Thread: Self Reinvention/Discovery

You know how it goes - once you stop looking, chances are you'll find what you're looking for. Of course that requires a lot on your part. You've got to realise that a lot of the things you thought did matter actually don't (I'm not making a judgement here, just outlining the thought process may need to go through).

You say you're sick of constantly seeking people's approval yet in the very next paragraph you acknowledge your desire to acquire an image that fits with what kind of music you want to play. Well, that's not going to help because you're simply going from trying to please one group of people to trying to please or impress another. With musicians, it's important to remember that in with anything worth paying attention to, the music always comes before the image and is always always more important. Nobody gives a shit what you look like if you play good music. A strong image can carry a weak band but won't damage a strong one.

There's no point in paying attention to trends or fashion because they're nothing to do with who you are, just with how everyone else sees you.

Retro, I'm into the 30's-40's style thing too. In fact, for a while all I watched was Turner Classic Movies-I LOVE that channel, especally anything to do with Irenne Dunn or Frank Sinatra- and I was really obsessed with finger waves. Then a Vintage Vogue Apparel store moved into town. It's this store that sells completely retro clothes. I love it.

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also, i agree with brew, you're contradicting yourself, work out if you want to fit in because of your clothes or because of your music.

Hah yeah I see that. I guess I jsut dont want to blend in but dont wanan stick out like a sore thumb either. I think I jsut need more faith in myself.

Hah, my evolution has come a long way from middle/high school, when I used to try my very hardest to keep up with fashion and the latest styles, and listen to the latest trendy music. I guess you can say that music has driven my style more than the actuual fashion has. I've always been a fan of good music, although I saw a lot of things as "good" back in high school. I used to think that it was all about liking what others did, etc., but then I realized just how crappy some of the music was. It got especially bad in college once some rap and hip-hop songs got popular, and the downward spiral of "punk" music into the crap that plays today.

I've always loved music that employs real talent. If I can pick up a guitar and rattle off whatever song was playing, chances are I won't like the song. Similarly, I like listening to singers who are musically sound, rather than the wheezy-voiced crappers on the popular stations. I like listening to good ARTISTS do their thing, rather than good PRODUCERS promoting their latest bunch of garbage. There are very few bands that I actually like listening to, because so few of them bother with harmonies, interesting chord progressions, and so few of them carry themselves in a way that proper musicians should. I've actually found myself listening to more and more guitar instrumental pieces, as well as getting really in to classical music. Sure, I'll listen to rap and hip-hop when I'm in a club and dancing, but on my own personal time, I love listening to the truly skilled musicians perform.

In the same line, I think my style has come a long ways from high school as well. I used to simply try to keep up with everyone else in terms of fashion, but eventually I learned that clothing means much less to people (in some settings) than actual personality does. I started going to the bars with nothing but an undershirt and comfortable jeans, and I could easily talk to the same girls that I would have if I was wearing the latest fashions. My "style" if you will gradually came to be the clothes that were most confortable for me to wear. Most of the time, I'll just be wearing a simple t-shirt and either jeans or athletic shorts. Sure, if I have a job interview or something that warrants nicer clothes, I'll dress accordingly, but I like wearing what I like wearing. You won't find me in a collared shirt outside of a job interview. I've separated myself from the fashion brigade, instead just wearing the things that keep me happy. Personality > Clothes, I've found...at least from the people I actually want to know.

hmmm well what i can say about this subject is that through most of highschool i would consider myself to be fairly gothy ... but not a hot topic goth, more of an elegant victorian deal. anyway the point is, since i finished a year of university/am working i have found that i have gotten quite lazy in what i wear. during the school year i would roll out of bed and put on a sweatshirt and sweatpants. now that is completely not me, but due to a combination of lack of time, feeling guilty spending time on makeup/hair when i should be doing work, getting a little sick of people giving me strange looks, getting tired of trying to wash fabrics like lace and velvet that are difficult to clean and a lot more work than simple cotton i guess i let myself go a bit. and ... thinking about it right now i miss dressing up. maybe i should do that again.

it's somewhat difficult though when you work an office job. and you go to a hippy school. although i am somewhat of a hippy at heart too. annnnyway, the point is, images that take a lot of effort are hard to maintain