Mer accessories and every day wear? (meaning what do family/friends think)

[OceanWhisper]

Hey everyone :) I'm kind of new to the mer community, but am extremely eager to be a mermaid when I am old enough. My main reason for this is to ask: if you wear mer-accessories (not the big headdresses etc) in public, everyday situations, what have people thought? I've worn a starfish clip that I made, and my mum thought "I didn't have enough mental forte to withstand what people might say." I then asked someone my mum knew what she thought of it, and she made no comment. I then told her what my mum thought about it and she made a (slightly crude and sarcastic) remark: "I think your mum's right." I really don't mind what happened there, but just want to know if anyone else has had an experience similar? do people that aren't mers think a shell clip is strange? or a pearl armband? please tell me if you can :) I'd love to hear abut it.

-OceanWhisper

[Mermaid Kelda]

I'm not sure if I just live in a progressive part of the country, but I've had no negative comments at all. People around here wear way more weird stuff than pearls and starfish, though, so maybe it doesn't seem so bad in comparison? Haha, but really, wear whatever the heck you want! Haters gonna hate, and they can go ahead and do that! If you let it slide off your back, they'll be the only ones worse off with their miserable attitudes ;)

[Raayvhen]

I agree with wearing whatever you want. I wear my sequin mer-jewelry on a regular basis. I also wear metal animal skulls. I find that as you get older it gets easier to not care what people say.

[Mermaid Harmony]

I agree with both of these ladies above, I also live in Hawaii where ocean themed wear is the usual garb anyways, and so many people wear shell clips, seahorse earrings and the like. But even after we move I plan on continuing as it's part of who I am and I like it. Do you, rock it, and keep your head held high. Also, come up with come backs, it helps me, they don't have to be mean, but fun silly things, like when people ask why I have my shell clip that has seaweed in it on a 'human day' I tell them seaweed is really hard to come out of hair so I just leave it in. :-)

[Talia]

I have worn my accessories even to work - I work in a hospital, although not directly with the patients. Not many people commented on them, and the ones who did mostly said they were very original and fun, and asked where I got them. Except for my starfish clips, I made them all myself, and I explained so. They thought I was very creative.

However, there are many things you can wear everyday that are not necessarily hair ornaments. From the top of my head:
- Pearl anything - earrings, headbands, rings, bracelets...
- Ursula's necklace - they are fun to make out of clay - there are a lot of tutorials in YouTube:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZzLrtS8c0g

- A big foam or plastic flower, such as a plumeria - there are a lot of sellers on Ebay that have them
25645

-Shell necklaces or pendants (either real shells, man made or locket type)
https://www.etsy.com/listing/118651410/shell-pendants-2-pcs-gold-decoration?ref=sr_gallery_38&ga_search_query=shell+pendant&ga_search_type=supplies&ga_view_type=gallery
https://www.etsy.com/listing/155715199/2-shell-pendants-double-sided-37-x-27mm?ref=sr_gallery_2&ga_search_query=shell+pendant&ga_search_type=supplies&ga_view_type=gallery
https://www.etsy.com/listing/199791177/5-pcs-of-antiqued-brass-shell-locket?ref=sr_gallery_29&ga_search_query=shell+pendant&ga_search_type=supplies&ga_view_type=gallery

Guys, any more ideas?

[Vrindavana Starfish]

I've lived in both places where if I wore something that wasn't completely the same as what everyone else wore, I'd get those reactions, and in places where that kind of individuality is appreciated. Reactions like the ones you got reveal more about the mental forte of the people making them, not yours. That's someone projecting their own insecurities on you. If you want to wear it, wear it, and don't worry about what other people think.

And it's not just mers who wear pretty shell jewelry! So, I really don't know what their problem is. If they can't clearly articulate logically what their issue is, just that it's "weird" or some b.s. about "mental forte" and snarky sarcasm, then I think it's pretty safe to disregard certain opinions.

[Echidna]

I often wear my knitted scale leggings outside, because they're my warmest pants!

They are very colourful, flashy and eye-catching, and my mother is always embarrassed to be seen with me when I have them on.
It's winter now though and very cold, so I wear them all the time, and gradually, my mother has resigned :p

People gawk at me stupidly of course, but they always do that, no matter what I wear, so I don't give a carp.

[PearlieMae]

When I Am Old.

When I am an old woman I shall wear purple
With a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me,
And I shall spend my pension
on brandy and summer gloves
And satin sandals,
and say we've no money for butter.
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired,
And gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells,
And run my stick along the public railings,
And make up for the sobriety of my youth.
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
And pick the flowers in other people's gardens,
And learn to spit.
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat,
And eat three pounds of sausages at a go,
Or only bread and pickle for a week,
And hoard pens and pencils and beer mats
and things in boxes.
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry,
And pay our rent and not swear in the street,
And set a good example for the children.
We will have friends to dinner and read the papers.
But maybe I ought to practise a little now?
So people who know me
are not too shocked and surprised,
When suddenly I am old
and start to wear purple!

Jenny Joseph


Let your freak flag fly, hunny! :yay:

[Miyu]

Pffft, I wear crazy things every day, mermaid-y or not! I do wear my shell/seaweed hair clips on a daily basis (er, I did when I had more hair), and I wear crazy costumes and jewelry all the time when I go out, and no-one's ever given me a negative comment... Though I really wouldn't mind if they did! I've been designing/wearing costumes (in public) for ages, I've got a shaved head and scars all over my face... Up until now I've usually had (clean and neat) dreadlocks/dreadhawk/braids, and my hair is always some kind of crazy. If I cared what people thought, I wouldn't ever leave the house!

Life is too dang short to worry about what other people think about what you wear or look like! Do what makes you happy :)

[Emmadives]

I have a beautiful hand carved black mermaid tail (or whale tail, but I think it's a mermaid :) ) necklace that I wore at a formal work event last week and wear often to work. I'm in a pretty conservative field but I always get lots of compliments and questions, especially from people who know about my diving and mermaid interests! Be who you are! Be the life of the party!

[Mermaid Galene]

I'll echo what others have said. If wearing mermaid accessories makes you happy, who the heck cares what other people think? Show them you're proud of who you are. If they make snarky comments, just smile and ignore them.

[OceanWhisper]

Thanks everyone for your support :) I do like to wear shell clips that I've made, but I might leave the little starfish for when i get into proper mermaiding :)

[deepblue]

Sea themed jewelry and hair decor is not uncommon- among anyone. I cannot imagine anyone thinking, "OH. You're wearing a starfish, you must be one of those mer people."

They're everywhere. I was in an antique store today and saw several - all of them were actually too mainstream for me. At the risk of sounding like Hispter Ariel, ha. They were for normals. lol Because there are so many everyday, normal (depending on your definition of that) people buying them.

[Kaila Mermaid]

I actually had someone buy the starfish clip I made off my head while I was out in public one day. Just because they don't get your mermaid macho doesn't mean you have to hide it. And how impressive that you made it! Keep doing what you love. Life's too short to try and appease everyone. You can't make everyone happy, so do what you can: make YOURSELF happy. :)

[Mermaid Jessica Pearl]

I wear my quirkiness on my sleeve. I used to be very anxious and afraid of being judged but now I am just myself and I feel so much better for it. So I wear lots of mermaidy accessories all of the time! I live and breathe it and I also have blue hair! I think it helps as you get a little more older and independent because you also get more confident. Start with small things and never be afraid to be you. I get the sense that you are a bit younger and that is why your parents are a little more worried, but starting with small things should help.
I hear we are both WA mermaids btw. Welcome! Where in WA are you from?

[Rivertee]

I'm a FL mer so a.little biased I think from my people, but we adore beach jewelry and style. I wear my sea shell and starfish combs to work and pearls in my ears, kids love it and adults find me unique.

I get a lot of "did you know you have a fish in your hair? " I simply reply

"Well who else am I to talk to in this odd two legged world? "

That usually pins them shut.

[Mermaid Sirenia]

I wear mine all the time now! I used to be self conscious of what people thought about it but then I realized, "hey I live on the beach.. and I'm a MERMAID. it would be weird not to!" And people actually compliment it! I started off by wearing my "I'm really a mermaid" shirt with it because it just looked like it completed the outfit