If you were reading last year, you know that I go for my annual mammogram at Machon Hala in Jerusalem. Today was my big day. I decided to take the bus into Jerusalem, because I'm trying to treat my car like the delicate flower she is.
I caught a sherut to the Central Bus Station. The sherut is a taxi service, a mini-van that seats ten passengers that follows the same route as the bus. It costs a shekel more than the bus but comes more frequently and makes less stops. On the down side, I always feel nauseous after these rides.
In any case, I was sitting toward the back of the van when it made it's first stop in Jerusalem. A thin, pretty young girl whom I hadn't noticed before got up to get off the bus. She was wearing a very tight, low-riding (is that how you say it?) pair of jeans. As she gracefully slid out of her seat, her pants decided to stay behind (no pun intended, or maybe a little intended). In other words they rode down much lower than she probably intended.
In other words, I saw her butt. Tush. Tuchis. Yashvan. Rear end. Gluteus maximus. The whole show, not just the tiny little crack at the top that is pretty commonly seen these days.
The girl was faster than lightening, picking up those pants while at the same time slinging her backpack over her shoulder as if nothing happened. She's probably perfected that move by now. But I know what I saw, because when I glanced at the young man sitting next me, he gave me a look confirming it.
Do I sound like an old lady when I say, what are these kids thinking with the clothes they wear? Don't they even have a teensy-weensy bit of self-respect?
Rachel, one of the commenter's on yesterday's post, noted that Israel only has two types of clothing: trashy or frummy. She may be right, although I think this also applies to the US in lots of ways. People, including kids, will wear almost anything, or nothing in the name of fashion. Personally, I find this to be scary.
Is there anyone out there who thinks it's okay for a girl's pants to hang so low that you literally see it all?
Well??
By the way, Thank G-d, all went well at the mammogram. Is it time to schedule yours?
The Stuff that Lasts
7 years ago
14 comments:
Baila, I think that style is idiotic and it's just as prevalent in the US. Does that make me an old fart? Never mind-I think my age makes me an old fart.
Benji
Hey Baila.
Wanted you to know - As much as I enjoy(ed) reading your heavier, more thoughtful and thought provoking blog entries that I'm sure took days to create and refine, I REALLY enjoy your daily, more casual entries. They're fun. And they make me think I'm having a real conversation with you. Though I'm unusually quiet during these conversations.
When I read these I miss you more. OK, 'nuff mush.
I hate those low-riding pants. But even more, I hate the low cut tops that cause a woman's breasts to spill out. One of the mothers came by our kindergarten this morning to help the kids bake cookies. Everytime she leaned over, we got an eyeful of exposed breast. It was very uncomfortable and totally inappropriate for the setting.
I used to wear those pants - can't recall actually showing my entire a$$, but maybe it was because I wore underwear under mine. I do remember seeing a lot of dolphin-tail a few years back. Now long shirts are in style to cover up the behind. Guess Israel is slow on that trend.
First of all, this was hilarious! I think 'trashy' is just about as prevalent in the U.S., except for one difference. In the US, it's seen as low class, trashy, slutty, etc. Over here, I feel like it's seen as cool and 'american-like', even by the older (non-religious) generation. Kids are seen dressing like that to their savta's house on rosh hashana, to weddings, to services. It makes me sick, and I don't care if I'm an old fart for saying so :).
Shari
P.S. On the other hand, I am glad this scantily dressed gal was there to distract your thoughts from the 'squeezefest' you were about to endure.
Yes, Baila, up until now there were only 2 types of clothing available in Israel like you said ("trashy and frumy") but that was then and now there is the beautiful selection of Trixie & Jane(tm) modest, yet stylish clothing! I wonder who wrote this shameless plug???????
I think part of the reason we are more struck by the trashy vs frummy here, is that it seemed reasonable to expect we'd be able to find clothes here in Israel that would appeal to the modern orthodox/dat leumi crowd more easily than has proven to be the case (e.g. skirts that cover the knee, but don't go to the floor, sleeves that are more than cap sleeves, but less than long sleeves etc)
SuperRaizy. I agree w/ you completely that the neck lines are as big a problem and I notice it a lot among teenage girls as well. The camis and tanks they are wearing under their shirts are not quite serving their intended purpose!
oh, boy!
I wrote yesterday 'Read my lips?' posting of model's lips (on photos) in women's magazine. I don't understand why they have to keep their mouth/lips like that > that magazine is for women!
Fashion is so popular that 'ordinary small people' do anything to look like the models. Even if all the images are manipulated etc.
Greetings from NaBlo 'Blogging Abroad' group!
See you!
"Don't do crack" is a motto of mine. Fortunately I see less of it here in Italy... you live an breathe style here.
I especially don't get the ones who dress like that to work. Don't they realize that it's so unprofessional looking?!
And what about the old adage, "don't dress for the job you have; dress for the job you want"?
When one sees corporate middle managers in low cut tops and tight, low-riding jeans, one has to wonder about the kind of job they want...
;-)
yes - as we say in our house - "say no to crack!" Someone came to speak to my husband recently wearing an extremely low cut top and she wasn't a small woman to put it politely. My husband is not usually fazed by this sort of thing, but he didn't know where to put himself when she bent over - he described it as an independent life form!
Hmmm...I'm not sure I understand what we're talking about anymore. Baila, how about you collect pictures of the offenders from all these commenters and post them? I'm a visual learner.
Benji, if you're an old fart than I am...an ancient relic?
Aww shucks, Karen. And I've been thinking you've been unusually quiet lately.
SuperRaizy, I think the old adage "if you've got it, flaunt it"
is not always necessarily true.
Maidel, Are people in the states really covering up their rears?
Shari, Thanks. Do people realize that it's not necessarily classy to let it all hang out?
Anon, plug away. Maybe you should start offering a product for the lower half of the body!
Rachel, I see lots of frum kids wearing some pretty "trashy" shirts that are totally transformed when they put a 3/4 sleeve tshirt under them.
BlogSite, thanks for stopping in. And I can't stand that lip thing the models do to ooze sex.
Christine, thanks for stopping by. When I visited Italy I was totally impressed by how classy and GORGEOUS Italian women are.
Mrs. S, welcome to really-casual-inappropriate-for-work-Fridays, every day at the office here inIsrael.
Mrs. B, I'm speechless.
Benji, first and last comment; LOL.
I was blown away in England last year -- seeing a non-Jewish woman in her twenties, wearing a below the knee length skirt.
At first, I thought she *had* to be Frum...however, it soon registered that in Israel, the short skirt is the only type of skirt worn by non-datiyim (hence, why I was confused).
It was refreshing to see "professional" clothes and not just what we see here.
Too bad it was in England, and not here.
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