THE EVIDENCE: That is me on the right, with the pink slacks.
Almost a year ago, I wrote a post called My Zen Closet. I have not written on the topic of clothing since then, but I feel compelled to address it once again. Sometimes, I lose that Zen Closet feeling and I need to shop.
Recently, while standing in a dressing room trying on Far Too Many Shirts (none of which I bought), I happened to overhear a stranger in the next dressing room speaking to her shopping companion.
She mentioned a particular designer name that I happen to like, and described the clothes of that brand as “conservative”. She meant it in a negative way.
Coincidentally, while listening to this assessment, I was trying on something by that very brand.
The brand actually occupies at least four hangers in my closet, a significant number considering how few clothes I actually own.
I started to think about the word conservative.
Are the designs of that brand conservative? They are simple, they are solid… unique, yes, but probably also conservative. Navy blue merino wool. Olive linen. White cotton.
I wondered to myself, Do I look conservative? Do I dress conservatively? If so, how do I feel about being judged as conservative?
These are pretty introspective questions to consider while trying on Far Too Many Shirts, or even one shirt, really. Having missed lunch, I was not prepared to delve too deeply into my sense of identity.
There was a time when my closet held things like shiny, stretchy, hot pink pants.
That time has passed.
My clothes are more conservative these days. It’s true.
I believe my hair would be considered conservative, with its touches of gray.
Some of my conservative clothing. The two items on the right are from the brand in question.
Am I conservative?
You might say that my politics are a little on the conservative side. I try to conserve money, when I can. I conserve natural resources. I definitely try to conserve space.
Sometimes my blog posts are short, because I like to conserve words.
I like classic styles. I like to buy clothing that I will still want to wear in ten or fifteen years. Whether I can still fit into the clothing after that time is another matter…
So, go ahead, call my clothes conservative. Call me conservative.
I don’t mind.
