Dressing Like Your Neighbourhood
As I am writing this I’m in the South Main area of Vancouver which was once referred to as Mount Pleasant, and is sometimes referred to in local marketing as SoMa. This is an area that has experienced rapid change and gentrification over the past 10 years or so.
Once riddled with seedy characters and prostitutes, this area is now home to a burgeoning urban culture and boutique fashion scene. This is a favourite hang out of the hipster, and what seems interesting to me is that much like other similar neighbourhoods in New York, or Portland, people start to look like their neighbourhood.
It’s a bit strange, but spend enough time where you live and you start to reflect the style of your neighbours. In Vancouver the difference in looks between neighbourhoods is very apparent.
South Main is dominated by a thrift-store based grunge fashion. The people of the area seem to opt for cool sneakers, often somewhat retro style. At times I feel like Where’s Waldo was the basis for their fashion which includes skinny jeans, striped tight t-shirts, toques, cardigans, and old school hats.
Opposite to this is Kitsilano. That neighbourhood, only a few kilometres away shows off the fabulous rear ends of the pretty Vancouverites who opt to spend Saturday afternoon in Lululemon yoga pants and fashionably sporty attire. You don’t see as many stripes and checkers, and most people seem to be wandering around with a latté in hand. It’s a decidedly more yuppie scene where refurbished single-speed bikes are replaced with brand new knock-off retro beach cruisers and BMW convertibles.
Take a jaunt over the bridge to North Vancouver and people again all start to dress the same. Stop in at a coffee shop around the base of Mount Seymour and the patrons will likely have just finished a trail run or mountain bike ride. The fashion is outdoor apparel from the likes of Arcteryx or Mountain Equipment Co-op. Again, reflective of the neighbourhood.
Obviously this is not exclusive to Vancouver. My travels elsewhere have indicated similar trends. Whether it be in Manhattan or Marrakech we are what we eat and we dress where we live. Despite our desire for individuality we as a people, regardless of location, dress to fit in and adopt the “uniform” of the people around us.
