The mundane attire of Vancouverites

[Drake Wingfire]

I can agree with you there, you can find some nice stuff almost anywhere depending on what you are looking for.

I am still not sure if I fully understand your question, really the first impression I want people to have of me is by my attitude and what I am talking about, not what I wear lol. Im sure as long as you are not wearing filthy clothes with all sorts of rips and holes in them (not the lame trendy worn clothes, I mean legitimate worn) then I don't think it will have much bearing on the issue. But if pressed I would have to say the only impression I go for is that I am simply clean lol like if I am going to an interview, I put on a decent sweater or long shirt, some of my bland black pants. Thats about as fancy as I go really lol. But day to day I am hoodies, cargo pants/ dress pants (simply cause I have more dress pants than cargos due to previous jobs sadly) not really picky, as long as it fits good, isn't baggy or too tight and is comfortable I am happy. color wise I am a real red and black sorta guy I guess, im just a sucker for those colors, but I will wear just about any color lol

[Tef]

I guess the reason why I'm sorta oblivious to the mundanity of colours in fall/winter fashion is because I'm not a fan of wearing loud colours myself.

[Selkit]

Eh, bugger this notion of trendy dress; I'm wearing a purple shirt and black pants. Why? Because I bloody well can! Blame H&M and other faux-culture warehouses for the rest. :P

[Renwaldo]

I can agree with you there, you can find some nice stuff almost anywhere depending on what you are looking for.

I am still not sure if I fully understand your question, really the first impression I want people to have of me is by my attitude and what I am talking about, not what I wear lol. Im sure as long as you are not wearing filthy clothes with all sorts of rips and holes in them (not the lame trendy worn clothes, I mean legitimate worn) then I don't think it will have much bearing on the issue. But if pressed I would have to say the only impression I go for is that I am simply clean lol like if I am going to an interview, I put on a decent sweater or long shirt, some of my bland black pants. Thats about as fancy as I go really lol. But day to day I am hoodies, cargo pants/ dress pants (simply cause I have more dress pants than cargos due to previous jobs sadly) not really picky, as long as it fits good, isn't baggy or too tight and is comfortable I am happy. color wise I am a real red and black sorta guy I guess, im just a sucker for those colors, but I will wear just about any color lol

From the second they look at you people are already judging you. Everybody passes judgement on each others aesthetic, before you open your mouth to greet someone they're already sizing you up. I was asking what you want people to think about you upon the first meeting in that split second before the, "Hello, my name is [anonymous], it is a pleasure to meet you!"  :3

Perhaps you are right though, and you don't put much thought at all into what you wear.  :-X

[Drake Wingfire]

From the second they look at you people are already judging you. Everybody passes judgement on each others aesthetic, before you open your mouth to greet someone they're already sizing you up. I was asking what you want people to think about you upon the first meeting in that split second before the, "Hello, my name is [anonymous], it is a pleasure to meet you!"  :3

Perhaps you are right though, and you don't put much thought at all into what you wear.  :-X

I would hesitate to phrase it THAT bluntly and negatively, I don't just slap on what ever is around, you wont find me in a hoodie and shorts or some stuff (im not stupid). There is a difference between putting on fancy clothes to try and be something you are not, and just wearing what you like or find comfortable. I think you are over simplifying it into only 2 category of "slum people attire" and "dressing nice"

People who are gonna judge solely based on how one dresses and try and find a way to boost their own ego based on fashion can simply suck the business end of a shotgun and go "Kurt Cobain" themselves to put it nicely, but I know you cant get rid of shallow people so easily as much as I wish you could Hell I know I like all others judge all the same, but at the very least I still give people a chance to show me who they actually are :P (I just really really don't condone douche bag judgmental people as "normal" nor do I accept that 2nd grader logic from any person who walks around acting like that)

[Renwaldo]

Whoah now, where is all this coming from? I started this thread after reading an article on the lack of effort the fashion minded in Vancouver put into their pieces.

I never implied anything about judging you solely based on your attire, so you may lower your hackles please.
All I did was acknowledge the fact that we are being judged upon what we choose to wear. How much of an impact that has upon how you see yourself versus how others see you is entirely up to you.
I just thought this would make for an interesting discussion.

You are the one who insinuated the kind of clothing you don is not a high priority to you. If you had no interest in the topic why did you post?

Let's be clear here: 'fancy' clothing does not equate to fashionable, nor is a good outfit determined by it's price.

Presently in this city young people are paying through their noses at boutiques for the same plaid knits that could be found at supermarkets ten years ago.
^ Lets bring the discussion back to that.

[Drake Wingfire]

Simply saying I don't put any thought at all into what I wear was probably a bad way to word it honestly.

My second part was not attacking you, it was attacking the "types" around big city's who are like that, I just find the mentality and attitude of them to be disgusting and more shallow than a puddle.

lol I cringe though at that last line "Presently in this city young people are paying through their noses at boutiques for the same plaid knits that could be found at supermarkets ten years ago." Youth in this province are usually in the poor house as it is with school, not many decent jobs etc etc, if they are buying overpriced old clothes that have become hipster attire now, it doesn't say much for who they actually are or their financial skills X.=.X I am not implying that people are dumb for not predicting trends or something, im just saying it seems rather silly for people to go our and pay 2x - 5x the price for clothing they normally would turn their nose up at or have called plain or geeky only a few years ago.

(tangent) No wonder no one took the Occupy movements seriously  :-\

[Nyanners]

Well bland clothes=safe, and in the fashion industry (hell, any industry) safe=profit. Sadly, the fashion industry now is starting to enter a slow stagnation where all the major houses are just pumping out a status quo in order to keep brand appeal. My education has me watching fashion forecasts, and what I've noticed is the major fashion houses are all going "look at how awesome our lines are!" And all the magazines and critics are pretty much patting them on the back for doing more of the same and agreeing with them. Why? Well, my personal theory is that the belief in the industry now is that in order to succeed, everybody has to be like Lagerfeld or Jacobs, and what have you. From what I've seen, there hasn't been much innovation this past season, and what I've seen from the upcoming spring lines, we can expect more of the same. (Not to say the clothing from the major houses aren't really nice, but they're all taking plays from the same book)

I myself would love to start a label that works in lots of different, interesting colours and unusual pieces (In fact, I have several ideas on the back burner for if I ever do start a label). There's something that's telling of somebody that will wear neons and pastels, when everything else is grey wool and beige (looking at you, H&M's winter line).

If you want clothes that don't really follow what the major house trends are, and want brighter clothing, try shopping at Urban Planet, Stitches, Bluenotes, or any small to mid-sized retailer. Because they don't have the huge demand to keep up with the major houses (like H&M, Aritzea and similar stores), they're free to take some more creative liberties in their lines. In fact, some of my favorite clothes come from Urban Planet.

All in all I can understand the point that article is getting at. It's why I much prefer getting clothing from local retailers. There's less of a demand to emulate the major fashion retailers. (Also supporting local businesses are always a plus for me :thumbs:)

That's my two or three cents on the matter, at least.

[Renwaldo]

I love urban planet. <3

Also thank you so much for your input. I'm curious about your line of work, and your goal of running your own business and having your own label.

I've often toyed with the idea of making my own clothing for myself, but unfortunately even the most basic bland cotton bolts from fabric land are loads more expensive than buying your t-shirts from Walmart.  :'( So the only things I've ever sewn myself are a couple pj bottoms and boxer shorts.

Anyways I'd love to see some of your ideas, if you can trust me. Hear about your inspiration and where you'd like to see the apparel industry go in the near future. :3

[Tef]

Vancouver would benefit from a Japanese-originated chain of clothing stores called "Uniqlo" - sucks that it's expanded out to HK, London, and the states, but not up into Canada. -.-

They sell colourful "casual attire", as quoted.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

[Selkit]

It looks like H&M's crap. Only with slightly more dolly models and slightly less pretentious advertising.

[Renwaldo]

Vancouver would benefit from a Japanese-originated chain of clothing stores called "Uniqlo" - sucks that it's expanded out to HK, London, and the states, but not up into Canada. -.-

They sell colourful "casual attire", as quoted.

http://www.uniqlo.com/us/

I must be honest with you, their current lines are just as bland and dull as everything else right now.  ??? Unless I'm missing something, most of what I see is here is more gray, black and navy.

edit: Also they make flannel plaid shirts! Ew!  :o

[Neox]

I always love the people they use to model clothing for distributors and designers like this.  They all totally look like they are the working-class citizens that keep the world turning.  I could really see a steel-mill worker getting off work and heading straight to one of these places to get his weekend-wear. =P

[EmoFox]

The real reason there's so much black, grey, and beige?


because designers are losing their minds.


trololololol! ok i'm done.

[Nyanners]

I love urban planet. <3

Also thank you so much for your input. I'm curious about your line of work, and your goal of running your own business and having your own label.

I've often toyed with the idea of making my own clothing for myself, but unfortunately even the most basic bland cotton bolts from fabric land are loads more expensive than buying your t-shirts from Walmart.  :'( So the only things I've ever sewn myself are a couple pj bottoms and boxer shorts.

Anyways I'd love to see some of your ideas, if you can trust me. Hear about your inspiration and where you'd like to see the apparel industry go in the near future. :3

Well, I'm still in school, as it is, studying for a fashion design degree, so running my own business is very far in the future, but it's a dream of mine haha.

If you want very cheap fabric, shop at Dress Sew downtown. They have pretty much everything you'll ever need, and you can find super cheap fabric (also if you're into making fursuits, they have a massive section of faux fur in the corner of the store, all kinds of colours, piles and lengths).

I'd love to see a revival of the rainbow explosion from about 4 or 5 years back, to be perfectly honest. I remember Urban Planet literally selling jeans in every colour imaginable. But I'm a neon-loving fag so I would like that >w>

I'd also like to make a comment regarding the models used to display clothing. It's a sad fact, but it's the truth (doesn't mean it's right, but as it is, this is how the industry works). Clothing looks better on a taller, slimmer figure. Hell, most of the models used in ads for clothing are photoshopped afterwards so they're one or two heads taller than they actually are. When doing an illustration in the fashion world, the figure used is 1-2 heads taller (the ankles are extended). It has to do with the current mindset of the industry, and what society pictures as an "ideal" specimen. Things in the apparel world don't get moving unless a major house makes the first move, usually. So, when Chanel and Gucci start using 5'7' models for their clothing, with a build that more closely resembles how people /actually/ look, then you'll see it start to happen. But as it is, tall, thin models will be the standard. I'd actually like my label (if I ever start one, that is) to have clothing that a real person can fit into (not to say I won't make really weird clothing, but it will fit all sizes >:3)