Same shirt, different day

Retiring teacher shows off 40 years of the same disco look

How often do you wear the same outfit to work? One teacher developed a 40 year habit.

In 1972, his first year as a Phys Ed teacher at Prestonwood elementary in Dallas, Texas, Dale Irby picked out his newest shirt and sweater vest combo for the yearbook photo. It was a good look for the early 70s – so good he accidentally picked it again the next year.

Irby, now 63, was embarrassed when the photo was printed, but when his wife Cathy dared him to make it three for three he happily played along – right up to his final year in 2012 when both the Irbys retired.

The photos track Irby getting older, greyer, and a little bigger – he said he had to “suck it in” to button the shirt that’s older than his students.

“It really wasn't stylish and, to tell you the truth, it was a little bit tighter in the latter years than it was in the beginning,” he said. “The shirt is now faded and the wool vest has several holes but it has all been worth a few laughs."

The outfit has retired along with Irby who said he doubted he would wear either item again.

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