MetaChat - Fashion question:

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05 August 2008

Fashion question: Generally speaking and concerning male modes of attire, do I buy pants to fit my waist and let my gut dun lop over the top, or buy pants large enough to tuck in the gut and ride at the approximate height as my waist? Or for those who are more metaphorically inclined, do I shoot for the 11-months pregnant look or the rolly-polly hot air balloon look? Sorry, no jackets allowed until October.

post by: Ardiril at: 17:11 | 22 comments

buy pants large enough to tuck in the gut and ride at the approximate height as my waist

This.

do I buy pants to fit my waist and let my gut dun lop over the top

NOT THIS! I don't know why guys do this, it's like a combover- nobody is fooled.

posted by ThePinkSuperhero 05 August | 17:15

Speaking as a totally dispassionate, un-fashion-conscious observer, I say go for the pregnant look.

posted by mudpuppie 05 August | 17:15

NOT THIS! I don't know why guys do this, it's like a combover- nobody is fooled.

See, for me it comes down to Fred Mertz from I Love Lucy or Tony Soprano. Tony clearly wins.

posted by mudpuppie 05 August | 17:20

That depends on whether you tuck your shirt in or not.

posted by muddgirl 05 August | 17:34

Or, if you're like me, the pants won't stay up around my larges, then, pants way to big for the waist, I am in danger of falling trow. Tony Soprano hands down.

posted by MonkeyButter 05 August | 17:34

I'd say lose the gut (treat the cause, not the symptom), but then I'm known for being an arsehole.

posted by dg 05 August | 17:49

i say simply forgo the pants entirely.

posted by jonmc 05 August | 17:49

Shirts tucked, always, thus my quandary. I rarely do shirttail casual in public.

dg, no offense taken. I too am a well-insulated fatphobe.

jon, that may send a wrong message when I hit happy hour. Mr. Happy Hour?

posted by Ardiril 05 August | 17:57

If the shirt is tucked, then I'd go with a high-waisted pant. Really, it will look OK.

posted by muddgirl 05 August | 18:57

The high waisted pants look?? Really?? You're all probably more fashion smart than I am, but I vote for (and wear) a natural waist with some overhang. Maybe it depends on how much overflow there is...

posted by DarkForest 05 August | 19:25

I think it depends on the type of pants, too--jeans, for example, are probably more conducive to the overhang look than, say, tuxedo pants.

posted by box 05 August | 19:32

Or you could always go for the belted-below-the-ass look of many of my Bronx students. As long as you don't go commando. ; )

(Seriously, I have no idea how their pants stay up.)

posted by Pips 05 August | 20:10

The constant hitching-up becomes part of the walking style. It's like punks in creepers and bondage pants.

posted by box 05 August | 20:57

Oh, box is right of course, but then again, I assumed that he wasn't tucking shirts in to jeans...

Really, this is something that would need to be judged on an outfit-by-outfit basis :)

posted by muddgirl 05 August | 22:17

I'm with DarkForest. I'm worried you'll end up looking like Pappy O'Daniel.

posted by Specklet 06 August | 04:46

The gut is part of the waist and gets covered.

Alison Lurie posited in The Language of Clothes that punks with safety pins in their faces looked like miserable babies stuck when their diaper had been changed; I think thugs with sagging pants look like babies who've crapped themselves.

posted by brujita 06 August | 07:42

Pappy O'Daniel doesn't wear pants that sit on his waist - he wears pants that sit 2-3 inches above his belly button. There's a huge difference between "above the gut, below the button" and Pappy O'Daniel.

posted by muddgirl 06 August | 09:56

Speaking of tuxedo pants, you could just wear a nice tight cummerbund at all times.

posted by StickyCarpet 06 August | 10:13

"above the gut, below the button"

Does that really exist in many moderately overweight guys? I know I'm not that way. Most of my gut does not reside below the button, as with this guy.

But I agree that which style is better might have to be decided on case by case basis.

posted by DarkForest 06 August | 15:44

DF - Hmm, I didn't consider the pot belly. In that case, it's not really hanging out over the waistband, it's sort of tenting. I was thinking more like this guy. I've really only considered one naked belly and the waistband thereof (MuddDude's). He wears his jeans under the paunch and his khaki's over it. But then again, he never tucks in his shirt, so *shrug*

posted by muddgirl 06 August | 15:50

mudgirl: Heh, now I'm not sure which guy I am. I hope I'm just the tenting guy, not the rolls of fat guy.

posted by DarkForest 06 August | 16:09

oops, muddgirl that is. why 2 Ds?

posted by DarkForest 06 August | 16:11

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