Given that I run a “lifestyle blog for the alternative girl” it should come as no surprise that I have little or no interest in trends or fashion. I enjoy style, but wearing things that everyone else wears just because that’s what’s on trend has never appealed to me. You can keep your chunky sandals and your aztec prints, thank you!
What I have become aware of, since I have lived through slightly over two decades of fads and trends, is how hypocritical following fashion forces people to be. Chances are if you are bona fide fashion victim (A person vulnerable to faddishness and materialism) you have mocked certain styles and went on to wear them in later years.
No hipster connotations are to be derived from the following rant; I am simply saying if you bullied or laughed at anyone for wearing certain things you have spiritually forfeited your right to wear them at all.
Here are some examples of styles I’ve worn in the past, been slagged over and then seen the very people, or very strain of people, wearing exactly that ten years later.
Converse
Oh yeah, you all love the Converse now, don’t you? But back when you could only buy them in one shop and in two colours in Dublin they “weird”. I’d never stop wearing Converse just because everyone on the street has them now, that would just be ridiculous but I still can’t help side eye folk who would have victimised people in the past for wearing those exact shoes.
They are my favourite adornment and I currently own 7 pairs, one pair of which is 9 years old. And I’m proud of that.
I was laughed at, stared at, pointed at, not just because of my fishnet top under my Emily the Strange t-shirt or my oversized combats, but mainly because of my classic black and white Chuck Taylors. I can guarantee you that everyone who took offence to my choice of Chucks over Reebok classics now owns at least one pair.
Check shirts and Leggings/Jeans
Even just a few years ago I would have heard taunts and snorts about wearing a check shirt. “Lumberjack”, “Lesbian” etc. etc. First of all, no I’m not a Lumberjack, I haven’t yet got the upper body strength, and second of all there is no uniform for being a lesbian so please don’t assume based on my choice of attire.
Of course I was an awkward teen at the time so I didn’t say anything of the sort. I’d just swear, pretend I didn’t care and contemplate never wearing that shirt again… yep, that’s what you little fashion experts do to people. You make them question their choice of comfortable clothing and render them painfully self-concious. Now though, everyone has a check shirt in their wardrobe. Are you a check shirt hypocrite? If so, throw your shirt away, you don’t deserve it.
While we’re on the subject of Check, as little as 3 years ago some indignant 15 year old chav passed comment on my red and black check jeans as I walked by her in Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. I’m currently taking bets on whether she now owns a pair herself. She most likely does.
Band Tees.
I’ve been wearing band tees since my confirmation when I finally had enough money for whatever ridiculous cost it was to buy a Led Zeppelin Tshirt in Asha in Stephen’s Green (which now has an online store, donchaknow?). I wear them because I am passionate about music above all else and because I actually listen to the bands printed on the front.
Again, if you wore these ten years ago you were a rocker or a hippie- a label, but now you can buy Nirvana Tshirts in Penneys and Forever 21. Rolling Stones tshirts can be bought for €12! Everyone is wearing them and guess what, half of them probably can’t name more than two of the songs by the band on their chest. What’s the point?! This really is a topic for a blog post on its own…
Moving on…
Parka coats
The Parka Coat; the universal symbol of the mod. I lived in a Parka in my early teens and then suddenly, everyone else was living in theirs.
I remember a friend of mine was called Zac Dingle for wearing one, which was actually hilarious, although she didn’t think so. Now who hasn’t got a parka?
Incidentally, I’ve had my eye on this one for quite some time. I swoon at the sight of an oversized hood.
These are just some of the things you could be wearing these days that you guffawed at only a few years ago; Doc Martins, skinny jeans, all black outfits, dark berry lipstick, purple lipstick. Of course, I jest, we can all wear whatever we want but deep down it does peeve me slightly that people allow fads and trends to turn them into a hypocrite.
Are you a fashion hypocrite? Maybe you think this is a whole load of nonsense? To the comments!
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