Content
“It was my teenage niece who made me aware, as only teenage nieces can, of the dubious nature of my fashion choices. Or rather, I should say, of my non-choices; I never gave it much thought. I was aware that my old dark blue corduroys, worn to a sheen, combined with my habitual, equally worn blue sweater could, from a distance, be mistaken for some kind of tracksuit, vaguely resembling pajamas (I just didn't care). But I had no idea that there existed an entire subculture where the wearing of pajamas was a statement in itself, bordering on the political. In these circles (who were these people? Where did they live?), wearing unfashionable or socially inappropriate clothing was dubbed 'hate fashion' or 'hate fash,' expressing the wearer’s willful disdain for sartorial propriety. Its preferred colors were black, grey, and red. My niece showed me examples on her tablet; I remember a website selling 'I ♥ HATE FASH' stickers.”