“Dad, you’re so embarrassing!” If I had a dollar for every time one of my sons has commented on my clothing, I’d be a millionaire. A billionaire if eye-rolls and an overdramatic shake of the head were included.
Last year, when I bought a new pair of bright blue Air Jordans, I was told I was too old for them. Wearing my old NBA jersey (Tim Duncan, Spurs) is considered a mortal sin to them. Any T-shirt or sweater I buy them ends up in the back of their closet and eventually at Goodwill. While I’ve learned to stop buying them clothes, I’ll never give up my fashion choices.
Turns out I’m not the only father forced to defend his outfits. Some are stubborn, some do it for laughs, and some think they’ve earned the right in middle age to wear what they want.
Ken Anthony knows his Nike Air Monarchs are ugly. His family knows it, too. There’s even a group chat where they discuss his questionable decisions. When his partner asked him to change shoes before going out, he had a simple answer: “I asked her if she really cared, and she didn’t. I told her my basketball bunion doesn’t either.”
The Monarchs stayed on.
