What Were They Thinking: Volume 1

So, correct me if I'm wrong, but aren't fashion designers trying to sell stuff? They do want to make gobs and gobs of money, right?

Then why do something like name a perfectly fine-looking cardigan the "Mrs. Roper" wrap? I'm a Gen-Xer, and I grew up with "Three's Company" (even though I didn't get all of those double entendres). Mrs. Roper was most definitely not fashionable. She had that every-curl-still-in-the-shape-of-the-roller hair and wore nasty muu muus. So now, even though that's an in-style cardi, I have forever associated it with bad, old lady fashion. That Alternative Apparel wrap is tainted. TAINTED.

Similarly, I love "30 Rock," probably the funniest show on television. I adore Tina Fey. Her character Liz Lemon slays me. That said, Liz Lemon is not known for being sartorially savvy. So in an episode last year, Liz wore the very same striped Michael Stars scarf stuffed in my accessories bin. I was horrified. Now, that scarf is tainted. Had it been Tina Fey wearing it, I'd be fine. But schlumpy, always-a-fashion-don't Liz Lemon? Ah, crap. I might have to throw the scarf in the swap pile.