The problem with Michael Williams and those like him is that they have no historical consciousness.  Or put another way, what they mean when they state that something (usually a style) has been gaining ground or has arrived is that their object du jour is now recognized or embraced by some vaguely defined consuming class.

Work wear has never stopped being popular in New England.  Boston has always had enormous segments of the population wearing so-called "authentic articles".  Some wear it for work (South Boston), some wear it because it's relatively cheap and fashionable (young people, collegiate crowds, preppies -- from the 50's through present if the alums and their observations are any indication).  Some wear it because places like Harry the Greek used to sell it for $1 for a pair of used Carhartt's.  I assume the same is true for other parts of the US.  I remember, for instance, Dickies jackets being popular in New York, along the eastern seaboard and on parts of the west coast, not to mention Chicago, in the 80's and 90's.  Then there's the fact that flannel has never really died.  (uh, grunge....).

All these bloggery-type observatons and the media that patronizes them sort of become self-fulfilling prophecies.

Moreover, these half-witted journalists who posit, for the past year and a half, that people are wearing $200 Red Wings and the like, because they want to return to an idea of a foundational, stable, solid ethos based upon substance are performing the worse and most infantile kind of crude materialist logic.  (uh, no pun intended).

Excellent summation by Horace!

I'm sorry, "the Great Depression, when work was plentiful", huh? Maybe it's because I'm working class and midwestern, but the guys in these pictures look like jerks to me. My grandfather and father dressed in denim, flannel, and work boots because it was tough, warm, and affordable, but Saturday it was the best sport shirt, chinos, and loafers Sears offered. Sunday morning it was a navy suit. This sort of thing just pisses me off.

Last edited by Decline & Fall (2009-05-09 08:27:01)

Surely yir man's beard wid constitute a safety hazard if operating a lathe or similar heavy machinery?


The "respectable working class" which wis prevalent  until Thatcher destroyed UK industry in the 80s wis very much of that "good clothes for going out/going to church" ethos.

My da for instance wore overalls all his working days, but wouldnae contemplate going on a night oot withoot a scrub and dressing up.


However those days seem to have long gone.

Tony Parsons summarised it well in his (in)famous "Tattooed Jungle" essay, later adopted for telly.


My da's generation very much saw workwear as just that - clothes ye wore to work.


Have to admit I'm partial to the odd workwear item - especially in winter.

1977 and I'm walking into Alameda from my base at Government Island. I was heading for a barbershop with the most talented barber I've ever met, a stop at a great bookstore and lunch at a kosher deli.I'm wearing my leather flight jacket from Airstation Kodiak.
This 'creature' ran in front of cars from across the street and blocked my way. His nose looked like moldy cheese forgotten in the refridgerator. He wanted to buy my jacket, or go shopping with me where I got it and have some drinks with me.
I received a epiphany  how women feel with an aggressive male. He wouldn't go away even when I explained the jacket was service issue. I'm sitting in the barber's chair and he's sitting in front of me still talking about having drinks. I finally said if he covered my haircut I would, and he was so excited he jumped into the other chair to have his hair 'done just like my new friend.'
I excused myself to the men's room after my barber whispered in my ear on finishing. I went out the back door and left my 'new friend' to pay for my haircut.
My clothing mentor at the time, an older, very genteel gay man later explained leather flight jackets and clipped moustaches were all the rage with younger gays.
So off came my jacket  followed by my clipped, military regulation moustache. I felt a very deep resentment, and imagine any distinct group of men with iconic clothing may too.

Last edited by Chris Kavanaugh (2009-05-09 14:14:18)

Great names being dropped there. I'm with you. THIS is the insight that ACL needs to count.

Thank you Scarlet (and Russell) - I've been enjoying many of the contributions from the very beginning.

By the way, Russell, did you ever get a direct line to Michael Cuscuna?

The Chronicle is firing half of it's staff anyhow... I'm sure they'll take any contributions for low pay about now.