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November 18, 2004
overallgrrl
Most of us keep a stash of old clothing somewhere, whether it’s out of sentiment, wishful thinking (I’ll fit into them one day) or just in case (if I have to fit into them, at least I will have a pair that fit). I do not partake in the latter two instances; however, I do have one article of clothing that just cannot find its way to Goodwill. My overalls.
Never mind that they are now mysteriously two inches too short. Forget about the fact that they are a men’s size 42. Ignore the ass of the overalls, which is three shades lighter from wear and washing. I might be able to pitch a denim tent out of them, but they are perhaps the most comfortable piece of clothing I have ever owned, physically and emotionally.
If clothing can signify an era in one’s life, overalls were my chrysalis. I wore them every day for almost four years. The front pockets held the essentials of my college life— Camel Lights, money for coffee, keys and a pen. In the winter, they were combined with a gray or black turtleneck, in the summer, a tank or tee. Their unique size allowed me to wear them through the ice storms and blizzards of late 1990’s New England, sometimes layering overalls over thermals over socks over tights. My overalls were the perfect garment to hide within, and over the course of my college career, I became an expert at just that.
Sliding them on, I am instantly transported back to eighteen, bottle of Diet Coke in one hand, cigarette in the other, hunched on the front porch of my college house reading Proust in sub-zero degree weather. Within them, I am bereft of body—I am just a swath of denim, a 5’7” rectangle of cloth barely able to stand up to the biting winter wind.
Yet now, six years down the road, I hold them up to myself and cannot fathom wearing them in public. Christ! You can see straight down the inside of my pants! I look like a massive mound of material! How could I have ever not felt gianormous in these?
Then I look into the mirror, straight into my eyes, through the infinite echo of myself reverberating between my glasses and my pupils, and understand. In that small, far off reflection, my overalls surround me like a soft shield. Within them, any incarnation of me could reside. And in that moment, I almost want to wear them out and about.
Then I remember that they are two inches too short. Two whole inches. How the heck did that happen?
Posted by callalillie at November 18, 2004 6:44 AM | Introspect
I am just a swath of denim, a 5’7” rectangle of cloth barely able to stand up to the biting winter wind.
so not much different than you are now? what you need to do is line that mofo with some internal heaters for the winter.
Posted by: tien at November 18, 2004 9:37 AM
Hey! I abandoned the oversized clothing a while ago, thank you very much. I do miss my Fresh Jive jeans, though. Actually, installing heaters in the overalls is an interesting idea....though I think the size of them would let too much heat escape :)
Posted by: corie at November 18, 2004 9:40 AM
Having also gone to a New England school, I am familiar with the overall as a staple of women's wear. In fact I found them to be rather sexy.
Then there were the purple ones that my pal JVG loved to wear. Not so sexy.
Posted by: Alexis at November 18, 2004 9:45 AM
wait, wait, were they cross colors overalls?
and corie, at least part of the stuff is still true. the height and cold things.
Posted by: tien at November 18, 2004 9:46 AM
yes, i am still the same height...which brings me back to the question WHY ARE THEY NOW 2" TOO SHORT?
lex, i will show you the overalls. they are not sexy. at all.
i remember cross colors overalls. didn't you have to wear them, like, backwards, with one strap undone?
Posted by: corie at November 18, 2004 9:48 AM
you should wear the overalls saturday.
Posted by: tien at November 18, 2004 10:47 AM
Posted by: corie at November 18, 2004 11:44 AM
i think i'm pretty nice.
and there's heat in my apt. and the possibility of booze.
Posted by: tien at November 18, 2004 2:23 PM
POSSIBILITY? i didn't think there would be an option!
Posted by: corie at November 18, 2004 2:38 PM
Corie,
I remember your overalls as vividly as I remember mine from that same time period. I like to think that while we might think we looked HUMONGOUS, that actually people just thought we were damn CUTE. In fact, I'd bet on it!!!! I loved your overalls then, I love them now... even if they are two inches too short! I'll never get rid of mine. And I still have a printout that you made of me in my overalls. Do you remember it? Probably not, but I keep it in my wallet as a keepsake of that time period. It makes me smile whenever I clean out my wallet -about twice a year, if I'm lucky.
Posted by: Maddie at November 18, 2004 3:18 PM
I knew someone would agree with me: a cute girl in overalls is irresistible. :)
Posted by: Alexis at November 18, 2004 4:09 PM
ah, overalls. ah, camel lights. ah, coffee.
ah, 18.
Posted by: nicole at November 18, 2004 11:17 PM
let it be said that maddie's overalls were way cooler than mine. had i been 3 feet shorter i would have stolen them and worn them every day.
nicole, i think those three things were the only compellign characteristics of age 18. except maybe college life. and no responsibilities.
Posted by: corie at November 19, 2004 8:28 AM
Hey, is that you in the photo with those overalls?
I think overalls are really sexy on a girl!
But they are a bit difficult to take on and off when you go to the bathroom specially if you got a jacket or sweater over the them...
Greetings!
Posted by: Lex at January 13, 2005 3:45 AM
