Georgia
Apr 21, 2009, 7:20 AM
Post #20 of 47
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Re: [Gringal] Clothes, Hair, and Makeup: how to "pass" for a Mexican
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Exactly, Grangal. I was raised in both cultures, and am aware (sometimes unfortunately not) of the differences. Example: when my older daughter and I are out and about in town, we walk arm in arm. We meet and greet friends, and there is a great deal of hugging and kissing. We talk and gossip differently, and often in a very low voice. We both wear our clothing tighter than is the norm in the US. (Husband approves. Daughter said I used to look like my butt was falling off, or some such thing.) My "fancy" goin' out on the town clothing here is not appropriate for upstate New York, where we lived for some time.
Recently I had to go to three events in the north, and I truly had nothing to wear that was appropriate. Had to buy a couple of dresses. Then, again, here women of a "certain age" wear the suit. Now, I am personally not into this particular attire, but it is a double knit polyester sort of a thing with a shapeless, collarless jacket, mid calf skirt , or straight legged pants, and a blouse worn underneath. I honest to god saw a lady dressed in "the suit" -lime green - with two of her girlfriends up at the top of the mountain at El Rosario to see the Monarch butterflies. She was also wearing stockings and strappy high heeled sandals! I have no idea how she trekked up there in that outfit, but she did it. Personally, I was awestruck. She was at least my age and looked as if she were strolling through the Gran Plaza. I noticed this threesome while I wa checking my pulse.
Another difference here: at relatively dressy occasions you often see a gentleman wearing slacks and a fancy, well-ironed and starched guayabera. No suit jacket and tie. It's common throughout northern South America as well as in the Phillipines. My husband has adopted this style of dress, since he finds it more practical in this climate. He has also mastered the male to male Mexican backslap/hug.
Older Mexican women tend to wear more makeup all the time than NOB women. And both men and women are more likely to dye their hair. And then there is the footwear: have you ever seen a Mexican guy in the city whose shoes are not polished?
The plainness that many NOB women adopt is viewed by city women here as somewhat odd.
My comments are mostly in regard to city life, not village life. Although, some village women are puzzled that some perceived "wealthy" Americans for whom they clean house appear so plain.
Many of us have probably adopted some of these differences without even realizing we have done it. My bet is that most guys prefer the guayabera over the suit and tie under any and all circumstances.
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