A resurgance of style

One of the things that's always fascinated me is the Canadian obsession with comfort, and how it's often mistaken for style. I have been to third world slums, seen beggars with mutilated limbs and people living homeless on the streets who are for the most part still better dressed than the average Canadian, which is a bit of a mind-fuck. Why do the citizens of a country with one of the highest GDP's in the world dress like crack addicts, and even more importantly why are they proud of it?

Canadians love comfort. They covet it, treasure it, and will do anything in the pursuit of obtaining this vague and elusive idea. It's like a drug, perverting their view of the world and making relatively normal people do crazy things in the it's name. Like every drug, unless you're also on it you don't see the appeal. I'm looking at you 'Roots', and you 'Ugg boots', and you Walmart sweatpants and Old Navy hoodies and your idiot savant corporate ravings of comfort. Wear flip flops in winter, it's comfortable. Wear your pajamas to the mall, it's comfortable. Better buy those sweat pants and extra size too large, it's more comfortable. And so on...

On behalf of the rest of the world, allow me to say: you are all fucking slobs. Where the fuck else in the world would you get away with wearing half the shit I see at the average mall, let alone have it be called stylish or fashionable? How the hell is an XL hoodie more comfortable than a properly sized sweater? I don't want to see your fucking toes in the summer, let alone in a blizzard; encase those feet in shoes god dammit.

I remember going to Sweden and having a revelation. In my small circle of friends I'm seen as a snappy dresser (this is a bad thing) with a slightly worrying interest in clothing and personal style. In reality I spend about 5 minutes a day getting ready, and have a very small wardrobe that consists of carefully chosen items which fit me well and look half decent. The basic pride I take in my appearance is seen as questionable in Canada, but when I got off the plan in Stockholm for the first time I felt like a bum. Everyone was dressed impeccably, kids wearing the latest trends, fitted clothing, adults looking smart in suits and coats, not a single ski jacket or dirty running sneaker in sight! People were riding bikes in a full suit and tie, which was a nice change from the usual North American spandex clad shiny-helmeted freaks zipping around looking like some alien fetus on two wheels. If the Scandinavians can do this, why can't we?

It would be great to experience a resurgence of personal style, where people take pride in what they wear and how they look. To steal a line from another blog, "clothing is the outward expression of a man's state of mind... it's my voice before I ever say a word." Let's have more fun with the way we get dressed.