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Last week, I mentioned the term “fashion eccentricity” with regard to my filing all of my nails down after breaking just one. I also mentioned that everyone has them. Today’s column is going to pursue this topic a bit further so you can all ask yourselves about your own particular fashion eccentricities, and perhaps even share them with the rest of us.

Here are some that I have come to realize concerning myself and others:

Well, in addition to the one I spoke about earlier, I have other quirks, but it’s anyone’s call if they fit the term “eccentricities”. First, I hate wrinkles, so yes, I iron. Now, I’m not as bad as those who iron jeans or sheets, but certain cotton tops, if not ironed, look like rags, in my opinion. There have even been occasions when I’ve ironed–gasp-even while on vacation. (That was, until I found out about spraying stuff with a large plastic bottle that you usually use for plants. You lay the item down on a flat surface, spritz with water until the item is lightly but uniformly misted, then smooth with your hands. Repeat on the back and voila-no more wrinkles! Someone told me that a big name manufacturer produces a liquid in a bottle to be used the same way, but I doubt it does more than plain old water.)

Next, I must have an absolutely orderly closet and perfectly organized drawers. I’m a neat freak anyway, but to me, this is more of a practicality than quirk, since I usually need to find clothes quickly. Clean clothes are hung or arranged by type, with off-season garments either put away or folded on shelves. (There were occasions when I even arranged things by color or by ensemble, but since there’s so much variance, I gave that up on that.) In line with that, it seems that I’m always cleaning off shoes, but I’m not changing purses every day like in the past, dumping everything out to transfer to another; having things in 2-3 smaller holders helped.

Another eccentricity is that I try to remember is the rule of no more than 7 accessories at a time. The way this works is that a woman counts her set of wedding/engagement rings as “1”, a pair of earrings as “1”, and everything after that as a single item. (Three bracelets or necklaces would count as 3; a watch would be 1, etc.) It may be rather quirky, but does help keep a gal from being overdone.

Hmmm…other things I personally dislike are my own display of obvious panty lines and bra straps, wearing open-toed shoes without my toe nails being polished, and not wearing anything other than slacks and sweaters more than once before washing. (Once, in a ballet, another dancer admitted she’d been wearing the same tights for 6 performances without washing them; it took a great deal of self control to refrain from making a face and going “Ewww”.)

If my daughter becomes sick while wearing something, she refuses to wear it again it-even though it was never soiled and then washed 2-3 times anyway. (I’ve gained a few cool tops that way.)

I’ve worked with women who would wear high heels no matter what, who got things dry cleaned that didn’t need it, and would wear their trademark lipstick color no matter how much it clashed with their outfit. I’d say that my biggest rebellion and eccentricity against the fashion of today is that I still refuse to straighten my hair, or iron it flat. My daughter keeps referring to my thick, layered, curly hair as an afro, and now that it’s grown out to almost shoulder length, there are days where it has the potential to be the “big hair” of the ‘80’s. But that’s OK. Until it’s long enough for another major overhaul in style, I’ll accept that I’m not enjoying “sleek” styles. If God wanted everyone to have hair that rippled like a piece of silk, we’d all be blessed, but I guess he figured diversity is good.

In any event, think about your fashion eccentricities, and then embrace them for allowing them to make you a little bit more you. No fashion police will come knocking; I promise.