Fashion Week - Metro 7
Faux Couture on Six-Wheels…. a FIVE-MINUTE ride
He stands in front of the mirror this morning, taking one last look before heading out into the California autumn sun. His ensemble includes rubber flip flops, baggy knee-length tropical-patterned shorts that show off his leg tattoos, a faded Garfield T-shirt and his puffy, purple, polyester vest. He nods at his reflection, “Lookin’ good...”
Slapping his ancient Oakland A’s baseball cap on his shaved head, he goes out the door full of self-confidence. He’ll wait on Seventh Avenue this Saturday morning for the 3B bus, ready to take part in the daily Santa Cruz Metro Fashion Parade.
Though visitors from the mid-west might consider everyone in Santa Cruz to be in costume, they are not costumes, per se, but our normal, every day attire. Let’s just say it is Hallowe’en every day in Surf City.
On the Bus Aisle Runway today we find these delightful and creative sartorial choices:
• A very slender young man is wearing an extra-large “KookSlayer” t-shirt emblazoned across the front “Kookamunga”. It is accompanied by its matching Kookslayer cap. Surfer chic.
• In the “Over 70” category, we see a perky grandma wearing knee-length shorts with crumpled knit leg warmers and barefoot sandals. Red toenail polish and a plaid sweater vest complete the look. No, I am not kidding.
• Model number three strutting down the runway, is a man wearing a tie-dye long-sleeve knit pullover, layered with a tie-dye button down short-sleeve shirt. In keeping with the theme is his tie-dye backpack. All he lacks are the shoes. Freak-flags have been flying continuously in this town since 1967.
• Then, a quiet man with elegant posture walks down the aisle wearing a skirt. No, not a kilt. A taupe wool, mid-calf length pencil skirt with a slit up the back. The other riders nearly break into applause, but manage to maintain their cool.
• Seated across from me, is a woman with two pigtails sprouting out of the top of her head like braided horns. Her style is highlighted by creative accessorizing - round silver dangle earrings with cutout trees, two knotted rag bracelets, pearly purple nail polish. The cuffs of her skinny jeans are turned back about 6” to show us her socks, which feature images of jowly bulldogs making a rude gesture. I swear, I do not make this stuff up.
• Last down the runway today, a man with substantial, long black hair arranged in one thick plait down the middle of his back. A wide-folded blue bandana is knotted around his brow. La pièce de résistance: a necklace of what look like huge bear claws or boars’ tusks.
In February, I sold my car in favor of letting someone else do the driving on our demented thoroughfares. I now have the dubious pleasure of taking the Metro Bus. One benefit, of course, is that I’ve found a lot to write about out on the 3B line. (Links are at the bottom.) My stories always include details of the rather singular fashion sense of our local riders. All of today’s inspired models put me in mind of a few other examples of Santa Cruz’ “Six-Wheel Chic” that I have reported on previously. For example I have noted:
• A teenager dressed all in black except for a shocking pink face mask covering only her chin,
• An older woman wearing black tights and a long striped t-shirt dress, and bright yellow Crocs. She looks like a walking ad for Dr. Seuss Apparel.
• A gorgeous Rastafarian rocking a long linen shirt, his mustache and beard nicely groomed, mountains of dreadlocks carefully tucked up under a red, yellow, and green knitted cap as huge, colorful and round as a beach ball.
• Two men with shaved heads and sweet smiles sitting side by side in their long dark red robes and sandals, placid monks from our local Tibetan Buddhist community.
• A man dressed entirely in black. His handsome dark face, nearly invisible — dark beard, dark hair, dark eyes. The black cap that is jammed on his head is covered by the thick black hood of his black jacket.
• A lovely elderly lady with long gray hair all sparkle in a hat that is encrusted with glittering rubies, multi-color jewels are on her shirt collar, a sprinkle of diamonds decorate her tennis shoes. Spectacular in the sunlight.
• A buoyant young woman in a flirty, ruffled dress with a pattern of large yellow and orange flowers that is as loud as her voice. The shoulders of the dress are cut away to allow everyone to get a peek at her tattoos.
To this never-ending grand parade of fashion, I am obliged to add myself, as I, too, am treading the Metro Faux Couture runway today. I sit here in the old-folks section up front, sporting my nicely pressed lumberjack plaid flannel shirt, faded Levis that are, admittedly, a couple inches too short, inadvertently calling attention to my patterned wooly socks and brown orthopedic oxfords. A vision of geriatric rusticity.
(Frankly, All that remains in my closet these days are seven plaid flannel shirts, four pairs of jeans, and three pairs of leather corrective walking shoes. You get old, you narrow your choices down to make life easier. One of the perks of aging is telling fashion influencers to go to hell or get a life.)
Thanks for riding with me on the Santa Cruz Metro today. Here are a few other short rides, if you want a transfer. All rides are funny, some are scary, some are poignant and all are free today and every day.
Mayhem on Six Wheels - Metro 1 Characters in Search of a Story -Metro 2
Xanax Monday - Metro 3. Summer Solstice Party Bus - Metro 4
Day For Night - Metro 5 Use a Radio, Go to Jail - Metro 6
**Note: ALL photo were found online. I don’t photograph actual bus riders.
The texture of couture collects a wave to all expressions that cross Santa Cruz town. Behind the cascades each must have a story to tell. Some you probably captured. The rest we wait for the next fashionable day. Good show and tell.
Love this series. People watching is a wonderful pastime. Thanks for sharing, always leaves me with a smile 😃