Each of us Boomer Grandmas were raised in the 1950’s and 1960’s learning that either winter colors (red, black, white, navy) would look better on us if we had darker hair and were of darker skin tone or summer colors (pink, baby blue, light purple) would look better on us if we had lighter hair and lighter skin tone. When I ended up with a daughter of each, I dressed them accordingly and taught them this basic rule of thumb. We have a long lasting joke about dressing in certain colors in our family. Our youngest daughter, at age three and headstrong, only would wear purple. As she was our youngest and we were a busy two parent working household, it was easier to give in rather than fight. This Grandma bought purple Rit dye and took all of her clothes, shoes, socks, underwear, pajamas, etc. and dyed everything purple. To this day, we know how old she was in a picture in which she is dressed in purple from head to toe.
That accommodation ended up making life easier in ways I did not anticipate. I did not have to think about dressing her in colors that matched, and since she insisted on dressing herself, she always matched.
Over the years, this Grandma has evolved into adopting that philosophy in dress. My entire wardrobe is black, with very few other colors, and mostly color as accessory or accent. Grandpa wonders why I have to have dozens of black shoes. We Boomer grandmas understand the need for fancy and casual, flats and heels, heels of different heights, sling backs, open toe. . . .must I go on?
When people meet me, they invariably ask me if I am from New York. When I inquire why, they say everyone knows New Yorkers always wear black. It so happens that I do herald from New York, so maybe that is just part of me. My grandchildren have also inquired why I wear black all the time, whether in sweats or exercise clothes, dress up or dress down. They seem to believe it has something to do with my occupation and “uniform.” How adorable they are, of course. And, of course, I always tell them they are so smart, so insightful, so intuitive. Why not teach them great vocabulary words while telling them how wonderful I think they are always and forever!
Opening the Sunday New York Times, November 1, 2015, my eyes were drawn to the photographs of New Yorkers, “On The Street.” Twenty-six different photographs of New Yorkers on city streets appear strolling dressed all in black head to (every different black shoe alternative) toe. New Yorkers do know how to dress! They are stunning! Bill Cunningham, the author, writes the following about the photographs:
“HEAD-TO-TOE BLACK. It’s marathon and Halloween weekend in New York City and the favorite fashion of all black is everywhere, along with a lot of black witches. In the early 1920s, Coco Chanel lifted black from its 19th century association with death to a sophisticated statement with her now celebrated little black dress. Black has remained a dominant favorite of New Yorkers because of its practicality, it’s not necessary to take black clothes to the cleaners often, and its thinning effects on the wearer. . . . ”
Hmmm. So, my grandchildren, yes, this Grandma loves everything created by Coco Chanel.
This Grandma loves to look as thin as possible. I would love to think dressing in black makes me look more sophisticated too. I never thought that I am saving on clothing cleaning bills too. I never knew Coco Chanel is the creator of the little black dress. I never knew that it was not until the 1920’s that dressing in black was no longer associated with funerals alone. I guess the little black dress is the basic that everyone must have, and what is also basic is that each day we can learn something new we did not know, as I did by seeing the photographs and reading the caption in the newspaper.
We should look to learn something new each day of our lives. What we learn new each day does not have to be earth shattering. It can be as simple as from a photograph or a caption to a photograph. Grandchildren, expand your minds, explore and enjoy, but remember to have some basics that ground your life.
Messages to grandchildren come in ways we do not expect or anticipate, and just appear in an instant. The important thing is for us grandmas is to pass messages on to our grandchildren. The message does not have to be earth shattering. It can be as simple as from a photograph or a caption to a photograph. When we learn something new, and share that new fact with our grandchildren, we show them we all can learn something new every day of our lives and how that enriches our lives.
That I always wear black will be remembered by my grandchildren. The message of learning something new and expanding horizons all the days of your life is the new black for which I would like you, my darling grandchildren, to remember your grandmother who always wears black.
Joy,
Mema
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