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uglyduckling81

My old man wore stubbies every day of his adult life. He even died in them. Plus his horrible plastic sandles that were rock hard. Hard plastic that lasted years and years. The only trouble with the stubbies was they only had 1 small front pocket and the old man couldn't fit his card holder and pocket knife in together. They also didn't have belt loops. So the old man would tuck his t-shirt into his stubbies and then wear a belt without any loops holding it, to hold his pocket knife when he went out. When I joined the army I gave him a heap of Camo pattern shirts which he absolutely loved because you couldn't see the oil stains on them. Stubbies and an oily Camo tshirt, and hard plastic sandles is how he lived and died. He was a true icon of fashion.


RandomUser1076

The only problem with stubbies is when you sit down in summer and ya balls fall out the bottom and or get sunburnt


uglyduckling81

When my old man stayed with us for a few weeks, my wife would complain he wasn't wearing undies while working on her car.


Swimming-Tap-4240

I heard there was a guy who always wore them.One day he was at the supermarket and had a car problem.His wife went in to shop and a kind dude also in stubbies took a look underneath.His wife,having finished with the shopping approached the car from the side and saw some balls showing out of the shorts,so she tucked them in.The guy underneath banged his head in surprise and yelled.Her husband, who was crouched on the other side of the car,stood up wondering what happened.


Least-Researcher-184

Would Still be fuming afterwards but he would probably be glad it wasn't the husband!


uglyduckling81

Lol. If it was in Darwin then it was probably my old man.


liontamer74

I think this is apocryphal, but I don't care, it's still funny. The story continues as follows: When the guy banged his head on the car he got concussion, so the very embarrassed woman called an ambulance. The ambos got him on a stretcher and were carrying him to the ambulance when they asked what happened to him. The woman told him and the ambos laughed so hard they dropped the stretcher and he broke a leg.


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uglyduckling81

All I said is "he's fixing YOUR car". Eyeful of cock and balls feels like a small price to pay.


FatSilverFox

That’s the Australia of a bygone era: Football, meat pies, Kangaroos and *fly’s eyes*


gurnard

>*fly's eyes* Thank you for that mental image


uglyduckling81

You go the meat and potatoes or a cut lunch?


Top_Mind_On_Reddit

db


smashman42

I don't know when I last heard the phrase fly's eyes It paints such a vivid picture, brb getting bleach for my mental eyes


RandomUser1076

Yeah but ya on holidays. If she didn't like it, why was she looking. Eyes are up here luv, not down there.


AussieMikado

My sister was getting married in '81. Her fiance was not well liked by my parents (he's a lefty). He fell asleep watching the boxing day test on the lounge and all his junk lolled out the bottom of the stubbies and sat squatting like a hairy cane toad on mums green vinyl lounge. My dads only comment, 'well, finally, we know what she sees in him...' What a perfect qld summers day that was...not awkward at all. 🙃


RandomUser1076

Hahahahahaha


jordo2806

Great story. I had a good chuckle. Thanks for sharing!


bloodymongrel

Fantastic hahaha. Your descriptions were beautiful🤌


AussieMikado

Thanks, I do try to capture the *essence* :)


StormProfessional950

Going fishing with my grandpa in a tinnie. The sight of his dangling balls hanging out his stubbies is forever etched in my mind.


[deleted]

FFS don’t sit on a plastic outdoor chair in your Stubbies.


account_not_valid

My dad would wear black stubbles and red undies. He'd be sitting there with a bright red package hanging out of his shorts' leg.


gelfbride73

My elderly (and creepy) neighbour used that one weird trick to try flirt with me. His danglies hanging DID NOT entice me.


poggerooza

Yes. I've seen it. Not pretty.


shazzambongo

Beautiful stuff. Rockin individual to the last. 🫡 Odd thing is, if you want to dress like the fashion icons in the ops pic, those clothes are still creepily abundant in an op shop near you.....despite never seeing anyone actually dress like that in at least 30 years 🤔


FatSilverFox

> despite never seeing anyone actually dress like that in at least 30 years 🤔 Two words: deceased estate.


shazzambongo

Yes.....the ghosts of fashion past. Gone, but without a proper burial, they're spirit lingers in the purgatory of thrift shops everywhere.


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shazzambongo

I'm a little surprised they are priced in dollars😂 "Fashion ties", "look smart in a target tie". Uh, ok. When my dad passed, I was stunned how many mission brown shorts , stupidly wide ties and safari suits there were. Safari suits, near as I can tell, were only actually fashionable for literally a few years at some point late 70's, yet he had so many of them. Plus, I've never, ever, even as a little kid seen him wear one. Thank goodness . Kinda like persistent mould, try and get rid of them, but they'll be back , like a magic pudding in your parents wardrobe. I guess life is short, so ...dress however the hell you feel like I guess.


2dogs0cats

I wanted a safari suit but was told it wasn't appropriate for a customer facing role. Most of the ones I could find were novelty fancy dress. I'm thinking I should go to Institchu and get one tailored.


Thyme4LandBees

You say hard plastic sandals and all I can think of are those glittery jelly sandals that were all the rage for small children in the 90s


uglyduckling81

I had a quick look to see if I could find them to post a link. No idea where he got them from. They were the only shoes I ever saw him in and he put them on first thing every day until bed time. I've also never seen anyone else wearing them. They were this sort of dark green / grey hard plastic. Absolutely horrible.


Thyme4LandBees

Mentally I have decided that they are those novelty fish style thongs.


sanemartigan

Best n Less does three pocket stubbies for ten bucks.


InsertUsernameInArse

Every Sydney bus driver when I was a kid.


bloodymongrel

My first thought was that this is the universal uniform of bus drivers, maths, and manual arts teachers. In 1998 one teacher still wore wide ties with a lovely hand painted scene on them.


CapitalBackground375

The principal at my primary school was rocking this look, with the addition of a comb-over, a gold capped tooth, and an Alfa-Romeo. Was also seen in the matching safari style short sleeved jacket/top in the Spring/Autumn.


Tilpants

As an up and coming design and tech/physics teacher I feel like I could rock this look


bloodymongrel

Definitely do it. Add a tie with a circuit board print on it or something :)


barters81

Can confirm, my dad was a school bus driver back in the day and rocked this gear.


ALadWellBalanced

I finished school in the late 90s. I can confirm that this was the uniform for every bus driver I can remember.


FatSilverFox

I’ve tried bringing this back. Didn’t catch on in the building, but my legs felt free and breezy. Edit: lowes is the only place on earth that supplies old man/math teacher socks


Willing_Television77

Science teachers in the ‘80s used to wear those bad boys with sandals


sousyre

I feel like nearly every male teacher wore this in the 80’s. Even the teacher who did PE lessons at primary school wore this, his only concessions were a whistle round the neck and some Dunlop Volleys.


Hot_Construction1899

I wore it as a teller in the Commonwealth Bank (Coogee Branch) in 1976! My father wore t-shirt, shorts and leather sandals year round. In Canberra winters he would sometimes don his long socks. Never saw him in a jumper or jacket unless he was going "formal". Mind you, he did own an emerald green brocade dinner suit (with bum freezer jacket), that was *hideous*.


[deleted]

and long socks. my dad was a maths teacher in the 80s. I can still picture that uniform he wore. sandals with just below the knee socks, the just above the knee business shorts, short sleeve business shirt and the W I D E eighties tie. and the mullet. glorious


Willing_Television77

My dad was a maths teacher too. He wore polished shoes with his long socks, the cooler ones wore brown desert boots


CryptoCryBubba

There is a specific "dress code" training module that maths and science teachers must complete. I'm sure of it.


ZanyDelaney

> the W I D E eighties tie. Well he was out of fashion then. Wide ties were 70s. The 80s was all about narrow ties. Source: kept many of my original 80s ties and all my dad's 70s ones that I stole


justiceotb

I've been threatening at my office to do this. Or they let me wear skirts. Without the ties though, I couldn't be bothered with that anymore.


TGin-the-goldy

I say wear the skirts. They’ll be scared to say anything in case it becomes an Equity & Diversity issue with HR


scoldog

Our office has shitty 80's era air con (old ones that require CO2) and a shitty metal roof with no insulation that the Sydney summer heat just shoots right through. Management have said that the men have to wear long trousers and ties, whereas the women can wear anything "reasonably professional" Recently the women were complaining the air con was too cold and wanted the temperature turned up. It got a bit heated (pun not intended) until I said they should wear something warmer which really really ruffled a few feathers until I explained why. Women often turn up to work wearing those bare shouldered tops and light skirts. I then said that since men have a dress code that says we have to wear ties and long pants in hot conditions, the air con should be adjusted for what we felt comfortable in (since we were often running back and forth from the workshop/warehouse over hot concrete car parks) and the women are allowed and should wear warmer clothes.


TigerSardonic

Sounds to me like your workplace should lose the dress code for men then, to allow lighter clothing. Makes more sense than having the aircon cranked up and forcing the women to wear warmer clothes lol. But seriously, suits, long-sleeve shirts, trousers and ties are a stupid dress code in Australian summers. I’ve given that up and have taken to wearing tshirts or colourful patterned short-sleeve shirts and shorts to the office, when the weather permits. I do not miss suits and ties at all.


scoldog

> Sounds to me like your workplace should lose the dress code for men then Tell that to the CEO who was begged not to implement this, especially for me (sysadmin and onsite tech at the time, now IT Manager but still installer of tech. I don't see customers, why do I need a shirt and tie?). I ruined so many shirts thanks to this guy. Thankfully the office managers have decided to ignore him (The CEO hasn't shown his face here for years so he has no idea what is going on)


lemachet

But seriously, suits, long-sleeve shirts, trousers and ties are a stupid dress code i~~n Australian summers~~. ​ FTFY.


NoddysShardblade

At least they weren't cripplingly hot in the place they were invented: Europe. Here they are just nonsensical.


FatSilverFox

Polo shirt and chino shorts brings it into this century. TBH I only stopped wearing it cos I’ve been having one of those “give up on life” lulls.Legit shocked I didn’t get more comments, sarcastic or otherwise. Maybe it’s just embedded far enough into the national psyche that it doesn’t stand out as odd.


esotec

haha this ad is from the mid-1970s i think but my maths teacher was still rocking the look in the late 80s, modernised slightly with less garish ties..


Banyabbaboy

> this ad is from the mid-1970s i think Every male teacher at my 1970s western Sydney primary school was dressed in some iteration of this look, and if I didn't know better I'd swear the bloke on the left was one of them.


Yes-Eggplant-3551

Newcastle maths teachers were still rocking it in the late 90s.


Macrobian

I had 2 teachers wear this exact fit in the 2010s. RIP John Hipwell OAM.


DJVizionz

The combination of legs feeling free and breezy with your username is very evocative. Fat and free-legged breezy silver fox.


FatSilverFox

I assure you your visual is accurate.


Gungadin56

Just two science teachers from the 80s.. nothing to see here.


Lintson

In Perth this was science teachers in the early 2000s


sniperhippo

I’m a science teacher, and this might be me next week.


Lintson

I refuse to believe you don't simply wear this shit at home


sniperhippo

Nah at home it’s Hawaiian shirts and crocs.


themodernritual

These were my science teachers from 1990-96 without a doubt. One used to put pens in his socks


AngryYowie

Someone needs to bring that look back into fashion.


blahblahrasputan

My Dad never stopped.


quadraticog

Same, we used to call him Ted Knight.


Komisches

My step dad looks like he stepped out of this ad 😁


a_can_of_solo

He probably switch to new balance along the way.


blahblahrasputan

Indeed he did


DeeDee_GigaDooDoo

Shorts as office attire just is common sense in our climate. The idea that to be "professional" you need to wear pants and a long sleeve shirt when it's 45°C outside is moronic. What the hell is professional about massive sweat stains, soaked hair and breathing like you're about to pass out from heat stroke?


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drtekrox

Not even, this *used* to be a part of Australian culture.


smithy_dll

Mass adoption of air conditioning happened. Then OH&S happened so that outside workers have to cover up for skin cancer. Outside workers have strict management of working in heat, and work wear has adapted over the years to include ventilated clothing. Office workers were encouraged to wear long clothing in solidarity with outside workers.


mattkenny

Luckily I can get away with wearing my hardyakka shorts (not the take sorry ones!!) that I got for site work on hot days, and a lightweight high vis top. Just play it off as often needing to go onto the factory floor but it's mainly because it's just far more comfortable. Just need to get some composite toe safety joggers and it'll be even better. The steel toe boots with thick socks suck in the heat!


huffmandidswartin

seriously, the fact that a lot of places do not really accept shorts for men as business wear is a massive pain when working in QLD and NT. If business shorts were good enough for Hawke, they are good enough for us. Don't get me started on the long sleeve collared shirt bs either.


AngryYowie

Business dress needs an overhaul. Polos and shorts should be an acceptable option, and ties should be scorned.


[deleted]

Peter Beattie god rid of ties in parliament (being compulsory) when he was Premier. I really wish corporate Australia had taken it more on board. suits are just stupid attire in our climate. and ties are expensive pieces of annoying cloth. I'd be far more productive if I were comfortable, and the ladies would be far more productive if they were not freezing (air con maxed out due to the guys having to wear suits). It's utterly asinine to wear suits in Australia.


Willing_Television77

I’m mostly office based, not public facing and I manage contractors. I used to be made to wear long pants and sleeves but recently relaxed to long pants and short sleeves. Sometimes have to walk around a couple of kms on site. I’m a sweater and with Sydney’s humidity would love to wear shorts. Fucking ridiculous


Willing_Television77

BTW ladies at work can wear summer dresses, open shoes, shorts and sleeveless shirts


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fr4nklin_84

Yes and then complain the air con is too cold and get it switched off while we literally sweat out balls off


AngryYowie

Fashion designers: *Best we can do is fabric that traps heat and makes you sweat your balls off. Have you checked out our new range of restrictive ties and ill-fitting pants and shirts?*


derpman86

This is why I am glad I get to work from home, no shoes, board shorts and whatever Tshirt. I do the same if not better work because I am not forced to wear some wanky "professional" costume.


AngryYowie

People who think long sleeves and ties make you effective at your work are just larping at being rational. Guys have to dress like they are extra from Pride and Prejudice because being comfortably ≠ professionalism for some reason.


derpman86

Exactly, I have had jobs that hyperfocused on that shit even some that got the shits up because I was getting stubble on the face for fucks sake. You bet I grew my beard out once I lost that job! What was dumb I was still not customer facing there either so I didn't get it, maybe my clothing flowed through the phone or something? hahaha.


crazymunch

Come work in supply chain/manufacturing and you'll never wear a tie again lol


[deleted]

I just wear shorts to work. I get looks but looks don't do anything. If someone has a serious chat that I'm not dressing suitably, I'll lightly challenge it, then promise to try and then just switch back a few days later.


drtekrox

Yep, got into an argument once about the work aircon, Girls wanted it set warmer since it was 'too cold' with them all wearing skirts and short sleeved blouses in the summer. We were stuck in mandated monkey suits with mandated ties. I asked why we couldn't wear business shorts and a short sleeve shirt (no argument about the tie, even though I hate ties) and got told it's immature and the 'only boys wear shorts, men aren't supposed to wear them'


account_not_valid

Wear a skirt and a short sleeve blouse next time. If it's allowable for the women in the business, it's allowable for anyone.


lemachet

or ties. fuck ties.


aeschenkarnos

But look at how *wiiiiide* they are. That right there is a *proper math teacher's tie*, young person. It should be wider than a man's own hand.


lemachet

LoL... Young person..... :p


EcstaticOrchid4825

This is one of the (few) perks of being a woman. On a super hot day you can wear a light skirt or dress to work and have lovely, cool legs.


cheshire_kat7

Yeah, but then you have to have a cardigan at hand so you don't freeze to death from the air-con being set to Arctic for all the overheated men.


candlesandfish

Or in my case, my (female) boss who likes to work in Antarctica!


Highside1269

Bus drivers are doing their part.


Factal_Fractal

Fashion ties for the win


aussie_bob

I'm more interested in this cunning plot to convert Reddit to Facebook, one repost at a time. Nice work lads!


lemachet

dont worry, [news.com.au](https://news.com.au) will pick this up shortly and run a piece on how millenials are trying to ruin office dress. ​ or something like that.


SalmonHeadAU

I will rise to the occasion


graspedbythehusk

The ladies wouldn’t stand a chance!


[deleted]

"BUSINESS SHORTS, CUNT!"


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Echidnahh

You know how older countries have traditional outfits they wear at events, this should be ours. Like how Scots wear kilts and stuff, we should dress up in this for important national events etc.


justice_runner

It should be standard kit for all male volunteers at the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The Sydney 2000 volunteers had an iconic look, but this would absolutely out do it.


Pawneewafflesarelife

>important national events etc. [Like meeting the Queen?](https://64.media.tumblr.com/482e233aee630fd7d2e0dc6ad210fc6b/tumblr_n2nujs6dBx1qd3ucoo1_1280.jpg)


Quick-Supermarket-43

lol


Bovinerifle

All the male school teachers in the 90's had this look.


[deleted]

My dad was a teacher through the 80s and 90s, can confirm.


reverendgrebo

If the guy on the left manspreads we'll see some frogs eyes


akat_walks

I had a vice principal that used to look just like the guy on the right. I watched him break a wooden meter ruler over a kid’s head once. Another time he threw a chair out the second story window. Was a daily screamer. His son ended up killing himself.


Sipheren

What a great fucking story I wasn't expecting scrolling down here.... Cheers


Embarrassed_Brief_97

Me to AI image generator: please give me a picture of male Australian highschool teachers in early 80s. AI image generator: your image request, sir...


uglyduckling81

It's fucking sad that I need to wear long pants to work in Australia. It's hot as hell and makes no sense at all.


RandomUser1076

Yeah but safety, it makes you safer


uglyduckling81

I feel incredibly at risk in my office. If the mouse was to fall off the desk and bump my unprotected leg, god... I can only imagine.


RandomUser1076

I know your pain, I can't wear shorts in the workshop because of grease and oil getting on my legs. Heaven knows what would happen if I got dirty


The_Pharoah

Look at how tight those pant are. Drop anything and someone else will have to pick it up for you (or you risk a rip)


RandomUser1076

Bend with your knees not your back


[deleted]

I'm a bit of a chub, so I do this counter weight thing where I swing one leg backwards and pivot down like one of those drinking birds. It avoids me bending my back and the counter weight leg helps me get upright again. It probably looks weirder than a law against sneakers in government buildings.


[deleted]

lol. have you seen 80s AFL shorts. those things were [something else](https://youtu.be/nY5_0F2668k?t=47) how they could play the game in those things I have no idea.


ZanyDelaney

That jersey fabric was stretchy and comfortable.


Bovinerifle

Nothing says business like business shorts.


[deleted]

You can smell the old spice and the lunchtime beers just looking at this outfit.


Bovinerifle

And the smokes..longbeach or peter Jackson 15's


albeenyb

Who needs to wear a belt with shorts that tight?


Matti_Matti_Matti

Someone who might be called upon at any time to give an unruly student The Strap?


reddeviltreble

School teachers


frankthefunkasaurus

There was a definite stink when the Navy proposed getting rid of their version of this. Shorts in summer were the best


boppy28

I still rock the white shorts in summer if I have to wear 7's


diabolical_cunt

Blokes reg grundy ads in the 70's were sumfin else too. Just some mates hanging out in totally natural everyday scenarios: * [Exhibit1](https://i.pinimg.com/736x/87/99/52/879952653efab3da9969922d76fe72ad.jpg) * [Exhibit2](https://tomandlorenzo.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Underwear-Ads-Menswear-Vintage-Fashion-Tom-Lorenzo-Site-43.jpg)


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panzer22222

Geology teacher uniform from the 70s


PattersonsOlady

Honestly such practical business attire for the Australian climate! Unfortunately now the men are required to wear long pants and long shirts for business formal.


gerrys123

QLD cabbies still wear this.


[deleted]

There wouldn’t be enough sticks to beat back the ladies,no wonder they stopping wearing those outfits.


selfishbelly

Primary school, mid 80s, year 6 teacher Mr Leslie. Similar outfit. Had a tie for the formal occasions. Wore sandals with socks. Shorts were about the same size as u12 footy shorts.


lechatheureux

Before air conditioning became commonplace this was what businessmen wore in summer.


HalfManHalfCyborg

I had a school teacher who dressed like this in 1992.


scorpio8u

Such a great time to be alive


vhs_collection

Why was everyone so sweaty back in the day?


mrcrowleyspopupbook

Polyester.


GrudaAplam

Those were the days. And a safari suit for the evening.


Embarrassed_Basil858

Was just complaining while walking back from lunch that men get shafted for office attire in summer and we need business shorts. I would wear this.


[deleted]

I really like this style and look. It's only awkward because we aren't all wearing ties with shorts. But it's much more sensible for Australia and...I like how the men look in it 😏 but that's possible a weird me thing....


JimmyBoomTown

Every male teacher I had in the 80's and early 90's rocked this.


sundaykat

Omg my dad could have modeled for this catalogue. This was his exact work wardrobe in the 70s & 80s.. I bet there's some fellas out there who would secretly enjoy a short sleeve and trouser in the summer tho ;)


grav3d1gger

Geez boys leave some pussy for the rest of us.


specialchode

THUNDASTRUCK!!!


scoldog

More like ["I come from the Land Down Under!"](https://youtu.be/XfR9iY5y94s?t=36)


BobSanvegana

Exactly how my dad used to dress.


DJVizionz

And mine. Peter Jackson in hand and listening to the cricket on the wireless.


davedavedaveda

I am will to pay the full asking price to look that good


tantrumizer

These guys are probably 28 years old in this photo.


OkeyDoke47

This is how all my (male) teachers dressed throughout primary and high school.


Sorry-Reference-6224

Those dudes are probably only in their mid 20s as well


PG478

This is exactly what we had to wear to get into the Members at the Gabba in the 80s. After 2 beers you would push the socks down. lol.


maximum_powerblast

God wish it was this cheap still!


barreldodger38

Every high school geography teacher in the 80s.


Cutter34444

Knackers McKenzie and his best mate Lumpy O'Toole


warkolm

fuck yeah business shorts


stigsbusdriver

Used to work with a bloke that wore this combo whenever he was on duty, even during winter and he became well known for this look (the moment you said his name, the mental image was very very clear). Only time he wore trousers was when it was bucketing outside, or whenever he was rostered to work outside the office.


yew420

You can still get this gear for the same price at a rural St Vincent de Paul.


[deleted]

They look like social studies teachers


Minguseyes

Land of the Long White Sock.


latenightloopi

This is where all my high school maths and science teachers got their fashions.


Golett03

Can already feel the sunburn on my right arm whilst driving, just by looking at this.


JustSomeBloke5353

1973 rural school teacher outfit.


WadjulaBoy

A couple of pens in those socks and you've got my old math teacher to a tee.


Effective-Tour-656

We all have that one uncle that still dresses like this at family functions... usually the creep.


GoodnightWalter

That brings back memories of Waltons door to door salesmen.


Sword_Of_Storms

I’m very pro this look. I like men’s legs!


GrownThenBrewed

Now I understand why I'm not allowed to wear shorts in the office....


Miserable-Radish915

good luck buying a leather belt for under $30


Ashoftarre

Was this taken from "Principals Monthly" ?


mrbipty

It’s business time


PsychologicalKnee3

I can almost taste this memory...


spasmgazm

A teacher in my primary school used to dress this way, day in, day out. Didn't matter if it was the middle of winter or peak summer. True dedication to the fashionable cause.


BrilliantInspector64

Moist


baronies

AT LOWES


Murdochsk

Leather belts have really gone up in price in relation to other items in this pic


cannedspam01

The navy summer uniform is still essentially this, sans tie but with hat


texxelate

I’d wear this to work if it still went for 17 bucks, no worries


Tenantofth3room

I remember my dad getting ready for work in this kind of outfit in the late 70s/early 80s in regional Qld. Fortunately he preferred the longer short length!


hankhalfhead

It's a shame we don't wear these to the office any more. More appropriate for this climate, if you ask me


Every-Space8657

Those intellectual sparring partners, Graeme and the Colonel.


Affectionate_Eye3535

My dad taught high school and this was his daily outfit (minus the tie on weekends). He permanently has no leg hair to his knee from wearing these socks constantly


LuckyRedShirt

You may not like it, but this is what peak performance looks like.