Men's Winter Collection - Angola 1924 2014
Don't know what it is about women and clothes. Not just clothes, it's shoes, handbags, telephones; they need so many. Marcia will wear three different outfits a day. I know because I do the laundry. Two days of her clothes will leave only just enough space on the washing line for a set each of shirt, shorts and grundies for Alex and I.
I tend to buy clothes of good quality, working on the principle that quality provides better value for money. I have shoes and boots I bought in 1984, suits of the same year and even two pairs of shoes and a suit which belonged to my father so God knows how old they are. More often than not, my motive for lashing out on new clothes is not because the old ones are worn out, but that I have put on weight. I was a thirty two waist for most of my adult life but as soon as I hit fifty, the inches crept on and I hit thirty six. Refusing to accept this sorry state of affairs, I soldiered on, fighting my way into trousers and spending the whole time wearing them with chronic indigestion and looking like a sack of potatoes tied in the middle. I gave in to the inevitable when invited to a wedding last year and coughed up for a new suit whereupon I immediately began to lose weight, I am now back down to a thirty four waist (although I still have an albeit reducing paunch). I am confident of losing yet more weight but in the meantime, I am between sizes and nothing fits.
I expect losing these last two inches to be the hardest so really need a new outfit for the interim. Naturally, I want whatever I invest in to continue to serve the soon to be svelte me. I decided to turn to the Gentlemen's Guide to Casual Wear in the Tropics for head to toe inspiration:
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| One of these (note cut brim, not stitched; only pimps, wogs and popstars wear hats with a stitched brim) |
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| Half a dozen of these... |
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| Three pairs of these (note adjustable waist) |
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| Two pairs of these (same detail) |
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| Two pairs of these; a day to day pair and a 'best' pair for Church Parade |
Phew! I am bloody exhausted! I hate shopping but at least it is over and done with for the next few years.
Will you eventually model for us? I especially like the hat.
ReplyDeleteAs soon as the kit arrives from London, I'll give you a twirl! The hat is the Chepstow from Lock & Co.
DeleteI usually buy one of something, then if it fits and feels OK, I go back for another dozen. Unfortunately people tend to imagine that I'm wearing the same clothes month in month out, but it's just that they all look the same. When I was stockbroking, my bowler came from Lock's, and bloody expensive it was too!
ReplyDeleteAh but Lock's hats are good, aren't they. I never wore one out, I either left them in trains or taxis or they were stolen! The hat costs the same as the half dozen shirts...
DeleteI haven't the luxury of even a first visit, I have to hope the stuff fits when it is hand carried out here. Fortunately, loaf and plate sizes have been constant since adulthood.
There is nothing wrong with wearing the same clothes for months on end. Changing or bathing just confuses the dogs.
So does the scathing condemnation of stitched brims also apply to hats from Australia? 'cause my son has one (a gift from a world-traveling aunt) and I borrow it every time I catch a glimpse of it.....
ReplyDeleteIt applies only to hats worn by gentlemen. I suspect your son's good taste and manners preclude him mentioning this, especially as it was a present from a dear aunt and is probably why he is comfortable with you wearing it, On the other hand, the definition of a Gentleman is one who does whatever the hell he likes so long as it does not cause offence. Since wearing a hat with a stitched brim is unlikely to cause offence, your son is a gentleman merely exercising his right to wear a hat with a stitched brim and at the same time please his aunt. Sounds like a thoroughly decent chap to me.
DeleteAs a kid I always wore the Clarks desert boot like you show there, or the locally manufactured copy in Venezuela. Regrettably wearing them in Maine will mean you always have wet feet as they are miserable in anything but the driest of environments. Around here the working stiff's clothes are made by Carhartts. http://www.carhartt.com The "work dungaree" preferably the double front variety. As they have become a bit of a fashion statement they have become rather pricey. Given that I usually kill a pair of work pants in under a year with paint tar or tears, I stick to the Walmart bought Dickies version (relaxed carpenter pant) of the same thing for half the price.
ReplyDeleteAs kids we ran around in bare feet. Since my brother and I were about the same size, we would share a pair of my father's old dungarees, a leg each. Me and my brother went everywhere together in those dungarees. Memories....
DeleteIndiana jones eat your heart out!
ReplyDeleteI had a long chat with Harrison Ford when he was filming Mosquito Coast in Belize. Nice bloke, crap film.
DeleteI like the look of the adjustable waistline, that is a very useful feature that I've never encountered in women's clothing, more's the pity.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you fancy the shorts and trousers, they are 1960's British Army issue 100% heavy duty cotton and come with a button fly. They are extremely comfortable and very hard wearing. The cut is generous enough for you to be able to go berserk inside them and no one would notice.
Deletenot a fan of shopping. I find it depressing. Although when buying more sheep drench in the Cirencester countrywide farmer shop yesterday, I nearly bought a bag. there in the middle of all the feed and castration equipment are 2 aisles of clothing, from boiler suits to barbour jackets. I need never go to normal shops again. Ive even decided to use cattle drinking troughs as raised beds. cheaper than building with wood and wont rot if we get flooded. could tip the dirt out and use it as a canoe.
ReplyDeleteSo did you actually go to the shop or order online?
I bet you look rather fetching in a boiler suit with a Barbour jacket casually draped over the seat of your convertible Massey Ferguson!
DeleteI normally hate shopping but let me loose in a UK farmer's shop and you would see a man possessed!
I am in Angola so I have to let my brother in Germany know what I want, he collates the order and then we figure out a way to get it to me. It usually takes months.
had cow snot in my hair yesterday. I looked lush! lol I cant wait for my cousin to come back. Stupidly we said you deserve a weekend away, they haven't been on holiday since the end of the 90's. Worst 5 days of my life, trotting around a field collecting sheep poop for the vet and then having to worm. Let alone the cows. I am glad the boys came to milk. I helped clean out. But sheep are my worst night mare. there are weird. I couldn't get the tractor to start so I used the john deere. people laugh when you tell them you learnt to drive in a tractor.
DeleteI only went there as I am not the able to order on their account, it was farm porn I tell you. you could look at their website and see if you can order stuff there or even amazon. Yep just checked you can get a sheep drench syringe on amazon. lol
its like riding a bike, farming comes back to you. sheep are evil and stink,
While between sizes may I suggest a cotton kaftan and a pair of baggy cheesecloth trousers with an elasticated waistband - I think plum, mauve or orange would suit you best. Also why not get up to date with a stylish manbag - in which to carry manly things like a hanky, your electronic cigarette and refills, a penknife, the "Observer" book of Angolan snakes and a copy of "The Times". After all, this is 2014 and not 1914 old chap!
ReplyDeleteEveryone would assume that I had gone native. Bad form to go native. Already raised a few eyebrows by taking on a native Memsahib.
DeleteAt least you don't have to worry about colour-coordination! The sensible desert boots should deter any snake lurking in your grounds at night and waiting to pounce on your toes!
ReplyDeleteAt least I should be able to run faster!
DeleteDid you model the trousers, with the body cut away? And were you doing the hokey cokey at the time? Inquiring minds need to know.
ReplyDeleteNo, that is how hard wearing and heavy the cloth. Murder on the old meat and two veg if you hitch 'em up too high...
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