The Scene
JOAN VASS USA
Fall 1997
Fall fashion is about streamlined
style and timeless quality .. .
menswear with decidely feminine
flair . . . herringbone, houndstooth,
and classic plaids impart a brand
new feeling of "real clothes" to the
world of knits. Tbbacco and char-
coal tweeded with black provides a
rich base for any outfit, while ma-
genta, slate, ginger and moss are
appropriate Fall accents. The sig-
nature soft-as-cashmere cottons now
have an assortment of comple-
ments in dyed to match cotton/
lycra. The lightweight and mid-
weight suitings have stretch nylon
for comfort and performance, and
the rayon/lycra has the weight and
drape of fine matte jersey.
Spotting fellow Jews
on the street is an acquired skill
mostly employed by mothers.
I
Inside Orchard Mall • West Bloomfield, Michigan
248-626-0886
tem,4
V% AD S
CASH
\Cr
Cr
h.
LYNNE MASTER, M,Ed
Owner, Director
•Clinical Teaching
•Testing/Evaluation
•Therapeutic Tutoring
545-6677 * 433-3323
Bloomfield Hills
Oak Park
http://www.metroguide.comilynne
don't remember when I first along Michigan Avenue in Chica-
began recognizing Jews in go with a friend, discreetly point-
crowds of strangers. I guess ing out guys who just have to be
it's like walking — there Jewish, and then smile at them
comes a point when you find in a knowing-yet-mysterious
yourself doing it without think- way.
It's quite another thing
ing, and you can't stop.
to watch someone trying
I remember as a
to do the same thing to
child hearing my par-
you As genuine as I knew
ents gossip about
this customer's intentions
someone who was "def-
were, it was rather amus-
initely Jewish."
ing to witness her inter-
"How do you know?'
rogation.
I would ask, searching
She asked where I was
for the thing so appar-
from through the fitting
ent to them and so in-
room door. "Oh, do they
visible to me. They
could only shrug and ALLISON KA PLAN have a very large Jewish
say, "You just know."
SPECIAL T 0 THE population there?"
Notice the approach:
I think the Jewish
JEWISH N EWS
she sidesteps, working her'
detector-instinct is one
way into the topic without
that kicks in later in
life, like an interest in dating and actually asking a direct question.
kissing (not necessarily in that She couldn't have cared less
order). In fact, it is precisely about populations. What she
around "mating" time that the meant was: "Are you Jewish?
And are you available to date my
skill becomes so handy.
Of course, there are glitches pathetically boring son?" (That
with every instinct — like the last part I didn't know at the
time my friend assumed this cute time. As usual, the mom is
blonde guy with a name like charming, and hopelessly obliv-
Jones wasn't Jewish. As it turns ious to her son's defects.)
By the time she worked her
out, he is Jewish —highlighting
how stereotypes can be blinding way to the check-out counter, we
were practically old friends. She
and damaging.
Luckily, my friend wasn't de- waited until the very moment I
terred by appearance (trust me, swiped her charge card through
his wasn't too repelling), and she the register to hit me with the
just decided it would be OK to real zinger. "What is your last
date Mr. Jones, the non-Jew. name?"
She was convinced she had
They've been an item for about
a year now. How she rejoiced at found her child the ideal date (I
swear, I'm not being arrogant),
her mistake!
But the truth is, most times but just had to be sure with one
the tribe detector comes in last check. Apparently my cus-
handy. Especially for Jewish tomer never ran into a Jewish
mothers who have no intention Jones.
I wanted to startle her by ig-
of welcoming a Jones or a John-
son into the family, much less en- noring her actual question to an-
swer the real one with, "Yes, I am
couraging a date.
Case in point: I was recognized Jewish." But I didn't. Store pol-
as a Nice Jewish Girl one day icy and all. I gave her my name
while working at a women's and she gave me a photo of her
clothing store during college. The son, satisfied there could be a
customer, a mother dressed just match. So flustered was I, she
a bit too nicely for that Wiscon- snatched it back before I really
sin town, could be there for only got a good look. One more second
one reason— to visit her college- with that snapshot, and I defi-
nitely would have made up a
age child.
I was right, she was visiting boyfriend.
As it happens, I wasn't quick
her 5-0-N, a senior at the school.
It's one thing to use your own enough with my excuses. It took
Jewish-detector skill, to walk three months to get that boy to
stop calling me.
If only the mothers of the Good
Allison Kaplan is a columnist for
the Chicago Jewish Star whose Ones were half as skilled at scop-
ing. ❑
mother only lets her date
Jewish guys.
FOR LIKE-NEW
WOMEN'S 8, CHILDREN'S
DESIGNER
fashions
& accessories
CONSIGNMENT
CLOTHIERS
Call today fora EREE
housecall appt. or
in-store apps
3474570
43041 W. 7 Mlle • Northvill e