How conservative is Chesterfield?

To start, I do not mean conservative in the political sense at all. I was told before moving out here that the Midwest is very conservative in terms of clothes and things that are taboo. But being here a week now, I'm almost in shock over it.

I understand the fashion sense of not wanting to wear pink and purple like a good portion of guys back East do. It is just in the last three months that I finally embraced wearing plaid shorts.

But staying in Chesterfield now for a week, I'm still shocked at the number of people who don't have a visible tattoo or even moderate piercings. Perhaps it is because I was in the Navy and a lot of us sailors had tattoos, but even back East you will see someone that has visible ink.

I have a tattoo on my calf that is visible, and when I went to college orientation last week, I was the only person with a visible tattoo. I'm not saying that people need to go out and get a full sleeve or anything like that. My calf is covered by a fleur di lis.

I guess more than anything, I'm shocked that tattoos here in the Midwest are taboo. I love that the Midwest hasn't gone as metro as the East. Having said that, some things could be embraced a little bit more.

Guys is it really that hard to make sure what you're wearing is matching? Or that your hair is done with some gel? I'm not saying go out and get highlights or anything like that. Just a little extra care like wearing a nice shirt from Express instead of your Pujols T-shirt can go a long way toward impressing people.

Maybe because it's only my first week in Chesterfield, I just haven't found all the right places to go. But like I said, embrace some of the taboo from the East—just not all of it.