Conservative fashion and Liberal Minds? (Minneapolis, Mankato: neighborhoods, high school, college)

[jazzymentality]

My mom and I were driving to Minneapolis when we passed a small town, I don't remember the name of it. Makato maybe? I'm not quite sure, but it had alot of churches and alot of people casually dressing up in black. I thought it was very interesting that when you start going around different regions of the country, fashion begins to change also. I wasn't in Minneapolis for long, but I did notice alot of people wore more neutral colors than extremely bright and loud colors. It's very interesting.

[Minnehahapolitan]

Mankato is hardly a small town. Anyways, that about sums up the mindset of people here. Minnesotans don't go for the ostentatious and flamboyant in any aspect. It is reflected in our fashion, restaurants and even car dealerships. People should always feel free to act how they choose, but they will be quickly labeled as outsiders. We don't fault anyone for it, but it is certainly noted.

[MNNative]

I dunno...Mankato seems pretty small town to me (at least the area I was in). Reminds me of Red Wing and Stillwater. Though I think Stillwater is much nicer...

Anyway...

Since when was wearing black dressing up? I will agree though that fashion definitely changes geographically...even just throughout our metro. Perhaps that's where our opinions of neighborhoods stem from. Some might say impressions are largely fueled by appearances and therefore an area where fashion is a little more laid-back and unimportant is what people dub "middle class or blue collar" where an area with folks who dress with an always polished attitude might reflect a "snooty or upper class" vibe.

I think for some people that's why Minneapolis-proper freaks them out...you can find a wide array of fashion choices there. Having said that, in my experience the people downtown are usually more "hipsters" or at least fashion conscious. Whereabouts in Mpls were you?

"Classic" will always be in (hence neutral things)...but I know people who can jazz up a classic outfit just the same.

[golfgal]

Originally Posted by MNNative

I dunno...Mankato seems pretty small town to me (at least the area I was in). Reminds me of Red Wing and Stillwater. Though I think Stillwater is much nicer...

Anyway...

Since when was wearing black dressing up? I will agree though that fashion definitely changes geographically...even just throughout our metro. Perhaps that's where our opinions of neighborhoods stem from. Some might say impressions are largely fueled by appearances and therefore an area where fashion is a little more laid-back and unimportant is what people dub "middle class or blue collar" where an area with folks who dress with an always polished attitude might reflect a "snooty or upper class" vibe.

I think for some people that's why Minneapolis-proper freaks them out...you can find a wide array of fashion choices there.

Mankato has about 60,000 people, Stillwater has about 15,000, Red Wing around 12,000 or so.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by golfgal

Mankato has about 60,000 people, Stillwater has about 15,000, Red Wing around 12,000 or so.

I get that.

I don't always think of size as in how many people live there. I still consider Mankato a small town feel with a large population. It FEELS like Stillwater and Red Wing in charm...but Stillwater is better at the charm for me.

Am I making sense?

[Fireblanket]

Yeah, I guess you're making sense.

But still ...I thought this thread was going to be about this:
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
or something.

Like how a few extremely cutting-edge (liberal?) fashionistas are dressing like uber traditional conservatives.

Takes all kinds.

On a seperate note:
I kinda like the idea of ...oh what's the word I'm looking for here? Of people who don't 'show their hand' to every passing stranger or at least aren't bragging so loudly about their hand you can hear them from across the street.

People who aren't in constant competition with others.

Marketting yourself as more-arty-than-thou is boring.
or more travelled.
or more religious.
Etc.

[jazzymentality]

Originally Posted by Fireblanket

Yeah, I guess you're making sense.

But still ...I thought this thread was going to be about this:
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
or something.

Like how a few extremely cutting-edge (liberal?) fashionistas are dressing like uber traditional conservatives.

Takes all kinds.

On a seperate note:
I kinda like the idea of ...oh what's the word I'm looking for here? Of people who don't 'show their hand' to every passing stranger or at least aren't bragging so loudly about their hand you can hear them from across the street.

People who aren't in constant competition with others.

Marketting yourself as more-arty-than-thou is boring.
or more travelled.
or more religious.
Etc.

As a matter of fact, I actually was going to use the term, "Gothic". It seemed like a "classic gothic" feel almost.

[taysantanamama]

Maybe it is the college there, often college towns have a more artistic, free expressing set, whether it be students or faculty. Also, I wore black a lot, especially in the winter and muddy season because it was easier to hide the mud that splashed up on the back of my legs. And it is slimming.

[MNNative]

Originally Posted by Fireblanket

Yeah, I guess you're making sense.

But still ...I thought this thread was going to be about this:
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
or something.

Like how a few extremely cutting-edge (liberal?) fashionistas are dressing like uber traditional conservatives.

Takes all kinds.

On a seperate note:
I kinda like the idea of ...oh what's the word I'm looking for here? Of people who don't 'show their hand' to every passing stranger or at least aren't bragging so loudly about their hand you can hear them from across the street.

People who aren't in constant competition with others.

Marketting yourself as more-arty-than-thou is boring.
or more travelled.
or more religious.
Etc.

I think you lost me on your post...
What do you mean by, well, pretty much everything after "On a separate note"? Are you saying that if you dress normally and reveal yourself through personality it makes a bigger statement than wearing a statement?

I think this entire thread makes more sense to me now that I know you're talking about "Gothic" dress, Jazzymentality! I thought you were wondering why people wore black. (Who's feelin like a loser now...)

I agree with Taysantanamama about it probably having something to do with the college. But I see people dressed like that in the suburbs too (especially high school kids...)

[Minnehahapolitan]

Originally Posted by Fireblanket

Yeah, I guess you're making sense.

But still ...I thought this thread was going to be about this:
Elegant Gothic Aristocrat - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
or something.

Like how a few extremely cutting-edge (liberal?) fashionistas are dressing like uber traditional conservatives.

Takes all kinds.

On a seperate note:
I kinda like the idea of ...oh what's the word I'm looking for here? Of people who don't 'show their hand' to every passing stranger or at least aren't bragging so loudly about their hand you can hear them from across the street.

People who aren't in constant competition with others.

Marketting yourself as more-arty-than-thou is boring.
or more travelled.
or more religious.
Etc.

I don't know how they do things in Austin. The orig. poster seemed to be talking about more conservative fashion as in jeans and a black shirt. Los Angeles trends are well-ignored here, and people here are less daring fashion-wise. I had nothing to do with goths or silly fetishfashions. I have never seen anyone dressed in Victorian tails anywhere, much less Minnesota.