STYLE IS REALLY THAT DEEP Y'ALL!

BY IGAL MUSARA.

" It's the evolution of a society, the blooming of a flower, the shedding off of a tree, the journey to a  new testament from the old- its nature. Change is always bound to come. The quicker we accept its inevitability, the quicker  we move towards  true growth."

I have a sister, the oldest in my family, whom I love so much.Whenever I visit her she has a tendency of blatantly telling me how much she does not like  my style and does not get it. I have gotten used to the ridiculing, I usually write it off as silly sibling rivalry. On one occasion, while we were discussing my style I asked her, " What is it about my style that you don't like so much, is it that bad?" I genuinely wanted to understand her standpoint. She said my style is OK but just too 'English' and the geography isn't exactly appropriate for such. 'It's not that beautiful in the eyes of ghetto inhabitants,' she said,'maybe if you move to uptown later in the years, it might just start making sense.' Our conversation was my muse for this article. It got me thinking about how style and the way its evolving is part of the broader ongoing social evolution.

I would like to assume that you might have been through a more or less similar episode, maybe not, either way it has happened and it is happening to someone. A lot of my peers face criticism concerning their taste in clothes. The Gen Z style can safely be described as controversial by some Millennial, Generation X and the other way more conservative generations.

As more often than not, the way we dress say so much about who we are. It's the 21st Century and clothes are now being used to express emotions, communicate ideas or give hints of our true selves. It is no longer about merely conforming to societal double standards or doing everyone's version of what is right. I'm guessing this is where the conservative thinkers bring up issues to do with respect for our culture and a whole lot of other counter arguments. Cultural dilution, Westernization, mental colonization and the African way of doing things. Complex concepts. Not in the mood for those, sorry dear reader. Maybe what i should just clarify is the fact that while I'm all freedom of expression and having an open mind when it comes to style, I'm not condoning the inappropriateness of certain styles. Freedom comes with responsibility.

Any reasonable being or member of a mature society understands that there is need to always "dress for the occasion", which I'm calling 'contextual dressing'(not even sure if that's a thing , let's just say for now it is).

I certainly cannot be putting on ripped jeans and a baggy hoodie at a family gathering or roam around the hood in night clubbing regalia. Not only do i think it shows a little bit of confusion, it could qualify as one of the markers of immaturity.Trust me, I understand the strong urge to be a rebel and different, I am those things, rebellious and different. There are times i remind myself that embracing change has never been easy for most people, I included, but there is need to compromise just so that we can all move forward.

In as much as style has the ability to lay bare some aspects of one's personality, society also attaches particular traits to particular styles. Their reasoning is mainly informed by stereotypes, the same used to harrow any non-conforming members of the society. The way I see it, if you adopt a specific style that you feel best express your true self, being told to drop it feels a lot like rejection even though its mere disapproval or concern. I don't think being bullied into conformity sits well with anyone.The brilliant  John .F. Kennedy aptly referred conformity to as the jailer of freedom and enemy of growth.

It's totally cool to dress different. Gothic. Vintage. Grunge.On Brandable there is a list with 33 different types of styles and all you need to know about them.
Pick one if you must, do more research on it, make sure its comfortable as well as always appropriate in every unique setting. Do me a favor thou, don't expect rainbows without a little rain, it's not always easy to stand your ground but it's imperative that we do.

"You can't challenge society and expect it not to challenge you back." (Kerry Washington on Little Fires Everywhere Season1)

Style has always been a huge part of social evolution. Many styles prevailed and disappeared over these previous centuries. Style comes from within, it liberates, it evolves, its individualistic, its supposed to to be original and most of all it shows character. It is the crucial component of your persona and it should never be built on anyone's opinions but yours.Try and make sure that you fight the need to move with the flow but instead strive towards authenticity and remaining true to self.

Take a good look at your own style, pick one if you think you need it. It should say a thing or two about you!