FashBlog.com

It's easy for fashion trends to go "too far," and I'm the first to admit that I get really sick of seeing a trend once it's become mainstream and everyone is doing it to the point of overkill. For example, a few years ago clothes became slightly more form-fitting, as flared jeans gave way to bootcut jeans and straight legged looks, and this was a good thing. But now the pendulum has swung too far and we're seeing the return of skinny jeans and leggings, and unless you're a model this is a very bad thing. So it's definitely possible for a look to get too much exposure- and it seems as though as soon as the public starts wearing something, the designers just go crazy and push the envelope way too far.

With that said, in spite of the overexposure it's receiving in malls and high schools all over the nation, I'm still in support of what is commonly known as the "emo look." For those who aren't familiar with the term, "emo" refers to a type of music and the clothing styles emulated by those who perform the music as well as those who listen to it. Think tight vintage tee shirts, peacoats, Converse tennis shoes and black-rimmed glasses. That's the emo look.

While I agree with the point that this look has gotten slightly too common- when every store from Hot Topic to Wal Mart is carrying striped tunic tops, it might be time to back off- I still like the look and prefer it to many other trends that have come across the fashion field. Why? Because the emo look is much more flexible than many other styles that are out there.

I think I'm reverting to high school when I say this, and if I sound a little bitter that would be why. But the mid to late 1990s were a time of clones. I still remember very strongly that everyone in my age gruop was wearing the same uniform style: light-washed bootcut jeans, preferably from a store like the Gap or American Eagle; pastel polos or baby tees; and Birkenstock sandals or Doc Marten boots or shoes. Also, it helped if you were blond and wore a matching scrunchie on your wrist.

I got so tired of that look that even today I refuse to buy those particular items of clothing. That time was depressing to me because of the fact that there was no variance allowed. Never mind if you couldn't afford the jeans, or if you looked terrible in pastels, or if you thought Doc Martens were uncomfortable. If you didn't wear the preppie look and wear it well, you just weren't in style.

That's why the emo look scores points with me, and high schoolers and college kids today could have it much worse. The point of the emo look is in the variety. Although it's true that I listed a few typical characteristics of the look above, the world of emo fashion is actually much more varied than that of many other styles. If you don't like tunic tops, you can wear a little tee shirt. If you don't look good in a little tee shirt, throw an embroidered cardigan over it. If you hate skinny jeans, choose dark-colored dress pants instead. Or wear a skirt, and pair it with tennis shoes or flip flop sandals. Part of the fun of the emo look- although it is a "look"- is that creating your own version of it is half the point.

That brings me to my next reason for supporting emo fashion. If you talk to emo kids today, ninety-nine percent of them are going to tell you that they shop in thrift stores. They scour the Goodwill for deals. They make their own clothing, or alter old pieces to create new looks. Emo is not an expensive look. It's not about pricey labels (Converse tennis shoes, which are popular, run about twenty-five dollars a pair) and it's not about everyone looking the same. It may seem that way to those who are unfamiliar with the style, but the truth is that with emo, almost anything goes. Doing it your own way is highly encouraged. And when you're talking about a fashion trend for the youth of today, that's a pretty positive statement to make.
-by bjp