The Skirt | Teen Ink

The Skirt MAG

March 8, 2008
By EmilytheAuthor DIAMOND, St. Francisville, Louisiana
EmilytheAuthor DIAMOND, St. Francisville, Louisiana
55 articles 20 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
Be who you are and say what you feel because those that mind don't matter, and those that matter don't mind. -dr. seuss


I will be the first to say that I am not materialistic. My friends label me as a goody-goody; my parents say I am conservative and modest when it comes to clothes. I don’t wear bikinis, and none of my skirts or shorts end above my knees. That is my choice.

So why, why did I feel so tempted? My family and I were in Target, and there it was, waiting. A skirt, specifically designed not to cover anything. It was tan and looked like something one of those anime schoolgirls would wear.

I checked my purse. The skirt cost $10. I had the money. I could buy it. I imagined walking into school and my pals’ jaws dropping. Guys would ask me out, and I would be happy. I could buy it – no, I should buy it.

I showed my mother. She was surprised but said it was my decision. My sister looked on enviously.

I went into the dressing room to try it on. So sure was I that this skirt would change me, somehow make me not what I am but what I wished to be. I slid my jeans off and put it on. Now for the decisive moment. I looked in the mirror. There I was – a geeky girl in a Superman T-shirt and sneakers. My glasses fogged up as I started to cry.

The skirt did not change me. Though it fit well and might make me look good in the eyes of ­today’s world, it was not me. I am not a girl who flirts or wears cool clothes to fit in.

I took the thing off and slid back into the ­comfort of modesty. My mom knocked on the door. “Emily, are you okay?”

I wiped away my tears. “I’m fine.” I looked in the ­mirror again and saw a blond skinny girl with dorky ­glasses and a ponytail. I saw myself.



Similar Articles

JOIN THE DISCUSSION

This article has 341 comments.


HelloLove said...
on May. 26 2010 at 7:38 pm
HelloLove, Dexter, Michigan
0 articles 0 photos 68 comments

Favorite Quote:
Twinkle, twinkle, little bat! How I wonder what you&#039;re at. <br /> -Hatter<br /> Tut, tut, child! Everything&#039;s got a moral, if only you can find it.<br /> -Dutchess

I couldn't have written it any better. :) It's like a strong connection between me and this story. Absolutely astounding!

on May. 26 2010 at 5:47 pm
docta_rini SILVER, Detroit, Michigan
6 articles 3 photos 10 comments
i think this is gud!

wolfiemoon said...
on May. 22 2010 at 2:52 pm
If you're not yourself, then who are you? Wonderful article.

on May. 13 2010 at 5:26 pm
good for you. i know a lot of people who wouldnt be in touch with themselves nor brave enough to stay true to themselves. That is one thing i am constantly trying my hardest to do. This is a really good story.

on May. 13 2010 at 2:17 am
StarlightStormcloud, Pasadena, California
0 articles 3 photos 34 comments
I really love the conflicting emotions in this.  I knew a girl once who complimented my shirt and said she wished she could wear something like it.  I asked her why she didn't and she just said, "I'm not there yet."  I didn't really get that at all, wanting something so trivial like an item of clothing, yet knowing you weren't comfortable with it.  This is very insightful - kudos ;)

on May. 4 2010 at 9:58 pm
angel2745 BRONZE, Sacramento, California
3 articles 1 photo 32 comments
Oh my ... well... that's just beautiful. You right there... just wrote me. That gave me everything I needed. I am not kidding... you have just inspired me. That is exactly how I am, how people describe me. I haven't yet chosen to wear a skirt but I am hoping one day I will be able to do something like that... find myself... see myself. Thank you for writing this. :)

ShadowFairy said...
on May. 4 2010 at 5:27 pm
ShadowFairy, Peachtree City, Georgia
0 articles 2 photos 3 comments
I am glad that you chose to write this. Many people can relate to what you wrote, I can certainly relate to this myself. Thank you.  

KonyaB!!! GOLD said...
on May. 4 2010 at 4:54 pm
KonyaB!!! GOLD, Edison, New Jersey
14 articles 0 photos 99 comments

Loved it.

Connectable. VERY connectable. :)

 

 


on May. 4 2010 at 2:38 pm
GracieLynn BRONZE, Chehalis, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Life isn&#039;t about the breaths we take, it&#039;s about the moments that take our breath away.&quot; -Unknown

i guess what i was trying ot say was be true to yourself. Take it from a girl who wears glasses and my hair is ALWAYS in a ponytail; you were made the way you are for reason. NEVER change that, especially from the world:)

on May. 4 2010 at 2:37 pm
GracieLynn BRONZE, Chehalis, Washington
3 articles 0 photos 11 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Life isn&#039;t about the breaths we take, it&#039;s about the moments that take our breath away.&quot; -Unknown

wow! i can relate to that SOOO much. It's great to see that i'm not the only one who feels like that.

JessieB SILVER said...
on May. 4 2010 at 2:36 pm
JessieB SILVER, Elkton, Maryland
7 articles 1 photo 102 comments

Favorite Quote:
an eye for an eye, and the whole world goes blind~Ghandi

i like this(:

i can really connect with it.


Everhart said...
on May. 4 2010 at 10:18 am
Everhart, Boston, Massachusetts
0 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;I am a fat girl, trapped in a normal girl&#039;s body.&quot;

Wow. Powerful writing. Brilliant.

on May. 4 2010 at 7:42 am
chartothalatte GOLD, Cleveland Heights, Ohio
10 articles 1 photo 62 comments
wow. i don't know what else to say about this other than wow. its pure power, pure truth. its not me; i wear short skirts, get asked out, and am the opposite of you, and its become me. that used to be me. no, i'm not insecure, i just changed. great article. truest thing i have read in a long while. great piece, emily.

on Apr. 27 2010 at 7:27 pm
mcpanicfanic SILVER, Cincinnati, Ohio
8 articles 0 photos 65 comments
dont conform gurl. stay true to who you are and dont change unless YOU want to.

on Apr. 12 2010 at 6:01 pm
kylec000 BRONZE, Cleveland, Ohio
1 article 0 photos 10 comments

Favorite Quote:
Under the bludgeonings of chance / My head is bloody but unbowed...<br /> I am the master of my fate / I am the captain of my soul<br /> <br /> William Ernest Henly, Invictus

Good job not getting sucked into something that isn't you. It's not what other people think about you, or today's culture; it's what you think and feel about yourself that matters most.     :)

melodeess GOLD said...
on Apr. 12 2010 at 4:21 pm
melodeess GOLD, Edison, New Jersey
18 articles 0 photos 50 comments

this is great :)

you should always stay true to who you are, and you really expressed this in your writing. you go girl- having such great confidence! :] your writing is amazing too!


on Apr. 12 2010 at 3:17 pm
awesomeaugust GOLD, Boston, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 176 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground&quot;<br /> ~Theordore Roosevelt

I really liked this article if for no other reason than it is real. It's really real and raw and even though it ended on a rather sad note, I think it had a pretty positive message. I don't follow the trends that a lot of people seem to think are "in", but I wear mini skirts and I own a shirt from Aeropostale. Yes, the mini skirts might be from the salvation army and, yes, the shirt is a hand-me-down but I still wear them because I think they're cute. And I'm a dork, and so are my friends. I think a lot of the time people make assumptions based on the way others dress, but half of the time they're not true. Anyway, I was just making a point- I love this article and I really hope you continue to write!

on Apr. 5 2010 at 3:48 pm
tennisplayergirl GOLD, Arrington, Virginia
10 articles 0 photos 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;He who will not risk cannot win.&quot; John Paul Jones

Love this article! Amazing writing.

on Apr. 1 2010 at 7:09 am
sk8terboi SILVER, Deltona, Florida
5 articles 0 photos 14 comments

Favorite Quote:
&quot;Love is like a rainbow you will never find the end.&quot; I wrote this quote myself.

I love thiss article!! I write about love and I've got one called Linda my first love u should chec it out.

Keep on writing

 


#1 fan said...
on Mar. 21 2010 at 8:48 pm
I am so excited about this story! Just got your book in the mail from Amazon and you are an amazing writer! Your book "Treading Water Today" is AMAZING!