Gossip Girl Characters: Chuck & Nate Is there hope for our youth? Of course, I am talking about their style or lack there of. This is a subject that I touch upon often, but I never expound. I consider myself young at age 30, but I admit that many in my age group dress poorly. However, in my teens and twenties, my age group favored ripped jeans, t-shirts, and Gap inspired fashion. The 30 somethings today seem so damaged by their youthful past, I don't know if they can recover. Only a select few have gone on to abandon the square shoes, cheap black suits, and reckless casual style. That brings us to today's teens and early twenties crowd. Is there hope for them? In effort to form my opinion, I was forced to do a bit of research. It is without question that America's youth is influenced by popular television, music, and movies. Therefore, I set out on a mission to find out what television shows are teens watching, what music are they listening to, and what movies they watch. While researching these areas, I analyzed the fashion of the characters and singers they emulate. The photos I have chosen are from the television series Gossip Girl and a new popular rock band Vampire Weekend. I am also including a picture of the first young brave soul that is allowing me to use her photo for critique (My blogging friend Suz). After careful observation, I concluded that there is some hope. The preppy influence of the 1980s seems to have resurrected itself. Of course we know that genuine WASPs and Preps never stray from classic fashion, but again, we are discussing society's youth in general. The characters on the show Gossip Girl seem to adorn themselves with classic fashion. In particular, the character Chuck, wears tailored suits, ascots, and bow ties often on the show. Other characters are preppy with a disheveled appeal, but their clothes are classics.
The Band: Vampire WeekendThe band Vampire Weekend is another influence on America's youth. This band of young Columbia graduates are always dressed in preppy classics. Yes, they are disheveled and eccentric, but at least they are not wearing the typical teenage garbage I grew up surrounded by. Would I aspire to dress like these guys? No, but I appreciate the attempt to display some classic pieces of clothing. I had rather our young kids today be influenced by these guys rather than some leather pants, t-shirt wearing punk rock band.
Finally, I leave you with the first brave young lady to allow her photo to be used for critique, and my final thoughts. Even though I can find many flaws in the fashion of the characters and personalities influencing our youth today, and I am encouraged by the fact that classic apparel is being adorned. Hopefully, with age, these young people will learn how to properly wear their attire. In addition, seeing a photo of a young lady with the style that Suzanne demonstrates gives me additional hope. Her style is classic and simple in this photo. She chose a classic color, modest cut, and I love the fact that she did not wear black or navy shoes with the dress. Throw on some pearls and large hat, and she would be ready for a polo match in the Hamptons.
17 comments:
thank you for the "in this photo" disclaimer! one romp over to my website reveals all sorts of prep/wasp fashion sins, but it's nice to hit the mark from time to time :)
"Kids today..." That phrase will be uttered 'till the end of time, and it seems that kids are getting older and older as our culture is more youth oriented than ever. It seems no one wants to "grow-up", and maybe that's not a bad thing, unless we're talking fiscal, and parental responsibility.
Style and fashion ebb and flow, like any other aspect of pop-culture, and I have found that it is best to not long for the past (this is very hard for me not to do) and project to the future what I would like my little world to look like...I wear my Sunday Best to a very non-traditional church, and on Easter Sunday, it's all seersucker, pastels, and bucks.
I say, leave the kids alone, guide them as much as we can, and let them rebel, in fact encourage their rebellion while explaining to them that they can get away with a lot more if they look like they're not "up-to-no-good". As Bob Dylan said (maybe not the first to say it...) If you want to live outside the law, you have to be a very law-abiding citizen. Rebellion is in the mind, and in your everyday actions.
Let the ramblings cease.
-Brett
Suzanne,
Were you surprised to see your photo included in the post? It was such a nice photo, and it seem to fit the topic. You are young, and you dress well! Don't beat yourself up, your website is not full on sins.
"full of sins"
totally surprised!! nice to be seen as part of the young generation. you waspy guys are so charming & kind. no wonder you guys are so likable! :)
though "full of self" is more true...
ha :)
The girl is attractive..feminine and relaxed, at least in the photo. Good point about the shoes....
I bet the thirty something crowd here prefers classic films because they show society dressed halfway decently. But haven't you noticed that in films today the better dressed people are always depicted as evil or deranged? American Psycho, Wall Street?
Why does hollywood associate good dressers with such negative images?
Deranged characters in films today are often the best dressed. I guess the character's "full of self" attitudes require writers to create characters that appear self absorbed :) A little extra attention to the wardrobe could give this impression, but I personally don't consider dressing well to be a sign a self absorption.
Classic clothing, Macanudo cigars, sports cars and hot chicks.
What more can one ask for in a blog!
The problem with young people, Richard, is that they need to look like the people they would like to be with - and, at the moment, given the democratisation of fashion, the only way to look exclusive is to buy something whose brand is visible, which is a far simpler way to identify with someone than how well their clothes are cut, how inventively they match patterns, etc.
Two people wearing tracksuit bottoms; one says A&F, the other says Adidas. Instantly both can be pigeonholed. And people need pigeonholes to leave in, Richard, much like the preppy pigeonhole. It's difficult to fault their dress on cultural grounds - aesthetically, however, I agree, classic style is far superior.
But I cannot share your despair, Richard; this might be because of my current environment, but a good deal of the young people I see are well dressed, maybe not on a daily basis, but certainly more often than not. Cheap black suits, square-toed shoes, etc., are still in evidence, but the well-dressed are fighting a valiant rearguard action; a sartorial Roncesvalles, if you will.
Incidentally, if you are searching for more photos to be critiqued, I will see if I can dredge one up of myself looking reasonably presentable (i.e. sober).
benedict,
I would love to post one of your photos, sober of course.
I think I'd like to retract my last comment, and chime in with "John"...although I'd add "Steaks, Fine Shotguns,and Kentucky Bourbon.
she is absolutely delish, and just charming to look at. I've gathered from her blog, that she walks the walk and talks the talk. A true catch.
i think that kids today are not much different than kids of yesterday - in that trends scoop them up, its a time to find themselves. some find themselves sooner than others.
i know people who swear by the 80's look (and not preppy, i mean NJ big hair & blue eyeshadow), and I always was a stand out in my v-neck sweater vests, and bow ties. I should say I stood out - and took a lot of flack from class mates.
in due time they learn. at least i can take solace in not running into them in the menswear department of my favorite turn of the century department store.
Richard,
How about putting some pictures of your self on here for us to see? We can gather that you are young, slim, and dress well, from reading your blog, and I, for one, could use a good example of fine dress to build from.
Thanks I enjoy the blog very much!
collectively: god, i love men.
told u richard. you need to post yourself. even if you don't reveal your identity.. even more delicious. take photos with your face in shadow or hidden by a book, like that austin powers sketch. you'll drive everyone crazy - in a good way.
anonymous and suzanne,
I will see what I can do!! I have to figure out what is wrong with my digital camera first though :)
It's fun to watch society come back round to the preppy style.
I've seen more madras in the last couple of years than you can shake a cocktail stick at. Just the other day, while wearing a pair of pink shorts with a Bahamian crest motif surcingle belt and Sperry boat shoes, I noticed a young woman staring at my belt. She asked me, had I ever been to Nantucket?
Anyway, am I the only one here who would love to see photos of well-dressed WASPS and preppy bloggers [*ahem*] in a drunken, dishevelled state? The faint stain of foie gras and Sauternes on a dinner jacket. The bottle-scarred finish on a well-partied pair of C&J Belgraves. These would be far more interesting to me.
Be still my heart!
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