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West coast fashion, or lack thereof


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#1 Holden West

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 12:28 PM

Sarah Petrescu, in the Times Colonist:

The simultaneous openings of the Art Gallery of Greater Victoria's Andy Warhol: Larger than Life exhibit and the Sex and the City movie -- and my determination to attend both last Thursday night -- revealed some interesting things about the state of fashion in this city. [...]

What was unforgivable about the gala -- or at least what I think Andy would have found unforgivable -- were the number of folks who shlepped in wearing T-shirts, Gore-Tex and ratty sneakers.


I recently attended a Christening and a couple of funerals and was surprised at the number of grown men wearing golf shirts and casual pants. Jeez, would it kill you to put on a jacket for an hour? I mean, these guys in the 1930s were unemployed and they managed to have enough self-respect to want to make a good impression:



It's remarkable how we resemble our neighbours in Washington:

Pemco salutes Socks and Sandals Guy
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#2 Caramia

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 12:39 PM

ok that ad just made me laugh till I choked.

#3 Holden West

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 12:56 PM

^Note the wife in the fleece vest. Then there's sweatpants...
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#4 G-Man

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 01:13 PM

I agree. People show such lack of respect for their fellow citizens by not dressing appropriately at such events. I believe that this is not just a West Coast thing but part of the larger Me generation attitude where people only concern themsleves with well themselves.

Show some respect people!:mad:

#5 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 01:33 PM

I agree too. Heck you can get a nice looking blazer for only $100. I'm with G on the reason. Being "comfortable" is a lame excuse. Plus don't you want to look half-decent just for yourself?

#6 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 01:38 PM

^Note the wife in the fleece vest. Then there's sweatpants...


lmao -- that's such a great clip! "You're telling the world, 'I give up, I can't compete in normal society, I'm miserable so I may as well be comfortable!'"

Ah, fashion... Then of course there's also the Facebook Gangsta... (love this! note the change in fashion...)
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

#7 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 01:48 PM

PS: re style generally - West Coast people are nationally (internationally, if you count the US and Canada as separate) known to be style-challenged. That Pemco Insurance "socks & sandals" clip nails it.

Of course the East Coast (US) invented the woman in mink coat, but wearing running shoes phenomenon.
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

#8 davek

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 02:20 PM

Of course the East Coast (US) invented the woman in mink coat, but wearing running shoes phenomenon.


Which is a pretty sensible combination, what with those speedy PETA activists...

#9 Marilyn

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 03:20 PM

Coming from Montreal, we were dismayed at the lack of fashion in Vancouver and Victoria. It seemed people were leaving their homes still in their pj's aka sweat pants. Now, 20 years later it's even worse. I think the street people are setting the styles these days. And that would not be a good thing.

When I first lived in Victoria there were street photographer's on Douglas Street so everyone dressed up to go downtown.

Check out the ladies behind us in their hats and gloves and white shoes.

#10 aastra

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 03:34 PM

Hmmm. Montreal has always seemed very casual to me. Maybe because I've only been there in the summer when it's hot?

#11 victorian fan

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 03:43 PM

When I first lived in Victoria there were street photographer's on Douglas Street so everyone dressed up to go downtown.


Yes, there was a photographer but that's not the reason people dressed up.
Going downtown was special. You dressed up. Just like going to church.
Men wore hats as did women. Women would never wear trousers nor would girls. White/pale gloves and hats for spring/summer. Dark for fall/winter. There were many rules. People were polite. Those days are long gone.


I still dress up a bit to go downtown. ;)

#12 julienne

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 04:21 PM

Bravo to Sarah Petrescu for speaking out about the state of sloppy in Victoria. Attended the Gin launch at the Empress recently and same thing. Perhaps invitations to these events should suggest a dress code.

#13 Holden West

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 04:34 PM

Great photo, Marilyn. Bonus VibrantVictoria points for showing the Permanent Loan building and a trolley in the same pic!
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#14 Holden West

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 04:47 PM

Vibrant Victoria needs a column like Vice Magazine's DOs and DON'Ts.
"Beaver, ahoy!""The bridge is like a magnet, attracting both pedestrians and over 30,000 vehicles daily who enjoy the views of Victoria's harbour. The skyline may change, but "Big Blue" as some call it, will always be there."
-City of Victoria website, 2009

#15 Caramia

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 05:29 PM

Haha! What a great photo! I would like to go downtown with white gloves. Perhaps next VV meet I shall find some white shoes and gloves to wear.

#16 VicHockeyFan

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 07:13 PM

Brilliant photo Marilyn!

Montreal doesn't seem as stylish as some do suggest. I was just there and I found it as hard to find good (and I don't necessarily mean very expensive) men's clothing stores there as it is here and in Vancouver.

#17 yodsaker

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 07:39 PM

I was happy to see Victoria's "anti-style" when I came here.
After spending my sentence in Toronto I was really tired of seeing frumpy people with no innate style desperately seeking it by shelling out small fortunes.
Designer dresses didn't make the women beautiful and elevator shoes didn't make the men tall.
Victoria seemed to have the courage to say to hell with it, I'm not out to impress anyone.

#18 G-Man

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 07:46 PM

Victoria seemed to have the courage to say to hell with it, I'm not out to impress anyone.


That could be the slogan for the city.

#19 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 08:23 PM

The most dressed-up people I ever saw in my life were Miami residents. Ordinary people, average worker-bees, family folk: when they go out, whether it's on a night-time date or a day- or night-time family event that includes a gazillion relatives, they dress to kill.

Many of them are originally from Cuba, and hate Castro and every form of socialism.

I wonder if maybe we have a problem with style because it signifies money/ wealth, and (unlike those Cubans and their descendants), we've always been generally well-off and so we feel guilty about having money. So we act and dress like we're poor, because we've totally internalized this idea that anything else would be an affront to "the poor," and would paint us as "greedy."

Somewhere along the line we also started to believe that beauty is superficial or something "the man" sells to hoodwink us.

To prove that we know better (ha), we dress like schlups.
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

#20 Ms. B. Havin

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Posted 03 June 2008 - 08:28 PM

Vibrant Victoria needs a column like Vice Magazine's DOs and DON'Ts.

Oh, that's too harsh on the eyes <shudders> and just awful.

I much prefer The Sartorialist, which is measured and beautiful and ordinary, but uplifting.

Think of it as what Marilyn's photo shows, only for today.

And PS: What the others said, Marilyn: great photo!
When you buy a game, you buy the rules. Play happens in the space between the rules.

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