Confession: Two Things I Think are Cool That Aren’t

The problem with fashion and its ephemeral nature is that there are always looks and products that die before their time. Okay, I’m kidding myself: These things should die, but I can’t help but think they look cool.

Popped Collars – The domain of the privileged, popped collars are two waving pennants signifying you’re the captain of the good ship douchebag. Yet an upturned collar under a high-necked jacket still looks slick to this tired seaman’s eyes.

I know, resist. And I do, but from time to time you’ll find a hint of the pop peeking over the top of my coat. I’m a bad person.

Leather Cuffs – When these things started showing up I remember thinking how awesome it was that everyone had taken up archery. My friend informed me that the cuffs were instead for BDSM acts and that wearing them showed I was willing to be tied up in a dungeon and gone after with a roto-dong. Now I realize that leather cuffs are the Hot Topic way to say “I enjoy an indie music making band but do not yet feel comfortable getting a tattoo,” but guess what? Kinda still neat looking in a suburban barbarian kind of way.

I don’t own any, but yet I don’t have any tattoos, either. A net loss. But then I saw on last weekend’s episode of Weeds that someone was wearing a watch mounted to a thick leather cuff. Does that mean they’re okay again?