Keeping it Classy

First impressions say it all within just the first seven seconds of meeting someone, as mentioned by Forbes Magazine (Goman). Imagine a potential candidate for a wait staff position at a five-star restaurant walking into the interview wearing khaki shorts, a band T-shirt, and TOMS. How do you think they’d be viewed?

My vote is they would get one look with an abrupt, “Thank you for your time.” A first impression can say it all. This can differentiate the approachable yet dapper from the down-right scary, or the responsible from the careless. People don’t deserve to be discredited right off the bat, but judgment is sometimes inevitable. To ensure a fair chance at creating a bond, he/she should dress in a way that gives them justice.

Erneta, Sue, Metzger, Erica. "The Fresh New You Makeover: The What Not to Wear Edition." Ladies Home Journal. Meredith Corporation. 2013. Web. 18 March 2013.

Gemelke, Tenessa. "What Not to Wear: A Tale of Content Strategy." Our Blog. Brain Traffic. Web. 18 March 2013.

 

Of course society nowadays throws around the phrase, “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” but the act of judging is in human nature, and isn’t always a bad thing. Companies expect the top notch work ethic that potential employees should portray through their appearance. Wearing nice clothes instantly demands respect in today’s society. Well-kept men in suits are looked at as successful, while women in pencil skirts and glasses are seen as brilliant. Because people put care into their appearance, employers believe they will generate the same amount of attention toward their work.

 

The man mentioned above wouldn’t be considered for the wait staff position because his casual attire suggests he won’t provide the on-demand service the high-paying customers deserve. Now if the khaki-wearing, band T-shirt-sporting chap walks into a surf shop, the employers would surely give him a fair shot at the position because he would fit right in to the laid back atmosphere, not to mention he looks impeccably dressed for what his seemingly simple skill set is portrayed as.

 

If one expects an employer, or even a potential friend, to give them the time of day when having first-time contact, he/she needs to dress in a way that gives credit to who they are, or at least how they wish to portray themselves.

 

 

Lyst. Lyst Limited, 2010. Web. 18 March 2013

Pregnant Fashionista, 2007. Web. 18 March 18, 2013

Sweetleelee. “Women Suits.” Fashionnews21. Wordpress. Web. 18 March 18, 2013

Techman. “What’s Your Style?” Fashionrat. Orble. Web. 18 March, 2013.

Keeping it Natural

Originally, a hipster was a non-conformist, someone who believed in the freedom to do whatever they wanted.  So the term “hippie” is a shortened form of the term “hipster.”  The fashion of today is proof that the influence of the hippies and fashion of the 70s still affects society positively. Without the earthy hues and natural looks of the hippie fashion movement there would be a shortage of creative style and homage to the American culture. 

Fashion trends that have carried over since the 70s:

• Long hair
• Jeans
• Loose fitted clothing
• Earthy and natural colors

Long hair in the 70s symbolized the disapproval of “establishment” (Welters 502).  With long hair, the hippies were recognizable.  Men who grow out their hair today stand out as well; in today’s society, and during the 70s, long hair on males is viewed as rebellious.   The continuation of long hair on men since the 70s is not a bad thing.  If all males kept their hair short, there would be no diversity.  Individuality regarding appearance would be lost.  

Kitchens, Simone. "Woodstock Anniversary: The Best Beauty And Style Moments From 1969's Best Festival (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Jeans became the go-to uniform for the youthful generations of the 70s.  Anything homespun was considered fashionable (Welters 504).  Jean jackets, shirts, skirts, and vests appeared as this trend spread.  Jeans have not gone out of style, and likely never will.  Jeans suggest a laid-back and classic look, and the variety of jean products available is limitless.  Without jeans a part of American culture would be lost.  

Kitchens, Simone. "Woodstock Anniversary: The Best Beauty And Style Moments From 1969's Best Festival (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

"FP Pull On Kick Flare." Free People Clothing Boutique. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Loose fitted clothing was popular during the 70s because constrictive girdles and high heels did not fall under the “natural” category (Welters 505).  While loosely-fitting can also be defined as baggy and dumpy, the fact that the style still remains a trend today means it was effective in its goal of promoting comfort.  Today’s society emphasizes comfort.  

Kitchens, Simone. "Woodstock Anniversary: The Best Beauty And Style Moments From 1969's Best Festival (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

"Solene Maxi Dress." Free People Clothing Boutique. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Natural and earthy colors were a major part of the fashion of the 70s.  Makeup companies began to advertise products that suggested a return to earthy beauty.  Estée Lauder’s lipsticks had names such as “Red Maple,” “Sunny Chestnut,” and “Wood Coral” (503).  This natural look has come back in recent years, positively encouraging customers to embrace their own natural beauty. 

Kitchens, Simone. "Woodstock Anniversary: The Best Beauty And Style Moments From 1969's Best Festival (PHOTOS)." The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 15 Aug. 2012. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

"Printed Widebands." Free People Clothing Boutique. N.p., n.d. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

The fashion of the 70s, though rebellious during its peak, still exists in society today, continuing to contribute to the natural and creative outlook on style.

Citation from, Welters, Linda. "The Natural Look: American Style In The 1970s." Fashion Theory: The Journal Of Dress, Body & Culture 12.4 (2008): 489-510. Academic Search Premier. Web. 18 Mar. 2013.

Keeping it Appropriate

Have you ever been reading along in a book that you've been waiting to read for a long time only to find a graphic sex scene you never expected or detailed gory descriptions? It’s a complete surprise that can you pull you from the story in seconds.

There should be a way to avoid this without revealing the entire plot or asking around for people who've read it.

People should be able to pick up a book and know what to expect without any potentially offensive surprises appearing. This would be much easier with a rating system based on content rather than genre. A system like we use for movies today. Such offensive content could be . . .

• Sexual innuendos and situations
• Language
• Violence
• Drug, smoking, and alcohol references
• Racism

With this, a person could look at the back of a book they’re thinking about reading and see the content they can expect, rather than scouring the internet for a review of a book that they may not be able to find.

There are already sites on the internet that rate books according to the content in them, basing their ratings on the categories listed above. These sights are . . .

• Common Sense Media
• Rated Reads
• Compass Book Ratings
• Novel Book Ratings (shown below)

Screenshot. “The Hunger Games.” Novel Book Ratings. Web. 2013. http://novelbookratings.com/book.php?mode=home&bookID=3347

Common Sense Media deals almost exclusively with children’s books, movies, TV shows,
music and other forms of media. Many popular children’s and young adult books are found on the sight. Each of these books receives a thorough rating, based on many of the types of content listed above, that allows parents of young readers or the readers themselves to determine the kind of content in the book and whether or not it’s worth reading. Below is an example of Common Sense Media's book rating system.

Screenshot. “The Hunger Games.” Common Sense Media. Web. 2013. http://www.commonsensemedia.org/book-reviews/the-hunger-games

Unfortunately, this site doesn't cover adult books that could be read by children or young adults, so parents and readers have to look elsewhere for information about books that they might want to read.

To fix this problem, I propose that a content rating system for books be instituted. Books would be reviewed during the publishing process, just before their release, and would contain a small label on the back. This label would have a rating and would also contain an advisory as to the questionable contents, allowing readers to determine what books they wanted to read and ensure that people had a knowledge of what they were about to read.