Since I gave up my car (but I still rent one when I need it), and began to rely on public transit for most of my city errands, I have enjoyed a new pleasure: people-watching. Not that I didn't always watch people, but such a wonderful range is on offer each day that I have to pay more attention. Today we will begin by discussing clothes. They are, of course, much more realistic than anything you see in magazines or store windows., that is, more practical. Always when I dress now, I think of subway stairs and escalators and whether my clothes and I can handle them. The women I watch have thought this through. They wear pants, mostly: jeans or leggings or tights, seldom skirts, ah but, the skirts! Well, some have not been considered carefully enough. . Some are so short the wearer prefers to stand rather than sit down because the skirt goes up. Some of this year's skirts have a flare and the wearer has to clutch the extra cloth when she walks or rides up the escalator so the extra material won't swirl around her hips. The ideal skirt for the subway is a long black one like the Muslim women (and girls) wear, not too long (you don't want to trip on it or get it caught in a door). but with lots of material for a good stride. I bought one and it's my first item of clothing made of bamboo. It comes from Nepal and is claimed to be fair trade and the price was right and it's totally washable and doesn't need ironing. (I'm allergic to ironing.) I love it so much I wear it to dinner parties too, even when I don't go by subway.