1621. The first Thanksgiving held in Plymouth, Massachusetts.
Puritans and Native Americans giving thanks at the end of the harvest season.
Women wearing full skirts, bodices, aprons, and bonnets called coifs and biggins to keep their hair clean...
Men sporting loose fitting blouses, breeches gathered at the knee, high socks, tall leather boots, and Puritan Hats--tall conical hats with a large round brim decorated with a buckle and belt. And Native Americans in moccasins to protect their feet, pants, loincloths, and skirts and dresses made of tanned deer hide, soft as butter.
Clothing was sometimes stylish, but mostly functional, and all was handmade. There were no malls, no mail order catalogs, no online stores, no magazines with high fashion models pushing the latest trends.
Four hundred years ago is was about the essentials. Today it's all about excess. As I reflect upon the day, and think about what I am thankful for, I'll also reflect upon whether or not it's absolutely necessary that I own close to 20 pairs of jeans, dozens of shirts and t-shirts in every conceivable hue, numerous chunky knit sweaters, dresses, and skirts in numbers that make it hard to close dresser drawers and closet doors.
Though I'm thankful for brands like True Religion, Michael Stars, Odd Molly, Dream Society, and Velvet, and for retail and online stores like Loehmanns, Urban Outfitters, JCrew, RevolveClothing, and ShopBop, I realize that it's all just superficial fluff. What I'm truly thankful for is my family that I'm spending this day with, a new love in my life, my best and closest friends near and far away, and my health. I'm grateful for the year I've had, and wish everyone a very Happy Thanksgiving and a happy holiday season ahead.
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