Does every guy need a pair of dungarees in his wardrobe? SHS writer - and dungaree virgin - George Metcalf put the trend on trial...
Obviously dungarees are in no way a new trend - they’ve had their moment in almost every modern subculture (from punk to hip hop) since they went from straight up workwear to wardrobe staple - and are now most definitely mainstream. For women, at least.
Because when it comes to guys, dungarees still feel a bit, you know, 'out there'.
As someone who's into their fashion, I’ve always been intrigued when I’ve seen other guys rocking them and have been wanting to try the trend for myself for a while. But much like bleaching my hair and getting serious about jewellery, I’ve never quite got round to it... until now.
I was given a pair of dungarees, told to style them and wear them for a whole day to see how comfortable I felt, both physically and metaphorically.
As if styling a completely new garm wasn't tricky enough, I was given Vakoman Apparel's Namata dungarees (which was great as I'd been admiring them on site for ages). They did add an extra level of difficulty to the trial though, as I also had to work with a very loud (albeit lovely) pattern.
But I love a challenge, so got stuck in...
I started off slow, with a monochrome fit featuring a lowkey Stüssy jumper and a pair of Converse 70’s.
I decided quite quickly that one-strappin’ it was more my style (and made me feel less like a farmer/child). I also decided that while this fit was really nice, it wasn't appropriate for a London summer.
Next up, I thought I'd experiment with a bit of layering (because although I couldn't go out like this right now, this good weather isn't gonna last forever).
Personally, I think the layering game on the left (with the Uniqlo hip bag and Stan Ray jacket) is too crazy, but when I paired it with my brown Carhartt jacket I felt like a carpenter (which wasn't really the vibe I was going for).
Next up, I thought I'd play around with colour (it's summer after all).
I chucked the dungarees over a neon orange NOAH tee, Nike Spiridons (a criminally underrated silhouette IMO) and then chucked in some clashing patterns in the form of a tote bag to bring the whole thing together. This was definitely my favourite outfit that I put together, but I figured it was too extra for work, so I made some adjustments.
In the end I decided to let the dungarees do the talking, so paired them with a lowkey black T-shirt and slip-on Vans. I would have got a photo in the morning, but obviously running late and taking a selfie on the tube was a no-go.
Speaking of the tube... I was surprised how comfortable I felt, both in a literal sense and in myself. A couple of businessmen were visibly shocked and appalled at my informal attire, but I felt the same way when I saw the shoes they were wearing.
I spend a lot of my day sitting down, and the dungarees were suprisingly comfy to sit down in all day. I’m not sure if it was the fit or the material they’re made of, but I felt like I was chilling in trackies .
Obviously I had to get up at some point though, so I decided to stretch my legs and go get some lunch. I'll admit, it did feel a bit strange walking through a sea of suits in one of the most informal outfits imaginable, and I did feel a bit self-conscious and like everyone was looking at me, but ultimately I didn’t care. I’m lucky that I’m allowed to wear pretty much whatever I want to work, so I may as well make the most of it.
So, what's my verdict on dungarees?
Well overall, I liked how they looked and I felt free. While everyone else was struggling through the day in uncomfortable M&S trousers, I was essentially wearing pyjamas (it’s safe to say I have ruined wearing normal trousers for myself with this experiment). I feel that some guys have a certain perception about dungarees - that they’re too childish or too feminine- but I would definitely say to get over that and give them a go, because you are 100% missing out.
