- Why not?
- I'm a rebel.
- To not get so dirty feet.
- I don't like to sweat into my sandals.
- I never sacrifice comfort for looks, especially not other people's ideas of looks.
- I've inherited my father's overall handsomeness, but sadly also his crooked toes. (This is an additional reason these days, but I've done this all my life.)
- I like it. To me, it's the best of both worlds.
- It gives some people something to laugh at, making them feel better about themselves for a moment. It's an easy way to do a little charity. If those people were surrounded only by people who looked and dressed better than themselves, they'd feel bad, and I can't have that on my conscience.
PS: I can't find the durn article now, but there was a an article which pointed out that nerds dress informally deliberately as a protest against the idea that such things as wearing a tie or not has any importance whatsoever in the world.
Nerds don't want to spend the time and energy to follow fashion demands, they consider it wasteful.
Update:
Anonymous said...
the socks are OK, but the CARPET!
eolake said...
Ah yes, that's the carpet from my local electronics store, a couple of days ago I was down to get an iPod classic, having decided it was a mistake to try to replace my old one with an iPod Touch, in that the touch has poorer ergonomics without physical buttons. (You can't control it without looking at, such as in a pocket or on the bedside table when in bed.)
Looks ok with black socks.
ReplyDeleteBut avoid white socks, even if you're a rebel. ;-)
Don't worry, white is the most un-rebelish color there is. Just look at its prominence in country clubs.
ReplyDeleteI worked at a scientific lab where the scientists had a, shall we say, permissive dress code. One day a manager asked a scientist to dress up the next day because someone from an important funding agency would be visiting.
ReplyDeleteThe next day arrived, as did the visitor, and the scientist - in his usual shorts, t-shirt, and sandals.
The manager asked, WTF?
The scientist said, I did dress up. I wore socks with my sandals. What more do you want?
Excellent.
ReplyDeleteJan said...
ReplyDelete"But avoid white socks, even if you're a rebel. ;-)"
and
Eolake said...
"If those people were surrounded only by people who looked and dressed better than themselves, they'd feel bad, and I can't have that on my conscience."
and
"Don't worry, white is the most un-rebelish color there is. Just look at its prominence in country clubs."
Funny you's. Had never thought of that, before! Possibly the complete 180 of "rebel" (a little halo appears. :-D
HILARIOUS story, Pat. I bet he made his boss PROUD, that day! (I'm wondering re: the outcome of the funding!) :-)
(and, yes, I remember your P.S. article, Eo.)
the socks are OK, but the CARPET!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, that's the carpet from my local electronics store, a couple of days ago I was down to get an iPod classic, having decided it was a mistake to try to replace my old one with an iPod Touch, in that the touch has poorer ergonomics without physical buttons. (You can't control it without looking at, such as in a pocket or on the bedside table when in bed.)
ReplyDeleteThe main reason to not wear socks with sandals is that if you wear socks with sandals it defeats the purpose of wearing sandals. Might as well put a pair of shoes on.
ReplyDeleteI've inherited my father's overall handsomeness
Ha ha ha hah
I work at a huge research facility in the US, where we're all grateful some people dress up at all.
ReplyDeleteOne day I was talking to one of the admin ladies I'm friends with about when she started working at our facility and she told me the most shocking thing was seeing how badly scientists dressed. She threw her arms up in the air and said I mean, the height of fashion here is to wear matching socks! I found that hilarious.
That is indeed a good one.
ReplyDeleteI live in a bluecollar area, and people here dress worse than me. I don't use much money or time on clothes, but at least I have taste. But most people here, if they change from stretch-pants to blue-jeans, they consider it Dressing Up.
I knew somebody who would wear wool socks with his sandals on rainy days. The wool kept his feet warm even when it was wet.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the song, "Socks and Sandals" by Graham Parker? It belongs somewhere in this discussion.
I'll have to agree with Anonymous on this one. That carpet is really fugly. Maybe Stevie Wonder or Helen Keller lived in your place before you. :-)
ReplyDeleteThat's the carpet from my local electronics store.
ReplyDeleteIt's not so greenish IRL, I guess.