Here's my take, being a former Chief:
Yes, unfortunately, "faddish" is an extremely subjective term - and everyone above you in your CoC is going to use their own personal interpretation.
Probably the best description of where the "faddish" line falls is this:
Picture yourself standing in formation at a formal event such as a Change-of-Command ceremony; is the image of you standing there with your glasses, surrounded by ranks of your shipmates, closer to an overall professional image for you and the group? Or is that image closer to you standing way out from the crowd and looking like a goofball?
Unique/unusual doesn't always mean faddish, as long as you still look professional in uniform. And if an individual in the CoC does try to throw the "faddish" flag at you, you can usually win on appeal (to the Dept Head or whoever is next in line above the complainer) as long as you still look professional in uniform. Of course, when you're NOT in uniform, you can be as faddish as you want to be
*.
- Greg
* = Void where prohibited, certain restrictions apply.
