
But, I do wish we could bring some of the fun back into fashion. Why can't there be more sock hops where I can dance to good old fashioned oldies? Or a cocktail party where I can sport a fancy cocktail dress? Or a nightclub where we go and watch a few performers and then dance a little to a live band? Wouldn't that be swell? Wouldn't that be keen?
These are the things I wish were still around. I don't wish for the ideas that women should be housewives and movies should be censored. As a society, I think we're smarter now. We're getting a little more open-minded, a little more accepting of people. It's a slow process, but we're getting there. I like living today, where I can date whoever I want, no matter what race, religion, creed (or, for that matter, gender, where I so inclined), without having to ask for my father's permission. I'm glad I can wear dresses that go above my knees without being scandalous. I like having electricity, my own car, the internet. I have a fabulous collection of movies dating from the 20s to the 60s and multiple playlists on my iPhone that I take with me wherever I go. It's nice living today!
But, having all of the movies, the books, the music at my fingertips, only makes me yearn for the old-fashioned things to make a come back. It seems that whenever we try to bring these sorts of things back, it's stagey. It's all costume parties and older people being nostalgic. I suppose it's only a pipe dream, but I think it would be neat if these sorts of things could creep back into fashion naturally. We could go to sock hops without having to wear poodle skirts and scarves. We could listen to big bands and not be the only young people in the room.
Well, a girl can dream.
I think many of us share your pining for the bygone era of Hollywood, but I agree with you--it seems like a wonderful time to have lived in, but there were probably many downsides, especially if you happened to be female and/or black and/or gay and/or Jewish. I liked-didn't-love Woody Allen's "Midnight in Paris" but I did keenly appreciate the point he made about people from each era always looks back at a previous time with one-eyed envy. Every era has its advantages and disadvantages, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteVery well put! I do wish we had more of the elegance from the past, but I am quite happy with my equal rights and handy technology.
ReplyDelete