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]

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!