Teamster Fashionistas

Whoever said Teamsters were bad dressers didn't look closely enough.

Every teamster I knew, including and especially T-Daddy, had the latest Teamster Fashion in their closets, not to mention, on their person. Teamster trends came in many size, shapes and colors. But none were more fashionable than the all-weather, any event- Official Teamster Jacket with official Teamster logo in silk. Black silk.

On chilly Tennessee nights, or windy Biloxi nights (if you happened to be at a Southern Conference meeting with Teamster Daddy,) he would always be a southern gentleman and take off his extra large jacket and let one of his Teamster daughters wear the coveted garment. That jacket was always warm and full of heat from his strong T-Daddy body and smelled like English Leather cologne. We looked so confused in our Bobbi Brooks designer dresses with the oversize T-daddy jacket hiding all the feminine details. You see, T-daughters knew he'd secretly wanted a son to carry on the Teamster family tradition, so for a few stolen moments in that jacket, we opted to be tomboys on occasion so he didn't feel too cheated. To hell with dresses. That's when I probably started wearing pants.

Often, he'd let us wear one of his Teamster ball caps when the wind was blowing our shiny, pretty hair when we'd joyride with him in the 1965 Pontiac Bonneville Convertible. No Audrey Hepburn wind scarves for Teamster Daughters. It was a Teamster cap or nothing. We looked pretty sassy wearing that oversized cap with the windows rolled down in our other vehicle, T-Daddy's Baby Blue 1966 Chevy Truck.

But it wasn't until you put on the Official Brotherhood of Teamsters' jacket that one could feel the power. Teamster Pride and testosterone eminated from every stitch. And those pockets were a goldmine to little Teamster girls....you never knew what you'd find there; a few nuts and bolts (T-Daddy loved hardware of any kind) a hundred dollar bill, or a teamster lapel pin. As a bonus, he'd let you keep whatever loot you found there. You see, our father was generous to a fault...but that's another chapter entirely.

Armani watch out...I've been hearing rumors.Teamster fashion is on the rise...and if it isn't already...it should be. It could be called the Equistrian Look for T-daughter Wannabes.