[post formerly at the old Found Objects but reconstituted in honor of Britain's greatest footballer, Sir Bobby Charlton, RIP- and a great comb-over owner]
One thing I've noticed on my visits back to England over the last few years--you will never see a comb over anymore.
They used to be the mark of male middle age.
Bus conductors, men in betting shops, famous footballers, TV quiz presenters.... half the teachers at my school.... they all had comb overs.
At some point sense prevailed and the balding started to shave down their side tufts to near invisible.
Much more dignified (did they really think they were fooling anybody, the comb over squad?)... no need for yucky hair cream to plaster thinning elongated strands across the pate... and unlike the comb over invulnerable to the elements or a football colliding off the bonce.
However one side effect is that walking through a crowded public space in the U.K. today, it can feel like there's a lot of aging, getting-stout skinheads about.
Great post Simon. Had forgotten The Comb Over. My dad had one, so did a few uncles. There has to be some still out there?
ReplyDeleteI meant to comment on this when it went up, but forgot. I actually saw a curated comb-over last year.
ReplyDeleteI was in Flashback records on Essex Road and there was a middle-aged man going through the racks, very well dressed in that specifically London-record-collector-of-advancing-years way [expensive vintage denim, Doc Martens or equivalent boots, black t-shirt]. He had a short back and sides and then a carefully sculpted comb-over. It was quite deliberate. It gave me a bit of a shock, but it was working for him so fair enough.
I sense it won't make a comeback though, as unlike other resurrected ugly past fashions [moustaches, slicked back hair, tramp beards] it's exclusive to middle-aged men. Unless a 21st Century young Eno emerges to take up the cause.