The formal question

Photo of Cate Blanchett (styled by Michael Roberts) taken by Annie Leibovitz for Vanity Fair.

Why is it that when it comes to formal wear, showing off more skin has become the "accepted" way to go?

I've noticed that girls who won't normally wear plunging necklines to the mall seem not to think twice about wearing cleavage-bearing gowns... is it because the more skin you expose, the more festive you look? Or is the formal occasion enough excuse to subscribe (succumb?) to a Hollywood-ized definition of beauty?

When it comes to formal occasions, the need for wearing appropriate attire seems more highlighted (I say seems because appropriate attire is required on all occasions), possibly because it's indicated in the invitation. What makes a dress formal? It's definitely not "more skin," or else beachwear would be formal.

The right dress (a better word would be "evening dress" or "gown," but let's stick to "dress" for more flexibility) for a formal occasion is made of the right fabric (chiffon, silk, velvet, satin, taffeta...) in the right cut (it complements your body type), length (either mid-calf, ankle-length, floor-length), and silhouette (A-line, sheath, empire, mermaid...). I use "right" because all these options must suit the wearer!

Just describing the typical formal gown is making me feel constricted already! But that's just the basic idea; the fun starts in how the lady wears the dress. What color (or color scheme) does she settle with? What kind of shoes does she pair with it? Jewelry? Accessories? Makeup?

Besides all these considerations, there's the underwear to get right: always figure out if your dress needs a slip before wearing it! (Read: Where did the slip go?) Hardly does a dress come with the right lining nowadays.

Now, going back to the question: is more skin-bearing a requirement to formalize the attire? Definitely not! After all, it's all about playing up what looks good on you and not about showing off what you've got. And when each lady dresses the part to celebrate (and not to get attention), the true spirit of the occasion will be better felt.

Slippery when wet

Photo from here.

It's downpour season again and it's really amusing that I'm seeing more rubber slippers in the streets. Is it because people want to catch leptospirosis so they peel off their protective shoes at the mere forecast of Cloudy With a Chance of Rain? Or have shoes become so important that many prefer to get their feet wet instead of getting their shoes wet?

The slipper phenomenon may perhaps be traced to our associating slippers with walking in comfort. Which is logical, since slippers are what we use to get around the house and stroll on the beach. Unfortunately, the street (not to mention the workplace, Church, commercial spots...) is neither of these two places. In the street, slippered feet are exposed to dust, grime, cuts, murky waters, spitting habits of inconsiderate fellow pedestrians and the occasional chewed up pink gum. If you know all this and still choose your slippers over shoes, it might be time to re-evaluate whether you have come to regard your shoes with so much value that protecting them has become more important than protecting your own feet.

Besides, what's so comfortable about commuting in slippers (particularly rubber flip flops) anyway? The people behind you keep accidentally stepping on them, and you have to keep a keen grip on the thongs with your toes so the slippers don't just flip-flop out from under you. I used to walk around in slippers myself, and it left me with blisters where the thongs would rub my feet. Painful and unsightly. Finally, slippers are a surefire way to teach your toes to splay out like a fan, which is good training if only people were amphibian.

Have I convinced you yet to invest in a good pair of walking shoes for commuting? They don't have to be bulky hiking boots or galoshes. They just have to be comfortable, protective, and made of materials that can stand all the elements I have listed above. And for your peace of mind, function doesn't always cramp form: choose a pair that suits your individual style. After all, it is you who is doing the shopping and the walking!