Yes, it's a bit of a blurt I know, Doug. May yet be whittled down.
Bill
On Wed, 17 May 2017 at 10:36 am, Doug Barbour <[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> It’s a neat theory/story, Bill.
>
> I fel the sentences rule the lines a bit too much, though I liked the
>
> And jeans got washed -
> all the time.
>
> but would drop that hyphen, the linebreak does the job.
>
> Here in Canada we just had those brands…
>
> Doug
> > On May 16, 2017, at 4:36 PM, Bill Wootton <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
> >
> > Seems so long ago -
> > hard to imagine now:
> > Brands mattering. But they did.
> >
> > Crept up first in jeans;
> > no longer backyard work clobber.
> > Some time around 1970 I think,
> >
> > only Levis or Lees counted.
> > At a pinch, Wranglers,
> > but they were more shirts and jackets.
> >
> > And jeans got washed -
> > all the time. The fade:
> > it was all about the fade.
> >
> > The brown leather Levi or Lee tag,
> > between belt loops over right cheek,
> > had to be removed.
> >
> > Or you were set upon and 'tagged'.
> > Evidence of the ghost of the tag OK
> > but best removed straight after purchase.
> >
> > The only allowable signage,
> > the tiny red tag on back bum pocket
> > with white writing: Levi's
> >
> > or stitched black tag
> > with yellow writing: Lee.
> > Wranglers ditto.
> >
> > In form one and two you could still
> > get away with Amcos or Keymans
> > with press-stud comb caddy pocket.
> >
> > But by form three, Americans ruled.
> > No belts, no waist tags, just clean
> > un-ironed faded blue denim.
> >
> > Australian jean manufacturers tried
> > but they couldn't compete with
> > authentic American 14 ounce denim
> >
> > Amcos released a heavyweight denim
> > but it was just a sad imitation.
> > Worn, if at all, by Dads.
> >
> > Best jeans had a hint of the original blue,
> > and a uniform fade, no white knees,
> > but even torn, worn-out Levi's
> >
> > beat the alternative: no social life.
> > Not that there was no wriggle room -
> > zips or button fly, both acceptable.
> >
> > bw
>
> Douglas Barbour
> [log in to unmask]
>
> http://www.ualberta.ca/~dbarbour/
> http://eclecticruckus.wordpress.com/
>
> Latest books:
> Continuations & Continuations 2 (with Sheila E Murphy)
> http://www.uap.ualberta.ca/UAP.asp?LID=41&bookID=962
> Recording Dates
> (Rubicon Press)
>
> If once a man indulges himself in murder, very soon he comes to think
> little of robbing; and from robbing he comes next to drinking and
> sabbath-breaking, and from that to incivility and procrastination.
>
> Thomas De Quincey
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