion?

Have you seen their outfits?

Half the time I cringe with disgust as they mix attrotious prints, wear costume like contraptions, and vouch for items that are never going to be a trend. It’s really great that you wore plaid jodhpurs with pointy white ankle boots, a vintage Dolce flower printed blouse and a hat with a feather on it! But note that being weird and different does not automatically get you an A+ in taste.

While following blogs is a fun distraction, I hardly see them as THE bible of style.

This leads us to the fashion houses.

When time for runway comes, fashionistas all over the world get their panties bunched up trying to figure out who will have the ‘it’ piece this season. Personally, i like about 5 designers and really cant get on board with models who look like old Russian grandmothers or ugly dudes.

But who buys this crap? Even the ready to wear?

Women with large amounts of disposable income, that’s who.

Frankly running out to get a gold Balmain blazer for 7000$ every season is hardly a true test of good taste. Also, let’s think about who in the world has large amounts of disposable income (not counting famous people)….

1. Old rich ladies,

2. Young girls married to rich dudes.

Soooooo if we say that the fashion houses set the pace, yet the only people who wear the brands are the two aforementioned groups, then we are really letting old rich ladies and golddiggers set the tone for good taste?

Really? Sorry, but you don’t automatically have good taste if you own vintage Chanel, and money can’t buy good taste.

My friend LK who has excellent taste states:

“the first step in having good taste is caring about details and investing in well made basics that will last and building on them each season. you may just need a new scarf or pair of pants to update your look. you will probably spend the same amount of money as someone who goes crazy and buys 5 pairs of cheap shoes /10 sweaters / 3 coats blahblahblah each season.

I would rather support a designer who has spent years cultivating a style. they should get paid. i’m against blatant knock offs. choosing a few designers you are into can help limit your fashion choices and helps you build a personal style. you won’t need to overhaul your wardrobe every season and still look current. how would you chose something otherwise?? there are so many choices you will just be tempted to buy everything all the time “

Fully agree, LK.

To sum up, good taste can be interpreted in different ways by different people, and most importantly- taste is subjective. So the next time you hear that someone has really good taste, don’t just blindly believe it, form you own opinion.

This weekend the Modern Hussy did some heavy house work in a heat wave, which pretty much resulted in a uniform of short shorts and high tops, and a slightly disheveled overall appearance.

I was running all over town buying things and carrying things not really paying too much attention to how I looked.

As I was walking down the street carrying a mop and bucket I couldn’t believe the looks I was getting from the boys, entertwined with very nice compliments (which I graciously thanked for).

Writing it off as a weird twilight zone event (and figuring that my shirt was probably see through) I did not see this as anything important, but in the days to come, as I gallivanted around with weird objects, slightly flustered, the looks and compliments continued.

I spoke with some experienced male flirts to see if I could find any kind of moral from the weekend.

Turns out there totally was!

My interviewed experts said that, while they’ll totally oogle a super dressed up girl with sky high heels and mega cleavage, they are much more likely to chat up a girl who is a little bit of a mess, yet still looks totally cute. She seems much more approachable and easy going, and if she is carrying around weird things, you can tell that she doesn’t take herself too seriously and is less likely to be high maintenance.

Please see below a list of suggested objects, which can be used to get attention:

1. Totally awesome made in Germany vintage city bike. If there is a basket on it strap size inappropriate things to the basket (giant bags of ice, flowers, a painting, baguette- so obvious yet it totally works).

2. A Playstation. My amazing male friend DS said that his fiancee told him when she came back from Future Shop with a Playstation 3, it was like she looked like a pig on a spit and all the men had not eaten in days

3. Vintagey objects such as an old butter box, record players, chairs

4. School or profession related objects such as architectural models, musical instruments.

4. Cleaning accessories (broom, bucket). Totally gives you that whole pin up girl effect.

5. Heavy things such as suitcases or mystery boxes. If the boy offers to help, you’re golden!

Note that dropping things adds to the overall effect and makes you appear extra adorable. Slightly klutzy is totally cute.

What Not To Do:

1. Do not take it overboard and keep dropping things while spilling ice cream on yourself (or whatever). You want to appear just a shade of a mess, not a total train wreck.

2. Do not do these things in super high heels or restrictive attire. This method works best in your fave band t-shirt, short shorts or those bum hugging jeans.

3. Do not overplan. This only works if it is not forced or intentional.

4. Lose the attitude. Even if you got the look perfectly, no one will talk to you if you are still rocking an intense bitch face.

5. Be gracious. If someone compliment you say ‘thank you’. If you are not interested keep walking, but if he is cute be prepared to talk about whatever it is you are carrying. (For more tips on compliments read this)

Have fun!

And never be ashamed about carrying around a mop and a bucket!