I think I might have to compromise

Or like when new rented properties are painted with “beige” paint,

no character quite plain but not to bright. Ready for all who may consider it based on all the factors as in size, area, practicality and once they are seen to be right the decor is purely a matter of personal choice.

Not everyone likes bright primary colours or indeed country kitchen style wooden beams and such like.

 A neutral so as not to draw focus or add opinion.

...Hear Hear! (In support of the last half of Mr. LoneWarrior's Post!) (The "Quote function" has stopped working just now...!?)

DC said

“as far as I can understand. Dress to grow Your own confidence in a situation, dress to empower Yourself, and dress to feel that and to feel comfortable and happy.”

yes absolutely yes.

I dress far from any considered normality, well apart from a preconceived image that is quickly realised once I have spoken to betotally wrong ha ha.

I wear my chosen clothes forall the reasons DC says and more.

I never have fitted into a large group, I never really wanted to thst much.

 I did rebel, first as a hippie then as a biker, it kept wrong people away and open minded and free thinking people close by.

 I am often told I look very smart. Many change how they talk when I approach, they assume I am gentry, that is so far from the truth, once they realise they loosen up but still feel like saying I should be proud of being so well dressed.

 Anyway that’s me, ta ta dress to feel like YOU, 

I think of vanilla clothing as clothes that have no message or pictures on them, except a basic logo such as "Ben Sherman". 

...Excuse Me, I forgot to add... I do not know what the Term "Vanilla Clothing" means. But I keep saying that I mean what I say, though.

Greetings again to "NAS50812"... This is going to be a partly bad-seeming Post, but this is what I often write at others and then that is how it goes... *ulp*...

I am not good at "chit-chat". And My devices are old, and so I do not recieve replies, I must come back and look over this site to see what may be going on. 

...Having said all of that... It seems to Me that this is a sort of Fashion Thread...? I am not the best person to ask - I DO apologise very very much for that! Really! Neekby and Tiny Explorer seem to get this Thread better than I do. Again, over and over, I say what I said at first - if You like it, wear it! This gives relief, confidence, satisfaction, empowerment! Really! Honestly! 

Roswell said:

I thought maybe they could be conversation starters or at least attract people to me who are more suited to me, as they will get an impression of who I am more than vanilla clothing.

..."Conversation starters" is a good way to go, yes... the thing is to find the right people and to only broach the subject Oneself, if they do not notice. (At People who do NOT discuss things in a Negative Manner, regarding what is worn or is done or is often said.)

...I do not know what else to say about the topic now... Just do whatever makes You feel empowered! Really!

I did some online shopping today and bought some clothes that say something personal about me, I thought it's time to express more who I am. So I got a T-shirt with the face of Lloyd Christmas from the film Dumb & Dumber and the words "So you're saying there's a chance."

A hoodie with Miskatonic University printed on it and a fake university emblem to show my interest in H. P. Lovecraft the American horror/fantasy/sci fi writer.

A Blink 182 T-shirt with an image from their album that was my favourite.

And a T-shirt with a rune printed on it as I'm interested in tarot and runes.

I thought maybe they could be conversation starters or at least attract people to me who are more suited to me, as they will get an impression of who I am more than vanilla clothing.

Roswell said:

If you were choosing clothes for an adult man in his thirties, to wear casually out and about (when not in work) what would you buy?

...Me, again. I wondered what this Thread was about, and stand by what I said at first, and "Neekby" supports that, as far as I can understand. Dress to grow Your own confidence in a situation, dress to empower Yourself, and dress to feel that and to feel comfortable and happy. 

...But if this is a fashion/what is acceptable to wear Thread, then, well... this is Me saying "Sorry" again!

(If more about someone else, Myself helps... then here it is. Combine the "Mormon" pictures below with a Blazer and a Hat... this is what I wear, but with long sleeves, though. At school (back in the 80s), I was obliged to wear a SHORT skirt with it; I hated it, until they changed the RULES, allowing Non-Muslims to cover themselves as well. (!!) So I changed my wearing the SHORT skirt to wearing Trousers --- and not soon enough, I can tell You...!) 

Good Luck, All ! 

I think you misunderstand... I'm not suggesting dressing to try to fit in with a group... in fact the opposite - dress for yourself and your 'tribe of one'...

Original Prankster said:

neekby saud: 'Fashion is tribal, possibly the most obvious signifier of 'belonging' to a group that we have...

Problem is, I think people with ASD are always in a 'tribe of one' - we share similarities but we are very much individuals... celebrate that'

I think  for aspies wearing something specifically to project being part of a distinct  group can turn on the attacks, as the group can make a point that you are different and not one of them.

Don't try to please people who already bully you, they will become more abusive.

Remember, people making fun of you usually says more about them and their fragile egos than it does about you.

If someone feels insecure the easiest way to hide that is to make fun of how someone else looks/speaks/acts to diver attention away from them and onto the 'target'.

How you dress sends a message to the world, you can tailor (pun intended) that message if you understand the rules - particularly if you deliberately break them.

Just take a look at things like Harajuku fashion https://www.rebelsmarket.com/blog/posts/harajuku-style-what-is-it-all-about or the styles from the past and present, Mods & Rockers, Teddy Boys, Punks, Skins, Goths, K-pop bands, Hipsters etc.

Fashion is tribal, possibly the most obvious signifier of 'belonging' to a group that we have...

Problem is, I think people with ASD are always in a 'tribe of one' - we share similarities but we are very much individuals... celebrate that, wear your personality...

Have to dash off for a doctor's appointment, just woke up, this looks great though, will have a proper look later.

That's really helpful, thanks. I like the look of most those clothes there.

You could try this service: https://www.thread.com/

I used them for a while - you go through a few pages where you click on the sort of looks you like & select colours, budget etc. then they send you suggestions for outfits.

You don't have to buy anything and can always opt for a cheaper version of something e.g. a jacket if you like it but the one they suggest is too expensive.

I got a few things from them but stopped once I'd got enough pieces to form the core of a new style.

What you described is fine, I suppose it is in the style and colour.

It doesn't have to be expensive. You could look at bbc3 presenters, ASOS website. 

Wear clothes you feel comfortable in - if you try to dress in a way you don't feel comfortable in you'll look bad, doesn't matter if it's an Armani suit or a set of jogging bottoms and a hoody you need to wear clothes that fit and flatter your body shape and that you like.

If you feel good, you'll look good and if you look good you'll feel good.

Go shopping with someone you trust and who has a dress sense you like.

You know, funnily enough the clothes are one of the few things I do like about Mormons!

I'll have to become more confident so they don't perceive me as vulnerable.

If you were choosing clothes for an adult man in his thirties, to wear casually out and about (when not in work) what would you buy?

I do basically look like an extra from "The Book of Mormon"...

... but I don't have to think about what to wear 80% of the working week and I like that those clothes = work and casual clothes = not work...

I think my clothes signal something about me... quite possibly they've been screaming "I HAVE ASD!" all this time without me realising...

But, I only got my official diagnosis yesterday & I'm still trying to process it...

Level 1 ASD with low support needs

 - without accompanying intellectual impairment

 - without accompanying language impairment

 - not associated with a known medical or genetic condition or environmental factor

 - not associated with another neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorder

 - without catatonia

It reads like the character sheet for the worst Dungeons & Dragons character ever!!! Haha

Who are those people who are rude to you, are they wearing hoodies and jogging pants?

Do you think they are rude because of pants they wear? ..I know.. you know chances are the same people will continue to be rude and abusive because they have low self esteem and have found somebody they perceive to be  more vulnerable, so they want to kick someone they feel they can. Don't let them.

Female perspective? Hoodies are for teens. Jogging pants on grown men? Yuk...