Irish-Language

The time always comes when we have to dump our favourite clothes

<b>MAUVE MADNESS:</b> Peter Wyngarde was a sartorial hero to many in the 70s in his role as Jason King in the TV series <i>Department S</i> but most people have dumped their tweed suits and ties the width of a motorway long since
MAUVE MADNESS: Peter Wyngarde was a sartorial hero to many in the 70s in his role as Jason King in the TV series Department S but most people have dumped their tweed suits and ties the width of a motorway long since MAUVE MADNESS: Peter Wyngarde was a sartorial hero to many in the 70s in his role as Jason King in the TV series Department S but most people have dumped their tweed suits and ties the width of a motorway long since

GO mBEANNAÍ Dia daoibh, welcome back fashionistas and wearers of Duffel coats alike, to the Bluffer’s Guide to Irish.

An samhradh seo - this Summer, the Bluffer is downsizing. He is going through his cófraí - wardrobes with the laxative power of a pint of Senokot syrup.

As many of you know it is hard to say slán to one’s favourite clothes, the ones that have kept you comfy over the years.

The Bluffer used to have a cóta fada fearthainne - a long raincoat which he wore until it eventually resembled the Shroud of Turin. It also earned him the leasainm - the nickname of Colombo so it had to go.

We can get very attached to our favourite clothing items for different reasons.

They might have been compordach - comfortable as in the péire bróg - the pair of shoes which  

you wore to work for years and years or the cóta mór - the overcoat which kept you warm on freezing winter nights. 

And we know that despite the lovely weather we are having at the minute, the time is going to come when we again need to get out the miotóga - gloves, scairf - a scarf, yeti boots and fo-éadaí teirmeacha - thermal underwear.

Hataí - hats of all shapes from monkey hats to ones that look like the wearer has just milked a herd of yak have a tendency to stay in our affections because of the feel-good feelings they are there when we need them the most - in the cold, in the rain, in the wind.

But let’s enjoy the moment and the lovely summer we have had so far.

Summer clothes can also make us feel really good - an gúna beag samhraidh sin - that wee summer dress that you bring out every time the sun shines and its floral prints a-go-go. 

For local lads, it’s time to get out the summer vests that sadly show an unseemly amount of side-moob but they think they look as if they’re straight out of Oileánan Ghrá - Love Island.

People get attached to clothes because of the memories they hold – an chulaith - the suit you wore on your first date or an léine - the shirt you wore when you got that big job, an bríste - the trousers you bought in Paris or an geansaí - the jumper your boyfriend or girlfriend bought you.

But then the time comes when there is no room left in the wardrobe for the clothes and their memories.

The reasons for dumping clothes are varied too.

Tá siad róbheag - they are too small because Mother Nature has done its inevitable damage to your waistline over the years.

Níl siad faiseanta níos mó - they are no longer fashionable and the Bluffer has always believed that there is nothing worse than wearing last season’s styles or colours. 

So the osáin chloigín - bell-bottoms have to go; the veistbharra - tank tops are for the black bag; dumping the bróga bonnarda - platform shoes might leave him vertically challenged but so be it.

So once the wardrobes and shoe racks have been cleared the Bluffer will focus his attention on Vogue Hommes International, GQ and Esquire Men’s magazine as he tries to find out what is in vogue for 2018.

Is fearr a bheith as an tír ná as an fhaisean - it’s better to be out of the country than out of fashion as they saying goes.

CÚPLA FOCAL 

an samhradh seo(un saowroo shaw) - this Summer 

cóta fada fearthainne(cawta fada farhinya) - a long raincoat

leasainm(lassanyim) - the nickname

compordach(compordakh) - comfortable

péire bróg (payra brawg) - a pair of shoes

cóta mór(cawta more) - an overcoat

miotóga(mitawga) - gloves 

scairf(scarf) - a scarf

fo-éadaí teirmeacha(fo-aydee chermakha) - thermal underwear

hataí(hatee) - hats

an gúna beag samhraidh sin - that wee summer dress

Oileánan Ghrá(ilaan un graa) - Love Island.

an chulaith(un khulee) - the suit an léine (laynya) - the shirt

an bríste(un breeshta) - the trousers

an geansaí(un gyanzee) - the jumper

tá siad róbheag(taa shade ro-veg) - they are too small níl siad faiseanta níos mó(neel shade fashanta nees moe) - they are no longer fashionable

osáin chloigín(osaan khligeen) - bell-bottoms

veistbharra(veshtwarra) - tank tops

bróga bonnarda(brawga bunarda) - platform shoes