‘Letting myself go’: Why I’ve started wearing PJ pants to breakfast

First he wore them to bed, then to exercise classes and now the track daks have made their way to the local cafe for breakfast.

Track daks are for the couch.

Okay, I admit it. I did go to the shops the other night wearing socks and Birkenstocks.

So what? I know I’m not a German tourist but sometimes I like to dress like one. And it was so comfy and no one saw me.

At least I hope no one saw me but I am at that point where I wear life like a loose garment. By that I mean I don’t care.

Of course if I’m going to the theatre I will dress up, and I do try to look smart for work but at home and on the weekends I’m pretty casual. I’m talking track daks and puffer jacket and, recently, a beanie.

Dapper Phil. Picture: Ric Frearson

Sometimes people don’t recognise me in this clobber because they are used to dapper Phil rather than daggy Phil.

Once I was getting rid of some old books and CDs and I went to a car boot sale flea market to flog them off and that’s what I was wearing.

A fellow I knew came across me and was so shocked to see me looking like that he thought I was down on my luck.

“Are you still working?” he asked with a sad tinge to his voice.

“Of course I’m still working,” I said.

“And, no, this is not my new job.” How funny.

The other day we went out for breakfast on a Saturday morning after my exercise class and my wife said … “You’re not wearing those are you?”

She was referring to my track daks. “I sure am,” I said. “We’re only going to Nundah.” No offence meant of course.

“But didn’t you wear them to bed last night?” she said. I nodded. “And didn’t you wear them to your exercise class too?” I nodded again.

I know it sounds like I’m letting myself go but what the hell.

Tartan pants? Picture: Ric Frearson

At home I’ve been wearing my tartan dressing gown over my clothes because our house is so freaking cold and the other night I went outside dressed like that to put the bins out and people driving by and walking their dogs saw me but I didn’t care. That’s the elevated spiritual state that I am in. I don’t give a s--t is what I mean. It’s all about being comfortable. But let me just say this … if you ever see me at QPAC in my track daks, please kill me. You’re welcome.