Columbia, South Carolina: A Sartorial Blandscape

 

By Jillian Owens

 

I love Columbia. It’s an interesting, fun, and affordable place to live. We have great restaurants and a growing art & music scene. Most of the people here are pretty swell for pretty much most of the time.

I just hate the way most of the people here dress.

Okay, that’s a broad over-statement with the intention of getting a response so you’ll continue reading the rest of this article. If you’re still reading this article, I’ve clearly succeeded.

I mean it and I don’t mean it. Of all the cities in the world that I’ve lived in or visited, Columbia ranks amongst blandest and most restricted in their clothing choices. Of course there are some fabulous outliers with their own finely-crafted unique styles (fellow MidlandsLife-er Brian Maynor is one), but they’re rare…much too rare. Most of the folks here look nice…they just look exactly the same.

A few months ago, some friends of mine and I went to the World Beer Festival. We were surrounded by almost identically-dressed men and women.

Leggings. Long boots over the leggings. An oversized sweater. Long, slightly curled hair. It was like a uniform. An oddly equestrian uniform.

I give men a little more sympathy, as their options tend to be more limited than women’s. However, there’s still no excuse for this:

What? Is your back reallllly that sweaty and gross?

 

I understand trends. I understand that certain types and items of clothing come in and out of fashion. I’m not even saying that each season’s uniform looks bad. It’s just all exactly the same, which is incredibly boring.

I love expressing myself through fashion and I make bolder choices than most. You could argue that the leggings+boots+sweater combo is an honest expression of who these women are, but I for one desperately hope they don’t all possess identical personalities as well as wardrobes. Otherwise, we can just rename Columbia “Stepford” and wait for the robots to turn us all into legging-loving pearl-wearing drones as well.

 

Nary an equestrian boot in sight!

 

It seems the desire to fit in has overtaken the desire for self-expression or sartorial choice. Examples are everywhere. When you’re shopping with your friends, and you pick out a dress you love, do you put it back on the rack if they don’t like it? Rather than seeking inspiration from fashion magazines, do you find yourself carbon-copying the looks inside with no unique interpretation at all? Do you ask the sales clerk to pick out outfits for you? Do you select your wardrobe based on what everyone else is wearing, or what you actually like?

Stand out a little. Just a little. I’m not asking you to do anything crazy here. We’ll start with baby steps. Buy that dress, even if your bestie doesn’t dig it…because you like it. Wear those shoes that are slightly dated, but still your faves. If you don’t feel like curling your hair today, say to hell with it and let your tresses fall naturally. Go for that daring eye shadow you’ve always wanted to try.

This is a unique city filled with fascinating and unique people.

Dress accordingly.

 

You do you.

 

 

 

 

Jillian Owens is a writer, marketer, designer, and eco-fashion advocate. When she’s not gallivanting about, she’s busy refashioning ugly thrift store duds into fashionable frocks at ReFashionista.net or creating compelling content for the clients of Riggs Partners, where she works as a digital marketing specialist. She also reviews local theater productions for Jasper Magazine and Onstage Columbia, and is a contributor for The Good Life Blog and The Free Times. Any comments, questions, or crude remarks can be directed to [email protected].

 

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