Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020018
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BETH MACY
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
A typed note from the boss in his trademark lower-case/abbreviated style: ``macy. there's a col or ftr sty in this somewhere - but watch out for better `bottom' line with new trend to casual dress.''
Attached is a New York Times clipping about corporate America's '90s version of power dressing: companies that allow employees to dress down, on the grounds that greater employee independence will lead to a better bottom line.
Highlighted in the boss's yellow pen is an anecdote about a New Jersey company that actually hired a P.R. firm to produce a manual of photographic examples of ``proper casual attire.''
I remember the way the boss grimaced when he glanced my new patent-leather Mary Jane shoes with bobby socks, then made some crack that started with, ``A new mother entering in her fourth decade is too old to wear ...''
I consider calling New Jersey to offer my services, but doubt that such a firm would let me write at home occasionally - in my pajamas.
nA note from a former writing student who also sends a clipping from the New York Times. It's a review of ``Solitary Places,'' the new book by Roanoke's Joan Schroeder, whom I wrote about in November and who later was a guest speaker in my writing class.
The review, which is very short and very favorable, is followed, oddly enough, by a telephone call from Joanne Stern of Five Boro Bagels.
``Joan Schroeder came in last week and ordered eight dozen bagels to take with her to her new home in Winchester,'' Stern said. ``She told me to tell you she was moving so you could write it up in your `Where Are They Now?' people column.''
I consider starting a `Where Are They Now?' people column with a bureau desk at the bagel shop, where people drop off press releases in their pajamas.
Another note from the boss: ``macy. you could WIN this!'' It's one of the Washington Post Style section's weekly contests, which asks readers to come up with more Newt-onian philosophy explaining the differences between men and women.
Gingrich's original quote: ``Women don't have upper-body strength but are better with laptops. Men are better in traditional combat roles because if women had to spend a month in a ditch, they would get infections. But men are basically little piglets who like to roll around in mud. Women, though, would be better sitting around at consoles and directing warship traffic because men get frustrated sitting down since they are biologically programmed to go out and hunt giraffes.''
I consider sparring with the Speaker, but need to make my monthly trek to Revco instead - for a tube of Monistat 7.
A memo from restaurateur Spanky Macher, the king of kitsch and all-kaps: ``SEVERAL WEEKS AGO YOU LISTED A PHOTO BOOTH IN YOUR ARTICLE OF 15 ITEMS THAT ROANOKERS NEED THE MOST. WE PURCHASED A PHOTO BOOTH AND WILL BE IN THE STAR CITY DINER.''
Credit Michelle Bennett for the idea, Spank. And may we be the first in line?
Plus: a response to the same article from Judge Clifford Weckstein, who noticed that I referred to someone as a "former grad," rather than the garden-variety, unredundant "grad."
I consider writing to tell him that I'm a former grad of the creative-writing program at Hollins College, where I not only mastered English, I also passed a French equivalency exam (by the skin of my dents). "Former grad" is French for "creative grammar."
Alas, another note from the boss. Actually, just a Wall Street Journal clipping with my name scrawled at the top and an arrow pointing to the headline: ``Fashion Slaves Get Kicks From Spike Heels.'' There's an illustration of a five-inch stiletto by the designer Manolo Blahnik; price, $455.
The story talks about the resurgence of ``toe cleavage'' and quotes a designer who says that high heels make women's ``legs look longer and thinner, and the heels force them to stand back to keep their balance, which causes them to walk sexier.''
I wonder what effect this would have on the workplace bottom line. I notice that the shoe in the picture looks exactly like the inchlong plastic version Mattel makes for Barbie.
And I opt for my Mary Janes instead, with the clunky Vibram soles and the shiny brown straps, preparing for the next round of clipping combat with the boss.
Beth Macy, a features department staff writer and Thursday columnist, got a new logo picture taken due to a ground swell of reader swipes at the old photo, including ``impish,'' ``bad-hair day'' and ``tacky earrings.''
by CNB