by Jenny Hansen

You know, they just don’t make things like they used to…

That’s something I never thought I’d say. But, really, when it comes to clothing, this is so very true. Anyone who has bought a pair of jeans in recent memory knows that.

And they don’t advertise them the way they used to either.

You can see from this ad that they mention both the Action Zone (with a strategically placed marker) and a Snack Sack, which I hesitate to guess about.

I mean, really…maybe these babies came with a free lunch back in the day, and the “snack sack” is nothing like my feverish little mind envisions.

Nowadays, a man has to buy his undies with a “contour pouch” if he’s packing an extra large lunch under his clothes. The Underwear Expert tells you all about it in “Ask the Expert: My Cup Runneth Over.” (Y’all KNOW I bookmarked that site.)

Now, scoping out the ad above, I’d have guessed Sansabelts went the way of the hoop skirt.

A tiny bit of Googling set me straight:

Sansabelt is a brand of men’s trousers. The Sansabelt slack was invented by Silver Manufacturer in Indiana, which subsequently sold the company and their patent to Jaymar-Ruby in 1959. The trousers have a wide elastic band sewn into the waist, which is intended to make a belt or suspenders unnecessary, hence the name (“sans a belt”).^[1]

Jaymar-Ruby, with its Sansabelt brand, was acquired by Hartmarx in 1967 but in early 2009, Hartmarx Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy down in Florida. [Considering the target market for these pants, Florida wasn't such a surprise.]

According to the official Sansabelt website, “starting Late Fall 2013, SANSABELT is back in stores.”

Apparently Sansabelts are “the pants that will not die.” Seriously. These puppies are BACK and going strong.

Mark my words, people…With the upswing in senior citizens we’re experiencing as our Baby Boomers get older, these pants are gonna get hip again.

The company’s current marketing pitch:

Sansabelt: The World’s Most Comfortable Pants
for over 75 years

Starting Late Fall 2013, SANSABELT is back in stores,
with new colors & styles for work & play!

SANSABELT pants have an exclusive 2 1/2- inch
webbed waistband slims the midsection
and gives you a classic, streamlined look.

Worn and beloved by celebrities, including
Johnny Carson, Dick Van Dyke and Mike Ditka.

(You’ll notice the celebrities they mentioned, right? I don’t see any of the under-60 set here. Just sayin…)

So, I thought about now-defunct fashions that I kind of liked. I mean, growing up on the West Coast, I totally wore OP shorts (Ocean Pacific) and TomTom pants. I went through a major Flashdance period too. *shudders*

What about y’all? Did you have magnificent clothing items that you love to this day and keep in the back of your closet “just in case they come back?” What are your must-keep items? Continue the discussion and share your wardrobe secrets  or !

~ Jenny

About Jenny Hansen

By day, Jenny provides training and social media marketing for an accounting firm. By night she writes humor, memoir, women’s fiction and short stories. After 18 years as a corporate software trainer, she’s delighted to sit down while she works.

When she’s not at her personal blog, More Cowbell, Jenny can be found on Twitter at or at Writers In The Storm.

© 2014 Jenny Hansen. All content on this page is protected by copyright. If you would like to use any part of this, please contact me at the above links to request permission.