I ATE this up! I LOVE your anthropological generosity here re: stability and I think you’re really onto something.
was talking to a friend the other day about how what looked like happy times and stability back then - a home and garden to eat from, kids running around the neighborhood with dirty feet, etc might look like what some consider “abject poverty “ today! yet we live in a culture where the “dream” points towards the upward trajectory of wealth (and bullshit jobs? 😂) while simultaneously grieving that community and simplicity of that past (and cosplaying it)
was so happy to see David graeber mentioned here too. rest in power + peace
Omg this is so good! I have wondered abt this as well. You got me thinking: is it the ultimate luxury nowadays to be able to do some type of work with hands, outside, building stuff? Like the Rudy Jude family—they build those dream houses and kayak etc, like is that the ultimate luxury that few can ever achieve? I’m also thinking of all the yoga teacher types I’ve encountered in nyc who get into such lines of work AFTER working in finance, law, advertising. They burnout but made enough money to move into something more ‘hands on.’ Like the people who start all the millennial coded food stuff. They all seem to be of a certain, upper class.
Interesting take! I think our draw towards workwear also expresses a (likely romantic, but genuine) longing for physical labour and working with our hands. Many of us working sedentary jobs, even in creative fields, probably experience some kind of vertigo from spending all day on a screen. The idea of adopting a "simpler", more traditional mode of work — like carpentry or cheesemaking — is enticing. But also terribly impractical. So, instead, we buy the clothes and hope that they might inspire us to take up woodworking or pottery or some other craft that will give our overworked brain some much-needed respite.
Yes! Totally think there’s a connection there - feels like everyone took up ceramics during Covid / when more of their time was spent working remotely / in isolation
Have you by any chance read What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter? I’m only halfway through but already he’s touched on some similar themes, especially about denim.
Artists occupy an interesting space kind of outside the blue vs white-collar spectrum, I think, and I wonder if there’s an additional element of the workwear-core you’re writing about here that has sprung from people wanting to look like artists. Sort of a similar pattern to gentrification, where working artists adopt something out of necessity (cheap studio space in a disenfranchised neighborhood / clothes you can get paint on) and then said thing becomes cool/desirable for the broader masses.
I think this might be especially true for “creatives” who work on computers all day but want to signal a connection to “loftier” forms of art. (Tangentially related: I’m a designer at a big boring company, and I could write a dissertation on how my bosses use sneakers to differentiate themselves from the other working stiffs).
Kind of adjacent to workwear, imo, is camo pattern clothing. The 'fashion-y' type of camo on garments you wouldn't expect to see it, like workout wear. Pink or other female fashion colored camo, so it's not only co-opting a traditionally male pattern, but clearly trying to gain a female audience.
My young adult son will wear a Carhartt beanie, for example, but not camo because to him that's for guys who actually hunt (we are in the Midwest) but there are plenty of people wearing it as a fashion statement.
My assumption on workwear as fashion was always that it was a punk/counterculture rejection of preppy/pretty/trendy things that the Mainstream People were buying (in other words, anti fashion) or just in irony - so thank you for introducing some fresh interpretations that I would not have thought of.
Would love to hear a perspective on workwear from non-binary or queer people since I think that the Carhartt / dickies / workwear aesthetic can bring up a dialogue on gender too.
Yes! When I was writing this I wanted to make it ten times longer—there are so many angles and tangents that I kept considering and saved for another time…
Really interesting take. I’ve worn the utility jumpsuits you mention and I love them because I don’t have to think too much about what I’m going to wear - it’s the simplicity of the “one and done.” But thank you for expanding on that concept because I think it’s very on point.
I used to really like jumpsuits for this purpose and now I find them harder to style (same with dresses)—feels more difficult to say “this is truly me” unless it’s the *perfect* dress or jumpsuit !
Wow, I’ve never thought of this before! I do appreciate a level of durability for my very cushy life 😆
The YouTube rabbit hole I fell down and love despite knowing nothing about: furniture restoration. I love Dashner Funiture Design and Restoration on YouTube!
This is so good, keep coming back to it! Also wondering what it says that I was most drawn to this aesthetic (bcs I work in an office, it can only be an aesthetic on me!) during my most financially unstable time - what comfort was I seeking from the utility jumpsuits and rei duckpants 🫠🫠🫠
Ok sorry to come back to this weeks later but I was listening to an interview with the guy who runs an instagram acct called Director Fits (just posting film directors’ outfits) and they talked about directors using workwear/outdoors gear in a novel way where it’s not the intended purpose obviously, but it IS practical for their day/needs (ie fishing vest with a million pockets used on set for everything they need to carry around etc), just thought of this post when I was listening! Also not sure if you saw this interview (https://open.substack.com/pub/alecleach/p/make-footwear-repairable-again-part?r=6fp&utm_medium=ios ) but the owner specifically talks about it the pleasure of leaving an office job for one where he’s working with his hands all day, and then their largely white-collar clients coming in and seeing that is almost part of the appeal of the service? Anyhow, this piece is still on my mind, so thank you!
I ATE this up! I LOVE your anthropological generosity here re: stability and I think you’re really onto something.
was talking to a friend the other day about how what looked like happy times and stability back then - a home and garden to eat from, kids running around the neighborhood with dirty feet, etc might look like what some consider “abject poverty “ today! yet we live in a culture where the “dream” points towards the upward trajectory of wealth (and bullshit jobs? 😂) while simultaneously grieving that community and simplicity of that past (and cosplaying it)
was so happy to see David graeber mentioned here too. rest in power + peace
Omg this is so good! I have wondered abt this as well. You got me thinking: is it the ultimate luxury nowadays to be able to do some type of work with hands, outside, building stuff? Like the Rudy Jude family—they build those dream houses and kayak etc, like is that the ultimate luxury that few can ever achieve? I’m also thinking of all the yoga teacher types I’ve encountered in nyc who get into such lines of work AFTER working in finance, law, advertising. They burnout but made enough money to move into something more ‘hands on.’ Like the people who start all the millennial coded food stuff. They all seem to be of a certain, upper class.
Interesting take! I think our draw towards workwear also expresses a (likely romantic, but genuine) longing for physical labour and working with our hands. Many of us working sedentary jobs, even in creative fields, probably experience some kind of vertigo from spending all day on a screen. The idea of adopting a "simpler", more traditional mode of work — like carpentry or cheesemaking — is enticing. But also terribly impractical. So, instead, we buy the clothes and hope that they might inspire us to take up woodworking or pottery or some other craft that will give our overworked brain some much-needed respite.
Yes! Totally think there’s a connection there - feels like everyone took up ceramics during Covid / when more of their time was spent working remotely / in isolation
Have you by any chance read What Artists Wear by Charlie Porter? I’m only halfway through but already he’s touched on some similar themes, especially about denim.
Artists occupy an interesting space kind of outside the blue vs white-collar spectrum, I think, and I wonder if there’s an additional element of the workwear-core you’re writing about here that has sprung from people wanting to look like artists. Sort of a similar pattern to gentrification, where working artists adopt something out of necessity (cheap studio space in a disenfranchised neighborhood / clothes you can get paint on) and then said thing becomes cool/desirable for the broader masses.
I think this might be especially true for “creatives” who work on computers all day but want to signal a connection to “loftier” forms of art. (Tangentially related: I’m a designer at a big boring company, and I could write a dissertation on how my bosses use sneakers to differentiate themselves from the other working stiffs).
Anyway, I think you’d like the book!
Omg I haven’t even heard of this book! Adding to my library list now
Just got the book from the library! Excited to read it
Kind of adjacent to workwear, imo, is camo pattern clothing. The 'fashion-y' type of camo on garments you wouldn't expect to see it, like workout wear. Pink or other female fashion colored camo, so it's not only co-opting a traditionally male pattern, but clearly trying to gain a female audience.
My young adult son will wear a Carhartt beanie, for example, but not camo because to him that's for guys who actually hunt (we are in the Midwest) but there are plenty of people wearing it as a fashion statement.
Yes! Intentionally bright camouflage (or regular camo in a place where it definitely doesn’t blend in) is also related
My assumption on workwear as fashion was always that it was a punk/counterculture rejection of preppy/pretty/trendy things that the Mainstream People were buying (in other words, anti fashion) or just in irony - so thank you for introducing some fresh interpretations that I would not have thought of.
Would love to hear a perspective on workwear from non-binary or queer people since I think that the Carhartt / dickies / workwear aesthetic can bring up a dialogue on gender too.
Yes! When I was writing this I wanted to make it ten times longer—there are so many angles and tangents that I kept considering and saved for another time…
Exactly. (And in no way did I mean to imply you hadn’t thought of all these other angles!)
Not me favoriting a vintage French chore jacket-only Etsy store!
Really interesting take. I’ve worn the utility jumpsuits you mention and I love them because I don’t have to think too much about what I’m going to wear - it’s the simplicity of the “one and done.” But thank you for expanding on that concept because I think it’s very on point.
I used to really like jumpsuits for this purpose and now I find them harder to style (same with dresses)—feels more difficult to say “this is truly me” unless it’s the *perfect* dress or jumpsuit !
I approve of this message !!
❤️
Wow, I’ve never thought of this before! I do appreciate a level of durability for my very cushy life 😆
The YouTube rabbit hole I fell down and love despite knowing nothing about: furniture restoration. I love Dashner Funiture Design and Restoration on YouTube!
Ooh I’m gonna explore this!
This is so good, keep coming back to it! Also wondering what it says that I was most drawn to this aesthetic (bcs I work in an office, it can only be an aesthetic on me!) during my most financially unstable time - what comfort was I seeking from the utility jumpsuits and rei duckpants 🫠🫠🫠
Ok sorry to come back to this weeks later but I was listening to an interview with the guy who runs an instagram acct called Director Fits (just posting film directors’ outfits) and they talked about directors using workwear/outdoors gear in a novel way where it’s not the intended purpose obviously, but it IS practical for their day/needs (ie fishing vest with a million pockets used on set for everything they need to carry around etc), just thought of this post when I was listening! Also not sure if you saw this interview (https://open.substack.com/pub/alecleach/p/make-footwear-repairable-again-part?r=6fp&utm_medium=ios ) but the owner specifically talks about it the pleasure of leaving an office job for one where he’s working with his hands all day, and then their largely white-collar clients coming in and seeing that is almost part of the appeal of the service? Anyhow, this piece is still on my mind, so thank you!
I also listened to this interview!! But had not yet read the Alec Leach, thank you
I am definitely not a sneakerhead but the shot of the air jordan’s new sole is so gorgeous!!