Dead Winter
STAHP
Welp, almost all of my day to day wardrobe consists of long and short sleeve metal T-shirts and others of the like. However, that's not all I wear. You can't wear the same things every single day and expect to adapt to every single situation. This is my point:
Yesterday a friend and I were shopping for clothes, and since she's a very stylish girl, I usually bounce ideas off of her. Being in Italy where style is paramount, it's not hard to find a Versace or Gucci or Armani store. However, we originally just went to Pordenone to buy some cds and get a bite to eat, therefore, I had on a Megadeth t-shirt and some khaki shorts and sandals. She wanted to go into Armani, as did I, and buy a pair or two of their nice jeans or slacks and maybe a few long sleeve shirts. Then I realized how I was dressed; like a plain, simple street urchin American who lived in Italy. I decided to not go inside and shop and wait for another day so I could be more presentable. The reason for this is that you can't go around looking a certain way and expect everyone to treat you the same. You don't have to conform, you just have to adapt. Clothes don't make the person; the person makes the person. However, most people don't see it that way, especially the type of people who work in Versace or Armani. So, you must adapt, and present yourself in a less extreme and more stylish way. I don't have to go in with a double-breasted suit on, but a nicer shirt would have been a better start, rather than a black t shirt with a demon on the front suspended by chains that says MEGADETH on both sides. I wear metal t-shirts over here because there are TONS AND TONS of people in Italy and all over Europe who LOVE metal, and not a day goes by that I don't see at least three people with either an Emperor, Hammerfall, or Deicide shirt on over here. It's much more prevalent, and when they find out I'm American, they are very surprised because they really do think that black and death metal isn't very big in America, although it's huge. Not as big as it is in Europe, because it's basically mainstream here, but it's still big. I've made many friends and gotten to know many people based on the way I present myself here. If I go to a bar or a concert, of course I'm going to wear it. People come up to me and ask me about the bands, what bands I like, etc. and it's a really good experience. It's kinda like me saying, "Hey, I'm American, and we all aren't mindless sheep who follow MTV. I like the same music you do." I want to spread the word that Americans really are more in touch with the rest of the world than the rest of the world thinks.
However, certain situations call for certain clothes. Even though I'm not into religion or anything, I would not go into a church wearing an Emperor t-shirt. Not because I have some personal belief, but because I would be imposing upon other people's ideals and religions. I don't want to sway anyone to any side of any religion, but I must respect them as people. I don't like people pushing their religion down my throat when I go to concerts, so I'm not going to throw a bunch of satanic imagery at people minding their own business if they are X-ians.
Also, if I were to go to a nice restaurant, I wouldn't wear my "God's Busy...Can I Help You?" with the devil head T-shirt. We all must be socially conscious people and realize that you don't have to look a certain part to be a certain person. I wear the shirts and clothes I normally wear because I think I look good in them, and usually I'm either at a pub, a concert, or playing with my band. The other times I'm at work in the USAF, so my options are pretty much limited to what I can wear with those guys...besides camouflage and jump boots.
I usually wear jeans because jeans can be good for any occasion if worn with the right attire. I usually dislike slacks because of the way they fit, but I wear them in nicer settings. I do not mind going to formal occasions in tuxedos, such as the operas we have here, or a formal dinner. Being in the military, we have many, many formal dining occasions, and we have to wear our mess dress blues, which is basically a military tuxedo.
Boots, sandals, or nice shoes are usually what I wear on my feet. Tennis shoes only if I'm doing something very active like lifting or just farting around.
My girlfriend is very successful, comes from a wealthy Italian family here, has a master's in psychology, and is very in with the posh crowd around Milan. She is very cultured and refined, and could fit in almost anywhere. If there were an A-list, she would be on it. But she doesn't like those things. Do you know where I met her? In the fucking pit at Gods of Metal, while we were screaming for Hypocrisy to play Roswell 47. She looks over at me and says, "When they start pushing, just push against me!!!!!" Soilwork, Carpathian Forest, Nile, Hypocrisy, and many other bands were there as well. The point is, she could probably live the high life if she wanted, but it's not what she wants. She loves metal, extreme metal, all her friends love metal or play in metal bands, and she has completely turned her back on her priveleged roots. This is someone who truly doesn't care about society and is going to do what she wants to do, no matter who or what stands in her way. THAT is the epitome of total and complete integrity.
Yesterday a friend and I were shopping for clothes, and since she's a very stylish girl, I usually bounce ideas off of her. Being in Italy where style is paramount, it's not hard to find a Versace or Gucci or Armani store. However, we originally just went to Pordenone to buy some cds and get a bite to eat, therefore, I had on a Megadeth t-shirt and some khaki shorts and sandals. She wanted to go into Armani, as did I, and buy a pair or two of their nice jeans or slacks and maybe a few long sleeve shirts. Then I realized how I was dressed; like a plain, simple street urchin American who lived in Italy. I decided to not go inside and shop and wait for another day so I could be more presentable. The reason for this is that you can't go around looking a certain way and expect everyone to treat you the same. You don't have to conform, you just have to adapt. Clothes don't make the person; the person makes the person. However, most people don't see it that way, especially the type of people who work in Versace or Armani. So, you must adapt, and present yourself in a less extreme and more stylish way. I don't have to go in with a double-breasted suit on, but a nicer shirt would have been a better start, rather than a black t shirt with a demon on the front suspended by chains that says MEGADETH on both sides. I wear metal t-shirts over here because there are TONS AND TONS of people in Italy and all over Europe who LOVE metal, and not a day goes by that I don't see at least three people with either an Emperor, Hammerfall, or Deicide shirt on over here. It's much more prevalent, and when they find out I'm American, they are very surprised because they really do think that black and death metal isn't very big in America, although it's huge. Not as big as it is in Europe, because it's basically mainstream here, but it's still big. I've made many friends and gotten to know many people based on the way I present myself here. If I go to a bar or a concert, of course I'm going to wear it. People come up to me and ask me about the bands, what bands I like, etc. and it's a really good experience. It's kinda like me saying, "Hey, I'm American, and we all aren't mindless sheep who follow MTV. I like the same music you do." I want to spread the word that Americans really are more in touch with the rest of the world than the rest of the world thinks.
However, certain situations call for certain clothes. Even though I'm not into religion or anything, I would not go into a church wearing an Emperor t-shirt. Not because I have some personal belief, but because I would be imposing upon other people's ideals and religions. I don't want to sway anyone to any side of any religion, but I must respect them as people. I don't like people pushing their religion down my throat when I go to concerts, so I'm not going to throw a bunch of satanic imagery at people minding their own business if they are X-ians.
Also, if I were to go to a nice restaurant, I wouldn't wear my "God's Busy...Can I Help You?" with the devil head T-shirt. We all must be socially conscious people and realize that you don't have to look a certain part to be a certain person. I wear the shirts and clothes I normally wear because I think I look good in them, and usually I'm either at a pub, a concert, or playing with my band. The other times I'm at work in the USAF, so my options are pretty much limited to what I can wear with those guys...besides camouflage and jump boots.
I usually wear jeans because jeans can be good for any occasion if worn with the right attire. I usually dislike slacks because of the way they fit, but I wear them in nicer settings. I do not mind going to formal occasions in tuxedos, such as the operas we have here, or a formal dinner. Being in the military, we have many, many formal dining occasions, and we have to wear our mess dress blues, which is basically a military tuxedo.
Boots, sandals, or nice shoes are usually what I wear on my feet. Tennis shoes only if I'm doing something very active like lifting or just farting around.
My girlfriend is very successful, comes from a wealthy Italian family here, has a master's in psychology, and is very in with the posh crowd around Milan. She is very cultured and refined, and could fit in almost anywhere. If there were an A-list, she would be on it. But she doesn't like those things. Do you know where I met her? In the fucking pit at Gods of Metal, while we were screaming for Hypocrisy to play Roswell 47. She looks over at me and says, "When they start pushing, just push against me!!!!!" Soilwork, Carpathian Forest, Nile, Hypocrisy, and many other bands were there as well. The point is, she could probably live the high life if she wanted, but it's not what she wants. She loves metal, extreme metal, all her friends love metal or play in metal bands, and she has completely turned her back on her priveleged roots. This is someone who truly doesn't care about society and is going to do what she wants to do, no matter who or what stands in her way. THAT is the epitome of total and complete integrity.
