The New Plain

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Permalink Reply by MJ on 8th mo. 7, 2009 at 7:43am

Sorry for the late reply, but thank you so very much!

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Permalink Reply by Lisa George on 9th mo. 29, 2009 at 11:36am

My first post! I am a Liberal Seeker and after reading the resources would consider myself Modern Plain. This was long before I looked into the Quakers as a possible spiritual home.

My primary colors are not black/grey, rather beiges and browns. One friend told me that I should add more colors to my wardrobe since I practically blend into a wall! Most days, I wear khaki pants and turtlenecks, and a pair of plain brown shoes. I never wear skirts (though the long skirt resources might have me changing my mind). I never wear makeup, mainly because my skin breaks out and truth be told I don't want to spend the extra time unnecessarily primping myself up. People should see me for me, and they do.

I sometimes wear a scarf on my head, usually when I am in 'keeping house' mode. When the scarf comes on the family knows to get out of the way.

As an anti-consumerist, I do not buy clothes unless absolutely necessary and adheres to my personal plain guidelines. I prefer to purchase clothing from the local Goodwill, cottage industry, or hand-me-downs.

My twins attend a Waldorf school and their school clothing, though need not be necessarily plain, may not depict violence, show logos or other popular culture media imagery. I am blessed with the generosity of hand-me-downs from friends and I would say that 60% - 80% of the clothing does not conform with the standards above. Does that disappoint me? Not at all! I am happy to take only what we need and no more and give the rest to those that need the clothing. Anything that is too worn or threadbare I put in a clothing donation bin which I know will be made into rags or other recycled material.

Have I had trouble in conforming to the plain approach? Not really. Most clothes I wear for years and does not really 'go out of style'. I only have a hard time when I try to find clothing (mainly shoes) that are not cheaply (as in sweatshop labor) made. Shoe shopping with my kids is a battle of wills I try to explain to them (they are 5) that the sparkly or strobe-lighted shoes they like are not practical (they show too much dirt too easily) or plain. As a compromise I let them pick their own clothes to wear each day, even though I sometimes grit my teeth if the outfit clashes.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Jacobson on 2nd mo. 11, 2010 at 11:18am

I like this discussion, but my Guatemalan shirt collection will not pass for Plain. Nor will my collection of tie-dyes. (I am wearing one in the picture.)


Wanna get over a problem with fancy clothes? Hang them on the floor. In a pile. Wear only the most wrinkled for the day. (of course, wash them like normal)

Dress like a bum when you go to the grocery store or shopping mall sometime and see how you are treated. You are clean, but wearing old, wrinkled clothes. No one knows for sure if you are carrying around a big pile of money to spend, but you will not get sales people to help you.

Doing this has opened my eyes to how sales people and society in general treats poor people. It is amazing. If I show up in neat clothes, my beard neatly trimmed and ask for service – boom, there it is. If I show up in my bum outfits, even though I am ready to spend money in the store, people ignore me or are rude and offensive. So I leave. (Sometimes after asking for their supervisors phone number.)


I can tell the good soul working in the corporately owned stores because when I show up dressed like a bum, they smile, and ask me how I can be helped.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Jacobson on 2nd mo. 14, 2010 at 2:44pm

so, nobody thinks my suggestion to hang your clothes in a pile on the floor is completely ridiculous????


I'm trying to find out your motivations for plain clothes; is this the same as being concerned about wealth and fancy cars/houses, that we are to be modest? what about clothes that celebrate the riot of colors God has given us?

is meekness the main concern?, or is it not feeding desires and coveting in others?

myself, i don't like men's ties very much. they are too much like a leash. but, i will wear one to visit with the Ford Foundation, or to attend a wedding in the family, etc. This feels like a cop out when i do it, but it would be determinedly stupid to not be flexible about it.


mark

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Permalink Reply by kevin roberts on 2nd mo. 20, 2010 at 9:50pm

Hey Mark-

All my clothing looks the same. I gave away all my own Guatamalan shirts to Goodwill. I don't have any concerns about wealth or fancy cars, or modesty, or simplicity, or social justice, or Honduran sweatshops, or meekness. At least not connected to what I wear.

I wear it as a religious discipline, more or less for the same reasons that I tend not to speak up much during worship, and to try to listen instead. It's less distracting to me, and serves as a public witness that reject certain portions of the dominant culture and accept different standards. Keeps me out of inappropriate places and starts interesting conversations with strangers.

" This feels like a cop out when i do it, but it would be determinedly stupid to not be flexible about it."

On your tie, wear it as long as thee is able.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Jacobson on 2nd mo. 21, 2010 at 9:08am

kevin,

a good post. it is clear what your plain dressing is about.

yet, while you profess demur reasons - listening, less distraction - I see a bit of the rebel in this practice, telling society that the normal decorum of clothing does not apply to thee.

unfortunately, "able" will likely be until my fingers don't work anymore.

mj

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Permalink Reply by kevin roberts on 2nd mo. 22, 2010 at 12:43pm

Mark, "rebel" is inherent in my statement that I reject certain aspects of the dominant culture. "Society" is not my guide, and is something I try to keep at a distance. But while I might be a rebel in the eyes of a culture I disregard, I am a servant to another master.

Think about who or what you choose to be your own master-- society, as enforced by "normal decorum?" Something else? Consider the conflict you pointed out between participating in an activity that "feels like a cop out," but is "determinedly stupid not to be flexible about." I don't say this to be argumentative, but to encourage you to think about the reasons for your own clothing choices.

I wear the same clothing when in court as a defendant, in weddings and funerals of non-Friends, at work, recreation, and in meeting in front of God.

For me, there is no other appearance, no second or double standards, no different "Kevins" to pull out of my closet for different people or occasions. My appearance is a statement of integrity, in that I am the Same, wherever I go.

Forgot to mention that part.

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Permalink Reply by Mark Jacobson on 2nd mo. 22, 2010 at 1:59pm

Kevin,

okay, technical question. all clothes wear out at some time. me, i wear stuff until it falls off or becomes a hazard. (i mentioned dressing like a bum earlier) the point is that i am getting the full utility of these clothes, and for going to the grocery store or for a walk, they do just fine. (store managers and clerks always monitor me very closely when i do this, yet they will not offer service)

so, when are your clothes too worn to continue wearing?

and, are you practiced in mending and sewing?? (not me, i probably should learn, come to think of it, might be an important skill some day.)

your fellow Friend in rebellion,

mark

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Permalink Reply by kevin roberts on 2nd mo. 22, 2010 at 2:55pm

I start out with inexpensive work clothing from the hardware store or the local dollar store, and modify it or repair it as necessary until there isn't enough cloth left to hold thread. Some things I make myself, like harness leather suspenders--one pair has lasted me 8 years so far. My jackets last 10 or 15 years or more. My hats are made locally by my Amish neighbors.

Shirts and such are a mixture of homemade (my mama) or just simple. In the last 10 years or so I've averaged perhaps $25 per year on clothing, perhaps $30 per year on shoes, maybe $15.00 on one new straw hat per year.

My khaki trousers and shirts have all worn out. I'm replacing them with black and gray ones because black trousers cost $10.00, and white shirts that I can dye gray cost $4.00 each. My kids all stared at me last night: "You look different." Even the 12 year old has never seen me wear anything but the same khaki trousers and shirts in his life.

This isn't hard or expensive to do. The difficulties to overcome are all internal.

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