SIGNALS...

The other day Gracie told me (approvingly) that I dress like a lesbian, which was something I had never considered. It's true that I often dress in quite an androgynous way: flat lace up boots or Oxfords, socks, ankle length trousers, cardigans - basically it's all A.P.C.'s fault that I end up looking like a 1950s University professor.

But that's just what I like and feel comfortable in - I'm always ripping excess bows and embellishments off otherwise perfect garments. It's also true that I never, ever dress to try and attract men. I sort of maybe think that if I were to go out with my boobs cantilevered into a slaggy dress, not only would I feel extremely stupid and uncomfortable, but I'd be likely to attract the type of man I wouldn't have the slightest bit of interest in. But I never thought I might be inadvertently attracting women instead, not that I have anything against lesbians whatsoever; some of them are great friends of mine (see above).

But it's funny to think that maybe if you don't have the same visual references, read the same blogs, have the same mini obsessions with perfectly cut, well made clothes, or tend to wander round the Margaret Howell shop oohing and ahhing, you might get a whole different message. The day following Gracie's observation I went to Topshop and happened to buy a coral pink ruffle necked babydoll top, a floral print tiered chiffon babydoll top (not on the site) and a cotton empire line dress that looks like a Victorian christening gown. The two incidents were completely unrelated.

It's funny what messages come across. Recently I was talking to this Indian bloke and asked him if there was anything I should be careful to avoid wearing to an Indian wedding I'm going to. I was thinking perhaps certain colours have different connotations in other cultures, that sort of thing. His response? "Just try not to dress too much like a chav and you should be ok." My response? "Excuse me, whaaa, I mean, have you, like, actually met me?" Later I looked down at my See by Chloe spike heeled, studded ankle boots and realised that fashion can be a dangerous game when you're dealing with the uninitiated.

{photo 1: my daily shoe rotation - random lace up boots, Prada oxfords, Sessun desert boots. photo 2: girly Topshop haul to be worn with baggy rolled up jeans and a snarl}