Carhartts, Docs & Servants - YouLookFab Forum

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Carhartts, Docs & Servants

Angie_T

Traveled today and worked outdoors most of the day in what I knew was going to be a rainy, wet venue. So I pulled on some Carhartt bottoms to go along with my new pewter Dr Martens. (which I think I love!)
Back at the hotel at the end of the day, I was getting off an elevator as a family was getting on with a little girl about 4 who was staring up at me. As I exited, I heard her say...in the sweetest little voice..."Mommy, was she a servant?"
How funny is that?
I don't know how I could style this work look in order to look less servant-like.
But any suggestions are welcome!

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20 replies

Latest reply was from Jeanie

catgirl

Veteran

Carharrts! Fashionable function. Love the Docs. I think it's the white shirt that gives the service industry vibe to little kids, maybe?

crutcher

Veteran

You should have said, "No, I bake cookies for good little girls."...

Zibbets

Veteran

How funny! You look great and those boots are drool-worthy.

ironkurtin

Veteran

...What does she think a servant does?

Anonymous

Woah - and then I clicked on your profile to see where you lived, and perhaps that child's comment it makes a bit more sense to me now. But I have to say, those words would never fly out of the mouth of any kid in the Canadian Prairies. Talk about a cultural difference - one which I often forget exists. Yikes, I'm still shaking my head. That aside, I think it's just the white shirt which lends it a uniform vibe - switch that up for something in grey, in a looser knit maybe ?

Anonymous

I tried those Docs but found them crushingly small in the instep -- sad as I love the colour! I think it might hae been the white shirt the kid was picking up on?

Beth Ann

Veteran

I think you look terrific! The fits are modern, the colors are perfect for the out of doors, and the shoes give the look real style.

With children's comments, you never know. Perhaps she was just somewhere where the wait staff all wore white -- still strange that she'd use the word "servant." Maybe she was watching a Disney movie where a "servant" character was dressed similarly.

Loving the warm tones in your hair picked up in the pants! I don't know Carhartts.....gotta check that out.......

Anonymous

yeah , it was the word servant that shocked me too

Angie_T

Lisap - I live in the Midsouth but today I'm in the finger lakes region of NY and that's where this transpired! So funny. I think it's just a kid thing She probably thought I was part of the grounds crew of the hotel but didn't know how to articulate that.

But I actually kind of like the look.
Beth Ann thank you for saying that about the color. I picked them because I thought they went with my hair. Is that a thing? Trying to make your clothes palette match your hair? I think I've seen Angie blog about that hut I've never tried it.

Ceit - I was a little worried about the instep....but only on my right foot! Joe they have stretched a little and are feeling fine.

Does anyone else have Carhartt's? I'm really liking them.

Thanks for the advice ladies.

Laura (rhubarbgirl)

(website)

Veteran

Somehow I'm imagining the kid having just read some Victorian novels or something...

I love the color combination and the boots. I haven't owned Carhartts (or Docs) in a while but remember them fondly.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

That is hilarious!!

But oh, I love your shoes....

Fun outfit.

E

Veteran

Oh I love outfits with a hint of androgyny & those trousers are such a great combination with your hair.

How funny about the kid! Maybe she has friends who play princess/servant games. Or an older sister who tries to convince her to play servant for the day. lol

catgirl

Veteran

Me. but they are exclusively gear here.

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Love the shoes and how they look with the rolled up jeans. Who knows what associations the little girl was making - funny comment but should not affect your enjoyment of this outfit.

kkards

Veteran

not sure about the kids comment, but i also don't think i've ever seen carhartts and docs so fashionably put together before!

bj1111

Veteran

Kids are funny. You on the other hand are fab. I like the docs in colors!

Ps I would have been mortified as her mother.

Jules

Veteran

Yeah, I am Canadian with relatives in Georgia, and I don't read this as a cultural difference. None of us on either side of the border have "servants" or talk about servants (*maybe* cooks, cleaners or gardeners). In my experience 4 year olds pick up odd vocabulary words, and like to use them, not necessarily correctly... that's how they figure out the true meaning.
I have a 4 year old and wouldn't have been mortified by this, although of course apologetic if it seemed called for. Obviously the conversation about not commenting on stranger's appearance would come afterwards, but not necessarily in the moment either, just because my kids didn't learn well at that age when they were upset or embarrassed.
Much worse, although also innocent, was the time my then 3 year old asked why the man in the elevator was so fat. She had just learned fat and thin as relative descriptors of objects and I'm not one to throw around the work fat as an insult, so she had no context that the word can be a negative. So that conversation came next! Luckily that man was kind and understanding, and not insulted.

Angie_T

Jules, that's a great story. I can relate. I took my niece into a dressing room of a department store with me one time where she sat in her stroller and pronounced in her loudest voice - "You have a fat bottom!" You just have to laugh right? In fact, I chuckled at the servant comment too, as her father did. I think it surprised everyone. But it did make me really think about my outfit!

I love it that your daughter didn't connote "fat" as a negative. You've obviously done a good job as a mama. And I hope she never does.

avicennia

Veteran

angie t, I used to wear carhartts a lot when I did more field work. I loved them and they saved me from injury (bec th denim is so thick) several times. They are hard to break in!

Jeanie

Veteran

I like the vibe of the outfit. It has a sense that you are going on an adventure and a sense of androgyny (like E says) which I like. I've only seem the type of Carhartt's that workers wear outside and the fabric is very thick. These pants don't read thick though.