Pickles by Brian Crane for September 12, 2024

Patton Oswalt knows.

I’ve been losing† some weight (on purpose, sort of). And my pants are fitting a little more loosely.† … so right now, I have to wear regular pants with a belt in order to carry anything in my pockets. Because the sweats just kinda slide down…

† Mnemonic for how to distinguish “lose” from “loose” — “Lose weight and your pants will get loose!”

He’s ready to go shopping at Walmart.

Going out and about in loose, comfortable sweats gives you that “lived in” look.

I wear short pants always, I don’t care!

He has tennis shoes on, people could think he’s a jogger taking a rest

There are certain times in life’s cycles when one isn’t very concerned about their public appearance- early childhood, early parenthood, and late retirement. You do what works for you, Earl.

I thought it was " fridge pickers wear big knickers"

The expression of the cat on the bag changes from happy to puzzled.

Since he’s wearing a jacket, it seems the weather’s at least a little cool. I doubt anyone will think anything about his pants. Usually people pay a lot less attention to what you wear than you think.

Earl, I doubt many will notice!

So true…

I basically wear what I want to wear, where I want to wear it and could care less what others think, as I don’t really care what others choose to wear for themselves.

When what he finds comfortable are Speedos — THEN you can worry!

If you have ever seen some of the pictures of “WalMartians” that float around the internet from time to time you will know that after seeing how some people dress when they go out in public I ask myself, “Who told that person they could go out of the house looking like that?”

I love Opal’s cat sewing bag and bunny slippers! And Earl does look compfy, although it depends on where he’s going. The grocery store is okay!

He’s got a good POINT

I used to be mildly put off when I saw folks wearing sweats and pjs in public…Now that I am older and close to retirement, I see the attraction to comfort.

There is no dress code at the hardware store.

When you pair them with unlaced work boots, you’re not fooling anybody. Confusing or amusing them at best.

my wife classifies sweat pants into three types Formal [aka, you can wear these any where] newer unfaded and unwrinkled, Work [grocery and drug store runs, ok, yard work definitely] faded, wrinkled, but no holes, and NAP [my fav] worn out to a perfect thinness frayed around the edges, small holes and only worn in the house to relax and

I agree… :]

Opal is of the old school….I feel the same way!

I hate feeling like a slob! ☺️☺️☺️☺️

I think she should be more concerned about the yellow jacket. It does kind of match the sweatpants though…

One big like for Earl and none for Karl Lagerfeld. As long as there are no food stains on Earl’s clothes, I would say he is fine with whatever he likes to wear.

My neighbor wears shorts all year round. Cooler months he’ll wear a hoodie over his sleeveless shirt. Works from home and rarely goes out. Wonderful and friendly neighbor, not nutty.

Opal should try wearing sweatpants. She should join Earl and be in a relaxing spirit instead of putting down a lot of Earl’s ways. Mr. Crane should take to hint and try this in his comic strip to change the topic for awhile.

Don’t listen to her. You look great Earl!

You TELL her,earl‼️ Go forth and conquer …….

beats women wearing yoga pants

Attaboy Earl….cool!

Exactly, Earl. When it comes to clothing, women have fashion sense, but men have COMMON sense.

You know who he married … nag, nag, nag …

I don’t wear them in public and I don’t much worry about what others wear.

In an episode of NCIS New Orleans, Scott Bakula/Dwayne Pride, was told (I’m paraphrasing) ‘You have to be pretty rich to get away with dressing that shabby’. Not sure if Earl’s attire is aspirational or delusional, but it looks good on him. IMO.

Let him be, Opal. If I can go out in public in my flannel pajama bottoms, then Earl can certainly go out in public in sweatpants. As long as they’re clean, that is.

Or from WWII, “Don’t lose the war. Loose lips sink ships.”

that’s actually “dressing up” compared to a lot of what you see nowadays!

I think she should look at herself in the mirror then criticize others for their looks.

You go, Earl!

I have a pair of sweatpants and matching sweatshirt with Tigger that I LOVE and wear out in the right kind of weather!

I go out in sweatpants and my Adidas track pants :p

Earl, take a cue from Opal. I, for one, am tired of seeing all the slobs at Walmart wearing sweat pants.

Had Opal been out and seen all the people out shopping in their pajamas?

i always thank the slovenly types in sweats, the ones who look like they just rolled out of bed, for making the rest of us look better. and it takes a lot of work to make me look better… ☺

I use suspenders myself.

I’ll admit it: I agree with Opal. I’ve yet to see a anyone, male or female, young or middle-aged, who looks good while wearing sweatpants in public. Just think of what you do when wearing them—lollygag around the house with a cellphone, take naps in the middle of the day, clean your apartment (like, the basement or the bathroom), dribble bits of your meals on them. One of the first thoughts that pop in my head whenever I see someone wearing sweatpants is, I hope that guy took a bath. I also agree with the comment posted by the reader above mine; sweatpants tend to sag after awhile, no matter how much spray starch you apply to them, and make the wearer look like a slob. Alas, sweatpants wearers don’t care!