A really great shoe.

Sabrina Heise

Editorial Assistant

True confessions: * Not as politically aware as I should be. * I bite my nails. * I didn't love the Sex and the City movie. * I am actually, really addicted to sugar and should probably be in a 12-step program. * By addicted, I mean, I lash out at people and get grumpy when I haven't had my sug...

A really great shoe.

Thursday, September, 20, 2007

I’ve spent a fair amount of time watching style-themed programming, mostly thanks to the Style Network, America’s Next Top Model, and What Not to Wear, and lately I’ve noticed that there’s a certain manner of speaking when it comes to clothing or makeup, which is to singularize whatever you’re talking about, even if you really mean plural.

For example, about makeup:

“A great look for evening is a smoky eye, paired with a pale lip.”

Why only one eye? Why only one lip? It makes it sound like they aren’t even talking about human beings--just random body parts in a drawer somewhere that someone is matching up for no particular reason.

This also happens in fashion:

“To really create an effect with this look, add a sexy shoe, like a stiletto or wedge.”

This causes me to imagine models everywhere hobbling down the runway wearing a single, fabulous shoe while the other unshod foot tries its best to maintain balance.

Where did this trend of singularizing begin? Was there some highly-respected Eastern European stylist who didn’t yet understand the English plural forms, and assuming he knew how best to speak of fashion, people in the style world began to emulate his speech?

This is a complete mystery to me, and if anyone can tell me the answer to this, I will give you a cookie.