Regional Casual Uniform
Originally posed by Jody, this question is so much fun:
Suppose you stepped off a plane in your neighborhood, city, or country. Could you tell you were home by how people were dressed? Is there a Regional Casual Uniform? What do people (and you may narrow down to a specific segment of the population if you like) wear when they are going out, during the day, going to be seen, but not needing to dress up?
Bottoms Up.
- Here in the Great Northwest, while the bottom may be a skirt, shorts, or pants, there will be something “outdoorsy” about it. If it isn’t denim and/or it doesn’t have cargo pockets, no doubt it is tree-colored.
- No such variety in tops, though. One MOPS meeting, when I was trying to point out a particular mom, it went something like this: “See the lady in the black shirt? Well, behind her is another lady in a black shirt. Then there’s so-and-so, wearing a black shirt. Well, the lady you’re looking for is the next one. Wearing a black shirt”.
So there you have it, the Great Northwest Casual Uniform. What do the streets look like in your neck of the woods?
In my neck of the woods (SE Montana) you would see plenty of cowboys — cowboy hats, boots, Wranglers bootcut jeans, leather belts with big buckles, and button up (or snap up) shirts with collars. Some of these cowboys wear long sleeved shirts all through the summer.
The ladies — well, there are some cowgirls which would wear much the same kinds of things the men wear, but instead they’d have on a string top or a tank top with their jeans during summer.
Lately, I’m seeing lots of people wearing those Crocs (ugly, brightly colored shoes). Why do they want to wear those?? And why is it that large people wear short- shorts and string tops and skinny people cover up? That’s how it is here anyway.
~Jody
You know, Rebecca, I have been thinking of this post often these last couple of days and yesterday when Katie and I went out shopping I tried really hard to determine if there was a uniform in this city and I have decided there is and there isn’t. Depending on what part of the city you go to, you will see some “likenesses,” but nothing I think one could call a uniform. Happily, I did notice the lack of black (which I don’t like and think far too many people wear when it doesn’t look good on them). In one certain area of the city, the uniform could be described as this: Tan, breast implants, good hair, false nails, French manicured toenails, muscular bodies that are showing off as much as possible - these are the conspicous consumers driving their expensive cars, wearing their expensive jewelry, and often lacking in taste and modesty :-), but apparently not credit. Another area will find almost everyone wearing athletic attire. In the part of the city where the money is old, you see lots of cute skirts and halters on the younger women and the older women wear their money in the most inconspicuous ways
to anyone but the trained eye. Even in the small circle I live in, I wouldn’t say there is a uniform, though probably all of Dallas is known for hair, tans, and skin showing - after all it is hot!
Susan
I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, and pass through touristy areas on a regular basis. Visitors are fairly easy to distinguish, as natives know better than to pack shorts for a May vacation. I’ve often seen whole families shivering in Alcatraz hoodies and shorts and flip-flops down at Fisherman’s Wharf and Pier 39!
I don’t really notice that much of a “uniform” look around here, though the faux-hippy look is everywhere. Most folks I know mix up their wardrobes with thrift store finds; there’s a LOT of vintage around here. Oh, and that French-pedicure is prevalent as well. Thank heavens I haven’t seen too many Crocs around here, they are peerlessly fugly!
~B
Here in downtown Boston, which is not exactly Fashion Mecca, it’s a pair of lack stretch mircofiber pants, black boots, and a denim jacket worn with a white turtleneck, white blouse, or white T-shirt. The only other accessory is a cell phone, a cigarette and a handbag adorned with lots of hardware. Sunglasses are optional.
On any given spring or fall day I can spot a dozen of these within a 5 miunte walk from my office.
Chicago is not an unstylish place. However, I would recognize the neighborhood I live in by the sight of:
1) Obese middle-aged women going to the grocery store in T-shirts, leggings, and flip-flops.
2) Younger women, regardless of their shape and size, wearing tank tops and jeans that are too tight, often with sneakers. Even the thinnest girls have muffin tops.
3) Guys in lolgangsta baggy jeans and big shirts.
And when I try to look fashionable, I get dirty looks from people. But at least my house was affordable.
A reply to the first post by anonymous:
And why is it that large people wear short- shorts and string tops and skinny people cover up? That’s how it is here anyway.
I cannot speak for everyone, but I know that I am not terribly uncomfortable being scantily clad (somewhat; I don’t do shorts or miniskirts but am ok with skimpy tops) while not possessed of a wonderful figure. I don’t think it’s the most *attractive* thing in the world, however, that’s the beauty of it. I don’t get lustful stares or lewd comments from random men. If I had a perfect figure, such comments would almost certainly force me to cover up.
In Philly it’s Eagles gear. Anything with a logo or the team name: player jersey (men & women), hat, t-shirts (they even have pink shirts w/ white logos & lettering for the girls), scrunchies, sunglasses (logo on the side frame), collars & leashes for your dog, you name it. Obviously, it becomes more prevalent during the fall, but there’s a good deal of Eagles gear to be found year ’round.
I live in the far NW corner of Washington State, even farther NW than our dear Rebecca. My peer group (40′ish moms of preschoolers) wears fitted v-neck t-shirts in solid bright colors or pastels (not black); cargo or denim capris or bootcut pants/jeans (always below the waist and a little too loose, necessitating frequent “hiking”), and Danskos (clogs or sandals). If sandals, then the toes are painted, often something brighter or more unusual (green, blue) than one would expect given the rest of the outfit. Most women wear little or no make up, except maybe a swipe of mascara and lipstick. A fleece jacket or cotton hoody is nearby in case the weather turns.
Here in Las Vegas, the depressing sight of visitors strolling through a casino at night, with the puffy white athletic shoes, the cut-offs and the message t-shirt has become common.
At least they leave their money here and take their clothes home.
It’s kind of similar to the way the typecast diversity of freshmen becomes jeans, T-shirts/sweaters and low-slung sneakers within a semester. At an engineering school, anyway.
Phoenix, AZ –
1. Earnest yuppie = baggy shorts + baggy t-shirt in dirty white
2. Trophy wife = capris, tank top, metallic strappy sandals, giant metallic purse
In the winter, the natives are the ones wearing long pants and sweaters. The snowbirds are the ones in sweatshirts with shorts.
Funny, Rebecca - I’m just on the other side of the Cascades from you but can’t say I notice a lot of black tops. I agree with you about the gear-like or outdoorsy skirts or pants - denim, cargo pockets, chinos… and outdoorsy shoes too, like Tevas/Chacos in the summer or Keanes during colder months. Fleece pullovers are still also really prevalent in winter.
Needless to say, I don’t blend in a heck of a lot.
Here in Toronto people look pretty much like Chicago, Boston or NYC:: lots of black, on top and bottom. Big bags, boots. In winter, nearly all coats are black, I get tired of it (and wear it myself). Lots of highlighted hair, a great deal of it badly done.
Outdoorsy clothes (vests, cargo pants, fleece) mark one as a student.
The real jolt was when I left India after a month’s stay and had one day’ layover in Munich. After the land of brilliant saris and salwar kameez and NO black or navy outfits, suddenly I was back in the world of tailored, dark clothes., What a shock!
Rebecca, the uniform in Palos Verdes, CA is: bootcut jeans, flipflops and a Michael Stars tee shirt stuffed with (preferably) large breasts.
Long Island New York — too much tanning, bleaching (of hair), too many long square fake nails, too much that is too short for the wearer, too much bling. The alternative is jeans, sweatshirts and white sneakers.
Of course, in NYC, anything goes. I’m sure each tribe has it’s own code, In midtown there are lots of beautiful blonde dye jobs, which somehow look wrong on their owner’s heads. Lots of black, but plenty of colour too. I find it interesting that some women with the perfect blonde hair and beautifully cut black clothing look older and dull than one would expect.
Michigan here-
women up here wear a lot of jean shirts, so it’s black pants , jeans or khakis, white t shirt, and denim shirt. flip flops if warm, merrils if colder. the dressier version of that is the same, black pants or khakis, white t shirt and black jacket. It’s very Tipper Gore-esqe
Here in rural Nebraska it’s sort of like living in a fashion drought.
Uniforms for most men (because most of them around here are farmers) include jeans, cowboy shirts, work boots and a seed corn cap (a baseball cap with a seed company logo). Unless it’s a dress-up occasion, then it’s the same except substitute cowboy boots and a cowboy hat.
Uniforms for women are jeans and big tee shirts (often with a Huskers logo), with athletic shoes (with a large following of flip flops in summer.)
I’m one of the very few people I know who wears black.
Oh, I’m sorry.
The farmer uniform’s not so bad, but Mrs Farmer needs a makeover in the worst way!!! That is interesting to note, though, that black is not common. Maybe that’s why I’ve never liked it (since where I grew up, the farmers are the upper crust of society).
Welcome to the blog, btw!
[…] Mielke at The Space Between My Peers, describes her “Regional Casual Uniform” thus: “here in the Great Northwest, while the bottom may be a skirt, shorts, or pants, […]