MULTICOLORED... YUCK!!!

[fencing teen]

I heard from a girl that she wanted a different coloured suit because she thought that white made her look fat... i find that realy lame... i dont know what you think...?!?
-Kaia- <img src="graemlins/jawa.gif" border="0" alt="[Jawa]" />

[ 02-21-2002: Message edited by: fencing teen ]</p>

[Methix]

Tell her she needs one of two things:

If she is overweight, she needs to eat better and exercise regularly and lose weight.

If she's at a healthy weight, she needs to talk to a therapist for her issues of self-image.

Colored jackets will only make you look fat and colored instead of fat and white (if she really is overweight, which it sounds like she isn't).

Now colored lames, those are just cool!! Next time I need a new one, I'm getting one of those spiffy blue or gold ones.

[oiuyt]

I'll readily admit that I have a noticible lack of fashion knowledge, but I thought white was supposed to help add to the appearance of slimness.

-B

[Xaaron Swiftblade]

Not at all - dark colors - 'specially black make ya appear thin... that's why I fence in black

[Gav]

Oh dear I wonder if I look fat... lets see.... off colour jacket (sort of purpley-blue - I need a new one)... breeches with pink and white panels... pink socks....

Funnily enough I like the pink but my jacket got washed with a load of T's and turned sort of purple. Who cares what you look like you're there to fence not pull - at least thats the idea.

[ 02-20-2002: Message edited by: Gav ]</p>

[Inquartata]

I suppose that we have lames/jackets in vertical stripes to look forward too as the next "improvement", then.

Xaaron, you do realize that you will not be allowed to wear black in sport fencing, right? Black is reserved for Masters...

[oiuyt]

Inq- While it would definately raise some eyebrows, were someone to wear black, it is not against the rules in local USFA competitions.

Specifically a note in Chapter 2, 1, m.25, 3 states:
[quote]Note: At USFA local, divisional, and sectional competitions, there are no restrictions on colors or decorations on uniforms, providing that the uniforms still comply with all other requirements.<hr></blockquote>

Seems fairly clear cut that black WOULD be allowed below the national level. At national levels and above the torso is required to be a single color, white or a light shade, which I think precludes black.... (unless of course it's a light shade of black )

It is not against the rules, it is merely against convention.

-B

[Inquartata]

Hmm, interesting.

I would be willing to bet that were someone to test this there would BE a rule against it very shortly thereafter, though.

I am almost tempted...

Nah!

[Catlady]

Advice to fat-broad: Get over yourself, honey!

Granted there are more attractive outfits than fencing uniforms. IMHO knickers are just plain goofy looking, when you add knee socks you're hurtling towards the absurd. However, when everyone else is wearing the same thing, who cares? Yeah, you look goofy, or fat, or whatever, but so does everyone else.

As for colored lames, do they have red? I can't remember. My lame is going dead again so I may be in the market for a new one sooner than I'd like. Dark purple would be lovely, but probably not likely to be available, so I'd like my other favorite color if I could get it.

[Catlady]

Also, if she thinks she looks fat now, it's only going to get worse. No, fencing will not make you fat, but it will make you bigger. You have to have strong, and thus somewhat large, upper leg muscles to have a good stance, do explosive footwork etc. Then your arms stand a chance of getting bulky too. Fencers can be athletic and muscular, which IMHO-- perhaps because I couldn't do the waif look no matter how hard I dieted; my hips and shoulders are just naturally broad-- is much better than simply being thin, but you will not be stick thin.

[Fencing Angel]

[quote]Originally posted by fencing teen:
<strong> i find that realy lame...
</strong><hr></blockquote>

i think that you are really good with Puns.. Sign her up with the National Pun-ishing team..
anyways down to the point at hand

it could be just a personality thing, that she doesn't like it or something. but i really think that it's up to the fencer.. and there really shouldn't be a regulatation color that everyone *HAS* to ware, and if USFA (or anyother governing body of the sport) laid that kinda rule down they'd have a good little up riseing on their hands, just because it's a free sprited sport..

Anyways, just my bar of soap outta the box....

[Inquartata]

[quote]Originally posted by Catlady:
<strong>
As for colored lames, do they have red? </strong><hr></blockquote>


They have pink. Red would probably be considered too dark; I think the present rules only permit "light shades".

[damianip]

[quote]Originally posted by Inquartata:
<strong>


They have pink. Red would probably be considered too dark; I think the present rules only permit "light shades".</strong><hr></blockquote>

At the JOs I recall a couple of vendors (Triplette and Zivkovic?) having some pretty intensely red lamés, so they are out there.

Paolo

[its_me_mango]

maybe we should all go back to basic white with silver lames.

[its_me_mango]

an eyeless man
walked into the office
i'm looking for work,
but i have it little quirk
he wont say what it is
he wants you to guess
he has a eyeless eye
and a stubble of beard
his breath lingers in the air
that separates us,
an eyeless man
walked into the office
i am speechless
and beyond words.

[ 03-08-2002: Message edited by: its_me_mango ]</p>

[Prometheus]

For what its worth both PBT and Allstar/Uhlman (I think) sell not only dark red but dark blue foil lames. As far as I know these are legal at all levels of competition. In fact, I vaguely remember seeing a photo of a worldcup bout where one fencer had the dark blue.
Also, as far as I know the black for masters convention is all but gone in the sport world. The Allstar/Uhlman instructor's gear is black and I would venture to guess that it is the most widely worn equipment by instructors of whatever rank in more then a few contries including the US. The blue lamae is just about as blue as you can get and still be decernable and is worn by competitors.
As a general rule, I would say anything sold by the major supply houses is acceptable for US competition and I have never seen someone at a modern competiton with visibly home-sewn gear.

[Inquartata]

[quote]Originally posted by its_me_mango:
<strong>maybe we should all go back to basic white with silver lames.</strong><hr></blockquote>

What a revolutionary concept!

But no, this would never work. People in the West are now much too accustomed with shouting "I am an INDIVIDUAL, look at me! " in every aspect of their lives, from bumper stickers to tattoos to you name it. The dike has burst, and if we want to keep our fingers we'd better stay away from the area altogether...

Sorry, is my cynicism showing?

Anyway---instructors gear is indeed black as often as not, but it isn't worn in competition. I wear black sweats at practice and no one mistakes me for a master. I wouldn't care to try black jacket, glove and knickers at Sectionals, though, much less a NAC, much less a World Cup...

I have seen the dark blue lames, too, and wondered how that accords with the requirement of dark blue stenciling on the back. Dark blue on dark blue scarcely maketh for good "spectator recognition". Pretty much have to go the rear-leg route I daresay.

[Catlady]

[quote]Originally posted by Inquartata:
<strong>

People in the West are tpp accustomed with shouting "I am an INDIVIDUAL, look at me! " in every aspect of their lives, from bumper stickers to tattoos to you name it. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Rant alert! Rant alert!

I'm going off topic for a moment here. Actually, I would have to say we're too used to thinking we're announcing our individuality when we are in fact behaving like a nation of robots. We all conform to what we have been told--by the very establishment against which we believe we are protesting ironically--what the lastest statement
of rebellion is. The school system alone trains us to fall into an automaton-like lockstep--consider the last time--if ever--you challenged an instructor. It's better at university, but not entirely absent either. I remember in preparation for a nationally standardized exam that had an essay component (Advanced Placement for those in the US--I'm afraid I don't know how to explain it to those outside the states as I don't believe something similar exists elsewhere) that it was a deadly error to argue with the premise advanced by the test writers (eg. the essay topic is something like, for the history exam, Ronald Reagan revolutionized the way America's president relates to his constituency. Please examine and analyze the ways in which this was accomplished. You think he didn't do anything that hasn't been done before and possibly better, but you have to pretend he did for the exam). The example I gave is a bit simpler than a real question would be, but it's past midnight here and it's the best I could think of, in addition, it's been a while since--longer than I'd like to admit--since I've taken those tests. Granted, it's a skill to be able to argue both sides of an issue and thus good practice to defend a position which isn't necessarily your own--one of my favorite pastimes is playing devil's advocate so I certainly agree--and there's something to be said for respecting those who have gone before, but if the purpose of the exam to assess the student's knowledge of history as well as his writing ability, couldn't that be demonstrated just as well by an argument against, rather than for the test writer's thesis? I always thought so, but was told not to do so anyway. Luckily, the test I took did not have a question about which I had much of an opinion, so I didn't have to worry. I was given the standard answer, "Well when you get to be older, you can run the world your way, but you have put up with our way now." True, but I think after all the indoctrination is over sometimes, we can't remember what we really believe. So is the case with many other things. Sorry about the rant, but this is a sore subject with me.

FYI, my hair is the color nature gave me, I do not have any tattoos, and have no piercings--not even my ears--and I dress relatively normally; in other words, I would not stand out unduly in a crowd, although I'd like to think my lovely sparkling personality and charming, razor edged wit set me apart. I've often joked that I have a secret desire to be a goth--people I've told this too have not been suprised, which I must admit frightens me--but in general the "dress-up" thing is too much work for people about whom I really don't care. I am too young to be a hippie and was not raised by them--in fact my parents were totally <img src="graemlins/freak4.gif" border="0" alt="[Freak2]" /> (square--don't you love graemlins) during the sixties--they remain somewhat puzzled about how they wound up with a daughter like me, although there have been theories advanced that I either was (a) dropped off by aliens (b) crawled out from under a rock one day, or (c) was dropped on my head as a baby. Anyway, I guess this freak's out of uniform. <img src="graemlins/jester.gif" border="0" alt="[Jester]" />

[Inquartata]

[quote]Originally posted by Catlady:
<strong>

Actually, I would have to say we're too used to thinking we're announcing our individuality when we are in fact behaving like a nation of robots. We all conform to what we have been told--by the very establishment against which we believe we are protesting ironically--what the lastest statement of rebellion is. </strong><hr></blockquote>

Good point, actually. I used to infuriate punkers back in the day by pointing out that if you're the first person with a yellow mohawk you're a nonconformist, if you're the hundred thousand and first you're the opposite---you're merely a sheep in a separate flock...

Once Madison Avenue starts turning out cutting-edge advertisements aimed at your in-group, you are just another demographic.

[its_me_mango]

<img src="graemlins/blah.gif" border="0" alt="[Blah]" /> "i was hungry for a victory, but i lost"

[ 02-28-2002: Message edited by: its_me_mango ]</p>