Costumey?

[Chuck Bobuck]

I wore my black raincoat with Akubra Campdraft during rainy weather and got a "Looks like a Halloween costume" comment from the wife.

 

[metropd]

In SF no one will give that combo a second look even on a sunny day. For many reasons, 1 there is a strong sense of history and tradition regarding men's clothing in SF, 2 People are very open minded about self expression (clothes and art) and 3 the weather of the city. So SF should be fun!

 

[Carlisle Blues]

. Guess what hat/coat combo I'm bringing!

.

My guess

We will all be watching.....[bad] :whistling

 

[kaosharper1]

Especially the shoes!

 

[Midwest Boater]

i love these threads and read them all with great interest.
gtdean48 hits the nail on the head for general purposes.
very concise indeed.
but here's the thing, no mater how comfortable we are in what ever we wear, if the wife or someone else held in that high esteem feels its over the top. is it worth the amount of discomfort they may feel? if its minor and they have good humor about it then sure, other wise not only should their feelings be considered but think of the effect any body language exhibited on their part intentional or not could have on your over all presentation.

 

[SamReu]

The brim, the trench

I am weighing in on this a little late, but cannot help myself.

On my desk is a Stylemaster, dark gray and spattered with December rain. Beside it is a damp Burberry trench. Some colleagues laugh at the combination, but the hat and raincoat work well together in inclement weather. There is a reason men wore the two for decades.

True story: Last year, on a surprisingly warm December afternoon, I stopped at a coffee shop, ordered a short one, and took a seat outside. I kept on my hat and the trench. Guy walking by slowed, then stopped. We eyed each other for a moment.

"Let me guess," he said. "You're either a reporter, or a cop."

"You're right." I answered. And I said no more.

 

[Not-Bogart13]

Based on your writing, I'd guess reporter.

A classic is a classic, even if it falls out of favor for a while.

 

[gtdean48]

...
A classic is a classic, even if it falls out of favor for a while.

PERFECT! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

 

[Tooch]

I wore a khaki trench and a gray fedora (a Dobbs VVL) last week when it was raining. The trench has a zip-out liner, so it's also perfect for days that are cool, but not cold enough for my wool overcoat. It's "dressy" for northern Arizona, but so is wearing a sport coat to the community college graduation ceremony -- or bothering to change out of pajamas before going to the market, for that matter.

Fortunately, my wife loves the trench-and-fedora look.

I did get a "you look like Inspector Gadget" comment from one of my kid's teachers. I answered, "no, I'm just wearing grown-up clothes today."

Frankly, trenches and fedoras became a "look" for a reason -- they coordinate well and they make sense. If you're wearing a suit or a sport coat, you need a long coat of some kind to cover them in cool or inclement weather. A short jacket looks ridiculous with the bottom of a sport coat peeking out. Trenches also giver better wind and rain protection than short jackets.

The next time somebody accuses you of wearing a costume because you dress the way many men have chosen to dress for decades, just tell 'em they're not used to grown-up clothes.

Well ... soften that one up a bit for your wife.

 

[kaosharper1]

The next time somebody accuses you of wearing a costume because you dress the way many men have chosen to dress for decades, just tell 'em they're not used to grown-up clothes.

Well ... soften that one up a bit for your wife.

I think I'd have to. This time I tried my Hoosier, which I thought gave it a less "gangster" look because the ribbon is a bronzy/khaki color. Still no dice, though she accepted that in the rain the hat/trench coat combo was practical. When I'm with her, I think I'll just have to go with something else if its not raining.

 

[AlterEgo]

Sounds to me like this is more of an issue of power than what's appropriate for you to wear.

You quite obviously have a strong and favorable sense of style, yet apparently your wife--like most women in this country--think she possesses some inherent superiority in this domain and therefore has the right to tell you how to dress.

Style sense is entirely learned. While traditional folkways shape women to know more about this area, many men know as much or more, so women have no inborn ability here. Perhaps your wife feels somehow psychologically challenged because you are a man who knows his style stuff, and she is trying to assert hegemony--as I said, a power struggle.

How do you think she would react if you told her something she was wearing was "costumey?" Can she change a spare tire with no assistance?

Clothes and accessories ARE costumes--things we wear that project who we are. On stage, screen, and TV, costumes do that for the characters, and in life clothes do the same thing for individuals, so there's really no difference.

People are prone to stereotyping, so when you get the inevitable Bogart or Inspector Gadget comment, I think the "I'm just dressing like a grown-up" suggestion by the previous poster is an excellent rejoinder, as it says you are an adult and implies that the commenter has an immature, simplex view. I mean, it's not like you're wearing tights with a big "S" on the chest and a cape.

So, you wear what you like, my friend, and when your wife says something critical, just smile and say, "I hear you, honey. Now, would you like my input on what you'll be wearing today?"

That, or dump her and find a woman who shares and/or respects your sense of style and, more importantly, believes in power sharing versus overbearing.

 

[John in Covina]

Marriage has a bit different connotations as the concept of accomodation and service to one another for different people with different upbringing or value systems.

If the wife is genuinely concerned that you should not go out dressed that way it then one should sacrifice their individual wants.

It should be a two way street but there are times when one submits to the other as head of the household or the other sacrifices for the good and harmony of the household.

THen it falls back to education and training to gain the acceptance. To blow off a good marriage over an ensamble of hat/coat may be a bit much, outside of Hollywood.

 

[kaosharper1]

Sounds to me like this is more of an issue of power than what's appropriate for you to wear.

That, or dump her and find a woman who shares and/or respects your sense of style and, more importantly, believes in power sharing versus overbearing.

This may be a little strong considering the issue involved.

 

[carldelo]

...and when your wife says something critical, just smile and say, "I hear you, honey. Now, would you like my input on what you'll be wearing today?"

That one made me laugh out loud - but seriously, you can't possibly be married and write that with a straight face, can you?

 

[Widebrim]

I wore that combo today; most precisely, a US Army pattern green raincoat, and a grey fedora. It was a rainy day, so it was an appropriate choice. This I wore over a grey suit, tie, etc.

Asi' me visto tambien, hermano. Many times during the winter I will bring out my old, green US Army overcoat, and accompany it with a brown fedora. I will also often pull out my current, black Army trenchcoat with belt, along with a grey fedora. I have yet to wear a grey, Soviet Army officers overcoat that I purchased two years ago; it's a bit too slender for even my build...

 

[Widebrim]

Marriage has a bit different connotations as the concept of accomodation and service to one another for different people with different upbringing or value systems.

If the wife is genuinely concerned that you should not go out dressed that way it then one should sacrifice their individual wants.

It should be a two way street but there are times when one submits to the other as head of the household or the other sacrifices for the good and harmony of the household.

THen it falls back to education and training to gain the acceptance. To blow off a good marriage over an ensamble of hat/coat may be a bit much, outside of Hollywood.

I agree with that, John!

 

[Fedora]

These threads are fun, and shows me how squeamish some are about wearing clothing that is no longer what the rest of the monkeys are wearing. (monkey see, monkey do, or the way fashions are transmitted)

Personally, I could care less about what other people think of what I am wearing. Unless, I am dressing up as Spock or something like that. :eusa_doh:

I would not be caught dead in some of the styles of dress worn by men today. What I see around me is an exercise in poor taste. Just because 99 per cent of us wear what in in vogue, doesn't make it look good, as poor taste can be fashionable, as it apparently is, today. Monkey see, monkey do.

I take the attitude that the world is my stage, and I am an actor. And I personally hate everyone looking like they all shop at the same store. For me, variety is the spice of life, and it makes it more intersting to boot.

Mark Twain once said something like this....."Fashion consists of the head monkey in Paris donning certain clothing, and the rest of the world does the same." (not an exact quote) I never understood it. I wear only what I like, and it doesn't matter from what era it came.

Unlike some of the current fashion, the fashion of the vintage era at least exhibited good taste. It also showed a utilatarian-ness of men, at one point in time. What is utalitarian about trousers that hang barely from the hips, showing the under drawers? With the crotch at the knees? Worn with jackets and shirts that denote an athletic team of some sort? I guess the drooping trousers do aid in the cops catching the criminals though. Hard to run fast in trousers like that. lol

If asked about your choice of style, just tell 'em you are not a monkey, and refuse to mimic the others. And unlike most, you don't want to look like a clown, although it is fashionable to do so! Fedora

 

[Brent Hutto]

Well, there is a lot of ground in the middle. It's a long way from coming across as a would-be Humphrey Bogart and dressing like a wanna-be Hip-hop gangsta.

I suspect there are a lot of us who will happily settle for the middle ground...trying to dress in a way that both shows a little style and blends in with the crowd. And keeps our head warm, of course.

 

[Widebrim]

Well, there is a lot of ground in the middle. It's a long way from coming across as a would-be Humphrey Bogart and dressing like a wanna-be Hip-hop gangsta.

I suspect there are a lot of us who will happily settle for the middle ground...trying to dress in a way that both shows a little style and blends in with the crowd. And keeps our head warm, of course.

True. As my ancient Greek ancestors said, "Moderation in everything."