Alan Eardley
One Too Many
- Messages
- 1,500
- Location
- Midlands, UK
I welcome observations on instances of what I call 'fashion shift' - where a style or item of clothing that you have worn for years is taken over by another group, perhaps to your annoyance.
The classic case of this is, of course, denim. It began as US workwear, worn in the depression-era photographs of gritty, weather worn middle aged cowboys and dirt farmers taken by WPA photographers. Now it's the province of teenagers in shopping malls and a UK fashion journalist recently pronounced that 'people over 40 shouldn't wear denim'. When I break out an item from my extensive collection of vintage jeans, one of my work colleagues will inevitably ask, 'Aren't you a bit old to be wearing that?'
Then it was sportswear. Trainers, track suits and hooded sweat tops used to be worn by fit types who need to change frequently - for instance, professional athletes and PE teachers. Now it seems to be worn by people who are anything other than fit and who simply can't be bothered to get dressed.
More recently still, it's trilby hats (narrow brimmed fedoras), waistcoats (vests) and braces (suspenders). I grew up regarding these as a style worn by middle aged or old men - I have worn that style since becoming middle aged, many years ago. Then the likes of Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse's chap started to wear trilbies, David Beckham and Jude Law appeared in waistcoats and teenage girls began wearing braces with their tweed hotpants, and suddenly those are 'young fashion' and people say to me, ''Aren't you a bit old to be wearing that?' Trilby, waistcoat and braces? Too old?
Now it's field boots. I walk my dog every morning before work across rough fields and need to keep my trousers dry and clean. I could wear rubber Wellington boots (see photo of Paddy in 'Outerwear') but I prefer a more vintage solution - the field boot. A derivative of the WW1 British Officers' boot, the style I wear finishes just below the knee and has ankle laces and a stout leather sole. When worn outside slim-fitting trousers I have aways regarded them as the epitome of rugged masculine style, particularly with a hacking jacket. Now, however, the look has been become fashionable among the ladies, and recently people have begun to remark that I am wearing 'girlie boots' to work.
In spite of myself, I can't help but be mildly annoyed by such comments. Does anyone else experience this?
Alan
The classic case of this is, of course, denim. It began as US workwear, worn in the depression-era photographs of gritty, weather worn middle aged cowboys and dirt farmers taken by WPA photographers. Now it's the province of teenagers in shopping malls and a UK fashion journalist recently pronounced that 'people over 40 shouldn't wear denim'. When I break out an item from my extensive collection of vintage jeans, one of my work colleagues will inevitably ask, 'Aren't you a bit old to be wearing that?'
Then it was sportswear. Trainers, track suits and hooded sweat tops used to be worn by fit types who need to change frequently - for instance, professional athletes and PE teachers. Now it seems to be worn by people who are anything other than fit and who simply can't be bothered to get dressed.
More recently still, it's trilby hats (narrow brimmed fedoras), waistcoats (vests) and braces (suspenders). I grew up regarding these as a style worn by middle aged or old men - I have worn that style since becoming middle aged, many years ago. Then the likes of Pete Doherty and Amy Winehouse's chap started to wear trilbies, David Beckham and Jude Law appeared in waistcoats and teenage girls began wearing braces with their tweed hotpants, and suddenly those are 'young fashion' and people say to me, ''Aren't you a bit old to be wearing that?' Trilby, waistcoat and braces? Too old?
Now it's field boots. I walk my dog every morning before work across rough fields and need to keep my trousers dry and clean. I could wear rubber Wellington boots (see photo of Paddy in 'Outerwear') but I prefer a more vintage solution - the field boot. A derivative of the WW1 British Officers' boot, the style I wear finishes just below the knee and has ankle laces and a stout leather sole. When worn outside slim-fitting trousers I have aways regarded them as the epitome of rugged masculine style, particularly with a hacking jacket. Now, however, the look has been become fashionable among the ladies, and recently people have begun to remark that I am wearing 'girlie boots' to work.
In spite of myself, I can't help but be mildly annoyed by such comments. Does anyone else experience this?
Alan
