What We Like About Argentina

[CarryOn]

Perhaps we're seeing the American way of casual dressing influencing Argentine style. I appreciate how older Argentine women take the time to dress, wear makeup, etc. for a trip to the grocery store. There is still a generation here that hasn't been influenced by American casualness.

The under-40 generation goes casual because they can't afford anything else. I see another side of formality in the milongas where the over-60 generation dresses to show respect in a social situation and for the dance, the way it's been for decades in Buenos Aires.

I'm not sure it's directly a US casualness or a global casualness that was sparked initially in the United States. There are lots of young people that can afford to dress very stylishly and be immaculately "made up" for everyday activities - and Argentines are no different. It's not so much a question of cost in many cases as cultural "value" (not values). Younger people just don't value that, and I'd say that's as true almost anywhere.

There's also a difference between functionally/stylishly casual and too casual. I'd say that the average under-40 Argentines are better than their U.S. cousins on the aggregate in this respect. It's understandable that the poor in Argentina are limited in their options, and its not fair to paint them with the same brush as people in the U.S., most of whom don't have this excuse. You can buy all your clothes at any number of low-cost retailers in the U.S. and still look presentable, even in a casual context. As internationalguy said, it's the socially acceptable irreverance for any effort at style that seems to pervade much of US society.

 

[DontMindMe]

Funnily enough, if she's under 35, you pretty much just described the current "boho hipster chic" look, which believe it or not is very trendy. Because I can find the very same look in some pretty trendy parts of SF, London or Toronto in about 2 minutes flat. So no suprise about seeing it in Palermo...and maybe that example says more about the state of global fashion than anything about BA in particular.

If you wan't to be truly horrified about style of dress, as most of us know, spend a couple of days in any middle American town or small city. It's the same roadshow whether you're in Georgia, Pennsylvania, Florida, Michigan, Tennessee or any parts in between.

I'm in my late 20s and no, I'm not only referring to boho-chic, which is kind of played out already and has been replaced by 90s nostalgia. Global style is certainly more casual than it was decades ago, but I'm telling you, go to Bogotá and try to find a guy outside of a slum who lets himself go even a day without shaving. Try to find one in the business districts without a perfectly pressed, perfectly fitting suit. Go out at night in a nice part of town and try to find a guy whose shirt doesn't have a collar and buttons, or a guy wearing sneakers. People douse themselves in ridiculous amounts of perfume and cologne, oh I could go on and on with examples. A lot of time and money is spent on stuff like that, too much time and money IMO. (Professional salaries are abysmal there.)The 25 and under crowd seems to be relaxing a bit, thank God for them. People in Buenos Aires may not wear their gym clothes around as much as people in the U.S., but the general grooming and clothing standards are a ton more casual than in other parts of the world. Come on, half the people out at night could be on their way to the farmer's market. Looking stylish and put together? Sure, absolutely! But not formally dressed. The only people I see who really dress up are the richest of the rich, and I don't tend to hang out where they do, so my observations are not based on the wealthiest of the wealthy of Recoleta and Puerto Madero or what have you.

To be clear, I do like dressing up if the location/occasion calls for it. I paint my nails and wear makeup for a night out and do other "girly" things sometimes, too. I just don't like feeling like I have to every single day. Then it's not fun anymore and starts feeling like work. There is being clean and decently groomed out of respect for those around you, and then there are ridiculous beauty standards and materialism. I'm glad that having to wear makeup and fancy clothes to go to the store is not a thing here. How exhausting and superficial.

 

[Joe]

Whats with all the references to women and makeup ... why is makeup wearing 'style'? Would you have women always wear heels too?

Sure, why not?

Except when they live upstairs - then it sucks!

 

[Vermonter]

The people here are stylish - it doesn't really matter whether it's good style, bad style, hipster, professional etc... I like the style and therefore add it as another item on my list of gustos en Argentina. If others disagree then we hold different opinions on a very objectively unimportant, yet subjectively important topic.

I suspect perhaps this forum has deviated slightly from the original topic B)

 

[ajoknoblauch]

I'm not sure it's directly a US casualness or a global casualness that was sparked initially in the United States. There are lots of young people that can afford to dress very stylishly and be immaculately "made up" for everyday activities - and Argentines are no different. It's not so much a question of cost in many cases as cultural "value" (not values). Younger people just don't value that, and I'd say that's as true almost anywhere.

There's also a difference between functionally/stylishly casual and too casual. I'd say that the average under-40 Argentines are better than their U.S. cousins on the aggregate in this respect. It's understandable that the poor in Argentina are limited in their options, and its not fair to paint them with the same brush as people in the U.S., most of whom don't have this excuse. You can buy all your clothes at any number of low-cost retailers in the U.S. and still look presentable, even in a casual context. As internationalguy said, it's the socially acceptable irreverance for any effort at style that seems to pervade much of US society.

"Style" and "fashion" are trivial topics.

 

[Toastedwaves]

I like the keys/locks here.

 

[ajoknoblauch]

I like the keys/locks here.

I hate the skeleton keys and locks in Argentina. We're going to put a real deadbolt, with a legitimate key, on our apartment door.

 

[Toastedwaves]

:lol: well the thread is about 'What We Like About Argentina'. Just trying to be j0yfulL in an otherwise dark place(this shithole otherwise known as south america).

Just curious ajoknoblauch, from a technical point of view(I'm a technician and like to know), what is it about the "skeleton keys" that you do not like compared to our 'standard' keys?

 

[ajoknoblauch]

:lol: well the thread is about 'What We Like About Argentina'. Just trying to be j0yfulL in an otherwise dark place(this shithole otherwise known as south america).

Just curious ajoknoblauch, from a technical point of view(I'm a technician and like to know), what is it about the "skeleton keys" that you do not like compared to our 'standard' keys?

The skeleton keys never seem to fit properly - it always takes multiple attempts to get them to turn.

 

[ARbound]

It makes you appreciate the simple things of North America/Europe that you took for granted.

I used to really hate Canada, now I still hate it, but not as much and our favorite hole adjective
now only applies to the boring and evil places like Alberta.