Fashion Police?

I was sort of concerned, upon moving to the "fashion capital of the world," that I would feel inferior, style-wise, to the gloms of glamourous people pouting, pushing, and puffing their way through Parisian streets.

It has been sort of comforting to note that not everyone in Paris dresses like they have just completed a photoshoot for Vogue. For example, there seems to be a sect of young adults who are enjoying some sort of inexplicable eighties revival. They wear brightly colored eyeliner, lace leggings, and leg warmers in neon colors. The people donning these throwback looks to Madonna's True Blue tour are actually attractive young people who are somehow able to keep a straight face.

Anyway, as I have been observing the trends, it has been nice to know that even Parisians can commit the occasional (at least to my relatively untrained eye) faux pas.

Although, I will say, the the de-mythification of Paris as the pinnacle of style has its limits; I was slightly upset to see that my personal fashion nemesis appears to have permeated the fashionable bubble that encases Paris.

For the other day, I counted three, yes three, people wearing Disney-themed sweatshirts.

Before you get on me for criticizing the wardrobe choices favored by toddlers, you may be interested to know that all three offenders were adults. Like, over thirty.

A word on sweatshirts: I take issue with people walking around in what appears to be sleepwear. And oft-rumpled sleepwear at that. I firmly adhere to the belief that "sweat clothes"/pajama or workout type outfits, ought to be restricted to the parameters of your own home or to the fitness facility you frequent.

So while many, many selections I view on others are perplexing (see eighties revival description above), the only one that really gives me pause is the sweatshirt.

For clarification: I am talking about the elastic waist-banded crewneck in what I suspect is a poly-blend. Hoodies, incidentally, are totally fine. Who doesn't love a hoodie? (Well, the exception on hoodies is the astounding number of French adults who wear "Abercrombie and Fitch New York" hoodies. Do they know they are promoting pubescent erotica, of the cologne-soaked variety?)

When a standard issue sweatshirt features Mickey or Minnie Mouse and /or has such added "features" as sequins, rhinestones, or frills, then I become borderline offended. Grown human beings really cannot seriously wear Disney-themed clothing.

To back up my stance, this is what I have learned about French fashion: you can wear whatever you want, you just have to look extremely confident and sort of angry while doing so. The latter is actually considerably harder to pull off than dressing well. Let us be honest and admit that no one looks extremely confident or remotely angry when Mickey is bobbing around on their belly. So, despite the tenacity of the garment, deductive reasoning suggests that sweatshirts are pas bon.

I vote that they join acid-wash in the fashion graveyard so that I may never see another one in Paris and my faith in French haute couture can be properly restored, Mickey-less forever more.

Who is with me?