Saturday, June 13, 2009

Funny Dresser Uppers


For a short time I had three candy-apple-red streaks in my hair.
I wasn't trying to make a statement or be hip. The hairdresser suggested it. I thought why not? It would be kinda funny.
I can't say I stood out. I live in Los Angeles. Many friends, neighbors and aquaintances are creative types. Goofy hair, clothes and jewlery aren't unheard of.
To really stand out you have to work at it. A few people do: Wacky hats, crazy clothes, nutso hair, maybe even a prop (non-dog pet on a leash, ukulale, rubber chicken). Brazen weirdness.
What's even weirder is how people react to them. It's binary. They're either admired or scoffed.

When admired, the Funny Dresser Upper is considered:
  • original
  • creative
  • cute
  • funny
  • living by their own rules
  • not caring what everyone thinks
  • fun (a trip, a scream etc..)
When scorned, the Funny Dresser Upper is considered to be:
  • trying to look original
  • trying to be cute
  • trying to be funny
  • desperate for attention
  • wanting to impress everyone (caring what everyone thinks)
  • obnoxious (a freaking weirdo, a creep etc..)
I'm still trying to figure out the factor that sways these opinions. Is the admired Funny Dresser Upper more friendly or confident than the scorned Funny Dresser Upper? What sets them apart? I don't get it.

15 comments:

Linda Davick said...

Namo, you know we love your illo's, but this post begs for a photo. Of your candy-apple-red streaks. It sounds beautiful.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Hi Linda,
I'll post a photo if I find one, but I don't think one exists. The effect faded between treatments and I was urged to deep six the look so I'd look normal for my brother's wedding.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Hi again, Linda,
Don't you put colored streaks in your hair from time to time?

Linda Davick said...

Yes, I like to have one or two tiny bright ones!

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Do you ever get any funny reactions?
Nobody seemed too bothered by my red streaks (except my folks).

Linda Davick said...

Namo, I never got funny reactions. I think it's an idea whose time has come. It's hard to do, though, isn't it? How did your stylist do yours?

I've had mine done 3 different ways, and next time I'll have it done a 4th way. When our hair turns white it will be so easy to do a little aqua stripe.

stray said...

You don't get reactions because of the city you live in. Here, however....

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Hi Linda,
Back then I had my (naturally brown) hair dyed a few shades of blonde. The hairdresser would then take an extra few strands and dye them red with some mix he concocted backstage. Each clump of color was applied and then the hair was wrapped in foil. Is that how you get your hair done?
Hi Stray,
I was wondering if where you lived made a difference. Have you ever tried anything funny with your hair (or clothing?) Did you get any weird reactions?

Sally said...

In my dog class a woman had dirty blonde shoulder length hair, but the back, at the nape of her neck, was colored red orange yellow, underneath the hair on top. The effect was beautiful.

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Sally,
Your classmate had an interesting hairstyle. Do you think Whinsey or Anita will ever change theirs? (Or would that be going off-model?)

Sally said...

She also had a giant tattoo of her Staff terrier all over her skinny arm. A character.

Jen said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Jen said...

A person can either pull off a look with ease, or end up looking like they're posturing and waiting for a reaction.
When a look is being pulled off well we simply accept it, when someone seems to be posturing it appears phony, like they're hiding something... which is irritating to most people.

stray said...

since we're on a campus, mostly one just assumes it's an art major

Namowal (Jennifer Bourne) said...

Strah,
I think you're on to something. People can probably sniff out the confidence of someone who dresses wacky for the heck of it-
-and the lack of confidence and please-pay-attention-to-me factor of someone who dresses wacky for attention.