the rix mix

Last week on the PATH I was again reminded that I dress like a skateboard kid, which is where I started out in the 1960s. There were 3 friendly adolescent skateboard guys, 17 or 18 years old. They were all thin, wore old jeans, worn black sneaks, baggy teeshirts with something printed on front (one kid had Pink Floyd Dark Side, still Amazon.com top 200), & funky caps. I was wearing old loose jeans I was told were formerly owned by comic Rich Vos, black K Mart sneaks, a baggy black WFMU tee, & a well-made blue "captiv8" baseball cap I got brand new in a rummage shop for a buck. The skates changed to the 33rd St. train, urban adventurers. I envied them.

Occasionally I get an urge to totally flip & buy my wardrobe from Haband, the incomparable catalogue of cotton-polyester clothing, better generally for menswear than women("Bend Over Blazer"?). I know a guy who wears Haband, he doesn't enjoy shopping & so he's made the style part of his "old man" image, although he's hardly past 40. He's also a big man, his waistline probably changes weekly & the Haband "stretch" features accomodate the ups & downs. So if I made the Haband Makeover, here's what I'd get this week:
A couple of knit guayabera shirts (with a cheap shell necklace, great for boardwalking) & a few seersuckers, timeless alternative to this year's madras.
A watermelon blazer.
Microfiber field coat with "magic cling" pockets.
& the most must-have apparel, a wash & wear "Nano-Tex" suit; 2 actually, black & sand fancy, wish I'd had this outfit when I used to attend Christmas Eve service at my sister's church up in a section of Jersey where they prefer Land's End & Pendleton (Tipoff I'm not a true Habander is I want the Rainforest Washable Silk Shirt @ $74.00).
Add a pair of black dress loafers for 24.99
& reversible belts & the transformation is nearly complete, until I look over the closeout items. I haven't even chosen a full wardrobe, no undies, jammies, or golf shirts. I'm just a dabbler.

Labels: culture, shopping