My point is that the same people who bemoan the lack of expressiveness in men’s clothing are at the same time defining masculine coding as being utilitarian in the context of trucks.
I think cars should be more individualistic, which is part of Slate’s pitch. So should men’s fashion expectations.
That being said, a lot of truck lifting is very similar and more “I’m signicaling I’m part of this culture,” than doing it for the sake of being cool. Some people do it as a form of expression, but that’s the exception in my experience.
I’m confused. Most self expression in fashion is about identifying with some kind of culture. Hence why a conservative will wear cowboy boots, a punk will wear a band t shirt, and a gay man will wear a neon pink mesh tank top. Sure, runway fashion designers and people for whom fashion is a hobby will look at a piece with a discerning eye and try to unravel its intrinsic appeal based purely on immediate understanding of the impact of the piece on the human eye. But most people, male or female, intuitively use fashion in the most utilitarian of senses - they want to look good, and tell others who they are in a way that others will understand. And the most important thing that most strangers will want to know about us is what communities we are part of.
My point is that the same people who bemoan the lack of expressiveness in men’s clothing are at the same time defining masculine coding as being utilitarian in the context of trucks.
This incongruity is frustrating to me.
Agreed.
I think cars should be more individualistic, which is part of Slate’s pitch. So should men’s fashion expectations.
That being said, a lot of truck lifting is very similar and more “I’m signicaling I’m part of this culture,” than doing it for the sake of being cool. Some people do it as a form of expression, but that’s the exception in my experience.
I’m confused. Most self expression in fashion is about identifying with some kind of culture. Hence why a conservative will wear cowboy boots, a punk will wear a band t shirt, and a gay man will wear a neon pink mesh tank top. Sure, runway fashion designers and people for whom fashion is a hobby will look at a piece with a discerning eye and try to unravel its intrinsic appeal based purely on immediate understanding of the impact of the piece on the human eye. But most people, male or female, intuitively use fashion in the most utilitarian of senses - they want to look good, and tell others who they are in a way that others will understand. And the most important thing that most strangers will want to know about us is what communities we are part of.