Lisa De Pasquale - The Social Justice Warrior Handbook

A Practical Survival Guide for

Snowflakes, Millennials, and Generation Z

Lisa De Pasquale

HOW TO CREATE YOUR AUTHENTIC VINTAGE STYLE

An important aspect of communicating our ideas and message is through our personal styles and vibe. Social Justice Warrior style is about looking authentic and unique. There are many mass-market retailers that cater to our tastes. In fact, designers look to us for whats on-trend.

Here are some items youll want to incorporate into your wardrobe:

Millennial Pink

This is not your mothers shade of pink. In fact, its more like your grandmothers shade of pink. Millennial pink isnt pink on steroids (a phrase those marketing to GenXers used a lot). Millennial pink is pink on pot. Its mellow, dusty, faded, and co-opted as our own. Best of all, its suitable for all sixty-three genders.

According to Slate magazine, Millennial pink is the Elizabeth Warren of colorsno matter how tired we are of hearing about it, it persists.

Millennial pink is a streetwear staple. No Instagram filter required (well, maybe Mayfair or 1977). Marlien Rentmeester, founder of Le Catch , said, We interpret our environment through the colors we wear. Pink is unapologetic, dramatic, and bold. Were taking it back and making it our own.

Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Pantone Color Institute said, A color becomes popular because its symbolic of the age were living in. These are turbulent times. People are looking for calm.

Carrying the torch for social justice can be stressful. Millennial pink is like a warm, cozy, gender-neutral baby blanket.

Band and Concert Tees

History began the day we were born. Unfortunately, that means a majority of the concerts we actually attended as teenagers were Britney Spears, NSYNC, Fallout Boy, and Taylor Swift. While it is possible to wear their shirts ironically, youll be better off curating your look with older bands.

Acceptable Bands

• NWA, Ice-T, Wu Tang Clan, other classic rap artists
• Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, REM, Nirvana, other classic rock bands
• Blondie, Joan Jett, The Runaways, and other badass women
• Sex Pistols, The Ramones, The Clash, Misfits, Motrhead

Unacceptable Bands

• Country artists because theyre usually associated with right-wingers (Please note that despite the Dixie Chicks speaking out against George W. Bush, the word Dixie is offensive)
• Hair bands because their misogynistic videos are degrading and problematic
• KISS because of misogynistic lyrics and Gene Simmons supported Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential election

You can buy t-shirts that are weathered, but for real authenticity you should do it yourself.

Tools Youll Need

• Scissors
• Bleach
• Sandpaper
• Tea bags

Using these tools you can customize your t-shirts. You can distress the images by gently rubbing sandpaper on them. You can mellow light colors by soaking them in warm water with teabags. This also works with books you want people to think youve had for a long time! You can lighten black t-shirts by soaking them in a solution of three parts water and one part bleach, then washing and drying them. You can create a casual, off-the-shoulder look by cutting a wider neckline. If youre a woman or a man without muscle definition, create a badass/I-dont-give-a-fuck look by cutting off the shirtsleeves. If youre a man with muscle definition, avoid this as it contributes to toxic masculinity.

Distressed Denim

Like t-shirts, there are plenty of options when it comes to distressed denimpersimmon-dyed, ripped, repaired-ripped, sandblasted, beet-dyed, bleached, destroyed, and shredded, among others. To preserve your distressed denim, dont wash them and ignore your coworkers, classmates, or roommates if they complain about the odor.

PRPS, a New York-based designer, offers a wide array of distressed denim for men and women, including overalls, jackets, tops, and bottoms. The pieces are ripped and some include synthetic mud and paint for a faux-authentic blue-collar look. Their most well known jeans is the Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans. Nordstroms describes it this way, Heavily distressed medium-blue denim jeans in a comfortable straight-leg fit embody rugged, Americana workwear thats seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows youre not afraid to get down and dirty.

Whether canvassing a neighborhood on behalf of subsidies for solar power corporations or protesting against an Orthodox Jewish speaker like Ben Shapiro, distressed denim is a must-have for showing your concern for the oppressed.

The Barracuda Straight Leg Jeans retail at $425.

PRO TIP

It is a fashion, a way of life. Inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique.

Fashion Designer Jacobim Mugatu

Accessories and Other Finishing Touches

Goodwill and other thrift stores are excellent resources to complete your look. Build a collection of worn-in work boot s, scarves, canvas tote bags, and books. If you feel like a poser for buying second-hand clothes, feel free to embellish. No, not with rhinestoneswith a story! Maybe that flannel work shirt belonged to a farmer. It could have been your dead grandfathers for all you know. Giving a clothing item a backstory gives it authenticity.

Ethical Fashion

While not vintage, ethical fashion is an important part of a Social Justice Warriors wardrobe. It is a term used for clothing thats vegan (no leather), made using fair trade policies, by workers receiving a living wage, and produced with sustainable materials, among other things. As a Social Justice Warrior, you are obligated to tell every single person when you are wearing an ethically produced item of clothing and educate them on why their clothing is worse than Hitler.

HOW TO PACK A SOCIAL JUSTICE WARRIOR GO-BAG

After the election of Donald Trump (#NotMyPresident) in 2016 there is a real possibility that there will be a need to survive on our own because basic social and survival needs will be cut off, especially for the Social Justice Warriors who have spoken truth to power on Twitter, Facebook, college campuses, all forms of media, and at Hollywood awards shows.

PRO TIP

A Bug-Out-Bag is sometimes referred to as a B-O-B. But, it really depends on how your bag self-identifies. I think burdening your kit with a gender specific name might create more baggage than the typical SJW is willing to carry.

Former CIA Covert Operations Officer
Mike Baker

A go-bag or bug-out-bag is filled with necessities that will help you survive when evacuating from an environmental disaster (likely caused by climate change), martial law ordered by a Republican administration, or an event like Coachella or FyreFest. There has been a lot of chatter on social media about the need for a go-bag or bug-out bag. Here are some quotes from real people on Twitter (not using their Twitter handle so they wont be targeted by right-wingers):