Misperceptions

[tealin]

There's a local mall that runs advertising campaigns on bus ads. While I was stopped briefly at a bus shelter, I saw the text at the top of one ad that read 'You have spats, You have makeups, We Have Everything'. This puzzled me ... I knew what spats were (the coverings typically of men's shoes, popular in the nineteenth and early twentieth century) and I knew what makeup was, but why did they pluralise it? Seemed a weird or possibly ESL thing to do. It wasn't until the bus pulled further forward and I saw the picture on the ad, of a young couple apparently enjoying themselves, that it dawned on me I had gotten it all wrong. If I had gotten that advertising copy, I would have done a poster like the one you see above, clearly demonstrating my romantic illiteracy. (But it's a lot funnier ... especially because they probably don't have that kind of spats at the mall.)

I am a costuming geek. Or would be if I knew more about it.

Comments

[azvolrien.livejournal.com]

I think I prefer your version. And I would wear spats with great enthusiasm if I owned any shoes that you could wear spats over.

I hereby confer on you the status of Honorary British Person.

[twirlynoodle.livejournal.com]

Wow really? I am not worthy! Really! I can't identify more than two regional accents and have never seen an episode of Postman Pat!

All the same, thanks. :D

[veronikamg.livejournal.com]

never seen an episode of Postman Pat!

That is so sad. Postman Pat was one of my all time favourite shows as a kid. Good thing you don't know what you missed out on.

[azvolrien.livejournal.com]

*sings* Postman Pat, Postman Pat, Postman Pat and his black and white caaaat...