Faux Pas: Snip Snip
Friday, November 5, 2010 at 12:14PM My thoughts on the Silly Bandz trend have been discussed on this site before (fine for kids, not cool for professional women). But my dislike for the plastic wrist adornments have barely put it a dent in their meteoric rise to trend domination.
Last night, I was sitting in a community meeting with nine other grown women and no fewer than four of them were wearing Silly Bandz. And while I'm willing to give the lady with three kids a pass, the other ladies had no business rocking stretchy palm trees and airplanes next to their Rolexes and Cartier.
So imagine my surprise when one of the women announced, during a discussion about which shapes each was wearing (I know, it was painful), that her Bandz were Marc Jacobs. We all laughed, sure that she was kidding. But alas, she wasn't.
Marc Jacobs Jelly Bracelets (ShopBop, $15)
I will admit that, for a moment, I looked at this photo and thought: "Wow, those are kind of cute." Then, I realized what I was saying and slapped myself across the face. Because like Uggs, Silly Bandz are a gateway drug to bigger faux pas.
Bottom line, if you're over the age of 21, you need to put the Silly Bandz away. Because yours truly is going to start carrying scissors, and if you think that I won't cut them right off your wrists Hill Staffers, you are sorely mistaken. Think of it as a particularly brutal fashion intervention.
Faux Pas 
Reader Comments (11)
I'm so with you. (But I don't see why a mom gets a pass - not at a meeting anyway.)
She came from a Soccer game, and it was a casual meeting. I gave her a pass cause I've seen kids who ask their parents to wear them, or they're trying to bond with them.
Don't see why it's such a big deal. It's a tiny band of color on your wrist, no where near as offensive as uggs or vera bradley. My roommate gave me a pink one in the shape of a cactus (I am from the desert) and it makes me smile when I look at it. Wouldn't wear it to work though, maybe casual Friday if you don't have any meetings. (I don't know what Fridays look like on the hill though, so I can't attest to that.) If I want to wear it because it makes me happy during non 9-5 hours, back off with the scissors. It's not an eye sore like crocs. Oh and I definitely don't use it as a bar conversation starter to meet men. (To each their own though!)
I am SO thankful that these stupid bracelets are not popular in my area! Honestly, your posts about them on this blog are the only times I've ever seen them.
Silly Bandz, don't do it!
You are shallow and are setting back the cause of equality for women.
Yes, I am shallow about shallow things. Silly Bandz aren't meant to be deep.
As for setting back equality for women, I hardly think I'm that powerful. But if you think having a woman who was the first person in her mother's family to graduate from college, attained a master's degree, works in public policy for the United States Congress, and happens to write a fashion blog on the side sets women back, then I guess I'm guilty as charged!
How dare I!
Well said Belle, both on the Silly Bandz and the comment about you being shallow. I think they're related- some say fashion is shallow and heels and silhouettes are male designed inventions to objectify woman, but truth be told, we're judged on our appearance constantly. There's nothing shallow about taking pride in how you look and present yourself. Even when hiring interns, I'm drawn to the girl in the proper fitting outfit who looks confident over the one who tossed on a skirt and ill fitting sweater, or the one wearing Silly Bandz.
Presenting yourself helps you get ahead. There's nothing that sets equality back about that.
Rock on, Belle. I think this blog is empowering for woman!
Belle, I love your blog. You always make me laugh. It's great to come home after a long day serving the Capitol, sit back and see what you're up to. Thank you so much for all the effort, creativity and vision you provide us nearly everyday ... for free!
Belle, I love your blog. You always make me laugh. It's great to come home after a long day serving the Capitol, sit back and see what you're up to. Thank you so much for all the effort, creativity and vision you provide us nearly everyday ... for free!
I wonder if "Marc" knows that these are out under his logo?