I like sweatshirts, they’re comfortable, usually warm, and easy to wash. But, why do they add hoods to them? The hoods pull down on the back and leave the back of my neck cold. I try different things, like rolling it up and pulling the string tight to keep it from dragging down my back. I’ve tried stuffing it inside down the back. But, none of these stay put well enough. I’ve read about people cutting off the hood and sewing the remains together to make a collar. This seems the best solution. I haven’t done it yet.

Mostly I avoid buying sweatshirts with hoods. That works better than anything else. But, I wonder, does anyone actually wear the hood? Not as a fashion thing, but for practical reasons, or just because the hood is comfortable, or warmer? Maybe this is something men, or people with short hair would like. With longer hair the hood doesn’t work. Not for me anyway.

In the end, I wonder why they add the hood. There must have been some reason for it.

You are what you wear?

Young people are drawn to Pagan ideas from outside influences like TV shows and the fashions they display. So young people come into Pagan/Wicca/Witch beliefs from less than credible or sincere sources. I hope they look beyond the fashions and the TV idea of magic and find something real for themselves.

Fashion doesn't make the Witch, but if she likes to design, create and sew, the Witch can make her own fashion. I like the drawings (more at the link below). But, TV shows and fashions are entertainment and marketing focused. I like the art. I even imagine myself wearing some of the outfits, as if I were a TV show Witch, younger and skinnier than I am.

Hat pins were not a joke. If women still wore hat pins there would be a hat pin fetish.

Being stuck with a hat pin would not make a good fetish. Too dangerous.

Some of them were 12 inches long, sharp and not used as a medical instrument traditionally.  I'm sure there would be a lot of accidental deaths by hat pin.

On the other hand, they may have been better than pepper spray at keeping the mashers at bay. 

In March 1910, Chicago's city council ran with that idea, debating an ordinance that would ban hatpins longer than nine inches; any woman caught in violation would be arrested and fined $50. The proceedings were packed with curious spectators, men and women, and acrimonious from the start. "If women care to wear carrots and roosters on their heads, that is a matter for their own concern, but when it comes to wearing swords they must be stopped," a supporter said. Cries of "Bravo!" from the men; hisses from the women. Nan Davis, there to represent several women's clubs, asked for permission to address the committee. "If the men of Chicago want to take the hatpins away from us, let them make the streets safe," she said. "No man has a right to tell me how I shall dress and what I shall wear."

Despite Davis' impassioned speech, the ordinance passed by a vote of 68 to 2. Similar laws subsequently passed in several other cities, including Milwaukee, Pittsburgh, Baltimore and New Orleans. Ten thousand miles away, in Sydney,  Australia, sixty women went to jail rather than pay fines for wearing "murderous weapons" in their hats. Even conservative London ladies steadfastly refused to buy hatpin point protectors.

Via smithsonianmag.com

Other sites writing about this are calling it a rebellion against old, traditional Japanese culture and standards. It may include that but it's not doing such a great job of changing any standards. Instead it is just slipping deeper into the old stereotypes of women being cute little pets kept on a leash (of some kind). This is not rebelling or finding freedom, or becoming your own person (woman). This is just sad and panders to male ego and fantasies. But, porn still sells really well and there are almost no real restrictions to any of it, not enough censorship or protection of women and children.

The term gyaru is a Japanese transliteration of the English slang word gal. - Wikipedia

Gyaru - a subculture made up of fashion conscious Japanese women and girls essentially rejecting their own oriental features and aesthetic traditions.

Something to note about being a Gyaru is that it’s actually very expensive to maintain the look. Some of the Manba Gyaru evolved into yet another sub-genre called O-Gyaru, who don’t wash off their make-up to save the expense of re-applying.

The O-Gyarus are generally anti-washing and hate spending on the upkeep of their looks so much so that they tend to stay indoors all day in their pyjamas and only venture out clubbing at night.

It might not be surprising that these kinds of Gyarus are very often unemployed and considered lazy by Japanese society.

... gyaru make-up looks distinctly inhuman and cartoon-ish– especially the eyes. With the Gyaru subculture placing a big emphasis on being all things toy-like and cute, you don’t have to look very far to see that the influence of this style of make-up comes from actual Japanese cartoons.

Kawaii (literally, “lovable”, “cute”, or “adorable”) is the quality of cuteness in the context of Japanese culture. It has become a prominent aspect of Japanese popular culture, entertainment, clothing, food, toys, and most importantly, personal appearance, behavior, and mannerisms.

It’s claimed that Kawaii Syndrome, a.k.a “cute” syndrome has replaced the former Japanese aesthetics of “beautiful” and “refined”.

‘In Japan, cuteness is expected of men and women. Many Japanese men are drawn to the owner of cute merchandise, because it is reminiscent of little girls, and Japanese women try to act cute to attract men’.

A subculture of women rebelling against their Asian heritage in favor of looking like cute, westernized, sexualized cartoon children.

Source: The Asian Subculture trying to ERASE their own Faces | Messy Nessy Chic

Eliza Dushku. I've seen her in the Buffy and Angel series and again in Dollhouse. Why are most of her photographs (posing for publicity) not like this? Here she has elegance and power. But, most female characters/ actresses are posed inelegantly, often with legs open so the focus is not on their face. If men were posed that way it would look obscene or far too cocky (literally).

Not so different from female Doms. Most are shown in tight clothes with a lot of skin and body parts exposed. Meanwhile men show almost no skin. They tend to look mysterious, in command and a little threatening. They don't look like hookers.

I know someone will have a thing about the use of the word hookers. But, that's how I feel. If you have a conniption about it, read the blog of someone who agrees with everything you think. Yes men types should stick together. I prefer to be a free thinker. I decide what I think and when I change what I think. You only have that privilege for yourself.

Anyway, I prefer the photos of Eliza fully dressed. My favourite being the full length black dress.