Wore trews on first date

[acolander]

Tobus, by all means you are welcome to chime in as I appreciate the input and do enjoy discussing alternative POV’s, and it appears hootstwo even gives it his stamp of approval!

Essentially the main point I am trying for in my replies to this threadis the difference between plaid pants and tartan trews and the perception vs reality, or in other words your paragraph above and others similar vs my own personal experience of wearing trews or kilt near daily the past 7yrs or so in both Seattle and Sydney AU, betwixt and between even. I’m not trying to be snarky in this regard, intend no disrespect and I sincerely hope none is taken, but rather taken as a friendly spirited discussion, and I will further add that perhaps 12-15+yrs ago my perception was nearer yours and those similarly expressed.

True, many have seen and most may be reminded of the most dreadful ‘70’s fashion trends when they first think of “plaid pants” (I abhor them myself, monstrosities they are to be certain!), but tartan trews (especially military tartans such as the OP spoke of) are not one’s father’s nor grandfather’s “golf pants”, neither by their nature nor colour, and I would venture to say most every person that has comments re my trews knows straight away that they are not their father’s hip 70s vintage “plaid pants” simply by appearance alone.

Perhaps it’s the more conservative or subtle and darker tartan of the 18 or 20oz wool military trews vs the 70’s era oft petroleum produced polyester BOLD plaid era pants, or the higher natural waist w/ 2”+ belt & loops vs more hip-hugging w/2” white leather double notched belt, the fuller-cut straight leg w/ only the inseam vs the more flared-bell-bottomed style w/ intersecting plaid side seams , or a combination of all the above... Whatever it may be at the end of the day, there is indeed a distinct and noticeable difference, almost as much I would say as perception vs reality.

With regard to exercising curiosity and your poll, I would first be apt to enquire as to which tartan you may have specified, such as the MAcKenzie tartan of the OP, if perhaps it was the same tartan as your kilt that they love, or if any at all and rather left it to their own perception. I will admit though that the MacKenzie tartan is perhaps one of the “louder” military tartans, but still nothing akin to a MacLeod (or is that McLoud? And my apologies…), so yes it would be folly to ignore completely.

Now, I would tend to agree that the majority of the public, less so in certain areas and instances, has perhaps a less than positive “feeling” towards them, and I would venture to say most often it is sight unseen and due rather to some terrible childhood reminiscience similar to my own fo being attired in the hideous plaid of the ‘70s. Ye gads!! What were my parents smoking?! Never mind, I know what it was and am just thankful I wasn’t tye-dyed head to toe w/ hair below the shoulder!

Your Bozo point is well taken as intended and so noted, as well as being correct about my prior questions being more akin to rhetorical hyperbole. Personally I don’t believe they would truly hold any lesser opinion of him, perhaps give a miss to being seen with him in certain instances such as a dinner outor the movies, but would perhaps go w/ to the mall if for nothing else than to see other people’s reactions! ;)

Be that as it may, it would appear also that acceptance has a lot to do with what I mentioned in reply to you previously – location. In the Pacific NW namely (Seattle & outlying areas) it has been nothing but a positive experience w/ interest shown by various people ranging from tweeners to baby-boomers, in other words, they are indeed very well-accepted here and equally so as plain or pin-striped trousers (although I had the wide striped variety in mind)!

But there has definitely been more of a trend these past couple yrs in mainstream fashion towards both tweed and tartan to mention but two, and I seem to remember an article somewhere about tweed-suited business men on Wall St not too long ago, or perhaps it was the Manhattan Men’s Skeet & Scooter Club I’m thinking of.. ;)

Perhaps it is the perception that is behind the current trend and rather tartan trews that are simply ahead of it in some places …? Honestly I haven’t a clue and who care anyway, hey..

Now in no way do I consider myself a trend follower nor setter, rather I believe I am simply fortunate enough in this instance to be wearing something that happens to be coming more mainstream thanks to the likes of that Ralph chap! And perhaps thanks may also be due in some part in the near future to these tartan/plaid bottomed jimmy jam wearing tweeners and teenagers spotted of recent as well…? If “sick”means good, then at least trews have some general acceptance with some even if they aren’t jimmy jams, hey?

Are trews for everyone (or the kilt for that matter)? Of course not, band neither is my yellow Tattersall w’coat!! But whoa, talk about strong opinions of loving it or hating it amongst my friends - the Tattersall w'coat! But I’ll say this, those that thought I should be standing in the middle of road construction w/ a “slow” sign in hand still respected the fact that complete strangers on the street would pay compliments to that w’coat! Begrudgingly almost to a one they would soon come round but with a qualitative “Yeah ok, maybe it’s not THAT bad, but I wouldn’t wear it”!

Fair enough I suppose at the end of the day, perhaps some food for thought, but enough of my prattling, hey!

All the best,
Christian

[acolander]

Granted these are not trews.

Not tartan trews, but most certainly two very fine and outstanding examples of contemporary tartan trousers that I believe would be equally well-accepted amongst most of mainstream society as they are your co-workers!! My compliments, Sir!!