Are you a Blue-Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Guy?

It’s generally assumed that fashion is a physical representation of your persona, outlook and aspirations. The variation of styles, trends and clothing nuances through which we could present an image of ourselves begs the question: why do some people limit their outer reflection to a pair of washed out jeans and standard issue t-shirts?

Is the denunciation of the notion that fashion is irrevocably tied in to your personality  a comment on the existential state of fashion itself? Could not subscribing to the many trends and tones of contemporary fashion be a fashion statement in itself? Me thinks so.

The irony is that those who think that one’s rejection of fashion in this sense deprives one of an opportunity to make a social, cultural or personal statement to the world fail to recognize that being a simpleton fashionista could be an aggressive fashion and cultural statement in itself.

As well as being the most under-appreciated rendition of street fashion there ever was, the Blue-Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Guy or Girl-Next-Door style is perhaps the most iconic, timeless and character-driven of all. Picture yourself spotting a girl across the room at your favourite Saturday-night hangout in a pair of tight plain black jeans, a plain white T and Chuck Taylors. Without obvious, surface clues of her tastes and influences you wouldn’t be able to form a superficial notion of her personality or perspective based on the elements of her dress sense. The opposite is true. For a complex young person like myself who dislikes being boxed in a social sense, I consider the need for others to look far beyond my threads to gain some sense of who I am to be liberating – perhaps even significant to my having a more fulfilling and genuine social experience. You see, I would’ve had to walk up to that girl without any preconceived notion, leaving HER to tell me who she is.

For this Blue-Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Guy, my choice in fashion is informed by many other things.

A. I like to get up, take a shower and run out of the house in the mornings without much thought about what I’m wearing.

B. I like to make a personal (or rather philosophical) statement against the financial burden and sometimes impossible notions of self-image that subscribing  to the fleeting, fast changing trends of fashion brings by sticking to a classic look that is always timely and relevant – for me anyway.

C. The look is universal. Strap on a suit jacket over your shirt and you’re in business. Switch it for leather and you’re a mean hell’s angel.  Put on a scarf and glasses for the preppy look or strap on your Converse All-Stars in time for a rock concert. All in the same day, compadre.

Ultimately our choices in fashion, no matter how minimal, truly CAN be a great reflection of who we are and aspire to be.

My own sense of fashion, typified by my love of the simple combo of solid-color jeans and plain white t-shirts, denotes how I look forward to a life filled with grab-a-sandwich, where’s-my-laptop and quick-shower mornings underpinned by a simple outlook on life.

Are you a Blue-Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Guy, compadre? Find out.

Some notable dispensers of Blue-Jeans-and-T-Shirt-Kinda-Guy or Girl-Next-Door style are Pepe Jeans, Levi’s 501 Jeans and …..

Check out Tumblr’s list of #white tee shirt posts.

Follow Live Magazine’s JHB Editor Lee Molefi on Twitter!