Tuesday, May 26, 2009

High WASP True Colors - Navy, #1

If the High WASPs had a place of worship, the altar cloth would be navy blue. You can never go wrong with navy. Yes, I said never. Black may be the neutral most favored by the rest of the fashion world but black is problematic for High WASPs. First of all, it's funereal. Second of all, it's edgy. In the High WASP world the ultimate sin is to offend anyone, for any reason. Some people get offended, or at least nervous, around edgy. Navy blue is deeply respectful, serious, sober. It's American. Very American. Look at jeans, the single most important invention of the American innovation engine. Yup, navy. And I know jeans weren't invented by a WASP. Even better. Immigration is really American. My ancestors were in part sheep farmers and cheese makers from Southwestern Scotland.

So if you are ever in doubt about what to wear, it's easy. go navy. Let's say for Sunday lunch at the lake. The archetypal lake. The Platonic lake.

Now of course there may be regional variations. You can think of them as regional colorways of the High WASP. For example:


In California, for Sunday lunch with the family at the Lake Tahoe house, go with an orange shirt. Northern California will be slightly rebellious, we can't help it. In Texas or the Carolinas, a lovely pink polo. In Vermont, kelly green all the way. But in all cases, the navy blue jeans jacket says we understand we are in the country. The wedge shoes say we get that there's no reason to sink heels into the grass. And the vintage Halston scarf? It belonged to our aunt, the one who had a slightly scandalous past. But she's family. Impunity, remember?

The navy parade doesn't end with lakeside lunches. More to follow.

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7 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yep, navy is the color. It was out in full swing at the Memorial Day picnic.

May 26, 2009 at 9:36 AM  
Blogger Dani @ Weddings Fresh said...

after 3 years straight of being prego, i finally pulled out all my normal clothes this spring and noticed that i have 5 pairs of navy pants, and not to mention all my navy tops--oh dear! apparently i LOVE navy as well. i should be a high wasp, i swear :) ha!

May 26, 2009 at 9:45 AM  
Blogger Amanda said...

I am all about navy. Mmmm, navy.

May 26, 2009 at 10:57 AM  
Blogger Needs Help said...

I LOVE some navy, especially with sunny yellow in the summer! Or with crisp white, just can't beat it. So many perfect color combinations :)

May 26, 2009 at 4:51 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Oh, I think the burnt orange would be just fahn in Texas.

May 27, 2009 at 6:01 AM  
Blogger LPC said...

Hook'em horns baby! I had two roommates from Houston in college...And BTW, what I am doing here is trying to deconstruct the High WASP so anyone who wants to be on, or look like one, for any reason, can. I say so.

May 27, 2009 at 8:18 AM  
Blogger Hannah said...

Navy shorts with a pull over is my go to outfit all summer. Or cream shorts with a navy pullover. Yum yum yum

May 27, 2009 at 1:42 PM  

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