You can judge my age by my sartorial choice, I've discovered.

When I was a young lass, my fashion choice lent itself to KMart, the thrift store, and whatever I could scrounge from both my aunt's attics. Anything that could be assembled into what I thought could pass muster as an eclectic outfit, perhaps one seen in one of those women's magazine's that hung on the check out rack at the Ingles. I knew I couldn't pull off trendy (that I couldn't afford until high school, when we got a Chess King at the mall)...so I had to settle for some kind of weird boho look. Also, someone had given me one of those eyeshadow pallettes as a Christmas gift, and I thought it a massive idea to wear several different colors in a vertical stripe. Yeah.

A personal Cyndi Lauper moment.

So now, rather than moan to Mr. Manners the familiar refrain "I'm SOOOOO old" each time I reach into the mailbox only to toss into the recyling bin yet another magazine filled with clothing for the Paris Hilton wannabe set, I've discovered that the very set of catalogs I've poo pooed (my, doesn't that look odd in print, and spelled that way) are wonderous indeed!

Things like....Pendleton...yes, I've fallen in love with Pendleton. Those lovely plaids! Whereas Boston Proper has been evicted. I'm afraid the half naked, yachting in San Tropez lifestyle isn't in the plans this year (read: ever).

Vicky's Secret has been marginal for quite some time. All this buzz about revamping their product line hasn't led to much change. And I've always, on the practical side of things, been an lllBean girl.

Who doesn't like to sneak a peak at the ridiculous world of high fashion now and then? I read the paper, I look at the magazines. I shop on BlueFly. Chloe, Stella McCartney, Marc Jacobs, Sophie Theallet, Oscar, Betsey Johnson, Halston, Sarafpour....and you wonder what ends up being diluted into our stores, months later. Does that ridiculous feathered monstrosity of a hat, for example, end up anywhere?

Ah, but it's fun to watch, and to think that some fool somewhere and some money are being parted.

Still, if a nice Chanel or a fanciful Lacroix magically appeared, I wouldn't turn them down.