My Views On Non-Fashion or Anti-Fashion in a Fashion Conscious World
As I dive into this project I can anticipate people's reactions. I can just hear them muttering, "I could never wear it to work." Or "I can't believe she's not wearing a bra." Or "Never wear those colors together."
I've been fascinated by what people wear and why my whole life. I've taken college classes and sewing classes and art design classes. What it all boils down to is your spirit likes to wear certain things, whether they are age appropriate, office appropriate, classroom appropriate or not.
When I first starting buying fabric for sewing classes way back in Jr. High school in the 1970's I noticed something right away. I prefer bright wild crazy fabrics. That's just the way I'm wired.
Recently on Tumblr a young woman wrote a long list of wardrobe must haves. Very few of her must have list applied to my lifestyle. Right off the bat I'd scratch off jeans. I haven't worn a pair of jeans since about 1978. It's become the uniform of modern times. (Jeans and a t-shirt). I'm all for repurposing clothing out of old jeans, and plan to show some examples of that.
Recently I was going to take a blacksmithing class and the teacher said to wear jeans. So I went to buy a pair and couldn't find any that fit anyway, not even in the men's department. Guess jeans and I are not meant to be together.
I do like denim though. Just use it in something other than jeans.
Another item on her list was a white button down shirt. WHITE! I can't keep white clean for 10 minutes much less 10 hours. I did buy a white lace shirt, and ended up tie-dyeing it red, white and blue.
Everything on her list was neutral and bland. I'm all for solids. It does help to have a few neutrals to go with that wild tiger skirt or polka dot blouse. But her wardrobe choices sounded more like something someone working in a courthouse would wear. Of course we all have our own tastes. I'm pretty sure I'd make those Holllywood worst dressed lists if I was a celebrity.
I did have my color professionally done and for the most part I agree. I'm a winter if you were wondering. But for spiritual dressing, if a color is healing to you and speaking to you (you witches will know what I mean) then by all means get it into your wardrobe somewhere. Most of the color theory really only applies to what colors are going to do to the skin tones on your face anyway. If you love mustard yellow for example, just don't wear it near your face.
Oh and about the bra thing. I've kept an eye on medical studies that say wearing a bra cuts the circulation and may be a contributing factor to breast cancer. So maybe we should have burned them and gotten on with our lives. I rarely wear one. I don't find boobs to be obscene or anything. And I have an odd fondness for breathing.
Some of my rules for fashion are below:
1. Matching everything is a disease. I call it 'matchipoo sickness'.
2. Symetricallity is the antithesis of fashion. I read that somewhere. In other words, clothing that is different on the right side that the left is more interesting fashion wise. Like those grecian necklines that only have one shoulder.
3. Throw the rules out the window. Say you are 50. Too old to wear mini skirts they say. Legs too fat. And so on. Assume you only live once (even that is debatable). Are you going to die with an unfulfilled desire to wear fishnet stockings, a mini dress and heels? Today is your day. It's not their day and they don't get to tell you what to wear. I hate those fashion TV reality shows where they stop the person on the street and offer a free make-over. They don't live your life. What makes them assume they can cut your hair short and dye it blonde and that will work for you? Some of the people they stop look amazing and have gone to great lengths to define their own style. They are mavericks.
4. Pattern mixing is okay. It's hard to be bored while wearing stripes and polka dots. It does take some finesse. All the tones might have to match. For example, all muted greens, but different patterns.
5. Let nature influence you. One of my favorite skirts was red and purple. A friend casually said to me one day, "Oh my mother would have had a fit. You never wear red and purple together." I thought, "How odd." We all get handed down some pretty strange color rules in life. If there is a painting you love, or a bird or garden setting that appeals to you, why not use those colors in your next outfit? As far as red and purple, rubies and amethyst look great together.
6. Don't be afraid of color. And if it's overcast, wear at least one bright thing, even if it's just a rose in your lapel.
7. Be wary of hair dye. It can screw up your whole color scheme. Especially if your skin has pink undertones and your hair dye has orange undertones. And watch out for lipstick too. It can shift in color. My favorite red lipstick photographs orange. I need to go find a new lipstick with a blue undertone.
8. Do the opposite. Most of us get stuck in a rut of wearing the same colors we love over and over. Or the same cut of blouse or length of skirt. Shuffle the deck and slip in some things that are not in your comfort zone.
9. Don't hide just because you are fat. I made that mistake for years. Your life is ticking away, so put on something you love, and go out and make life worth living. If other people don't want to look at you, that's their problem.
10. If you are going to wear a name on your clothing, wear your own name and promote your own life. If a company wants me to sport their logo or banner, they'd better be cutting me in on the profits.
More tips soon.
I've been fascinated by what people wear and why my whole life. I've taken college classes and sewing classes and art design classes. What it all boils down to is your spirit likes to wear certain things, whether they are age appropriate, office appropriate, classroom appropriate or not.
When I first starting buying fabric for sewing classes way back in Jr. High school in the 1970's I noticed something right away. I prefer bright wild crazy fabrics. That's just the way I'm wired.
Recently on Tumblr a young woman wrote a long list of wardrobe must haves. Very few of her must have list applied to my lifestyle. Right off the bat I'd scratch off jeans. I haven't worn a pair of jeans since about 1978. It's become the uniform of modern times. (Jeans and a t-shirt). I'm all for repurposing clothing out of old jeans, and plan to show some examples of that.
Recently I was going to take a blacksmithing class and the teacher said to wear jeans. So I went to buy a pair and couldn't find any that fit anyway, not even in the men's department. Guess jeans and I are not meant to be together.
I do like denim though. Just use it in something other than jeans.
Another item on her list was a white button down shirt. WHITE! I can't keep white clean for 10 minutes much less 10 hours. I did buy a white lace shirt, and ended up tie-dyeing it red, white and blue.
Everything on her list was neutral and bland. I'm all for solids. It does help to have a few neutrals to go with that wild tiger skirt or polka dot blouse. But her wardrobe choices sounded more like something someone working in a courthouse would wear. Of course we all have our own tastes. I'm pretty sure I'd make those Holllywood worst dressed lists if I was a celebrity.
I did have my color professionally done and for the most part I agree. I'm a winter if you were wondering. But for spiritual dressing, if a color is healing to you and speaking to you (you witches will know what I mean) then by all means get it into your wardrobe somewhere. Most of the color theory really only applies to what colors are going to do to the skin tones on your face anyway. If you love mustard yellow for example, just don't wear it near your face.
Oh and about the bra thing. I've kept an eye on medical studies that say wearing a bra cuts the circulation and may be a contributing factor to breast cancer. So maybe we should have burned them and gotten on with our lives. I rarely wear one. I don't find boobs to be obscene or anything. And I have an odd fondness for breathing.
Some of my rules for fashion are below:
1. Matching everything is a disease. I call it 'matchipoo sickness'.
2. Symetricallity is the antithesis of fashion. I read that somewhere. In other words, clothing that is different on the right side that the left is more interesting fashion wise. Like those grecian necklines that only have one shoulder.
3. Throw the rules out the window. Say you are 50. Too old to wear mini skirts they say. Legs too fat. And so on. Assume you only live once (even that is debatable). Are you going to die with an unfulfilled desire to wear fishnet stockings, a mini dress and heels? Today is your day. It's not their day and they don't get to tell you what to wear. I hate those fashion TV reality shows where they stop the person on the street and offer a free make-over. They don't live your life. What makes them assume they can cut your hair short and dye it blonde and that will work for you? Some of the people they stop look amazing and have gone to great lengths to define their own style. They are mavericks.
4. Pattern mixing is okay. It's hard to be bored while wearing stripes and polka dots. It does take some finesse. All the tones might have to match. For example, all muted greens, but different patterns.
5. Let nature influence you. One of my favorite skirts was red and purple. A friend casually said to me one day, "Oh my mother would have had a fit. You never wear red and purple together." I thought, "How odd." We all get handed down some pretty strange color rules in life. If there is a painting you love, or a bird or garden setting that appeals to you, why not use those colors in your next outfit? As far as red and purple, rubies and amethyst look great together.
6. Don't be afraid of color. And if it's overcast, wear at least one bright thing, even if it's just a rose in your lapel.
7. Be wary of hair dye. It can screw up your whole color scheme. Especially if your skin has pink undertones and your hair dye has orange undertones. And watch out for lipstick too. It can shift in color. My favorite red lipstick photographs orange. I need to go find a new lipstick with a blue undertone.
8. Do the opposite. Most of us get stuck in a rut of wearing the same colors we love over and over. Or the same cut of blouse or length of skirt. Shuffle the deck and slip in some things that are not in your comfort zone.
9. Don't hide just because you are fat. I made that mistake for years. Your life is ticking away, so put on something you love, and go out and make life worth living. If other people don't want to look at you, that's their problem.
10. If you are going to wear a name on your clothing, wear your own name and promote your own life. If a company wants me to sport their logo or banner, they'd better be cutting me in on the profits.
More tips soon.
