July 31, 2007: The Man in the North Face Flannel Suit

I am on the Bainbridge Island Ferry, making my way into Seattle from Bainbridge. It's eight a. m. and I was told I would be on the ferry "with all the lawyers." But looking round, there don't seem to be a lot of barristers on board - or they're all traveling incognito. I'm headed for a law office myself and I appear to be the only guy in a jacket on the vessel, although I'm not wearing a tie. (Wearing a tie is kind of like playing dress-up to me, having spent most of my life in LA. I have a closet full of outdated Armanis.) The fashion statement hereabouts is obviously made by the proper gear from North Face, REI and Patagonia, et al. Nothing wrong with that - especially if you're thinking longevity. But the price of this sportif fashion isn't a lot less than the Versaces, etc. of the East Coast and Europe. It's just Grunge Chic.

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Roger,

It looks like you've encountered the "adventure gap" described by David Brooks in "Bobos In Paradise:"

"The hiking boots that were designed for the Andes spend most of ther time in the farmer's market. The top-of-the-line fleece outergarments are used for nothing more strenuous than traversing the refrigerated aisle in the Safeway."

Posted by: Pygmy Twylyte at July 31, 2007 10:41 AM

It could be that as we define deviancy down (See Moynihan) so does our manner of dress.
Thanks to 'global warming' and naked capitalism the need to cover up has never meant so little

See internet ;)

Posted by: Lem at July 31, 2007 2:07 PM

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