Oh wait, I better put up a picture of a white girl too, or someone might think I’m racist.
Britney Spears. Thank you for helping me prove a point. This is fashion gone terribly wrong. People do anything to stand out.
The things we wear make us stand out more than anything (other than a shaved head). We spend way too much money on clothes because we pride ourselves on looking better than everyone else. Why do we spend so much time, energy, and money on the way we look?
Then there is the opposite group of people who choose to stand out by dressing frumpy. What causes these people to stop caring about how they present themselves in public?
Our style says a lot about us. So many stereotypes are created from what we wear and how we look.
21 comments:
Why do we have to be different? Maybe its because we want to be a leader. Maybe we want to start the next big thing. We want so desperately to accomplish something, to be someone worthwhile, to be an influencer, to be able to say "I started that," that we'll do anything. I think its an insecurity thing. We aren't comfortable enough with who we are that we try to exert some sort of control over others--over what they are wearing. But being able to get others to follow our advice based on our character and not our chic, hip clothing would be a much better indicator of who we are and the type of influence we have over others.
I think people find a need to be different because they want to be unique. Of course we all have similar characteristics, but I think when people try so hard to look different they just join another group without thinking about it. We have a need to be ourselves, but sometimes it goes way to far to prove a point.
Fashion is a way to show off one's creativity, individuality, and attitude. Everyone feels differently about fashion, but I know I always like to change up my look. One day I might wear a t-shirt and the next day I might dress up for class. I always love looking my best for church on sundays. Different occasions call for different dress codes, and it is up to the individual to decide how they want to express themselves.
to me the need to be different is because when everything is the same it gets boring. this is why I buy new clothes it is not because I want the new style I am just tired of wearing the same things over and over again.
If everyone wore the same thing I would feel like a clone in an emotionless world.
There are so many people in this world and all of them are so different and but I think sometimes the only way to show those differences is to dress in a way that represents your individuality. People need recognition and I think dressing differently is a means of gaining that. Personally, I have a strong interest in fashion and I love dressing in a way that I feel portrays a little bit of my personality.
I really think that dressing is an important way of expressing yourself. Glee was all about it last night. Its part of you. It makes up your identity.
The problem is that there is no definition of "normal" or even "fashionable." The way we dress is one way to express ourselves. I agree that there is an overblown emphasis on our outward appearance, but that is how we present ourselves to those around us. Clothing provides a vehicle to illustrate our personalities and values to the people around us.
I find it completely ironic that people try to be different in order to stand out-- if everyone tries to be different to stand out, then no one is really being different, are they? But for those who truly believe they are making a statement with their clothes or hair (whether good or bad), I think it's because they want people to know that they do not care what others think of them.
I think that the people who dress like that do it because it invites a sort of intrigue. Lady gaga is one of the most interesting people out there and that is because of her odd fashion and personality. Her strangeness makes people want to find out more.
I like your point about how people strive to find their own look. I know from personal experience many people usually look to others to inspire their own personal fashion preferences, which in the end seem to be formed almost like cooking; a bit of this, a bit of that, dash of long hair, smidge of those shoes etc. I find it ironic that by doing this, few people have a really "unique" look. But, I confess I don't really understand fashion so...progress goes on I suppose.
I think that we construct what is normal and in fashion by what we think. Why does a certain thing seem fashionable and another not. most fashions are created by kids that are trying to be different. I show off my personality by what I wear even though I'm most often not stylish or fashionable by the world's standards and I don't buy expensive clothes.
Who decides what is normal? Who decides what is different? For a girl who is raised in one culture normal might be what a girl in a different culture considers extreme. We talk about American culture like it is all the same. Is that really true? Look at LDS culture for instance. Normal dress and style is conservative, meaning all body parts are covered from shoulder to the knee. Talk to someone from a different culture, say someone who grew up in a hot, humid, place who does not have the same standards of dress as LDS people do, and normal is a spaghetti strap or tank top and short shorts. It is all about the perspective of the person and how they were raised and socialized.
As for "extreme" hair or dressing styles, it once again comes down to culture beliefs and socialization. People either try to fit in, consciously or unconsciously, or they try to go against the norm. All of that depends on the culture a person is in.
well you said so yourself that the way look says so much about us and that is generally how people get their first impressions of us. So if someone wants to express themselves and wants others to know what they are really like just by looking at them naturally they would portray that through what they wear and how they style their hair. I agree that there are too many people that take it to the extreme and make themselves look almost ridiculous instead of expressive and individualistic but props to them for being daring enough to do so.
I think people want to be different because we have inside of us a desire to be individual and independent. I think also we want to be the one to set a trend or stand out. Our society has come to a point that we celebrate difference, and more and more the more different something is, the better (look at Lady Gaga).
I don't feel my style has to be different from everyone else. In fact, I think most people look at what other people are wearing and try to conform to the norm. You can see this with different majors at BYU. Different majors dress different ways. But some people do try to break the norm, and I think they simply want to be different. More power to them I say. I would be a boring place if we all bought normal affordable clothes. Take Lady GaGa for example. She dresses crazy! And because of that people are fascinated by her and what she is going to put on next.
I think people want to be different, but if you go too far down that path there is a fear of being too different from others, therefore not being accepted. People want to reflect who they are in their fashion choices at the same time as reflecting trends of times in their outfits, not an easy task.
I think many people (especially celebrities, like you pointed out) want to be different in order to get press and get people attention. I think this is especially the case for Britney Spears, but I don't think Rihanna, and many others necessarily have that intention. Perhaps this is who they really are, and they are just expressing it like they always have. I'm glad we don't all look the same, that people strive to be different because if we were all cookie cutters of the same image the world would be a lot less colorful, more boring. Yes, many people dress to prove a point or to get attention, but we all do a lot of things, subconsciously for the same purpose.
I think the interesting thing is that when people make the effort to stand out they end up looking the same as their other like-minded counterparts. For example, the goth look is supposed to be rebellious and nonconforming, but there tends to be a huge group of these people everywhere you go. and they all look the same.
Our society is growing in so many ways with new inventions coming about very frequently and this has fostered a belief that the newest, most unique thing is best. Because of this cultural belief, we all feel a sense of trying to prove ourselves as the newest, most unique person and some people choose to portray their originality through fashion.
People like to be unique, to know that they are special. Some can only do that by looking like an idiot, but I guess that just makes me look that much better.
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