Search articles from thousands of Examiners
Write for us
Honolulu Society and Culture Seattle Gay Examiner
Seattle Gay Examiner

That guy is wearing your outfit

October 7, 12:14 AMSeattle Gay ExaminerEleazar Juarez
Comment Print Email RSS Subscribe

Subscribe


Get alerts when there is a new article from the Seattle Gay Examiner. Read Examiner.com's terms of use.
Email Address


  Include other special offers from Examiner.com
Terms of Use

So it's been a few weeks since Seattle finally saw the opening of all three, highly anticipated H&M stores. The Northwest had yet to be graced with the presence of the stylish Swedish retailer until this summer. The closest locations have, until now, been Vancouver BC and San Francisco.

Today the store that we used to seek out when we traveled elsewhere is right down the street. We used to go to the NYC's,  DC's, San Frans and Chicagos of the country and come back with our hip clothes that no one in the Seattle scene would be wearing. Those days are over.

Albeit stylish and cheap; our three new stores are an embarrassment of riches. No matter what part of the city you are in you now have access to H&M and before long we will all be wearing the same cute undies, hip jeans and stylish little jackets. In the pre-H&M world occasionally we would run into people wearing the same American Apparel, Abercrombie or GAP tee's. That's bound to happen since those stores are staples of Everywhere USA and the places we have gone to for years. The retail climate has changed for the better in many ways but with this fortune we run the risk of seeing someone in the same clothes as us when we are out on the town. 

Don't get me wrong; I love me some H&M and have, several times, frequented the new locations. I have, however been careful to not go straight for the loud trendy purple tees or the black and white checkered scarves that we have so cleverly began to tie around our necks cowboy-style (Keffiyeh). Instead I have stuck to the hot inexpensive jeans, undies and basic tops that I will layer or accessorize with pieces from other stores, the internet and those crucial trips to other cities with different stores.

As a community we are often seen as clones of each other and in Seattle we definitely keep retail stores in business so this is a great opportunity to challenge those stereotypes. My hope is that now that we have access to so much affordable fashion, we learn to edit ourselves and maintain our own individuality and sense of style.

Seattle Area Locations: 520 Pike, University Village and South Center Mall. For more information on H&M, click here
More About: Gay · H&M · Shopping · Fashion · Style · Keffiyeh

Add a Comment

Name:


Comments:
characters left

NOTE: Do Not Alter These Fields:

Recent Articles

Friday, November 14, 2008
The passing of anti-gay laws in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida and California have brought the gay community to its feet once again. This Saturday …
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Gays are blessed with plenty of options to get our drink on here in Seattle, especially on Capitol Hill. Most of the time we seem to stick to the same …

Things to see and do

Art of the Living Dead
31 Oct 2009 - 8 pm
Kumu Kahua Theatre
More special event »
Season's Best Craft and Gift Fair
Neal S. Blaisdell Exhibition Hall
Tot Spot
Children's Discovery Center