rivoli, nice to meet ya! I'm with you on the one bright accent. Usually when I do that, it's my shoes, but sometimes it's a scarf.
This thread was a bit of a firestarter because I think I inadvertently suggested that people who like to wear bright colours are somehow less cool, which of course is not true. It's also possible that some of you inferred that I think I'm just the coolest gal in town, which is embarrassing because it just ain't so. My inner nerd is alive and well, and I'm in a constant battle to drown her out with new skills and experiences that give me confidence. Because that's the key to coolness: confidence. Dressing the part is only gravy.
Over at Already Pretty (where I usually don't comment but felt compelled to do so today, under the name Aziraphale, since I'd previously spent time thinking about the topic), I tried to make it clear that "coolness" is largely achieved by, well, achievement. People who are awesome at something have HUGE cool points in their favour. And also, although truly cool people do not, of course, lie awake at night thinking up new ways to look cool, they often have a bit of style and flair going on in the clothing department. Having appealing looks never hurts, either, although it's not a prerequisite to coolness. And then there's the confidence and aplomb, which is something you develop over time, and naturally rides on the coat-tails of learning how to be awesome at something.
Here's an example: the hysterically talented Tim Minchin (here's another plug for the guy, but we're going to his concert this Saturday in Seattle, so he's on my mind), who dazzles audiences with his cutting wit and spellbinding mastery of the piano. Now, HE'S cool. I'd think his hair was cool anyway, because it looks like a more demented version of my own. Hell, maybe if I had his musical talent and comedic timing, I'd wear my hair that crazy too. But I digress. My point is, if you saw Tim Minchin passing on the street, you might think he looked weird, or silly, or poseur-ish, but once you know what he can DO, then he doesn't seem like anything except cool.
Here's a link. Judge for yourself how cool he is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVN_0qvuhhw
Love how he gives you the letters and you think he's spelling out the n-bomb....and then it's not.