Stepping out of San Francisco to a place where there's more conformity, and ruminating on my preferences. Some people dress outlandishly or in a stylized unique way to bring attention to themselves. Though there may be very rare occasions where that is me, what I am more about is freedom. When there is a huge spectrum of acceptability, everyone is more able to find their comfortable niche without sticking out as someone trying to bring attention to themselves. It is not about LOOK AT ME, but more about "this is who I am. " The outlandish "look at me" people are required to provide a social buffer for the slightly off center "this is me" without the shy "this is me" bringing undue attention to themselves.
This is a subtlety lost on many, in the same vein as the "rule of law." The same people who don't understand freedom of dress are likely to not understand that rule of law means that even people branded as criminals deserve a fair trial. In the world of the conformist, the non-conformist is labeled criminal, while those who honor the appearance of conformity can walk away from murder.
