Over the years I’ve had long drinks, long hair, long weekends, long waits and Long Ryders records but one thing I’ve sadly never had, nor am I ever likely to have, is
L L
O E
N G
G S
That’s why it surprised me the other day when I tried on
some new jeans I’d bought mail order, 'Regular' in length, which is normally plenty, to then
find they barely reach my ankles. I
think it’s a thing now - having trousers a bit on the short side. I mean I reckon they're making them shorter deliberately to suit a fashion trend as, if anything, I'm shrinking too. I once heard that 'sock porn' is a thing as well, where
you expose the naughtiest glimpse of sock – a flash, if you like - as a tantalising interface between shoe cuff and trouser hem.
But showing just the right amount of sock is an art,
apparently. Your socks should be cheekily revealed when you walk and sit down, but not when you’re standing. I know.
Who makes this stuff up?!
The art of showing your socks in 1976.
Can you tell what the album is?
Arctic Monkeys: Knee Socks
Is sock porn a thing? Really? Is it like the Victorian ankle? Surely socks have to be the least sexy item of clothing after the nose ring... oops, thee I go sounding like a grumpy old man again.
ReplyDeleteAnd don't even start me on tattoos!
If it was it could give a whole new meaning to phrases like "blow your socks off" and "put a sock in it" but I think it's just a fashion industry marketing exercise, giving the poor old under-rated sock a bit of the limelight. I don't mind that - I'm a bit of a sock fan, although perhaps only when it comes to my own, and when they're freshly washed...
DeleteI HATE nose-rings. And lip rings. And those of us who don't have any tattoos are probably in the weirdo minority now. That's fine with me too.
With you both on nose-rings and tattoos. Curmudgeons 'R' us. Hate that 'R' thing too.
DeleteMy Daughters who are both in their early 20's don't have any piercings ( not even their ears!) and no tattoos......maybe the tide of fashion is turning ?
DeleteI only have ear piercings ( I do love an earring!)
Yes, 'Curmudgeons R Us', a new store opening near you now! The 'R' is the right way round though, that's how curmudgeonly we are - like the wearing of baseball caps, they should never be backwards.
DeleteAh, perhaps the tide IS turning? once things that were unusual become usual, then what was once usual becomes unusual... (The only piercings I had were in my ears too, but I can't wear earrings now, they get sore!)
This is really weird timing as only yesterday I braved the shops in order to buy a new pair of jeans - SO many styles to choose from but in the end I plumped for Top Shop's Orson high waisters. They fitted like a glove but to me seemed really short - I asked the assistant if that was how they should look and sure enough she went through her iPad showing me the pictures of the models wearing them with all sorts of boots and shoes with just a glimpse of sock. Not sure if I'm ready for this brave new world but DD seems to look good in hers so will give it a go. The last time I wore jeans like these was when I was going through a bit of a Bananarama phase and that wasn't yesterday. Just realised that the post I shared earlier today was all about how our jeans suddenly changed in style 40 years ago and here we go again - Nothing ever changes!
ReplyDeleteHow funny, yes we've probably both been wearing our new jeans and contemplating the new length (or lack of it) simultaneously!
DeleteIndeed, the cut of our jeans has been very much at the heart of style for some time now. The weird thing is now being old enough to have witnessed the same changes (and how many changes... from flares to straights, straights to flares, long, short, skinny, turn-ups, torn, stone-washed, bootcut...my god so many!) more than once....aargh...!
You know what, after much experimentation with different kinds of footwear, I've decided that these new-fangled short jeans only look good with summer shoes like sandals or lace up pumps. If I tried them out with boots/socks they just didn't work - Still love them but they are being kept now for next summer. The hunt continues for winter trousers - Any recommendations gratefully received!
DeleteAlso, speaking of tattoos, my daughter has none either but the now ex-boyfriend did have a fair few before they parted company. The new boyfriends has none - Coincidence? I think not.
DeleteOh no what a dilemma about the jeans! I know what you mean. Mine are dark indigo so I've taken to wearing mine with black socks and my black creepers and it kind of all blends into one, so the length isn't so obvious. Then the other day I found if I wore them without a belt they seemed longer (because they'd slipped down my hips a bit - I wore a long jumper so it didn't matter!) and I was actually able to give them a small turn-up and wear them with boots, making a bit of a feature of them being shorter. I've no idea if that looks good or not but it felt okay. Otherwise yes - will be good to wear with sandals in Summer and I think I might opt for Long rather than Regular for the next purchase!
DeleteSounds like a good look - I obviously should have gone for the indigo as opposed to the blue. Then again I maybe shouldn't have gone to Top Shop but I'm not quite ready for those elasticated waist jeans as advertised in certain ladies magazines quite yet!
DeleteI seem to recall a time in the 70's (maybe about '72?) when my trousers were, I think deliberately, hanging way too far above my ankles. On the other hand, perhaps my mum just convinced me that was the fashion to get a few more months out of them! I shudder to think now. Getting trousers that are *just* the right length is a constant problem for me: I'm definitely a 'regular' but that doesn't seem to mean much these days - they are either waaaay too long, funnily enough, or showing off just TOO much of the old socks. I totally hate either option. Having said that, too much sock must be a far better option that the ghastly NO SOCK deal. Oh my.
ReplyDeleteI also remember wearing wide flares whose hems dragged on the ground, they used to get filthy, so perhaps the shorter cut is the better option.
DeleteBut oh yes, the NO SOCK thing - it's an awful look, especially on men. Who sold them that idea - Wartner?
At 6½ feet tall, you can imagine the fun I've had in my lifetime trying to get trousers to fit. My general rule of thumb is, if I find trousers that fit - buy two pairs.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of socks, I always remember the time when Mum made a bit of a washing faux pas, leaving me having to wear blatantly odd socks to school for one day. 'What I say if someone notices?' I asked. 'Say you've got another pair like them at home' came Mum's witty reply.
A wise move to buy two of a good fit, definitely!
DeleteLove your mum's brilliant reply re. the socks. Mr SDS has got into the habit of wearing what he fondly calls 'mis-matched' socks. Not odd, just mis-matched. E.g. same pattern, but different colour, so they kind of go together without being the same. It saves all the bother of pairing them up in the drawer too.