TooManyHatsOnlyOneHead
Call Me a Cab
- Messages
- 2,286
I think it's more than fair to say that certain people look better in certain styles and even go so far to say that maybe certain people don't look as good in certain styles.Interesting that, at the time I am posting this, there are five "no" votes in the poll; yet, every written response is a definitive "yes."
IMHO, it depends. Certain people rock cross-zips regardless of their age. And, certain people look out-of-place in a cross-zip regardless of their age. I have seen people here on TFL who are plainly younger than 50 post photos of themselves wearing a cross-zip and, IMHO, it does not work for them (in some cases, it really does not work for them and begins to look downright cosplay).
I cannot cogently set forth the defining characteristics that enable one person to rock a cross-zip, and that preclude someone else from doing so. As Justice Stewart wrote in relationship to pornography, "I know it when I see it." @tmitchell59 rocks cross-zips -- so does @MrProper (I only mention them because they posted photos in this thread). They have the overall presence and presentation that melds perfectly with a cross-zip. I, on the other hand, do not have that presence/presentation. When I strap on a cross-zip, I look like I am going to a costume party -- I look like a nerd desperately trying to look cool, and woefully failing. Me wearing a cross-zip is the functional equivalent of a morbidly obese woman wearing a bikini.
Many here believe that anyone can successfully wear any jacket regardless of age or other considerations. I respectfully disagree. I personally believe that, in order to successfully wear certain garments, your overall personality, presence and presentation must jibe with the garment. Otherwise, there is a disconnect that renders even the coolest garments remarkably uncool. Age is certainly one of the relevant considerations, but there are many other factors. People younger than 50 also must consider whether a cross-zip works for them.
Everyone looks good in a well-fitting half-belt. Not everyone looks good in a cross-zip. I certainly do not.
Photography is tricky. I don't think most are capturing "a picture is worth a thousand words" or at least not as they intended. I can tell you I have many pieces of clothing that make me feel "different" when I put them on. Figuratively and maybe even literally in some cases, I feel taller, feel more confident, feel like I'm unstoppable. And in no way am I capturing that in my dirty mirror selfies LOL.
I think you're right with the I know it when I see it. But I think it's more about the person themselves and not what others are saying. It's a bit of a parallel quandary to say don't wear something unless you look good in it. It's true if you feel that way, but not so much if others feel that way. And the vice versa is true. People can tell you all day long something looks good, but if you don't feel that way, you won't wear it.
And I think that's why some of us said if you wear something, you have to own it. If you're just doing it to keep up with the joneses, it'll show. It doesn't mean it "looks good" but again, I don't think that matters, so long as you think it looks good.