The New Shag

While being shown my soon-to-be new condo, I mentioned that I did not care for the shag carpeting. Subsequently, I was informed that the carpeting was frieze, not shag. However, having survived the 70’s and shag carpeting in almost every bright color imaginable, I knew the carpet I was viewing was nothing more than conservative shag.

Conservative is something with which I'm quite familiar. I grew up in a conservative home, attended a conservative church, and received much of my education from conservative teachers in conservative private schools. What I learned over the years was that other people were like us, just much more colorful.

While we wore plain clothes that covered almost everything with the exception of our bare faces, “others” wore pretty creations found in department stores. They wore short stockings, patent leather shoes, and decorated themselves with various kinds of baubles.

Conservative 1943

Others 1943*

While searching the Internet this week, I ran across an advertisement that confirmed I was right. My carpet is exactly what I thought. The advertisement read: “Frieze Carpet The New Shag.”

Frieze Carpet 2014

Shag Carpet circa 1970

No, I have not learned to like this carpet. It is now on my project list for “when my ship comes in."

*Girls playing by Esther Bubly on History in Photos