It started as punishment to the pupil. An offensive jab to the iris. A tawdry and vulgar blow to the retina. Better than a poke in the eye? It is a poke in the eye.
If nothing else, my photo, My 80s Clothes: Call of the Argyle I believe lives up to the “Anything Goes 2026” theme for the exhibition at The Lab On Santa Fe gallery in Denver, Colorado.
In the picture above, art patrons discuss the subtleties and the many emotional layers of the argyle. Geometric shapes that create patterns, patterns that parallel the choices we make in our own lives and create a safe refuge for our psyche to cling to. They beg the question, do I repeat the patterns of my past or do I enlist a friend to help me pick out better clothes?
Now that I’ve immortalized my argyle sweater and socks, my girlfriend is pleading with me to destroy these garments but I cannot. They are a part of me, they are who I am. And I accept that.
The ‘Call of the Argyle‘ photo was also featured in the Whimsy 2025-2026 exhibition at the View Arts Center in Old Forge, NY. At the Muse Photography Awards 2026, it was a Gold Winner in the Comedy category. In the Annual Photography Awards 2025 the ‘Call of the Argyle‘ was one of eight photos in the My 80s Clothes series that took home Honorable Mention in Portraits.
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The legend of the argyle
The story of the argyle starts with socks. Two pairs purchased when I was in high school in 1982 or 1983. One pair features hopeful shades of greens and tans and the other reassuring earthy browns, oranges and dark red tones to make the wearer feel grounded, sturdy and connected to earth. Only five holes can be found across the four socks.
I usually wore the socks with a pair of light tan leather shoes I bought at The Wild Pair in the Northland Mall north of Detroit. When asked why I still have socks from high school the only answer I can come up with is, “they don’t take up any room”.
Moving up you’ll find a pair of beige shorts. I bought these specifically for the photo shoot as only a couple of my pairs of shorts from the 80s have survived to this day. Although they’re not my clothes from the 80s, I was assured of their 80s authenticity when a couple of old men with terrible taste complimented them after I came out of the fitting room at the thrift store where I bought them.
And then there’s the top: with a brand name like Boat House Row, you know you’re in for some serious boating clothes. Purchased in 1984 or ’85, this pink highlighted argyle pullover sweater vest screams, “I’m the king of the world!” Always worn without a shirt underneath, this was my go-to garment when captaining my dad’s boat, the Jimmy Mac.
Made from 100% cotton, I wore this one boating trip in the summer of ’85 when I swerved the port side into a docked boat while headed back toward the slip after a day of drinking on the water. I was never so happy to be wearing an armless garment after generously pitting out thinking the boat was going to sink. Turns out, the damage to the boat was equivalent to a flesh wound.
The only time I wore the sweater and socks together was once when I went to Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour for a Pig’s Trough.
The boat background I shot on 35mm around 1995-96 on my dad’s boat while heading south on the Detroit River.
Check out the My 80s Clothes photo series.