Comments on: Bring uncomfortable back?

By: Michael Blaine

Michael Blaine — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 03:03:31 +0000

On a topic quite a bit more serious than flip-flops and guayaberas, mainstream syndicated columnist Paul Craig Roberts claims Pres. Bush may very well suspend federal elections in ’08:

http://www.creators.com/opinion/paul-craig-roberts/the-reign-of-tyrants-is-at-hand.html

“[I]t is a scenario that would explain the Bush regime’s disinterest in the shrinking Republican vote that foretells a massive Republican wipeout in the 2008 election. In a declared national emergency, there would be no election.”

I find the scenario almost beyond belief, but then a lot of things that have actually happened since ’01 I would have thought impossible.

Michael Blaine
http://www.rudelystamped.blogspot.com

By: Michael Blaine

Michael Blaine — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 02:18:15 +0000

Men who wear suits during summer in DC are masochists; bosses who insist they do so are sadists. It’s fashion S&M.

Throughout the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean, men wear a smart “guayabera” as formal dress: it looks smart, and is extremely comfortable.

Bring it on!

Michael Blaine
http://www.rudelystamped.blogspot.com

By: Janet

Janet — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 00:17:16 +0000

Podiatrists everywhere are cringing! I can hear mine now: If you must wear open-toed sandals, please avoid flip-flops and invest in a good pair of Birkenstocks.

Oh, I know. They’re not as cute, but they will save you from getting a nasty little foot ailment called ‘plantar fasciitis’ which can be incredibly painful and can take 9 – 12 months to remedy. According to my podiatrist, it use to only afflict runners and the elderly, but they’re seeing more and younger patients with this ailment as a result of flat-soled shoes and flip-flops.

I’m all for comfort, but once you’ve had p.f., you’ll wish you’d worn something with some arch support. Birks are a bit pricey and sort of dorky looking, but the cost is worth it when you compare it to the cost of doctor’s visits and orthotics. (And once you have orthotics, you’re pretty much limited to close-toed shoes. Boo.)

Just my two cents.

By: Top Posts « WordPress.com

Top Posts « WordPress.com — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 23:59:42 +0000

[...] Bring uncomfortable back? I happened upon a post in one of my new favorite D.C. blogs, The D.C. Sidewalks Blog about the ubiquity of women […] [...]

By: Ariana

Ariana — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 19:04:21 +0000

Right on… I vowed during my junior year of high school to never work at a job where I couldn’t wear flipflops. Since then I’ve decided to capitulate to demands for non-rubber flipflops, but I’m about to graduate from college, have never gone more than a month without working, and have yet to wear anything but flipflops to the office in the summer. I don’t understand how people can consider comfortable clothing offensive – we’ve all got toes. Whenever I come across somebody who gives my feet or my bare arms a disapproving look, I just give their giant sweat stains a pointed look and smirk.

By: elainemeyer

elainemeyer — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:21:11 +0000

Chris, I don’t really see what is wrong with casual, and I don’t think our predecessors had it right on fashion. I also think people tend to confuse casual with sweats and ratty t-shirt. In San Francisco, people were incredbily casual but equally stylish. I think that’s more interesting and practical than power suits in 95 degree weather. I don’t like the idea of idealizing the past for no reason, or worse a bad reason.

Thanks for that article, Capt. Jack. Saving energy by encouraging casual dress is a great idea and what I believe hm was suggesting as well. My office’s A/C is not so bad, but the cafeteria here is freezing; and the A/C at most other offices I’ve worked at over the summer is ridiculously high.

By: Capt. Jack Sparrow

Capt. Jack Sparrow — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 17:12:46 +0000

I like your post–especially how you gave examples of people across the world dressing appropriately for their given climate. I’ve lived in the D.C. area all my life and it has always puzzled me how conservatively we are encouraged to dress. Wearing a suit in the summer here can be downright sickening. My current job allows us to wear casual clothing, and saves on its energy use by doing so. (If we have a business meeting and need to dress more conservatively for that, we do.)

Japan and parts of Canada have relaxed their dress codes in order to save energy. Story about Japan here:
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2005/06/japanese_bureau.php

By: ejtakeslife

ejtakeslife — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:33:53 +0000

I would suggest a modest proposal that until a man walks four DC blocks in 100 degree weather while wearing leather stilettos over bare skin, he not comment on a womans choice of shoes. Likewise, I would encourage other women to refrain from judging men in short sleeve dress shirts during the summer. I agree it’s not the best look, but it’s hot in herrr, friends. We all make sacrifices.

By: reuben

reuben — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 13:31:07 +0000

next time you have a free moment or two, take the time to count the number of folks in flip flops… if i had a dollar for each one… well…..
i dont know. i think its overdone, like so much is in the us of a.

By: Chris Grodecki

Chris Grodecki — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 02:44:04 +0000

As long as bad politician hair remains, so will the formalities of DC fashion. As I waited 30 minutes for a bus this afternoon, I wondered to myself what possessed the Founders to establish this place as the national capital, especially considering the heavy nature of the dress back then. Then I remembered, 1) they were at the end of the Mini Ice Age and 2) I’m fairly certain they would have spent their summers not in DC or any city to begin with if they could help it. All I can say is, we have let casual go to far, and not just at work. Our lives are so comfortable to begin with; are we really so wussy as to not be able to stand a little heat??? I would admit, yes (and I include myself).