All remixed except ring
Dress: Banana Republic
Belt: Target
Booties: Aldo
Earrings: Turkey
Ring: Swap with Kimmie via Ashley Getting Dressed
So I left the house feeling really good about my outfit. It's simple, and I love the booties with this dress. (Remember when I was afraid of wearing booties? Yeah, I'm getting over that fear.) I felt great in this outfit and I actually spent time on my hair, combing it out and doing a little fishtail braid.
And then I was leaving the office after volunteering this morning, and this guy was coming in. He was older and he looked pretty respectable, but then I walked past him and he was all like, "Hello, cutie."
"Hello, cutie"? I was already past him, but I totally turned to give him my best stink eye teacher look (believe, I've got a good one.) Because, really? Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, I live in the hood where these types of comments are not that unusual. Also, I volunteer in a neighborhood that's predominantly Latino, and yes, "piropos" are part of the culture.
But here's the thing, no matter what the above link says, piropos are not always fun. In fact, they're rarely even clever. They remind me too much of when I was in middle school gym class and the boys would sit down to watch us run by and make comments about our recently developed butts and hips and breasts and then try to grab us in the hallways. This at a nice school in suburban Illinois, no less.
This is not the first time that something like this happens when I'm walking to and from work, and I'm certain it won't be the last, but it just annoyed me SO. MUCH. And it got me wondering what it is about my body and my face that makes men think I'm freakin' public domain. What gives these people the right to comment on my looks or my body or the way I walk? Would you do that to your mother, daughter, sister, friend?
I was telling B. the other day how often I avoid going out or going to certain places just because I am not in the mood to deal with such foolishness. And it makes me so mad. So, so mad because am I letting them win by staying in? Or am I claiming my own space and preserving my peace of mind? I can't decide. The only thing I do know is that I could go out in pajamas, in a tee and jeans, in a dress and heels, in yoga pants a tee and sneakers and the results are the same. Some days I can give the stink eye or say something like, "Aquí no se le perdió nada" (You didn't lose anything here so stop looking at me) or just ignore it. Other days, I just can't deal.
On a lighter note, treats always make Kiku dance.
Check out the other remixers.
