Where did all the eccentrics go?

I think in the past many 'eccentrics' were people who were neurally diverse, when these problems were not recognised or mentally damaged in childhood in some way.

Now that we recognise neural diversity and do so much more to try to help people integrate in society and be accepted, real eccentricity is bound to be reduced and, in those circumstances, no bad thing

There was a lovely man I met in Scotland who was an eccentric, I would say.
He lived in a caravan, which he shared with 2 "Irish jigs" as he called them (pigs - great big ones)
He was a lovely, gentle, kind soul.

I saw one today, at Notting Hill Gate tube. He had long grey hair, at least shoulder length, a big grey moustache, and was wearing knee length very flowery shorts and what looked like a bright red short cardigan. He walked past on the platform quite fast so I couldn’t go and get a better look without it being obvious!

Well said Trisher though I don’t think I was ever a trend setter.Always did my own thing

It has just occurred to me that possibly the answer to the question is "Posting on this thread." We have moved from the trend-setters to the eccentrics, we just didn't notice

In answer to WhiteRabbits "where are all the colourful and funky people", I can inform her they are alive and well and living in the South West.

Someone l know was trying to tell me about her brother in law lying on the sofa, with his jogging bottoms pulled up a bit high on the waist.
She kept gagging when she thought about it.

Jaxie

It’s those men who dress as toddlers in jogging bottoms with their petits paquets ( as my French friend would say) poking rather too obviously out that disconcert me.

My pet hate. Baggy grey jogging bottoms with unrestrained appendages …..??

I think some of you are confusing nightwear with loungewear. There is a section in marks and Spencer for the latter. It is just loose, comfortable casual attire. I am assured by my husbands niece that it is quite usual to come in after a day at work and immediately change into one’s nightwear. Certainly, I usually change into something a bit more comfortable, such as jeans when I get in from work. Each to one’s own I guess.

Though I would never go shopping in pyjamas!

When I was a young woman I met an Oxford eccentric called Enid Starkey. She taught French and wore the colours of the French flag. Her house was painted red and blue too.

I am glad someone else has noticed this. Where are the colourful, funky people? I was sitting in the car in the High Street the other day and only one person walked past who had given any thought to her clothes. Most other people were in hoodies and jeans just like it's a uniform. It's really sad, especially when you look back at the sixties and seventies there was so much color and fun.

Pyjamas are not at all eccentric, just slack. Equivalent to the old days when some would go out with rollers in their hair and a headscarf. Yuk. I have never seen anyone in PJs here, ever though some wear bathers in the beach suburbs. Not many here but a few up in Queensland but I don’t really care about that.

How are you an eccentric Tanja?
Do tell!

Here I am!

Many years ago when I first graduated I worked as a personal secretary to a consultant child psychiatric. She frequently wore strange outfits including hand knitted aran knickerbockers and a deerstalker hat. She was very eccentric and so clever. All the other doctors thought she was bonkers.

Eccentricity is interesting
Pyjamas is slouchy something you ve been sleeping in

Great catlady I love ethnic prints, baggy dungarees, doc martens, not quite up to your double figures but not too far off

am i eccentric? no idea, but i wear doc martins, harem trousers, some of which are brightly coloured (not both together!) love bright colours and often get strange/disapproving looks. oh yes, and i'm the wrong side of 80 (just)!

GagaJo

I don't really give a damn what other people are wearing. Or what I'm wearing, come to that. I do occasionally look in the mirror and think, 5 years ago you were attractive, well dressed and 'styled'. Then I think 'Oh, F* it' and carry on being a slob.

There was a person in the town I used to live in, appeared to be male, may not have been. Wore a combination of mens and women's clothes. Always had lovely earrings. Also used to be a fair number of dramatically dressed goths. And (casting back into the mists of time), I remember living on the Kings Road and seeing all the lovely punks.

Wish I had the energy for creativity really. Meh.

I’m with you on that GagaJo, last five years I’ve gone from being a very well turned out person to jeans and puffa jacket with hair tied up. I changed jobs about then and am just so tired all the time, that’s what I put it down to anyway.

I saw a woman and little toddler catching a flight wearing their Jimjams, once.
Makes sense, I suppose.

For my Birthday We had a lovely afternoon tea in a rather smart Hotel on the next table the couple had come from the spa still wearing dressing gowns and slippers.

Oh that sounds wonderful, though.
The wind in their hair, the metal throbbing between their thighs! Oooh!

MissAdventure

I can't think of anything worse than gangs of self acclaimed eccentrics taking to the streets.

We were outside a hotel in Worthing a few years ago, waiting to go on somewhere when about 100 Hell's Angels came past on glorious bikes. Not one of them was under about 70!

Deedaa

I used to know a proper upper class eccentric when I lived in Cornwall. I can't remember her title now - she was Lady somebody - but she would come striding into a room wearing a mac and wellies and shake hands saying "Hello, I'm Jonet the spelling mistake!". Her father had registered her birth and her should have been Janet! She was lovely and interested in everything.

Jonet is still alive and well (just!) I have known her for nearly 40 years now - she is wonderful! I am godmother to one of her grandsons.

I think most of the eccentric people live in America these days, and shop in Walmart.
I'm quite disappointed when I do venture out to Asda (supposedly the English Walmart) and everyone is ordinarily dressed.
I think, however, shopping in my pj's is not something I'll be taking on any time soon!!

That was a bit random, Jerseygal ?