This Post Is About Fashion And Style

[crankyoldman]

Because you know what? I find it interesting. Cut because I'm a dork.



Some of you have probably heard me bitch and moan and complain about the awful babydoll shirt/dress (aka, The Pregnant Look), and leggings (aka, The Makes Anyone With Any Thigh Look Fat Look) and Uggs (or WTF IS THAT). And well, most of what I see girls running around in these days. I occasionally like a somewhat Mod look, but really the only girls I've seen pull that off were Asian (or shaped like Asian girls).

My main issue with what's "in" right now is that it obliterates the female form and makes everyone look like sacks. I'm 110 lbs, 5'4". Clothes should not make me look fat, well, ever. Clearly something is wrong with the designer and their aesthetic.

And then I got sent this article.

omgomgomgomg.

I can go shopping again and not walk away DISGUSTED! I don't have to shop in petites and adjust it to fit me just so I don't have too much tootie showing! Maybe girls will stop wearing tights as pants.

I know, these sound like silly complaints, but I just cannot do jeans and a t-shirt (and if I do, there's usually a hat, crazy earrings, bangle bracelets, and a scarf involved). It's a pride and professionalism thing. It was kind of funny at work, because all the women (minus our hippie high school aged secretary, but she's young and listens to a lot of indie music) at work tended to dress up, while the guys would wear, well, anything.

I don't even endorse complete conservatism. It's great to be comfortable. But materials these days can make even the stuffiest looking thing feel fabulous. But sloppiness? Am I the only college student that cringes when they see people walking around in pajamas? Depressed people walk around in things like that (I would know, that's when my friends knew something what wrong with me, when I stopped "dressing crazy" as they put it). Sure, lounge about in whatever you want at home, just please keep it at home?

And guys, whatever happened to ties? I mean, I wear them, but that's because they are fabulous little accessories that are fun. Hell, whatever happened to wearing a jacket with your shirt? Or, god forbid, tucking it in.

You don't have to be a soulless robot to dress "professionally". I'm just sick of seeing boobs pushed up to chins and pants being WAY too tight because they are two sizes too small. Embrace your feminine figure, those of you with booty! You can wear things that I really wish I looked good in!

And guys? Pull up your damn pants up before I pull them down. Really. It's called a belt. It was made to keep your pants up. Same thing goes for when I can see thong straps or a tramp stamp on a girl.

I've actually seen a leeetle of the shift in things. I kind of love Isaac Mizrahi stuff at Target, because even during this sort of fashion schizophrenia that's been going on, he keeps a few things around that are classy. Like this dress I wish I had the money and an excuse to buy. Or this one, because the inspiration for both is kind of obvious.

I don't mean to rant or suddenly sound like, ah, a fashionista. And typically I'm a little shy to want to talk about these kinds of things outside, well, costuming. But I love design in all forms, and clothing is just personal design, wearable art in a way. Not surprisingly I have issues with garish pop art (except comics, because well, it's needed there sometimes). And well, interior decorating in the 80s (I just watched Wall Street, suffice to say, I don't care how hot the main chick was, if I were that guy, I wouldn't have let her decorate my apartment).

Oh, and I think celebrities are probably some of the worst culprits of being unable to dress themselves (except Diane Keeton, I kind of adore how she dresses, I mean, the woman wore a tuxedo to the Oscar's before! Ironically, they keep putting her on the worst dressed list. I think this is because they are jealous. This is my theory.)

But we get over-exposed to celebrity enough. XD I won't go there.

I guess it goes back to a lot of conversations that drakonlily and I have about sexuality, or we think old erotic photographs were beautiful, while Playboy these days is really sad and boring. Sometimes what is sexy and attractive is... the mystery, you know? Not showing it all. Sev's slutty stage costume actually adheres to this adage a little, ha ha. Self-respect, I guess, is the main thing that gets me. Compare the look on Bettie Page's face to Paris Hilton's. Very different!

I keep having to stop myself from pulling aside these eighteen/nineteen year olds I live with and wanting to shake them and tell them their clothes don't fit! Most clothing companies in department stores have slowly been inflating the sizes anyway. Really. Trying to trick you into thinking you're smaller than you are. Go find something vintage. Chances are, you'll be a larger size.

Enough of that. Though, this rant did remind me that I had some stuff to donate for Dress For Success (one of my favorite charities, when I have a job I'll prolly end up volunteering for them).

I guess this is proof I'm a girl. Or a gay man inside. XD

~Cendri

Comments

[lassarina]

My mother is very much about the classic look (all my suits are from Talbot's.) Most of my business clothes fall into that mode, but I do really like the "sleek" look that I see some of the women at work wearing - not skanky and O HAI I HAZ BOOBS but more like very closely fitted pants (without being obviously too small) and clingy sweaters. The other day I put on a nice snug black top and black jeans, and I felt great. Less like I was hiding behind my enormous comfy sweaters.

I look at all the prostitots running around the malls and I never dressed like that when I was thirteen, sixteen, twenty, or twenty-five.

(Also, word on the matter of thongs/tramp stamps.)

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Well, there's sleek and then there's cutting off circulation. I tend to like my pants fitted closely, but that's because I have decent legs. XD

To be honest, I have just as much problems with people wearing TOO BULKY of clothes, like my mom has a tendency to do (except when she dresses up, but my mom's slightly agoraphobic, so that's not often) because it doesn't hide anything! It makes it worse!

That's what we've got to teach kids, moreso than what's cool. How to find stuff that fits and ignore the silly size tag as anything other than a marker. Depending on what part of my body I'm dressing, I'm anywhere from a 2 to an 8. Sizing is illusion with the exception of designer clothes, but who can afford that? XD

~Cendri

[lassarina]

Well, I'm currently using clothing sizes as a rough guide of where I want to be - I have suits that are size 6, and my goal is for them to fit me well by May (also when I plan to go to ACen and tramp around in a wig and bikini as Valvalicia, so you can see the point of my goal!) Right now most of what I buy is size 10. So it's a reasonable goal.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Even with the size inflation that's been going on (because it has, in an attempt to get you to buy more) that is reasonable.

~Cendri

[lassarina]

Basically I do not want to be that chick that people look at and go "oh my God how dare she wear a bathing suit without a cover-up." And granted, I mean, it's not like I jiggle everywhere when I walk or anything like that, but I'm flabby and I don't like it. I'd like to fit back into my old clothes. At this point I can put on my size 8's and zip them, but they still are a little bit uncomfortably snug. So it's progress!

[wallwalker.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I'm one of the fashion impaired, partially because it seems like nothing fits me. Nothing that I can afford, anyway. I'll try things on and try things on and end up feeling so depressed that I just stop trying things on, and buy another version of the old standby just so I can have something to wear.

It's a shame - I'd like to be a better dresser, if only I was more patient/had the money and time to shop properly. (I think that was part of the reason why "What Not To Wear" got on my nerves. Of course anyone can look good if they're given thousands of dollars to buy clothes at expensive designer shops. What about a show that teaches people to shop for clothes and makeup and hair care and whatnot within their usual means?) It's a little better now that I've lost weight, but it's still not easy.

That said, yes, I do go out in a t-shirt (or more commonly a sweatshirt) and jeans on my days off, but lately I've been at least trying to dress up a bit more, at least a little. But things being the way they are, it's difficult. (And while I do think that the dresses and such in the article that you linked are quite attractive, I simply do not think that they would suit me. Even when I was borderline-anorexic back in high school and weighed less than was strictly healthy, I've never been that lithe and thin.) Fashion, for me, is a code that I just cannot seem to crack, which explains why I didn't care about it for such a long time.

That's just my two cents, though, and maybe I'm missing something obvious. I don't know.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Well, I have nothing against jeans and a t-shirt, and if that's all within your means? Awesome.

But there is a sort of "wardrobe depression" that some people seem to be going through, which is kind of saddening. Or the opposite, which is the "on the trend!" regardless of whether or not they should be showing that much booty.

And anything I link to, well, it's stuff that will suit me. I'm short and thin. The short part gives me some trouble (because they design for my weight, but about a foot TALLER, insane). Which is why I'm learning to sew a little (usually my mom would alter stuff for me) so I can steal stuff from the petites section.

Admittedly, I'm more from the Tim Gunn School of Fashion, which actually does take into account income (even if the poor man got talked into a What Not To Wear style show for a while, you could tell he was uncomfortable. XD) and focuses on basics. I'm hardly a person of great means, it's taken me a good five years to build up a professional wardrobe that I feel comfortable in. Such is the problem of being a student.

Now, I've no idea what you look like, and it sounds like you are not The Ideal Designer Size (for that matter, I'm not either, I usually have to adjust things). Which is probably what 99% of women are.

And actually your whole "old standby" mindset isn't actually a bad one. But instead of what your standbys are exactly, try looking at things that are close, but not quite. One of my biggest transitions was from sweatshirts to sweaters/cardigans. I though they would be less warm (I hate cold) but they really weren't.

Or accessories. You'd be surprised what a fake silk scarf can do for a t-shirt. To be honest, I've learn that fashion is not what you wear as much as how. Some basics look good on just about everyone (i.e. a white button up shirt... I have about five of varying sleeve lengths).

But hey, if you ever want advice or something, I'd be glad to help you "decipher the code" ^^ I was a fair bit depressed for a good year, and one of the things that helped me out of it the most was forcing myself to put on clothes in the morning that weren't schlumpy. To take a few minutes on my appearance (though I still never wear makeup or brush my hair much, but short hair doesn't always need to be brushed). So that's where my interest came from. I don't give a rat's ass about trends, unless it means there's a likelihood of things I like being available (like the stuff in the article) more than something silly (like leggings! WHOSE IDEA WAS THAT?)

Just drop me an email at viniel (at) gmail (dot) com and we can chat, if you want. You're probably not missing anything, just maybe need a poke. XD

~Cendri

[astralavator.livejournal.com]

I always end up buying a size bigger than I'm because there is shrinking to consider.

While I have little sense of style (as I usual thrown one whatever is clean) and such is was really interesting to read as it's different for me.

[t3h-w0lfy.livejournal.com]

I think everyone has an inner gay man.
Mine occasionally tells me that wearing a pink silk shirt (hand-me-down from my grandma) is a good idea.
Or that I'd look real cute if I wore my pirate bandanna as a neckerchief.
(That one actually wasn't so bad, but silk shirts don't breathe. Not fun.)

Being a high school kid with no job and almost no money, my style needs are really different from what yours are, since I don't have to deal with professional wear and stuff yet. Though I did have to get some blazers and slacks for Model UN.

I think UGG boots are an excuse for the stupid girls at my school to wear miniskirts and shorts longer into the winter. Really.

I really don't have any problem with leggings, provided you wear something long over the leggings, like a skirt or a dress or something that covers your thighs. I've seen people make them look rather nice.
And I've got a pretty cute babydoll dress. But I've got a pretty thin waist, and decent legs. It's just the middle part that's the problem -- tummy, thighs -- so it fits well on top and then the bottom flares out just enough so that it hides my problem areas. But I've definitely seen people where it doesn't work. I definitely think people need to figure out more of what works for them.
Like back when the bubble dresses were super-popular. Ugh. Disgusting.

[drakonlily.livejournal.com]

Hee I like that dress. I need less booty ruff though. And don't have to tell me twice. I blame jean makers!! If it fits my bottom and thighs my TUMMY SWIMS.

I clearly need more belts. Or a warmer climate for to wear cute dresses.

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

Are you onliiiine? Cause I am.

~Cendri

[tijuana-pirate.livejournal.com]

Actually, I was in a vintage shop today and thought of you. I bought a very pretty chinese dress (http://www.designerexposure.com/images/products/20774_1_large.jpg). Mine is all floral patterns with black, red, orange, and gold. Of course, I did buy it for a costume party tomorrow (It's pirates vs. ninjas theme and so I opted for 'femme fatale ninja'). Still, it's fun to wander into places like that and pick up lovely things that you know no one else will have. ^^

ps, you forgot my personal bane of existence: the dreaded bug-eye glasses (http://www1.istockphoto.com/file_thumbview_approve/1306153/2/istockphoto_1306153_bug_eye_glasses.jpg)! I cringe every time I see them.

-T. pirate

[venefica-aura.livejournal.com]

If you wear a female fedora with it, you could look like a character right out of Lust, Caution (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lust,_Caution_(2007_film)). Which I want to see badly.

~Cendri