Michaelson wrote:So, yes, you have to keep in mind that Indy was a field man and had to have items in his possession he could use that would keep him alive. I doubt he would have lasted past the first scene in Raiders, running from the cave/temple if he had been wearing a current pair of the 'crotch below the knee' trousers of today. If he had, I honestly believe we would not be sitting here talking about 'Indygear' as he would have just been a small part in a big film.
I have to disagree with you there, I'm afraid... Though personally cannot believe I'm defending the fashions of today (which I'm not a big fan of myself), the fashions you speak of only represent a small section of today's entire society. But if we were to talk about that 'hip hop' subculture that you speak of, then you must remember that they have their exercise clothes, just as they do their day-to-day outfits.
In other words, while that image of Indy wearing a leather jacket and safari shirt is an iconic one, we musn't forget that Indy also had his 'normal' outfit: a tweed suit and a bow tie. For the hip-hop subculture, those baggy clothes would be their 'normal' clothes, while a tracksuit (or whatever) would be their adventure clothes.
Now it is fair game to argue that a tracksuit wouldn't last very long in the jungles of South America, but by the same logic, a safari outfit complete with a leather jacket wouldn't last too long in a basketball court.
To be completely honest, I'd say today's fashions are more function over form than they were in the earlier parts of last century. Back then, the world was still reeling from losing its formal bearings, and was trying to clutch desperately at the last remnants of 'proper' dress. As such, they ended up favoring fashion over function: the fashion in this case being formal wear. I mean, exactly what function does a bow tie serve? Or a carnation in one's lapel for example?
As we moved on in time, it seems people in the US (as a whole) cared less and less about being formal, and instead wanted to wear what would work and feel good instead of what would convey a sense of formal fashion. However, it IS true that certain subcultures such as the hip-hop one favor fashion over function (take the baggy pants you mentioned for example), but as a whole, people began dressing down, loosing unnecessary garments such as ties, pocket squares, etc... Sloppy or not, it was and is still function over form.
It should be said that I'm not against the old fashioned look (or I wouldn't even be here), it's just that I feel that sometimes the discussions here can be a bit too one-sided, and everyone should get a fair trial...
