Mad props to one Lauren Hartstein for pointing me in this direction.
I can’t stand shopping. I only go shopping once a year. I tell people who ask me about shopping that I only shop on tax-free weekend in Texas because I like the savings. But really I just hate shopping. Something about putting a label on myself through the clothes I buy just completely stresses me out. There are so many options, so many possible images. Just looking only at pants, I could get bootcut fit, slim fit, loose fit, straight fit, original fit, butt-grabbing fit, classic fit. Or whatever. I believe a similarly overwhelmed male shopper at the Gap put it best--“what if I just want pants?” These days, however, you can’t just get pants. When faced with all these options, you have to make a decision first about whether you see yourself in the pants of a particular store. Once you decide that a store aligns with your vision of yourself, then another decision has to be made as to which pants in that store fit your identity. Just buying a pair of pants requires that you make a number of decisions about who you are and who you are not. The options are so immense that a sense of personal style seems attainable. And yet all of these decisions are made in the context of people selling your identity in the form of pants.
Does your identity pick your pants, or do your pants pick your identity?
Hahahahaha you took my idea of clothing labels and SES and turned it into this strange pants complex. I like it. Specifically the "butt-grabbing fit" pants because if that's a fit somewhere, let the women of the world know.
ReplyDeleteMy identity definitely picked my pants. This is why: my mom and dad gave me the genetic make up I was born. This body figure has been part of my identity for 19 years now. I work out 3-4 times weekly in attempt to manipulate my body figure. So my body and my habits are part of my identity. The store I'm drawn too are a reflection of people I grew up around who dress similarly (you can say i was other-directed here) and that place (Rockville Centre, NY) has become part of my identity. So I think all these things are factors that help me choose my pants (size/style/brand). Therefore, my identity picks my pants. What do you think? Does YOUR identity pick YOUR pants? or do your pants pick your identity?
I would definitely also have to say that my idenity would pick my pants rather than other way around.Thats such a funny observation about shopping and I can see how certain shops either appeal or repel people. Does the appeal actually relate to what we identify with because thats an assumption that should be expressed more clearly!
ReplyDeleteSorry Matt, but I forgot to adress you and also include my name!!
ReplyDelete--Gilad
Matt,
ReplyDeleteI think this is such a ridiculous topic yet so true! I would definitely say my identity picks my pants..I like to think of myself as an easy-going person that doesn't like to have too much attention on her. Therefore, my pants tend to be comfortable and not so expensive, but every now and then I have this feeling of having a new identity and buying things I would never usual wear, like leggings or ridiculously priced tight jeans. Like Lauren, I tend to work out a couple of times a week. As part of my identity in high school I was a cross country runner..however, in college I lost that part of my identity. After realizing I want this identity back I bought a pair of pants that were the size of what I was in high school and I will keep working out until I'm satisfied with myself. I definitely control my pants!