THE QATSPY® Quapaw Aviation Tactical Sportswear Performance Yukon Outfitters
By: Charles W. Boatright
Persona of Style vs. the Trends of Fashion– Fashion is What Others Establishes While Style is What One Determines 4 Themselves that Endures
When You’re Talking About Style vs. Fashion You Got to Refer to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in ACT 1 Scene 3
There is a line in Hamlet, ACT 1 Scene 3, of Shakespeare that goes- To thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. If I was to interrupt this quote by King Claudius’ chief minister, Polonius in Shakespeare Hamlet– I would state that it meant- be in reference to your true nature for the apparel often proclaims your manor and character to others.
We all are trying to find ways to save on both the essential and on nonessential items and still save for the future whether that’s for education, a home, or retirement. This is not an easy task to accomplish, where we have to make things go further and still have disposable income for those things that we still enjoy in our life, like college football and tailgating with friends.
Making something last is key in saving money now during a recession or even when there is a turnaround in two years. There is one key factor in saving money on items that are essential or nonessential purchases. It is making the distinction between simple style (that endures) and fashion (that is transitory if I may barrow a adjective from the Biden’s Administration). This applies to most purchases that we make during our lifetime. But when you buy, buy the best, because in the long run it does save you money.
There is one characteristic fact in regards to our clothing, we typically wear 20 percent of the clothes that we have in our closets. This 20 percent defines our style and character. So the other 80 percent fall into the fashion category. That 20 percent drops when we retire as I have been since June of 2015. The clothes that you actually wear drops even further down to about 8 percent of the 20 percent of your clothes that you typically wear.
To assist you in saving money over the long-term, determine what endures among six (6) areas- essential, functionality, reliability, appearance, satisfaction, and taste base on a general assessment, as well. This is where your style outweighs the current fashion of du jour. When you purchase clothing, stay will the 20 percent rule of what you typically wear.
I would like to use four examples of style that we can identify with that also endures that is defies time. There are certain styles that are timeless, or ageless, blue jeans are one of these. The examples that I’m using are personal items. The four examples are a 2001 Tacoma Toyota Pickup Truck, a 2005 Jeep Wrangler, both of which I wax once a month, an A-2 Leather Flight Jacket that I wear as my sports jacket, with blue jeans as noted in the feature photograph.
The 2001 Tacoma Pickup Truck
Two years ago, I pulled into the Kroger’s parking lot next to where a landscape crew were taking a break between jobs drinking a sports drink. The foreman walked over to where I had just parked and made an offer to buy my Tacoma Truck even before even introducing himself. The first offer he made was what I had actually paid for the Tacoma truck back in October of 2001 NEW. His last offer to me was for me to give him a price as he gave me his business card.
When I make a purchase like my 2001 Tacoma, it is not based on how it looks then, but how it will look in 15 or 20- years from now, that defines what a classic really IS.
2005 JEEP
The same applies to the 2005 Jeep Wrangler that I recently added a hardtop to from RALLY’s. The basic design of the 2005 Jeep Wrangler was similar to what it looked like in 1941 when it was designed and manufactured for World War II. The Jeep still has that appeal that it had in the 1950’s and 60’s. Matter of fact, the reason I’m attracted toward the Jeep is it was the vehicle that I learned to drive on with a manual transmission, or stick shift.
The 1931 A-2 Leather Flight Jacket
In June of 1931, the U.S. Military upgraded their original A-1 Leather Flight Jacket by adding elastic cuffs and a elastic waistband and with a front zipper upgrading it to the A-2 Leather Flight Jacket. The A-1 had open cuffs and loose waistband similar to the Indiana Jones Leather Jacket that we carry also, but the A-1 Leather Flight Jacket buttoned up the front.
The upgrade was due to the 1918 Spanish Flu Pandemic that killed more soldiers than were killed in battle during World War I. The U.S. ARMY needed a flight jacket to protect its pilots from a future pandemic, like the 1918 Spanish Flu. Thus the A-2 Leather Flight Jacket was issued to the U.S. ARMY AIR CORPS pilots and crews and later to special Airborne Units, like the 82nd and the 101st.
My first A-2 Leather Flight Jacket was given to me by my uncle when I was 16 years old. I still have it and still wear it from time to time. I now have a COOPER’S Sportswear A-2 and G-1 Leather Flight Jackets. Cooper’s Sportswear was one of the original manufactures of the A-2 and G-1 Leather Flight Jackets that I’m an authorized dealer for. We issue both jackets to the U.S. Military and to movie studios where our jackets have been in many movies.
I wear my A-2 Leather Flight Jacket 10 months out of the year for both business and for leisure wear instead of my cloth Sports Jacket. This Cooper’s Leather Flight Jackets are so durable and resilient that I even wear it when I’m riding my INDIAN Motorcycle or flying in our P-51 Mustang or P-40 Warhawk aircraft.
I feel more comfortable and confident wearing my Cooper’s A-2 Leather Flight Jacket as I did wearing my blue wool blend blazer sports jacket that I have since mothballed. The cloth sports jackets needs professional dry cleaning is a huge drawback. The big advantage of the A-2 Leather Flight Jacket is it is designed to hold its shape and appearance while traveling that only needs a occasional wipe down with a paper towel dipped in water (8 oz.) mixed with dish detergent (1 Tablespoon) and I’m ready to go.
Blue Jeans & Button-down Oxford Shirt
Now how can I overlook the American Classic of all times of apparel items that was made famous by the Levis Strauss Company in 1853. I now wear LL Beans Classic Blue Jeans because I can have them, LL Beans, tailored my blue jeans to my specifications. The only thing more important for me than style and durability is a great fit. I wear my LL Beans Blue Jeans for business with a classic blue button-down oxford shirt and tie if needed.
I’m shown above covering a college football game for an article for my Sports Page. Above, I’m shown attending the Kentucky at Mississippi State Football Game to cover the 2021 Mississippi State Baseball Team receiving their 2021 NCAA College World Series Baseball rings. You can travel in style and still have that classic look of blue jeans, button-down Oxford shirt, and the Cooper’s A-2 Leather Flight Jacket and have for that professional look and feel. What would Indiana Jones be with out his Indy-Style Leather Jacket? ■
Both the QATSPY® button-down Oxford embroidered logo shirt and the Copper’s A-2 Leather Flight Jacket can be purchased from my Online Store just in time for Tailgating. We also can personalized our leather jackets with your company, organization logo, or military insignia as a great way to show your affiliation or pride of service to our country:
When talking about timeless age defying conditions, I experienced one of the most unique situations in March of 2015, three (3) months after I started THE DELPHI DIET and CAST FITNESS System. I started THE DELPHI DIET and CAST FITNESS System mainly to drop 45- LBS. and 7.75- inches in my waistline before I retired in June of 2015 to start my business, THE QATSPY, a sportswear and performance business.
In three months after I had started the diet, I discovered that I was dropping more than weight and inches, I was actually dropping years off the condition of my skin that was totally unexpected. This was due to the diet and fitness program that I was following. The diet is based on two principles of WHAT (The Health Index Factor) and WHEN (eating between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.) both are important for having age defying skin at age 65, in the photograph above. THE DELPHI DIET and CAST FITNESS System is in my new book that is on KINDLE below: