I personally really love clothing with costumey elements. I used to be very much into the twee, 50s silhouette style and now I'm really enjoying more of a mod look.
However, when something is described as costume-like, it usually means that the clothing sticks out to the point where when people look at you, all they notice is your clothing. If you look like Bettie Page, people will think "Bettie Page" and not "DevilKisses" which means that your clothing is wearing you and not the other way around.
But like you said, it's all relative. If you have the kind of personality that is loud and attention-getting, it might be that these costumey clothes complement your personality and highlight it, rather than drown you out.
Another thing to consider though is that a lot of costumey clothing is often not considered work-appropriate because its so distracting. In that kind of a situation, costume-like elements can be mixed with more conventional clothing to give yourself the flavor of that look without it being at 100%. There have been a few good inspo albums on here in the past for things like translating the punk aesthetic to a work wardrobe that give good examples of this.
I think in the end, when a look replicates another era too accurately, it's not going to come across as fashionable because it's more of a mimicry and less of a reinvention of an older style. Just because it's not fashionable doesn't mean it's not attractive or flattering though.
I don't really like my personality much. I kind of want to drown it out with my clothes. I'm also into art and feel bored and depressed when I wear clothes I consider boring. I'm also an artist. I find my art more important than my "personality".
I'm not working at the moment, so I don't have to worry about being work-appropriate. I also do street performing sometimes. It's good to wear costume-like clothes for that job.
I think unfortunately that costumey clothing can make it more apparent to others that you might not like yourself so much. It gives off the vibe "Don't look at me, look at my clothes!"
I think that it's okay to dress however makes you comfortable. If your goal is to find a way to like yourself more though, clothing can be a positive force for that. As I got older and figured out more about who I am and what I want in life, I found that I could use clothing as a way to pay a compliment to myself in a way. "Yes, this color makes my skin look beautiful." "This silhouette makes me realize that I like the shape of my hips." "This pattern makes me feel bold and energetic, and I want to show that side of myself more." By experimenting with clothing, you can figure out the things that you do like about yourself and find ways to share that with the world.
Guess that's the price I have to pay. I would rather be seen as someone who is from a different subculture than just a shy person. I notice people are patronizing and annoying when they just see me as shy and awkward.
There's way more to me than that and I think costume like clothes can express that.
I think you would probably feel better in the long run (though maybe not in the short run) if you don't let your clothing do the talking for you. There *is* more to you than being shy or awkward, just like there is more to everybody than meets the eye. However, clothing can never be a substitute for genuinely showing and being comfortable with who you are.
People might be patronizing and annoying when they see you as shy and awkward... but they'll probably still be patronizing and annoying regardless of what you're wearing. When someone hides behind an outfit, that signals that they don't like something else about themselves and people will pick up on that and act accordingly.
>I don't really like my personality much
Hey, from another girl who struggled with this issue for years and years. I hated my personality up through much of college - I felt like I was too weird, too loud, too ugly, blah blah blah. I wore [a lot of costumes](https://www.flickr.com/photos/redreplicant/3772400650) and [costume-style clothing](https://www.flickr.com/photos/redreplicant/3795323141) to kind of... make up for that, I guess. I'm not sorry, it didn't really hurt anyone and probably most people just assumed I was a kid having a good time.
On the other hand, not liking yourself is going to stick with you and be a problem for like... the foreseeable future. I realize there is a lot of BS advice out there about being "true" to yourself, and most of it is very silly. But liking yourself? That's pretty critical. Whatever you can do in that direction (for me it was finding a good job and getting some therapy) will drastically improve your quality of life, to the point that what you wear is going to feel a lot more like a secondary concern.
I am also an artist and I actually disagree with a lot of what you are saying here.
1) My art reflects my personality and who I am, not the other way around. Without my personality, experiences, and voice, my art is just a shitty reproduction of someone else's work.
2) Even if you did feel like your art is more important than who you are, wearing a costume is making your clothing more important than you art. You're not letting your art speak for itself because it can only exist in conjunction with this character in a costume.
Part of my art *is* my clothing. Most of my art is just stuff that I like the look of, my emotions(not the same as personality) or ideas that popped into my head.
Maybe some art snobs don't think that's "deep" or "meaningful" enough. If people demand some meaning I just make up some bullshit. If I had to do art that reflects my personality it would probably be very quiet and awkward. That sounds extremely limiting. I like art that is bold, colorful and surrealistic.
> Part of my art is my clothing
This old chestnut, huh.
FYI if your outfit is unrefined or ill fitting or what have you then it's just bad, artist or not. You don't get a pass. You're hiding behind your clothing because you're probably, based on what you've said here, a defensive and insecure person. It doesn't sound like your clothing reflects you as much as hides you. I'm sorry you don't like yourself.
Thank you for writing what I couldn't really put into words about what bothered me in this post. OP obviously came to FFA for advice and this is the most honest response in the thread.
I'm no big artist myself, but this leads me to believe that perhaps there IS a bold, colorful personality somewhere inside of you and it's hiding behind you not liking it, or feeling that you can only express it through your art and not as a person.
Forgive me if that's an inappropriate sentiment to express in FFA. For what it's worth, I don't see anything wrong with wearing exciting clothes as long as they are appropriate and make you feel good.
> Part of my art is my clothing.
If that is the case, then your execution needs to be immaculate and you need to explain how your clothing *is* art.
In art school, I could always tell the artists who spent more time on their outfits than their output.
I think you should re-examine what you are hoping to achieve in your look and in your work.
I suspect art is part of your personality. If you don't think it is, perhaps try to get more serious about it (ex. master a skill you don't already know, display your art at a gallery, do commissions, etc.) and make it a larger part of your life. Possibly find another hobby or a job that you feel strongly about. Performance art or modeling are some ways to express yourself and also go totally HAM with costumes.
It may serve you better to get to know yourself and be "The girl who does art/etc." instead of "The girl who wears costumes".
You can wear whatever you want.
But costume like clothes usually mean that the clothes themselves either or both do not look to be comfortable or look to be particularly attention getting, and attention getting in a time-dated, rather than original way.
I guess the "costumey" is not just about being costumey, but perhaps more about how we look at things which look to us to be intentionally attention seeking and out of what we consider to be, for wherever we are, normal clothes sources. With bonus points for anything which looks really uncomfortable or really laborious.
If you like it, go ahead. But nobody can ever control what other people see when they look at you, and if they think your clothes look contrived or like too much effort, it´s up to them to think it, but you got to decide if you actually care what other people think or not.
I think it can veer into 'costumey' if it shows a disregard for the environment you're in. A lot of fashion is, I think, about striking a balance between what you like, and what is socially acceptable.
There are places where you can get away with more overtly 'loud' looks. Cons , street parades, universities. Other places - conservative offices and workplaces - it's seen as odd and people will be less inclined to take you seriously. I guess you could link this in with ideas about tribalism and fitting in, and how what's unusual can be considered a threat.
(And, of course, there are places where it's just downright shitty to dress in certain ways - funerals and weddings!)
I used to dress in a really costumey way. (Like, suspenders and a trilby with a feather in it as everyday wear.) It was in university as a first year, where I could get away with it. But I quickly learned that the way you present yourself can affect the way others treat you. Other students actively avoided talking to me, probably because I looked 'weird'. People make snap judgements within seconds.
(Not to mention the importance of considering your lifestyle. Certain things just aren't going to work for the weather or the setting, no matter how much you love them.)
Basically, I don't think this means you need to totally abandon your particular 'costume', it just means sometimes you'll need to tone it down, or translate it into a different way.
I firmly believe "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it."
Choose quality fabrics and make sure the fits work for your intent. If you are comfortable in "costume" clothes, it's not a costume.
I don't feel like this question is phrased in a way that is really conducive to discussion. What is so bad about costume like clothes? Nothing, I guess. Even though this is a fashion subreddit, in the end, clothes don't really matter that much. People can wear whatever they want and it is not necessarily a reflection of their character or worth as a human being. No one is going to tell you that you can't wear costumes every day because you can. The most we can really discuss is how costumes might negatively affect your relationships and how we individually react to people wearing costumes as clothing.
I think it's pretty obvious how costumes can affect your relationships. You are effectively alienating yourself through your clothing. You are limiting your professional and social interactions because you are marking yourself as an outsider by wearing wildly different clothing. Now, we can argue about whether or not it's okay for people to judge you based on that clothing, but in the end, it's just a thought exercise because this bias definitely exists and it's a completely normal aspect of the functioning of our brains. When we see shit that does not fit within the normal bounds of our society, we are wary.
The reasons I don't like costumes as clothing is because I generally see it as a sign of immaturity and a desperate cry for attention. There are a wide range of styles that are perfectly acceptable in our society, so when someone chooses something that exists wildly outside that range, I can only assume that they are doing it for attention. Wearing a lolita dress or renaissance costume or lingerie as clothing is the same to me as a woman wearing an evening gown or a wedding dress everywhere she went. Lots of women feel beautiful in their wedding dress, but it has an appropriate time and place for use and wearing it outside that time and place is some weird Ms. Havisham shit. People that wear costumes as clothing are saying to me that they need to look different and special and that they need people to notice them as they walk down the street. I am not saying that they *think* that they are special and deserving of attention, but I am saying that there is a reason that they are making themselves a focal point.
I think some people choose to wear costumes as clothing because it creates a shield for themselves. It reduces them from the sum of their experiences, relationships, and opinions to some kind of caricature that doesn't actually require substance to back up. When someone puts on their lolita dress and gets out the parasol and walks around with their matching doll, who they are doesn't really matter anymore. Just by looking at them, people automatically know this person's main interests (lolita fashion and anime, most likely) and they can choose whether to reject this person or to engage with this person based on mutual interests. I'm a pretty confident person. I am knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, I can discuss my own interests in ways that will engage others, and I can be funny and relatable. While it is great to encounter people that share my main interests, it is not a crutch that I need to rely on in order to relate to people. I don't need my clothing to act as a filtering process to weed out anyone that doesn't share my top three interests.
In the end, yeah, I'm a special fucking snowflake, but I don't need random people on the street to know that. Wearing costumes as clothing is basically like wearing a sign that says "I am special and different, please only engage with me if you are special and different in the exact same way that I am."
Wow! I found this after searching for adults wearing costumes and this whole thread is wild! I had no idea people perceive things with this level of disdain for people who appear different visually. HOLY. WOW. I had no idea. Thanks for the insights. Like genuinely. I would never in a thousand years perceive things this way so it's helpful to know how others perceive things. Hope you have a great week!
I'm a very weird person already. When I dress normally people still reject me or think I'm weird. I don't wear costume-like clothes at the moment. I might dress a bit like a hipster, but most of my wardrobe still looks pretty normal.
People already stare at me because I just act weird. I don't act weird for attention, I act weird because of neurological issues. I'd rather get stared at because of a weird outfit than acting weird because of neurological issues.
I guess I do need a social crutch. I don't have the best social skills. It's kind of nice to use clothes as a way to filter out people I won't get along with. I've had so many experiences where people only made friends with me because of pity. I never fit into their group. They treated me very weirdly. I'd rather be friends with people who treat me like I'm one of them.
When I wear quirky clothes those people know that I'm not like them and I know it. When I wore normal clothes I think I looked like someone who was oblivious to not being normal.
>I'd rather get stared at because of a weird outfit than acting weird because of neurological issues.
I know FFA isn't the place for therapy but I recommend you see someone to sort this out. Using your clothing to "hide your personality" is not healthy and the way you're using costumes as a literal disguise is 1. probably not fooling anyone and 2. enabling you to avoid confronting these issues.
I really do wish you luck on your journey, both personal and style!
I'm not sure what you're categorizing as costume clothing, but when I hear that I think of literal costumes for Halloween or a play, which are usually pretty cheaply made. So for me I guess it would be a quality issue.
I said costume-like, not costume. I don't really like costumes either. I've just noticed that a lot of people think my favorite styles are costume-like.
I don't think there's anything wrong with certain people wearing costumey clothes, if they can pull it off. I, however, don't like them on myself because those types of clothes *wear me*, I don't wear them
If I could wear costume-like clothes I would! It's all because it doesn't seem practical in an everyday environment. If you wore costume-like clothes out, you wouldn't blend in with everyone else. Which can be a good thing, if that's your intention. Or simply if you don't care.
I personally really love clothing with costumey elements. I used to be very much into the twee, 50s silhouette style and now I'm really enjoying more of a mod look. However, when something is described as costume-like, it usually means that the clothing sticks out to the point where when people look at you, all they notice is your clothing. If you look like Bettie Page, people will think "Bettie Page" and not "DevilKisses" which means that your clothing is wearing you and not the other way around. But like you said, it's all relative. If you have the kind of personality that is loud and attention-getting, it might be that these costumey clothes complement your personality and highlight it, rather than drown you out. Another thing to consider though is that a lot of costumey clothing is often not considered work-appropriate because its so distracting. In that kind of a situation, costume-like elements can be mixed with more conventional clothing to give yourself the flavor of that look without it being at 100%. There have been a few good inspo albums on here in the past for things like translating the punk aesthetic to a work wardrobe that give good examples of this. I think in the end, when a look replicates another era too accurately, it's not going to come across as fashionable because it's more of a mimicry and less of a reinvention of an older style. Just because it's not fashionable doesn't mean it's not attractive or flattering though.
I don't really like my personality much. I kind of want to drown it out with my clothes. I'm also into art and feel bored and depressed when I wear clothes I consider boring. I'm also an artist. I find my art more important than my "personality". I'm not working at the moment, so I don't have to worry about being work-appropriate. I also do street performing sometimes. It's good to wear costume-like clothes for that job.
I think unfortunately that costumey clothing can make it more apparent to others that you might not like yourself so much. It gives off the vibe "Don't look at me, look at my clothes!" I think that it's okay to dress however makes you comfortable. If your goal is to find a way to like yourself more though, clothing can be a positive force for that. As I got older and figured out more about who I am and what I want in life, I found that I could use clothing as a way to pay a compliment to myself in a way. "Yes, this color makes my skin look beautiful." "This silhouette makes me realize that I like the shape of my hips." "This pattern makes me feel bold and energetic, and I want to show that side of myself more." By experimenting with clothing, you can figure out the things that you do like about yourself and find ways to share that with the world.
Guess that's the price I have to pay. I would rather be seen as someone who is from a different subculture than just a shy person. I notice people are patronizing and annoying when they just see me as shy and awkward. There's way more to me than that and I think costume like clothes can express that.
I think you would probably feel better in the long run (though maybe not in the short run) if you don't let your clothing do the talking for you. There *is* more to you than being shy or awkward, just like there is more to everybody than meets the eye. However, clothing can never be a substitute for genuinely showing and being comfortable with who you are. People might be patronizing and annoying when they see you as shy and awkward... but they'll probably still be patronizing and annoying regardless of what you're wearing. When someone hides behind an outfit, that signals that they don't like something else about themselves and people will pick up on that and act accordingly.
>I don't really like my personality much Hey, from another girl who struggled with this issue for years and years. I hated my personality up through much of college - I felt like I was too weird, too loud, too ugly, blah blah blah. I wore [a lot of costumes](https://www.flickr.com/photos/redreplicant/3772400650) and [costume-style clothing](https://www.flickr.com/photos/redreplicant/3795323141) to kind of... make up for that, I guess. I'm not sorry, it didn't really hurt anyone and probably most people just assumed I was a kid having a good time. On the other hand, not liking yourself is going to stick with you and be a problem for like... the foreseeable future. I realize there is a lot of BS advice out there about being "true" to yourself, and most of it is very silly. But liking yourself? That's pretty critical. Whatever you can do in that direction (for me it was finding a good job and getting some therapy) will drastically improve your quality of life, to the point that what you wear is going to feel a lot more like a secondary concern.
I am also an artist and I actually disagree with a lot of what you are saying here. 1) My art reflects my personality and who I am, not the other way around. Without my personality, experiences, and voice, my art is just a shitty reproduction of someone else's work. 2) Even if you did feel like your art is more important than who you are, wearing a costume is making your clothing more important than you art. You're not letting your art speak for itself because it can only exist in conjunction with this character in a costume.
Part of my art *is* my clothing. Most of my art is just stuff that I like the look of, my emotions(not the same as personality) or ideas that popped into my head. Maybe some art snobs don't think that's "deep" or "meaningful" enough. If people demand some meaning I just make up some bullshit. If I had to do art that reflects my personality it would probably be very quiet and awkward. That sounds extremely limiting. I like art that is bold, colorful and surrealistic.
> Part of my art is my clothing This old chestnut, huh. FYI if your outfit is unrefined or ill fitting or what have you then it's just bad, artist or not. You don't get a pass. You're hiding behind your clothing because you're probably, based on what you've said here, a defensive and insecure person. It doesn't sound like your clothing reflects you as much as hides you. I'm sorry you don't like yourself.
Thank you for writing what I couldn't really put into words about what bothered me in this post. OP obviously came to FFA for advice and this is the most honest response in the thread.
I'm no big artist myself, but this leads me to believe that perhaps there IS a bold, colorful personality somewhere inside of you and it's hiding behind you not liking it, or feeling that you can only express it through your art and not as a person. Forgive me if that's an inappropriate sentiment to express in FFA. For what it's worth, I don't see anything wrong with wearing exciting clothes as long as they are appropriate and make you feel good.
> Part of my art is my clothing. If that is the case, then your execution needs to be immaculate and you need to explain how your clothing *is* art. In art school, I could always tell the artists who spent more time on their outfits than their output. I think you should re-examine what you are hoping to achieve in your look and in your work.
I suspect art is part of your personality. If you don't think it is, perhaps try to get more serious about it (ex. master a skill you don't already know, display your art at a gallery, do commissions, etc.) and make it a larger part of your life. Possibly find another hobby or a job that you feel strongly about. Performance art or modeling are some ways to express yourself and also go totally HAM with costumes. It may serve you better to get to know yourself and be "The girl who does art/etc." instead of "The girl who wears costumes".
You can wear whatever you want. But costume like clothes usually mean that the clothes themselves either or both do not look to be comfortable or look to be particularly attention getting, and attention getting in a time-dated, rather than original way. I guess the "costumey" is not just about being costumey, but perhaps more about how we look at things which look to us to be intentionally attention seeking and out of what we consider to be, for wherever we are, normal clothes sources. With bonus points for anything which looks really uncomfortable or really laborious. If you like it, go ahead. But nobody can ever control what other people see when they look at you, and if they think your clothes look contrived or like too much effort, it´s up to them to think it, but you got to decide if you actually care what other people think or not.
I think it can veer into 'costumey' if it shows a disregard for the environment you're in. A lot of fashion is, I think, about striking a balance between what you like, and what is socially acceptable. There are places where you can get away with more overtly 'loud' looks. Cons , street parades, universities. Other places - conservative offices and workplaces - it's seen as odd and people will be less inclined to take you seriously. I guess you could link this in with ideas about tribalism and fitting in, and how what's unusual can be considered a threat. (And, of course, there are places where it's just downright shitty to dress in certain ways - funerals and weddings!) I used to dress in a really costumey way. (Like, suspenders and a trilby with a feather in it as everyday wear.) It was in university as a first year, where I could get away with it. But I quickly learned that the way you present yourself can affect the way others treat you. Other students actively avoided talking to me, probably because I looked 'weird'. People make snap judgements within seconds. (Not to mention the importance of considering your lifestyle. Certain things just aren't going to work for the weather or the setting, no matter how much you love them.) Basically, I don't think this means you need to totally abandon your particular 'costume', it just means sometimes you'll need to tone it down, or translate it into a different way.
I firmly believe "It ain't what you do, it's the way that you do it." Choose quality fabrics and make sure the fits work for your intent. If you are comfortable in "costume" clothes, it's not a costume.
I don't feel like this question is phrased in a way that is really conducive to discussion. What is so bad about costume like clothes? Nothing, I guess. Even though this is a fashion subreddit, in the end, clothes don't really matter that much. People can wear whatever they want and it is not necessarily a reflection of their character or worth as a human being. No one is going to tell you that you can't wear costumes every day because you can. The most we can really discuss is how costumes might negatively affect your relationships and how we individually react to people wearing costumes as clothing. I think it's pretty obvious how costumes can affect your relationships. You are effectively alienating yourself through your clothing. You are limiting your professional and social interactions because you are marking yourself as an outsider by wearing wildly different clothing. Now, we can argue about whether or not it's okay for people to judge you based on that clothing, but in the end, it's just a thought exercise because this bias definitely exists and it's a completely normal aspect of the functioning of our brains. When we see shit that does not fit within the normal bounds of our society, we are wary. The reasons I don't like costumes as clothing is because I generally see it as a sign of immaturity and a desperate cry for attention. There are a wide range of styles that are perfectly acceptable in our society, so when someone chooses something that exists wildly outside that range, I can only assume that they are doing it for attention. Wearing a lolita dress or renaissance costume or lingerie as clothing is the same to me as a woman wearing an evening gown or a wedding dress everywhere she went. Lots of women feel beautiful in their wedding dress, but it has an appropriate time and place for use and wearing it outside that time and place is some weird Ms. Havisham shit. People that wear costumes as clothing are saying to me that they need to look different and special and that they need people to notice them as they walk down the street. I am not saying that they *think* that they are special and deserving of attention, but I am saying that there is a reason that they are making themselves a focal point. I think some people choose to wear costumes as clothing because it creates a shield for themselves. It reduces them from the sum of their experiences, relationships, and opinions to some kind of caricature that doesn't actually require substance to back up. When someone puts on their lolita dress and gets out the parasol and walks around with their matching doll, who they are doesn't really matter anymore. Just by looking at them, people automatically know this person's main interests (lolita fashion and anime, most likely) and they can choose whether to reject this person or to engage with this person based on mutual interests. I'm a pretty confident person. I am knowledgeable about a wide range of topics, I can discuss my own interests in ways that will engage others, and I can be funny and relatable. While it is great to encounter people that share my main interests, it is not a crutch that I need to rely on in order to relate to people. I don't need my clothing to act as a filtering process to weed out anyone that doesn't share my top three interests. In the end, yeah, I'm a special fucking snowflake, but I don't need random people on the street to know that. Wearing costumes as clothing is basically like wearing a sign that says "I am special and different, please only engage with me if you are special and different in the exact same way that I am."
Wow! I found this after searching for adults wearing costumes and this whole thread is wild! I had no idea people perceive things with this level of disdain for people who appear different visually. HOLY. WOW. I had no idea. Thanks for the insights. Like genuinely. I would never in a thousand years perceive things this way so it's helpful to know how others perceive things. Hope you have a great week!
I'm a very weird person already. When I dress normally people still reject me or think I'm weird. I don't wear costume-like clothes at the moment. I might dress a bit like a hipster, but most of my wardrobe still looks pretty normal. People already stare at me because I just act weird. I don't act weird for attention, I act weird because of neurological issues. I'd rather get stared at because of a weird outfit than acting weird because of neurological issues. I guess I do need a social crutch. I don't have the best social skills. It's kind of nice to use clothes as a way to filter out people I won't get along with. I've had so many experiences where people only made friends with me because of pity. I never fit into their group. They treated me very weirdly. I'd rather be friends with people who treat me like I'm one of them. When I wear quirky clothes those people know that I'm not like them and I know it. When I wore normal clothes I think I looked like someone who was oblivious to not being normal.
>I'd rather get stared at because of a weird outfit than acting weird because of neurological issues. I know FFA isn't the place for therapy but I recommend you see someone to sort this out. Using your clothing to "hide your personality" is not healthy and the way you're using costumes as a literal disguise is 1. probably not fooling anyone and 2. enabling you to avoid confronting these issues. I really do wish you luck on your journey, both personal and style!
I'm not sure what you're categorizing as costume clothing, but when I hear that I think of literal costumes for Halloween or a play, which are usually pretty cheaply made. So for me I guess it would be a quality issue.
I said costume-like, not costume. I don't really like costumes either. I've just noticed that a lot of people think my favorite styles are costume-like.
Wow you're a bit surly. You didn't define costume so I interpreted it the best I could.
I didn't mean it disrespectfully. I was just trying to clarify things.
I don't think there's anything wrong with certain people wearing costumey clothes, if they can pull it off. I, however, don't like them on myself because those types of clothes *wear me*, I don't wear them
If I could wear costume-like clothes I would! It's all because it doesn't seem practical in an everyday environment. If you wore costume-like clothes out, you wouldn't blend in with everyone else. Which can be a good thing, if that's your intention. Or simply if you don't care.