ALL MESHED UP

“Why does Mark Zuckerberg always wear the same shirt?”

My sister found this topic of discussion on Quora and, knowing that it contradicts my whole outlook on how fashion acts as an outlet for self-expression and self-representation, she emailed it to me. It’s an interesting concept with room for debate on either side, and while I do agree on some level with the argument, I still stand by my view that taking the time to put together an outfit is as important as any other part of your day. Planning out outfits can be time-consuming and frustrating, but I believe it’s an essential part of life that allows you to show your creativity and uniqueness (from this, you can safely assume that I would never want to live in a world – or career – where a uniform is required). Even if I somehow end up having to wear a uniform, I’ll still try to showcase my own flair by means of accessories or hairstyle, because no matter how packed my schedule is, I always carve out time to style myself as best as I can, and I’m not talking about complicated outfits! Even when I’m travelling and find myself limited by a small suitcase, I still squeeze in multiple items of clothing so that I can have options (you have no way of predicting weather, mood swings, or ambiance/occasion so it’s best to be prepared for anything!). Looking good opens up the path for confidence, and confidence (not to be confused with narcissism) usually leads to productivity and efficiency.

But then, as my sister pointed out, “if the writer’s point is indeed true, he/she would essentially be debunking the entire culture of fashion and style,” so more room opens up for discussion. Therefore, following the assumption that the writer is correct and that consequently, “fashion/style is meaningless, then is art even a thing? Why should we care about art?”

I’m curious to hear your thoughts! It’s such a convoluted topic that offers multiple routes of interpretation. Below is the original Quora post verbatim, but beware, the writing is amateur and you, like me, might find yourself having to reread some sentences a few times to understand what the writer is trying to say.

Why does Mark Zuckerberg always wear the same shirt?

He does it for the same reason the President wears the same thing.  Every decision you make during the day degrades your capability to make a subsequent decision.  By eliminating most of the meaningless decisions from your life, you can focus on the ones that matter.

Think about it this way.  You are on a vacation in New York City and you have to decide what place for breakfast, tourist destinations, how to get from one place to the next, where to eat for breakfast, where to find a snack, what souvenir to get.  Even though you are on vacation having a great time, by the time you have to decide where to eat, everyone on your trip has a hard time of making a simple decision!  

Try it out for a week with your clothes and meals all predecided and see if your decision making process improves.

Now, let’s revert back to talking about outfits. The other day while running some errands, I channeled a bit of a retro vibe with this marled mesh-sleeved top from Victoria’s Secret, round designer-inspired sunglasses from SunglassSpot (reminiscent of the Prada Baroque ones), and soft short pants from American Eagle. The shirt is a new addition to my closet, and I’m so glad I bought it when I did because in just less than one week, it has completely sold out online! It was also my first time giving soft pants a try, because with the humidity and the heat, I just couldn’t resist the airiness and comfort that these soft shorts offered. However, I didn’t want to run the risk of people accidentally mistaking my shorts as pajama shorts, nor did I want to look stumpy (an unfortunate side effect from shorts that offer a relaxed fit), so I enlisted the help of these Ivanka Trump caged booties (last seen here, also coincidentally paired with a mesh-sleeve outfit) to give the overall look an upscale touch.

And that just about wraps up the thoughts for today here on the blog! Thanks for reading!

 

Top: Victoria’s Secret (other great mesh-sleeved tops here, here, and here)
Bottom: American Eagle (free shipping for limited time!)
Heels: Ivanka Trump (similar here, here, and here)
Clutch: Zara (similar here, here, and here)
Sunglasses: SunglassSpot

Photos by Herman