Before my annoying plantar fasciitis injury, I used to don knickers twice a week to go fencing. They are comfortable, allowing for easy movement, and more dignified and modest than shorts.
Baseball, football and golf all adopted knickers for the same reasons they work in fencing: comfort, warmth, lower leg flexibility and dignity.
UPDATE: Alas, Root Simple reader Peter informs me that this picture is fiction. Current shooting attire, Peter informs me, is “rubber boots, jeans and one of those nice Barbour waxed cotton jackets. The Queen does not wear jeans, but a tweed skirt. This uniform is accompanied by a battered, mud-splattered Land Rover and a pair of ruinously expensive, handmade shotguns. Anyone who dressed like the men in the picture would be found guilty of that most English of sins, Trying Too Hard, and sniggered at.”
At least there’s (pre-ironic?) Oktoberfest in Bavaria:
Image: HaTe on Wikipedia.
Yes, I know, you’re too distracted by the Tyrolean hats to notice the knickers.
Bike in Tweed, Stockholm 2013. Image: Wikipedia.
In a somewhat more ironic context, knickers have appeared at “tweed rides” in various cities around the world. Still, it’s hard to pull this off outside of an organized ride without seeming like you just stepped out of a steam punk convention.
Alas, our fashion overlords have banished knickers to the historical recreation ghetto. But maybe there’s hope. Since writing this silly post Google is now suggesting I visit this modern knicker purveyor. Nice, but could we skip the polyester?
As Marshall McLuhan used to say, “If you don’t like that idea, I’ve got others.” Not ready for knickers? How about my idea for a hipster Alpine wear shop? Get ready for the Kickstarter . . .
I ride horses and wear breeches and tall boots. Similar concept. The whole point of knickers is to keep your pants and legs clean and unencumbered by extra material while you’re doing whatever useful task you’re doing: hunting, riding a bike, etc. Modern sport has transitioned to the legging, but I agree that it’d be nice to have more material through the leg and keep the calf unencumbered. Bringing them back really isn’t a bad idea. HA!
We cyclists in colder climates never gave up on knickers. Especially those of us who end up with full length tights bunched up around our ankles due to short legs.
Capri pants are similar. Men usually don’t wear them.
except in Europe. Euroschmantz.
Since hakama (also suitable for swordplay) and other traditional styles are coming back into vogue, I’d say the trend in retro clothing has definite merit. If it’s comfy, wear it!
BTW the “monocle” is back in the culture – but people do it now with contact lenses – one eye for reading, the other for distance.
Kelly does this, which is why I’m upset I can’t wear a monocle!
Gotta admit, I love knickerbockers, gauchos, clamdiggers, and other knee-length bifurcated garments. They’re comfy, great for layering in an age of climate chaos, they go under shirts, dresses, or skirts.
It took a while for me to re-embrace them after my mom decided to dress me in them constantly in 1980-83 in tribute to Princess Di (massive eye-roll), but here we are.
Some years ago, I tried to buy a pair of climbing breeches, which are loose pants made of tweed or moleskin (not REALLY skin from moles!) that buckle just below the knee and are ideal for general hiking. I found that rock climbers these days wear skin-tight Lycra in vivid colors, which was not at all what I had in mind!
The picture of the immaculately attired English shooting (not hunting) party must be from Downton Abbey or similar fiction. The standard dress for even the most aristocratic shooting party is rubber boots, jeans and one of those nice Barbour waxed cotton jackets. The Queen does not wear jeans, but a tweed skirt. This uniform is accompanied by a battered, mud-splattered Land Rover and a pair of ruinously expensive, handmade shotguns. Anyone who dressed like the men in the picture would be found guilty of that most English of sins, Trying Too Hard, and sniggered at.
So now you know what to wear the next time the Queen invites you to go shooting!
Peter–many thanks for the correction, though I’m disappointed to learn that this picture is fiction. Also many thanks for the tip on climbing breeches. We really need to unite on stopping the many lycra tribes out there!
This funny – I’m sitting here reading this after bike commuting home in my normal commuting attire – a pair of knickers.
I have two pair – one from BetaBrand and one from Swrve.
ebay has some tweed knickers.
You’ve forgotten the ‘plus fours’ worn in Britain at some point in the last century, for sporting activities. A bit longer than knickers. I saw them referenced in various British novels, and finally looked them up to see what this referred to.