queerbychoice | Conformist Fashion

Today's proof that I have seriously weird taste in fashion: I went shopping after work and was absolutely awestruck by this gorgeous purple outfit a woman walking just ahead of me was wearing. I did vaguely register the fact that it was extremely unconventionally cut - there was a part draped over her head that dangling down to the same length as her dress, which was in matching purple fabric, and the ends of both were cut in pointy inverted scallop shapes - but mostly I was just absolutely, well, awestruck, to the point that the only thing I could think was that I really needed to ask her where she found this fantastic amazing unbelievably gorgeous outfit, so that I could start shopping there. And I'm someone who absolutely never starts conversations with strangers. To the point where, like, if I were trapped in a burning building, I might almost have to seriously think about whether or not I really wanted to scream for help if the only people around were strangers. But I was completely in love with this woman's dress.

. . . And then, of course, I realized that it was a Halloween costume.

I hate conformist fashion! Why must people only dare to wear truly original and creative and mind-blowingly beautiful outfits one day per year?

I never did figure out what she was supposed to be. But once I figured out that it was only a one-day costume, I held a grudge against her for it and didn't want to look at her anymore.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Why must people only dare to wear truly original and creative and mind-blowingly beautiful outfits one day per year?

Hey! Some of us *do* try hard to wear fun stuff all the time! The weird thing is that yes, this does create a lot of incentives for complete strangers to talk to us. I had about five to seven total strangers (i.e., not counting the law-school-interview-related people) talk to me about my shoes this trip.

hmm. at least you got to look at cool outfits today. it was Melbourne Cup day in Australia (some stupid horse race thing that is stupid) and all I got to see was stupid hats and stupid dresses and stupid high heels on my way home from work.

stupid people and their stupid Melbourne Cup. muttermuttermumble

My tribemates and I were in a gas station a bit south of us over the weekend and had essentially this conversation. Then a carful of guys shouted something about where the party was & how cool our halloween costumes were, and we shouted back "what do you mean? we dress like this every weekend".

But of course, it's still costumes. We just wear ours a lot.

Awesome layout.

<3 Depeche Mode.

*stumbled upon your journal.

--Edina.

* also stumbled upon your journal, also kind of dig it.

And I also TOTALLY AGREE! I too pay little attention to modern fashion, because I think most clothing is rather boring. And I look forward so much to Halloween every year, not only because of the humor, but because of the beauty. And it's the one day every year I get to feel completely comfortable wearing my own mind-blowingly gorgeous dance costumes.

Most people see trends as being THE way to fit in. To fit in at work, at school, at play. They want to be seen as "in the know". They're the ones who will provide helpful comments like "I didn't know leather was still in fashion" or flat out "that's soooo last year."

These are also people who don't have a clue as to who they are and cannot possibly express themselves through their clothing. Because they don't know who they are or what looks good on them.

I'd get comments when I was working that I looked so glamourous. I wore long, full skirts, layered them. I had a gazillion of them. One lady said I looked like an albino angel. LOL!

My clothing came from Goodwill, consignment shops, and the clearance areas. I had a knack to put together unrelated items into a cohesive whole that was different, yet attractive. Or attractive, yet different.

Dance to the beat of a different drummer.

I've been browsing a magazine called "Lucky" which I don't recommend. LOL! It ended up in the recycling bin at my apartment complex, and I should have left it there. They do a lot of mixing, and none of it is particularly attractive.

But you can put together your own goodies, and not come close to paying the prices in that Lucky magazine.

Since Goodwill doesn't carry the same stuff everywhere, you're on your own there. But browse sites that have interesting clothing. Spiegel is good, check out this paisley dress:
http://www.spiegel.com/shop/product_single.aspx?style_id=14036015&index=8&gp_coll_id=5001&gp_cat_id=5002&nav_cat_id=8098&category_id=8099

Check out the Clearance area. You can search for items and you can actually search by size, so you don't waste time looking at stuff that isn't in your size. I hate that! LOL!

I refuse to pay those retail prices.

A.

Must one lack self-awareness in order not to express oneself through clothing?

My clothes are not an expression of anything. They're there because part of life is wearing clothes, and they're as boring as I can make them because I have no desire to draw attention to myself through my clothing, unless I'm in a job interview.

I would consider wearing intentionally shocking clothing in an everyday setting as nothing more than a cry for attention. Clothing is more or less akin to touchdown celebrations in football. The more flamboyant examples might fall under the banner of self-expression, but the only thing anyone seems to be expressing is, "Hey, look at me!"

Your careless implied lumping of those who don't go out of their way to dress uniquely with those who play the part of the valley girl fashion police is flawed for reasons that should be obvious to you. Don't say "most people" if you don't really mean most people.

Also, how can you pretend to know a person better than that person knows himself just because that person doens't live up to your own dress code? Somehow, I'm not convinced that my wearing plain collared or flannel shirts and expensive (but oh-so-comfortable) slacks tells you whether or not I have a good idea of where I'm going with my life.

Conformist Fashion

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Non-conformists unite (but don't conform with each other!)

Re: Non-conformists unite (but don't conform with each other!)