Where did all the eccentrics go?

Yuk.

Greyduster

^Going to the shops in pyjamas^. Why on earth would you? Do they stay in said pyjamas all day? Do they change into clean pyjamas when they go to bed, or do they sleep in the……no, let’s not go there!

I was at a petrol station recently and a woman who looked to be in her 60s came into the shop for cigarettes, wearing pyjamas, dressing gown and slippers at around 3.30 in the afternoon. Her hair was dirty and unbrushed and the pyjamas etc looked like they had been worn for some considerable time since they had last been laundered. Trying not to judge, because she might be ill, but it's hard not to!!

Perhaps I am eccentric. Although I am housebound and very
rarely see anyone apart from my daily help I dress in clean skirt, matching top and cardigan, wear makeup, nail varnish every day.

I suppose I would be seen as eccentric by some people at times, but I dont set out to be anything. the main things for me are to be warm enough and wearing clean clothes. So I had been living in the middle east and came back in what was meant to be summer, rather cold and very wet . I felt frozen so was walking about in trousers and tops and coat and gloves and sox . my feet and hands felt so cold I could not get warm and |I was surrounded by people in summer dresses and shorts! Then again I was a professional singer, so sometimes would have to get shopping late at night on my way back from a performance. If it was in opera I would have changed into slacks and t shirt but of course often had stage makeup. At other times I just went into the shops after singing at a concert or in a church so I would be swanning around looking at fruit and veg and looking in the bargain box wearing either my electric blue silk shirtwaister with a black velvet long skirt and heels, or another time I would be wearing a full lenght batiek dress with Geruda printed on it, very elegant hair style all up with curls etc whilst looking at the reduced prices . so I think I didnt sort of match up. when people get to know me and what I do it is ok but in the beginning can get some odd looks , especially the stage make up I think! Of course if you remember the poem "when I am old I will wear purple" well that is the stage I have reached now.

That was meant to be a smile, not a sad.

My daughter drove to the school wearing her pyjamas, then the car broke down at a busy junction.

Lucca

Going to the shops in pyjamas is not eccentric. It’s just lazy.

I was about to say the same.

They should have been turned away!

Did you miss last nights Mary Beard programme. One of the people interviewed was Martin Creed wearing a square bowler hat, a half white half black jacket. A sight to behold.

yogitree

I have silver hair down my back, wear leggings or jeans with sparkly Doc Martens and a denim jacket and Russian style fur hat. I’m 67. Does this make me a bit eccentric ?

No, I'd say you have your own definite style and don't care what other people are doing or thinking. I only wish I could be the same! I think individuality is sometimes confused with eccentricity. Take Zandra Rhodes, Vivienne Westwood, I wouldn't call either of them eccentric, but probably a lot of people would because of their unique style. Eccentricity to me is much more than the clothes someone wears.

I have silver hair down my back, wear leggings or jeans with sparkly Doc Martens and a denim jacket and Russian style fur hat. I’m 67. Does this make me a bit eccentric ?

Iwtwab12bow

Anyone been to a Steam Punk festival?

I love Steam Punk, but it’s a bit ‘try hard’. It’s a tribe or hobby.
Not my idea of eccentric.

And as for the Brighton traffic wardens in stockings… ?

There is a man who lives near us who always wears skirts, blouses and high heels. He has legs to die for. He doesn’t wear makeup and has let his own, rather sparse hair grow long and ties it back. I don’t think he is a true transvestite as he isn’t trying to pretend to be a woman. He simply likes dressing up in this way. Good luck to him.

I thought elegant silk trouser suits that looked like PJ's were a new fashion trend?

No conforming in the 60s, free love , flower power & rock on, hey man , get my drift ?

My adult son is Eccentric in his dress. He turned up at our anniversary bash in a red dress suit covered in batman logos when it was Black tie. It drew oohs and aahs from the other guests but we all agreed that it was so him. He has been like it all his life and I adore his eccentricity. He has an unusual name which suits his unusual tastes!

Perhaps in the past people were expected to conform to 'normal' dress and behaviour, so eccentrics were more noticeable. It must be hard to stand out from the crowd these days when, it seems, anything goes!

Anyone been to a Steam Punk festival?

There's a lady in my town who dresses from the rock & roll years. Shopping, walking her dog, she's always dressed in her spotted flared skirts, her hair is tied up in a huge bow and makeup done to perfection. She really looks the part, but some folk do give her odd looks

Kali2

I arrived in London from rural Switzerland in 1970 - and I fell in love with all the 'excentrics' and the 'excentricity'- the choice, the tolerance, the humour, the vast variety. And yes, I do miss it whenever we are in the UK now.

I agree, and get sick to death seeing everyone from kids to mother's , just everyone wandering around like zombies staring at phones!!! Eccentricity is here, it's just gone underground! We're all in cars now, so not as visible but we're still out there......???!!

??? Wtf?? Eccentricity is not missing it's alive and kicking, my garden stands out on a new ISH small enclave for topiary trees and unusual combos in garden , I always get asked how I decided what goes where?I don't, my garden does, and I cut and colour my hair as I always have for last 50+ years , and it looks amazing too!

#mum sewed. DID SEWING!! grrr edit tool please!?

Saw a lovely elderly lady out with her walker today. Bright yellow, flowery, billowing trousers and a white stripy jacket on top. Blue rinsed hair too. Very colourful.

I completely disagree about the "class" reason put forward!! Why?
My mum seed and made 99% of my clothes in 70s Andi learned her skills so continued to make both my and my little DS X2 outfits too! Everyone used to go crazy for my quirky unusual outfits , shoulder bags made from old jeans/ curtains/ leather offcuts from Ashton market! Oxford bags in green upholstery velvet!! Purple cord jacket and hotpants with bright green tights and matching crocheted gloves!! I now sport unusual colour combos always good quality mixed with supermarket finds and charity shop good labels. I also wear dress jewellery mixed with just one or two genuine pieces inherited and nobody but NOBODY knows difference!! It takes imagination and a good eye for eccentricity with a laissez faire attitude, sometime experis totally a senta omg the "monied" types, remember* necessity is the mother of invention * not too much privilege!!!

I follow a blog about a young lady in New York who is an expert in historical clothes, and she makes and wears them, including underclothes. She uses historically correct materials (where she can) and tries to follow the sewing standards of the age as well. She also styles her hair and accessorises appropriately and looks absolutely wonderful. She probably looks quite eccentric on the New York streets.