The end of the homeless look... I hope?

Son_of_Atropos said:

I think there is a large misconception in society that evolution is inherently better. A comparison of golden era clothing to present day clothing is proof that evolution is not always better.

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Read what I wrote and think again. Change is the only thing that we can count on. The rest is in your mind, simply a subjective judgement call, no proof one way or other.

tonypaj said:

I do not wish an end to anything. Things will evolve, the social concepts regarding clothes and how to wear them evolve, and rightly so. All I hope is that more people could find their own true way of wearing what they wish to wear, without being judged for it, without being forced to it by peer pressure or opinions by others.

Esthetically pleasing is always pleasant, but my esthetically pleasing is different from my son's. I also see his point of view.

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As I understand your first paragraph, you wish that style was completely subjective and people could wear whatever they wanted whenever they wanted.

Example: A white tie affair and someone shows up in cutoff jeans and a polo shirt is completely acceptable.

Today, people can wear whatever they want however there are consequences for bad decisions. What is wrong with pointing out the folly of others? There still is free will.

Addendum:
In regards to your last post: Everything is not a subjective call. There are objective standards. A tuxedo is appropriate for some occasions and not others. There are rules.

zetwal said:

Either way, let's try to be tolerant of the tastes and stylistic proclivities of others. Diversity is not a threat.

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Well I appreciate the sentiment anyway!

Having read through that locked thread about the "bum" look, I am pretty sure I spend more than half my time cultivating a look that incorporates those elements Loungers might describe as sloppy, slovenly, unkempt ....unemployed (..."decadent" was personal favourite!) and so do most of the young folks I know (even some into their mid-30s). To be fair our clothes really do come from thrift stores, but I suppose the point I've seen made about the "bum" look on this forum is the atrocity of the wearer's self-awareness and intentions!

Well, I can't argue with that! But negativity toward fringe-looking people on this forum is puzzling, after all, plenty of you folks seem to get the same sorts of rude comments, dirty looks, intrusive questions, (and compliments too) about your attire as oddly shaved, pierced, and tattooed people who are intentionally wearing clothes that are stained, painted, ripped and frayed. Do you ever get asked if you are in a play! I get that both when I'm in vintage and when I'm not. Anyhow my point is you probably have more in common with homeless-looking weirdos than you may have first suspected. If one is going to make a judgment on the value of an aesthetic style, is that mostly going to depend on whether or not it expresses something similar to one's personal values? Orderliness vs chaos. I like a little of both!

Even in unexpected places. I would wear a tuxedo inappropriately!

Alexi said:

i prefer the look of true homeless people to the slobs around here. the real homeless aesthetic has a certain usefulness to it opposed to sweatpants and uggs. hell plenty of homeless guys wear suits at least.

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I laughed at that last comment, let me tell you! Although I don't recall seeing any in suits, I can remember seeing some in at least the jacket. Funny thing is, once when I saw a homeless man wearing a clean shirt and necktie, my friend commented that any guy looking that dressed up was a scam artist, and that he shouldn't get anything!

Son_of_Atropos said:

As I understand your first paragraph, you wish that style was completely subjective and people could wear whatever they wanted whenever they wanted.

Example: A white tie affair and someone shows up in cutoff jeans and a polo shirt is completely acceptable.

Today, people can wear whatever they want however there are consequences for bad decisions. What is wrong with pointing out the folly of others? There still is free will.

Addendum:
In regards to your last post: Everything is not a subjective call. There are objective standards. A tuxedo is appropriate for some occasions and not others. There are rules.

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OK. I have no interest in a "reductio ad incommodum" argument. You are correct.

Widebrim said:

I laughed at that last comment, let me tell you! Although I don't recall seeing any in suits, I can remember seeing some in at least the jacket. Funny thing is, once when I saw a homeless man wearing a clean shirt and necktie, my friend commented that any guy looking that dressed up was a scam artist, and that he shouldn't get anything!

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That is an unfortunate thing that does happen. I remember a guy in Belfast that, while living in a halfway-house kinda shelter which really was not a long term solution - really industrious guy, put himself through a law degree while selling the Big Issue and having no permanent residence beyond the shelter. He wore a leather biker jacket, Brando style - he wore the jacket because it was durable, it was his only jacket, and he found it in a charity shop for a fiver or therabouts. A lot of folks dismissed him as a scam artist because they assumed that he had spend a lot of money on that jacket..... Definitely a rock / hard place situation!

Son_of_Atropos said:

I think there is a large misconception in society that evolution is inherently better. A comparison of golden era clothing to present day clothing is proof that evolution is not always better.

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:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap


I do not follow the PC ethos that there is no right and wrong, good and bad, decent and indecent, only "different". Sloppy and slovenly dress is different from my dress, to be sure, but the last I checked, sloppy and slovenly were negative adjectives.

Well, I must say that I find a lot of truth in your theory about ecenomic depression and people dressing smart. I can see that is happening in the Netherlands. More dessy jackets, neat shirts, skirts a bit longer and lots of classic, classy wintercoats. Proper hats and gloves everywhere in the high street shops (now we have to wait till people start wearing them). So yes: people are aware that wealth doesn't last forever and that they may be in danger of losing their job, or they are on the lookout for a new job: so they dress to impress. Everyone wants to look classy and capable. Well...not everyone, but more and more people do. And people are buying less junk, but rather spend their money one something well made and classic, that will last a long time.

MisterCairo said:

:eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap


I do not follow the PC ethos that there is no right and wrong, good and bad, decent and indecent, only "different". Sloppy and slovenly dress is different from my dress, to be sure, but the last I checked, sloppy and slovenly were negative adjectives.

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The same folks who are bothered by the sloppy and slovenly look might just as easily be the ones who put down a vintage look for being too formal, pretentious, over-stylized, and so on. Loungers dress just as "differently" from the mainstream population as people who value a look of decay in their clothes

As for the dealing with the "natural" consequences of intentionally dressing like a bum, such as being rejected for jobs or social situations, well there is already a thread in the OB about a forum member who feels the exact same kind of pressure not to wear his hats and suits as I feel not to wear my kind of clothes

Most of us do it anyway, though, don't we. One might just as easily not be selected for a great opportunity in this day and age because the viewer thinks you look like a goof in a suit and fedora

I'm not sure about the sloppy dress standards but to me it seems winter brings out the better clothes in the otherwise sloppy masses. having more layers means having more to match and naturally a little more thought goes into the overall outfit.

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my personal experience with the sloppy look comes down to a pair of jeans.

I bought a pair of jeans that had a great fit. the only downside for me was that it was pre-wrinkled in areas that don't wrinkle naturally (like the shins).

I was surprised at the number of people that noticed and complimented me on my new jeans... then I got hit by a car. the license plate put a big 90º tear in the lower right leg. not wanting to part with the jeans so early on I patched and sewed with a matching thread and continued to wear them.

the number of compliments increased to almost everyone I talked to.

the jeans are now almost worn through and I'm still receiving compliments. I keep ordering new casual pants from calvin klein but the quality of the workmanship isn't up to standard (loose threads and frayed stitching)

I don't like to look like a bum but with those jeans it was a necessity

armod said:

I'm not sure about the sloppy dress standards but to me it seems winter brings out the better clothes in the otherwise sloppy masses. having more layers means having more to match and naturally a little more thought goes into the overall outfit.

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my personal experience with the sloppy look comes down to a pair of jeans.

I bought a pair of jeans that had a great fit. the only downside for me was that it was pre-wrinkled in areas that don't wrinkle naturally (like the shins).

I was surprised at the number of people that noticed and complimented me on my new jeans... then I got hit by a car. the license plate put a big 90º tear in the lower right leg. not wanting to part with the jeans so early on I patched and sewed with a matching thread and continued to wear them.

the number of compliments increased to almost everyone I talked to.

the jeans are now almost worn through and I'm still receiving compliments. I keep ordering new casual pants from calvin klein but the quality of the workmanship isn't up to standard (loose threads and frayed stitching)

I don't like to look like a bum but with those jeans it was a necessity

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Hit by car, patched up jeans, keep wearing said jeans and receive compliments with no injury.

Sounds like a foster's beer commercial for jeans.

good stuff.

The end of the homeless look... I hope?

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If homeless translates into the recent slew of vintage inspired clothes then I hope not!