The Magical Forks

Boy, I love fashion!

Today we had brunch at the Asian Mall, in a Chinese Restaurant. A real one, nothing like those back in Portugal. I loved the beef thingy, actually it tasted and smelt like sushi… pretty self-explanatory. It was great. Then we wandered around the shops, found some cool stuff but didn’t buy anything.

When I got home I felt like searching some online stores, looking for some cool (and cheap) stuff. Yeah right! But anyways, I looked on Hot Topic (cool pins, I tell ya), and EBTM.

But as I’m addicted to Wikipedia (LOL) I had to search something. What came to my mind? Indie.

“Indie, an abbreviation of independent, is a term regarding a trend seen in music, film, business and subculture originating in the late 20th century.

The most general definition of the word is to be independent from the mainstream. The word has become most often associated with a subculture defined by its associated music, fashion, behavior and beliefs. Indie culture is an avant-garde lifestyle which follows social trends that are considered to consciously deviate from the mainstream. One common belief within indie culture is anti-conformity. The major influence for the indie culture came out of the indie music scene, associated with the DIY culture to the arts. Many followers of the indie culture are associated with local independent art and music scenes.

Since its emergence in the early 1980s, increasing numbers of youths have been drawn to the beliefs and trends of indie culture. Like many subcultures before it, the indie culture has become part of mainstream youth culture, in some ways earning the conformist status that it initially rejected. In the 2000s, the indie culture has had crossovers with other subcultures, including alternative, art school, hippie, emo, grungers, mods, and recently even metalheads. However, many indie followers are offended that such links are made between the indie subculture and some of those listed above, including emo because of their differing philosophies and emo’s links to mainstream culture. The indie culture in recent years has adopted many traits of the hippie culture and that of the 1960s counterculture.^“

Personally, I think this is pretty much my thing. This is a good definition, perhaps not who I am, but at least of how I feel.

On the Fashion section:

“A key characteristic of clothing trends within the modern indie culture is focus on uniqueness and individuality, which is often achieved by appealing to fashion trends associated with music from the 1970s (rock, punk and country) and the 1980s (New Wave). Common clothing items include band T-shirts (see Paul Maiorana), vintage clothing, striped tops, blazers, waistcoats, ties, cardigans, skinny jeans and Converse Chuck Taylor All-Stars.(…)” Yep!

“(…), indie culture does have an identifiable look, making it less than truly individual and more like any other subculture.” This is actually true, but it happens with every subculture. There is no such thing as a fully independent culture, and there never was nor never will be. Personally, I don’t need to be original or independent (as in not having anything to do with other subcultures or the mainstream). Yes, I try to get away from mainstream trends as much as I can, but I am aware that many other people do the same. “(…)Surprisingly, the increase in demand for “Chucks” has, as of late, driven up the market price for the once-inexpensive footwear.” I wear them because I like them, and they’re in fact the only footwear I’m willing to spend more money on (nowadays, of course). You see, I bought sneakers for 20 euros (when they are usually like 40, 50 or even 60 euros), bought 2 pairs of flip-flops for 5 dollars (the plainest I could find) and just feel bad to spend a lot of money on clothes.

Anyway, indie has come to mean so much more that independent. The forward ideas, concepts, etc., are growing and much more important. But as a matter of fact, people worry too much about what a subculture means, stands for, etc. I prefer to be myself and if I feel close to some subculture, it doesn’t mean it rules my life. I own nothing to anyone.

And the truth is… our lives revolve around making money (not necessarily only that). I believe in love and happiness, but right not I’m more focused on building a stable financial status, because I want to live well and want to go far. Unfortunately I need money to be able to do a lot of things I want to do. But I wouldn’t be able to handle it if I had to make the money with something that doesn’t give me any pleasure.

(On another note: the links on the Wikipedia article are spooky.)

Here are some photos then…