You got to start your first full week of 4th grade with a totally unique pair of Chuck Taylor schools.
The only thing is, you haven’t actually got to wear them to school yet, since your’re starting out with “remote learning” from the guest bedroom of our house.
Leave it to you to find a pair with colorful lizards.
This is of course relevant to your life, as you have now owned your pet pine lizard for about a month now.
I think by the time you finally get settled into this “remote learning” thing, you’ll get to go to class in an actual classroom at your school- and show off your one-of-a-kind shoes!
It’s crazy to think it’s been a whole year since I got my black Chuck Taylors for Christmas. Despite them only costing 40 bucks, I refrained from wearing them in 2017. I didn’t want to break them in and get them scuffed up, as if there were some epic event coming up in which I would need them in spotless condition; like my national TV debut or something…
Especially now that I’ve been at stay-at-home dad, for exactly 2 months as of today, it’s not like I really even get out of the house much anymore in situations where anyone would be need to be impressed by the sight of me.
But this past weekend, I decided to finally wear my unnecessarily sanctified Chuck Taylors that I got from my wife last year for Christmas.
It just so happens that Santa happened to be visiting this part of Tennessee, at a health store in Columbia, of all places. Sounds about right for a vegetarian/vegan family like mine to see Santa there, right?
Since the day was going so well and we were already having such great quality family time together, we decided to go out for dinner, at the same place we tried for the first time just the week before:
We originally found the place when my son wanted to go on a “hike” on the giant hill next to the place. On our way back down the hill, he noticed a giant inflatable dragon through one of the windows. Being the biggest Pokemon fan I know, it’s the kind of thing that captured his attention.
When we got home, he immediately asked, “Mommy, can we go to the Viking pizza place with the big dragon?
That’s successful marketing right there: Place giant dragon on the restaurant floor. Have 7 year-old boy notice it. Have the boy’s whole family show up.
But once we arrived, my wife and I realized this was no gimmick. This was real pizza, cooked right there in the middle of the restaurant in a really expensive wood-fired oven.
And of course, because the folks at Viking Pizza Co. are paying attention to the fact that 6% of Americans are now vegan, I was easily able to order Daiya cheese on my veggie pizza. (They also have gluten-free crust, for those who prefer it.)
They were even courteous and proactive enough to bring over raw dough for my kids (and wife) to play with, which was a lifesaver, as it easily occupied my hungry son’s attention while our pizzas were carefully crafted; unlike a fast-food chain pizza joint.
The owners, Brandon and Kelly Jones, are so cool, down-to-earth, and proud that they have been able to bring a delicious, high quality, family friendly, restaurant experience in a town that is riddled with predictable and insulting-to-the-intelligence chain restaurants.
There’s a certain rewarding feeling you get when you take your family to a place like this. You know you are voting with your dollars what you want in your town. Just a few weeks ago, much of Spring Hill was emotionally affected by the iconic silo been torn down, so that a fried chicken chain-restaurant could go up.
So it’s yet another reason to want to support Viking Pizza Co. It’s like rebelling against the mainstream. There’s something quite viking about the concept…
Similarly, my wife and I are also huge fans of Legacy Coffee Company, which up until a few weeks ago, was a pick-up truck pulling a trailer. Now, they’ve set up shop inside of Viking Pizza Co.
We love supporting local! And it helps when local is awesome, like with Viking and Legacy.
So at last, I’ve broke in my black Chuck Taylors. I feel good about it. I just had to wait for the right deserving event.
Despite what you heard, don’t wear khakis. Just because these men’s pants are classic, it doesn’t mean they’re timeless. In fact, they’re starting to represent a dull and generic image for men’s attire.
Some articles of clothing go with anything, like Chuck Taylor’s. Then there are specimens like Hawaiian shirts, that arguably go with anything simply because they clash with everything, technically meaning they go with everything. And then there are khaki pants, which truly look good with anything they’re paired with, in theory.
But not for me. I’m very particular when it comes to wearing khakis:
1) They’re the same color as my legs, so I kinda feel like I’m not wearing pants at all.
2) Because of their good reputation (“you can’t go wrong with khaki’s”) and popularity, they are a bit boring by now. It’s assumed that a man automatically looks better because he’s wearing tan pants. I say, not creative enough. Deduct one point unless worn in moderation.
3) Despite popular belief, they don’t truly look good with anything.
What has put these thoughts in my head? Surely just random observances over the last twelve years:
1) In high school, every Friday the football coach had all the football players wear khaki pants, a white dress shirt, and preferably a tie. But many of them wore running shoes. It came across as predictable and forced to me (which it indeed was). You want to look nice? At least change the shoes.
2) In the movie 40 Year-Old Virgin, Andy (the lead character played by Steve Carell) wears khaki pants in almost every seen. His attire is most noticeably awful when he first goes to the night club wearing a yellow polo and khakis. Nerdy, man. Nerdy. Same thing in Sideways with Miles (played by Paul Giamatti).
3) In the past 15 years, khakis and polo shirts have become the official uniform for employees of places like Best Buy. So now khakis are starting to represent a dull, generic work uniform.
Instead of khakis, try this. Note: Black shoes with black pants. Not brown shoes.
Khakis have become part of a stereotyped outfit of an outdated man from the year 2000: Khaki pants, faded polo shirt, cell phone holder on belt.
Noted, there is a difference between what a man wears to work and what he wears to every other public events. I know for myself, I don’t care that much what my coworkers see my wearing as long as I don’t look like a slouch. So yes, I do resort to polo shirts and once every week or two, I’ll wear khakis.
But for many, work isn’t as a professional environment as we often pretend for it to be. I don’t take as good of care on the clothes I wear day in and day out to work. Who cares if they’re faded or a little wrinkled?
Bottom line: For a man to truly dress nicely, and appear to be modern yet not trying too hard, he should simply try doing so sans khaki pants.
How? Charcoal colored pants. Dark brown pants. Slate (very dark blue/gray) pants. But not tan. Heck, even dark jeans can look better than khakis when done right.
P.S. If you must resort to wearing khaki pants in an attempt to look nice, do not be temped to wear a navy blazer or jacket with it. That’s for CEO’s who are 61 years old and don’t realize that it’s no longer cool. Wearing a navy jacket with khaki pants is for guys still wearing Levi’s jeans similar to Jerry Seinfeld in 1994.
And one more thing… Now that you’ve read my take on pants, why not read my perspective on being a dad? That’s right- parenting from a dad’s point of view. I have been documenting my thoughts as a dad since the week we found out my wife was pregnant. I formally invite you now to read my “dad blog” by clicking on the link below:
Family Friendly Daddy Blog 