Too short to handle

DURING grocery shopping with the Mrs on a hot Saturday morning in Suva City, we were going from shop to shop when an attractive female in miniskirt crossed in front of me.

From the corner of my eye, I saw more skin on her body than clothes so I pushed my eyes toward the ground and pretended to look at my shoes.

As I did that I heard my wife say “Yeah! Whatever”!.

Luckily for me, I have a down to earth partner unlike some I know. We’ve had this discussion once and I tell you one look can change everything?

A friend told me he too kept his eyes on the ground every time he was out with his wife because the reason is obviously clear.

She is yours and you are hers until death and like many relationships ‘the look’ can lead to more things. That’s how the husband and wife relationship started in the first place.

Isn’t that the reason for standing before a mirror for hours – to look attractive and decent? Colours, hairstyles, clothes and how you carry yourself in a public place is a representation of who you are.

My high school teacher, the late Mrs Mitchell, taught us about proper clothing that suited the weather. Check shirts were a thing back then and even on extremely hot days students wore them – ‘vei calati’ because it was the look.

Anyway, the same male friend told me he was seated with his partner eating at MHCC eatery when something crashed to the floor behind him. He turned to look at a man picking up a broken plate off the floor when a woman wearing push up bra and a mini-skirt passed and caught his eyes. He took a brief look before a tap on his head from his partner got him refocused on the plate in front of him.

This happens worldwide for both men and women. The internet speaks volumes of how mini-skirt excites men and shorts for women.

We’re just going with the flow of this westernised generic way of thinking - are we not? Maybe it is truly the work of the devil.

Whatever the case, ‘Looks kill’ but for both observer and model.

A female friend says mini-skirts expresses her freedom of what she chooses to wear and it’s on-trend with fashion.

“Yes mini-skirts are definitely attractive I love them and I love how men love them too. I like making an impression and hopefully, they see me as only that and not that I’m looking for something more. It goes both ways for men and women,” she said.

Judging someone by the way they dress is down-right cruel and shows one’s low selfesteem - if you ask me.

Fashion is growing worldwide and Fiji has had a huge leap of professional designers compared to 10 years ago. Young people are passionate about the clothes they wear.

Gone are the days of “knee below” Welcome to the new way of above the knee attire and as seemingly difficult as it may be for those of us brought up under an entirely different system.

Just like my ‘check-shirt’ was ‘too much’ for my parents, I too have to understand the mini-skirts and shorts.

For some the tighter the better, others the shorter the better. And for husbands ‘looking down is the better’.

Mini-skirt on midday Saturday in Suva is alright, however, the same skirt worn while walking the Suva streets at night I say cautious!

No disrespect and I agree mini-skirts have every right as trousers to walk the streets at night in Fiji. But that’s just the way it is. I wouldn’t put my own girls in that situation instead update them on the fact that not a lot of good things happen in the hidden spots around the world, but that’s just my opinion.

The other day, as I was on my way home from work, I passed through MHCC when I caught a group of women looking towards me.

Just a few hours before that a group of visitors came visiting my office and I was asked to explain a little about the work I did.

A work colleague started smiling at me and pointed out that my (zipper) fly was down only after the visitors had left.

That meant as I was trying to be professional to our visitors in my explanation my fly was inviting oxygen.

So fast forward to the group of women, I thought my fly was down again and I didn’t want to make it obviously and check it in an open space full of people knowing they were staring at me.

I did a quick turn into the MHCC Pharmacy, found an isolated corner and checked the front of my trousers, but it was all good.

When I looked out I saw a group of rugby boys in shorts passing.

That’s when I realised they weren’t looking at me, but those boys with rugby shorts.

No one would look at a man married with five children, maybe unless I wore mini skirt too. It is an uncomfortable feeling unless you know them.

However the point remains staring has a subconscious impact on the person’s mind because he or she doesn’t know why you’re staring at them. I really do think from experience.

So he or he is led to believe all kinds of things.

So when it involves mini-skirts and short tops, why am I always the culprit here? It’s a fine line particularly for males, however, it is sexy. And plus you can never fool the wife because your eyes were once on her and better kept there or else your clothes on the footpath.

That female friend tells me something else. She says lorry boys are probably better because they let the attractive female know what they’re thinking, whistling hissing. But some go too far and belittle young girls.

“But at least she knew their thoughts compared to those that just stare without any reaction, those are the ones I sometimes worry about.

Mini skirts and shorts aside, staring at people is has a powerful impact and in most cases, you get confronted. I asked a male work colleague and he says, “I look at their physic and shape of the legs, matching clothing”. We all can control our minds from going beyond.

Let me explain, some weeks ago I was walking with my daughters down Suva City, shopping when a young woman passed us with more skin than clothes on her body and whatever clothes she had on was squeezed up tightly to her form.

My 15 years-old daughter says DADD! She felt alarmed at me looking – and I wasn’t the only one in front of Suva Municipal market area that day, everybody else did too.

She definitely called attention and she almost bumped into me carrying two shopping bags so I had to look.

Mini-skirt, grey vest hugging her swollen chest and low cleavage.

It was definitely a fashion statement, one I’ve seen in magazines.

On the other hand, other nine-year-old daughter says “dad I can see her”, but before she could complete her sentence I covered her mouth.

I have two beautiful girls and at that age they have a fair idea of the type of clothes suits them. Boys are different - three-quarter, T-shirt and flip-flops - would do for almost any outings.

But I keep a keen eye on proper dress code at home and I’m pretty stern when it comes to this, especially with my girls.

Maybe it’s because I’m worried they are growing up too fast.

I’m not that type of person that empties their wardrobe and throw mini-shirts and shorts out. I do respect my girl’s wardrobe,but if it’s too short is not appropriate.

And as long as I’m alive I’d like that to be respected, I know I sound like Hitler, I guess it’s what I was taught growing up.