The Biffier the better

We were seated on opposite sides of the runway. But her and her friends were as loud as mine, so we passed on jokes straight through the dresses. Shouts were tossed across instead of the usual whispers or text messages. And after it all we lifted stiff backs out of chairs and extended handshakes, names and numbers.

It was all accepted, as it always is, at that party they throw in the name of everything alternative. One year later, though, we find ourselves in the midst of another event, this time prim, proper, and economic.

We’ve got jobs to do, so she does hers and I do mine, move through questions and answers. In an e-mail I follow up, and am told a lady never gives out age, or size: oh right, prim-and-proper.

Size is still what’s to be discussed, so that’s what we do. Silhouettes and shapes are changed, each garment made to flatter. Fashion is not always about looking good, he once wrote, but was made to re-consider.

This time it is, I guess, so I’ll let her have it.

*Read about size, silhouette, shape, and the rest of it in my article on Jessica Biffi’s capsule collection for Addition Elle in The Calgary Herald.