Pants Man!

When Australian Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, entered quarantine after his recent overseas trip to Japan, he allowed his personal photographer, Adam Taylor, to snap him in his shorts. The image was published in the 22 November edition of The Sunday Telegraph and ScoMo subsequently posted the image on his Facebook page.

Our knockabout PM is again reminding us that he is ‘man of the people’ and has adopted the ‘covid virtual meeting fashion’ of: business attire above and casual below.

I have not been a subscriber to the dropping of dress standards (or pants) during the pandemic and have found the phenomenon rather odd. However, this ‘pants off’ desire is apparently quite common and has been widely embraced.

‘No Pants Day’ is an annual event in various countries and is held on the first Friday in May. Started by a small campus club (the Knighthood of Buh) at the University of Texas in Austin, the event has gained in popularity since 2000 and is now common in America, Canada, Britain, some European countries, Iraq and Australia. Designed as a humorous event to relieve end-of-semester stress, its playful subversion of ‘business as usual’ during the coronavirus pandemic makes sense.

Of course, ‘dropping one’s daks’ is something that Aussies do when the Daddy Cool song, Eagle Rock, is played. This tradition may date back to the 1990s when two Townsville soldiers were fined for lewd behaviour and said to the magistrate in their defence: ‘But your Honour, we always do that when they play Eagle Rock!’ Other possible initiators include the Kapunda Football Club, a Canberra rugby club and the University of Queensland – where one of the university’s function rooms specifically mentions the song. Among the uni rules is rule No. 8: Patrons will not be ejected by security if they drop their pants during the playing of the song Eagle Rock. Then rule No. 9 says: They must pull their pants up when the song is finished.

This revelry has also spread around the world and I was bemused to see a range of international guests expose their boxers and Calvin Kleins during the dancing when my niece married her Irish boyfriend in Melbourne last year.

For those who insist on embracing this dress code, there are 771 helpful suggestions on the ‘Man without pants images’ from Shutterstock.com (https://www.shutterstock.com/search/man+without+pants)

Although I am not a ‘pantsman’ – which according to the Urban Dictionary is: ‘a real ladies man, but also a man you can take to see your mother’ – I do like trousers.

As we emerge from lockdown and re-engage with the world it is time to consider the possibilities for clothing the lower half of our bodies. The National Gallery of Victoria provides many possible and exotic options.

If still worried about covid, the ‘top and pants’ ensemble from Comme Des Garçons is a real contender.

If feeling ‘aggro’, defensive and not ready to mix with the world there is the ‘Punk Outfit’ by James Lynch and Des Kirwan.

If unwilling to move too far from ‘tracky daks’ then clothes by Pam or World’s End are considerations – or even the ‘Sequin scale leggings’ by ROMANCE WAS BORN.

If wanting to maintain a more conservative ‘jacket and trouser suit’ image then either the clothing by Nutters or, if feeling exuberant and confident, World’s suit are suggestions.

Or if just wanting to resume ‘Melbourne black’ then NOM*D’s outfit is the clear choice.

While I ponder the options, I might send ScoMo a Facebook comment and suggest that, if he persists with the shorts, then perhaps he should consider dressing it up with some help from RICK OWENS

I doubt he will embrace it …