I don’t know if it’s brilliant or stupid, but, earlier today, when reading about some folks who got dressed up in ridiculous costumes and walked around London’s Fashion Week hoping to be photographed by fashion writers, it occurred to me that it might be fun to just pick a date, and put the word out to folks that, when that day comes, they should take to the streets of Ypsilanti in the most fantastic outfits that they can assemble. The way I’m envisioning it, it wouldn’t be at all coordinated. There wouldn’t be a gathering point, or a set time, or a formal show of any kind. We’d just say, “On this day, go about your life as you would normally, but wear the most fanciful, visionary thing that you can imagine.”
It could be a complete disaster. I realize that. I could dress up in a unitard and cape, head out to do my shopping at Dos Hermanos, and not see a single other person dressed differently than they normally would be. But, what if twenty or thirty people actually did it? What if, you just happened to be passing though Ypsi that day, and everywhere you turned, among the normal people, there was an inexplicably dressed person just doing their thing… a woman in platform shoes and a towering beehive sweeping the sidewalk in front of her house, a man in a fake fur vest and gold hot-pants carrying a grocery bag back from the co-op, a gaggle of sunken-eyed kids dressed in haute couture burlap gowns? Wouldn’t that be incredibly exciting?
I don’t know if it’s feasible, but I like the idea of democratizing fashion. I like the idea of not just selecting a few local people to design clothes for a show, but instead throwing open the doors to everyone, regardless of their training or ability. And I like the idea of turning the whole town into a runway. I think that it would be great to wake up one morning knowing that you might see incredible, inspiring things around every corner. I also like the in-joke nature of it… the fact that a majority of folks on the street would have absolutely no idea what in the hell was going on.
As for how it would work, I haven’t given it a lot of thought yet. I’m thinking that a few local bars and restaurants could host events prior to the big day, where people could come, trade materials, and work collaboratively, if they wanted. Maybe a few people with sewing machines would even volunteer to come out and help people use them. Other than that, I don’t think we’d have to do a whole lot. We’d just have to pick a day in the spring, and put the word out through social media, letting people know that, if they dress incredibly that day, they probably won’t be alone.
[If you think this idea has merit, either “like” this post on Facebook or leave a comment. If enough people express interest, I’ll see what I can do to make it happen.]
9 Comments
What would differentiate it from every other day?
By the way, is anyone else having problems viewing this blog with iOS 8?
Sun Ra:
http://www.missioncreep.com/mw/sunra.html
Nick Cave:
http://markmaynard.com/2010/11/what-to-wear-to-the-krampus-ball/
Little Edie:
http://markmaynard.com/2010/11/what-to-wear-to-the-krampus-ball/
James Brown:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/74/James-Brown_1973.jpg
Lady Gaga:
http://www.billboard.com/photos/1504992/lady-gagas-100-most-outrageous-outfits
Crazy fashion:
http://www.tumblr.com/tagged/crazy-fashion
P Funk:
http://www.peaceuvmine.com/audio/2012/01/P-Funk.jpg
EOS, this is your big chance to wear hotpants made out of a gadsden flag.
But you won’t be able to see them through his rugged Glenn Beck jeans!
http://glennbeck.shop.musictoday.com/Product.aspx?cp=29940_51394&pc=BXAM163
I was actually looking for an excuse for this. Seriously. Just reading a great book called Women in Clothes by Shelia Heti.
I do this occasionally. It’s fun. It’s more fun to walk a few feet behind me & watch people’s reactions. My coworkers have finally started to feel comfortable enough to ask me what’s up with that (I don’t know, boredom?) But I think if the purpose is to troll people’s inflated sense of superiority you’ve gotta do it at the same time as other people who are ACTUALLY trying to be noticed for their style.
Just don’t take it too far.
http://gawker.com/woman-gets-third-boob-implanted-wants-to-be-unattract-1637586099
It sounds like fun. I am not sure I could come up with an outfit wild enough to be worthy of the event though.
I would totally walk my dog wearing a day-glo garbage bag.