DannyBoyinExile

They say that “the clothes don’t make the man” – and they don’t – but they can sure tell you a lot about a person.
Even here in TDCJ, where we all wear solid white shirts and pants, you can watch the inmates walk down the hallway and be able to stratify them, just by looking at their clothes.
You can tell right away who hasn’t bothered to shower or exchange their clothes in several days (before their aroma ever reaches you!) by looking at the condition – or dinginess – of their “white” clothes.
We all wear white shirts, and white pants with an elastic waistband. I’m not sure whose fashion decision that was, but it will probably remain that way forever, because it would simply be too expensive to replace them all with something new. As it is, all of the clothing we wear in TDCJ is made by TDCJ inmates, in garment factories on various prisons throughout the state.
We generally exchange the set we’ve been wearing for a clean set when we shower each day. We’ll wait in line until we reach the window, where we ask for, say, a 3x shirt and some 2x pants. Clothes are usually available from 1x up to 5x – and even larger ones can be ordered when needed.
Boxer shorts have been doubled up in size – for budget reasons, I’m sure. You can ask for some 1x/2x , 3x/4x, or even 5x/6x boxers – though hopefully I’ll never need those! Most inmates generally wear a size larger than they need, because they’d rather them be long on them, like basketball shorts, as opposed to being too skimpy on them – like 1980s basketball shorts!
I read about a sheriff in another state who made a big deal about making all of his inmates wear pink boxer shorts – and there was a big public outcry about that. But what does it really matter, when all of our boxers are exactly the same? Could a guy make fun of me for wearing pink underwear, when he’s got some on, too? My only objection would be if they were clear…
Some inmates take pride in the clothes they wear, while others just take whatever they’re given. Personally, after getting so many outfits that were too tight, too short, had too many stains on them, or were just too dingy – I took care oy things in the American way: I paid a guy to get me a brand-new set, which I had sewn by another guy to fit me properly in length and waist, and I pay yet another guy to keep them washed, bleached, and looking nice. Anything less would be uncivilized! =~) Now I never have to worry about the raggediness of what I’m given at the window, or what size I’ll have to settle for, because they’re out of my size.
I’m not the only guy around here who thinks that way. Like I said – watch the inmates walk down the hall, and you can easily see who takes care of THEMSELVES, by seeing how well they take care of their clothes. Some people put forth the extra effort, and some don’t.
As for me, I just feel better when I know that I am keeping myself squared away, and making the most of even my meager circumstances. I’m still alive, after all, and want to look my absolute best. So if you see me with my new clothes on – along with my new shoes, watch, nice haircut, and clean-shaven, remember that it’s not the clothes making me look good, but me making the clothes look good… =-] So says DannyBoy.