More old clothes


Maybe driven by those reflections about my old (but well preserved) coat, I have been checking what old clothes I still have, and even wearing some of them. I was a bit sad that it was the last time I wore my scary gaijin outfit, one I wore in Japan in November of 2000. The bulky brown Nepalese pullover is full of holes (as if I had been shot), the dirty brown (a feature of the fabric, actually) pants have some holes too (acid trouble at work) and the black coat is a mix of matt and gloss from over use. Only the leather gloves, the black beanie and the big trekking shoes still survive unchanged (besides a shoelaces change).

Clearly there is a hierarchy of durability, with socks at the bottom and probably headgear at the top (I have a Panama paper hat that is even older than my coat), with coats higher than pants or pullovers, and ties as well quite high. Shoes used to be, in my case, at the bottom, but that has changed now that I buy a minimum quality and take some maintenance on them.

This all goes to say that although price, or even quality will not guarantee durability, all the durable pieces of clothing I have were expensive. Expensive besides the possible brand expense. That is an extra. So those Solomon shoes were quite expensive, but after having trod on mud in three continents and some ten countries, it was a good choice.

The problem nowadays is that it is difficult to find under normal circumstances good quality unbranded clothes. The retail shop situation makes brands all too present. And my chances of getting another Nepalese pullover are scarce, unless they become a fad, again.

The worst part of buying clothes, depending on fashion whims and fads to get those clothes I know I will be using for many years. Which shows why I stress people when I go buying clothes, because it can be over in fifteen minutes (if one of those stores I trust to have quality have what I am looking for) or fail after four hours and twenty stores, spending only five minutes in most of them.

Ah, if I trusted the internet for clothes or shoes sizes! But having shoes in three different numbers and usually the same problem with most pieces of clothing, trying them out becomes a necessity.  ¶ 9:41 AM 0 comments

  My Winter Coat

My winter coat
Keeps me warm
Years have come along
Years have gone
Some friends have risen
Some have moved on
And my old winter coat still
hangs by my front door
Holding all the stories
I don't remember anymore

Paul Kelly

Today I got out my winter coat, for the first time this season. Just like in the song it is an old one, that I got with my first salaries in 1990. It took half my monthly salary then, but it has been worth it. Some years I have not even worn it, but it always has been present, both in the wardrobe and in my thoughts when choosing what to wear. Many times I consider to take it out, but most times I just take something less conspicuous, more discrete, or simply more practical than a long woolen coat.

In a way, that is also the role of this blog. Very often I think of some matter that I would write about, and even compose in my mind, while showering or driving on the highway, the article. And just by getting it out in my mind's eye, I do not really feel the need to get it out in written form. Till now. As I do wear at times my winter coat, and enjoy both the memories and the warmth.

When I finally get the coat out I usually wear it often the following days, as if some barrier had been broken and it was easier to pick it. I wonder if there will be a rash of posts the next days as well.  ¶ 12:50 AM 0 comments