When I was in high school, there were two girls in my government class who had created their own “nonconformists’ club,” which basically meant that they wore all kinds of mismatching clothes and drew on their canvas sneakers. (Mind you, we weren’t ten; we were seniors in high school.) Our government professor questioned them about this one day before class and then patiently tried to explain why you can’t have a club of non-conformists… They didn’t care for that…
Also, a lot of the theater crowd I hung out with were also “Whovians” (Doctor Who fans); the only episodes available in America at that time were the Tom Baker episodes. So there were a number of folks, male and female, who went around in the twenty-foot-long multicolored scarf and fedora outfit…
Heck, he’s just getting ready for the Bay-to-Breakers!
(For those scratching their heads, it’s a marathon in SF, and many runners wear hilarious costumes, some wear nothing at all).
struuter, does it count if you often came to school with shoe laces untied, or mismatched socks? Oh well, I try to be different in my professional life - everyone insists on working while I post here…
Now THAT really is something you don’t see every day!
Seriously, this is very cool. Once in college I went around all day (to classes, the cafeteria, etc.) dressed as an 18th century French courtier (a male one, no less) to advertise a play my theater club was performing. But it is a lot easier to do that kind of thing in college - I’ve got to hand it to this kid.
As much as I hate following the pack’s lead I have to agree that this kid is cool. And it’s heartwarming to see someone with the confidence to express himself in such an open way. After all it’s just inviting ridicule. Good on him for ahving the conviction or even the whimsy. I guess I’m saying good on him for having the self-belief.
Now that’s a kewl person. I think individuality is always a good thing as long as it isn’t hurting anyone. People think I’m weird just because my appearance doesn’t make you think I’m the person I am. If I had the expenses and could get away with it, I’d probably wear period costumes more often.
But, living in Florida puts a restraint on wearing heavy materials, etc.
If only there were more people who let their imagination and individuality run free.
I used to go to this standing cocktail party, on the first Friday of every month. I went every month, regardless of how I had to twist my schedule, so I knew who was a reg and who was a newbie. There was another reg; he wasn’t there every single time, but most times, and every time he was there…
…he wore this Popeye costume. Hat and everything. And he had little to no hair, and his features didn’t detract from the effect, so it wasn’t as odd as it might have been, but it was odd. Couldn’t tell his age; somewhere between 21 and 50 is as close as I can pin it down. But reading this thread, I immediately thought, “The guy in the Popeye costume!”. I never talked to him, so I don’t know why he wore it.
Boy, this thread has brought back a flood of good memories.
Years ago when I was in my college marching band, we made a trip to Dallas. It got very cold there that weekend. I heard the if you kept your head warm, it was easier to stay comfortable. I bought a black and white, cloth, houndstooth fedora. (for you young people, that is a type of hat) I got ragged by my fellow band mates, but I kept on wearing it afterwards. For three years I always wore it to football games, basketball games, and on all band trips. I even wore it out on the football field when we would perform. (The tuba players normally didn’t wear the uniform hats because they didn’t fit under the bell of the horn.)
For three years the band director would pretend not to see it. When I graduated, I passed on the hat to another up and coming tuba player in the band.
Until the band director left my school, there was always one tuba player who wore the hat during the game and halftime shows.
I feel proud that I never thought twice about wearing the hat. And, that the group I was with reconized the value of a little non-conformity.
I’m with you Struuter, it is refreshing to see the freedom of confidant non-conformity.
