The main feature of my manner of dress is that I always wear something black. Always. I started wearing black on December 8, 1980 – the day John Lennon was murdered. For years and years I wore all black a great deal of the time. My kids called me an aged death walker. Here is a photo of me in 1999 wearing all black and taken by the entrance to Strawberry Fields, the portion of Central Park in New York City dedicated to the memory of John Lennon.
Seven or so years ago my wearing black as a sign of mourning over John’s murder evolved into a sort of personal tribute to him instead. Wearing black is a natural part of my being, and in my thoughts wearing black is still a connection to John. I do mix in some color now – usually reds or turquoise. Since changing my hair color to red three or four years ago, I have been adding colors I’ve never worn before such as yellows, greens and oranges.
Some comments on my dress aside from the color issue: I probably dress more conservative than not. I try not to go to the store in sweats or a t-shirt. I don’t dress up or anything, but I try not to look sloppy. My dress at both my jobs is business casual which suits my style.
When I was a teenager the beliefs and values of my family conflicted greatly with my style of dress. There were a lot of threats to lower my hems to make my skirts longer, and I had to avoid certain members of my family entirely. Being Southern Calvary Baptists in Texas I can understand why they had a problem with my hippie manner of dress. Here is a photo of me as a teenager in one of my “outrageous” outfits that caused so much fuss. I wish I still had those shoes.
My closest friend in Eugene dresses conservatively for a professional job during the week, and she and her husband wear a lot of Duck gear on weekends. My far-flung friends dress in every style from tie-dyed t-shirts to business suits. No one core belief defines my peers – thank goodness.
