The Cat’s Pyjamas

I thought this was such a cute little novelty necklace when I bought it from the chainstore (no pun intended) Hello Gorgeous. It was also cheap: $10, so I thought no harm done if I don’t wear it much.

On the first day I wore it (to the office), Amelia-Jane complimented me. “It’s the cat’s miaow*!” she said. Well, she didn’t really say that exactly, but I’m sure that’s what she meant. I looked down lovingly and then shrieked with dismay, for I saw that one of the dear little pink pompoms was gone!

I lamented and cursed alternately, even though I knew it would be easy to repair. I know it was only $10 and you get what you pay for, but it’s the principle of thing. I was indignant!

On my way home I remembered to keep my eye out for it, in case it had fallen off on my walk to work. It was bright pink, I reasoned, so it should be easy to spot. I didn’t hold out much hope though. Then to my astonishment I saw it on the stairs going up to the Shrine of Melbourne!

It was a fashion miracle, and that’s the cat’s pompoms indeed.

~

* The cat’s miaow, the cat’s pyjamas and the cat’s whiskers are all delightful slang phrases originating in the 1920s, meaning something highly sought after.

I love this snippet from Wikipedia:
“A report in the New York Times of a publicity stunt by an unknown woman in 1922, in which she paraded along 5th Avenue clad in yellow silk pajamas and accompanied by four cats similarly dressed, may indicate the phrase was already current by that date, as ‘the cat’s miaow’ certainly was.”