This article was written by Kathakali Chatterjee.
"Beauty lies in the beholder of the eyes" - This saying was lurking in my subconscious after seeing a girl with a combination of pink and green hair recently in NDSU campus. As a viewer it didn't provide me with much satisfaction. Or, I was supposed to be more open towards it? Was it something cool which I failed to experience? I am not sure, but I definitely felt uncomfortable just by seeing it.
"Beauty lies in the beholder of the eyes" - This saying was lurking in my subconscious after seeing a girl with a combination of pink and green hair recently in NDSU campus. As a viewer it didn't provide me with much satisfaction. Or, I was supposed to be more open towards it? Was it something cool which I failed to experience? I am not sure, but I definitely felt uncomfortable just by seeing it.
Or, am I not respecting one's personal freedom of choice? Are they
respecting mine?
Forget being beautiful, it didn't even provide the minimum sense of
aestheticism.
Was it trendy? Probably, yes! Was it beautiful? I am not sure. At least
not to me, but I was sure it looked beautiful to some people.
At first, I failed to find a solid reason for my immediate disapproval of that unusual pink-green colored hair and thought my Indian upbringing was responsible for this. Then I realized it was not my upbringing, it was me. I never followed the contemporary craze. Not even in India. The idea of being "one amongst them" never allured me. Does contemporary fashion lack "class"? I don't know. But it definitely lacks "style."
Fashion is short- termed, but style lasts forever. It creates an image, an icon. I always believed in "personal style" - something like an individual "signature tune." Something unique that would stand out in a crowd -- something that could describe me in a very exclusive way. As far as "dressing" goes, I was a very conservative dresser, I still am. The idea of wearing jeans with a thousands cracks in it or walking like a live pin-cushion with holes everywhere in my face never appealed me.
Neither when I was 19, nor it does today. So when my friends were busy piercing their nose and ears I observed them with a detached aloofness. When I asked them why they are falling for this craze the answer was "because it is the fashion" and "because I want to try it." In fact they were shocked by my indifference towards the current trend. Why did I abandon the concept of trying something new in regards to dressing when I am always looking for something different in my life that would help me to grow?
Probably my so-called unconventional lifestyle is the highest manifestation of my utmost desire to stand out in the crowd. As far as my dressing goes, some viewed it as downright predictable, less adventurous, and sometimes prehistorically cold but some just appreciate it with a glint in their eyes...without a word - the understatement was more fascinating than the loud applaud of being fashionable. Always.
My unconventional lifestyle created an awkward sensation amongst my friends, families and relatives - some appreciated it openly, some didn't - I was equally indifferent to create the "uncomfortable feelings" within them - I still am -- just because it stands out!
At first, I failed to find a solid reason for my immediate disapproval of that unusual pink-green colored hair and thought my Indian upbringing was responsible for this. Then I realized it was not my upbringing, it was me. I never followed the contemporary craze. Not even in India. The idea of being "one amongst them" never allured me. Does contemporary fashion lack "class"? I don't know. But it definitely lacks "style."
Fashion is short- termed, but style lasts forever. It creates an image, an icon. I always believed in "personal style" - something like an individual "signature tune." Something unique that would stand out in a crowd -- something that could describe me in a very exclusive way. As far as "dressing" goes, I was a very conservative dresser, I still am. The idea of wearing jeans with a thousands cracks in it or walking like a live pin-cushion with holes everywhere in my face never appealed me.
Neither when I was 19, nor it does today. So when my friends were busy piercing their nose and ears I observed them with a detached aloofness. When I asked them why they are falling for this craze the answer was "because it is the fashion" and "because I want to try it." In fact they were shocked by my indifference towards the current trend. Why did I abandon the concept of trying something new in regards to dressing when I am always looking for something different in my life that would help me to grow?
Probably my so-called unconventional lifestyle is the highest manifestation of my utmost desire to stand out in the crowd. As far as my dressing goes, some viewed it as downright predictable, less adventurous, and sometimes prehistorically cold but some just appreciate it with a glint in their eyes...without a word - the understatement was more fascinating than the loud applaud of being fashionable. Always.
My unconventional lifestyle created an awkward sensation amongst my friends, families and relatives - some appreciated it openly, some didn't - I was equally indifferent to create the "uncomfortable feelings" within them - I still am -- just because it stands out!
This is a provocative article, Katha!
I am glad you go for a classic style instead of trying to fit into a fleeting trend.
You might want to further explain "unconventional lifestyle" a bit more -- to some that phrase has sexual overtones.
What a great aricle ........ ( from someone who is now trying to remember the last time she was fashionable! )
Hi David!
First of all I would like to apologize for disappearing last night and replying late, I am still not ‘well connected’ with rest of the world!
There is a glaring typo in the very first quotation – sorry!
It should either read “beauty lies in the beholder’s eyes” or, “beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder…”
Provocative article? Might be…one of my friend said it sounded snobbish/snooty to her. Well, I think she doesn’t know the world turns the other way round when some one doesn’t follow the norm – the stare he/she receives…!
The phrase “unconventional life style” has a sexual overtone! Oooops!
Ok, what I meant by being “unconventional” was I didn’t really follow the general flow of life, even in back home.
When my friends were busy with “girl talks” or something equally similar I was busy learning how to drive a motor-cycle.
When they were watching the biggest block buster of the year I was reading “Godfather” – my very first exposure to a thriller other than my own language.
I had ‘n’ number of friends regardless of gender, never had a serious relationship before 24, maintained a very healthy balance and boundary in every friendship, had great fun while camping/taking small trips with them – those are one of my cherished memories – but this is not conventional as far a Indian middle class life style goes.
Nicola,
Thank you!
People will remember you just because of your unusal style, or else you will be "one amongst them"!
This reminds me of being in court the other day and hearing the judge tell a defendant to "show some respect" and wear a suit and tie to court.
The judge thought the defendant was an attorney, and not pro-se, so he later advised the person he wasn't going to hold him to the suit and tie dress code for attorneys when he found out the person wasn't an "officer of the court."
I've noticed that most people don't dress up anymore.
I see young women wearing "short shorts" and camisole tops to mass. Guys aren't much better with ratty T-shirts and jean shorts.
I grew up United Methodist, which is pretty liberal, but even there, most people threw on a tie before entering the chapel when I attended 10 years ago before converting.
Court is the same way.
Only the attorneys wear jackets and ties.
The rest wear whatever they'd wear normally.
I remember seeing a dress code posted at a juvenile court advising that bikini and halter tops weren't allowed in court. You'd think people would know, but they don't.
I've seen women walking around with flip flops in offices.
I've also seen guys wearing Birkenstock sandles when they probably should have been wearing leather dress shoes.
Sometimes open toe shoes aren't a good thing for either men or women unless you're willing to spend some money to take care of those toenails!
It's good that you are talking a small stand by not becoming a fashion victim!
Hi Katha!
I wondered about the first line of your article but then I decided you were twisting up the phrase a bit to surprise us and I thought it was brilliant and effective!
David! Twisting Shakespeare!!! Oooops!!! I have to reincarnate myself – not once, but numerous times I guess!
Glad that it served the purpose though! Even without my knowledge! :D
Katha!
The first rule of writing: Admit nothing!
:mrgreen:
Chris,
Thank you for the great comment!
I was not accustomed with the summer-dress code here, and it took me a few days to fix my gaze to my eye-level...I was busy watching birds before.
Moreover, I felt over dressed! :D
Showing skin doesn’t matter much, but only if people could be a bit more careful about their structure! This is true to any country, even mine.
I agree with you about the ‘sense’, which we expect to be innate – but most of the time it is not – unfortunately!
David,
Learnt the rule!
But there would be someone/somewhere in this world who would realize me being wrong over my non-admittance.
I find it easy to accept my mistake/or me not knowing something.
[It’s between you and me only – my biggest pet-peeve is some one being non transparent, especially when I can sense it and most of the time I can!]
I'm with you Katha! Transparency is difficult, but always important, to achieve. I still like your quote even if it was unintentional.
:grin:
Thank you David! Though the credit goes to me being rushed for a class while typing! :D
Katha --
The Second Rule of Writing: Credit only yourself!
:grin:
David!
This is the very first article of mine where the title is untouched…
All the others have the ‘magic’ of yours! How can I ‘credit only myself’ for anything that I didn’t do or that was just a fluke? That’s downright arrogance!
I know I am hopeless… :D
Katha!
The Third Rule of Writing: Never Admit Your Past Bad Titles!
:mrgreen:
You are incorrigible... :D
Katha!
The Fourth Rule of Writing: Don't Call Your Publisher Names!
:mrgreen::!:
I give up! :-(
Katha!
The Fifth Rule of Writing: Never Give Up!
Can any body save me??? :e
Katha!
The Sixth Rule of Writing: I am always here to save you!
:D :D :D
We have over a Thousand Rules to go, Katha! Keep it up!
:mrgreen:
Rule number seven: Break all those previous ones! ;-)
Katha!
The Eighth Rule of Writing: Never Be Funnier Than Your Publisher!
Ok!!! I surrender!!!
Okay, me too.
FOR NOW!
:grin: