Christmas should be jolly... not folly!

Despite what some may think, 2 words with a similar sound do not mean the same thing.

'tis the season to be jolly (with all the "falalala" if you like), true. But some just go for folly.

Today was our last day off, so we decided to go and get some of the Christmas shopping done. We went to Sliema.

We made our way to The Point. And that's where it all started...

Ok, so, we want to be frank. Before starting this blog we had decided not to be too critical, to be nicer and to take things with a pinch of salt, or two.

Yet, some things just go beyond "oh, let's turn a blind eye".

We walked along the promenade and after a bit we got to the bottom of the staircase that takes you to the mall. A few metres away, we saw a group of teen girls. It was easy to suss the type. What would you think of: skimpy clothing, (fake) leather boots with a golden zip on the side going up to their thighs and... mountainous heels? In their upbringing, it seems, they were only told that "heels=sexy". ...Never were they told that you must first know how to walk in them - and let's face it, clinging to the railing is not promising, is it?

Then we went in. We went directly to M&S for some coffee and tea. We bought the stuff. We grabbed a table. We sat. We started observing.

Now, some etiquette tips we thought everybody was acquainted with. We were wrong!

1. Don't talk when your mouth is full of food.
2. Cover your mouth when you have to yawn. (Don't do it at home if you think it's too difficult, but when you're out it becomes a must.)
3. In spite of what some may think, bogies are not a delicacy one should indulge in.

Those sitting next to us, it would seem, were never taught such manners. Yet one would expect that, given their taste in clothing.

And of inadequate - (read "horrendous") - clothing witnessed today we've more than a thing or two to say. Nowadays, being so accustomed to such faux pas, we just look at each other for a second to acknowledge each other's bewilderment. Some things are just too elementary, so you wouldn't expect people to mistake those too.

If you're a bit of a chubby girl, you should never wear really short shorts and a striped top which is rather long at the back and extremely short at the front, resulting in your belly hanging out. It makes you wonder: why would her parents let her go out like that? Finding something that suits you is the best tip for styling. 

Together now:  "a pair of leggings does not replace jeans or trousers". So you cannot wear them with short tops. You simply look ridiculous. And it's even worse when you wear that bulky belt covering the upper part of your leggings and the lower part of your top. We are not interested in graphic details of your intimates.

Then there was this really pretty girl in her 20s. Gorgeous face, perfect figure. Well, for some strange reason she thought that a cocktail dress would be the best option for a Tuesday early afternoon. It's not. And no, the fact that today's a holiday doesn't change such rules.

One other lady seemed to be well absorbed in the Christmas spirit - well, her everything red was very indicative. But a summery maxi-dress is not something to be worn in December - not even if it's bright red! Fight the urge to get the summer clothes out of the closet, even if it's warm outside. It's Christmas!

Now, let's say something about the sweet oldies. (Well, they no longer look so sweet of late, have you noticed?) It's not that we don't want them to keep up-to-date with fashion and all... It's not that we want them to look like the typical Mrs. Bucket... But also here, there are some hidden rules. In other words, their clothing should reflect a bit more their age. More specifically, we don't want them pulling down their dresses because they realise they're too high up their thighs. 

Once more, together now... "girls, wear a bra!" If you're perky, we don't wanna know.

Anyway, it's amazing what you get to see in that half an hour you spend at your table, sipping your coffee or tea. You should try it out more often. It's actually fun. (And depressing, but we don't say that...)