A Theory on on Gen Z fashion

Fans of the blog will know I think much of the UC Davis student body is extremely lame. In my first post on UC Davis I declared that the student body were total nerds. In my second post, I posited that perhaps they are lame because their generation as a whole don't know how to party.

The past week I was riding my bike through campus and it was freshmen orientation, so large groups of freshmen were being toured around in groups. It made me remember being a college freshmen and how going to college was a chance at a fresh start with all new people, and wanting to fit in and make friends. I knew that my first impression with my college peers was important in doing so.

However, as I rode past these kids I was a bit amazed that the outfits they were wearing were just all over the place. Like there was no overarching style or even a hipsteresque ironic approach to fashion. It was like they were given a random grab-bag from the thrift store and said "yeah, this looks good on me".

Given how disparate the apparel choices were it made me realize that there doesn't seem to be any style trends that exist in Gen Z. When I was young I think we realized the trends that were in place, and I'd say most people in school generally tried to follow the conventional wisdom of what was stylish at the time, or had defined alternate styles like the goths and hipsters. Gen Z seems to be all over the map, or simply doesn't care about following any trends in fashion. Billie Eilish is probably one of the most famous Gen Zers and her style is so extremely broad that it's almost impossible to define or even mimic.

As I rode I wondered why this might be. When I was a kid we got our style cues from a very homogenized media ecosystem where MTV and The OC told us what was cool. Now media is much more disjointed with a myriad of TV shows, Twitch streamers, indie movies, Tik-Toc trends and influencers. So it makes sense that kids may dress like their favorite influencers or base their fashion choices on an esoteric TV show that very few other people follow. 

I also wonder how much Covid had to do with things. These kids would have missed out on chunks of their freshmen and sophomore years of High School. After a year and a half of virtual learning maybe they came back and what you wore didn't matter anymore.

Every decade seems to have some defined styles associated with it. You can look at a picture of a group of high schoolers and easily tell if it's from the 70s, 80s, 90s or aughts (shoutout to cargo shorts, polo with a popped collar, puka shell necklace and upside down visor). But I wonder if it will still be that obvious for gen Z. It seems like it's not specific trends coming back en masse ala Ugg Boots, but rather every trend ever coming back in a fraction of Gen Z all at the same time. Which honestly must really take the pressure off these kids since everything is cool and everyone looks so uncool.

Phew, I'm glad I can have my life back

Sorry guys, I passed out for a minute. What happened? Has it really been a month since my last post? I wanted to write a post on my position regarding the role of government in supporting innovation in the field of biotechnology. But unfortunately I'll write about something much more intriguing. No, not recaps of online risk games, or Age Of Empires III. Tonight's topic regards my outwitting of the law.

It is hard to believe that I am finally reaching the point where I can no longer be charged for any of the petty misdemeanors I committed in high school. Michigan's statue of limitations for non-felonies is only 6 years so whatever misdemeanors and frauds I committed before April 26th 2005 I got away with sans punishment. So that time I parked in the handicap spot on November 3rd, 2004 - unconvictable. That one time I got drunk in a friends basement - off scot free. The other time when I killed that guy in the dead of winter just to see the steam rise up from his wounds - actually, I could still go to prison for that one. Statue of Limitations don't apply to murders.

I think I'll receive the biggest relief when 2015 rolls by and I am free of all my rowdy college tomfoolery.

Weenie Wacking

I mentioned Weenie Wacking in a previous post and promised to explain it.

About 9 months ago I was down in Houston visiting Mark, Val and McKaylee. They were talking about the going-ons back in Iowa and Val started telling us about a new fad sweeping their old high school. Apparently kids today sit in class and work up a semi-boners and then when the teachers turn towards the board they pull their ding-dongs out of their pants and whack it against their desks. The goal is to whack their quasi-bonered schlongs against the desk the longest and hardest without getting caught by the teachers.

When we were in high school we would play the Penis game, which involved progressively saying the word penis louder and louder without the teacher hearing. But this brings the game to a whole new level. I mean this is bordering on the criminal. I can't wait to see what kids are like in 20 years, it's going to be insane.

More texts with strangers

I have a knack for making friends with the random strangers that text me. Tonight was no exception.

Random: hi
Me: Hello
Random: Who is this?
Me: Brian. Who is this?
Random: Last name?
Me: Is 'Lastname' your name? This relationship is only going to work if it is based on honesty.
Random: ?
Random: Whats ur last name?
At this point I get a phone call from an obviously pre-pubescent boy. We chat for awhile, I tell them that I am watching Avatar and they tell me about the bonfire they are at. They sound like pretty cool dudes for 8th graders. It's Mike and his friend Grant. I tell them that we could talk again later.

Me: Do you know Mike from U of D?
Random: Yes...
Me: I was just talking to him and he is at a bonfire. You should go.
Random: uh ok.
Me: What's your name? It's totally unfair that you know my name and I don't know yours.
Random: It's liesl
Me: That's a pretty unique name. So liesl, I'm pretty sure we've never met. But we can still be friends if you want.
Random: Otay
Me: Great, I'm guessing you're from Detroit, I grew up there but now I live in Seattle
Random: Yeah i am
Me: I always thought the 'burbs kinda sucked. Ann Arbor is much more fun.
Random: I dnt care
Me: Well you sure are a barrell of fun. Maybe. we'll talk later new friend.
Random: Sorry im just pissed off at some people and im kinda taking it out on u
Me: I'm sorry about that. How did you get my cell number anyways?
Random: Grant H******
Me: Haha I wonder if that was the kid who called me earlier with his friend Mike
Random: I think so haha

So I now feel like a have a vested interested in the lives of these kids. I feel like I could make a difference in their lives if only given a chance. I think that Mike and Liesl belong together, and I think Mike is totally fucking it up, by playing these stupid pranks on her. I'll have to keep up on the situation and try to report back.

Brian completes a survey.

I got a survey from my high school. It was a web based survey basically about my high school experience and what parts of it I use today. I anwsered everything truthfully until I got to the last three open ended questions. I couldn't help myself.

What would you have liked to learn in high school that you weren't taught?
2nd order differential equations, Critiques of gilded age post-romanticism art, Basic Rifle Marksmanship, Benford's law, The teachings of Jesus, Algebra, The fallacy of time travel in the Back to the Future series

What is the single best piece of advice you could give to a freshman beginning high school?
High school is 65% common sense, 10% hard work, 15% tomfoolery and 10% experimental drinking and sexual encounters.

Please describe a significant event in high school that made an impact on your life.
Once in 9th grade in order to get out of running during gym I decided to take a poo but there was no toilet paper and the toilet overflowed, needless to say it was miserable. Then one more time junior year, before a pep assembly I couldn't poo fast enough and instead of singing Hail to the Black and Gold, I spend the entire time making a mess in the toilet. It was possibly the foulest thing that has ever occurred. Since then I have been afraid to void my bowels in public. It is a determent to my professional career and physical well being.

I wonder if they are going to discount my entire survey. To be truthful my second answer is actually not the far off. But 10% hard work is pretty generous. That is unless your an idiot.