Fashion Trends/Faux Pas'... What do you dislike?

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The quote from The Devil Wears Prada

Well, that pretty much says it all right there, doesn't it?

For two reasons:

- On the list of movies I'd be LEAST likely to have seen, that one's about six of them;

- I do admit to questioning the objectivity of taking a quote meant to describe the fashion industry from a movie that is ABOUT that very thing. Still, I guess there's no such thing as objectivity in this case.

I do still maintain my position, though, that doing things like wearing sports material is not the same thing as dressing up in fancy clothes for the catwalk circuit and all that. I still believe that the purpose of high fashion, as most of us understand it, is to dress alike, to be equally fancy, to impress people. Sports fans don't do that. We're not obsessed with the clothes in the same sense. We wear it for a specific purpose: to express support for a team, or an athlete on that team. I still believe that this makes a difference. Unless you're trying to get into an exclusive club, or black tie affair, that requires fancy clothes, or your job requires you to wear it, then what is the purpose of dressing fancy in general?

 

[An Officer]

I guess if you're invited somewhere fancy, you don't want to be rude to your host by turning up like a hobo. You don't have to be fancy all the time, but you need to be appropriate for each situation, so as not to draw negative attention to yourself or slight anybody. An interview is one situation, a wedding is another, etc, etc. If you do not have access to fancy, that's one thing, but if you do, it's only polite to make an effort. And when it comes to opportunities, your livelihood or even marital status could be on the line, if you want an extreme example.

 

[Kestra]

Unless you're trying to get into an exclusive club, or black tie affair, that requires fancy clothes, or your job requires you to wear it, then what is the purpose of dressing fancy in general?

To feel pretty. And to look pretty. But I think the thing you're missing is that fashion isn't about a bunch of people wearing identical "fancy clothes" to get together and talk smack about people who don't dress like them. Fashion can mean a thousand different things, but you're taking a very narrow view of it here.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Of course I'm taking a narrow view! It's what I do best!

I know I shouldn't, but it's a hard habit to break.

And that's another thing about it. I generally can't afford super nice clothes. I'm lucky if I can get a Yankees or Mets T-shirt.

 

[Kestra]

^ Of course I'm taking a narrow view! It's what I do best!

It's not something to be proud of, though. It's like you're aware of it but fine continuing along with the same narrow views.

And that's another thing about it. I generally can't afford super nice clothes. I'm lucky if I can get a Yankees or Mets T-shirt.

Fashion doesn't have to be expensive. Some does, but not all. Looking nice definitely does not have to be expensive. It takes patience and creativity.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ It is easy to do one thing though: shave my head every morning. THAT is part of what I do to look nice. I look like crap with hair. Which is why I no longer have any. (counting on 6 years now)

I dearly hope *baldness* isn't a trend that anybody dislikes. (Actually if it's a trend I have no idea. I didn't do it for that reason though...)

 

[thestrangequark]

I do still maintain my position, though, that doing things like wearing sports material is not the same thing as dressing up in fancy clothes for the catwalk circuit and all that. I still believe that the purpose of high fashion, as most of us understand it, is to dress alike, to be equally fancy, to impress people. Sports fans don't do that. We're not obsessed with the clothes in the same sense. We wear it for a specific purpose: to express support for a team, or an athlete on that team. I still believe that this makes a difference. Unless you're trying to get into an exclusive club, or black tie affair, that requires fancy clothes, or your job requires you to wear it, then what is the purpose of dressing fancy in general?

So it's cool for you to be obsessed with a sports team, but if some one likes fashion he or she automatically becomes Sheeple?

You're not only being hypocritical, you're missing the point entirely. And the point is, there is no point. Why does there have to be? Fashion is pointless, useless, and uniquely and definitively human for that very reason. All the greatest things in life are upon first glance useless: art, music, fiction, fashion, cuisine, sports. We provide our own purpose for these things. For some people the point of fashion is indeed to be a part of a specific crowd and/or to make a statement (exactly like you and your sports shirts, you're just identifying yourself as a Yankees fan rather than a yachts club member or a debutant or one of the high school It Crowd), for some it is to show off, for me it's a daily opportunity to have a little fun and flex my creative muscles. People are expert at giving purpose to useless things and making them perhaps the most important things in our lives. You do it with baseball, I do it with painting, everyone here does it with television. So stop being so judgemental! Holding oneself above fashion is just as bad as the fashionista holding herself above everyone else!

 

[T'Mar]

I'm 5'0 and 98 lbs, so I tend to wear whatever I can find that fits and isn't in the juniors section. If I can be "fashion-forward" (thank you, Project Runway) then great, but beggars can't be choosers and if the slightly out of style on sale shirt at Anne Taylor fits me with no alterations necessary, I'm buying it.

My pet peeve is when the younger generations (you youngins! In my day...) don't realize when they're wearing a fashion that is a RETURN of an old fashion, like recent re-emergence of 1980s clothes. (Why? WHY??) I saw on a message board once some 13 year old talking about a cartoon character and how ahead of the times she was because she had on big clunky jewelry and leggings. And I thought...er, no, she is actually slightly BEHIND the times because she was first designed in the early to mid 1990s and the animators were taking their fashion tips from the 1980s.

And then I felt old.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And the point is, there is no point. Why does there have to be?

I guess it's because I've spent most of my life believing that there must be a point, a reason, for everything.

Holding oneself above fashion is just as bad as the fashionista holding herself above everyone else!

I suppose you're right. And despite how it may have appeared, I never intended to cause harm. Not only did I have the wrong opinion, I said it the wrong way...I do apologize.

 

[thestrangequark]

^No need to apologize -- I don't think anyone's feelings were hurt or anything. I was just making a point -- or lack of a point.

 

[RJDiogenes]

And the point is, there is no point. Why does there have to be?

I guess it's because I've spent most of my life believing that there must be a point, a reason, for everything.

Ars gratia artis. No reason that can't apply to fashion design as well as anything else.

 

[iguana_tonante]

The quote from The Devil Wears Prada

Well, that pretty much says it all right there, doesn't it?

Well, he is a man of wealth and taste.

- I do admit to questioning the objectivity of taking a quote meant to describe the fashion industry from a movie that is ABOUT that very thing. Still, I guess there's no such thing as objectivity in this case.

Then there is hope for you.

Unless you're trying to get into an exclusive club, or black tie affair, that requires fancy clothes, or your job requires you to wear it, then what is the purpose of dressing fancy in general?

I guess it's because I've spent most of my life believing that there must be a point, a reason, for everything.

Then, what is the purpose of being a sports fan? Let me guess, because it's fun. Sports, fashion, tv show, cuisine, art: it's all about the same thing.

You're not only being hypocritical, you're missing the point entirely. And the point is, there is no point. Why does there have to be? Fashion is pointless, useless, and uniquely and definitively human for that very reason. All the greatest things in life are upon first glance useless: art, music, fiction, fashion, cuisine, sports. We provide our own purpose for these things. For some people the point of fashion is indeed to be a part of a specific crowd and/or to make a statement (exactly like you and your sports shirts, you're just identifying yourself as a Yankees fan rather than a yachts club member or a debutant or one of the high school It Crowd), for some it is to show off, for me it's a daily opportunity to have a little fun and flex my creative muscles. People are expert at giving purpose to useless things and making them perhaps the most important things in our lives. You do it with baseball, I do it with painting, everyone here does it with television. So stop being so judgemental! Holding oneself above fashion is just as bad as the fashionista holding herself above everyone else!

Well, tsq said it best.

 

[Trekker4747]

And the point is, there is no point. Why does there have to be?

I guess it's because I've spent most of my life believing that there must be a point, a reason, for everything.

Considerable evidence to the contrary.

 

[RoJoHen]

Some things just aren't important enough to have reasons.

 

[Holdfast]

Some things just aren't important enough to have reasons.

Or too important to need them.

 

[thestrangequark]

Some things just aren't important enough to have reasons.

Or too important to need them.

YES!

There's the reason I love you so much!

 

[Holdfast]

Some things just aren't important enough to have reasons.

Or too important to need them.

YES!

There's the reason I love you so much!

I'm a complicated man...

 

[MetalPants]

There's the reason I love you so much!

I'm a complicated man...

You're a bad mutha...

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

^ Shut yo' mouth!

 

[MetalPants]

But I'm just talkin' about Holdfast.