Fad*ish- fashion and design

I was shopping at Karen Millen in NYC’s Soho, squeezing myself into their slender fit tweed dress from their preview to fall collection, and I couldn't manage to get the zipper up. The invisible zipper was located at the back of the dress, and the sales woman must have heard me muttering obscenities, because she immediate came to my rescue. Once I was zipped in, and after the usual flattery about how the dress was made for me, I asked her how does a single girl manage to zip herself, when the zipper is located in the back. She replie, “well, it is a great way to pick up men.” A great way to make a love connection? I guess coming out of your apartment undone, and strolling up to the nearest piece of eye candy to get zipped up, sure beats any pick-up line I can think of.

Really, in this day and age, why are zippers in the back anyway? It was manageable when well-to-do women had servants to strap ‘em in, but now, when we have matured past Scarlett O’hara, with the burning bra’s to prove it -- how are back zipped dresses practical? From a design’s standpoint, zippers can give you a seamless and flawless front, I get that. And honestly, a cocktail dress looses its punch when there is a gaudy zipper riding the front of it. Even the most inflexible of women can manage a zipper when arrives mid-back, but when it zips up to the neck ones is going to have to pay for contortionist training– and honestly, who has the extra cash for useless skills in the recession?

I ended up not buying a single dress because those that appealed to me were for daytime, and I couldn’t imagine struggling with a zipper before (or after) my morning coffee. It was a shame too, because the dresses from Karen Millen’s collection were absolute heaven, and they fit like a glove. Maybe as spicy autumn draws near my heart will grow warm at the idea of tangling with difficult tweed, but for now, in this unseasonable cool summer, I will keep my heart and my zippers to myself. Check out the new looks at www.karenmillen.com.

*ms.b

Labels: Style