You’ve probably seen the diatribe George Will wrote against “demon denim”. My own theory is that it was published this week because of a scheduling mixup, and was really meant to be published on 1 April.
But as always, a picture is worth a thousand words. Would Fred Astaire wear this anywhere (besides in the dark, I mean):
“This” being a light green short sleeve shirt over yellow slacks. (Picture to be found in Malkin’s post.)
Actually, the answer to her question is, “Yes.” Fred Astaire would have worn that. Fred Astaire probably did wear very similar things towards the end of his life, just like most men his age. My mother saw him once while shopping on Lincoln Road–this was perhaps a year or two before he died, back when South Beach was full of retirees and empty of hipsters and 20-ish celebrities–and recognized him by the way he walked. And it was only by his walk that she first realized who he was: in dress and demeanor he was just like every other elderly man of that era.
However, Ms. Malkin should be glad of at least one thing in that picture: no bow tie.
Tags: Fred Astaire, George Will
April 19, 2009 at 10:31 am |
I saw an old fart in the most amazing get-up yesterday, near the Shaker Hts. Farmer’s Market. Burnt orange pants ending mid-calf with a matching burnt-orange cap, blue sports jacket and tie. I don’t recall the color of the shirt…I was too taken with those pants.
I’m not sure what George would say about me. I only wear denim for farm work. But I never look terribly put together…one of the bad results of having a waist wider than my hips.