dotinthesky | The Devil Inside

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The Devil Inside - how much for it?

Do we wear dark clothes in the winter
because we want to blend in?
because we don't want anyone paying attention to us?

I was thinking about my previous post... those words were all directed to myself (of course) because I've been noticing lately, when I see a reflection of myself in mirrors, windows, how much i look like any other generic worker in this city. All that struggle when I was a teenager/early 20s to stand out... well, it was in vain. Welcome to the grind machine - everyone becomes the same.

Unless you have no money/too much money.

But I do know some people who have overcome style and incorporated it as a part of themselves. They become more than the genres they adore, they attain some kind of cultural holy grail because they are sticking to their desire to be different from the herd. It's incredibly difficult to do that, I think, the older you get. It's something you have to be lucky to fall into when you are young, when your view of the world is being shaped. Because then it becomes easy to follow those rules that are not the rules for everyone else - it becomes second nature.

As for myself, I never got over all the travelling and moving. I was too busy trying to make friends/keep friends, too busy adapting to the new school/new country, that I just didn't have time to not care about my peers. Also, I was brought up in Sao Paulo, Brazil, in the middle of a suburb (Zona Sul) where you only became a human being if you wore Nike, brand-name jeans, T-shirt from Forum/MOfficer, etc. If you didn't have those things, you were shit. And you had to listen to crap music (which I confess I liked - I'm gay so I can say that). There was one exception: it still surprises me today that my brother and I had The Clash's "Combat Rock" on vinyl when we were 10. I don't know where that influence came from.

Maybe I'm setting myself free by writing these words down. I hope so. If not, if I'm still a prisoner somehow, then it's up to you to perform all those rituals/voodoos that might set me free.

Go ahead, find a black chicken.

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I struggle with this occasionally. But then again, even in high school, I was hanging out with the "alternative crowd" and yet not adopting any of their "alternative" style and choosing to do my own thing.

I was the "alternative" to the "alternative". That's how I choose to look at myself even now.

I can't stand people who dress like a fashion genre. There are far too many "mods" in this town, far too many "goths", far too many "ravers", far too many "gutterpunks", far too many "gays". It's fine for them...dress how you want...but they should recognize that it's a uniform and ultimately something that was put forth by the media to control them.

Wear what you like, I say.

that's what i try to do... but it's hard sometimes because what you might wish to wear might fall into one of those categories... it doesn't mean you want to be that (goth, raver, etc.), it just means you feel like that during that day...

i want the freedom of many uniforms, not just one.

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i try to think like that too.

i understand you 100% ..i know exactly waht you mean........
I have always done things most my friends don't do and then they label me boring, weird , such and such! I am tired of those people who are nothing but just part of a herd. Everyone do the same things, go to the same places and wear the same thing just to be accepted. When we are younger we can't see it very clearly, but now i guess we can....

To be accepted in the ordinary adult world(?) we need a good(??) paycheque, a nice (?? and boring)job , a cell phone, a car, dream of getting married and having children....

ARGH!
I don't know what i am writing...
duh!

I am just way too tired of narrow minded people!!
And there are way TOO MANY around me!!!!

londrina is terrible for that... i wish you could visit me in London... we'd have so much fun!

we would!!
i just need $$$ to travel!!!

rob a bank.

great idea!!

I've always wondered that... Is it now acceptable to be depressed during the winter? And to gain weight? It shouldn't be. There's still gyms. And just because nature's not blooming, doesn't mean people shouldn't.

i've been going to the gym all this Summer and it has helped with my moods... winter, cold, darkness, those things get me down - i'm counting on the gym to keep my spirits up.

That's why I run. It relieves so much stress.

it's me Nateh - congratulations on cinq annees avec M. Ward!!! I can't fucking believe it's been that long. Seriously. I remember your talking about him, and that 16th century lit class with that crazy oughta-be-emeritus professor; Kevin's hair was big and curly, and I recall his wearing lots of wife-beaters around that time. Do you remember that just prior to meeting him, you had blue balls about 50% of the time? You pretty much hunted him down - yes, it was a hunt, even though you were pretty classy about it.

(second post will follow, because I've exceed the character limit.)

LOL.

thanks Natalia.

:o)

you have to do some work with the accoutrements of style. you love glamour, and frankly you ARE pretty glamorous-looking naturally - everyone's mother just gasps at you, and says under her breath, "my, he's handsome".Now, on some level you sense that your basic palette of black, grey, and navy - as manifested in your poly-cotton knits, jeans, and khakis - does great injustice to your innate glamitude ... listen to me: YOU MUST RESPECT THE NATURAL GRACES GIVEN to you by the cosmic force (or, by fluke of biology)... and dress to MATCH YOUR PRESENCE. (you have, by the way, a great presence, as well as the more obvious glamour just now mentioned). You are a lucky Libra/Scorpio - act like it.

i'm not saying your clothes detract from your appeal - they're fine, FUNCTIONAL as far as I could tell (and I think my authority runs pretty deep, since I'm pretty sure half your wardrobe is the same as it was in Montreal, or anyway, it seems like you have slightly less declasse replicas of what you had then...)

you need to define your style. you have to make a decision on which core lines you want to have - silhouette is everything, it's the first and last glance a person will have of you. My feeling? You're tall and lean. You look stellar in a suit. You look good in long, crisp lines. The colours you have are fine - I NEVER want to see you in turquoise, for exampe, you suit dark, deep colours - it's the shape and cut of the pieces, and the quality of the fabric that matters. My suggestions:

for work- since it's casual, you can stick to less formal shoes and pants (on which, more later), but wear a well-tailored button-up shirt of high-quality cotton or cotton/silk (obviously, not tucked). Look for angular lines, and a heft to the drape of the material. I think this kind of shirt is really your thing. I liked very much the red patterned shirt you wore to Marie's wedding, you were distinctive, stylish, and very 'you': more of the same would be a good thing. And it's not a bad thing to spend a little money on at least TWO really stylish - not faddish, I mean well-cut and handsome - shirts.

Another option, for the upper half: sweaters - very fine knit, nothing bulky. close to the body, but not tight - fitted, with an occasional drapy line when you move (you know what i mean - there ought to be enough give that movement is comfortable). no ribbing - flat hem. Again, cotton and silk knits are great, because I know you take care of your stuff. Get ONE really good and stylish and expensive sweater.

I think you've already found the cut of pants you like - straight, hip to foot. Actually, your pants are fine - it's mainly tops that make the look, especially since you tend to be more casual than anything else, most of the time.

Make sure your blacks match. If you have something faded, either dye it or chuck it.

You need two good pairs of shoes: one more on the casual side, and the other pair can be a little funky, a little daring. Also (and separately), you need one pair of stylish running shoes. All should be comfortable and fit well.

** I think a neat belt can make a person feel really put together. Actually, because you are innately glamourous, *you* might be able to pull off a tucked-in shirt, not at work or anything, but out. But even if no one sees a beautiful stretch of well-worked leather, you know it's there...

FInally, buy nice socks for the nice shoes. Don't wear athletic socks with your funky soles. With the socks, as with all pieces, a little detail goes a long way, especially if the rest of your stuff is pretty much monochromatic... like it's neat to have little red lines on otherwise black socks, or something. Even for the sweater - get yourself a really good black one, with some little distinction - something very small, almost unnoticeable unless you look carefully (and nothing that's trendy at the moment). Likewise for the button-up. (Yesterday, I saw a guy wearing subtly hip jeans (re: cut and grain), cognac brown leather shoes, a good blue button-up, with ***silver cufflinks****. You could hardly see them, except for a little shine when he moved his hand - but it gave the impression of over-all put-togetherness.) Remember, style is currency.

Love,

Little Miss Blowhard / Moon in Virgo

Thanks Miss Blowhard!

i think this came very timely, because I'm planning a shopping expedition very soon... what do you think of black cords? Winter is here and my legs are taking a beating from the elements... i was thinking of nice comfy black cords to protect me. Also, nice sweaters... and the socks idea is very good too.

Thanks again.

xx

:o)

I don't know! I've always found cords to let the cold in easily - breathable fabric. They are super-comfy though. Like, a stiff pair of pants with a tight weave would be more efficient at blocking the cold, but probably not that comfy. I'd say, get the cords, AND get a good warm coat that hits below the knees (three-quarter length): a full-length is a pain for walking and taking transit, plus it's too formal for daily wear. Maybe some kind of modified parka?

Yeah, really the thing is to be warm outside. For optimal temperature control (you don't want to be too hot indoors), a warm coat over layers (that you can take off or put on) is most sensible. Warm socks and warm boots or shoes help; so do lined accessories (hats, gloves, scarves). If you get really desperate, go for a pair of long johns. I think people still make them.

(p.s.: are the cords really wide? i wouldn't go for wide pants - your Natalia-ordained style is sleek. straight-legs yes, narrow yes.)

i'll try finding something like that... i wish I had a digital camera so I could take pics, post them and hear commentaries... and in case people didn't like it, i could always return them.

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The Devil Inside - how much for it?

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oh, yo - yo - greetings, wishes and advice.

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