The New York Times winked at its readers this past week by publishing an article with a title one might expect to find on the cover of a men's magazine. The title of the that article was "Farewell Butt Crack Girls." The report was an intriguing look at the latest pendulum swing in young women's fashion in the United States.

I am hesitating slightly as I write these words. I admit that the questions of clothing trends and fashion, especially for young ladies, are oceans away from the topics I usually address in this space. Still, I'll stick my neck out and say I do believe I can claim a smidgen of authority on this tangy subject. Approximately 9 out of 10 of my students are female, and nearly all of them fall into the same age category of the women The New York Times discussed.

The article focused on a move among teens and women under the age of 30 (apparently on America's east coast) to scale back on sexy attire these days, and to choose instead to dress more conservatively. The Times report speaks of "a shift from strident sexuality to a more decorous look," with young women "exposing less skin, ditching the micro-minis, cropped tops, and thong-baring jeans of previous summers . . .[because] for many of them, sexy feels too vulnerable, too over the-top, too cheesy."

Two or three years ago, a student asked me in class if ethics has anything to do with the way people dress. "The word 'ethics' makes us think of what is right and wrong. Is it wrong to wear just anything we want to school? Isn't there a 'right' and a 'wrong' in how we dress?"

I recall a feeble attempt at humor that fateful day. "Well, when we leave the house for class," I said, "common sense should tell us that we're not heading for the beach to work on a tan." Sometimes my jokes in class, to quote Mark Twain, "flop down on the floor as solid as a gob of mud." That wasn't the story with my wisecrack about dressing for the beach. When the laughter died, I tried to distinguish between common sense, courtesy, and ethics, which are different realities.

The question of how to dress for various occasions is mostly a matter of common sense and courtesy.

I once heard of a teacher who woke up sixteen minutes before his morning class was to begin and set a world record for fast dressing. He literally ran to his classroom from an apartment near campus. At his classroom door, he paused to tuck in his shirt and run a hand through his hair. That was when he realized he was wearing shower thongs and not proper sandals or shoes. He walked into class, said nothing in way of apology, and taught as usual. Soon a trio of students knocked at the department chair's office and complained. "Our teacher insulted us today. He wore shower thongs to class. How could he do that to us?" This really happened.

I don't know if my major professor in graduate school wore a coat and tie to every class, but I know he dressed in a way that made me feel respected. Graduate students who worked as teaching assistants in American colleges in the Vietnam War era used to dress like their students. T shirts and worn jeans with holes in the knees meant the would-be professor was cool and "relevant." This reminds us not to take dress too seriously. Learning and sharing knowledge are always the most important issues on a college campus.

Some of my dearest students would probably be surprised if they read that New York Times piece about "butt cracks" being yesterday's program. I really don't care very much how my students dress. A couple years ago, however, it was a fact that some moments in class did make me feel I was lecturing at the beach. Belly buttons, chest tops, exposed shoulders, and of course those ubiquitous jeans cascading over backsides all made the young man in me wake up like Rip Van Winkle.

Colorful bra straps confidently displayed, with mini skirts to match, may soon disappear. Miss Modesty* may be in, and Janet Jackson out. If that happens, you won't find me shedding any tears.

*The new line for our favorite designer, "Miss Modesty," is due out this fall... check back soon for more details!

Review: Summer Lovin'
By: Margaret Mila

JMM Design Group's slogan is "We turn Fashion Shows into Fashion Productions!" and they weren't kidding. I attended the fashion show event, Summer Lovin', on July 19th at Club Space34. As usual, JMM Design Group has outdone themselves. There were beach balls bouncing all over the audience, silly string being shot into the crowd from the runway, and there was even a water gun fight.

The swimsuits that were featured were from The Beach House Swimwear (15th and Collins @ SoBe). They were all very wearable swimsuits. There was a little black bikini from Calvin Klein that especially caught my attention. There was also a white string bikini that, although I can't pull off as well as the model did, I will use it as my inspiration for going to the gym.

I saw a lot of color in the swimsuits. A lot of different shades of blue and combinations of coral, red, orange and pink. Even the hula hoops used this color scheme (one of the models was hula-hooping down the runway).

I've never seen Club Space34 so packed so early in the evening. There was a long line to get in before the club had even opened. I'm still split on whether it was the girls in bikinis or the free drinks that attracted such a huge crowd. Regardless, it was a fun night.

If you are interested in modeling or would like to hire JMM Design Group for your next event, please visit: www.JMMGroup.GQ.Nu




Turquoise and coral... Already dead, or is this just the beginning?
By: Margaret Mila

You can't help but notice that turquoise and coral were everywhere. But what happened to that trend? Unfortunately, all the overpriced clothes and accessories adorned with turquoise and coral rocks, from small sizes to unusually large ones, have already hit the sale rack- which I lovingly call the "nursing home" of fashion. I almost cried when I saw the same bracelet I bought for $80.00 on sale for $39.99. It seems as if women are dressing more and more casual when they go out at night. Along with the jeans and those spaghetti strapped belts, turquoise and coral went great. Perhaps the death of this trend will also bring the death of the jeans-at-night trend.

Thankfully, the other night I noticed opalescent shades of teal and turquoise swept over eyes with extra glossy coral lips. The threads: all black. There's hope! Thank goodness. I for one, would never be caught in a pair of jeans past 8pm, no matter how much I paid for the accessories!

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