I have the condition formerly known as Asperger syndrome. One of the complications is no fashion sense, at least from a neurotypical's perspective.
One symptom associated with the autism spectrum is sensory defensiveness, in which one has trouble shutting out certain sensations For example, Aspies may prefer soft fabrics. That probably explains why I never wear jeans. In fact, I often wear a long, calf- to ankle-length shirt when I'm not wearing loose trousers that tie at the knee. In any case, I tend to wear solid colors so that I can subtly cosplay 2D video game characters who wear solid colors due to lack of pixel space. Suit and tie is allegedly a relic of the Little Ice Age of 1550 to 1850, and now we're in global warming anyway.
When I wear a long overcoat and a top hat in the winter, some people compare my appearance to Mr. Scrooge, while others recognize I look way too young for that role. I bought the coat at a thrift store, and I bought my top hat from an online costume store. The top hat is "61282 Adult Lincoln Stove Pipe Hat" by Forum Novelties Inc., UPC 721773612824, and Party City sells them for $10 each during October. (Other sources: [1]) The hat does press against the forehead a bit until it's broken in, so don't jump to conclusions if it appears not to fit at first.
As for the decline of top hats, suggestions on Reddit include smaller doors, World War I-era rationing, and automobiles. It wasn't quite as obvious as depicted in a TV advertisement for Raymond James financial advice service.
Did the Industrial Revolution and automatic doors kill capes, as is speculated in comments here and here? Or was it bicycles and motorcycles, as speculated here? Either way, there's a case for bringing them back: capes make students feel like superheroes according to Kristi Harrison of Cracked.
The apostle Paul wrote under inspiration that one should dress in a way that reflects "modesty and soundness of mind". (1 Timothy 2:9) The Bible doesn't go into prescriptive detail beyond that. But fabric shortages during a total war in the 1940s led to an increasing amount of exposed skin in American fashion over the second half of the twentieth century, which some believe reflects loose sexual morals. So what is "modesty"?
Perhaps the Mormons are right. One possible standard of modesty is to cover the shoulders, knees, and what is in between: roughly the part that an ancient Hebrew tunic covers or that a "temple garment" (Mormon underwear) covers. Anything less just makes one appear stupid.[1]
Perhaps the Muslims are right. Studies show that a man looks at a man and processes his image as a whole, but a man processes a woman as a set of individual parts: genital area, breasts, hair, and lips. Not only do men see women as sets of objects, looking for a mate, but so do women, comparing themselves to one another.[1][2] The loose-fitting outer garments worn by some Muslim women may trick the brain into shutting off this instinctive objectification.
Categories: Clothing