Having forgotten my sunglasses on this exceptionally bright day, I was gazing at the street and people’s shoes. Occasionally I’d glance up to see who they belonged to. This time they were nun’s shoes with heavy stockings. Up my eyes traveled to a short, black chiffon full skirt topped by a blue blazer, short cropped hair. Of course I had to look at her – I mean, chiffon skirt. She had on no makeup but the requisite high-buttoned white blouse and cross under the blazer. A nun in chiffon. I pondered this as I continued walking, then I saw the black chiffon skirt again – this time paired with bulky blue shoes, a leg tattoo of creeping ivy, turquoise belt and jacket. This chiffony skirt, this billowing black veil was seen a third time that walk behind a baby stroller on a pudgy mom, Junior League hair and pearls and flats. I was so engrossed by this ever-present odd garment that I was nearly run over as a 60-odd year old woman, biking and on her cell phone, splashing the black chiffon skirt over her seat pedaled by.

Were they giving them out free? Is there a cult – should I join the legions and buy one? What is the password – being a nun, a mom, having a bike or a tattoo – was there some common thread of chiffon running through them all?

by Tina