Dressing "styles'' in Seattle (Vancouver, Bellevue: mortgage, how much, neighborhood)

[f1000]

I've been to Seattle many many times, just got back from a trip up there in the Pacific NW and always marvel how badly dressed the people are...Hippies, hipsters, grungy, granola. Socks with sandals in early January. Fleece, plaid and cargo pants. Eddie Bauer puff jackets galore.

Understand this may or may not be related to the weather...but I always head up to (downtown) Vancouver when visiting Seattle, and it is startling how much better dressed they generally are up there (not as grungy or hippie), so weather can't be everything.

So my question is, does Seattle attract people fr other parts of the country who embrace these fringe spheres and therefore are walking exhibits of such ideals- or is growing up in the Pacific NW likely to compel/ steer one to become a granola, hippie or hipster? Guess it may be a combination of both?

[flyingsaucermom]

Originally Posted by f1000

I've been to Seattle many many times, just got back from a trip up there in the Pacific NW and always marvel how badly dressed the people are...Hippies, hipsters, grungy, granola. Socks with sandals in early January. Fleece, plaid and cargo pants. Eddie Bauer puff jackets galore.

Understand this may or may not be related to the weather...but I always head up to (downtown) Vancouver when visiting Seattle, and it is startling how much better dressed they generally are up there (not as grungy or hippie), so weather can't be everything.

So my question is, does Seattle attract people fr other parts of the country who embrace these fringe spheres and therefore are walking exhibits of such ideals- or is growing up in the Pacific NW likely to compel/ steer one to become a granola, hippie or hipster? Guess it may be a combination of both?

LOL And my question to you is: Are you visiting the same 2 streets over and over again, like someplace known to be "granola, hippie or hipster" (just love the generalizations!) because it's not what I see here in the Eastside.

[f1000]

Originally Posted by flyingsaucermom

LOL And my question to you is: Are you visiting the same 2 streets over and over again, like someplace known to be "granola, hippie or hipster" (just love the generalizations!) because it's not what I see here in the Eastside.

no i have spent time in the Eastside (you mean Bellevue/ Redmond right)..and it is an improvement.

But the city limits- yes startling the extent of granola, hippie, hipster, grungy from one end of the city limits to the other.

[branh0913]

Outside of Bellevue, no one knows how to dress. I feel comfortable in Bellevue because I can wear my button up shirts and slacks, as well as my nice shoes.

[PollyGlott]

Originally Posted by f1000

I've been to Seattle many many times, just got back from a trip up there in the Pacific NW and always marvel how badly dressed the people are...Hippies, hipsters, grungy, granola. Socks with sandals in early January. Fleece, plaid and cargo pants. Eddie Bauer puff jackets galore.

Understand this may or may not be related to the weather...but I always head up to (downtown) Vancouver when visiting Seattle, and it is startling how much better dressed they generally are up there (not as grungy or hippie), so weather can't be everything.
So my question is, does Seattle attract people fr other parts of the country who embrace these fringe spheres and therefore are walking exhibits of such ideals- or is growing up in the Pacific NW likely to compel/ steer one to become a granola, hippie or hipster? Guess it may be a combination of both?

Originally Posted by f1000

no i have spent time in the Eastside (you mean Bellevue/ Redmond right)..and it is an improvement.
But the city limits- yes startling the extent of granola, hippie, hipster, grungy from one end of the city limits to the other.

My dear! How positively revolting! I don't know how you can stand to spend even one hour among such savages!
Fleece ... puff jackets ... plaid - one shudders at the thought...
BTW, are the "fringe spheres" you refer to yet another form of sartorial decoration? Some type of hipster scarf, maybe???

[flyingsaucermom]

Well, what can I tell you. I can say with complete confidence that I'm the worst dressed woman in my neighborhood and our cars are among the oldest and cheapest (but very efficient and effective). I can't imagine what people, whom I'm not acquainted with, think of me during my daily walks or dropping kids at school. What I can say though, is that my savings rate will afford the capability to pay off a 30 year mortgage in less than 4, or sending my kids to any higher education institution, public or private, or maybe even taking a trip around the world, lots of possibilities! Clothing can be fun, creative, improve self-confidence, signal to others social ranking and affiliation, but it can be terribly superficial and fleeting... in terms of investments, the prudent choice is to not compete in that capacity.

Also, Seattle is a truly amazing city... even compared to Vancouver, there is just so much beauty in the natural environment. I can hardly even pay attention to what others are wearing because I'm out enjoying the some odd 40 miles of hiking trails around my town. Maybe it's possible that there are more people like me in Seattle?

[ctr88]

I actually just moved to Seattle from San Diego and I quite like how the women dress here. It's hipster, but many are quite cool looking. I think the OP is way overdoing the criticism. The dress here reminds me a lot of hipster/alternative San Francisco look where I lived before SD. But NYC has always been my favorite for well dressed folks at least in the U.S. Montreal out does Vancouver any day in Canada. Of course Paris in Europe. It sounds like the OP is talking more about Portland than Seattle? Now Portland he may have a point lol

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by f1000

Guess it may be a combination of both?

It is. It's a combination of home-grown grunge and the Eddie Bauer/REI weekend hiker chic, plus Berkeley and San Francisco hip. There are a LOT of people from northern CA in Seattle.

[hamellr]

Or perhaps a lack of people who care about style and instead wear what is cheap and effective?

[Calvin&Hobbes]

I lived in Orange County and worked in LA for 6 years. I think ALL of SoCal is a "fringe" culture where high school girls are getting boob jobs and nose jobs and every other high schooler is driving a 3-series.

I've lived in NYC, NorCal, SoCal, and the Midwest and I find the clothing style in Seattle to be refreshing. You are right in that outward appearance isn't so important here overall, though the Eastside where I live is more conscious in clothing style. Clothing is more about function for activities here and there is less interest in impressing others. I see lots of expensive outerwear here though and I think that is a different type of style statement. Vancouver is driven by a strong Asian population for whom style is much more of a cultural statement.

BTW, I find that the SF Bay Area especially in Silicon Valley to be not so dissimilar in attitudes towards clothing. It's not easy to tell who is a millionaire or even a billionaire. I know this from personal experience and would bet a good chunk of money that you would not be able to guess from their outward appearance who among my family & friends has more money than they have time or inclination to spend it. Whereas in Orange County, everyone, rich or poor, is dressed to the nines and driving a (leased) BMW/Mercedes/Lexus.

What do people in Seattle care to spend their money on? Check out the brands of their bikes/skis/kayaks/boats. The brands that say I've got money are ones that you've likely never heard of unless you are in the "know".

You're right. People from Seattle are from a different type of tribe with different norms than much of the rest of the US, but not so different than other outdoorsy places such as Boulder, Tahoe, Vermont.