Man Clothes

[graidawg]

burner clichés like top hats

what? NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO my hat is a cliche? but i love my hat but i hate cliches but i love my hat too.
how do I avoid being a cliche? please advise

[Drawingablank]

I've held off posting to this thread because I really had no good advice for the op (truly Drawing A Blank). But on coming across this again have reconsidered and pulled together some thoughts.

1. Stretch your comfort zone a bit - wear stuff you wouldn't even consider in the default world.
2. Let your imagination flow.
3. Always keep physical comfort in mind when selecting clothes for the playa.
4. It has to come from you - no one can tell you what to wear and if you allow yourself the freedom it may surprise you what your inner self wants to wear. (apparently my inner self loves a lace micro mini skirt with garters much to my wife's surprise)

As someone who basically lives in subdued clothes (jeans, tees, and flannel shirts) 51 weeks a year, I use burn week to put my peacock on. Loud and colorful is my thing at the burn, although given my fashion sense it often translates into tacky but who cares.

This means that I spend a lot of time in thrift store women's sections searching for elusive finds like colorful clothes that fit my 6'2" 240 pound frame and learned how to sew due to the general lack of spectacular clothes that fit me.

What this all boils down to is - give a range of stuff a chance. In all honesty I never expected to like wearing skirts or kilts, but ended up wearing the two I brought for most of the week (it kinda felt odd putting jeans on for the ride home). Your thing will probably be something different, but you won't know unless you try.

[flightless]

Top hats are cliche but awesome. Breasts are cliche too, but I'm still bringing mine.

[SquirrelHead]

Wish I could pull this look off, but I don't think I could get away with it.



Maybe this (If I grew some hair)?

Prince always has some awesome outfits. That is a man that truly doesn't give a fuck what people think and just wears what he wants.

[Eric]

Thanks for posting this. My camping (and life) partner can be something of a fuddy-duddy when it comes to dressing up. He's great at conceiving and building art and projects and our camp, but he's just not a performer. He hates what he considers the "look at me" aspect of dressing up, whether it's steampunk or tutus.

Still, he felt bad when he got asked "where's your costume, dude?" so I've been brainstorming.

Tell him not to worry, and when someone asks that he can tell them to fuck off, this is how he expresses himself. (I suggest the line "sorry, I didn't have time to go shopping at Burners-R-Us like the rest of you, I was building a fucking theme camp")

I've said it other places on the board- there is no obligation to "dress up", and some of the best people I've met out there are ones who wear khaki's and t-shirts and have the fashion sense of a middle-aged Midwestern engineer. Hell, the only man ever ended meeting on the playa & dating dressed like that. Personality trumps fashion every time (and this from me, who definitely doesn't dress down)

[Simon of the Playa]

for me it's Formal Wear, or nothing at all...

[Savannah]

Thanks for posting this. My camping (and life) partner can be something of a fuddy-duddy when it comes to dressing up. He's great at conceiving and building art and projects and our camp, but he's just not a performer. He hates what he considers the "look at me" aspect of dressing up, whether it's steampunk or tutus.

Still, he felt bad when he got asked "where's your costume, dude?" so I've been brainstorming.

Tell him not to worry, and when someone asks that he can tell them to fuck off, this is how he expresses himself. (I suggest the line "sorry, I didn't have time to go shopping at Burners-R-Us like the rest of you, I was building a fucking theme camp")

I second this. If someone expresses intolerance to you, at the BURN of all places, consider it a "teachable moment" for them and LEARN 'EM.

If you don't feel like being aggressive, you can explain it patiently until they're squirming.

[ygmir]

for me it's Formal Wear, or nothing at all...

[tamarakay]

for me it's Formal Wear, or nothing at all...

Do I get a vote on this one?

[Savannah]

Love that pic of Yggy, Trilo and Eric.

Graidawg, it doesn't matter if something is possibly cliché if you feel good or look good (hopefully both). Clichés start for a reason!

[Simon of the Playa]

for me it's Formal Wear, or nothing at all...

Do I get a vote on this one?

i'm 6'5 and 155 lbs.


trust me, no one wants to see a concentration camp victim naked...

i'll stick to the tux...

and those three above are as stylish as it gets...

[Eric]

i'm 6'5 and 155 lbs.

trust me, no one wants to see a concentration camp victim naked...

You've never seen the men I date, have you?

[Simon of the Playa]

well that explains the sexy nazi prison guard outfit...

[Eric]

well that explains the sexy nazi prison guard outfit...

shhhhh! No-one is supposed to know about Jews for .... nevermind...

[Simon of the Playa]

no worries.

i have a 3/4 length dark green leather SS Overcoat that is simply TO Die For.

no pun intended...

[Savannah]

Someone say "dark green leather"?

My favorite coat is made of that . . .

[waynerd]

I imagine it would be hard to break free from default world expectations of what a man should look like after years of training.


Whose style do you admire?
What characters in movies have you wanted to dress like?

I've always wanted to wander the streets in a "Frank" costume and mask (scary rabbit from Donnie Darko). I think however being it's faux fur and a heavy mask I'd last about 2 hours in the heat of the playa before collapsing of exhaustion. Have a few less "warm" ideas but will most likely keep it fairly simple.

[Drawingablank]

I imagine it would be hard to break free from default world expectations of what a man should look like after years of training.


Whose style do you admire?
What characters in movies have you wanted to dress like?

I've always wanted to wander the streets in a "Frank" costume and mask (scary rabbit from Donnie Darko). I think however being it's faux fur and a heavy mask I'd last about 2 hours in the heat of the playa before collapsing of exhaustion. Have a few less "warm" ideas but will most likely keep it fairly simple.

Warm ideas work well at night - it can get pretty cold there.

[waynerd]

I imagine it would be hard to break free from default world expectations of what a man should look like after years of training.


Whose style do you admire?
What characters in movies have you wanted to dress like?

I've always wanted to wander the streets in a "Frank" costume and mask (scary rabbit from Donnie Darko). I think however being it's faux fur and a heavy mask I'd last about 2 hours in the heat of the playa before collapsing of exhaustion. Have a few less "warm" ideas but will most likely keep it fairly simple.

Warm ideas work well at night - it can get pretty cold there.

Good Point!

[hotmess]

I suggest the line "sorry, I didn't have time to go shopping at Burners-R-Us like the rest of you, I was building a fucking theme camp")

I feel you on that. My playa gear has been a collection of clothing I have re invented on the playa. One word of advise, a good pair of shoes is KEY. I like to where a pair of hiking sneakers I got at easter mountain sport. They are great for days and nights, have great support and protect my feet. May I also suggest wool socks. I have fallen in love with smart wool as they keep my feet dry. I like to wear the short wool socks in the day and then thicker ones at night. What is great about them is you can hang them up over night and they feel dry and clean and ready to go for another day.

Although with all this mentioning of suits and formal wear I think I might have to step it up a notch this year!

[theCryptofishist]

My pointing out this sentence is KEY.

One word of advise, a good pair of shoes is KEY.

[Saguache]

My pointing out this sentence is KEY.

One word of advise, a good pair of shoes is KEY.

Meh, I spent most of 2010 with nothing on my feet. But I agree a good pair of shoes can make or break your outfit

[moonrise]

[/quote]

I've always wanted to wander the streets in a "Frank" costume and mask (scary rabbit from Donnie Darko). I think however being it's faux fur and a heavy mask I'd last about 2 hours in the heat of the playa before collapsing of exhaustion. Have a few less "warm" ideas but will most likely keep it fairly simple. [/quote]
Warm ideas work well at night - it can get pretty cold there.[/quote]

Good Point! [/quote]

yea, waynerd it gets cooooold at night. I found my shoulders got cold and hands and feet. I beefed up the shoulder areas of my night jacket (stuffed extra filling in and resewed it) or added a vest under a warm jacket. Also, warmer boots/socks, broke out my work gloves, and always bring a hat! The temps drop like a rock if you do an all nighter (I sometimes have to stay up all night if I want to catch the sunrise) Hope this helps!

BTW, Tthe CORE burn night was schweeeeet, because the desert was warm in that entire region for hours and hours....17 regional effigy big burns happening all at once, wow, that was warm, fun treat!

[vargaso]

Lots of good suggestions and advice here. I never really dressed up or was into costumes before BM, and my first year I ended up going to Black Rock Boutique camp and got some fun stuff there. Every year since, I'm mostly in a sarong during the day and a workman's jump suit or formal wear at night. Although I have been known to head out in just underwear during the day. That is totally an option for a man of any size and shape.

There are definitely burner costume cliches, steampunk or the faux fur being the biggest ones, probably. But fuck it, it looks fucking great out there. My favorite thing to see are older couples just letting it all hang out. I don't know if I agree with an earlier poster about only the good-looking women going skimpy. Pretty sure I've seen more full-figured and older women with basically nothing on. And it's great.

Anyway, if you're of a utilitarian bent, grab a couple workman's jumpsuits, they're like 30 bucks, and you're good to go. Wander around, have fun, tell anyone who questions your level of participation to fuck right off. They're probably in DPW and are too caught up in their lives being so much better than our vacations, blah blah (you know it's true!, ha!). And yes, Eric, those middle-aged guys in cargo shorts are usually the most fun to talk to, and very likely have brought out some fantastic art/contraption/science project. Tons of super-smart/creative engineer types with no "fashion sense" but lots of creativity in other areas.

[Elliot]

And yes, Eric, those middle-aged guys in cargo shorts are usually the most fun to talk to, and very likely have brought out some fantastic art/contraption/science project. Tons of super-smart/creative engineer types with no "fashion sense" but lots of creativity in other areas.

You rang?



I'm vindicated!

At least I have middle age and boring clothes already. And I'm trying real hard on the cool Stuff.

(And it sounds like I'm fishing for compliments, doesn't it? Well, I am! )

[theCryptofishist]

Hey, at least you have the fashion sense not to be wearing those shorts that hike up in the middle when you walk.

[Elliot]

Hey, at least you have the fashion sense not to be wearing those shorts that hike up in the middle when you walk.

The mere thought keeps me in a cold sweat nights long. I hope whoever sees me like that will have the sense of mercy to euthanize me.

[vargaso]

And yes, Eric, those middle-aged guys in cargo shorts are usually the most fun to talk to, and very likely have brought out some fantastic art/contraption/science project. Tons of super-smart/creative engineer types with no "fashion sense" but lots of creativity in other areas.

You rang?



I'm vindicated!

At least I have middle age and boring clothes already. And I'm trying real hard on the cool Stuff.

(And it sounds like I'm fishing for compliments, doesn't it? Well, I am! )

Hey, I remember that bike from 2009 (or one similar to it), I talked to the owner about it, could have been you! Anyway, you are EXACTLY the type of person I was referring to. For me, those are the core people of BM.

And interestingly, the people who started the whole thing, if you look at pictures of the first few burns, they were basically a bunch of nerds in their late 30s and up, running around in 90s shorts and goofy formal wear. That's the spirit I like.

[theCryptofishist]

Ironically, the guy behind Elliot is another middle-aged guy with mad skills who makes things (mv, theme camp) for the burn. He, however, has a sparklepony (well, utilitarian sparklepony) worthy wardrobe. We all bring our own mix to the mix...

[Elliot]

...running around in 90s shorts and goofy formal wear.

Naw.... Come on... you mean like top hat and swim trunks? Get outta here. Nobody would do that.




The picture of the trike is from 2008. It looked the same in 2009. I loan it out, of course, but it was my primary transportation those two years.

All right, my ego is all boosted up for the day!
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