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The word on the street in Juneau these days is conservation. We're all trying our best to use as little electricity as possible, mostly because we don't want to pay for it. All aspects of our lives are affected, especially fashion.

Our post-avalanche summer fashions feature the "natural" look. Clothes dryers and irons use a lot of electricity, so the wrinkled look is all the rage. Rumpled is definitely in. And now that our mayor wants us to conserve water as well, even our washing machines sit idle. Plan to wear that pair of pants two or three times before throwing them in the wash. And when you finally do the laundry, don't expect your clean clothes to stay that way. They'll soon get covered with soot when you hang them in front of the wood stove that's replacing your electric heat for the duration. Hopefully no one will notice those pesky black flecks - the lights are off, right?

For some, electricity-free clothing causes real hardship. Professionals feel the pain the most. Grimy, wrinkled white collars are generally frowned upon in the well-heeled workplace. Professionals face a unique dilemma at this time. They either wash and press their clothes as usual and risk being ostracized by the community for excessive electricity use, or they wear wrinkled clothing and wind-dried hair to work, causing them to feel shame and low self-esteem. Sadly, no federal aid is available for the resulting mental anguish. Evidently a fashion disaster does not qualify for emergency relief. But take heart, men. You can still wear your neckties with pride - no washing or ironing required. Women, this has got to be the first time you've ever envied him that noose around his neck, right?

For the rest of us, used to dressing a bit more casually, shall we say, the current situation brings with it a surprising sense of freedom. Suddenly our wrinkled clothes and damp hair speak not of laziness and short cuts, but of community spirit and conservation. Hey, it's the first time in my life I've been in fashion.

Peggy McKee Barnhill

Juneau