Day 88 Kerouaction: On Dress

The Beat Handbook's Day 88 entry, "On Dress," was inspired by the above passage from On The Road.

Want to dress beat? Then it's jeans and T-shirts. Can you imagine a time when they were considered "rebellious"? Rebellious things often become mainstream after a time, but no matter because jeans and T-shirts are comfortable, low-maintenance, and versatile, all important characteristics for a beat wardrobe. Add some plaid flannel shirts, Carhartt or Dickies work pants, and black railyard shoes and you'll have a fairly complete beat wardrobe.

March 24: On Shoes

Today's Kerouaction
What would Kerouac wear for shoes?

Believe it or not, European designer Hogan has a Jack Kerouac Collection. Jack would eschew such spendthriftiness (let alone that the shoes are butt-ugly).

Sanuk makes a Sidewalk Surfer called the Kerouac. I own a pair of regular Sidewalk Surfers. My son Jason got them for me as a present. I could see Jack wearing a pair, but, again, too expensive for what you get.

For sure, Jack would wear "old black railroad shoes," as described in his play, Beat Generation. So what are they in today's terms?

A little research on shoes for railroad workers yields . . . not much. Here's a definitive article on how to pick a work shoe: If the Shoe Fits the Hazard, Wear It.

Certainly, a railroad worker would want safety shoes. That is, ones with steel toes and rugged uppers, etc. Red Wing makes one called the WORX. Here it is:



Or maybe he'd wear a pair of Wolverines:


Then again, frugal Jack may go to Payless for the prices. Or better, he'd get a pair from the Salvation Army or Goodwill.

But I'd like to think Jack wouldn't skimp on shoes. He'd take his next royalty check and buy some nice Red Wings or Wolverines. Yass, yass. He'd walk 'em in good and they'd become old black railroad shoes fer shoe-ah!

Me? I'll stick with Keens.