Buffalo Gal

I was supposed to be writing, but it was a spontaneously excellent idea.
"Jennine," I yelled upstairs from the computer to my daughter. "Do you have a jean jacket?"
"No" she said slowly.
"Do you want one?"
"Yes"
"Me too. Let's go."
Within an hour, we were on our way home with our quarry Gap-bagged. I'd gone 44 years without a jean jacket, add in Jennine's 19 and something had to be done.
Jean jackets are a universal truth.
My very Southern friend Amy looks sweet and sassy in hers. Parisian Anne looks chic and timeless. Manhattan Hilary looks sophisticated and defiant. Jennine looks adorable. Even I can rate a I-can't-believe-a-woman-of-that-size-can-pull-that-off.
A jean jacket allows the wearer to be whoever or whatever they wish without extreme strictures of fashion or fabric. It's all about accessories and attitude.
I'm not a multiple pin person, but I'm currently weighing the jean jacket adornment options of a simple cut copper Buffalo from my hometown, a pewter pin representing my husband's Scottish clan (the scroll translates to "touch not the cat without a glove" which apparently was a battle cry meaning "mess with one of us you mess with all of us" -- I appreciate that sentiment) or a traditional button that says "I Read Banned Books."
Each makes a very different statement. Each is perfectly at home on a jean jacket.
What other garment can go from a tractor to the trendiest clubs (although rarely, if ever, on the same person)? Aging rock and rollers and absolute upstarts can wear the same jacket without looking like they are fixed in then or less than now.
There's a magic neutrality that allows me to select the same style from the far back end of the size rack that Jennine picks from the front (Jennine is size Zero only because garments are not expressed in negative numbers). A jean jacket is a simple, comfortable, forgiving friend.
At lunch earlier today, Jen and I were discussing how to avoid the increasingly passionate invitations to "The Passion of Christ" that are rabidly around us at the moment.
Driving back from the store, we had our answer. When a conversation steers into an uncomfortably evangelical area of religion, politics or sex...
We're going to talk about jean jackets.

Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs

Buffalo Gal Judi Griggs I'm a communications professional, writer, cynic, mother, wife and royal pain. The order depends on the day. I returned to my hometown in November 2004 after a couple of decades of heat and hurricanes. I can polish pristine copy, but not here. This is my morning exercise -- 20-minute takes without a net or spellcheck. It's easier than sit ups for me. No guarantee what it will be for you. Clicking on the subscribe link will send you an email notice when each new entry is posted.
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Previous Entry :: Next Entry Read/Post Comments (0) Share on Facebook		2004-02-24 2:00 PM Jean jackets I was supposed to be writing, but it was a spontaneously excellent idea. "Jennine," I yelled upstairs from the computer to my daughter. "Do you have a jean jacket?" "No" she said slowly. "Do you want one?" "Yes" "Me too. Let's go." Within an hour, we were on our way home with our quarry Gap-bagged. I'd gone 44 years without a jean jacket, add in Jennine's 19 and something had to be done. Jean jackets are a universal truth. My very Southern friend Amy looks sweet and sassy in hers. Parisian Anne looks chic and timeless. Manhattan Hilary looks sophisticated and defiant. Jennine looks adorable. Even I can rate a I-can't-believe-a-woman-of-that-size-can-pull-that-off. A jean jacket allows the wearer to be whoever or whatever they wish without extreme strictures of fashion or fabric. It's all about accessories and attitude. I'm not a multiple pin person, but I'm currently weighing the jean jacket adornment options of a simple cut copper Buffalo from my hometown, a pewter pin representing my husband's Scottish clan (the scroll translates to "touch not the cat without a glove" which apparently was a battle cry meaning "mess with one of us you mess with all of us" -- I appreciate that sentiment) or a traditional button that says "I Read Banned Books." Each makes a very different statement. Each is perfectly at home on a jean jacket. What other garment can go from a tractor to the trendiest clubs (although rarely, if ever, on the same person)? Aging rock and rollers and absolute upstarts can wear the same jacket without looking like they are fixed in then or less than now. There's a magic neutrality that allows me to select the same style from the far back end of the size rack that Jennine picks from the front (Jennine is size Zero only because garments are not expressed in negative numbers). A jean jacket is a simple, comfortable, forgiving friend. At lunch earlier today, Jen and I were discussing how to avoid the increasingly passionate invitations to "The Passion of Christ" that are rabidly around us at the moment. Driving back from the store, we had our answer. When a conversation steers into an uncomfortably evangelical area of religion, politics or sex... We're going to talk about jean jackets. Copyright 2004 Judi Griggs Read/Post Comments (0) Previous Entry :: Next Entry Back to Top