Fashion thread

[MadMax]

Got bleach? We can turn those Navy polos into a different, less mundane, less stooge-y color in a jiffy.

A red mock turtleneck (under)shirt, you say? Ho boy, this guy is seriously a style-stooge. A generous stooge, but a stooge. May as well wear a dickey. 

[Rulekeep]

@MadMax, well the thing is, he usually wears black/blue so he wears a black mock. Which looks a lot less dumb than a red mock. (And it's a popular thing among MLBers.) I'll probably wear the mock for wrestling practice and keep wearing the gray and red Russell shirt I always have under my shirts. Although, bleaching the shirts doesn't sound like a terrible idea...

Hey, for what it's worth, at least my pants aren't heather. And at least I'm wearing a uniform (albeit a completely outdated one) instead of a too-big hoodie and ripped jeans.

[noumpere]

A red undershirt works well with the navy (with red/blue stripes on the sleeves) shirt.  It was probably "more standard"
 than the navy undershirt when navy outershirts were popular.

 

Whether to wear a mock-turtle neck or a regular round neck (whatever it's called) is personal preference.

[HokieUmp]

I guess I'm a dinosaur, then, because I like Navy.

Here, the choice is Navy or powder.  No WAY am I wearing powder.  Ever.  I don't really care if MLB guys wear it;  when I see powder, I think "softball guy."  If the MLB guys want to look like softball guys, Godspeed to them.

I get asked a lot during the summer if I have it, and say "nope."  I think it disappoints many partners, but I whatevs;  I umpired in the Australian Outback for four years, and work a dark blue/green shirt that was part of ABF at the time.  Didn't die from heat, nor did any partner I ever had.  When you strap on the plate gear, THAT'S what makes you hot, not the color of your shirt.

But, since we umpires as a group tend to be ...... clothes horses, let's say ...... I'm sure my association will eventually go to black, because that's what the MLB/MiLB guys wear.

[MadMax]

Here, the choice is Navy or powder.  No WAY am I wearing powder.  Ever.  I don't really care if MLB guys wear it;  when I see powder, I think "softball guy."  If the MLB guys want to look like softball guys, Godspeed to them.

I get asked a lot during the summer if I have it, and say "nope."  I think it disappoints many partners, but I whatevs...

The MLB guys don't wear "powder". They wear Major League Baseball Sky Blue. It's also called Polo Blue. It's also called "That light blue the Major leagues wears", and has black trim. The proper trim color for baseball.

Powder is worn by softball. It has navy and white trim. It is worn by many, many youth/amateur umpires because A) it is stocked and sold indiscriminately by local sporting goods stores so as to have "umpire shirts" available to baseball and/or softball umpires, regardless of level or type; B) a majority of umpires can, and do, work baseball and softball, and most don't care to get specific shirts – "One shirt to call them all."; and C) no one possesses the spine and foresight to introduce new, modern styles to the umpire ranks and encourage them to use them.

[HokieUmp]

The MLB guys don't wear "powder". They wear Major League Baseball Sky Blue. It's also called Polo Blue. It's also called "That light blue the Major leagues wears", and has black trim. The proper trim color for baseball.

Oh, well, dear me.  I'm sorry that my color palette is so terribly unrefined.  I'm such a Philistine.

Light blue?  Powder?  "Major League Baseball Sky Blue"?  You can have them.  And again, Godspeed to you.  I, on the other hand, am happy to stay a dinosaur in a Navy blue shirt, and risk the extra 0.000001 degree of heat retention difference that it makes.  And yes, I'll stay a step or two behind modern umpire fashion trends.

I could have sworn there was a phrase that went "the clothes don't make the man."  Oh, wait.  There is.

[Mizzou2016]

Oh, well, dear me.  I'm sorry that my color palette is so terribly unrefined.  I'm such a Philistine.

Light blue?  Powder?  "Major League Baseball Sky Blue"?  You can have them.  And again, Godspeed to you.  I, on the other hand, am happy to stay a dinosaur in a Navy blue shirt, and risk the extra 0.000001 degree of heat retention difference that it makes.  And yes, I'll stay a step or two behind modern umpire fashion trends.

I could have sworn there was a phrase that went "the clothes don't make the man."  Oh, wait.  There is.

 Oh wow, for a guy trying to call someone else out for being condescending, you're doing an awfully good job of it yourself.

Navy is outdated - if you don't care about the difference in heat retention, wear black. 

[HokieUmp]

 Oh wow, for a guy trying to call someone else out for being condescending, you're doing an awfully good job of it yourself.
 

Thanks;  that was sort of the intent.  Not to call out, but good for the goose, good for the gander, and all that.

I'm more wondering when people decided 1) when Navy was outdated, especially when I still see a [bleep]load of it everywhere, and not just in my association, 2) when sky/light blue became something that baseball guys wear.  And maybe 3) why are umpires so flighty about wardrobe?

I guess 1) is answered by "we want to do whatever MLB guys do."  And I just don't get that.  We're professionals, yes, when defined as "are you paid for your avocation?"  But we don't work professional players, so we don't have to follow their trends necessarily.

Navy is outdated - if you don't care about the difference in heat retention, wear black. 

Once it becomes mandatory in this association, I certainly will.  And I'm sure it's coming;  we have enough college guys, so that will probably push us sooner vs. later.  I look at it this way:  we get paid, but it's not my living, so I'm not going to spend more than I need to on those sorts of things.  Protective gear?  Happy to spend on that.  Buying a shirt because some Better Umpire wears it?  Not so much.

[LRZ]

I'll worry more about the exact shade of blue of my shirts when players stop wearing baggy pants and go back to stirrups and sanitary hose.

[HokieUmp]

I'll worry more about the exact shade of blue of my shirts when players stop wearing baggy pants and go back to stirrups and sanitary hose.

You'll be waiting a looooooooooooooo  ..... ooooooong time.

I think I like your philosophy.

[Mizzou2016]

I don't like that philosophy - it may not be your living but you are getting paid - and looking and acting like a professional is part of that. Every single clinic I've gone to has started out the same way. "Professionalism." Professionalism dictates not only your attitude and actions, but taking pride in your appearance. (Clean pressed pants, polished shoes, clean hat, neatly trimmed facial hair. Or none at all in some associations) I wouldn't go to a black tie affair wearing a purple velvet suit, because I care about my appearance and don't want to look like I crawled out of the 70s. Umpiring is the same way. You may not like it, but it's the way things are. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[Mizzou2016]

No one is asking you to spend a fortune on an umpiring wardrobe. Black shirt, $25, mlb blue $25. A few years ago that was 1 game check per shirt for me. Im sure VA pays better than MO for umpiring. And if umpiring isn't your living, then you can probably afford to give up one of those game checks. Back when umpiring was my living (just rent and food while in college) I could still afford to give up a game check towards new gear. Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G870A using Tapatalk

[MadMax]

@StevenCraze, I may not endorse @LRZ's and @HokieUmp's philosophy, but I understand where they are coming from...

For me, it's not a matter of image or appearance per se. This could be any color in the spectrum, any style in the array, any item in the arsenal... It's a matter of attitude. I don't hate deplore detest abhor despise dislike navy because it is the color navy – I dislike it because it is the color of the status quo (at least in the realms I umpire: Wisconsin, CDP, etc.). The problem is not what (color) these umpires wear, it's how and why they wear it!

To LRZ and Hokie, I don't know if you're an umpire-of-good-repute or not... I have to trust that you are! Thing is, let me present to you this rhetorical question – what would you do if your navy shirt was shredded in the wash, or eaten by MechaMoths (eaters of synthetic clothing!), or stolen? And, for tomorrow's game, your partner has two of every color in the rainbow (in the appropriate size, no less!) and will loan you whatever color you choose for the game... What color are you going to choose?

[LRZ]

What does a navy or light blue shirt have to do with looking unprofessional? As long as I'm wearing one of the colors mandated by the leagues and associations for which I work, the color I wear has absolutely nothing to do with my professionalism. Around here, the basic colors are navy and light blue--the same light blue the softball folks wear--and I have both, and I always walk onto a field with clean clothing, shined shoes and creased cap. Some guys open their trunks up to a full wardrobe: red, black, white, cream, olive green, pink, even camo. Sorry, I'm a simple man.

 

Edited August 4, 2015 by LRZ

[HokieUmp]

I wouldn't go to a black tie affair wearing a purple velvet suit, because I care about my appearance and don't want to look like I crawled out of the 70s. Umpiring is the same way. You may not like it, but it's the way things are.

Again - and, BTW, no one's answered this yet - what Commissar decided this?  That navy is the equivalent of the 70s?

Whoever that person was, they've done a TERRIBLE job of getting the word out, since navy is still the prevalent color of amateur umpire associations.  Not just in Virginia, but in plenty of places.

I do all of the things that you mentioned - pants, shoes, hat, trimmed hair.  But I look like I crawled out of the 70s because I wear navy?  Which, on the color spectrum, isn't that far from black?  Wow, I say.  Wow.

@StevenCraze, I may not endorse @LRZ's and @HokieUmp's philosophy, but I understand where they are coming from...

For me, it's not a matter of image or appearance persay. This could be any color in the spectrum, any style in the array, any item in the arsenal... It's a matter of attitude. I don't hate deplore detest abhor despise dislike navy because it is the color navy – I dislike it because it is the color of the status quo (at least in the realms I umpire: Wisconsin, CDP, etc.). The problem is not what (color) these umpires wear, it's how and why they wear it!

I didn't really expect a political treatise, but now I'm intrigued.  You're going to have to explain further - what exactly is the issue with the 'how' and 'why'?  I don't mean to appear dense, but for me, 'how' = pulled over my head, with my arms through the sleeve holes, and the tag in the back (and tucked in, clean, the patches/embroidery I'm supposed to have);  'why' = because we need to look different than the players, the association requires it, and the association dictates the colors.  I think I know where you're going, but you really will have to expound.  I don't feel like the navy shirt makes me less of a professional in how I work my games, and I happen to think I'm pretty solid, my game last Sunday notwithstanding.

To LRZ and Hokie, I don't know if you're an umpire-of-good-repute or not... I have to trust that you are! Thing is, let me present to you this rhetorical question – what would you do if your navy shirt was shredded in the wash, or eaten by MechaMoths (eaters of synthetic clothing!), or stolen? And, for tomorrow's game, your partner has two of every color in the rainbow (in the appropriate size, no less!) and will loan you whatever color you choose for the game... What color are you going to choose?

Oh, you are gonna hate this answer.....

Navy.

God help me, and my [apparently] Philistine soul, but I like how navy shirts look.  As @LRZ mentioned, there are guys that have all kinds of crap in their collection, and I prefer navy.  Again - and I'm not sure you and @StevenCraze have tracked it - right now, navy and light blue are our association's options, and I hate the light blue.  I don't work softball;  I don't want to look like a softball guy.  And I'm not unhappy with navy.

If/when we go to black, I'll certainly pull the trigger, because it's a condition of my employment.  Otherwise, a whole lotta nope.

[zm1283]

Someone needs to tell the fashion police in this thread that those lowly pro umpires from rookie ball to Triple A all wore navy up until about five years ago. 

I wear black and light blue because I work college baseball and that is what is worn. There is nothing inherently wrong with navy, it has just gone out of style in some places. You can still look plenty professional in navy. Hell, the umpires who wear black could walk on the field next spring in navy every game and no one would be the wiser. 

[ZebraStripes]

I have grown tired of wearing navy.  That said, it is one of two choices for high school games around here.  I, and many others, don't want to be "that guy" with only navy shirts at CDP.  I only had navy and light blue for my first trip, and by my second I had added cream, black and red.  On days where I do 4 or more games, we tend to switch colors when swapping out from behind the plate.  

[Tksjewelry]

Baseball umpiring associations are still good ole boys clubs in many areas. It's an earned stereotype of the good ole boy to resist change. It's why many associations haven't moved over yet. They'll either retire away or have a light bulb moment to change. People become comfortable in fashion they began with and will always see that what's best. Kind of like music, you'll think the music of your youth is what's best. But umpires aren't still wearing ties, beanies, and double breastfed jackets, the button down shirts are gone, as are even balloons (I'll lump them in with fashion because they're very visable). Even the modern black umpiring shirt has changed. At some point in time, the traditional Navy shirt will go the way of beanie and suit, it will just be retro and that time is quickly approaching. The Internet has revolutionized fashion trends in every industry. Umpiring isn't excluded. We're no longer stuck with whatever the local store carries, there are so many options out there. I'm not stuck with the smitty combo heather pants that our local store carries, I can buy the modern charcoal plate and base pants (well, I can't but ya'll can). My UIC has been in the umpiring industry for 50 years. At the training meetings in 2014 he grumbled whenever a member talked about *gasp* cream shirts. This year, he's all about new colors. His current favorite.... Wait for it....... CAMO! Part of this transformation for him was seeing his best young umpires excited to get a new color/style of shirt. The young men coming into umpiring have known nothing but having options at their fingertips on their phones, they bring that mentality with them them on the fields. UIC uses the psychology of allowing, even encouraging, a fashion to be apart of his arsenal of retaining these young men. Luckily, our HS association has grown fashionably too, slowly but it's grown. Black and Navy are still needed for tournaments (I bet Navy goes away this winter) but during the regular season it's match and your fine, albeit crazy colors like red and camo still aren't allowed. Every association is going to be different. I've been lucky to start in our association when I did. Our coaches are now trained to a certain visual psychology of umpires, and a variety of shirts colors is more common now than not. Because of that, Navy umpires are viewed a certain way by many coaches: smitties, newbies, or good ole boys and they react according. I pay a lot of attention to how coaches comment on our appearance and how they react throughout a game, it's a tool I probably am more acutely used to using than most of my male counterparts. If in your association, the Navy shirt hasn't gone the way of the Herb Tarlick suit, then that's fine but be aware it will eventually just like the beanie and suit. Sticking your head in the sand isn't going to stop the change from happening but it may affect how you might be viewed by your more progressive peers. Now, if none of the novel I've written here concerns you or you just don't care, then good for you, you be you and Navy away.

[HokieUmp]

Baseball umpiring associations are still good ole boys clubs in many areas. It's an earned stereotype of the good ole boy to resist change. It's why many associations haven't moved over yet. They'll either retire away or have a light bulb moment to change.

So I'm a good ole boy, based on my shirt color?  Wow, the rhetorical devices people are using to justify their shopping addictions.  I'm not sure if this is ageist or fashionist, or both.

At some point in time, the traditional Navy shirt will go the way of beanie and suit, it will just be retro and that time is quickly approaching.

As I've said, on more than one occasion, when it does, I'll go that route.  I will not man the parapets for that change, however.  We all have the hill we'll die on;  this is not my hill.  Honestly, for OR against.

I guess where I continue to respond to this is the implied statements here on the pro- side that "If you wear navy, you suck."  Or "if you don't wear MY trendy color, you suck."  I realize I just made a post the other day about my crisis of confidence, so this will sound strange, but:  I don't suck.  I won't make The Show, but I don't suck.  Take that downtown and print it.  And the color of shirt I wear/prefer doesn't change that.

I wore red once for a game in Australia.  Our league played an "Aussies v Yanks" game every Australia Day.  Shirts were made for the umpires one year, and they were red.  They were brutal.  Bru.  Tal.  Kind of swore me off a lot of the color palette for umpire shirts.

The young men coming into umpiring have known nothing but having options at their fingertips on their phones, they bring that mentality with them them on the fields. UIC uses the psychology of allowing, even encouraging, a fashion to be apart of his arsenal of retaining these young men.

I hear some of the same arguments at work - that millenials are changing the environment because reasons.  It's as if everyone collectively has forgotten that EVERY new generation changes the world, one way or the other, so millenials much be Something Special.  If the color of a shirt is what keeps those young men around, I would wonder about their motivations to be there at all.

Because of that, Navy umpires are viewed a certain way by many coaches: smitties, newbies, or good ole boys and they react according.

Wow.  So they guys that look like overstuffed sausages in polyester respond to OUR shirt colors like that?  Would love to see coaches around here try to treat our top dogs like that, for those reasons. (And I'm not in that top dog group.)

Sticking your head in the sand isn't going to stop the change from happening but it may affect how you might be viewed by your more progressive peers. Now, if none of the novel I've written here concerns you or you just don't care, then good for you, you be you and Navy away.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to.  In fact, the implication (again) in this post that I must be a terrible umpire because of my shirt color, you're actually making me WANT to dig my heels in.

I mean, I'm fairly progressive, politically and socially, but again, this just doesn't cross my radar as anything other than I like my navy shirt and hate the light blue, which are - again - my ONLY options.  If other umpires decide what I'm like, or other guys in my area are like, based on that, well, that's not only not a progressive way of thinking, it's just wrong.

[LMSANS]

When the color of my shirt is the determining factor in the quality of my umpiring, that will be the time for me to retire.  I know several guys that wear the "pro" shirts that shouldn't be umpiring slo-pitch softball.  Of all the decisions I need to make in my life, the color of the shirt I wear on a baseball diamond is very low on my list.

[scrounge]

WHO F@#$^@#$^ CARES?!?!?

No coach or team gives a rat's a%% what color you're wearing if you suck, and they don't care what color you're wearing if you don't. Other than MAYBE a momentary chuckle or puzzled look at the start - and that alone won't last more than a nanosecond - what you DO will determine how you're perceived more than what you WEAR. I'm not talking about looking dirty or dingy - if you're going to show up as a ragbag in ANY color, you're going to be seen as a ragbag. But if you show up in a clean, fitted uniform of pretty much any color short of blaze orange, no one's going to know or care.

 

Other than hypersensitive partners who insist on focusing on the superficial and trivial.

Edited August 6, 2015 by scrounge

[Jeff C.]

WHO F@#$^@#$^ CARES?!?!?

No coach or team gives a rat's a%% what color you're wearing if you suck, and they don't care what color you're wearing if you don't. Other than MAYBE a momentary chuckle or puzzled look at the start - and that alone won't last more than a nanosecond - what you DO will determine how you're perceived more than what you WEAR. I'm not talking about looking dirty or dingy - if you're going to show up as a ragbag in ANY color, you're going to be seen as a ragbag. But if you show up in a clean, fitted uniform of pretty much any color short of blaze orange, no one's going to know or care.

 

Other than hypersensitive partners who insist on focusing on the superficial and trivial.

Scrounge is correct.  I had a game where my partner and I showed up in all white polos.  No one said boo other than "Good choice.  Going to be a hot one."

[Aging_Arbiter]

‌

WHO F@#$^@#$^ CARES?!?!?

No coach or team gives a rat's a%% what color you're wearing if you suck, and they don't care what color you're wearing if you don't. Other than MAYBE a momentary chuckle or puzzled look at the start - and that alone won't last more than a nanosecond - what you DO will determine how you're perceived more than what you WEAR. I'm not talking about looking dirty or dingy - if you're going to show up as a ragbag in ANY color, you're going to be seen as a ragbag. But if you show up in a clean, fitted uniform of pretty much any color short of blaze orange, no one's going to know or care.

 

Other than hypersensitive partners who insist on focusing on the superficial and trivial.

@HokieUmp  What do you drive to the game?  Let's start a Chevy vs. Ford tag <insert sarcasm here>.  That would be MORE relevant than what color shirt one chooses to/not to wear. 

I tell ya' what big dog, if ever in your neck of the woods, I'll bring NAVY and I'll work a game with you.

[HokieUmp]

‌@HokieUmp  What do you drive to the game?  Let's start a Chevy vs. Ford tag <insert sarcasm here>.  That would be MORE relevant than what color shirt one chooses to/not to wear. 

I tell ya' what big dog, if ever in your neck of the woods, I'll bring NAVY and I'll work a game with you.

Oops - I drive a Hyundai.  I effed that argument up good.

Come on down, man - weather's better here!

Edited August 13, 2015 by HokieUmp