Dale hasn't been around to see how styles have changed. Plaids and stripes, and plaids and plaids "work" now although they didn't work in the '70s. But, I still find myself judging pattern combinations by her standards. On my way home today from an autumn fair, I saw a combination that Dale most certainly wouldn't have approved of. At first it made me shudder just a little. I walked behind the guy for about five minutes and realized the combination had started to grow on me — "like mold," I could hear Dale saying — so I slowed down and let the moment pass. It was less a moment of inspiration and more a moment of nausea. Nope, you still won't catch me wearing a combination like that. But, I hope it makes him happy.
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| MAYBE THE TWO FRIENDS SHOULD HAVE COORDINATED THEIR OUTFITS. |
When I was 22 (and knew what I was doing), I bought a patchwork shirt at Saks. While writing this, I remembered a photo of me in that shirt. I had a good friend who was Italian and owned a marble exporting company based in Carrara, Italy, where I worked here and there (barely) as a way to pass the time. No pay, but a very nice life. The marble was quarried in the mountains above the Italian Riviera where Michelangelo got his marble. That summer (of the patchwork shirt), my friend and I went up to the quarries one day. I watched as she selected where she wanted them to cut. Sorry you can't see the shirt clearly. Apparently my friend's assistant didn't think my shirt was all that important.
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| SUMMER OF '76. THE SAME PATCHWORK PLAID SHIRT, I'M SURE, THAT MICHELANGELO WORE. |
Are you sure they're shorts Mitch and he hasn't just wrapped a tablecloth around his waist. Maybe he had 'an accident'?
ReplyDeleteChris:
DeleteYes, he had a fashion accident!
In Michelanelo's time plaids were still woven and nowadays they're mostly prints.
ReplyDeleteThe plaid shirt on the top shouldn't been worn with a plaid bermuda, it looks cheap.
Peter:
DeleteI knew the fashion expert would have his say! But he looked very comfortable and happy. I just wish his friend had worn "capri pants" with a vertical stripe.
Style is what you can make work and someone else can't. There isn't any logic to it. I have no style at all when it comes to fashion.
ReplyDeleteStephen:
DeleteIt's true (the style part; I have no idea about your fashion sense). Confidence in your selection goes a long way in making something look good.
You've got to allow Jim to show you a picture of his plaid pants....no friggin' way...not over my plaid dead body!
ReplyDeleteRon:
DeleteOK. Now I'm really curious about those plaid pants!
Oh he, Ron, is so brave to even mention those pants!! lol Don't get me started!!
ReplyDeleteMaybe, just maybe, the 'two friends' are straight or they know John Gray really well!!!! I am SO DEAD!
Jim:
DeleteI want to see those pants!!! As for those guys being straight, I didn't think so. Besides, I see plenty of gay guys around town wearing combinations I wouldn't have worn 40 years ago (and wouldn't wear now).
I'll leave John Gray to defend himself... or maybe he'll just agree.
Is that Josephine with you in Carrara?
ReplyDeleteI love your posts - don't always have the time to comment these days as work is #?$+_@*)(*@, but I do read them!
Carole:
Delete...Any similarities to actual persons... etc... are simply a coincidence...
Sorry about work. Just retire and live by the seats of your pants like we did!
I think the first photo just proves her point! That does not work … even a fashion challenged person like myself can see that!
ReplyDeleteJenners:
DeleteOh, I don't know... The more I look at it, the more I like it... on someone else.
Plaid on Plain has dipped in and out of trend in the last number of years, I was going to make fun of this guys choice of P on P, but then I read Victor's comment and I thought it best I kept it to myself.
ReplyDeleteT
Mind of Mine:
DeleteI'm glad Victor inspired you to be kinder! Those plaids are not for everyone, but that guy clearly like them... or he's like my father, who cared so little for what he put together that anything was just fine with him! Either way, he's wearing it, not us!
I see that combination and "those" shorts all the time here in France. It must be some kind of fad or trend at the moment. If I dared to try it, I'd look like a walking tablecloth.
ReplyDeleteAnd, for the record, I can't pull off the other look, either. That is, below the knee cargo shorts. My legs are too short; they hit just below my ankles (only exaggerating a little). Cargo shorts make me look like someone from the renaissance wearing "puffy" pants.
DeleteSorry, I meant "just above my ankles." Shouldn't comment before the first cuppa.
DeleteWalt the Fourth:
DeleteI DO see "vertically challenged" people here wearing just what you describe and, I agree, they do end up looking like those Renaissance pants! Even worse is when they have the pants dragging down below their butts in the first place. As for me, I'm the solids/separates type and I'm not a big fan for myself of long cargo shorts/capri pants/clamdiggers/pedal pushers!
Hello Mitch:
ReplyDeleteGenerally speaking we are not faced with this dilemma as we seldom, if ever, wear anything patterned and avoid tartan.
However, in interior decoration we really do favour pattern on pattern.
Jane and Lance:
DeleteI can be much bolder in colors and patterns in interiors, as well. As for my exterior: I have a hard enough time straying from black and gray. Patterns are rare.
Victor:
ReplyDeleteIf someone on the street chooses a combination that's not to my taste, I may groan a little or look at San Geraldo, but that's they're very personal choice. If a designer puts it together and tells us it's "good," I figure I have a right to say "no, it's not." So, as for that blazer and shirt combination: Blech! That's awful! What were they thinking?!?
Thanks for thinking so highly of me! I figure these are personal choices. To be honest, I have a hard time looking at that shorts and shirt combination for long, but that's my own personal taste. If he likes it, more power to him. However, it DOES make for a fun picture and the more I looked at it, the more I wished (as I mentioned in the previous comment) that his friend had been wearing shorts with a vertical stripe. That would have been GREAT!
I haven't always been so kind and respectful. I was one of those who would have made slightly snotty comments in the background. It came from insecurity and wanting to fit in with the other clever nasties. I've, thankfully, outgrown that. I have a nephew (24 years my junior) who is so incredibly kind all the time (and still unbelievably funny and quick-witted); he inspires me unintentionally to be a better person. And sometimes he even succeeds!
I don't wear horizontal stripes,tartan - even Cornish tartan which is mostly yellow, but I do like small patterned fabric i.e ditsy flowery ones, swallows small repeated white on navy. The guy with the matching shirt and shorts is not a good look did't see that much here as we had no summer here this year.
ReplyDeleteI love stripes, prefer horizontal, but never seem to find what I want; so, mostly solids. No ditsy flowers for me!
DeleteWell, I found the photo of you in bell-bottoms more interesting.... or are those "boot cut"? I'd be the last person to qualify as the "fashion police"... I'm never up with the latest... but I do like seeing what other people wear.... even if it's stripes with plaids.
ReplyDeleteOdd Essay:
DeleteThose were definitely bell bottoms, 29 waist, 36 length. My favorite ones were those that covered my shoes completely.
Sexy in that shirt...love the bellbottoms!
ReplyDeleteFrank:
DeleteOdd how certain items of clothing bring back such strong and good memories for me. That shirt was one of those. I can even remember the shoes I wore that day.
Sooo cute! Look at you in your fashionable shirt and those sexy bellbottoms!
ReplyDeleteI knew a Cajun (really) for the briefest amount of time :-) back in the early 80s who wore pants like that. Oh, my. I'm in MN and he's in FL, but hot damn, thanks for reminding me of him...
Wonder if he's single...
Pearl
Oh, Pearl, I'm sure that Cajun has been saving himself for your return. Here's hoping he's changed his pants!
DeleteHis look was too "matchy plaidy" it needs some different coloring to be a Wow.
ReplyDeleteI mix plaids all the time, and, even though I never met her, i think Dale might approve.
Bob:
DeleteIt fascinates me how used to his combination I have become. But, I'm sure Dale would agree with you and would approve of your combinations.
I don't wear plaid, but I love it and use it in patchwork. I'm old-fashioned and think the guy on the left would have looked so much better with a dark blue knit shirt......
ReplyDeleteKristi:
DeleteI'm not at all old-fashioned, but although I like patterned shorts on others, I would have gone with a pair of black shorts with that shirt. I'm enjoying the fact that he doesn't care what we think... well, that he doesn't have a clue he's famous. Too bad he didn't go with plaid sneakers and color socks!
They were probably tourists and that shirt and shorts were all he had left in his suitcase that were clean. At least, I hope he had a good excuse!
ReplyDeleteMs. Sparrow:
DeleteThey were definitely tourists and, I'm assuming, not Spaniards. But I hope he simply liked his selection. More power to him!
Mitch,
ReplyDeleteDale was correct and left you with some sound advice, plaids and paids, NO Mitch, NO!
Di
xxxx
YONKS:
DeleteWell, I have to admit, I've done a plaid scarf in winter with a plaid jacket, but much more subtle. So, no I could never do what the guy in the picture did. But good for him for doing what he wants... although I couldn't look long in his direction!
These are wonderful pictures!
ReplyDeleteKisatrtle:
DeleteThink how much better that outfit would look with a hairnet!
I enjoyed reading post and the comments. I agree with you about plaid on plaid. There are times it appears to be in fashion but I have never been condifent enough to wear it even when it is.
ReplyDeleteI liked Victor's comments too. For a while I would see links to People of Walmart. What the people were wearing was beyond inappropriate for any number of reasons but the posts always make me uncomfortable because they are so mean-spirited.
Harper's Keeper:
DeleteVictor is definitely an inspiration. Like you, I had that same experience of "People of Walmart"; the first picture I saw I found funny, but the more I looked, the more mean-spirited I found it to be. No thanks!
Gotta say it - plaid shorts guy has nice legs. :)
ReplyDeleteYou've reminded me that my big sister tried to teach me about what to wear, too. I wasn't a very good pupil.
Judith:
DeleteSo glad you commented on the legs! I thought he filled out those plaids quite well, too!