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My exercise uniform (and yours?): The fleece quarter-zip sweatshirt, running pants, Allbirds
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Published: Nov 13, 2021
Category:
Clothing
I’m not a model, but I’m going to play one — just this once — on the Internet.
Since about 1962, my daily uniform has been a starched button-down oxford shirt, khakis, and boat shoes, Tretorns or Stan Smiths. For official appearances, I wear a blazer, white shirt, flannels and Weejuns — the “Mr. Bar Mitzvah” look. My role model is Joan Didion, who often wore a sweater and pants and stood against the wall and nobody noticed her until she wrote about them and killed them. Or Beau Brummell, who allegedly lied, “If you noticed me, I wasn’t well dressed.”
In 2004, when our daughter was two years old, we bought a car. We were old parents, and having a child was a miracle, so the only criterion was safety. My choice: an already old 1994 Mercedes 420e, 5,000 pounds of steel. If your car hit mine, you might die. But our kid would walk away.
That accident never happened, and the car was a joy for 17 years. Then it died. And died again. And a third time. The towing was annoying. The possibility that the car would stall out on a highway was scary. I now lease a Honda Civic, which is essentially a computer with air bags. No one stares. No one honks or waves. I am Joe America.
“Things change.” It is the first law of life and the animating truth of my new book. And it is why, after years of physical indolence, I now religiously walk 7,000 steps in the morning. What do I wear? Exactly what Joe and Joanne America wear.
In the depths of winter, I swear by my Uniqlo vest. For less frigid weather I wear yesterday’s button-down shirt under a zippered pullover fleece. I have two. One is the IZOD Men’s Advantage Performance Quarter Zip Fleece Pullover Sweatshirt in Peacoat, which I’d call dark blue. (Note: Do not buy any fleece with a short, short zipper that will make you look like your mom sent you out to play.) There’s not a natural fiber to be found in the IZOD sweatshirt— it’s 67% Polyester, 27% Viscose, 6% Elastane. [To buy it from Amazon, click here.] The other is the Nautica Men’s 1/4 Zip Fleece Sweatshirt, 55% Cotton, 45% Polyester.[To buy it from Amazon, click here.]
I buy these sweatshirts a size larger than usual. These aren’t made in whatever constitutes “women’s style” — the men’s sweatshirts seem equally useful and style-free for women. I see that “Amazon Essentials” makes a Women’s Classic Fit Long-Sleeve Full-Zip Polar Soft Fleece Jacket that’s enthusiastically reviewed. It’s worth a click to look. [To buy it from Amazon, click here.]
I complete the outfit with Fila track pants, 95% Polyester, 5% Spandex. They double as pajama pants or work-from-home pants. Which is why I own two pairs. [To buy Fila men’s track pants from Amazon, click here. To buy these Fila pants in women’s sizes, click here.]
Shoes? I’m deep in the Allbirds cult. [To see why, and buy a pair, click here.] I wear the Tree Dasher. Allbirds is enlightened: there’s a Tree Dasher for women. Yes, you could wear their everyday shoe, the Wool Runner, but the Tree Dasher provides more support and gives me the idea that, any day, I’ll start running.
A hat? To the end of her days — and she lived to be 103 — my mother asked me, “Are you wearing a hat?” I wasn’t. And still don’t.
Some things don’t change.
