Do you dress eccentrically?

[fashion.fashoff]

I'm not sure that attention seeking is necessarily part of this ... I think sometimes it is just that the person feels a deep need to express themselves externally. And something that gets a lot of attention is what comes out.

yes that is how i feel about what i wear. if anything, i dislike attention. i have been accused of being stuck-up, but that's not really true, i am pretty introverted, quiet, and observant, which i know people mistake for stuck-up or snobby and came make some of my friends feel uncomfortable.
i think gius mentioned earlier that introversion seems to be a common trait of ppl who wear "avant-garde" clothes--perhaps a visual and more passive style of self-expression in favor of active, direct conversation or communication.
btw when i said "they don't understand", i didn't mean it in a stuck-up or judgmental way, i should probably have phrased that better... although when somebody wearing hole-ridden sweatpants and a mismatched hoodie makes a snide judgment remark about my outfit, i admit it is hard for me not to say something rude or feel some sense of superiority.

 

[gius]

who are they?^

 

[gius]

i agree.. gasolinerainbow..i think people do seek those things, the need to at least feel accepted/welcome by other people but it doesn't mean they are looking for it when they dress in such a way

there are other places to feel welcome
like if you have a certain talent, it is enough someone likes your work
or knowing someone thinks you're clever, or you have good taste etc.

 

[GasolineRainbow]

^Ah, but I really didn't mean to implicate you, F.F, in what I wrote about not understanding. You just gave me food for thought.

...perhaps a visual and more passive style of self-expression in favor of active, direct conversation or communication.

Well-said, F.F and also Gius. This is what I tried to say about attention-seeking; sharing your self-expression in some way, whether it's active and loud, or passive and visual. Needing a certain dose of attention (or is it affirmation?) is not pathological save for extreme cases; it's actually very human. It's like with actors. Some are extroverts, but you would be surprised by how many are extreme introverts. Yet they chose a profession that is all about buoyant expression and being the center of attention. That is their particular outlet or 'vehicle', as avant garde style may be for others.

 

[gius]

i found this interesting post in the dressing eccentric thread

by an extrovert this time

I am an extrovert by nature, but the joy of dressing myself up (look at my signature) made me an introvert, because how people deride and slightly exclude me (just inevitable at this age). I concur that in order to dress eccentrically or at least unique, you need to break away from the norm, which means you ought not have too many friends/social butterfly is a no-no. I think this way because I deem people's clothing choices are strongly affected/influenced by their peers/social group. Psychologically, humans just conforms for no reason, even we do not want to, but we subconscious-ly and automatically will once we have a social group. Eccentric style means the wearer is also a kook on the inside, which means the person is not a popular choice amongst people.

I hope what I am saying makes sense....

 

[stellachiara]

^They are 2 young fashion designers from Slovenia, Europe. This design duo owns label called Mem Couture. They're creating some mixture of prêt-à-porter and haute couture fashion. Google it, they have few interesting pieces.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ That does make sense ... however ... I think we're talking here about someone whose sense of self would keep them from conforming regardless. There are people who conform, and then there are people who express themselves ... it's a continuum, but I still think the difference between the two is pretty clear.

Sometimes I have helped my friends shop, so in that case their style may have crept a bit closer to mine ... but I have had extremely low maintenance friends, and it had no effect on me (or them). I was traveling once with a friend who wore no makeup as a rule, and a typical outfit would be a t-shirt & khakis (and admittedly there isn't a whole lot more available in her size). She made a snide remark or two about how long it took me to get ready, and I said, "Have I ever made a comment about the fact that you are low maintenance?" She admitted I had not, and I said, "OK then, let's not have the fact that I am medium maintenance become a topic of conversation." And that was that.

So ... I think people in general do have a tendency to conform, but people with a strong sense of style (including those with avant garde style) are not going to conform to a point that their style is obliterated. I imagine it's because they have a strong personality to match. Even when I interview, you can see my style ... and I read in O magazine that that's a good thing

 

[Petit Lucille]

i also think not everyone needs/seeks/wants attention and are always part of a group as fashionista-ta and ff. moreover if we think these people are introverts!!
fashion.fashoff: thank you, that is very nice to hear from you! i was going to mention you. i too hate attention and am pretty introverted, quiet, and observant, sometimes toooo much, and i always get people without talking to them, so i end up being like a 1800's maid (i don't talk unless i'm spoken to). i don't sacrifice my style in order to please anybody, it's just a matter of tolerance: i am not when people cross the line and THE TEMPER comes out when people on the street think that because you are wearing a superman t-shirt they shall scream that name, so i try to wear it with something on top or something that would tone it down a bit, but i'm still wearing it. for example, the other day, some pavement workers yelled at me and i kicked a cone so, i try to hear music very loud and tone a bit down for me and society's sake. unfortunately, gasoline, i do mind when people stare or talk or yell or whatever (unless they stare only at my shoes!!!), because i want to be left alone, and people should mind their own business. i don't mind if they glance or double check, but more than that.. it bothers me, although i am awfully nice when people are polite about it (when i grew up I realise i have to think i'm a movie star- they are have to understand the adience's urge to make contact). i might feel i'm crazy, but when i don't do this, i make people feel bad.
gasoline, i said when people say they love it but wouldn't wear it and mean it, like a friend of mine that genuinely loves some of my clothes, even tries it on and take pictures of herself in them but would never wear it because she "doesn't have the guts". just like her, i'm sure most people are and if they weren't society would be a better place they'd say what they want regardless what someone else might think, etc..

man, that was a long post

 

[gius]

it's interesting to hear you tone it down sometimes ...

fashion.fashoff do you the same?


do both of you walk to where you need to go?
drive?
or take transit

 

[fashionista-ta]

Petit Lucille, that's funny about the Superman t-shirt Some of my favorite t-shirts of the past have been interesting conversation starters, like the Timberland "Let's Give Racism the Boot" T, and one with Norman Rockwell's "We Can Do It" Rosie the Riveter poster (I met someone who knew the real Rosie wearing that one ).

I too am an introvert, but not as much as you I have to be careful when choosing my clothes ... or maybe this is more how it was in the past ... but I remember sometimes I would choose something to cheer myself up (like a long bright orange dress), forgetting how much attention it would get--which I completely wasn't in the mood for

 

[dumbfairy]

I like seeing someone with a personality strong enough to pull off truly out-there clothes (like the CdG 'extra hands' pieces). You are never gonna see that at Wal-mart

I finally found the photo I was looking for:

seaofshoes.typepad.com

I think I managed to have a dream about avante garde last night as I woke up this morning and had all these images running through my mind of Gareth Pugh,his earlier work especially.

 

[fashionista-ta]

^ Love that ... I don't remember that piece, but I like it the best of all I've seen. And it makes me think, I could wear that ... although I am curvier, so maybe not

I love it, avant garde dreams ...

 

[Petit Lucille]

what is an avant-garde dream??
gius, i walk and take bus and subway to everywhere that's why it's important to take music loud, after finding the divice again i started wearing more things that were left out before. my superman t-shirt has a cape included
and fashionista-ta reminded me that i take into consideration three things when i'm dressing: the wheather (cause i have no blood pressure) , where i'm going (this could mean tone it down, according to the place, because there are places that are a bit dangerous and i'd try to blend in as much as possible) and the mood!! (if i don't feel like puting up with anything i won't wear anything out there cause i'll end up yelling myself)
and in a way, i would like to believe that dressing weirdly would make people don't talk or stare at you because they are afraid, but i guess i have a friendly face
colouring your hair doesn't make the trick either a woman once asked me if my BRIGHT BLUE hair was natural

 

[Petit Lucille]

oh and member jane loves mark is to me a great avant-garde dresser. and with those amazing shoes to go with it!!

 

[fashionista-ta]

a woman once asked me if my BRIGHT BLUE hair was natural

Well there was that blue man on Oprah

 

[fashion.fashoff]

Well there was that blue man on Oprah

and plavalaguna from the 5th element...tho that wasn't hair, just blue hoses and a large blue protrusion on the back of the head

 

[fashionista-ta]

I read something in a decorating book that made me think of this thread ... "Self-awareness inevitably leads to self-expression."

 

[fashionista-ta]

thesartorialist

I've only ever seen black ... love how it coordinates with the shirt.

 

[designerleather]

I finally found the photo I was looking for:

seaofshoes.typepad.com

I think I managed to have a dream about avante garde last night as I woke up this morning and had all these images running through my mind of Gareth Pugh,his earlier work especially.

That is such a cool piece. Thanks for finding it.

When I think Avant Garde, I think the 80s, as well as I also think Alexander McQueen.

Categorizations are always open to interpretation and shifting opinons

 

[fashionista-ta]

Btw, Lynn Yaeger has an article in the current Vogue that includes pictures of her.