One of my, seemingly endless, favorite things about fashion is the way it’s able to portray a message as soon as you walk into the room. Given, this may not always be what you’re interested in doing, but for me, I think it’s fun from time to time.
Something I very normally practice is what I like to call, “The One-Piece Conversation Starter”. This is relatively self-explanatory, right? It means that one piece of the outfit I’m wearing can be used as a convo starter for people that I run into or meet.
Personally, I consider myself down there with the worst conversation starters in existence, I hate it. I try to break the ice with something awkward or whatever but it typically ends up being more awkward than the other person was ready for, so it crashes and burns (hilarious later, terrible during). With the “OPCS” I now have something that people can notice, relate to, get excited or angered by, etc, which serves as the perfect ice-breaker.
BE WARNED, These items aren’t always going to elicit a positive response. Oftentimes they will be scrutinized because they draw too much attention or stray too far from the norm. It’s ok, the people who aren’t a fan will still remember you when they go home that night as the guy who wore that crrrrazy [fill in blank with your own OPCS]!
Some of my personal favorites include:
1) The Captain’s Hat
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| Hat: Dorfman Pacific Co., Shirt: BDG |
I LOVE this hat. My girlfriend gave it to me and it’s been so fun for me to wear ever since. Now, obviously it’s a ridiculous statement to make with your outfit and it shouldn’t be worn anywhere that expects to be formal. Yet, with a t-shirt and jeans, it’s a pretty great way to shield your bad hair day and most definitely get a convo started.
2) The “Statement” Watch
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| Watch: Elgin, Shirt: J. Crew |
When you’re headed somewhere a bit more formal, a “statement” watch is something lots of people will notice and comment on, trust me. I actually bought this watch as part of a costume a few years back but have ended up pairing it with a formal suit or dressy-wear a few times since. It may not be for everyone, but a gold watch will never go out of style when matched with the right attire, plus it’s bound to lead to people noticing and commenting, thus potentially leading to stimulating conversation!
3) The Boldest Shirt in Your Closet
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| Shirt: Excetera (Goodwill), Pants: Gap, Glasses: Vintage |
My third and final One-Piece Conversation Starter is both simple and not-so-simple, it’s a bold-ass shirt! This one is for the guy who’s not afraid of turning lots of heads and doesn’t mind people scoffing or gawking. Personally, I love keeping a few shirts like this for those days where I want to stand out from the crowd. It doesn’t need to be a medieval table cloth like this shirt, but something that grabs attention while still remaining just the right amount of understated is perfect.
These three examples are just a few of my personal favorite OPCS’s. It’s up to you to decide if this is something you’re interested in and if so, head to your local thrift store, odds are they have something.
I’d love it if people sent me pics of their own OPCS’s, I’d totally post them on the site.
Go get those convo’s started!
