Most people who remember my Granny, often think of her as a bible toting, religious person. However, before my Grandmother kept the Sabbath Day holy, she was a staunch Roman Catholic and one of the most glamorous women, who had the privilege to live on Jamaican soil.

Granny always kept abreast of the latest fashions via her sister who had lived in America. One day as I sat in Granny's parlour watching "Where Its At", a trendy Jamaican show,I asked her to recount her days as a Grand Diva making her rounds about town. It was something about the models and their exuberance that prompted me to inquire about Granny's High Fashion days.

I asked Granny to explain the fashions they wore in her day to me. Granny smiled. She was never one to boast, but it seemed as if I had conjured up some of her fondest memories. With excitement and faint melancholia she began telling her story.

"Sweetheart, you should have seen me in those days, I wore nothing but 24 karat jewelry, any earring design you could name, I had it and wore it. Both my arms were filled with gold bracelets when I dressed for church. Sometimes, I would mix things up a bit and wear my pearls. Supposed you ever saw the lovely pearls we wore in those days. They were like a collar around our necks. Dearie, I had all the accessories to match. In those days I had pierced ears, so I found it quite delightful to wear all sorts of interesting earrings to spice up my outfits."

"Nowadays these children pierce all parts of their bodies, I don't know where they get the bravery from. When I pierced my ears it was a miraculous event, and I vowed I would do it only once."

I looked at Granny admiringly, quizzing her to tell me more.

"So Granny, who did you get the "Fancy Pansy" ways from?"

"My mother of course, "Mother got up every morning and dressed as if she were greeting the King or Queen. Never mind you, she probably never set foot outside the house, but she was as dressed as a peacock while she sat doing her needle point. Mother always said, a woman is like a house, you constantly have to keep adorning the interior and exterior."

"Oh, Granny, that explains so much, no wonder I have always loved to dress up."

"Speaking of dresses sweetheart, I wore long hobble skirts , with beautiful blouses that had a peplum waistline, and if you ever saw the exquisite pairs of shoes. The heels were very high at least two inches or so. You think you children are the only ones who can be snazzy. When we got dressed, we were impeccable from head to toe. Everything was properly coordinated. Sometimes we didn't even want to sit, because we feared wrinkling our clothes."

"So Granny, you and your sisters must have created quite a sensation?"

"We did stir a few hearts, but our parents were so strict. We were not allowed to stray far from the fold."

"Granny, what do you think about wearing make-up?"

"In my day, I had every color rouge and lipstick imaginable. I believe Helena Rubenstein was the make-up Queen back then. I never went anywhere without being properly made up. Now that I am older and off in another direction I really don't think about it much.

All the same, I think it's nice when a young lady has dressed herself up, to polish her look with the essentials. It makes for a nicer appearance."

Granny and I sat viewing the latest fashions being displayed on "Where Its At" for the Holidays and we both started commenting on the fashionistas.

"But Lord Have mercy Granny! Look at that model she look like she forgot part of the dress back stage?"

"You know I really admire these designers, but, I think it's nice when they leave some things to the imagination."

"Look at this one, she look like she ready to break into a fight any minute now. She must be mad with the designer?"

I started to get a bit disinterested in the show and began browsing through a magazine.

Granny called, "Ms. Mags. look ! Come here quickly! This girl look like she off of her rockers, Is she wearing a crocus bag or what? She look like she just hear some news and run out of the house. I don't know what this world is coming to. Fashion has taken a very strange turn."

"You can say that again Granny."

"You know Mags, The classics never go out of style. The same fashions I adored as a young girl can be worn today and you wouldn't feel out of place. You can't follow these people in the name of fashion. They will take two tired piece of cloth and throw then together and call it fashion. If you are not accustomed to well made, well fitting clothes, you will immediately embrace it and think it is someting good. When in actuality it's really fool's gold."

"Granny I agree, that is so true, you know sometimes I see these things on television and I try them. They ae usually not very flattering. I think one has to develop one's own style."

"Ms. Mags in Jamaica they have a saying, "Puss and Dog don't have the same luck". You can use that saying for so many things. But, in the sense of fashion, Your friend might wear a pair of jeans and they look so cute on her. You try the same thing, and you look like a washer woman on a dreary Monday morning. Always bear this in mind, a woman has to know her fashion limitations. If you remember that, you can never go wrong. You can tell them that the old lady told you so."

It was during that brief television watching session, that my Grandmother passed on to me her view about fashion. I still remember her saying, "I love white and I love red, everything else is o.k. I won't wear the color black because it is too dismal, but on you sweetheart. It looks absolutely fabulous!

After all these years, I can't help thinking how gauche my Granny was, even for a little church lady.