I am Anonymous from yesterday, de-lurking and re-signing in to thank Summer and a few others for understanding where I was coming from.
Yes, I ultimately felt on the COS thread that the equivalent of "conventional" is "boring" and that if one dresses in a boring manner one must therefore be a boring person.
I'm sure Rachylou is a lovely person, but the comment that hit the hardest in this regard was the one of hers I quoted on the other thread: "I have to admit, when people stop with sexy/flattering/attractive - I find this beyond boring. It says to me: Breed, Buy a Beamer, Die... What's the point of that? Why bother? I could replace you with a cardboard cutout and it would be the same difference. I don't get it."
I'm sure no harm was meant, but this quote came across as the epitome of snobbishness. So I, as one who wears lots of mid-range off-the-rack very commonly obtained retail pieces would be utterly overlooked as not worth someone's time simply because I'm not interesting-looking enough to even approach? Then the reverse must be true, too -- that someone who dresses in a weird/quirky/"interesting"/avant garde way *must* therefore be an interesting person.... I'm certain there are examples to the contrary somewhere out there. (And for the record, I chose not to 'breed' and I drive a Jeep, not a "Beamer" ;).
So a resounding YES and high-five to Summer, above, who says it best: "My wardrobe exists to provide me with appropriate, considered outfits which allow me get on with my life with minimum fuss. I have no need nor desire to appear wacky or different, but neither do I wish to be invisible. So, yes, I'd say that puts me firmly on middle ground, and that's fine. I am comfortable enough in my own skin to continue to follow my own instincts in all aspects of my life."
Exactly how I feel. I joined this forum really, honestly, to learn new ways to style certain pant styles or booties or asymmetric hems. The deep analyses of the more -- I'll say it -- unconventional modes of dress are interesting, but I'll stay out of there and focus on Angie's advice on hemlines. Thanks for reading.