From the looks of this outfit, it really and truly appears that the men's fashion industry is involved in a conspiracy to upset Ann Althouse.
(Via Glenn Reynolds, who properly calls the above "A MEN'S FASHION EEEEW!")
My conspiracy theory doesn't take much imagination if we consider that Ann Althouse is the most outspokenly anti-shorts-on-men blogger (she even has a category of posts on the subject), and if we consider that above outfit constitutes the most absolutely, unspeakably, unbearably dreadful example of shorts on men in the history of modern fashion. (Seriously, I dare not show the above picture to Coco, my lipstick-wearing pit bull, lest it frighten the bejeezus out of her.)
Why, it's the most absolutely unspeakably dreadful example since Brooks Brothers's last dreadful example, in the form of a similar (if slightly more masculine) look. At the time, I took issue with Brooks Brothers, suggested that they find a more appropriate model, and proposed John Edwards as the ideal candidate:
Instead of following my advice, the fashion industry has now upped the ante, with silly floral Little Lord Fauntleroy outfits that no self-respecting boy man (no, not even John Edwards) would ever wear. Why, the latest outfit is so silly and frivolous that Sarah Palin wouldn't be caught dead in it, and she's a woman.
As I say, unless the goal is simply to upset Ann Althouse, I can think of no other explanation.
Yeah, I realize that such reactionary behavior by the fashion industry demonstrates the ultimate power of the blogosphere, but consider the effect it might have on innocent fashion victims (who might go out and buy such an outfit, only to be murdered later by angry mobs). How low can the fashionist titans stoop?
Alternate conspiracy theories are welcome.
posted by Eric on 09.08.08 at 01:01 PM
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The urban elites just can't catch a break. Palin firing up the unwashed masses and now, the fashion industry testing to see just how gullible they are.
Next season, overalls will be all the rage.
JKB · September 8, 2008 02:15 PM
Seems to me more like somebody's having a tiff with their boyfriend.
Granted, these shorts outfits look stupid. OTOH, here in the sunbelt where one can wear shorts nine months out of the year, and it is suicidal to wear pants outside in 100 degree heat, some change in the fashion protocol for what one wears to the office is not a bad idea.
Gringo · September 8, 2008 03:00 PM
Well I don't object to folk wearing shorts in the hot weather.
But that model looks like his Mammy made his clothes from an old lounge suite.
There can't be many folk that poor. Or that clueless.
Monty · September 8, 2008 05:03 PM
The Sound of Music makes a comeback.
dr kill · September 8, 2008 06:01 PM
Sometime about the 1980's, women working in corporate managerial settings wore suits just like this one, except they wore skirts. Pantsuits not yet allowed.
Oh of course we weren't forced to wear ties or matching handkerchiefs in our pockets, well because that would just be way too silly, but we did work very hard at looking...well, as manly as that guy looks girly. The only difference was we weren't walking any runway to flashing cameras. We were walking hard concrete to our jobs.
So my conspiracy theory is this. Some artistic designer thought it would be fun to "mix it up a bit" in order to take it over the top, and off into a new absurd, beyond the one I lived, or maybe you too Ann? Or you too Eric and Simon and Dennis.
I theorize also that it is seeing and experiencing the fringes, the absurd, that has us ALL wanting to be a bit more centered, and that none of this has one iota to do with fashion, men's knees or much of anything else other than our wired need to survive as a species.
Anonymous · September 8, 2008 10:01 PM
Why is this surprising? The fashion industry has always been run by women and gay men. For women and gay men.
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