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 e
dmonton 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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