Wednesday, 19 June 2013

One man's trash and the classification of fash


So I Checked out the Camberwell markets on Sunday. Basically they are a massive garage sale, people selling clothes, shoes, art and knick knacks or various vintages and qualities.
 Macklemore's song Thrift Shop has empowered me to say I'm actually quite a fan of second hand goods.  Some people get weird about buying someone else's stuff and well, yes, there are a few things that you just can't buy second hand, like runners, and underwear...and shower curtains. Or cheese.  However, the sneaky second hand steals including bright blouses and blazers hang up pretty spiffy against the newies in my wardrobe, and the fact that I got them for a fraction of the price and am ‘recycling’ puts a whole different coat on things.

That being said, I don't have a huge wardrobe. Monday to Friday consists of shorts and sneakers, so any opportunity to dress up is super exciting, especially since I was institutionalised (read brainwashed into having no style) at uniform schools for 13 years, so it means that every day in real life can bring on "mufti day angst" (plain clothes day I think some call it)
I am no fashion guru, just someone who has been through a lot of dis-dress in shops, in front of mirrors, friends and cameras, and am leaning my lessons, so here are a few theories.
How people dress usually involves a process in order to either be comfortable, classy or compile an 'outfit' rather than just wearing clothes.
There different methods people use when it comes to how they get dressed, and I have classified several categories that most people can fall into.

Wardrobus-practicalus have been known to grab whatever is clean, cool or comfortable.
Fashionitsus-impressionatus can be found carefully constructing an outfit based around a central piece or style. They often have great wardrobes and are much better shoppers. (Than practicalus)
Revealingtightumcheapus characteristically takes a little longer to get dressed because they are wearing such tight clothing and its hard to squeeze into, and they also are taking mirror selfies at the same time.
And finally, a category which I often fall into:  
Indecicivus-insecureus, who spend about 13 min thinking about what to wear, call or txt 2 people to ask what they are wearing, try on 4 different things, whinge and turn their head sideways for about 20 mins, stop for a bit to dance around in underwear, choose an outfit, go to the bathroom before leaving and change their mind again, to go back to put on something else, probably what they started with, or settling for the old favourites.

By doing this process the casualties are strewn on the floor and then become clothes that get neglected and ignored. Sometimes I wear something just because I feel sorry for it, or have made it a priority to wear 'that top' this week to prove to myself that I do NEED to keep it even though it hasn't been out for a year.
I apologised to my jeans this summer because even the thought of wearing something on my legs in 40degree heat brought out the sweats, and now it's winter, I gingerly touch my summer dresses hanging in my wardrobe and promise them "One day, one day the sun will shine"

Oooh… I’m getting all hung up.

I guess the Camberwell market and the people and dogs flocking to it are evidence how “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Let’s hope us Indecicivus-insecureus can get over the sadness of missing clothes and mufti day angst  to look past the clothes, and find the treasures in the wearer’s smile, rather than their style.

Jj

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