An All-Over Hue
Dr. Paul Morton ranks among my favorite professors at Covenant. Besides being a tremendous history teacher, speaking in eminently quotable phrases, and dealing with college politics exclusively through the lens of sarcasm, Dr. Morton also had a remarkably specific code of dress.
On the days when he wasn’t wearing a sweater vest, he would stride into class clad entirely in a single color. He wore black, of course, like the erudite intellectual that he is. A black turtleneck, slightly faded black pants, a black belt, black socks, and black shoes. Sometimes he chose brown as the color of the day: a chocolate button-down, brown trousers, and coordinating belt and shoes. He wore a cream-and-khaki ensemble, too, and that one played with texture; the cable knit of the ivory sweater vest playing off of the khaki twill and cream jersey turtleneck.
Not that the man was afraid of color. He owned forest green pants around which he built a truly amazing outfit. He had kidney-bean colored pants, too. And while I occasionally cringed when his shades of olive green inhabited the shadowlands of neither-matching-nor-contrasting, I admired his commitment. Not everyone can pull off 6′4″ of eggplant.
But today I read a New York Magazine profile on New Yorkers who wear a single color — and not black — exclusively. My favorite was Elizabeth Sweetheart, a fabric designer who is deeply, passionately dedicated to kelly green.
I guess Dr. Morton has a ways to go before he can count himself among the truly color-committed.
Noel said:
on February 21, 2008 at 4:43 pm
I cannot fathom how you are able to detail each of Paul’s outfits four years afterward.
Katie C. said:
on February 21, 2008 at 10:27 pm
One of my favorites is when he wears the kidney-bean colored corduroy pants with the purple turtleneck *and* the hunter green sweater vest. Yes, I see this combination regularly. (oh - and if you haven’t checked out his chapel online, you need to. Just trust me.)
Elise said:
on February 23, 2008 at 11:54 am
I love it that Elizabeth Sweetheart airbrushed her grand-puppy’s tail! She is by far the most charming figure among those profiled in the article. Rebecca Turbow’s silver ensemble might rank classiest, but there is no beating Ms. Sweetheart’s adorable smile, clover hair, and smart little feather duster.
april said:
on February 24, 2008 at 8:35 pm
wow to all of the above
Rebekah said:
on February 28, 2008 at 2:34 pm
I loved how you could study the various shades of black in Morton’s all black ensemble. One article had a green tint, while another blue… I often wondered if it all looked the same to him or if he just appreciated that “black” was a nuanced color after all.
Rachel Gates said:
on February 29, 2008 at 8:00 am
If i could wear just one color, I think it would be green. Or orange. Or red. Oh, it’s so hard. I like color.
It was so good to meet you at the wedding! I would love to see you guys when we could hang out more. I see a road trip in our future.
Thanks for making the journey to chatt! It was a pleasure to have you there.
elissa said:
on February 29, 2008 at 9:21 am
Dear adoring public: Clearly I should post about professorial fashion more often!
@Katie - I’m glad that those kidney bean colored pants are still in use. They’re special.
@Elise - I laughed at Ms. Sweetheart’s attempts to spray paint her grandpuppy’s tail, too. Good thing she doesn’t have grandchildren.
@Apes -
@Rebekah - So true. Someone should ask him about that.
@Rachel - We were so delighted to be there! We will certainly be seeing more of you two.
Jenna said:
on March 21, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I guess I wasn’t the only person who something special in Elizabeth Sweetheart (besides the green, of course).