So no history, political analysis, or radical feminism today. Today is for highlighting my semi-annual consternation with the limitations of ‘acceptable’ men’s bottom wear.
Spring is tentatively arriving in Canada’s northern-most provincial capital. We are slowly emerging from the long dark of winter (no thanks to daylight savings time, as it is dark as of today, *again* when I wake up) and temperature are, ever so slowly, beginning to creep toward not hurting your face levels. For instance, today the high will be a balmy +2 degrees centigrade.
The hell that is winter-weather enforced trouser wearing is almost over. But at the same time, I would like to avoid situations like this:
Well not really, but that cartoon is too good not to share. :) Blinding people with the pale luminescence of my legs is secondary however to the comfort concerns involved. Daily spring temperatures in edmonton The Great White North have an exceedingly wide temperature range depending on whether the sun happens to be out or not. Exhibit A:
Yeah, so a high of plus 4, but then -12 as a low, then +2 as high then -8 as low. Climactic variability is quite problematic, as +4 degrees centigrade is clearly shorts weather, but -12 degrees centigrade clearly, is not (stop laughing/cringing right now equatorial friends this is warm weather).
So what is one to do while locked into the strict trouser/shorts binary? I’m more than ready to give the heave ho to long pants, but I’m also a big fan of not freezing my tuckus off in the cold mornings that typify the Edmonton spring cycle.
The 3/4 pant are not part yet a part of the mainstream male lexicon, and the tights + shorts option seems to be in a very specific context of people who enjoy torturing themselves by running at obscenely early in the morning, but not something one would want to teach in outside a of non physical education setting.
My usual solution, is to dress for the expected high temperature and let things fall as they may. But I can’t help but think that there must be a more elegant solution to my conundrum.
9 comments
March 13, 2018 at 5:29 am
Carmen
You’re not still parading around in the Birkenstocks ‘n sox, are ya? ;)
(We’re hunkered down for a Nor’ easter – it’s supposed to hit this p.m.- and it’s March Break!!)
Hope you can soon get your pants off . . . errr. . .
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March 13, 2018 at 8:05 am
makagutu
4 deg is not shorts weather. That is all clothes weather. Shorts weather is 20 deg
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March 13, 2018 at 9:57 am
The Arbourist
@ Carmen
When the Arctic Vortex worked its magic and brought temperatures down to -30 and usually more… I.. I…
I relented, I didn’t take my socks off when I changed into my birks to work. Is it slightly more acceptable they were a very dandy black pair with stripes? :)
I think the worst of our winter is now behind us. I dug out my metal anklet (that doesnt work in boots) and have put it on. Now I’ll take the boots in a bag and wear the sandals. +2 is heady stuff. :)
I hope you fair well in the storm. *eek*
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March 13, 2018 at 9:59 am
The Arbourist
@ Makaguta
Clothing is such a relative thing no? :) My range in fall in spring for shorts and sandals (without snow) is -5 to whatever else above zero.
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March 13, 2018 at 10:26 am
Carmen
I can just tell you are a real fashionista, Arb! :)
I get looks at school well into the Fall when I wear my Birks and bare feet. I’ll tell you, the teenagers all rock the work socks and brown birks. . . Might as well wear a sign that reads, “I’m a cool person”.
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March 13, 2018 at 11:02 am
The Arbourist
@ Carmen
Aye. Socks are the devil and I avoid them like the plague.
Living in a sub-arctic climate though, I always have weather appropriate footwear on hand, because I am a huge fan of keeping all my toes. :)
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March 14, 2018 at 1:12 am
syrbal-labrys
Utilikilt and tall socks?
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March 17, 2018 at 10:36 am
The Arbourist
@ Syrbal
But that would necessitate the wearing of socks. Socks are evil. Tools of the dark lord…
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March 17, 2018 at 10:39 am
syrbal-labrys
Socks for kilts are AWESOME. – beautiful knitted cables creeping up legs! Maybe my inner knitter took over….
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