Clothing as Art
Why does Utah have no fashion sense? I swear, if the kids aren't wearing Abercrombie they're wearing Hollister or American Eagle. (I say "the kids" like I'm not really one of them, but I guess I still kind of am.) No offense to anyone who choses to wear these brands; the point I'm making is this: Where's the individuality? The creativity? The balls to make a statement?
I've been looking at street-fashion websites (many referred to in this article) and can't help but feel that our culture is lacking. Maybe I'm placing a bit too much emphasis on fashion, but in my opinion the way a person dresses says so much about them. Clothing is powerful. It can help to make you whoever you want to be. But people aren't using this tool to express themselves anymore; they're simply saying, "I don't want to be left out or--worse--stand out, so I'm just going to dress like everyone else." Even the so-called "alternative" kids (emo, punk, goth, etc.) seem to have certain dress codes that they follow--perhaps an unwritten code on how much black one is to wear or which group gets to wear nerd glasses and which wears chains.
In my business life, I live in a world of corduroy and plaid. When it comes to creativity, most engineers just don't have it. But I don't let it stop me from looking the way I want to look. I look at every outfit as a way to express myself. And even though I'm confined to the realm of "business appropriate," I can still have fun with what I wear and it can still make a statement about who I am.
What I'm saying here is don't discredit clothing as trivial or for vanity. It really is a powerful tool of self expression, and for those of us confined to a cubicle all day and too tired to do anything else, it is one of the only ways we have to make life into art.
I've been looking at street-fashion websites (many referred to in this article) and can't help but feel that our culture is lacking. Maybe I'm placing a bit too much emphasis on fashion, but in my opinion the way a person dresses says so much about them. Clothing is powerful. It can help to make you whoever you want to be. But people aren't using this tool to express themselves anymore; they're simply saying, "I don't want to be left out or--worse--stand out, so I'm just going to dress like everyone else." Even the so-called "alternative" kids (emo, punk, goth, etc.) seem to have certain dress codes that they follow--perhaps an unwritten code on how much black one is to wear or which group gets to wear nerd glasses and which wears chains.
In my business life, I live in a world of corduroy and plaid. When it comes to creativity, most engineers just don't have it. But I don't let it stop me from looking the way I want to look. I look at every outfit as a way to express myself. And even though I'm confined to the realm of "business appropriate," I can still have fun with what I wear and it can still make a statement about who I am.
What I'm saying here is don't discredit clothing as trivial or for vanity. It really is a powerful tool of self expression, and for those of us confined to a cubicle all day and too tired to do anything else, it is one of the only ways we have to make life into art.
posted by Anonymous at 9/20/2006 09:11:00 AM
8 Comments:
I think some people care more about the inside than what is on the outside, or maybe they can't afford to dress the way they want because they would rather stay home with thier children than make money so they can shop. I think everyone has thier motives for the way they dress and it doesnt always necessarity act as a dictionary to who they are.
"When it comes to creativity, most engineers just don't have it."
That is one of the most laughable comments I've seen. A more accurate sentance would be "When it comes to superficiality, most engineers just don't have it."
Do you really think these people have nothing better to do than read fashion magazines websites? Do you think engineers care about using their creativity on how they dress, or what brands they are wearing?
Engineers have to be very creative with thier work/skill.
I guess I'm coming from the other end of the picture. I am an engineer. I have hired people myself, and have been part of the hiring process. With the number of different people I have worked for/with I can tell you with certainty that for an engineer, appearance counts for NOTHING.
When I have customers that can't place orders I can't use "Well I dress nice" as an excuse.
An employee would have to be monumentally stupid to choose engineers based on their clothing.
Now, I'm not talking about personal hygene - that's a completely different story. I do need to be able to share an office.
Obviously your clothing choices become more important in different industries. Salesmen and other types of business men that are in more "social" areas do need to put more effort into their apperance.
Engineers, though... not so much.
"But if you want to be taken seriously, think about what you're putting on your body before you walk out the door."
In a work environment if you try to dress to make statement most people will NOT take you seriously. You might express yourself by the way you dress but many people don't. That doesn't mean they dont express themselves in other ways. I personally go to work to work. Accomplishing something and working hard makes me feel a lot better about myself than the statement my clothing makes to my co-workers. In the end why should I care how other people dress.
I think clothing is more about being comfortable and looking good. Some people are totally comfortable and think they look good wearing the same thing as everyone else, and that's fine. It's not a statement for them. I would have to say that if the statement is more important than personal comfort, or liking the way you look, then you aren't being true to yourself.
Fashion is all about what model you follow for 'looking good.' We all follow someone's lead, or in other words, what we see others doing and we like. On one extreme you have someone who doesn't care at all about the uniqueness of their dress, and so, gives off the impression that they are a lemming. They subscribe to the popular fashions in the mall at that time, and they think they look good. On the other end you have someone who is too concerned with being truly unique in their dress (our freakish fashion friend Jared Leto) and therefore has no true self-image.
Just do what you think looks good. That's being true to you.
I think about the fact that unfortunately you have to "act the part" to get ahead. Most people don't really care about moving up the corporate ladder. So why would you dress the part? Most people wear the same suit as the guy next to him, complacency at it's best, and that's fine for those people. But to get ahead, you have to stand out from the crowd. That is not to say that you should wear a neon suit, or shave a mohawk. But you dress well, and take confidece in yourself and you get noticed. Most people, i.e. Engineers don't care. That's not to say that some do or don't try to look nice. But Engineers are lifers. They have a skill that will be attainable not matter what. They will have a job, for the most part, no matter what they look like, or the clothing they wear. I think that is the point that Lizzen is trying to make.
And for Windy. You do subconciously care what the person is wearing for those types of things. If the doctor showed up to the Consultation before the operation in sweats and Dock shoes, I would consider him a little underqualified. I can realate to being in my Lawyers office, and thinking is this guy for real! He was, IN MY OPINION, under dressed for what I wanted him to do. The entire time I was skeptical of the preceedings, and wondered if it would even go through. It did, but I still think if he was qualified to handle it based on his appearance.
i dont really care or have the time to pay that close attention to what i wear. i dont feel the need to make a point by what im wearing...if i like it i'll put it on. what i wear is no reflection of who i am on the inside. i really dont see the point...if someone wants to know who i am they will get to know me instead of examining my closet.
Jake your totally right!
Post a Comment
<< Home