Liberating labelling

harmonica

I just started my style journey here at YLF, but what I find interesting is that I'm actually having sort of same experience as my first years as a student in university.

Background:
Studying culture and cultural expression we need terms and theory to understand and analyse. When I started to learn about this, I felt so liberated because I could put down in words what I had been experiencing, i.e seeing a movie or a photo that intrieged me.

Here comes:
After my first WiW post http://youlookfab.com/welookfa.....wedish-top, I got describing (labelling) comments on the style of the outfit. And I again experienced the liberating feeling of knowing how to describe/label what I had put together.

The thing is:
When knowing the labels really well, you can bend, play with and alter the rules in a self contious way, which I really appreciate.

Thats why labelling can be liberating to me

How do you feel about labelling?

12 years ago

Dressing

11 replies

Latest reply was from krishnidoux

ManidipaM

Veteran

VERY useful! Seeing as I'm struggling with defining my own style, and had lost my way in the woods pretty thoroughly and strayed far into Frump Kingdom for a few years, I find it very useful to be able to assign adjectives to a look I like and want to emulate, or one I feel is not quite me. It tells me what else to look out for --- both to covet and to curve away from. And choice is the beginning of freedom. So yes, definitely liberating.

I think the only time I felt labelling was constricting was when it entailed being seen through perspectives very different from my own. So that what I thought of as understated, someone else saw as unexciting; what I saw as a bow to my tradition and heritage, someone else saw as old-fashioned and unadventurous. BUT looking back, I see that told me a lot about the other persons' perspectives, and about WHAT I was aiming for and WHY I thought my look connected to that aim --- so again, very useful ultimately, though had to struggle a little towards the liberation there.

12 years ago

Emily

Veteran

This is absolutely true and applicable in so many situations! It's hard to really think about or troubleshoot anything that you can't accurately describe.

12 years ago

KikiG

Veteran

I have struggled a bit with it, but I agree with you, it is a very useful tool for analysis. I think for many years I dressed to not be noticed, which was a perfectly reasonable response to what was going on in my life. My life is different now, and I can tolerate attention in a way I could not then. I have always looked at what other people wore, and automatically assessed why it worked or did not work for them. However, this is more difficult to apply to yourself than strangers!

12 years ago

ironkurtin

Veteran

Labels can be super useful! I'm pretty possessive of mine. I like to pick my own instead of others picking them for me - probably because of my work, I am very fussy about words.

12 years ago

Sara L.

Veteran

I have a hard time with labels. For example, I run 3-4 days a week, but I have a hard time describing myself as a runner. To me a runner is someone who takes it much more seriously than I do and puts in serious mileage. My 2-3 mile runs just don't seem enough to make me a "runner". I have the same problem with clothing and style. I have a hard time finding labels that I'm comfortable with because I don't feel like I stick to one style consistently. I can see the need for them though to keep oneself on track with shopping and wearing things that are true to a person's style.

12 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Labeling is great - *if* you like the labels

12 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

I love labels and categorizing, but at the same there's a disconnect between my analytical and physical sides. I can't think and do at the same time. It's weird.

12 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

Sara L: I know what you mean. I've had a hard time absorbing some labels, but others are more easily picked up. Labels can be difficult to handle if they are defined by other and not yourself

12 years ago

harmonica

Veteran

I'm also glad I'm not the only one that likes labelling as an analysis tool and a way of understaning what's going on

12 years ago

Sharon

Veteran

I find them very useful if I keep to the manta "they are a tool, not a rule".

In other words, I can use them to help me understand why I like or don't like something, or to assist me unmaking an outfit work, but I should not allow them to define me and prevent me from experimenting outside my comfort zone.

12 years ago

krishnidoux

Veteran

It is indeed very liberating to find words to something. Language defines our reality.
By naming something, you make it exist .

You can place it within a category, sort it, within a bigger, shared realm. You can describe it. Explain it, justify it. A mental picture appears.

It is a double bladed sword, though, as language has the power to destroy, to imprison. You get a structure, but this structure will limit you. Is your style only...X...? Why not Y or Z or A or another thing altogether?

This said I agree with you absolutely. Being on this forum has helped me formulate style, fashion, and how it translated for me, in my world, like never before. And this was a decisive step in my style journey.

12 years ago

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