Cultivated style (cultivate = to produce by culture): a “style” which comes from and is understood by the culture. Examples of styles people cultivate include preppy, biker, boho, and (the very 2013) rockabilly.Obviously, reasons vary for choosing a cultivated style; some do it to foster affiliation with a certain group (think high school goth), others because they want to be different (hipster?). (Some) girls just want to have fun.
At Vildy’s suggestion, I have been checking out the blog My Year of Fabulous, which chronicles the adventures of a mom as she test-drives various styles. While exploring her month of Rock ‘n Roll looks, I came across the link to Folter. And this picture.
Yes, well, basically that model has my exact haircut. A little longer. And styled in a cultivated, as opposed to contemporary, look.
(Btw, this photo was taken March 13 for the EWU graduation program and shows just how brown my teeth got from using high-fluoride toothpaste for two and a half months.).
There is IMO a personality component, which I haven’t completely figured out. I can only say that I, for one, would not probably ever feel comfortable adopting a total cultivated look of any variety. How about you?
Because you’re a costume designer? 😀 I”m not but I don’t want to be in a costume, either. With the wide variety of trends all current at the same time, I think what seals the deal on the costume look is hair and makeup and eyewear. Even disco platforms (ugh) are somewhat normative as today’s stripper shoes.
I also don’t like certain pieces or looks owing to Paula Reed’s book where she asks whether you indeed are a motorcycle rider, for example, if wanting to wear leathers. IOW, is it just a costume piece you are sporting?
Although you didn’t mention this, I hate clothing worn ironically. For me, this includes the now standard advice to pair pretty dresses with denim jackets or army green utility jackets. This really bugs me.
For me, I like irony with a very light touch. Like, instead of an army jacket with a pretty dress I might just wear a SR (Sturm, Ruger) pin. More enthymeme than contrast. And I might wear a tiny bit of leather to a show featuring a motorcycle theme, but never more than you would see on the average well-dressed person walking down the street.
My husband has a leather vest, purely functional. It is slightly annoying when people ask him what he rides …
Must go look up enthymeme now. 😀