Triple-Take on Redwood Road

Your Boulevardier was driving (yes, alas, in a car) down Redwood Road the other day when the farthest-left window at Kay's Bridal Boutique caught his eye. Kay's is known, of course, for the lavish displays of formal gowns in its windows; it's a splash of elegance in a stretch of road that's desperately in need of same. But on this day, something in the window looked terribly wrong; it appeared that two elegant gowns were accompanied by a third outfit made of burlap and raffia.

Upon closer inspection, to the great relief of Your Boulevardier, the third "gown" was actually a seasonal scarecrow. But his size and position gave the impression, just for a moment, of a fantastic fashion faux pas being foisted upon Castro Valley's society set.

Postscript: Upon relating this mistaken identification to mon petit chou, she laughed and asked if Your Boulevardier had seen the episode of I Love Lucy in which Lucy and Ethel, on vacation in Paris, are duped by Ricky and Fred into wearing awful creations, thinking that they are designer gowns. (Episode 147.) He had not, but he correctly guessed the story twist that would follow: that the comical couture would become the toast of the town.