If you see something enough times, it becomes interesting, maybe. What I can say is that after an unhealthy number of “As Time Goes By” rewatches, I have come to the conclusion that Jean Pargetter, later Hardcastle, the Judi Dench character, is well-dressed.
How to describe her look? It’s almost too easy because “coastal grandmother” exists as an expression, and I think it’s that.
It’s Eileen Fisher, if not literally, then in spirit. Lots of beige. Sparkly thin gold chain necklace. Tasteful but not prissy. A look that carries her from her Career Woman days as boss lady at Type For You, into her quasi-retirement, and then finally, her full-time status as Lionel’s busybody wife.
Did I say lots of beige? Occassionally a splash of color in the form of something like this plaid jacket but that might have been the only time.
Some good black blazers as well.
Jean Pargetter is someone who listened to all those magazine articles about the importance of investing in a classic trench, a high-end white button-down, simple gold jewelry. I want to mock those articles (and would find a way to stain a high-end white button-down within minutes) but in her case, it works! Everyone else on the show looks 1990s but she truly does look classically chic.
"I want to mock those articles (and would find a way to stain a high-end white button-down within minutes) but in her case, it works!" I enjoy the knowingly ironic deflection in this statement.
As Robin Williams says, "rip the style guide parts out of your textbooks." But weren't the best poets born in eras of style guides? (PS I liked your piece on "If you want a good husband, marry a Jesuit." I can't quite place the realm you're coming from -- I'm far too illiterate -- but I am most certainly entirely intrigued.)
Ms. Maltz Bovy -- Feminine Chaos still out there? Is it only on RSS feeds? I'm a YouTube man, myself, which dates (?) and genders me. I'm fixing to get more memory for my phone and maybe will re-download Stitcher.
If you should ever list to dally, We'd (I'd) love to have you as a guest on Curiosophy Now. Robert Wright, Aryeh Cohen Wade, John Horgan, a bunch of people have done it. I'd love to talk "Privilege" but, if you're over that, I'm loving your current Close-Reading, too. (Maybe the latter could be peppered with the former?) Happy to give you a list of past guests (Nikita Petrov!), should that be of use to you. Bill Scher and Matt Lewis!
I'm not on Twitter anymore. I'm on Post and Instagram and Discord and Substack. (That still feels... diffuse.) It is apparent I am now rambling. Did I mention that my podcast is audio only?
No pressure, either way. If you even read this comment, I'd be tickled puce.
Ciao! Il n'y a pa de temps que cette temps.