form, function
*I don't own these anymore, but I was too lazy to snap a picture of my current all-black pair
I had a week off last week, because I had to clear the annual leave entitlement that I can't carry into my next work year. I spent it perfecting family recipes, baking, cleaning, practising yoga, reading, and an intense amount of television viewing.
Since I only went out for yoga, sometimes meeting friends for lunch after a session, my uniform for the week was my yoga leggings, loose t-shirts or a long-sleeved tee, a long cardigan where necessary, flip flops, and a canvas tote. Sometimes I wore my Chucks. I was going out in clothes only one notch above what I would sleep in.
It would have been interesting to see how long I would keep up the "look" (I would have to wait for a spell of extended unemployment to test out the theory). I suppose the week was a useful exercise in demonstrating how dependent my style is on occasion. Even my staple, the one sartorial item I believe I cannot live without - jeans - was relegated to the backseat.
I love my clothes and I have a clear idea of what I think is "me", style-wise, so it surprised me a little that I would throw out notions of "style" once I settled into that mentality that I wasn't "going out", I was only running errands and exercising and I didn't need to "get dressed".
Clearly, my style is highly dependent on function. Would my style take a very different route if I didn't hold down a fairly conventional job that involves going to the office and meeting people and having to look presentable? Would I still love button-downs, for instance?
How much of your style is determined by function?
Comments
but i guess cause i don't have any form or function i need to attend to, i can afford to be more free in my choice of clothing. i understand people with normal jobs need to sit back and chill once a while to distance themselves from working environment, to unbuckle and simply relax, hence they wear utterly comfy clothes like pajamas.
I am certain that once I enter the workforce the function my clothes must serve will alter significantly, but the form in which I choose to achieve those ends will simply be a variation (not an unrecognizably different one) on what I wear now.
luka: I'm definitely in your latter category of people who need to just chill once in a while from dressing for work and other occasions guided by some social rules.
Ammu: I would too. Until perhaps it gets stale and I start pining for a shirt again!
CamisaBlanca: Well said. I think the revelation from my exercise was that when I talk about uniforms and staples and a definitive look, I forgot how greatly it is shaped by circumstances and environment.
Joy: I found my university days to be quite dull style-wise, until I hit what a friend described as the "the Year 3 bloom" - it's like once everyone hit their stride in school, they started dressing better, in more distinct styles (most of us wore school uniforms until we were 18). Wonder if you have seen anything like that on campus?
LN: I agree, climate is actually my primary consideration for dressing. I'm always thinking in terms of what works in warm, sticky weather. Also, I'm terrible at dressing for cold-weather holidays. It takes me ages to pack.
That said I feel like a few days off of our conventional and formal style is the equivalent to vacations for the mind and body.
As much I love dressing up for work and social occasions, I feel the need to leave any thoughts behind from time to time.
When on holidays, I can live off on the most boring combination (tees, shorts, flats) and not give a damn (for a short while). I feel entitled to it but it doesn't last long.
I don't know if it's social pressure or some internal alarm clockwork but I always go back to a certain smart to my casual.
Actually my dressing has changed somewhat since I left my last job, subtly, but definitely distinct. I guess that's food for thought for another post.
minima/maxima, a blog about minimalist style
Moreover at university the months before big exams are so full of stress and desperation (for almost everyone in my classes) that there's barely any energy left, for other stuff. and especially since I'm not a regular student anymore but still had those exams I just hurried to tutorials once or twice a week, didn't know anyone, hurried back and was so glad I didn't have to think about what to wear. Still I'm pretty sure I don't dress for other people. I love to spend some thoughts on what to wear for a nice day out at museums all by myself. And I also liked to dress nicely for my internships, where I had some sort of semi formal dress code. Maybe it's also a bit a indicator for happiness v. stress for me. ;)
petrichore: A Venn diagram is probably a great way to look at it! It's funny how useful a Venn diagram is isn't it, outside of a science class.
Cato: I agree, I don't think I dress for other people as well - I like that personal style isn't as consistent as we think it has to be.