Do you look like a veg*n?

[Second Summer]

Is there a vegan or vegetarian aesthetic? Are the majority of veg*ns scrawny and pale?

I think back in the day, in the 90s, at least with the younger, mainly straight edge / socialist / environmentalist crowd, the vegan uniform was something like this:
Males: Dark hoodie, military-style boots and trousers, buzz cut.
Females: Dark hoodie, military-style boots and trousers, red coloured hair (or buzz cut for the non-straight leaning crowd).

Generally, I seem to remember they were scrawny and pale people, often with angry or displeased facial expressions. Though the passage of time has probably blurred my memory considerably ....

I was reminded of this recently at a vegan meet-up. It's interesting to see how real people compare to the stereotypes, and sometimes it feels like it's not too far off - that goes for my own appearance as well ....

 

[Blobbenstein]

break out of your stereotype IS....drink Coke for the rest of the week...buy some Nike trainers..shave off all but a moustache.....you must save yourself.

 

[beancounter]

Back in the day, the standard veg*n uniform was to look like a hippie.

 

[Chryssie]

Back in the day, I wasn't veg. Many years ago, I knew a couple who I thought ate very weird with their lentils and brown rice. They were pretty stereotypically "hippie" and this was the 70's. I never knew any other vegs in all these years. Today I do not think you can tell who is veg. And the ones I do know are far from pale and sickly!

 

[flyingsnail]

I imagine that the typical look, if there is such a thing, would vary from socioeconomic group to socioeconomic group. For example, what you described sounds like young adults from working-class families.

One store where I shop has a lot of vegetarian/vegan shoppers, at least compared to other stores, and I've yet to notice any consist look to the people other than they are usually female. A few weeks ago I saw a little car drive up with some vegan related bumper stickers......who came out was a short husky man with a big beard which wasn't what I expected.

 

[Moll Flanders]

And the ones I do know are far from pale and sickly!

Ha, yes, the vegans I have met have been pale but not all of them skinny, including myself.

 

[shyvas]

I've never met a vegan. The only vegetarian that I have met in real life was back in the 80's and she used to yo yo.

 

[Mikkel]

I've got buzz cut (I don't have enough hair anymore for other haircuts....), often a hoodie (not always dark), millitary styled trouses (my fave is even in camoflage color. ), but not boots as my feet aren't happy in boots anymore. And pale, always pale. But I'm overweight... Bad rumor for veg*ans I guess. But this was my style even when I ate meat, but perhaps it was ment to be?

But that is the "going out with friends" part of me. I mostly wear outdoors clothes, as I'm a lot outdoors with the dogs. Real Norwegian with very sporty outdoors clothes and a backpack!

 

[ledboots]

Well, I'm in my mid-fifties, so the young hip stereotype is out the window there. [emoji1] I'm female, short, average weight, very long hair often in a braid or bun, no jewelry, comfortable shoes and clothes. Minimal makeup. No tattoos. [emoji1]

 

[Scorpius]

I think I look like me.

 

[Poppy]

Do I look like a vegan? No, I look like a damn republican!

 

[yakherder]

It usually takes me a few weeks to convince someone I'm vegetarian. I guess I don't have the look.

 

[hungryraccoon]

I really don't think you can tell just by looks.

 

[Second Summer]

I really don't think you can tell just by looks.

I agree, but what if you see someone wearing a "vegan uniform", what are the odds they really are vegan?

 

[Blobbenstein]

I agree, but what if you see someone wearing a "vegan uniform", what are the odds they really are vegan?

I wouldn't be surprised if they ate veal.

But a lot of people think they should, or want to, look the part, I suppose.

 

[Ann Chovie]

It usually takes me a few weeks to convince someone I'm vegetarian. I guess I don't have the look.

Me neither!

Smartly dressed well rounded middle aged mum at work...they take a hell of a lot of convincing!!!

 

[Mikkel]

I agree, but what if you see someone wearing a "vegan uniform", what are the odds they really are vegan?

In Norway (at least in Oslo), the odds that someone looking like that is from Blitz, is very high. But I think a lot of them are vegan. They have a vegetarian café with vegan option, and a vegetarian cookbook . But now clue if vegetarian is a must to join them. I can't remeber if speciesism is a part of their sign at the door, I think I'll have to check one night.

Or they could always be the quite oposite of Blitz. But we don't have that many nazis in Norway luckly (they often have buzz cut, hoodies, military styled trouses and boots too. )

 

[Clueless Git]

I don't look like a vegan.

I know that because people seem to think that I only think I'm a vegan because they haven't told me why it's impossible to be one yet.

 

[Clueless Git]

It usually takes me a few weeks to convince someone I'm vegetarian. I guess I don't have the look.

Tipex your face and buy some sandals.

 

[Blobbenstein]

That's not me by the way. I haven't got a beard.