When Public Feedback Goes Wrong

[Sephora_Socialite]

I just learned to accept any comments, positive or negative. Many people are confused and scared of what they don't know. Clothing is something many play safe with so it's trivial to them as to why any of us want to stick out.

Lately though I've found people who are more open minded and though they do not dress the same as me, they have told me that my outfits are a pleasant change from everyone else and they want me to take them vintage shopping for key pieces (agree with you other vintage lovers that a lot are better made and also it has a story/history to it that makes me feel good to own). Most of the time I dress basic because I'm lazy for class in the morning but add on acessories, but even then I stand out due to my attention to detail of the pieces I wear.

Lately I've become more immune to the rude comments and I never stoop to their level and scoff back at them (even though I noticed they themselves have very generic trend yuck style). I simply take it with class and say "You're entitled to opinions, but I am perfectly happy with how I look and who I am, but thanks for telling me." They usually give me a shocked face because I guess they were expecting confrontation.

 

[Tudds]

Not for nothing, just because its trendy doesn't mean it looks good. I would just wear what you want and not worry about what other people think but I don't think thats the name of the game with this

 

[strawberry daiquiri]

What's funniest is when you're walking past a crowded bus-stop and get 20 stares at the same time.


When people make snide remarks I always smile... this distracts my mouth from saying something obscene

I understand that everyone has their different opinions, but sometimes it's quite clear that the person making a comment is doing so not because they've examined the item/outfit and decided it is of little aesthetic value, but because they were shown how to play spot the difference, and can't but point people out similarly.

 

[AlexN]

...I've found people who are more open minded and though they do not dress the same as me, they have told me that my outfits are a pleasant change from everyone else...

That's how it is for me. I can only recall ONE negative comment, really. I was walking across campus to class wearing all black, but with a bright yellow top under my jacket, and some guy was talking with some girl, trying to impress her, and when I walked by he was like, "Why do guys all think they have to dress like strobe lights?" Mind you, you could only see a small accent of yellow, so this comment was just totally dumb (and his outfit was brighter than mine ). And I guess he didn't think I would hear him, because when I asked him to repeat himself, he wouldn't. Just kinda looked at the girl really nervously like, "Do you still think I'm cool and tough even though I can't stand up for myself now?" I hate people like that...

 

[utopia]

When people make snide remarks I always smile... this distracts my mouth from saying something obscene

indeed taking the high road is always the most fashionable thing to do. B)

 

[saloPedantic]

I hear ya.

Is self-consciousness a mandatory trait for creatively-tinged people?

 

[SpookyGirl]

People do notice my clothes, but I don't think I get STARED at... although I don't think that wouldn't bother me.
The only thing that makes people really stare at me are my sunglasses. I love huge, weird sunglasses and I have a pretty freakish collection that I love. I've had a few times, when I'm wearing my bug-eye sunglesses, kids looking at me with this really interested look. I even had one day a kid coming near me and pointing at me like "it's a bug-woman!"

It just makes me smile...

 

[fugfashion]

i hate the staring . Some jerk at my school always has critic . He only wears expensive brands because a lot of people think that if you wear those brands you're 'à la mode' I dislike the kids at my school who look like they are still dressed by their mothers in the morning and who dare to stare at me like I haven't a (personal) style.

 

[Assembler]

I just wear what I think looks good. Everyone might be wearing it for all I know (and most likely I was first introduced to the idea by seeing someone wear it). I don't know that I have an individuall style. I'm not trying to make a statement with my clothing, though I think it's allright that others are.

I'd probably be put down for being generic or a robot by most people who considered themselves fashionable. I'm sure there are plenty of styles taht I don't like, or understand, and that I may accidentally give the stare to, and those persons may roll their eyes at me and think how above me they are that I don't understand it. But I wouldn't SAY something to them about it, that is rude. I'd also try to check my staring, ie. stop myself from staring if I catch myself doing it. For example I hate uggs, they always make people look like they're walking on the sides of their feet for some reason (the way folds develop), and yet Uggs at one time were very fashionable. And guys who wear their jeans really low, so that the crotch is at their knees, or guys who want one leg rolled up and the other down, or a jacket/sweater half on, half off.

I also realize that that's just their style. They like it. Whether they're copying someone else or not doesn't really matter, they're wearing what they think looks good, otherwise they wouldn't be wearing it. People who appear to have no interest in what they wear still probably are fine with what they're wearing but don't put importance on it. Doesn't mean that they don't have personal style, its' just perhaps not in clothing.

Sizing up someone based on what they're wearing really isn't accurate. You can dislike the style, but it doesn't make them a weirdo, a robot, a comformist, a rebel etc. It's just their clothes. Yes some people use their clothing to give a message about their personality, but others don't. Others use their clothing to cover their bodies. They may still buy designer stuff because they like the way it looks, but may care less whether its giving an accurate portrayal of who they are.

Anyway. It has been interesting reading this thread.

 

[Velouria]

I wish I had read this thread while I was still in high school. The kids at my school (who were all Abercrombie followers) would talk about my outfits "behind my back" literally. As in, I would be sitting right in front of them. It really didn't bother me though, and I guess I provided them some kind of entertainment or something. Whatever. It's nice to know other people went through this too.

 

[saloPedantic]

Assembler and SpookyGirl, I like the way you think.