College classes have begun and students are beginning to settle in to their life on campus. It is a life that is free from the restriction of the uniforms of high school. This summer hundreds of students were happily clearing their closets of khaki’s and school color polo shirts. Now they can finally wear what they want to school and, thusly, in public. And their number one choice? Pajamas.
I cannot put my finger on when this trend began. I know it is not new, because I’ve seen it for quite some time now. It occurred shortly after the young ladies started wearing pants with words plastered across their derrieres. That trend was even more disturbing to me because, as an avid reader, I couldn’t help but read. Do you realize how difficult it is to explain to your wife that you weren’t looking, you were just reading?
I do realize that questioning the attire of the younger crowd is not limited to my generation. I know that in the 1980’s there were thousands of adults who were asking me to tie the shoelaces to my high tops. One glance at the picture my father took as his oldest son took off for his first day of college classes reveals shorts that were entirely too short. However, my legs were less exposed than today’s generation because my striped tube socks came to my knees. I wasn’t alone in my choice of attire. Watch highlights from the NBA in the 80’s and you know what I’m talking about.
After thinking about this I began to realize that the questioning of the younger generation’s clothing is not a new thing. Previous generations probably faced the same thing. Research would probably yield the fact that poodle skirts for the ladies and rolled up jeans with white t-shirts for the guys were even criticized. This all got me to thinking about how these things probably transpired over previous centuries.
In 1492 I can imagine one of the native peoples encountered by Columbus laughed at the fact that their visitors wore anything other than a loin cloth. While, later, the Pilgrims probably scoffed at the natives for not wearing buckles on their belts… and hats… and shoes.
In the Roman Empire days, I am sure that some mother looked at her son and said, “Where are you going looking like that? Take those ridiculous pants off and put your toga on like a good little boy.”
As a matter of fact, I think that the only parents who did not question their children’s clothing selection were probably Adam and Eve. “Animal skins rather than fig leaves? I tell you, Adam, that outfit Abel designed is to die for!”
So, now, instead of questioning the clothing being worn today, I am looking forward to today’s generation and what they have to face when their kids get to choose their own clothing!
