Fuchsia and coral are NOT the colors for spring/summer ‘09.  Who thinks that? More importantly, why? Hello–do you remember a summer without fuschsia and coral?! I’m getting all cartoon-punctuationy here, but srsly. Perhaps some summers those colors appear less, others more. But aren’t there always a couple of s/s trends where coral and fuchsia can legitimately feature,  like feather earrings, ubiquitous metallics, or gauzy-floaty sequin-spattered tops and dresses? The two gloriously summer-appropriate colors also receive receive fashion benediction in more androgynous-to-butch looks, e.g., skate shoes,  the reinterpreted loose-fitting short sleeve button-downs in bold colorful patterns for summer,  possibly even madras.  But I think I have figured out, perhaps, why these undying summer colors are being singled out this season…it is in celebration of Rachel Maddow.

Digression: And then there are pants! Do you suspect the reign of the low-to-extremely-low-rise waist ended ignominiously because of  economic anxiety? Personally I loved seeing those pants on women. Of course they looked best on healthy, athletic torsos , or slender, ascetic ones, but it’s all personal judgment. I even have two or three pairs just because they feel so nice (and I tend to love skirts/dresses). Is a return to less body-skimming, more rectilinear/structured shapes designed to soothe consumers into feeling frugal and responsible? A complementary impulse brings us skirts that just happen to have legs: e.g., the short, silky or ruche-y rompers, long gauzy pants, and, in a utilitarian way, the ultra wide leg pants, are skirts in pants’ clothing most gender-linked feature…)

Rachel Maddow–always bringing the right equipment, and never clanking against the sides!–prepared a fuchsia/hot pink cocktail, the cherry julep, with the reverent assistance of Martha Stewart a few weeks ago. This is more than enough time for imaginations to be fired, hearts to be captured, and memes to reach critical mass. Coral is the color of the cocktail she prepared on Grub Street, the jack rose. She even wore a winsome coral hoodie while insisting upon the squeezing of actual limes and that we go as hard as we can as long as we can with the cocktail shaker instead of being a wuss.  These informative clips, watched attentively, could melt anyone’s objections to coral and fuchsia taking pivotal roles in spring/summer.

(Thank you Dorothy Snarker for your um, thought-provoking columns, your weekend crushes (ever cited Jenny Hoyston in that category btw?), and most of all your Maddow videos. Dorothy Surrenders: just the most awesome blog ever without benefit of puppies!)