Very much so, your attempts at professionalism are also greatly appreciated.
[Grant you know damn well this is precisely because of recent meetings that he even mentions it. He's trying not to have to say anything about that disaster though.]
A friend of mine only gave a very vague overview. He didn't even mention that it's meant to be a holiday, actually. That was Stephanie. But the impression I've gotten is that it's simply an occasion to dress up in costumes and eat candy?
Oh! Well, yeah, there's a little more to it, particularly in terms of its origin; see, if Halloween's origins here are anything like they are in my world, it likely started off as a day when it was believed that supernatural forces such as ghosts were unusually active. People would wear costumes or masks to ward off these beings, and would leave food out for them.
Over time, these traditions drifted and mixed with those of other cultures, but the general association with costumes and food remained. At this point, what's most common is for children to go door-to-door in costume collecting treats, while adults will more often either hand out said candy or attend costume parties, where food is typically still provided.
Or just stay home and eat candy they got at a discount, that works too.
I see. The traditional intent, then, is to be unpleasant or frightening?
A friend of mine is most certainly not being something scary. Red Riding Hood is the costume he chose, a tale that we also share in Fodlan. We even have part of our calendar named after some element of the tale. Red Wolf Moon. The 11th month. Your November.
[Yes he had to double-check with Stephanie on that one. Hush, he hasn't been here for a November yet!]
Is that... common? He rather implied it is where he comes from and Stephanie is little help as she paid little mind to others' costumes beyond her own.
Traditionally, yep! There's a much wider range these days, though.
Yeah, we have that one too. [He... could make a crack here about that just being its own kind of "scary" costume, but he'll leave it for Lorenz's sake.]
Hmm, I don't know that I'd say it's *super* common, but it's certainly not unheard of. What's most common in that regard is actually probably costumes for women "inspired" by male characters but those are, uh, kind of their own topic a lot of the time. Anyway, that said, yeah the reverse definitely happens too.
Ah. So it is not terribly common. or acceptable? I would hate for my friend to run into trouble because of his costuming choice.
[Believe it or not, Grant, he does absolutely mean a friend and not "a friend that is definitely not him". But it is a little concerning for... well. Reasons he is definitely not looking at too closely.]
I mean, for the holiday, of course. Such a thing would be utterly inappropriate otherwise. Obviously.
[Definitely. He's not even sure why he said that. Still, it wouldn't do for Grant to get the wrong idea.]
No, I'd say it's perfectly acceptable; here especially, I don't think your friend will get any trouble over it.
I completely disagree, actually. There's no reason men can't wear women's clothes whenever they want, outside of safety concerns depending on where they are - and this place is a lot safer than some.
[Grant may well be surprised that Lorenz doesn't have an absurd reasons for that differentiation.]
What is socially acceptable for men and women to wear. If there were no reason a man might wear something traditionally feminine, a dress for example, then there's be no distinction between men's clothing and women's clothing to begin with. It's the fact that there IS a distinction that makes it clear that the expectation is that one wears what they "should".
In a way, perhaps. The reason is... Society decided what is acceptable and what is not.
I feel this may be one thing that Fodlan had the right of. Attire is largely determined by occupation. Practical concerns for mobility and safety come into play. Gender has nothing to do with it. As a mage it would be completely acceptable for me to wear what your modern folk would call a dress. (Though really mage robes are far less form fitting and detailed in an entirely different manner than most dresses.)
That's exactly it. Social norms develop and settle into a society until it feels to many of those within it as though they might as well be set in stone - but that doesn't mean that they are. A lot of rules, there's really no harm to breaking them; people just assume there must be because it's what they've been told.
What part do you feel Fodlan may have been right about? And... well, yeah, gender has nothing to do with what someone can or can't wear, that's completely true. But, aside from that, around here occupation doesn't even have to be part of it; I could wear a dress as easily as you could.
[He's not sure he'd look good in it, but that's just a personal Grant thing.]
Haha, I can't blame you. If it's something that you're inclined to care about, but only had limited access to back home, I can see why suddenly having so much broader a range of clothing options would be pretty exciting.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
No problem; what were you wondering?
no subject
[Grant you know damn well this is precisely because of recent meetings that he even mentions it. He's trying not to have to say anything about that disaster though.]
A friend of mine only gave a very vague overview. He didn't even mention that it's meant to be a holiday, actually. That was Stephanie. But the impression I've gotten is that it's simply an occasion to dress up in costumes and eat candy?
Surely that cannot be all there is to it.
no subject
Over time, these traditions drifted and mixed with those of other cultures, but the general association with costumes and food remained. At this point, what's most common is for children to go door-to-door in costume collecting treats, while adults will more often either hand out said candy or attend costume parties, where food is typically still provided.
Or just stay home and eat candy they got at a discount, that works too.
no subject
A friend of mine is most certainly not being something scary. Red Riding Hood is the costume he chose, a tale that we also share in Fodlan. We even have part of our calendar named after some element of the tale. Red Wolf Moon. The 11th month. Your November.
[Yes he had to double-check with Stephanie on that one. Hush, he hasn't been here for a November yet!]
Is that... common? He rather implied it is where he comes from and Stephanie is little help as she paid little mind to others' costumes beyond her own.
Dressing as a character of another gender I mean.
no subject
Yeah, we have that one too. [He... could make a crack here about that just being its own kind of "scary" costume, but he'll leave it for Lorenz's sake.]
Hmm, I don't know that I'd say it's *super* common, but it's certainly not unheard of. What's most common in that regard is actually probably costumes for women "inspired" by male characters but those are, uh, kind of their own topic a lot of the time. Anyway, that said, yeah the reverse definitely happens too.
no subject
[Believe it or not, Grant, he does absolutely mean a friend and not "a friend that is definitely not him". But it is a little concerning for... well. Reasons he is definitely not looking at too closely.]
I mean, for the holiday, of course. Such a thing would be utterly inappropriate otherwise. Obviously.
[Definitely. He's not even sure why he said that. Still, it wouldn't do for Grant to get the wrong idea.]
no subject
I completely disagree, actually. There's no reason men can't wear women's clothes whenever they want, outside of safety concerns depending on where they are - and this place is a lot safer than some.
no subject
Clothing is designed differently between genders for a reason, of course. One cannot simply... wear whatever they like.
[He says keenly aware of the fact that some of his tops are not men's wear.
Ah. Wonderful. Now he's going to have to convince himself not to throw out some of his more blatantly feminine things.]
no subject
What's that reason?
no subject
What is socially acceptable for men and women to wear. If there were no reason a man might wear something traditionally feminine, a dress for example, then there's be no distinction between men's clothing and women's clothing to begin with. It's the fact that there IS a distinction that makes it clear that the expectation is that one wears what they "should".
Isn't it?
no subject
So, please correct me if I'm misinterpreting - but it kind of reads like the reason is that a reason has to exist?
no subject
I feel this may be one thing that Fodlan had the right of. Attire is largely determined by occupation. Practical concerns for mobility and safety come into play. Gender has nothing to do with it. As a mage it would be completely acceptable for me to wear what your modern folk would call a dress. (Though really mage robes are far less form fitting and detailed in an entirely different manner than most dresses.)
no subject
What part do you feel Fodlan may have been right about? And... well, yeah, gender has nothing to do with what someone can or can't wear, that's completely true. But, aside from that, around here occupation doesn't even have to be part of it; I could wear a dress as easily as you could.
[He's not sure he'd look good in it, but that's just a personal Grant thing.]
no subject
I had not considered that. My apologies. You all do have far more options in attire than we ever did... so many more outfits one can have.
no subject
You don't have to apologize; I know this is all kinda new ground for you. And the easier access to clothing must be odd to get used to, as well.
no subject
Perhaps why I've gone a bit overboard with it all.
[Sure did ask Dimitri for a tiny house that's literally 75% closet.]
no subject