The confused professional surfer is about to step out. What should he wear?
Last night, or maybe the night before, the Australian surfing community gathered in Manly to celebrate their year of achievement. Like the Oscars! The who’s who crowd watched Barry Bennett get inducted into the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame, Mick Fanning and Sally Fitz were crowned surfers of the year, Jack Robinson won the coveted “Young Charger” award, Jamie Mitchell won Waterman of the Year and Ronnie Blakey paired an acid washed denim shirt three inches too short in the sleeve with what appear to be darker denim pants.
Which raises an important question. Why did you do that Ronnie Blakey? But let us not cast stones at the World Surf League’s most handsome commentator (sorry Joe Turpel!) for deciding the occasion called for a Canadian Tuxedo. It is not entirely his fault for there seems to be absolutely no rule for how surfers should dress at the various award shows that dot the calendar.
The World Surf League banquet is now around the corner and surfers will again put on an eclectic mix of things. Some will wear Hawaiian shirts, others will wear t-shirts, some will wear tuxedos and others will wear short pants. As a group, they will look very preschool. Like, my three-year-old daughter wears off the shoulder floor length gowns every single day to her class. Another boy wears super hero outfits and another girl dresses like a Sikh and another boy basically shows up naked. Eclectic but ok because they are all three-years-old.
I get it, I get it. Surfing is “beachy” and surfers don’t wear clothes in the water, so at awards’ shows and banquets they become confused. Should they dress up or dress down? Should they reflect a casual, beachy attitude or show the world they can polish? Should they respect the roots of our pastime and wear Hawaiian shirts and thick, colorful leis? Should they wear only boardshort and bikini?
Let’s help them! What should surfers wear at awards’ shows and banquets? Do you have any dress code ideas that could help Ronnie Blakey avoid future pitfalls? Please share!
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Get at me for the tasty (and not so…) fashions coverage!
Nothing wrong with a Canadian tuxedo.
mate i love smart casual.
quick trip down to Country Road for a crisp linen shirt and new chinos.
On the ladies side of it, Paul Roustan is good choice.
Well I didn’t want to bring this up, but Ronnie wore the EXACT SAME OUTFIT two nights in a ROW – once at the Oakley Big Wave Awards and once at the SA gig – and was the MC both times. I think I can safely say Chas is swooning right now.
There nothing worse than the WSL sanctioned dress code for the boys..Strider takes it another level with the top button.
F the WSL!!!!
Chas needs to do a Joan Rivers red carpet show at the banquet so we know what went right and what went … https://uploads.disquscdn.c…
YES, YES, YES! Brilliant idea.
In that top photo only one of the gentlemen is batting well above his average…
Fuck Hawaiian shirts.
It has been my experience that there are very few situations that don’t call for a Canadian tuxedo.
ummm errr we are still working on the inside correct beachgrit…? something called a heart add soul… forget you
Should we give a flying fuck?
Yes.
Enough Xanex before the show can make one comfortable with any wardrobe decision..
Side note: Rip Curl makes chambray shirts? Ronnie and Jay Leno could trade wardrobe secrets!
What’s worse: the embarrassing Hawaiian shirts, or the embarrassingly poor fitting suit? Crimes in equal measure! Has any surfer other than The King actually worn a suit that fits? Even Julian has trouble, it seems.
I’m not a fan of the Hawaiian shirt but it’s still much better than an ill fitting suit.
This is why the WSL needs to hire you full time as their fashion guru. Little too much ‘Bong…how about a little ‘Silver to soften it out. Too much Outer but not enough Known? Well…there’s some YSL in the stable of brands to help you step up your game. It’s the role you were born for!
To hell with tuxedos and others!
Nothing can be worse than most anti fashion you be wearing and feeling bad about uncomfortable clothes or make you look like a fish out of water.
Cousteau never wore suits even at parties, honors or to receive awards!
Almost the same Paul Newman, who burned all his tuxedos:
“The worst thing I ever did to my wife was burn all my tuxedos.
I figured if I’ve achieved anything, it’s reaching the point at which I don’t have to dress
up to impress people any more. So I had a big bonfire – it felt fantastic.
She was devastated. She really likes the look of me in a tux.”
But, due to some quick thinking from Woodward, all was not lost.
Newman adds, “She hid one on the day of the bonfire and says she’s going to have me buried in it!”
Surfers do not need to dress like football players, soccers players, bastketball players … like a bunch of bread with bromate, wrapped
Long live Ronnie!!!
I totally agree, Paulo…I think surfers like Nic Lamb with “look at me” tuxes and suits don’t really work. But there are occasions that call for us to raise the bar, as it were. What about Steve Zissou? He paired a tux with a red stocking cap and looked amazing.
Hahaha I forgot Zissou
Ok with this you won Chas !!!
Unbeatable !!! hahaha
https://www.youtube.com/wat…