New designer stores and boutiques are popping up like mushrooms after the rain, style parties are hosted every other month and even a fashion week was put together for the first time this year. But despite continuous efforts by the local fashion community, Ottawa’s residents refuse to be a little more creative and still dress like clones.
Clothing and accessories have long been a way for people to express their individuality. Dressing style may be a way of personal expression and creativity, but Ottawa is certainly at the back of the closet when it comes to original clothing.
The proof is all around us. It started with Crocs, when they took over the city like a plague a few years ago, invading the lives of young and old alike. Women in their forties paraded in Crocs and business suits, toddlers wiggled their feet in Disney-themed versions, and teenagers would sprint to catch the bus in their “rubber shoes.”
Then it was TNA bags from the well-known store Aritzia. It seemed every second woman on the street between the ages of 15 and 35 had one slung over her shoulder.
And, alas, now it is the curse of the checkered scarf. That scarf is everywhere: on the bus, on the O-train, in the malls, in the office, in the hospital, and even in very expensive restaurants, where one would think the guests might be more cautious about what they wear.
Certainly, Crocs are extremely comfortable, TNA bags are feminine and practical, and these checkered scarves are warm and soft.
There is no problem with products themselves; the problem lies in their ubiquity. Why does the whole city have to dress exactly the same? Have we lost our pride in having a society that is so full of culture and expression that it mimics a mosaic?
Dressing up is a form of art too.
It consists of picking colours, matching fabrics, and experimenting with different designs.
After all, clothing is one of those things that sets human beings apart from one another. It’s a statement, but lately it is one that everyone seems to agree on.
So is the issue a lack of choice?
With the wide range of vintage stores on Bank Street, a ton of shopping malls to choose from in the city, accessory tents in the By-Ward Market and boutique strips on Sussex Drive and Dalhousie Street, dressing up has never been easier. The choice is there and the price range is endless.
Every artist paints differently, no two singers have the same voice, each filmmaker has a unique vision and every person on the street ought to have a distinct personal style. It’s all a matter of expression – going with your gut feeling rather than imitating someone else.
As we await in awe for the next style disaster, it is time to wake up, reach for the wardrobe door, and try something different before the checkered scarf gets too tight around creativity’s neck.