Hippie Hill Invasion (Or "Disasters in DC Fashion")

Now that I work in communications rather than in legislative advocacy, I no longer frequent Capitol Hill much. Still, I like to think that when I do, I clean up fairly decently. I mean, sure, I participated in The Great Seersucker Suit Day of 2008, whereupon two of my closest friends & I took to the Hill to lobby & simultaneously attempted to reclaim the summer pinstripe for the Dems. OK, & no, not all of my "dress-up clothes" fit me particularly well because I have an apparent "pants problem" that mysteriously renders all my slacks massive on me, despite my lack of weight loss.

But even when I don't look my Sunday best, I know that there are a few things you just shouldn't wear when you make a trek to Capitol Hill to visit your elected officials. Things that come to mind include:

• Sweats (pants, hoodies, the like)
  
• UGGS (or any footwear that involves pom-poms)
• Patterned, footless leggings
  
• Any skirt too short/scandalous/ugly for church or dinner at your grandma's house
  
• Tie-dyed anything
• Patchwork anything
  
• Anything made of hemp

I saw all of the above today, when 1,200+ college-aged hippies from Power Shift 2009 took to the Hill to demand Congress pass stronger environmental legislation. The worst fashion offender of the day? See for yourself:


Come ON. No matter how you slice it, wearing Crocs to the Hill - IN WINTER - is wholly (hole-y?) unacceptable. And she's not even going to try to blend in & pretend like she's wearing normal-person shoes? She's just gonna go straight to bright red?

Oh, & did I mention that it was 21 degrees & snowy out today?!?


PS: Hippie protests - Just one of the many joys of living in our nation's capital: