By now, if you’ve been paying attention, you know that this blog is geared toward the Southern and the fashion forward. Those ready to learn from others and ready to experience new things. Those that may know more than others, sartorially speaking, but still understand that they have some much to learn themselves. Those that would like some rap with their rock and rock and bow ties with their fitted hats. The term the world gives to such open-minded people is eclectic. It’s the word that this blog and my company are centered around. But recently things I’ve seen, heard in conversations, or read leads me to believe that this term is at serious jeopardy of being overused–if it’s not already. I find myself asking aloud: what makes someone eclectic? What gives them the right to say that, to lay claim to that concept?
Because I am of the mindset that a lot of people are misrepresenting. I was told once that luxury is not an item:
“Being able to buy Burberry scarves, Lanvin sneakers, Goyard trunks, none of that makes you luxurious. Being luxurious is a way of living and breathing and thinking. When you’re luxurious you don’t have to THINK to buy certain things, to eat certain foods, to shop at certain places, read certain magazines, or vacation in a particular spot. You just do because it is engrained into every fiber of your being. Bud Light? You don’t even think of drinking such things, you’d rather sip Chimay. But you don’t force yourself to think of drinking Chimay, it just never even occurs to you to drink Bud Light. You don’t have to find out where they sell it because you already know. I mean, you can’t accidentally use a word that’s not even in your vocabulary, right? You can’t slip and hold a conversation French if you don’t know it, right? So it is with luxury.”
I was a senior in college when I was told that but the guy who made that comment was a total dick so I prefer not to mention his name. That one statement is the only good thing I ever took from my brief encounter with him. But like I said, he did have a point.
So I’m asking you to replace the word “luxury” with “eclectic” and take a look at yourself before you take a look around you. Do you fit the bill? Do you lead an eclectic lifestyle? Now, answering “no” does not make you a bad person or a boring person. But it does mean that you my be trying to live a lifestyle that’s just not you, homie. I know myself and thus I know I am truly eclectic. Right now as I type this I have on an Atlanta Braves fitted, an Old Navy western shirt, GAP tee-shirt, some jeans and Bean boots. When I hop in the car if you pull out my cds you’ll see Gucci Mane, Datarock, Sergio Mendes, Outkast, Pharrell, Righchus, and Wolfmother. I’m not telling you to brag or boast some made up bravado. I’m black dude in from North Charleston, South Carolina. This is me, this is who I am. No acting, no “let me make sure I have on different styles before I leave the house“, none of that. Some times I’m Senor Streetwear and sometimes I look like Captain Seersucker. That’s just how it be sometimes and this site is for people who can understand and appreciate that.
The point is, we can see right through you. In fact, it’s kinda sad. I just want you be comfortable in your own skin. DO YOU as the kids would say. Everything else will take care of itself.
