How should socialists dress?

[Alain]

Living in a capitalist world is quite hard for a socialist. Most of us don't want to conform to capitalist norms. But what should we do about the way we dress? Wearing a suit is, at least in my opinion, very capitalist and it really helps the capitalist system perpetuate the symbolic power it has over the people, sport coats(or blazers, whatever) tend to look upper class and even the jeans and T-shirt shtick is incredibly imperialistic and american by it's nature and history.
What are we left with? Sweaters? We seriously lack an alternative for current dress codes. What are we supposed to wear when a suit is required and we don't want to get kicked out(by fascists, I might add:glare: ).
As you can see, the above post has been written from a male perspective, because I want to clarify something for myself, I don't mind if you talk about female clothing, too.

[Sinister Intents]

I believe any leftist, or anyone reallly should dress the way they're most comfortable. I, personally am most comfortable dressing like a metalhead with goth and punk influences. Often I wear all black clothing, and dark colors. I mostly wear black pants, and band T shirts, but I also wear very nice black dress shirts.

A socialist should dress how they feel most appropriate and comfortable which depends on that persons tastes, mood, et cetera.

[adipocere]

I believe a socialist should dress only after checking the "Made In" tag. Labor laws are always in style.

[motion denied]

I believe a socialist should dress only after checking the "Made In" tag. Labor laws are always in style.

So we would end up wearing... nothing. There's private property, there's alienated labour and exploitation.

[#FF0000]

Socialism isn't (shouldn't be) a lifestyle, so...

[Art Vandelay]

We must all dress in dashikis and berets.

[Creative Destruction]

Burlap sacks.

[human strike]

So we would end up wearing... nothing. There's private property, there's alienated labour and exploitation.

Like our barbarian ancestors before us, we shall ride into battle and besiege the walls of Empire butt-naked.

[Sam_b]

I believe a socialist should dress only after checking the "Made In" tag. Labor laws are always in style.

Except in the real world not everyone can afford to buy clothes that aren't made cheaply overseas. Should we be looking down on working-class socialists because they wear cheap Primark clothes, for instance?

[Alonso Quijano]

I don't think Karl and Engels put much thought in that... Basically, it doesn't matter. And since communism is the complete emancipation, it is also emancipation from slavery to fashion :laugh:

Right now we shouldn't push too far. I have a moustache with a soul patch. Look like a musketeer. I've waited years for it to be acceptable without people pointing their fingers at me (because I want to be myself, but not bothered...).

I personally dress "smart". Especially in my society it doesn't say too much, maybe that you're going to a wedding or something. But I'm always like that. Because I like it. I think it's "my style" now that people recognise, because they used to say that it's cool on me, and also surprising when I just go downstairs for a smoke. Now it's natural, as should be (if you're like me, and don't like radical changes for yourself too often).

By the way, generally wearing anything somewhat formal can be nice, if it looks good on you, not too expensive, and if you live in a society where people would think you're a weirdo rather a bourgeois wannabe guy. It's always better when people just assume you're individually crazy, and not crazy in a way that you ideologically oppose.

[Hrafn]

Any damn way we like.

[Bardo]

This is how a real leftist dresses:

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h_5Nb47GHgU/UHWV440lNNI/AAAAAAAAAQs/d16e_X53MPA/s1600/mefault.jpg

But seriously, dress how you like. Socialism isn't a lifestyle choice, it's not a fashion statement. Personally, I own a suit and several ties. I own flannel shirts, jeans, several pairs of slacks, many T shirts, many button down shirts.

I have a diverse selection of clothing as different situations might call for a different outfit. I wear a US navy surplus peacoat during the winter with long sleeve dress shirts and jeans, and plaid shorts with flip flops and sunglasses in the summer.

Ultimately, who cares?

I do tend to avoid logos on my clothing though. It just irks me and makes me feel like a billboard.

[adipocere]

So we would end up wearing... nothing. There's private property, there's alienated labour and exploitation.

And long as society heaves a collective shrug, there always will be. You can't avoid it, certainly, but you can make a point not to feed the machine more than necessary and make a point to support manufacturers in places that at least have some protections.

I honestly can't imagine a stronger "socialist" fashion statement you could make than going out of your way to avoid buying from slave drivers. What the hell else would be the point? Being socialist isn't just youth pop culture that you can go to your local hot topic and buy your way into. Maybe I just don't understand the point of the thread, maybe this is about looking(?) socialist, without all the hassle of thinking and effort.

http://humaneeducation.org/blog/2013/04/03/5-tips-keeping-sweatshop-free-closet/

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Fuck it. This is why some socialists don't get laid, isn't it?

[Radio Spartacus]

It really doesn't matter. Sometimes people think being a socialist means you have to look like some social pariah, and that pisses me off a bit because I feel like it can turn off some potential comrades who aren't familiar with whatever subculture you're dressing for. Personal prejudice though, in the grand scheme of things it's a pretty minor issue. As was said, it's not a lifestyle choice and not everyone can afford to buy "friendly" clothes

[Sam_b]

I honestly can't imagine a stronger "socialist" fashion statement you could make than going out of your way to avoid buying from slave drivers.

Congratulations at being in the economic position to be able to do that. It isn't the case for everyone else.

[Hrafn]

Congratulations at being in the economic position to be able to do that. It isn't the case for everyone else.

Oh man, I'd really love to wear clothes not made by Bangladeshi slaves, but I also do love to eat, and paying my bills and my rent is pretty nice too.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

i usually dress pretty badly (outsize t-shirts and jeans) but the clothes i like wearing best are my "smart" clothes simply because they fit best. If it helps any, most of my smarter clothes are passed-down from some of my male relatives (my best suit is from the late fifties afaik, it used to be my grandad's.)

[RedMoslem]

Huge red stars and hammers and sickles on everything,pictures of your favorite communist(Mao,Lenin,Stalin) on your watch and as a wallpaper on your phone.
On a serious note, however they want and can afford.

[Fourth Internationalist]

This is ridiculous...

[adipocere]

Congratulations at being in the economic position to be able to do that. It isn't the case for everyone else.

Wal-mart logic. :rolleyes:

[Goblin]

Fedoras are like totally cool you guys

[Comrade Jacob]

We shouldn't wear clothes unless it was made by a worker's democracy.
We shouldn't eat food if it isn't from a collective-farm.
We shouldn't go on the internet if the device you go on was made by a private-company.
We shouldn't live in a house if the builders had a capitalist boss.
We shouldn't read if the book was made by a private company.

You can't live in capitalism without bending over.

[adipocere]

I would just like to point out:
Everest Unisex S/S OrganicTee (http://www.haenow.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=6103)(fair-trade organic)- Black $14.95
Banana Republic Basic Prima Vee (http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=637911012&tid=brpl000001&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=XoFPbzja_dc&adid=Cebqhpg+Nqf&pcrid=27249727316) (Bangladeshi sweat) - Black $19.50

Laziness absolutely is a choice.

[RedBen]

on a related note, i think for the purpose of not putting people off, we should at least be neat, decently dressed and well mannered. as much as i want to walk around in "eat the rich" shirts, a decent polo probably a better choice.

[GiantMonkeyMan]

Who the fuck shops at banana republic? Seriously I work at Primark and they sell t-shirts there for like £2.50, you can get a dress or a pair of jeans for a fiver and an entire suit including shirt and tie for around £40. As opposed to Marks and Spencers, basically the petite-bourgeois shop of the British high street, which sells t-shirts for like £15 or whatever. It's really not laziness that makes people shop for cheap products. There was a recent news article about M&S clothing not being profitable for the first time since opening or something because they aren't selling enough whereas I can say from experience and actually working in the store that Primark is making a killing. Anyone with a brain could see that, with economic hardship hitting so many in Britain and across the world, the working class are forced into not being picky about what sort of clothes they can afford to purchase. We as revolutionaries are composed of the working class so there's no shame, no break in principles, in shopping in a place that we can afford.

Also, buy a cheap Primark t-shirt for £2.50, buy a can of spray paint from Poundland for £1, cut out a stencil of some design you make and spray the t-shirt. You can have awesome designs for t-shirts for cheap. :)

[adipocere]

on a related note, i think for the purpose of not putting people off, we should at least be neat, decently dressed and well mannered. as much as i want to walk around in "eat the rich" shirts, a decent polo probably a better choice.

fuck that, tattoo a hammer and sickle on your forehead and wear a red jumpsuit

[Quail]

Socialists can wear whatever they want. I occasionally wear political t-shirts but I mostly just wear band t-shirts, hoodies and jeans. Occasionally a dress/skirt. Honestly, I don't have the money or time to make sure that everything I buy is from some organic worker's coop, especially when I'm buying stuff for my son who grows out of clothes all the time. Besides there is no "opt-out" option when it comes to capitalism. People are exploited to a greater or lesser degree for everything I own and capitalists will continue to exploit people with or without the tiny fraction of their profit that I represent.

[Carletta]

I don't think it really matters much.

[Kingfish]

A socialist can dress however they like as pointed out in this thread but only as long as they trim their hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle!

[Flying Purple People Eater]

A socialist can dress however they like as pointed out in this thread but only as long as they trim their hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle!




Beat me to it!

[Tenka]

Socialists should dress provocatively. Men in skirts, women without makeup, etc. No, I'm not totally serious. I am not able to dress how I would like to, though; I have a few new T-shirts, cheap; a lot of hand-me-down shirts, including a couple of hideous ill-fitting polo shirts that I daren't wear outside, and mostly hand-me-down trousers that are too big. I know my relative poverty is a first-world-problem, but I just can't bring my standards down any farther....

[Quail]

A socialist can dress however they like as pointed out in this thread but only as long as they trim their hair in accordance with the socialist lifestyle!

Unfortunately my beard is less than impressive (I can't really grow facial hair) and my hair is too short to put on my face and pretend it is a beard.


Socialists should dress provocatively. Men in skirts, women without makeup, etc. No, I'm not totally serious...
It's a sad state of affairs you call this "provocative."

[Red_Banner]

I often wear a Soviet/Russian style uniform.

[waqob]

We must all dress in dashikis and berets.


By beret I think you mean kufi

[p0is0n]

Now that we've covered clothing styles appropriate for revolutionaries, our comrades guided by the undying and heroic leadership and wiseness of comr. Kim Jong-Il, have produced this excellent guide titled "Let's Trim Our Hair In Accordance with the Socialist Lifestyle" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Let%27s_trim_our_hair_in_accordance_with_the_socia list_lifestyle). :grin:

-2XVNFzNlZ8

[Sam_b]

I would just like to point out:
Everest Unisex S/S OrganicTee (fair-trade organic)- Black $14.95
Banana Republic Basic Prima Vee (Bangladeshi sweat) - Black $19.50

Laziness absolutely is a choice.


Standard Primark tshirt = $6.40. The only point you're making is that you have no idea what it's currently like to be on benefits in the UK. But hey, keep sneering at those 'lazy' workers who are unable to source union labour tshirts on the internet that they don't have.

[Winkers Fons]

Most people assume I'm a republican by looking at me. I may have radical politics but I am very conservative in my dress and habits. Usually I'm wearing dark pants or jeans with a plaid or solid colored button shirt. May or may not be tucked in depending on the setting...

[Zealot]

to be a true socialist you have to wear mao suits and carry around the manifesto or the red book but if you don't want to look like an idiot dress normally.

[Lily Briscoe]

I would just like to point out:
Everest Unisex S/S OrganicTee (http://www.haenow.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=6103)(fair-trade organic)- Black $14.95
Banana Republic Basic Prima Vee (http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=637911012&tid=brpl000001&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=XoFPbzja_dc&adid=Cebqhpg+Nqf&pcrid=27249727316) (Bangladeshi sweat) - Black $19.50

Laziness absolutely is a choice.
Personally I recently bought a new jacket for nearly $200. I just checked and it was made in Vietnam. At the moment I'm wearing a pair of jeans from the famously pro-worker (lol) Abercrombie & Fitch, whose CEO is notoriously an asshole (cue shock and awe).

I buy clothes because I like them, not because I like the company, and I certainly don't feel the need to morally justify my purchases to anyone. I could not possibly bring myself to care any less about ridiculous 'consumer choice' "politics". But have fun changing the world one organic fair-trade t-shirt at a time..

[Slavic]

Personally I recently bought a new jacket for nearly $200. I just checked and it was made in Vietnam. At the moment I'm wearing a pair of jeans from the famously pro-worker (lol) Abercrombie & Fitch, whose CEO is notoriously an asshole (cue shock and awe).

I buy clothes because I like them, not because I like the company, and I certainly don't feel the need to morally justify my purchases to anyone. I could not possibly bring myself to care any less about ridiculous 'consumer choice' "politics". But have fun changing the world one organic fair-trade t-shirt at a time..

Your one jacket can pay my phone bill and auto insurance for a month. Not to say that everyone should only buy cheap "Fair-trade" clothes, but I don't know how anyone can justify $200 for a single article of clothing.

[Lily Briscoe]

Your one jacket can pay my phone bill and auto insurance for a month.
Yep, mine too.

Not to say that everyone should only buy cheap "Fair-trade" clothes, but I don't know how anyone can justify $200 for a single article of clothing.It was actually originally $360, but I got it on sale ;). It's leather and completely amazing (sry vegans)--that's my justification.

For what it's worth, I make 12 bucks an hour; it's not like I'm rolling around in swimming pools of paper. But there are probably people on this website who occasionally blow a bunch of money on videogames/electronics/tattoos or some other shit they don't need. I like clothes a lot, so every once in awhile I'll splurge on something I really like. And capitalism is still capitalism regardless of which products I choose to buy; it's definitely not something I'm going to feel guilty about.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I don't think it bodes well that people are having to justify their own clothing choices.

For what it's worth I can't afford to buy a £15-20 t-shirt at the moment, but I really don't give a fuck what someone thinks about me walking around in my £200 leather jacket. It's mine, I bought it with my own money (in fact it was a birthday present but i'd have bought it anyway), I don't have much money, why the fuck shouldn't I be able to have a nice jacket?

It seems as though morality all of a sudden becomes universal amongst some socialists when it comes to this bullshit called monetary equality. It's one of the biggest turn offs to socialism - imagining a world where all people are uniform, all people have uniform choices and outcomes.

Fuck. That. Shit.

[Bala Perdida]

Yeah I agree with you. If you can, try not to support these bad business practices supporting mistreatment of employees, but if you have to buy something cheaper, than it's okay. I mean whats the point of even working when you put it in those terms. Ultimately when it comes down to clothes I try not to buy in excess. I am planning to buy some cloths that don't use worker abuse and then donate the cloths I have now. Until then I'll just have to wear this Chinese made hoodie.

[Alain]

We shouldn't wear clothes unless it was made by a worker's democracy.
We shouldn't eat food if it isn't from a collective-farm.
We shouldn't go on the internet if the device you go on was made by a private-company.
We shouldn't live in a house if the builders had a capitalist boss.
We shouldn't read if the book was made by a private company.

You can't live in capitalism without bending over.

I think we should at least make an effort. There's a difference between having to bend over and taking it doggystyle like a pro.

As for the "socialism isn't a lifestyle" line, I think you should include socialism in your lifestyle. If socialism is merely an opinion upon which you won't act, then it won't amount to shit.

I thought this was a revolutionary left forum, not an "accept the oppressor and take it like a big boy" forum.

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

I think we should at least make an effort. There's a difference between having to bend over and taking it doggystyle like a pro.

As for the "socialism isn't a lifestyle" line, I think you should include socialism in your lifestyle. If socialism is merely an opinion upon which you won't act, then it won't amount to shit.

I thought this was a revolutionary left forum, not an "accept the oppressor and take it like a big boy" forum.

Make an effort to do what?

If we are revolutionary anti-capitalists, then whether we buy from Primark, Marks & Spencer or from some shop that pays their labourers £50 per hour to make t-shirts out of organic soya beans, it doesn't affect our politics.

Granted, i'd prefer if my warmth didn't come off the back of slave labour, of course. But the reality is that these 'eco-companies' are still companies, they are no less capitalist than the big chains. And, as has been said, most of us simply can't afford to shop at these places, their prices are ridiculous.

[RedAnarchist]

I mostly just wear jeans, trainers (sneakers to Americans) and a t-shirt, usually black or some other dark colour. As for hair, I don't like it too short, but if it gets too long it starts curling around my ears and I don't particularly like that.

[Alonso Quijano]

So we would end up wearing... nothing. There's private property, there's alienated labour and exploitation.
Personal property! :laugh:
(And sharing clothes is awesome)

[cyu]

Socialists should wear camouflage.

Not just any camouflage, but the type that makes you look like a right-winger, whether it's a corporate exploiter, anti-immigrant militia type, neo-Nazi, or obedient soldier. The only thing different that you have is the switchblade you use to slit the throats of their leaders.

...but if murder isn't your thing, just bring a pocket camera to help leak their most incriminating documents ;)

[Igor]

when you decide to pick up the organic locally produced tee instead of a one made in a bangladeshi factory, it's a feelgood choice. you're not doing anything against capitalism, and in reality you're doing nothing against slave labour in developing countries. "voting with your dollar" is liberal bullshit and doesn't work in reality. activist shopping choices are not in any way significant, or even noticeable - the money flow coming from the sweat shop business is just simply too massive and too omnipresent for anything we do to matter. you might just as well try and shovel all the water out of the nile with a bucket. the awful conditions the workers there have to live in are a constant media topic in western media and it's obvious that merely bringing further exposure to these matters is not going to change anything

we're not in a real position to change slavery in the developing world, particularly southeast asia. the change doesn't come from your shopping choices, from what you vote, from what you eat. it comes from local activists, local labour movements. you can support them, you can show solidarity, but dont think you're the one actually making the change happen

[Zukunftsmusik]

The OP has to be a troll.



Right?

[Bostana]

Like Sid Viscous
Yeah, don't actually do that

[Alain]

The point is not making a difference so much as it is not being a hypocrite, because, IMO, hypocrisy is at home in the mind of the leftist(especially revolutionary ones).

Anyway, as far as organic, union made stuff and so on, if you can't afford that(and I know I can't), then start shopping at thrift shops. They are cheap and the blood(so to speak) of slave labor is on the hands of the people who gave them away(as they most likely bought them new), plus most thrift shops are small, family owned businesses, so you aren't helping big corporations make a profit either.

But again, I think that a revolutionary socialist wearing a suit is one of the biggest hypocrisies possible(from an aesthetic point of view), no matter if it's made from 100% organic hemp and bought from a thrift shop, the capitalist symbolism is still there.

[Dodo]

I think a Marxist should not limit him/herself with dogmatic thoughts like these and wear whatever they want.

[Igor]

The point is not making a difference so much as it is not being a hypocrite, because, IMO, hypocrisy is at home in the mind of the leftist(especially revolutionary ones).

its really the other way around imo: the people who realise socialism can't be a lifestyle and accept that within a capitalist system, we simply have to live in a way that advances capitalism is inevitable are taking the less hypocritical stance here. you're the one condemning other peoples choices here while still promoting business, be it more "ethical" or whatever: business is business and even your nice organic co-ops are but capitalist industries. dumpster diving is pretty much the only way you could acquire clothing and not participate in the capitalist economy, and ofc it's ludicrous to assume we all would get our clothing that way


Anyway, as far as organic, union made stuff and so on, if you can't afford that(and I know I can't), then start shopping at thrift shops. They are cheap and the blood(so to speak) of slave labor is on the hands of the people who gave them away(as they most likely bought them new), plus most thrift shops are small, family owned businesses, so you aren't helping big corporations make a profit either.

yeah sorry dude but there's like three decent thrift shops in my city. i have lots of stuff i've bought there but sometimes i really just need a new something and unless you live in a proper huge city with thrift shopping culture you can't rely on finding that something.


But again, I think that a revolutionary socialist wearing a suit is one of the biggest hypocrisies possible(from an aesthetic point of view), no matter if it's made from 100% organic hemp and bought from a thrift shop, the capitalist symbolism is still there.

a lot of people are required to wear a suit for work and it's simply a social expectation for men in a lot of occasions. im sure my relatives would appreciate it a lot when i show up in the next funeral in my thrift shopped mao shirt because i refuse to participate in being a symbol for capitalism

[Q]

This is my totally serious contribution to this thread.

http://s.quickmeme.com/img/09/09d08e172fa1a4c98cc0e329c14f1736d40285dd9b05ddf603 83a47967415380.jpg

Questions like these is why chit-chat was created.

[Tolstoy]

To begin, I would say that the most Socialist thing possible would be to make your own damn clothes, or buy from a thrift shop as than your taking what would otherwise be thrown away (making use of capitalisms wastefuness)

I personally have a corduroy blazer and bow tie that I wear like a security blanket. I also have some really weird silk shirt from the 70's with rich people playing backgammon and drinking dry martinis on it, and a few argyle sweaters. Otherwise it's all T-shirts

[Igor]

To begin, I would say that the most Socialist thing possible would be to make your own damn clothes, or buy from a thrift shop as than your taking what would otherwise be thrown away (making use of capitalisms wastefuness)

even then you have to buy your materials and even the thrift shop is a capitalist business

[Lily Briscoe]

I personally have a corduroy blazer and bow tie that I wear

:bored:

[Creative Destruction]

I would just like to point out:
Everest Unisex S/S OrganicTee (http://www.haenow.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=6103)(fair-trade organic)- Black $14.95
Banana Republic Basic Prima Vee (http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=637911012&tid=brpl000001&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=XoFPbzja_dc&adid=Cebqhpg+Nqf&pcrid=27249727316) (Bangladeshi sweat) - Black $19.50

Laziness absolutely is a choice.

That's really fucking expensive for a t-shirt. I usually shop at thrift shops, because that's what I can afford. A black shirt doesn't cost anymore than 2, maybe 3 dollars.

[d3crypt]

I just wear black jeans and black band t shirts. Also a black hoodie. Anything black is good.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Living in a capitalist world is quite hard for a socialist. Most of us don't want to conform to capitalist norms. But what should we do about the way we dress? Wearing a suit is, at least in my opinion, very capitalist and it really helps the capitalist system perpetuate the symbolic power it has over the people, sport coats(or blazers, whatever) tend to look upper class and even the jeans and T-shirt shtick is incredibly imperialistic and american by it's nature and history.
What are we left with? Sweaters? We seriously lack an alternative for current dress codes. What are we supposed to wear when a suit is required and we don't want to get kicked out(by fascists, I might add:glare: ).
As you can see, the above post has been written from a male perspective, because I want to clarify something for myself, I don't mind if you talk about female clothing, too.

If, you're suggesting the only alternative for male's fashion is Cosby sweaters and such, I will bomb the nearest orphanage, an Orange Julius and Forever 21. Ew.


That's really fucking expensive for a t-shirt. I usually shop at thrift shops, because that's what I can afford. A black shirt doesn't cost anymore than 2, maybe 3 dollars.

I'm gonna pop some tags...

[adipocere]

That's really fucking expensive for a t-shirt. I usually shop at thrift shops, because that's what I can afford. A black shirt doesn't cost anymore than 2, maybe 3 dollars.

Nothing wrong with thrift stores. I was only pointing out that fair-trade items are really no more expensive then mall retail outlets.

[Igor]

Nothing wrong with thrift stores. I was only pointing out that fair-trade items are really no more expensive then mall retail outlets.

you just picked a random example which doesnt really work because i honestly would never pay more than a fiver for a standard black tee

[adipocere]

you just picked a random example which doesnt really work because i honestly would never pay more than a fiver for a standard black tee
Maybe not for whatever a fiver is in Finland. In the US, it's a fair comparison if you don't torture it too much or compare it to underwear.

[Per Levy]

Maybe not for whatever a fiver is in Finland. In the US, it's a fair comparison if you don't torture it too much or compare it to underwear.

since finland has the euro, a fiver would be around 6,5$ or something close to that. but i agree, the only shirts i would pay so much moeny for are bandshirts and i havnt bought one of those in ages. if i have to buy a black t-shirt its usally in a package of 3 t-shirts wich still cost around 10 bugs.

[adipocere]

Sometimes Revleft is really depressing.

[cyu]

When plantation owners gave their slaves clothes that were made from materials grown and picked by other slaves, I'm sure the slaves felt like total middle-class hypocrites.

[bcbm]

i wonder how many people who only wear fair trade clothes have conflict minerals in their phones and computers.

[Reticential]

Socialists should be nudists simply because everyone should be in the buff. Clothes are terrible.

Admittedly, in the north of England I can imagine me and my fellow revolutionaries would freeze to death very, very quickly.

No one's mentioned bandannas? Personally I wear one all the time.

But, yes, OP is shitting us right? :tongue_smilie:

[Quail]

Socialists should be nudists simply because everyone should be in the buff. Clothes are terrible.

Admittedly, in the north of England I can imagine me and my fellow revolutionaries would freeze to death very, very quickly.

As much as I would like to be a nudist all the time, Sheffield isn't really the best place to do that. Clothes... definitely have a function here.

I vaguely remember an Orwell quote that kind of amused me about how socialism attracts all kinds of weird people - such as nudists - and that puts ordinary people off (it's in the Road to Wigan Pier somewhere).

[Tolstoy]

even then you have to buy your materials and even the thrift shop is a capitalist business

Sure it's a business,but you are not directly giving money to those who employ sweatxhop labor. All in all, I would say it is the morally superior choice.


As far as the materials go, sure, sure I do have to buy them but once again, its not the same as buying shit from Urban Outfitters like a fuckhead.

[Tolstoy]

:bored:

Say what you want, but I rock a corduroy blazer

removed presumed personal pic dont post these

[Dodo]

Guys, honestly, it is pretty silly to be some much into this "appereances" thing. What defines a socialist is not what he wears what he looks like....this to me sounds like an excited teenager attitude and makes -socialists- look like idiots.
You can wear anything you like, there is no static dresscode to be a socialist.

[Quail]

Sure it's a business,but you are not directly giving money to those who employ sweatxhop labor. All in all, I would say it is the morally superior choice.

Personal boycotts of certain products are not a viable strategy for making any kind of dent in the functioning capitalism though, so the only thing that your "morally superior" choice does is allow you to feel better about yourself. It does fuck all for the sweatshop workers.

[Tolstoy]

Personal boycotts of certain products are not a viable strategy for making any kind of dent in the functioning capitalism though, so the only thing that your "morally superior" choice does is allow you to feel better about yourself. It does fuck all for the sweatshop workers.

Well sure it does little for sweatshop workers but it would still be hypocritical for me to protest against, than give money to corporations who use sweatshop labor. For a leftist to actively benfefit from said labor by buying from the Nike sotre or whatever is fucked up and wrong.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

i wear an enormous foam red star at all times of the day

[Magic Carpets Corp.]

http://tropdublog.net/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/VILLAGE-PEOPLE-01-Glenn-Hughes-NYC-1979.jpg

[Reticential]

As much as I would like to be a nudist all the time, Sheffield isn't really the best place to do that. Clothes... definitely have a function here.

Can't post links but this is from thestar.co.uk in January:

'The Yorkshire branch of British Naturism is hosting a nude swim at Chapeltown Baths, Burncross Road, on Sunday from 3.30pm until 5pm. The event costs £3 for members of British Naturism, or £5 for non-members. Entry is free for students on the production of a valid NUS card.'

Maybe in a heated pool? Naked people think of everything ;).

The one's Orwell was talking about are hippies, liberals, and organic-anarcho- veg growers...they are not allowed to be naked :mad:

[Vladimir Innit Lenin]

Well sure it does little for sweatshop workers but it would still be hypocritical for me to protest against, than give money to corporations who use sweatshop labor. For a leftist to actively benfefit from said labor by buying from the Nike sotre or whatever is fucked up and wrong.

Why is it hypocritical? The small business owners want nothing more than to be the big business owners. The big national business owners want nothing more than to be huge global corporations.

All this moralism is ridiculous. Capitalism developed itself, and consequently the world, by centralising into more efficient organisational structures. By saying you prefer small businesses over corporations, you are not only moving from the realm of Marxism to some sort of faux-moralism, you are also displaying reactionary attitudes by harking back to an age where small businesses ruled and, frankly, the world was all the shittier for it.

[ÑóẊîöʼn]

Socialists can wear anything or nothing. It's about political convictions not lifestyle choices.

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

I'm a big fan of camouflage - not as in, like, army-surplus (though sometimes), but in terms of having clothing suited to a variety of situations. You know, generally I dress pretty unremarkably (toque, band t-shirt, plaid long-sleeve, jeans, work-boots or sneakers), but it's nice to be able to pass for an oogle, or a grad student, or a hipster, or a yuppie, or whatever as the situation warrants.

I managed to snag a nice suit at a store's 2-for-1 sale, I own a few blazers, a couple nice button-ups, and, on the other end of the spectrum, combat boots, black hoodies, etc.

[Zukunftsmusik]

Socialists should wear overalls with tools in the pockets, a sixpence and an oily shirt. Add extra grease to face/hands for extra super-proletarian effect. Beard is a plus.

[Return_Of_The_Mac]

This is ridiculous...

I second that.

[Hit The North]

The uniforms taken from the bodies of dead police.

[Remus Bleys]

why does this thread have so much attention

[Sinister Intents]

why does this thread have so much attention

Probably because everyone has a different style. I didnt expect it to last long at all.

[adipocere]

Why is it hypocritical? The small business owners want nothing more than to be the big business owners. The big national business owners want nothing more than to be huge global corporations.

All this moralism is ridiculous. Capitalism developed itself, and consequently the world, by centralising into more efficient organisational structures. By saying you prefer small businesses over corporations, you are not only moving from the realm of Marxism to some sort of faux-moralism, you are also displaying reactionary attitudes by harking back to an age where small businesses ruled and, frankly, the world was all the shittier for it.

What is ridiculous are people who call themselves leftists defending neoliberal trade policies for no fucking reason other then to be contrary - then going so far as to say that people who try to make ethical purchases are reactionary hypocrites.

What is wrong with some of you people?

[Ocean Seal]

So we would end up wearing... nothing. There's private property, there's alienated labour and exploitation.
I don't have a problem with this naked thing, but I think my hairy ass could distract the proletariat from the message that I am trying to send.


Fuck it. This is why some socialists don't get laid, isn't it?
I disagree my pictures of Stalin and Mao in my room along with the SNA playing in the background really closes the deal for me.

Conclusion:
I think we should all speak with Russian accents, wear berets and long overcoats with subtle references to socialism in our clothes underneath. I know most of you guys don't really buy into that, but think of how cool it would be. Think about how many people would be socialists just for the style.Think about how many friends we would each make if we were hipster enough to start the trend.

[Trap Queen Voxxy]

Example of appropriate men's fashions:

http://www.slightlywarped.com/crapfactory/curiosities/2011/october/images/dressing_36.jpg

https://encrypted-tbn3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQVS8iloRswr3UDKcs2q29KnTfj25aqs 6IUk7PYAcUOOrsBzEE8

Examples of appropriate womyn's fashions:

http://inoutshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/Weird-Fashion-Items-Rocked-You-Out-1.jpg

http://blog.lulus.com/images/blog/Funny%20fashion%20show2.jpg

[Sheepy]

If it isn't trench coats and fur hats, then I don't know what is appropriate!

[Ocean Seal]

I would just like to point out:
Everest Unisex S/S OrganicTee (http://www.haenow.com/cart/product_info.php?cPath=94&products_id=6103)(fair-trade organic)- Black $14.95
Banana Republic Basic Prima Vee (http://bananarepublic.gap.com/browse/product.do?pid=637911012&tid=brpl000001&kwid=1&ap=7&sem=true&mkwid=XoFPbzja_dc&adid=Cebqhpg+Nqf&pcrid=27249727316) (Bangladeshi sweat) - Black $19.50

Laziness absolutely is a choice.
Yes in fact you are correct here, but I would like to point out that fair-trade capitalists must also be killed without scrutiny. In short I believe that one should wear stolen white tees covered in the blood of the managers from whom you stole them. Now that's punk as fuck.

[Sheepy]

Well, in all seriousness, you could learn to do some DIY tailoring if you don't want to give in to the top clothing empires outsourcing of labor.

Dunno if that's cost effective though since, again, you'd have to learn to do it yourself in the meantime.

[Reticential]

Dunno if that's cost effective though since, again, you'd have to learn to do it yourself in the meantime.

Sadly, it's cheaper to buy clothes. Patterns are expensive. I can buy tops for around £2.50 but making similar one has in the past cost above a tenner for pattern (£8-10), fabric and thread. Not including electricity for the machine.

Thus I believe we're back to nudism. ;)

[The Garbage Disposal Unit]

Moved to chit-chat b/c this is getting silly.

[human strike]

Have you seen that scene in Libertarias where anarchists are going around dressed in liberated Bishop's robes shooting fascists? Yeah, they should dress like that.

[Ceallach_the_Witch]

a disney-mascot style Lenin suit

[Quail]

Well sure it does little for sweatshop workers but it would still be hypocritical for me to protest against, than give money to corporations who use sweatshop labor. For a leftist to actively benfefit from said labor by buying from the Nike sotre or whatever is fucked up and wrong.
I am against capitalism but I still give my money to capitalists. I'd prefer it if people were exploited less for my clothes but really all you get is personal satisfaction from not buying from certain brands, and some perceived moral high-ground against people who can't afford expensive clothes.


Can't post links but this is from thestar.co.uk in January:

'The Yorkshire branch of British Naturism is hosting a nude swim at Chapeltown Baths, Burncross Road, on Sunday from 3.30pm until 5pm. The event costs £3 for members of British Naturism, or £5 for non-members. Entry is free for students on the production of a valid NUS card.'

Maybe in a heated pool? Naked people think of everything ;).

The one's Orwell was talking about are hippies, liberals, and organic-anarcho- veg growers...they are not allowed to be naked :mad:
I guess I didn't think about being inside... but if your style of dress was "nudism" you'd have to spend a good amount of time outside as well. :lol:


Sadly, it's cheaper to buy clothes. Patterns are expensive. I can buy tops for around £2.50 but making similar one has in the past cost above a tenner for pattern (£8-10), fabric and thread. Not including electricity for the machine.

Thus I believe we're back to nudism. ;)
Patterns can be expensive, but if you have a tape measure and some time you can make your own patterns out of stuff like newspaper. I've made some soft toys that way (granted they were kind of wobbly haha) and another thing you can do is make patterns that replicate clothes you already have. Fabric can be expensive though, depending where you get it.

[Orange Juche]

The Chairman Mao/Doctor Evil look, of course, if you want to be a good proletarian. :lol: