Style Talk
Yesterday, sugarmommaless and I had brief but neat discussion about style, what draws us in and what turns us off. In terms of my own style, I've long been drawn to the bold. Anyone who's been clothes shopping with me knows that I will immediately gravitate towards pieces in bright colours or in stark contrasting patterns. I tend to want dress in a way that will stand out a little. I began cultivating said style in early adolescence, despite being a shy and desperately timid. I've since shed much (but not all) of my young-girl insecurity so that now I'd say that my style matches, rather than belies my personality. Yet I'm still intrigued by style choices that are somehow contradictory or incongruous. A person who pairs tight, fuck-me leather, with tortoise shell librarian's glasses. A diaphanous ball gown with chunky boots. The most delicate lace bustier that's visiable under a crisp masculine-shirt. I love seeing outfits like that -- first, because they're fun but also because they're a visual reminder that bookishness (or glamour or masculinity) does not negate sexiness (or strength or feminity). All of the characteristics can co-exist as facets of the same outfit and/or person in a very cool way.
I also love to see people with a touch of whimsy to their style. Friends like hardcormier's Brainslie, tinkerspink and sugarmommaless herself are all friends who seem to consistently be having fun with their clothes, hair, personal grooming, etc. I have fun looking at them -- in a way that's not as creepy and stalker-y as it sounds. I enjoy asking people about their various wardrobe items and hearing the enthusiastic re-telling of how they came to own that piece. I enjoy people who really like their new haircut/style/colour. One of my favourite moments at bruiseblue's wedding was when she showed-off her fabulous, sparkly Mary Janes. Those were the kind of shoes one would pick for their wedding ensemble because she loved them above all other shoes.
The genesis for yesterday's conversation was a woman sugarmommaless saw on the bus, who according to her description was groomed and attired to fashion magazine perfection. Generally speaking, I don't care for that. When I see in-real-life women, walking down an in-real-life street decked-out in their straight-from-the-pages-of-Elle-Magazine finest, there's a brief, harsh moment of judgement. It goes, 'That person has no sense of themself.' I know that some, maybe most people don't care about clothes or grooming beyond: clean, quick and comfortable. Which doesn't bother me. In the case of my friends, we're talking about thougtful, creative people who express it in way that don't involve their clothes.. What does irk me is the idea that someone would invest so much time and enery cultivating an outward appearance that's has nothing to do with their personal preferences. For me, true style has little to do with copycating and everything to do with personal flair.
It's just dawned on me that I've automatically limited this entire train of thought to women and how we groom ourselves. I'll have to think more about why this might be.
I'm curious as to what others think, both the guys and the girls. Do you have aesthetic preferences when it comes to style? Do you have a personal style? If so, how would you define it? What influences it? Do you you want to tell me why my contempt for die-hard trend-followers is unfair? I look forward to reading
I also love to see people with a touch of whimsy to their style. Friends like hardcormier's Brainslie, tinkerspink and sugarmommaless herself are all friends who seem to consistently be having fun with their clothes, hair, personal grooming, etc. I have fun looking at them -- in a way that's not as creepy and stalker-y as it sounds. I enjoy asking people about their various wardrobe items and hearing the enthusiastic re-telling of how they came to own that piece. I enjoy people who really like their new haircut/style/colour. One of my favourite moments at bruiseblue's wedding was when she showed-off her fabulous, sparkly Mary Janes. Those were the kind of shoes one would pick for their wedding ensemble because she loved them above all other shoes.
The genesis for yesterday's conversation was a woman sugarmommaless saw on the bus, who according to her description was groomed and attired to fashion magazine perfection. Generally speaking, I don't care for that. When I see in-real-life women, walking down an in-real-life street decked-out in their straight-from-the-pages-of-Elle-Magazine finest, there's a brief, harsh moment of judgement. It goes, 'That person has no sense of themself.' I know that some, maybe most people don't care about clothes or grooming beyond: clean, quick and comfortable. Which doesn't bother me. In the case of my friends, we're talking about thougtful, creative people who express it in way that don't involve their clothes.. What does irk me is the idea that someone would invest so much time and enery cultivating an outward appearance that's has nothing to do with their personal preferences. For me, true style has little to do with copycating and everything to do with personal flair.
It's just dawned on me that I've automatically limited this entire train of thought to women and how we groom ourselves. I'll have to think more about why this might be.
I'm curious as to what others think, both the guys and the girls. Do you have aesthetic preferences when it comes to style? Do you have a personal style? If so, how would you define it? What influences it? Do you you want to tell me why my contempt for die-hard trend-followers is unfair? I look forward to reading