NY Observer article on workwear

Blah, another overanalyzation of clothing.

Making people aware helps with sales. I didn't know "average blue collar" type of guys spend 250+ on denim and $200 on shirts. Isn't work wear supposed to be clothing that doesn't look so great that's MEANT to get all jacked up? Reminds me of the times where people would buy jeans with holes in em.

Robin is correct.
Its so funny to me how people over analyize shit. It's like when Rodney dangerfiled was in 'BACK TO SCHOOL" and had to do a term paper on Kurt Vanghaget (sp) so he hired Kurt and got a "C"
on his paper because the teacher didn't think it was right.( funny movie) the point is its fashion.
People are drawn to certain things and its the americana theme that's in right now.
end of story.

I think that some themes are more popular and more pervasive than others. There are a few masculine themes that sort of pervade menswear: military, workwear, westernwear (really, a form of workwear). But yeah, people are prone to over analysis, and linking the economy to fashion trends is just silly.

It seems to me like a fetishized, hermetically-sealed version of Americana, and the Japanese in particular are known for fetishizing the more superficial elements of American culture, just as self-loathing members of one social class can sometimes fetishize the more superficial elements of another social class.

I'm certainly not suggesting that those are the necessarily the operant motivations of people who dress workwear. If people like the way the clothes look, that's terrific, but I think sometimes people are motivated by a misguided quest for authenticity. I have no problem with appropriating design elements,like military-style pockets on a non-military shirt. Hell, jeans are workwear that have been appropriated into pretty much every other kind of style. Wearing workwear exclusively as a costume, however, really doesn't sit well with me.

i find myself slippin more and more into workwear... whether is henleys, or red wings, western shirts, or luchesse boots, i must admit i really enjoy it.. i think alot of the appeal of workwear is its lack of OVERT pretense and its appeal to masculine values its really just a form of stealth wealth and is suitable for all types of venues and atmospheres at least in the daytime...and i enjoy the timeless appeal.. right now id much rather spend 200 dollars on an overpriced 1930's levis wool buffalo check flannel shirt jacket repro than anything remotely associated with some flash in the pan high end name brand..



but all that being said the only main downside to workwear is none of that style works after 5 or 6 in the evening...


LA GUY i see your point except i think many people would argue that the economy has been bad for longer than reported by the media and so maybe there is an unseen trend that has developed subconciously that makes one want to look good yet in an unpretentios way more acceptable.. i mean how did everyone dress in the 80's i mean im sure the whole cocaine and big business gordon gecko type style pervaded then i think if one truly thinks about it its hard to seperate the economy from any issue its kind of like the weather its one of the few commonalities that everyone shares at the same time... im no expert maybe not...


ever think about the irony or workwear i dont think anything could be more metrosexual lol...

So is "Michael Williams, 29, a partner at a marketing firm who lives in Manhattan but grew up in Cleveland" a SF member?

Yeah, them articles overanalyize fashion! Unlike us, who exactly-right-alyize it.

ghey n00b!

No offense, but I find it funny that the spokesmen associated with *authentic workwear / Americana* are guys from Japan and Montenegro, and considering the prices they are charging lol

I do wear Sugar Canes as I type, but if I wanted something *authentic* - I'd go for vintage Levi's or Wranglers any day. As it is, I wanted something different, which the SC gave me (a distinctive, if garish, python patch and truly amazing fabric)

Not that I'm aware of, but maybe he lurks here. He's the guy behind acontinuouslean.com.

.....

I knew that name sounded familiar.

BTW, let's not get into this whole workwear stealth wealth discussion again in this thread. It's been discussed in several different threads in the past 6 months. Don't know what keywords to search, but something including "Engineered Garments" and "I don't get it" should suffice.