Saturday 14 March 2009

Shopping for Civvies

I went shopping for clothes today. I managed to avoid it by dropping by work and asking if my colleagues on duty needed some help. I got to play with an EEE PC (by play, I mean hook it up to the wireless network). Then I got some d10 in Plan 9. And tabbed it out to Broomhill Road to have a look in the craftshop. 3 hours after setting out, there was nothing for it but to head to Slaters.

And I was shocked. Not at the usual wimps who can’t go shopping without their womenfolk making their clothes shopping choices for them, but that what I was wearing was (almost) fashionable. My shoes were Goretex lined (TNF Hedgehogs), my jacket a ‘soft shell’, and my t-shirt had a cartoon character on it. I wondered why I’d bothered going shopping. But I needed some smart casual clothes for next week’s conference in London, so stayed focused. My attempt to go for the Gibbs-from-NCIS look was out as they had no Dockers trousers in my size, and I wasn’t happy with the colours of the ‘sports jacket’ that they had. I went for Plan B, and am aiming for this look …

Yeah, right!

Here’s the making of …

Amazing. the last time I saw the advert, I was watching to see if the chap ‘boarding was a different fellow. He isn’t. Wow! I feel the urge to buy a hat. Visa? No. I don’t want another credit card. One is dangerous enough.

The rest of the expedition involved nipping to HMV – 50quid for series 3 of NCIS (yeah, right), and the box beside it had the same product but only 25 quid (still 8 quid dearer than online). So I didn’t bother. Nor the ever-decreasing amount of men’s clothing in Debenhams. John Lewis’s gents seemed to be based either side of a main road through the shop, with staff cutting the road perpendicularly. Burtons had a couple of items I liked (I couldn’t resist the boxers: “Grumpy by name, Grumpy by nature”). I ended up in a couple of gear shops and bought a ‘Radar’ cap. Maybe it’s fashionable?

13 comments:

Cathy said...

If you want to look like Visa man then the mens bit in New Look, River Island, Topman or such like would be a better choice than Slaters

AktoMan said...

I'm banned from River Island.

AktoMan said...

It might be self-imposed. But I was told to go elsewhere by one of their staff, and I've never been back.

People can be so cruel sometimes.

Dawn said...

Gosh, Duncan all suited and booted, times are getting hard. We must have a photo, oh my!!!!!!!!!!!!!.

AktoMan said...

LOL - just civvies, not suit. I wear that for work - just a cheap one from Tescos but it does the job.

Got some other bits n bobs today, including a courier bag style bag for the journey. Padded laptop one.

Cathy said...

I was in New Look with my now 19 year old recently...Trying to persuade him he could go clothes shopping on his own...To be honest most of their mens stuff could be worn by most age groups including oldies like you LOL

AktoMan said...

It's not my age, deary, it's me..erm...metabolism

mike said...

if you get a few hours spare whilst in the big smoke maybe we can hook up for a beer?

AktoMan said...

I'll post a notice on the OBF Meets, Mike. It all depends on transport and hotels that work is arranging. The conference, "Game Based Learning" is in The Brewery, near the Barbican.

Dawn said...

Shame, I am away in Wales for the week. Not to worrage, another Cairngorm trip may be in the offing before I go back for surgery in April. Possibly we may meet up then Duncan. Dawn.

baz carter said...

Duncan, I know the Brewery it's on Brick Lane. I'll check the OBF if I'm about might be able to hook up.

Anonymous said...

I think you should go for this look ;)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/19346720@N00/3272735776/

AktoMan said...

Baz - I got the travel details though and it's a flying visit there and back, with a late session at the conference on Thursday. doesn't look like there'll be time for a get-together with London folk.

Ken - at least I wasn't wearing my braces when that photo was taken. I'm sure the tie's around somewhere.