Dear Ann Landers,
Please, please, help a teen-age girl who is about to flip out. I had three dates this past weekend-one Friday night, one Saturday night, and a skating date Sunday afternoon. I need to know where a trend ends and nuttiness begins. I am talking about boys who are getting more girlish by the day. One boy asked to use my compact three times during the evening so he could comb his hair. He had a big wave in front and, I am not sure, but I think there were bobby pins holding it. My Saturday night date wore a jacket that was so fancy it looked like a girl's. I felt uncomfortable when he showed up in it, but I didn't say anything. The kid who took me out Sunday afternoon wore a shirt with a ruffled collar and cuffs. I thought it was his mother's. When I asked where he got it, he said it belonged to his brother. I couldn't afford to get anything as nifty as this, he announced. The pants are getting tighter and the hair is getting longer and the clothes are get-ting fancier. Do boys want to be girls or what? Please tell me. I am beginning to wonder what all this means.-Miss?????

Dear Miss,
Marshall McLuhan says clothes these days are not clothes but costumes. People are dressing for the roles they play. I believe he has a message. The more bizarre the outfit, the more desperate the "actor." Well-balanced individuals are 212 not compelled to do everything short of set their hair on fire to attract attention. And for those who have already reached for your ballpoints to tell this square old lady what's "in," save your stamps. I know what's in, and I wouldn't wear some of the so-called in styles to a skunk rassle.