DorEm Answers

Hi Dorigen,

I had a lovely Labor Day weekend with you and the family in Milwaukee, where, of course, the 115th Harvey Davidson Fest blazed through town. I figured a biker fashion recap would be in order, but all I wanted to do was part the cascading leather fringe, pluck off the grips of bushy fox tails, and roll up those weathered T’s to expose and stare at the many, the proud, the glorious biker bellies.

I see bellies as a confidence. When I was in High School, my gut was making its presence known and I remember wanting the world to embrace it. As a teenager, I conceptualized a pair of pants with a heart on the gut, which could be circled when placing your thumbs in your pockets. I imagined strutting down the runway with a crop top, thumbs in my fashion-pants pockets, showing love for my stomach.

I appreciate the belly story you shared. When grandma was pregnant with dad, she was running errands on Mitchell Street and, as she walked with her big, pregnant belly, the elastic on her underwear snapped and fell to the ground. As the resourceful, unembarrassed, and comically brilliant person that she was, Grandma picked up what was left of her underwear, nonchalantly placed them in the nearest mailbox, and quietly continued with her errands.

This weekend, while spectating at the Biker Rally, I wanted to swaddle my ears and my entire body, exposing only my belly-staring eyes, because of the sound, that deafening, body-vibrating sound of revving motorcycle engines, which felt like guttural growls of hunger; hunger for the road and the wind, I suppose, but also clearly hunger for being seen and heard and felt by everyone. It was invasive, but those sitting bellies were glorious.

Sending love directly from my belly,

Em

P.S. I got so much peanut butter on my puff sleeves last week that I included a jar of Jif in my daily outfit catalog.

Hi Dorigen,

While we were in Nashville, spotting pedal pushers and a lot of orange, our Aunt Anne was in Paris, soaking up the fabulousness.

Here are her brilliant and enlightening insights:

FASHION and STYLE Paris report. Female hair styles for teens/20’s beachy hair; no highlights! 30+ short hair and not styled but “wash and wear”. Men sport 2″ or longer hair; little evidence of shaved. Dresses/skirts are knee-length or longer. Skinny jeans rein for both sexes. Parisians seem to have the skinniest, longest legs so they look fabulous. Rare to see heels; flats are all the rage and/or strappy shoes. Must have straps around the ankle. Men seem to love the suede slip-ons. The latter aggressively embrace style; that’s why there are numerous men’s boutiques. Me? I look like a tourist.

I love this woman.

Em