Special interests aside of course
Man. I don’t have sensory issues with wearing whatever, but I’ve been getting grilled lately for not being “fashionable” and some people in my life have even gone as far to say that’s why I’ve historically had trouble dating/making friends.
Tbh, I just wear whatever is easiest to put on- if that’s a polo and jeans at the top of my clean laundry, then so be it. If one of my last clean outfits is a flannel and khakis in my closet, then it’ll be that. If it’s a logo t and jeans? You get the picture. But apparently there’s something wrong with that and I need to be “more fashionable?” As someone who is color blind, I’m not exactly sure how I’m supposed to tell what colors best suit my skin tone/go well together. Like I said it all feels the same, so I’m not sure why something so minor would make or break continuing to hang out with someone but it seems like that is that case :/
There will be someone who doesn’t expect you to put on a show. Like I said, for me, “bad” fashion can be a bright green flag for me. There’s a reason I gave a big disclaimer before I have any fashion advice.
But the fact is that caring about your own image is seen as self care. You can even have a “boldly ugly” image. People like Narduar and Tyler the Creator really laid the groundwork for us to experiment with fashion in the sense that even “ugly” looks can be popular and it’s not negative. People just like people who put themselves out there, autistic or not. Confidence is pretty much the only universal of attraction. I’d say get yourself a set of clothes where you don’t know if other people think it looks good, but you know that you look good yk?