About Style
By Ann Turner
I owe my fashion insight to
Lucy and Ethel
 I learned about the rarefied world of couture a long time ago from Lucy and Ethel in the mid-1950s. The enlightening episode was “Lucy Gets A Paris Gown”. As a youngster, I just thought it was silly, but somehow, that episode in particular made a lasting impression on me. As a young adult, I recalled its details when I participated in and learned about the fashion industry. I realized that there was more truth than fiction in the episode. Lucy knew where it was at, and like all good comedians, she worked with what she knew.
For those who aren’t old enough to have seen it, and for those who weren’t as impressed with Lucy as I was, I’ll recap the high points of what I remember. It’s a Lucy episode, so there’s more about Lucy than about Fashion, but it conveys some essential truths about fashion and designers.
The Plot:
Lucy, Ricky, Fred and Ethel were in
Paris. Ricky had used his showbusiness connections to get the girls an invitation to a designer’s fashion show. Fred expressed to Ricky his concern that Ethel might want a garment from the line, and he said that he could not afford it. Ricky ended up warning Lucy that they would be there to see a show, not to buy a dress. Predictably, Lucy got her dress, but not without a series of contrived shenanigans. In the end, Ricky took back the dress and he and Fred conspired to “put one over on Lucy and Ethel.
The men hired a tailor to make some awful dresses out of burlap and had him put a designer label inside. When presented with the burlap outfits, “the girls” were surprised by this uncharacteristic generosity from their husbands.
They happily donned their new outfits (complete with wastebasket hats), and proceeded to strut down the avenue like runway models. In the café, they saw the designer they believed had created the outfits for them. They wanted to thank him, but Ricky & Fred just fell about laughing. They confessed that they designed the outfits themselves to teach the girls a lesson. Lucy & Ethel were extremely angry and embarrassed, and they ran away, covering themselves with a tablecloth.
 The next day at breakfast in the cafe, Lucy informed Ricky that they would be going to the designer’s showroom and that he & Fred would buy her & Ethel whatever dress they each wanted. At that moment, the designer and two models passed by. The models were wearing copies of the outfits “the boys” designed. Instead of making public spectacles of themselves, Lucy and Ethel became fashion trendsetters. Fred and Ricky angrily called the designer a crook, but they were relieved to think that they were off the hook, because the girls have the originals. Then Lucy admitted that she and Ethel burned their burlap dresses.
The moral of this story is that perception is 9/10 of the game. Fashion’s standards are only as clearly defined as they need to be in the context they operate in. Style is only as creative as the people who engage with it.
Couture 2008 John Galliano - House of Dior |
