Ready to Wear

Fall Fashion Guide for the construction industry

By Seth Jovaag

In the construction industry, fashion is usually an afterthought — if even thought about at all.

After all, if you’ve got a flannel shirt, well-worn jeans and mud-caked boots, that’s all you need, right?

Wrong, says John Mozena, a spokesman for Carhartt Inc., a work wear specialist based in Dearborn, Mich.

Like a lot of things in the trades, clothing for the average construction worker is undergoing some major changes, Mozena said, with much of it driven by demand from the workers themselves.

For almost all of its 118 years, Carhartt made work wear for “kinda the same guys,” Mozena said. “But the active worker is changing … The baby boomers are retiring and the work force is getting younger.”

In other words, those old Carhartt standbys — the duck brown canvas jacket, the triple-threaded,ultra-tough coveralls — aren’t the only game in town anymore.

In recent years, the company added waterproof, breathable nylon jackets. It also has a Work Dry line of clothes that wick away sweat and include built-in, anti-odor properties.

There’s performance long underwear with anti-microbial agents “to keep them from getting fungusy,” Mozena said.

And in May, Carhartt launched a whole new line of clothes (gasp!) for women.

“We’re not alone,” Mozena said of the changes. “Our clothes still have that core functionality, but the clothing style choices … are at a time of pretty significant change.”

Up the road at Wolverine Apparel in Rockford, Mich., spokeswoman Kelly Redinger sounds a similar chord.

As more heavy-industrial or manufacturing jobs move overseas, Wolverine is seeing demand in America decline for the company’s ultra-durable, nine-inch-high boots. Instead, more workers are mixing field work with warehousing tasks and logistical meetings — and they’re looking for a shoe that’s just as versatile, Redinger said.

“They still want a good, sturdy product,” she said, but they also want comfort.

As a result, the six-inch ankle is selling fast. Moreover, Wolverine’s line of Multishox, Durashocks and other boots often come with compression pads and gel insoles that all but massage your feet while you walk.

Many boots come with waterproof, Goretex liners, but now there’s an uninsulated option that doesn’t turn your feet into furnaces on warm days, Redinger said.

The steel-toe boot is still around, but even that’s getting an overhaul. Wolverine — which turns 125 next year — now makes a carbon fiber, toe cap that’s as tough as steel but a fraction of the weight.

“If you’re used to using steel-toe, when you put this product on, you’ll be surprised at how light it is,” Redinger said.

Despite all the changes, fashion in the trades is still dictated by function. Just take a quick ramble through the Dickies Web site and check out the range of coveralls.

Most have hammer loops, pencil pockets and double-knees to prevent wear and tear. But you can also choose from short-sleeve, poplin styles to heavier models like the Arctic Shield variety that would keep you warm during the worst Wisconsin winter weather.

The work boots section of Red Wing’s Web site is also worth a gander. Along with general price and product information, each boot is given safety ratings in several categories, including traction and resistance to oil, gas, heat and chemicals.

Along with being functional, clothing for the trades has to be built to last, which doesn’t come cheap, said Carhartt’s Mozena. To turn out high-quality clothes, Carhartt employees are known to be “absolute fanatics” about fabrics, he said.

“Very few fabric mills worldwide can meet our standards,” Mozena said. Carhartt, he said, trusts just one thread supplier and one zipper maker.

That fanaticism pays off, he said. One of Carhartt’s top-sellers is a standard pocket t-shirt that goes for $25. But because it’s more durable, flexible and shrink-proof than most cotton T’s, customers snap them up.

“We are not the low-price option,” Mozena said. “We are a premium brand.”

It’s a message that works for work wear.

“The idea is, ‘You get what you pay for,’” he said. “That resonates with workers.”

Our Fashion Judges

John Neal Jr., project superintendent, J.H. Findorff & Son Inc., Madison

Judges say…

Craig:

The man looks fine. He looks right for the situation. The shirt fits right, which is a good touch. Oftentimes you’ll see bigger shirts in these situations, but it fits him nicely. He looks comfortable, which is good for a working situation.

Kelli:

He definitely looks like a super! He is a bluesy kind of guy. The color suits him well. Love how the dome compliments his hard hat so nicely in the skyline.

Bill:

I like this because he looks like he fits in with the guys — he doesn’t look like a superior, just one of the gang. He’s well dressed for the site.

Angela Wallace, communication specialist, Tri-North Builders Inc., Madison

Judges say…

Craig:

I’m a black, white and gray guy, so this is nice. I like the slacks — they’re a good fit, and she looks tall so they’re the right choice. I’d like to see a touch of jewelry, maybe a necklace or bracelet — keep it professional. But other than that, I like this.

Kelli:

The lighting nicely accentuates her cement-colored gray top. However, the open-toed shoes should be a ‘no show.’ Put a little color in your life and let your hair down. Enhance that beautiful smile.

Bill:

I like this because it’s as equally suited for going into a kindergarten class and teaching kids about how fun the construction industry is as it is going into a rotary club and talking about building a new park shelter. She looks approachable, but at the same time authoritative.

Amanda Schauer, project manager, VJS Construction Services, Pewaukee

Judges say…

Craig:

She looks good, very professional. She looks like she belongs at the job site, but she’s not grimy, which is nice. The shirt adds a nice bit of color, and I like the pants. The shoes look good for the situation too.

Kelli:

She looks a little uncomfortable in those shoes on the gravel. Get some fashion-smart boots and get a colored hard hat! Voila!

Bill:

The nice thing about this is you can throw the windbreaker on for the job and then, when you take it off, you can head right over after shift for a happy hour cocktail. She looks nice.

Gino Carini, vice president of business development, J.P. Cullen & Sons Inc., Brookfield

Judges say…

Craig:

The tie is nice. That color has been a popular tone this year, and it’s been selling very well here. He looks very comfortable with what he’s wearing, and that’s really half the battle. People can tell you, you look good, but if you’re not comfortable, then what’s the point? He pulls it off.

Kelli:

That guy has some expensive taste! Looking good, but is that really his office? I love how he color coordinates with his Post-It notes!

Bill:

He has that look about him that says, ‘Give me the deal, or else …’ His outfit makes him look like he cares about his job, which is good. It’s a good fit, and he obviously pulls off that Italian sense of style.

Six Quick Picks for ’07

Sanded Duck coverall by Dickies

The Guardian 8-inch boot by Wolverine

Draftsman denim shirt by Wolverine

1 Wolverine, The Guardian 8-inch boot, $145
A carbon-fiber, toe cap is a lightweight alternative to steel toes. This boot is also waterproof, insulated and slip-resistant.

2 Red Wing, 6-inch work boot, (Model 4425), $244
Insulated and waterproof, this full-grain leather boot meets industry standards for toe protection and electrical hazard protection. It’s comfy, too.

3 Dickies, Sanded Duck coverall, $73.99
This nylon coverall comes with an “all-terrain boot sealer system” complete with a nylon elastic boot cover to seal out debris. In other words, your socks will stay nice and clean.

4 Carhartt, High visibility, midweight hooded sweatshirt, $60
This polyester sweatshirt comes in bright lime or bright orange with hand-warmer pockets and a three-piece hood. They’ll see you coming from a mile away, which is a good thing.

5 Wolverine, Draftsman denim shirt, $50
This shirt features a heavy, 10-ounce denim outer shell with an inner fleece lining. The taffeta-lined sleeves keep the shirt from sticking to any additional layers you might wear underneath. Toasty.

6 Carhartt, Flame-resistant, lightweight twill tradesman shirt, $62
This is a handsome shirt with job-tested functionality. The lightweight twill is 88 percent cotton, 12 percent nylon and includes a left chest tradesman pocket and flame-resistant melamine buttons. It looks like casual wear, but it’s no pushover.