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NY Times Style section, still trying to be relevant
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Thanks, what a great piece. Allow me to throw something into this - - shorts have nothing to do with keeping cool. Being cool? That's another story. Keeping cool has always had everything to do with three factors: Cloth. Moisture. Wind.
The Army, in the late 19th C discovered (Arizona was the place), that when soldiers erected a canvas shelter half to block the sun... when the half was doused with water and a nice breeze was going, it cooled what was on the other side (soldiers).
Canvas holds moisture a long time before drying out. In those early days canvas would hang in the open windows of homes and at night (those with the means would pay) boys who would come by and splash water on the canvas to keep it wet. A breeze would flow through the damp canvas and keep the rooms cool.
Same thing with clothing. Linen, when damp with sweat cools the body. No damp linen and the cooling capability is lost. It works. As a national park ranger forced to wear 18th C "living history" costumes ( Wool great coat with linen blouse and breeches) I experienced this air conditioning first hand. It is very comfortable (as long as there's a breeze).
Bare skin exposed to the sun has nothing to keep it cool. Instead, it just burns.
www.thetrad.blogspot.com
The Army, in the late 19th C discovered (Arizona was the place), that when soldiers erected a canvas shelter half to block the sun... when the half was doused with water and a nice breeze was going, it cooled what was on the other side (soldiers).
Canvas holds moisture a long time before drying out. In those early days canvas would hang in the open windows of homes and at night (those with the means would pay) boys who would come by and splash water on the canvas to keep it wet. A breeze would flow through the damp canvas and keep the rooms cool.
Same thing with clothing. Linen, when damp with sweat cools the body. No damp linen and the cooling capability is lost. It works. As a national park ranger forced to wear 18th C "living history" costumes ( Wool great coat with linen blouse and breeches) I experienced this air conditioning first hand. It is very comfortable (as long as there's a breeze).
Bare skin exposed to the sun has nothing to keep it cool. Instead, it just burns.
www.thetrad.blogspot.com
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It's certainly true that the best way to stay cool under intense sunlight is to cover up, especially if you can moisten your clothing. However, there are many situations in which it is ambient temperature, rather than sunlight, that is most significant. As much as I detest shorts from a style perspective, they do sometimes serve a purpose.
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While I've always worn shorts for hiking, cycling and sports in the summer, I just can't see walking into the office in shorts.
Consider this quote:
And so there was Mr. Gross taking a break at Bryant Park, nattily attired in a black polo shirt from Target, a pair of sandy-colored camouflage shorts he bought in a shop in a subway arcade and a Panama topper from Arnold Hatters.
“I travel to and fro in shorts,” said Mr. Gross, who also wears his short pants to the ballet and the opera. “No one has ever spoken to me about it. ....”
Camouflage shorts at work. Shorts at the opera.
The horror of it.
The raving idiocy of casual Fridays has finally destroyed our civilization. Can human sacrifice and cannibalism be that far away?
Well, the day that we all wear shorts to work, is the day that we have descended into the depths of degradation. At that point, I'm sure no one will look askance if you barbecue your neighbor's dog or even your neighbor in the back yard.
Consider this quote:
And so there was Mr. Gross taking a break at Bryant Park, nattily attired in a black polo shirt from Target, a pair of sandy-colored camouflage shorts he bought in a shop in a subway arcade and a Panama topper from Arnold Hatters.
“I travel to and fro in shorts,” said Mr. Gross, who also wears his short pants to the ballet and the opera. “No one has ever spoken to me about it. ....”
Camouflage shorts at work. Shorts at the opera.
The horror of it.
The raving idiocy of casual Fridays has finally destroyed our civilization. Can human sacrifice and cannibalism be that far away?
Well, the day that we all wear shorts to work, is the day that we have descended into the depths of degradation. At that point, I'm sure no one will look askance if you barbecue your neighbor's dog or even your neighbor in the back yard.
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Rocco,
You're right.
The misguided devils on the left and center look like precious school boys dressed by Mummy. The one on the right is ok, but might work better with a button down.
I just can't see wearing these to my office.
Perhaps a backyard barbecue.
You're right.
The misguided devils on the left and center look like precious school boys dressed by Mummy. The one on the right is ok, but might work better with a button down.
I just can't see wearing these to my office.
Perhaps a backyard barbecue.
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I don't mind the outfits on the right, though I don't care for the shirt on the right and the chap in the centre should wear shorts with a longer, Bermuda-style inseam to pull the look off.They look like freaks.
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