Leaderboard

On one of my early trips to Antarctica back in the 90s I spend several weeks on an icebreaker and during that time obviously came to know everyone - about 90 or so people (crew, scientists, tradesmen working at the bases) After spending time on the base, and changing over the staff, we headed back home again. One night at sea I found myself talking to what I thought was one of the new guys - returning home after a winter in the ice. I introduced myself and asked his name. He gave me a funny look. It was one of the marine biologists, a guy I’d played scrabble with many a time in the preceding weeks at sea - only he’d had a great bushy beard then. He’d shaved it off while we were at the base and I completely failed to recognise him.

I saw that article too - or an article anyway. Perhaps there were others. I liked the tolerant tone of the one I read (on the CNN website) It was far from disparaging the notion of tall boots for men. I’m not a fan of the style - too much like waders - but to each their own. It was not outlandish. A positive response to them, as in the article I read, could well help to normalise the idea of tall boots on men. And that would be a great thing!

Not sure if anyone saw this but there was a rather public event regarding a male wearing OTK boots (but without a high heel). Swedish actor Alexander Skarsgård was recently photographed wearing a pair of Saint Laurent thigh high boots (designed for men) on the red carpet at Cannes in the recent past. There was an interesting article that accompanied this "story" about how this may be the next logical step in men's footwear trends. I did some research on the boots but information was limited. Given the designer name, I am sure they cost as much as a small automobile. Just to clarify, the picture is not mine but posted for purposes only related to this discussion.

Yes, as someone who wears tall boots a lot I always wear skinny jeans so they can fit nicely in the boot shaft instead of ruching up and/or having the fabric billow out over the top of the boot. His boots are so high though - much too high for my tastes - and so loose (again, much too loose fitting for me) he could probably get away with wearing even zoot suit trousers under them.

I wonder what he's got on underneath those boots? I personally find that I cannot wear traditionally tailored suitpants with tall boots, because there is too much fabric there to stuff in, and it ends up billowing out in unflattering places after a bit of movement.

The "once-over" was not what I would consider a negative one, it was a curious one. Realize that my assessment is based upon a split second impression that was made before I realized who the guy was. lHad I not been in a hurry, I would have said hello, and the conversation would have been pleasant, if not brilliant. He is also in construction, though he is now retired. How we have not run into each other in the last 10 years, I have no idea. I see his sons around town often, and I still to this day do not call them immediately by name, because they are identical twins. From a distance, they still look very much alike, even though they are now approaching 50. And I can attest to context being everything. It is very jarring, and sometimes downright confusing to meet one of my colleagues outside of work. For one thing, people can look very different without a hard hat!

They are nice boots, but sure don't fit his legs very well. The important thing is that he is wearing them, perhaps helping to normalize guys wearing great boots

OK, so the guy that "gave you the once over" was the same guy at the counter, correct? When you say "once over", did you feel it was a positive once over? Any curiosity as to how the conversation would have gone had it occurred? I have reacted the same way when encountering fellow crewmembers on a layover.