Criticism or just plain Hypocrisy? Year End Review.
I just totally realized that I'm so excited for the neon, hightop shoes, members only jackets, mustache'd men, headbands, and over all crazy personal branding of 2008 to end. I love the hipster look as much as the next cool kid but there were some seriously over played trends this year that carried over from 2007. I know I'm sounding like Carles again, but I just gotta get this shit off my chest.
Notice how he personifies all that the current hipster of N.America envies/strives to look like. He's even ditched skinny pants for leggings. That's commitment. He's taking his look to the next level by bending gender-specific garments. And then there's the red wayfarer glasses. Much like the current electro scene, it's a throw back to/takes heavy inspiration from 80s pop culture. It's nostalgia!!
Am I just upset that my boyfriend doesn't own a jacket like this? I'm going to have to admit: I made Jonathan try on a faux leather hipster jacket from H&M once upon a time. As soon as he put it on I felt guilty. I felt guilty because not only was I actively trying to dress him in a style that doesn't suit him, but I tried to mold him into the perfect alternative accessory.
Without knowing it, I attempted to justify my coolness through how cool my significant other looked, essentially extending my own personal brand through him. So why would that make me feel guilty? I realize now that what I unconsciously did was to try to validate myself in the "Scene" through someone else. Ultimately, if I was successful, I would have been using Jonathan for personal social gain. I would have used his personal brand to give weight to MY personal brand in the hopes of being "cooler than thou."
What does this say about who I was? Have I even grown since then? I think the apprehension I'm feeling toward hipsters/the scene in general comes from being burned by the whole thing in the past. I haven't been to the "alternative dance club" in Windsor for several months, totaling 6 months or more for several reasons, of them include the occasional appearances of some exes.
But what does all of this mean? So what if I know what's cool, or what (music)trends are in now, or can accurately forecast what's coming up (2009 = new-disco). Am I growing out of my H&M brown polyurethane-members-only-jacket? Am I just jealous that I can't mature my sense of style yet because I lack the money to look my age, effortlessly styled, and generally naturally fabulous? Am I sick of the desperate loneliness that prevails at clubs? Am I just growing out of it but have yet to find the social group that reflects where I am in life at the moment (also known as Happy)? If everyone around me is dressed rocker-chic pared with high-top Nikes who am I to deviate with a Marc by Marc Jacobs ensemble with appropriate accessories that add to, not detract, from the general look?
Why is my LJ ranting about how I am over old trends but can't help but feel attached and tied down by them?
Over the last year I have found that it isn't what you're about, what social circles you're in or what message you're trying to broadcast about yourself, it's about what you do, what line of study/work you do and what you contribute to society as a whole. I know: SHOCKER. But that's the lesson I learned this year. I didn't look nearly as great as I wanted to this summer/school semester. During the summer I wore utilitarian clothes that, albeit, were adorable and consisted primarily of AA shirts and GAP shorts and the occasional dress, and during school I looked like a mess due to my messy studio classes and, without exaggeration, sever lack of time. But during that time of utilitarian clothes and messy yet presentable studio wear I accomplished a great deal. I finished and released a video game, survived 5 studio courses with a potential B+ average, managed VAS and held down a rather awesome job.
So what am I trying to say?! Am I sick of fast food and fast people? Can I now catch onto the gimmick before it gets a hold of me? Am I now able to see through the veneer of shiny pleather and 80s inspired clothes to see that I am wasting my time and can be more productive elsewhere and with another social group? Is alternative fashion the only redeemable/interesting thing about a person anymore? I no longer know where I stand on this issue. I laugh at hipster fashion but secretly wish my look was that strong. I'm happy with myself yet hate that I've gained 10 pounds over the semester ruling out a myriad of clothing choices/half my wardrobe.
All of 2008 has been about what I wore and how it made me feel in some way or another. I have been trying to desperately find my own niche in a social group. My New Years resolution for 2009 is to be authentic to my own sense of self and continue to work at creating a successful life. Whether I get a real leather members-only jacket or I reset my wardrobe completely, it'll be for me and not with the suppressed hope that I fit in somewhere. I fit into Jonathan's arms and that's the only niche I'm particularly interested in fitting in.
Notice how he personifies all that the current hipster of N.America envies/strives to look like. He's even ditched skinny pants for leggings. That's commitment. He's taking his look to the next level by bending gender-specific garments. And then there's the red wayfarer glasses. Much like the current electro scene, it's a throw back to/takes heavy inspiration from 80s pop culture. It's nostalgia!!
Am I just upset that my boyfriend doesn't own a jacket like this? I'm going to have to admit: I made Jonathan try on a faux leather hipster jacket from H&M once upon a time. As soon as he put it on I felt guilty. I felt guilty because not only was I actively trying to dress him in a style that doesn't suit him, but I tried to mold him into the perfect alternative accessory.
Without knowing it, I attempted to justify my coolness through how cool my significant other looked, essentially extending my own personal brand through him. So why would that make me feel guilty? I realize now that what I unconsciously did was to try to validate myself in the "Scene" through someone else. Ultimately, if I was successful, I would have been using Jonathan for personal social gain. I would have used his personal brand to give weight to MY personal brand in the hopes of being "cooler than thou."
What does this say about who I was? Have I even grown since then? I think the apprehension I'm feeling toward hipsters/the scene in general comes from being burned by the whole thing in the past. I haven't been to the "alternative dance club" in Windsor for several months, totaling 6 months or more for several reasons, of them include the occasional appearances of some exes.
But what does all of this mean? So what if I know what's cool, or what (music)trends are in now, or can accurately forecast what's coming up (2009 = new-disco). Am I growing out of my H&M brown polyurethane-members-only-jacket? Am I just jealous that I can't mature my sense of style yet because I lack the money to look my age, effortlessly styled, and generally naturally fabulous? Am I sick of the desperate loneliness that prevails at clubs? Am I just growing out of it but have yet to find the social group that reflects where I am in life at the moment (also known as Happy)? If everyone around me is dressed rocker-chic pared with high-top Nikes who am I to deviate with a Marc by Marc Jacobs ensemble with appropriate accessories that add to, not detract, from the general look?
Why is my LJ ranting about how I am over old trends but can't help but feel attached and tied down by them?
Over the last year I have found that it isn't what you're about, what social circles you're in or what message you're trying to broadcast about yourself, it's about what you do, what line of study/work you do and what you contribute to society as a whole. I know: SHOCKER. But that's the lesson I learned this year. I didn't look nearly as great as I wanted to this summer/school semester. During the summer I wore utilitarian clothes that, albeit, were adorable and consisted primarily of AA shirts and GAP shorts and the occasional dress, and during school I looked like a mess due to my messy studio classes and, without exaggeration, sever lack of time. But during that time of utilitarian clothes and messy yet presentable studio wear I accomplished a great deal. I finished and released a video game, survived 5 studio courses with a potential B+ average, managed VAS and held down a rather awesome job.
So what am I trying to say?! Am I sick of fast food and fast people? Can I now catch onto the gimmick before it gets a hold of me? Am I now able to see through the veneer of shiny pleather and 80s inspired clothes to see that I am wasting my time and can be more productive elsewhere and with another social group? Is alternative fashion the only redeemable/interesting thing about a person anymore? I no longer know where I stand on this issue. I laugh at hipster fashion but secretly wish my look was that strong. I'm happy with myself yet hate that I've gained 10 pounds over the semester ruling out a myriad of clothing choices/half my wardrobe.
All of 2008 has been about what I wore and how it made me feel in some way or another. I have been trying to desperately find my own niche in a social group. My New Years resolution for 2009 is to be authentic to my own sense of self and continue to work at creating a successful life. Whether I get a real leather members-only jacket or I reset my wardrobe completely, it'll be for me and not with the suppressed hope that I fit in somewhere. I fit into Jonathan's arms and that's the only niche I'm particularly interested in fitting in.