Are you ever tired of explaining why you live or dress the way you do?

[resortes805]

Vintage clothing is my schtick, I only have to explain myself when I'm dressed 'normal.'

 

[flat-top]

It's funny, but I would actually welcome someone asking me about my wardrobe/ lifestyle. I'm 99.9% positive that I am the only guy that looks like this in my town (or county for that matter). But yet, no one really says a thing to me.
I get comments and questions about my vintage and vintage style skull rings from time to time so sometimes I get to explain a little about them, but that's really it.

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

I get comments and questions about my vintage and vintage style skull rings from time to time so sometimes I get to explain a little about them, but that's really it.

Are you the Ghost Who Walks?

 

[flat-top]

Are you the Ghost Who Walks?

I feel like it sometimes

But I'm referring to rings like this:

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

I feel like it sometimes

But I'm referring to rings like this:

Now I'm convinced - you're him!

 

[Binary Blue]

Next time that happens, just say "I find that offensive, I'm Jewish". Hilarity ensues.

Will do. It'll be absolutely hilarious since I'm not even Caucasian.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

This is exactly how I feel, Lizzie. I know we've discussed that fact before. It just bothers me when people think an old-fashioned way of live if a gimmick and it's not. My brother constantly complains that society knows of nothing that happened before 1999, and he's 19. It's how we were raised and our influences. I'm a bit more adherent to old-fashioned ways than he is, but still, my whole family seems to prefer an older way of life.

I am constantly asked why I don't get with the times and I always give some response along the lines of "The Times changed, I didn't." Why should I be forced to change, if I liked the way things were before? It's a free country.

I don't think of myself as any kind of flag-waving nonconformist or alternative person -- I'm standing in the same place I've always stood, with the same values I was raised with. If the world wants to think I'm a rebel or non-conformist, that's their problem, not mine. Rebellion and non-conformity nowadays are just marketing concepts anyway.

I wonder that, too. There's a lot of things about today that just aren't my cup of tea. We can talk aesthetics, I think automobiles, appliances, furniture, architecture, clothing, etc are all lacking in style and all of them come off as terribly informal, cold, and remind me of a waiting room in a hospital.

I also find the lack of manners/morals to be ever troublesome. The things people do and say used to be kept behind closed doors, or at least only discussed with people close to you. I don't care to hear about the romantic encounters of folks I've known for 10 minutes.

Also, entertainment. Music, television, movies, and print are all lacking the glamour, class, and good writing they had once upon a time. I watched a stand-up bit with a friend, and 75% was toilet humor, 20% was bedroom humor, and the remaining 5% was legitimate comedy. The only reason people are laughing, is because of the fact that deep down, they know it's so inappropriate, they don't know how else to respond. I watched a Bob Hope special tonight and laughed way harder. Those jokes are well over 50 years old and still funny.

I wonder why anybody would want to live 24/7 in the current time period.

As for fashion, which is what I should be focusing on in the first place, I cannot believe that with all the wide variety of styles out there today, that people have such an issue with folks who dress vintage. It's nothing you haven't seen before in an old movie, so why is it more shocking than the people with umpteen tattoos and piercings?

Unless I'm going to work at the plant, I wear a fedora. I always keep my hair combed and use some sort of hair tonic, pomade, etc in it. I'm always in a collared shirt, even my closest friends have never seen me without one on. My pants, usually slacks never have serious wear/tear, unless they're worn out ones I use for yard work or working on my vehicles. I'm also the only guy (maybe one or two others) who wear a sport coat to church.

When I first moved here, I got lots of looks, lots of questions, and lots of remarks. Mostly good, but some nasty. As time went on, people got to know me and know I'm not pompous, or anything. Once people get to know the guy in the clothes, they're much more accepting. Some days, I just prefer to run errands after work, to fly under the radar, and avoid all the questions.

Another tactic I've found works, is a scowl. You just went from eccentric to Capone with a change of expressions. Anybody remember Elaine's Dad on Seinfeld? Nobody wanted to mess with that guy and he was dressed vintage.

I do also hate comments like the one I got over the phone tonight. A friend was talking about my house and told me "Yeah, you've done good with what you have, if you like the old, outdated stuff." Geez, way to tell me I live in a slum! It also bothers me when people feel they need to tell me every terrible thing about segregation, women's rights, civil rights, etc that went on in the past. Yes, those things were horrible, yes those things happened then, and yes it's wonderful that we've done away with such terrible tools of oppression. I don't wish I lived in the fifties to be some oppressive, chauvinistic, Archie Bunker of a human being. I just think my own personal existence would have been better 50-60 years ago than it is today.

Sorry to write a book here, folks.

 

[rue]

I agree with everything you wrote Tommy, but these two in particular stood out:

As for fashion, which is what I should be focusing on in the first place, I cannot believe that with all the wide variety of styles out there today, that people have such an issue with folks who dress vintage. It's nothing you haven't seen before in an old movie, so why is it more shocking than the people with umpteen tattoos and piercings?

I'd like to know too.

I do also hate comments like the one I got over the phone tonight. A friend was talking about my house and told me "Yeah, you've done good with what you have, if you like the old, outdated stuff." Geez, way to tell me I live in a slum! It also bothers me when people feel they need to tell me every terrible thing about segregation, women's rights, civil rights, etc that went on in the past. Yes, those things were horrible, yes those things happened then, and yes it's wonderful that we've done away with such terrible tools of oppression. I don't wish I lived in the fifties to be some oppressive, chauvinistic, Archie Bunker of a human being. I just think my own personal existence would have been better 50-60 years ago than it is today.

Exactly.

 

[LizzieMaine]

As for fashion, which is what I should be focusing on in the first place, I cannot believe that with all the wide variety of styles out there today, that people have such an issue with folks who dress vintage. It's nothing you haven't seen before in an old movie, so why is it more shocking than the people with umpteen tattoos and piercings?

I think some modern folk, either on a conscious or subconscious level, view it as some kind of reprimand or personal slight when people their own age reject the prevailing styles. They expect people my age to do it, because the whole point of such styles it to shock or outrage the older generation. But when somebody in their twenties isn't having any of the Modern Scene, it's a shock to their whole worldview.

 

[Weston]

For a country that values going your own way, living on your terms, we sure have a lot of folks not taking advantage of that. My own personal view is that if I want my bedroom/house to look like 1954, I'm taking personal advantage of hard won rights men and women died for. Sure it's not freedom of the press, but if you don't live free as you please, you're wasting the space here. Give it to someone who will actually value and use their freedom.

 

[rue]

I think some modern folk, either on a conscious or subconscious level, view it as some kind of reprimand or personal slight when people their own age reject the prevailing styles. They expect people my age to do it, because the whole point of such styles it to shock or outrage the older generation. But when somebody in their twenties isn't having any of the Modern Scene, it's a shock to their whole worldview.

Good point!

 

[missjo]

I turn the tables and laugh, giggle and shake my head at people who wear modern clothes.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

Maybe you're right. I just can't believe that they don't look at these styles, and think "Wow, this is not how an adult should dress." The amount of grown men in short pants, print T-shirts, and backwards baseball caps is incredible. Also, shaved heads are very popular, here. Is that just a local thing or do others see a lot of it where they are?

I think some modern folk, either on a conscious or subconscious level, view it as some kind of reprimand or personal slight when people their own age reject the prevailing styles. They expect people my age to do it, because the whole point of such styles it to shock or outrage the older generation. But when somebody in their twenties isn't having any of the Modern Scene, it's a shock to their whole worldview.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Shaved heads are fine, for those who have the shape of head for it. But if you look in the mirror and see Dr. Sivana looking back at you, maybe you might want to reassess the idea.

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

Shaved heads are fine, for those who have the shape of head for it. But if you look in the mirror and see Dr. Sivana looking back at you, maybe you might want to reassess the idea.

Better Dr S than Mr. Mind.

 

[Salty O'Rourke]

Maybe you're right. I just can't believe that they don't look at these styles, and think "Wow, this is not how an adult should dress." The amount of grown men in short pants, print T-shirts, and backwards baseball caps is incredible. Also, shaved heads are very popular, here. Is that just a local thing or do others see a lot of it where they are?

Shorts in hot weather is one thing but that backwards baseball cap business sets my teeth on edge. It's the whoopie hat of our era, carried over into adulthood (excepting Goober Pyle, I don't think too many adults sported whoopie hats).

Don't get me started on flip-flops.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

Shaved heads are fine, for those who have the shape of head for it. But if you look in the mirror and see Dr. Sivana looking back at you, maybe you might want to reassess the idea.

If my hairline retreats any further I may be faced with the choice of getting a rug or shaving my head -- no in-between for this lad!

 

[LizzieMaine]

If it was good enough for Lenin, it's good enough for you.

 

[V.C. Brunswick]

I must say that the old boy didn't look bad in a rug.

 

[LocktownDog]

I can give or take the backwards baseball cap on some of these young guys. Its the forward facing crooked cap that drive me crazy ... pointing the bill diagonally somewhere, but not directly forward. I can't watch a ball game either, if a pitcher wears his cap like that. *shudder*