aging hipster
I turn thirty in a few years.
I’ve thought that every day for the past year.
I am no longer a child capable of blaming my inexperienced youth for my stupid mistakes. Now when I make mistakes, it’s me who is at fault. I can’t hide behind an idealistic and slightly inebriated perspective of the world at the age of 30.
I do not want to become an overgrown child who still believes they can pull off “irony.”
A few years ago, I promised myself that I would only allow myself to wear certain things after a certain age.
I hate to say it, but fashion is important not only in the realm of self-reflection and self-expression, but also in the perspective of others. It colors who you are to others and if I plan on being a respected adult member of society capable of a career, family, a house and children I need to be aware of the image I send out. Hell, I’m still going to send out an elitist fuck-you artsy-fartsy image, but I’m going to be grown up about the way I do it.
So here are some of the general guidelines that I created:
1) no more ill fitting clothing – When you’re younger, it’s fun to play with proportions. I mean, who doesn’t remember getting a pair of grossly baggy pants and belting them to you like you were adhering a potato sack to your body? Adults who dress that way don’t look fun loving, but sloppy and clueless. EW.
2) no more flouro – Okay, so i was a child of the 80s and as a result, I am FASCINATED by flourescent colors. If any of you have seen photoshop work, rainbow zebra print doesn’t even begin to describe my affinity for the hypercolor palatte. Wet it and it changes from white to hot pink. FUCK YEAH. But, if I saw a man -not a boy but a MAN – wear neon green pants, I’d have to shoot him and then myself. It’s just tacky after a certain age. It’s not cute.
3) no more graphic tees – I used to collect these things from vintage stores, thrift stores and flea markets. The stranger and the older the better. It’s my Japanese genetic legacy for the obscure. What can I say? But, graphic tees are synonymous with a culture that screams rebellion against the responsibilities of life. The T-shirt was iconic for James Dean and the anti-establishment sect. I’m not trying to become a republican, but why not let go of using fashion to express discontent with “the man” and use what grown-ups use to change the world. Money and Lobbyists.
I’m not saying that there aren’t exceptions to my personal guidelines above. And I would never try to dictate the personal stylings of another creative being. I mean there are people who can pull the above off at an age much higher than my age of transition. But, I’m not about to start painting my face white and wear tiny hats.
Fashion is not just about you. It’s about learning what is appropriate for the circumstance.
And I want to portray myself as a respected member of society who is not afraid to be an adult and who is capable of an intelligent conversation.
I don’t want to look like anyone who is going to hound people about the nearest coke den.
Fuck yeah. We solid.
Filed under: Faux-fur, fashion, too much thinking | 1 Comment
Tags: boys, fashion, men, quarter-life crisis, thirty
You could just go naked.
I don’t remember wearing any of those things, but then again, I became an adult in the ’80s. However, I did try the collar-up thing, which was the style at the time. I often felt quite foolish.
Nothing’s changed, though I don’t dress outlandishly.
I think it would be easier if you were a woman. Women seem to be able to express themselves through their clothing. Men, even that rare one, are unable without clear restraints. If you have money, you can wear a really really nice suit, but other than that kind of thing, we don’t have many options.
You can wear flourescent things when it’s snowing. People like pink knit caps…
And you’re not “aging” yet. Unless everyone else is, too…