Long Skirts and Longing for Something Else

While taking a walk with my father the other day, he asked me if I noticed the article in the New York Times about longs skirt seen around Times Square. That article was in the paper about a month ago, I told him. But he denied my accusation that he was behind the times by telling me that it was in the paper that morning. And indeed, it was.
It seems that the New York Times has an article about long skirts being fashionable at least once a week now. What each article has in common is that the women interviewed feel feminine and good about themselves. What none of the articles have is an opinion from a woman who always wears long skirts--whether they’re fashionable or not. What they’re all missing is the opinion of someone like me.
As an Orthodox Jewess, I don’t wear pants. Not only that, but all my skirts cover my knees (more or less). The fact that skirts are in vogue is ironically not a blessing for me. All it means is that come next season, I’ll look passé. While I used to think I looked like I had my own stylish opinion about things, now I think I just look…typical.
The reason for my covering up is modesty and modesty doesn’t only apply to the lower regions of the body. I tend to wear tops with about as much coverage as long skirts offer as well. I just can’t find a single shirt that covers anything more than either a belly or a shoulder. To offset the modesty of these long, stylish skirts in stores today are a series of halters, tube tops, and “camis.” To offset my own dissatisfaction with the lack of wearable tops offered me this season, I have seasons-old, three-quarter sleeve sweaters and button-down shirts.
Oh, I’d try convincing you of how very cool it looks to wear stiff button-down shirts with free-flowing skirts, but it’d be too obvious a lie. Besides, at least my combo isn’t the typical.