The Accidental Icon blogger Lyn Slater talked about having a signature item in your wardrobe.
The photo above attests to what has become my signature item: a colorful bandanna.
The summer I turned 51 my hair start to frizz up and curl in different directions in rainy or humid weather.
I’d dry my hair straight. Going out the door in the rain or humid air I’d arrive at my destination with unruly hair. You can predict the weather by looking at my hair.
That summer I bough 5 different bandannas in a dollar store. (I”m not proud that they have a Made in China label.)
Since I can’t wear a hat on my job I was pleased to be able to get away with wearing a bandanna to staff the reference desk.
Isaac Mizrahi in his book How to Have Style recommended wearing bandannas to brighten your mood.
A woman featured in the Andrea Linett book The Cool Factor sported a bandanna as her trademark.
These two fashion guides inspired me to start wearing bandannas as a bad-hair day cover-up. My cover has been blown.
In New York City the Human Rights Commission has made it illegal for employers to discriminate against workers because of their hairstyles.
I think I was able to get away with wearing bandannas at my job precisely because so many people wear different kinds of headscarves as a matter of course.
In fact: sometimes a hairstyle born out of a bad hair day can become a celebration of your individuality.
Taking away someone’s right to self-expression should be forbidden.
There are so many beautiful people walking around with hair that is a point of pride.
If the hair is not on your head you shouldn’t be concerned with what it looks like.
My unruly hair brings me no happiness.
The bandannas I wear bring other people joy. Walking down the street people stop me and comment on my choice of headscarf.
At midlife wearing a bandanna has become my signature.
In a coming blog entry I”m going to talk more about why uniformity and conformity should be illegal.
Left of the Dial 