Comments on: ACL in Newsweek

By: The Digital Ramble | Pop Your Blue Collar - The Moment Blog - NYTimes.com

The Digital Ramble | Pop Your Blue Collar - The Moment Blog - NYTimes.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 08:00:29 +0000

[...] was a battle recently within the clubhouse for Americana fans, A Continuous Lean, when a commenter said workwear fans were so many nancies, remarking, “Actually BE a man instead of trying to [...]

By: angelo

angelo — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:08:38 +0000

Jesus, I wrote their when I meant they’re. Please forgive me.

By: angelo

angelo — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 02:08:09 +0000

Jeans used to be exclusively workwear and now their the most popular item of clothing in the world. Work boots are boots. Being someone who has to navigate being stylish and dealing with harsh weather on a daily basis, I do feel a bit more of a right to rugged attire, but in the end it’s just clothes. Were people hating on Wu-Tang for bringing Carhartt into hip-hop culture?

By: Peter

Peter — Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:49:10 +0000

I find all the chest-beating in the comments interesting. Obviously this look has tapped into a peculiarly male area of insecurity, and the heat in the responses shows that it’s not “just fashion” or “just clothes.” What we wear is a signifier; it slots us into a particular place in society, whether it’s something we decide (Today, I’m going to dress like Joey Ramone in 1978) or our work (I sell bonds, and all bond traders wear gray flannel suits, or whatever bond traders wear…). So when we see some bearded guy in a Woolrich coat in SoHo, it sort of freaks us out, and reminds us how far away we are from our hunter/gatherer ancestors. I’m not really being facetious here.

By: wayne pate

wayne pate — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 13:43:42 +0000

Louise I think you have a little catching up to do.
The topic of “resurgence in American nationalism”
is a daily focal point around these parts. In most of the coverage on established American brands and emerging new ones you get reactions from all sides.
I would like to agree with you that perhaps this is the beginning of a renewed appreciation in American heritage and the young American male’s fashion aesthetic. But to be honest I’m quiet jaded at this point because I’ve been flying this flag for years and I never thought I’d see the day when all these brands I’ve been into and have worn for years become this great new trend. It’s irritating to see some of these young guys come along and act like they’ve discovered fire. Having said that, I guess it’s better than it not happening at all.

By: louise

louise — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 02:05:45 +0000

Tsk, tsk fellas.
I find this analysis of the prominence of American-made work wear among its American clientèle to be very superficial and missing the most exciting possibility of this sartorial “trend” – that is a resurgence in American nationalism. Not anything militaristic but a rekindling of belief in America as a country that is good and that can support itself from the inside. These certainly are gloomy times for our nation, but the election of Obama signals a new epoch in our society and culture and IMO this Americana trend is a visual manifestation of our reclamation of the finer tenets that our country was built on, and visually gestures towards what has been, for the most part, a proud history.
I would also like to think that one’s buying this stuff does come from a deep seated desire to support things made in America, by fellow Americans. That in itself seems pretty hip to me. And I would love to see this “trend” head more broadly in that direction. Let’s turn that giant sucking sound off.
Or am I totally off?

Secondarily, I really hope that womens wear will head in the same direction, perhaps with a little more Katherine Hepburn/Annie Hall feel.

By: Michael Williams

Michael Williams — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:18:57 +0000

Cheers to you Sam for breathing some fresh air into the comments.

ACL

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 17:15:44 +0000

Ok, so I read some of you comments above. I was particularly amused by AA comments on all of yall’s supposed fake outdoorsyness. Really, do none of you enjoy the outdoors. Are none of you sportsmen in any sense of the word. I work in an office most of the time ( I am a biologist so I do get out in the field at least 2 days a month for work), but I still go out and hunt and fish when I can. I have three kids now, so I dont get to hunt and fish as much as I would like. But I still make time for it. There has to be some others who enjoy this forum that are like me….right? In addition, who cares if you hunt every day of the duck season or one day of the duck season. Or if you only get out to fish on vacation during the summer. It really doesnt matter if you enjoy what you are wearing and you can pull off the look.

CHeers to you all and keep up the great comments.

By: Sam

Sam — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:56:49 +0000

I’m totally excited about this movement in fashion toward home grown traditional garments. I hunt, fish, and camp. I grew up doing it. I also grew up in a union household and always buy American when I can. I work as a biologist. The best part is, all of my field clothes can be easily converted with a few accessories to fashion forward (is that an oxymoron) outfit/attire.

cheers

By: Jake

Jake — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 16:48:19 +0000

You guys are hilarious ! Seems like a bunch of intelligent fellows over-analyzing this from their cubicles in Manhattan. This is definetly a trend and if you hadn’t noticed trends are always circular, they draw from the past and return with a slight twist. These are not the same brands anymore. Filson, Woolrich, Redwing. They know you like them and they are updating themselves accordingly with new fits, fabrics and collaborations. If you were preppy before trust me It’s obvious , you still wear you khaki’s a certain way and carry yourself a certain way. Nobody will confuse you for a trendy guy.