[White-Male24439]

This question is almost the opposite of C1: With University of Michigan students returning for the fall, most of our stores have been deluged. I was in line at Target, behind a young woman wearing clothes that looked like they’d made several trips through the thrift store – thin, worn hooded sweatshirt, falling-apart sneakers, etc. In short, she was dressed like a lot of U of M students. If you haven’t heard, this ain’t exactly a cheap school, and it’s even less so for out-of-state students. I don’t know why I was surprised to see her paying with an Optima Gold card. Why do the poor try to make themselves look ostentatiously rich, and the rich try to make themselves look homeless?
Original Code C9. Click here to see responses from the original archives.

User Detail :  

Name : White-Male24439, Gender : M, City : Ann Arbor, State : MI, Country : United States, 

[Mike]

This happens to be a very popular style now-a-days. In fact, it’s also a very comfortable style. Also, did you ever think that maybe the reason this young lady had a gold card was that she didn’t waste all of her money buying expensive clothes?

User Detail :  

Name : Mike, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Presbyterian, Age : 26, City : Detroit, State : MI, Country : United States, Occupation : Radio, 

[Tim M.]

I feel it’s because clothes are a perceived label of identity. People don’t want to be stereotyped, so they challenge the judgment of others by not conforming. (And show how irrelevant clothes are to the person – you can’t judge a book by its cover!)

User Detail :  

Name : Tim M., Religion : Atheist, Age : 22, City : Bagshot, State : NA, Country : United Kingdom, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, 

[Jeanine Flynn]

I grew up in a wealthy family and attended private school until college. I begged my parents to let me attend University of Ga. ,instead of my mother’s private alma mater. I had never been in the company of kids who grew up poor. This was especially hard for me being black. All of my friends back home were wealthy, black ,white asian and other. I was never allowed to ‘mix’ if you will. I got a lot of flack from my ‘scholarship’ classmates. Being young it hurt. I just wanted to relate and not seem snobby. I traded in my Laura Ashley dresses and Ralph Lauren shorts for the ‘townie’ look. (popular in the early 90’s, in Athens, Ga. Torn shirts and flip flops;hippie wear..) I think part of the college experience is finding yourself and relating well with others. Some may be guilt and the need for acceptance by everyone, and part could be rebellion. This was true for me.

User Detail :  

Name : Jeanine Flynn, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : African american/Native american Cherokee, Religion : Catholic, Age : 32, City : Honolulu, State : HI, Country : United States, Occupation : surgical first assistant, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper class, 

[Val]

I believe that you are reading too much into this. I didn’t notice your age, but as a twenty year old i’ve noticed that style can be a tricky thing. For example this ‘rag’ outfit could easily have been $200 dollars or more. I know when i was in gym class the kids would wear old stuff, but they would have on a Gap sweatshirt easily $50, sweatpants, similar price, and old 130 dollar sneakers. Just because it’s expensive dosent mean it looks attractive.

User Detail :  

Name : Val, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : White/Caucasian, Religion : Christian, City : Altoona, State : PA, Country : United States, Education level : High School Diploma, Social class : Middle class, 

[T-Arroyo]

First of all, you cannot judge a book by it’s cover. There is no such thing as looking righ or poor, it is all in how you want to present yourself. I go to a very expensive school also and I work very hard in my studies. Have it ever occured to you that it is unneccisary to put on your finest attire to go to Target. Money and class have nothing to do with how you dress. The issue is how much you value material things. Just because you are poor does not mean you have to look like a bum and vise versa

User Detail :  

Name : T-Arroyo, Gender : F, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 23, City : Kansa City, State : MO, Country : United States, Occupation : Managment, Education level : Over 4 Years of College, Social class : Upper middle class, 

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