And in a break from the football
How the vest was worn
It's hot. Too hot. It rained this morning and woke me up. Then it stopped and got hot again. It's well over 30 degrees in London, and too hot to play football properly in Germany, if you're England. This raises a key question, and one that needs answering: is it OK to wear a vest?
This is me on Sunday, at work. I've had this debate with listeners before, but it's a hardy perennial, as are my sleeveless t-shirts. This is not some sad attempt at fashion, as I do not believe such items are fashionable, but they are fantastic to wear in the heat, and I like them. But am I fooling myself? I went to Guildford yesterday and wore a vest, and I think I got away with it. (Incidentally, I have stopped wearing sandals in the summer now, and wear hardy, walking trainers with those tiny, invisible short socks underneath. A great invention. I saw a really hard-looking tattoed skinhead in a British bulldog t-shirt on East Croydon platform on Sunday and he had them on, and the very idea of it made me smile. Such dainty socks for such a scary looking gentleman.) Anyway, back to the vest . . .
Just a little something to exercise your hot minds while we wait for another football match to start. (Hope that small morsel of non-football-related blog helps, Graham!)
posted by Andrew Collins @ 11:32 AM
13 Comments
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13 Comments:
I think vests are O.K as long as you do not have smelly armpits, a beer belly or have too much body hair (particularly the tops of arms and shoulders!). Never been able to make my mind up about 'those' socks though.
I, too, thought the rain would take away the humidity that we've got here in Brighton, but if anything it's made it worse.
I reckon it's ok in this heat, as long as you avoid the faux pas of deodorant foaming from the armpits - not a great look. The most important thing in summer has to be avoidance of sweat patches. Black and white help as do lightweight breathable materials. What is it about socks eh; mind you, Roman soldiers wore them with sandals and they were quite hard.
I joined you in vest wearing solidarity, sitting out at the back of my house listening to the Sunday afternoon show and enjoying a bottle of wine. Now I have a vest-shaped white patch on my upper body to contrast the lobster shade everywhere else.
I wouldn't wear a vest in public. Just because I think one needs to be a hunk to get away with it, and even then there's always the danger of you looking a bit "gay" (in both senses of the word.
If I were to wear one I'd look like Eddie Yeats. Not a nice thought.
Sleeveless t-shirts, never, ever, ever. Vests are OK, but as per Jon, I wouldn't wear one myself. My mum used to make both my brother and I wear string vests to school. My, the hilarity come PE. Er, anyway, thanks for the non-football-related blog entry, Andrew. This makes me wonder if you do requests. One thing I'm fascinated by is how DJs deal with going to the loo while they're on air. And if they eat while the songs are on. I certainly would.
I agree the tiny sock is a fantastic invention (I bet it was a British invention like the Cats Eye) but a vest, no. I'm afraid it just makes think of Selwyn Froggit or old man Steptoe sunbathing, but that may just be my age!
Ian
Graham, there is a nice big disabled loo next to the new studio, so it's easy to nip out once you've "segged" (ie. segued) two tracks together, giving you a few consecutive minutes for ablutive necessaries. I wouldn't use a disabled loo normally, obviously, but it's the weekend and there's nobody in the building except a few programme teams from 6 Music and Radio 2 and some secruity guards. As for food, I usually eat a banana or a wheat-free biscuit during the Sunday show, and inevitably regret it when the record stops and I still have a mouthful of enzymes. Harder to do for the chart show as we generally play single tracks at a time and there's information to impart between each one. Harder to do with bits of hazelnut or apple in your teeth.
I like vests, you look fine in yours, but as fashion statements go they aren't generally very cool.
I think it is possible to accessorise with something like a loose linen shirt or that old goth favourite the waistcoat, leather if you don't mind people quesitoning your lifestyle.
Summer is a sartorial challenge for blokes, I think. There's the footwear debate, the 'show hairy legs or not' debate as well as the 'how attractive is my armpit hair?' question. Its easier being a girl really where vests and even strappy tops are encouraged (but not always advisable).
As long as you do people the courtesy of wearing some kind of top in public (bare-chested skinny blokes in the supermarket - ugh), I really don't think it matters.
I would never go topless in public, except on a beach or in a pool. That should actually be banned.
ah the perrenial question for the 40-something male...
T-shirts are generally a bit scruffy for the over 40s and only work well when combined with something smart - otherwise you will be accused of not dressing your age. They are usually uncomfortable unless made from a techical fabric.
Vests are a no-no unless you are mafioso on his day off (and you therefore must have ragu down the front) or you are digging a road up.
Sleeveless /cutoff sleeve t-shirts should be avoided at all costs. They are not a good look for anyone except Springsteen and other rednecks. These 'macho' approaches can get you into trouble particularly when combined with an exuberant moustache.
At your age you should go for the baggy short sleeved shirt. Although not necessarily from hawaii. Look for plenty of space around the armpits. as you get hotter you just undo another button and let the air circulate. Feel cool, look cool. Gaudy 'timmy mallet' colours are a no-no are of course. Go for the ironic skate-style and be seen from age groups above and below yours as 'appropriately dressed'.
look at ronjon, billabong or pataloha for fancy summer prints and bring the beach into the studio.
Vests are ok on other people, personally I don't like them on me.
I'm a dental nurse and have to wear gloves ALL day, its not nice. But even worse than that is when patients come in half dressed. One man actually just came in with shorts on. No vest or t shirt, just shorts. Not nice at all. The receptionist actually asked him if he'd forgotten to get dressed that morning.
Ok, I got it!
US "vest" = UK "waistcoat"
US "tanktop" = UK "vest"
I thought you were strolling around dressed as a Scissor Sister. That would be totally weird. You could pull it off with charm, though.
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