Lately, I have not been handling a lot of clients, and I have just been roaming around town having tea and meeting with chums. Therefore, I haven't really dressed to the nines of late, and for me, my sweatpants are jeans. Perhaps, one might even consider jeans to be the new GTH pants for WASPs. Denim has certainly been visible in many advertising campaigns, which includes Brooks Brothers. As I write this, I can already see the comments from the troll community, but that is okay. They have been at me for four years now, and obviously they have not educated themselves to know they just simply do not bother me. While they are sitting in their basement eating a twinkie, telling me how fat I am, I simply respond by saying eh, whatever. Anyway, enough time wasted on the trolls.
So, here are the details of what I am wearing in the photos:
Jeans - Polo Ralph Lauren
Sport Coats - Herringbone Tweed from Polo, Vintage 3/2 roll sack blazer from Brooks Brothers
Sweater Vest - Cable Knit in Cream from Polo
OCBDs - Pink University Stripe from Polo, Blue from Brooks Brothers
Shoes - Saddle Oxfords from Johnston & Murphy, (not shown) Shell Cordovan Penny Loafers from Alden
33 comments:
In a world where 90% of the people on the street are wearing jeans, it's hard to see how they can be "the new GTH pants for WASPs." Maybe I'm mistaken, but I always thought GTH pants were a way of expressing the particular sense of humor of WASPs, but which struck outsiders as just obnoxious. I don't see how jeans can achieve that effect.
I think what you want to say is that wearing jeans is a way of annoying people who find jeans inappropriate. Ok, go for it if that's what you want to do. But I think that if you're spending your days "roaming around town having tea," rather than working in the city, you won't really raise any eyebrows.
But, then, I don't know the particular culture of your town. Maybe jeans make a radical statement there. I also don't know what line of work you're in, so I'm not sure what kind of statement jeans would make to your clients, either.
Great time of year to relax a bit from working. Cool, crisp air. Tasty beers and ciders at the fall festivals. So I say, let the clients hold their horses for a bit. Good to give your arse a break, every now and then.
I suppose I refer to them as GTH pants in the sense that I am wearing most of the necessary components of being dressed up, but then, BAM, he is wearing jeans. Sure, take the jacket off, and no person would give them a second look.
I have worked my arse off this year, thus the slow start to the blog earlier in the year. Honestly, I plan to rest and allow my employees to handle the lighter load for the rest of the year.
I still don't know, Richard. Jeans and a sport coat aren't exactly going to cause a BAM moment in anyone's mind.
Well, that is why I am posing the question. Maybe, the answer is that jeans are not the new GTH pants for WASPs.
Richard, not bashing you, but this subject is old, stale and tired. You've gone over this before, last year in fact. Also, your writing style seems to have changed. Before you seemed; well somewhat honest in your post, but now you seem to be putting on airs, what gives? I leave you alone for one year and this is what you resort to? Come on, I know you can do better.
As for jeans, again WASP that I know wear them all the time.You reside in the NE, so maybe you Yankees don't go for denim, but the thought for me would be laughable. Wear what you will, who cares. Keep up the good work.
Poloist
Personally, I love the casual yet put together look of a sport coat and jeans! You look great Richard!
If your definition of WASP is being a quarter century late for ill-advised trends, then yes.
The saddle shoes are more eyebrow raising and unexpected than a ubiquitously bland swathing of denim. As is a pink striped shirt.
Denim is more 'In Hell' than "Go To Hell.'
I've said it before but you refuse to post it. Jeans with a jacket...never. You couldn't get past the front door of most New York or London clubs in that combination. And it's certainly not WASPy. The fact that Brooks sells jeans and J. Press doesn't is a sad commentary on Brooks' continued slip in standing.
As for 'having tea with chums', give me a break.
The entire country is already using jeans to say Go To Hell, but in the wrong way and at wrong times... church, court, dinner, funerals, weddings, the office, etc.
I'd have to agree with those who don't see how jeans could be GTH wear. They lack both the out-of-the-ordinariness and the quirky sense of humor of GTH pants. And, yes, jeans are prominent in advertisements, but hasn't that been the case for decades? So, heck, wear them if you want. Everyone else is dressing-down these days.
(Oh, and I hope this doesn't make me a "troll" in your book. Actually, I don't care. If a man can't take criticism, then he can GTH with or without his pants!)
I think it's a good look. As long as you don't roll up the jeans halfway up your leg and wear brogues without socks, as Brooklyn hipster-poseurs seem to like to do.
Well put Richard. I'm a hefty guy too, and I've learned over the years to let the snickering "trolls" of the world do their thing without letting it get to me.
(Good line about the twinkie! Who knows how fat they are?!?!)
I agree with Poloist. This is a tired topic, and is symptomatic of the recent turn in your blogging. I think you've run out of ideas, having bulled your way through the most superficial levels of "wasp" style. Where's the substance underneath? You buy all these clothes (some of which I like--that's why I started reading your blog), but don't seem to have any "wasp" experiences to go along with your "wasp" duds. Where are the sailing trips? The formal events? Do you ski? Do you ride horses? What do you do, other than order clothes online and get your wife to snap photos of you?
All dressed up with no place to go, it seems.
Agreed with Anonymous 9:54. Moreover, you're very touchy about criticism, Richard. If style-blogging is what you're aspiring to do in WASP 101, you should read the comments that are slung back and forth in other style blogs. It's a real cut-throat, blood-on-the-floor corner of the web. People take style seriously (as they should). If you can't handle the heat, as they say...
I think you're right when you say, "Maybe, the answer is that jeans are not the new GTH pants for WASPs." The point of GTH pants is to be ultra or super WASPy. That means that you have to start with fabric that is accepted as WASPy/Preppy like corduroy, tartan wool or cotton twill. Yes, WASPs wear denim, but it's certainly not WASPy.
I certainly have not run out of content, but rather, jeans have been on my mind of late.
For the most part, I post all comments including comments of criticism. However, I do not post comments calling me fat (which I am not, and if 6'0", 175 1bs is fat, then a small portion of my readers have eating disorders), homosexual, or a transexual.
As I recall, I have shared plenty of stories on this blog.
I agree with Cranky Yankee about the meaning of GTH trousers.
Why not just the sweater and jeans?
Richard's right. He did tell us that story about the $10 hooker. Oh, and about his recent trip to the Cracker Barrel.
But the poster has a point, Richard. Why don't you show us more "Richard in action" posts? (Rather than just telling us what you did that day.) The "Richard in front of the fireplace" shots are all starting to blend together.
Also: transexual? You do have some interesting readers.
Jeans work well with tweed jackets cuz both are classic, coarse, nubbly and heavy. But not too kewl with a tie.
The navy blazer with jeans, however, never really works for anybody over 25.
According to the National Institutes of Health, a six-foot male weighing 175 pounds is on the upper end of the "normal weight" BMI category. Those figures would yield a BMI of 23.7 for Richard. The "normal weight" BMI range is 18.5 to 24.9. At 25.0, the individual is "overweight." In fact, Richard is a full nine pounds away from hitting 25.0 BMI and being "overweight."
So there you go, trolls. Scientific evidence that Richard is NOT overweight.
Blogging is a pastime for me, and I honestly don't walk around all day with a camera (besides my phone, but those pictures never turn out well). So, if it is more live action photos you want, I will do my best to provide.
"Jeans have been on my mind of late."
Short story challenge: who can write the best (very) short story using that as the opening or closing line? Bonus points for making Richard a character in the story.
You look like a doofus. No wonder you can't find work.
Richard isn't fat. He just purchases clothes in cuts that don't flatter his physique--all that "slim fit" nonsense. In addition to making him look heavier than he is, it definitely is not "wasp" in any traditional sense.
Below are two comments I would not normally post:
3:52 - Who's blog is this? How do you plan to give out the prize.
9:14 - I own my on business thank you and do quite well.
Again, one time examples of what I don't post.
The second one is mean, but harmless enough. Nothing you should lose sleep over or anything. The first is actually kind of a funny idea (it is an odd sentence). But of course it relies on your good humor to pull it off.
What's the color combo on the saddles? I can't tell from the photo.
Richard, if you are seriously looking for advertisers on your site, and I think you are based on the message on your page about the 2,000 hits a day, etc., then you should be posting every comment that comes your way. Believe me, traffic is traffic and clicks are clicks. They DON'T care if people are poking fun of you or having a laugh as long as hits are up.
I say go back to letting everything fly except for the spam. Your loyal followers will hopefully come to your defense and the trolls will get bored and leave. All the other trad, ivy and preppy blogs have haters too so why get so worked up over it?
I do not believe Richard is fat....take a look at the photos!
6 / 175 is rather thin
I like the clothes and THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH JEANS!!!
I agree with others. the jeans and shirt sweater work better without the tweed jacket, but its fine.
And finally, once again,,,, where did you find those moleskins???
Never was anything wrong with jeans....most of us cannot live without them. However, there is nothing GTH about them.
"Having Tea with chums"....did you actually write that...?
I almost never wear slacks with my sport coats any more. If the occasion calls for dressing up I wear a suit otherwise I wear sport coat and jeans anytime I wanna dress up.
Wait...you're not transsexual? Please do pardon my mistake.
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