A Bedspread

RantWoman found herself, during today's time on Da Bus thinking again of the inauguration and in particular of our new First Lady's ballgown.

RantWoman had a small digression to wonder whether the world-wide e-chatterers would be having the same conversation about a dress if, instead of the First Lady, we were discussing a new President. RantWoman thinks sooner or later, eventually, the right combination of campaign brilliance and personal history will add up to a woman President. Even so, we probably will be having the same conversation about clothing, and there is a certain level of heroism in just dealing with it.

RantWoman finally saw a still shot that captured what must be the dress's real charm, a lovely romantic sheen. The fur or feathers or whatever still do not play well on camera, and apparently that is true not only for fuzzy-eyed people like RantWoman but also for many internet chatters. RantWoman thinks the dress is a little full around the waist. That is not fair to anyone's physique, though of course the camera supposedly always adds 10 pounds, and Mrs. Biden's red getup also made her look fat.

RantWoman finds herself thinking that one does not buy ballgowns just every day and one might be sort of at the mercy of designers and unquestioned conventions about the whole ballgown concept. Rantwoman herself has worn floorlength clothing perhaps once or twice since high school. In high school RantWoman played the cello and the orchestra concert gear was a long navy skirt full enough for the cello section but otherwise fairly plain. At festive occasions, RantWoman, RantMom and Little Sister all took turns wearing a patchwork skirt of polyester doubleknit from RantMom's sewing room. Come to think of it that skirt did not do anything good for anyone's waistline either.

In short, if RantWoman were faced with the need for a ballgown, she imagines sort of awkward conversations with the designer: "Just make it something one can walk in. ... Nothing strapless. ... Shoulders are there for a purpose. Please use them to help keep the dress on. ... Wouldn't want any wardrobe malfunctions..." In other words, RantWoman's pedestrian practicality could sort of blow the whole purpose of a ballgown, which is really to look as romantic as possible, something where RantWoman thinks the first lady and the designer succeeded brilliantly.

True, RantWoman has said the dress looks like a bedspread. Other people have been even more harsh, and RantWoman does not regret in the least writing that the dress looks like a bedspread. The First Lady is the sort of person who would look smashing in almost anything, even a bedspread. More importantly, if one has to dance the night away on camera with one's beloved over and over, there is a certain sentimental symbolism about the bedspread comparison!

The same goes for commentators who thought Michelle Obama needs to stand up straighter. Hello! It's ballroom dancing with one's beloved, not media interviews about foreign policy. The Obamas are such a sweet couple and inauguarl balls are a perfect time to beam in their devotion to each other. I expect there will be plenty of other times for our first lady to stand up tall!