How to avoid looking like emo / rockabilly / scene ???

[cecil]

Since the original post was made almost two years ago, I'm curious to know how Goldfish's wardrobe is today?? What kinds of pieces have you bought for your closet Goldfish?? Are you still having problems finding clothing you like, that's affordable, and has a vintage look? [huh]

fftopic: Rockabilly is a very interesting culture. In the culture there are a lot of subcultures. It's unfortunate that people only think of rockabilly as girls wearing cherry print halter dresses with bright red streaks in their black hair with "bettie bangs" and victory rolls, wearing "stripper heels". lol That's just a subculture of rockabilly but doesn't represent the whole culture.

I want to know this too!

fftopic: Sounds like pretty much every other "alt." subculture. You could say the same thing about goth or punk, really. Unless you've actually been a part of it you could be forgiven for generalising.

 

[sixsexsix]

also I feel old, whenever some one says emo my mind immediately jumps to Rites of Spring, Embrace and Jawbreaker. When exactly did emo loose the hardcore?

i was wondering the same thing...lol

 

[mike]

Emo is pop culture brought on by Hot Topics being opened in every mall across the USA in the mid to late 90's. I'm going to remain positive and say that punk rock never truly became pop culture. That probably isn't entirely accurate, I'm just not admitting to it. It bugs me to no end seeing kids and jocks with faux-hawks and tattoos. I grew up feeling completely like an outcast when I was growing up with a mohawk and the Germs scrawled across my jacket.

Similarly, I remembering watching A Clockwork Orange and thinking how crazy it was that the mom had a multicolored wig but wasn't into a subculture. Now looking back, is it any different to have dime-a-dozen pop culture people with tattoos and facial piercings? Not at all. It would be amazing to send them back 15 years to be made fun of and called a freak by their prior selves.

 

[Lady Day]

I get what youre saying, Mike. They didnt earn it.

LD

 

[mike]

I get what youre saying, Mike. They didnt earn it.

LD

Or really appreciate it. It's just what people do today, so they follow the herd. They will look back and laugh at pictures of themselves today just as they look back further and laugh at pictures of themselves in Z Cavaricci's and flipped hair.

To quote the great poet, Lux Interior, "People Ain't No Good."

 

[23SkidooWithYou]

What we wear and why we wear it is such a fascinating subject to "unravel", if you will.

Thinking of Punk, although the culture was a youthful protest of mainstream establishment (thought, action, music and fashion), I seem to recall another reason for some of the fashions. Socioeconomics. If you couldn't compete with rich kids whose Dad's footed the bill for the latest and best of everything, you did what you could with what you had. Creativity out of necessity.

Apply that evolution to vintage. I know a lot of us here love the history of the era as much as the clothing and accessories themselves. However, there are "vintage" people who started buying vintage because it's what they could afford (think broke college gal and thrift shop bargains). Again, creativity out of necessity.

It's ironic to me that elements of both punk and vintage have influenced modern day designers...who ultimately influence the public. They have the power to christen any subculture look "mainstream" which eventually trickles down to the local mall. Sad, but true. I think that's sometimes how a new generation ends up adopting a "look" without ever realizing WHY that look exists or where it came from. (As you guys said, they didn't earn it.)

So, back to the original topic. How does anyone avoid looking like a trend when the trend is living off the back of the real deal? Hmmm...could be tricky.

As so many have said, I guess the best way is to really feel great wearing it. Know what compliments you and add personal touches. In other words, "Own It". Beyond that, if someone mistakes you for Emo or Rockabilly, what can you do?

fftopic: Mike...I do giggle when I see a gaggle of teens indistiguishable amongst a sea of black. In my day, we were goth or punk or whatever and the music was a little different. For a moment I'm tempted to ask if they've ever been to a hardcore show but I'm afraid they'd think I was talking about porn. lol