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Original poster

What classes as Alternative? Are you Alternative?

30 replies

MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 16:21

I’m getting my nose pierced tomorrow, at the age of 38, so naturally I’m looking through archived posts on the topic.

There are many posts saying that nose piercings only really suit those who are alternative. Which got me thinking, what makes you alternative? Is it an inherited trait you’ve Ben given by your hippy festival parents? Or is out clothing? Music? What?

I’m don’t class myself as alternative but I don’t class myself as typical townie type either… who I would describe as the majority. Such as in to pop music, clubbing, social media, shopping and football. I know I’m stereotyping here, but I don’t know how to explain otherwise.

I’m very outdoorsy and dress as such too. If you saw me I’d look like I worked as an NT gardener… old thick jeans, walking boots, cosy wool jumpers, woolly hats… all good quality but non branded. I forage for mushrooms and listen to placebo. So I’m likely different, but not alternative.

How about you?

OP posts:
Pheasantlysurprised · 29/10/2021 16:32

I always think it's weird when people on MN describe alternative as people who wear black and might be a goth.
As if there are no other categories available.

Alternative was generally a description of a sub-culture, so whilst goths were obviously a part of that, there were many other sub-cultures, such as Indie (when I was a teen), hippy, punk, new age, etc. There will undoubtedly be now ones now but I'm not well up on contemporary sub-cultures.

But it has nuances, too, as often it included music tastes, film, art, or political beliefs. All of those things will merge within different sub-cultures.

If we are strictly talking fashion, or anti-fashion, then maybe it isn't so much a cultural statement as it is a trend......it's interesting to think about.

I never fully grew out of my indie self, although it did mature and my taste changed along the way. I am so happy that calk length skirts are back around as they were my go-to in the late 90's. I tended to wear fairly typical feminine stuff but with tough boots and oversized jumpers/cardi's.
I never went in for hair dye or make up though and rarely wore black.

I do think that rounding alternative up into 'piercings' and wearing black is a bit lazy though (not aimed at you, OP, just what ive read before!), and perhaps that has become a stock or default way of trying to describe those who don't tend to follow the mainstream.

So yeh, to me, alternative is an individual or group who bypass the mainstream, whether in clothing or tastes, but there is no definitive description of it in itself.

Pheasantlysurprised · 29/10/2021 16:39

Apologies for keyboard screwiness!

I also say get the piercing, why on earth not? It is hardly something that requires a membership or fashion code, I see all sorts of variations out there. I think sticking rigidly to a dress code of alternativeness is a very young thing, and most of us aged out of that restrictive mindset - my clothes are more dumbed down now, but I do hold the same beliefs and interests musically, artistically, culturally, environment, etc. I just wear solid colour tights now instead of tye dye and stripes! And I still cant be parted from my Docs.

Cranncat · 29/10/2021 16:42

typical townie type either… who I would describe as the majority. Such as in to pop music, clubbing, social media, shopping and football

How old are you? I don't recognise that as any kind of norm, to be honest. When I worked from home and lived on the edge of a village and did a lot of walking, I probably dressed much as you do, but so did a lot of people, of all ages and sexes.

I have a nose stud. I'm 49 and a city-dwelling professional who walks and cycles everywhere. I wear wide-legged trousers, cashmere jumpers, scarves, biker boots, an oversized parka. I dress not disssimilarly to a lot of people around here.

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 16:42

I like your definition @Pheasantlysurprised

I think you’re right, that typically people who are w mainstream would class alternative as goth or wearing black…. and mostly about fashion choices.

I’ve never really been to mainstream clothing, similar to you it was always chunky footwear and baggy clothes… very grungy. Politically I’ve never really had a passionate standing, but a huge advocate for environmental impacts, which has followed in to my career as an outdoor educator and geography teacher. Music wise, I’ve always been pretty grungy, but as I’ve got older I’ve mellowed and will listen to radio 2 often!

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Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 16:48

@Cranncat

typical townie type either… who I would describe as the majority. Such as in to pop music, clubbing, social media, shopping and football

How old are you? I don't recognise that as any kind of norm, to be honest. When I worked from home and lived on the edge of a village and did a lot of walking, I probably dressed much as you do, but so did a lot of people, of all ages and sexes.

I have a nose stud. I'm 49 and a city-dwelling professional who walks and cycles everywhere. I wear wide-legged trousers, cashmere jumpers, scarves, biker boots, an oversized parka. I dress not disssimilarly to a lot of people around here.

I’m 37.

I guess, because I’ve never lived a city/town… but I know people or see social media of city dwellers and the dress sense is very very different to mine… even though I don’t really class my style as alternative, just normal.

But I know that I am a complete dork, and not cool or fashionable in the slightest… I’ve noticed this at work with some of the other staff who are really trendy and talk about certain brands and beauty treatments… it all goes totally over my head! So I don’t see myself as the mainstream, but also not alternative.

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LivingDeadGirlUK · 29/10/2021 16:50

Piercings are really in at the moment, people used to get proper hastle for having them 15 years ago but now nose studs and 'curated ears' are all the rage. Go for it OP you can always take it out if you don't like it!

NothingEverChangesButTheShoes · 29/10/2021 16:55

People think I am alternative. Punk rock, rock n roll, band tees, gigs, socialist, haircut, piercings, tattoos. Check. But to me, I am just me.

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 16:58

@LivingDeadGirlUK

Piercings are really in at the moment, people used to get proper hastle for having them 15 years ago but now nose studs and 'curated ears' are all the rage. Go for it OP you can always take it out if you don't like it!
Thanks! I like piercings. Have a few ear ones which like you say would have been unusual 15 yrs ago but normal now.

I don’t have any tattoos or face piercings, so this is first face one.

I’m not a fan of tattoos

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Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 16:59

@NothingEverChangesButTheShoes

People think I am alternative. Punk rock, rock n roll, band tees, gigs, socialist, haircut, piercings, tattoos. Check. But to me, I am just me.
It’s interesting to see what people think is alternative. But like you say, it’s just you!
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GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy · 29/10/2021 17:02

As a noughties teen I was definitely in the 'alternative' camp - Slipknot t-shirts, baggy jeans, mosh pits, piercings, etc.
Nowadays I'm in a senior leader at work and have got rid of the majority of the piercings, but kept hold of the nose one as I genuinely like it. Don't think it looks out if place with my suits; usually just wear a small coloured gem stud.

ShinyNewStart · 29/10/2021 17:03

I work with start ups and everyone is "alternative" in exactly the same way. Some have a few more piercings or tattoos to try to make them stand out but it's just different shades of the same. I'm the one who looks alternative in that setting with pearls and silk shirt (but still DMs, I'm not ready to break away from the mainstream entirely!)

NothingEverChangesButTheShoes · 29/10/2021 17:05

Yep. All my closest friends have similar values to me so I find it is simply the norm. We just like what we like.

Oh, and Brian Molko. = 🖤🖤🖤

NotImpossible · 29/10/2021 17:09

It changes too, doesn't it? For example, I think having a tattoo (and/or a piercing other than the 'standard' single earrings) is pretty 'normal' now - or was for a while anyway - as in a large % of people have at least one, compared to when I was young and they were a bit 'edgy'.

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:20

@GnomeOrMistAndIceGuy

As a noughties teen I was definitely in the 'alternative' camp - Slipknot t-shirts, baggy jeans, mosh pits, piercings, etc. Nowadays I'm in a senior leader at work and have got rid of the majority of the piercings, but kept hold of the nose one as I genuinely like it. Don't think it looks out if place with my suits; usually just wear a small coloured gem stud.
I had a slipknot tee too! And a Korn one 😀… I’ve certainly mellowed alot as I’ve got older. I put skipknot on the car the other week for my kids to listen to. I’ve not Listened to them for years! Was great!! Although my driving went erratic 🤣
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Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:22

@ShinyNewStart

I work with start ups and everyone is "alternative" in exactly the same way. Some have a few more piercings or tattoos to try to make them stand out but it's just different shades of the same. I'm the one who looks alternative in that setting with pearls and silk shirt (but still DMs, I'm not ready to break away from the mainstream entirely!)
That’s interesting! And certainly shows my age… as a 90s teen! It seems younguns nowadays are inadvertently looking the same when all trying to be different!
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Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:22

@NothingEverChangesButTheShoes

Yep. All my closest friends have similar values to me so I find it is simply the norm. We just like what we like.

Oh, and Brian Molko. = 🖤🖤🖤

Totally!! He was so ahead of his time!!
OP posts:
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:25

@NotImpossible

It changes too, doesn't it? For example, I think having a tattoo (and/or a piercing other than the 'standard' single earrings) is pretty 'normal' now - or was for a while anyway - as in a large % of people have at least one, compared to when I was young and they were a bit 'edgy'.
Yeah, I wouldn’t say tattoos were Alternative nowadays. They’re pretty mainstream.

I would like to Edge my style more towards the hippy/eco kind… walking barefoot and visiting some circles on solstice. I dabble here and there, but not enough to be Alternative… in my opinion

OP posts:
Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:25

*stone circles

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Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 17:26

I think I’m more in tune with nature and environment than many people I know.

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TeaAddict235 · 29/10/2021 18:48

When you say " I would describe as the majority. Such as in to pop music, clubbing, social media, shopping and football."
I think of Mel C. Then you mention placebo and being into woods, so you mean a Mel C who is into Friends of the Earth and WWF. That's just being 'you', liking what you like and dressing as you like. I wouldn't judge

Original poster
MsWalterMitty · 29/10/2021 19:07

@TeaAddict235

When you say " I would describe as the majority. Such as in to pop music, clubbing, social media, shopping and football." I think of Mel C. Then you mention placebo and being into woods, so you mean a Mel C who is into Friends of the Earth and WWF. That's just being 'you', liking what you like and dressing as you like. I wouldn't judge
I didn’t say that I was in to what I see as the majority
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LadyJJ · 01/11/2021 19:21

DP described us as a 'slightly alternative couple' last week ha. We were surrounded by Padstow tourists tho and stood out more than we do in a city.
I have piercings and tattoos, fairly discreet, I have long ruby red hair atm. He has thick long wavy hair. We both like a mad 60s print. I'm 49 he's 30.
However I work as a clinical lead in healthcare and can make myself look smart enough to fit in meetings more or less.
like PPs have said, it's fairly mainstream to look like I do, piercings etc are in right now. I'm not sure I feel alternative.

DeadButDelicious · 01/11/2021 19:29

I was a goth in the 90's and I'm a goth now. Albeit a slightly lazier one. I'm not likely to go all out like I used too, far too much effort 😂😂.

Ghoulette · 01/11/2021 19:41

I'm Goth, so definitely classed as Alternative!

Popopopo · 01/11/2021 19:59

I think hipsters have made tattoos and piercings a lot more normal. I think being alternative is more to do with your interests and values. I know totally normal looking people who absolutely love heavy metal for example, I still consider them "alternative"