# Big Bang Theory - Howard's outfits; ever "explained"? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 11, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393 "2013-04-11T13:07:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/1 "2013-04-11T13:07:22Z")
I watch enough of The Big Bang Theory to be dangerous - it is a fun spin on an old-school sit-com. Leonard, Sheldon and Raj all seem to have legit variations of classic Nerd outfits - Raj is mismatched with too much polyester, Sheldon with his comic book and nerd-culture t-shirts, and Leonard kinda layered-with-hoodies. Howard, on the other hand, wears perfectly color-coordinated outfits that look like doll outfits. Not something I would expect to be portrayed as a variation on Nerd style. I assume Howard’s outfits have been discussed at some point - e.g., his mom wants him to dress a certain way and buys his outfits or something - but I don’t recall hearing it. Have explanations been offered? Or am I just missing it and Howard’s outfits are perfectly reasonable and don’t stick out to you at all? ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/2 "2013-04-11T13:13:47Z")
I assumed the choices were limited in the Boys Dept. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/22080_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/3 "2013-04-11T13:14:01Z")
I don’t think his wardrobe was ever explained. I assume it’s what he thinks is “cool” and “with it” or whatever term Howard might use. He’s just a walking, talking fashion anachronism. Somehow I can’t imagine his mother picking out any of his outfits - I’d see her dressing him as a businessman or other suit-wearing professional. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/4 "2013-04-11T13:31:08Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I assumed the choices were limited in the Boys Dept. You know, that works. ---
**Author:** ![MrDibble](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mrdibble/32/114_2.png) [@MrDibble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MrDibble)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/5 "2013-04-11T13:33:47Z")
Initially, Howard was shown as very into [PUA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_community) bullshit - his clothes reflected this as a Nerd-filtered form of [peacocking](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peacocking) - especially his buckles. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/6 "2013-04-11T13:34:41Z")
The math doesn’t add up, but he’s still wearing the same fashions he wore as a little boy circa 1977. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/7 "2013-04-11T13:36:23Z")
Howard may buy his outfits, but his mother laid them out for him. So she was the one that coordinated everything. It was one of the things he bonded with Bernadette about. ---
**Author:** ![Happy\_Lendervedder](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/happy_lendervedder/32/8488_2.png) [@Happy\_Lendervedder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Happy_Lendervedder)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/8 "2013-04-11T13:37:17Z")
I think his style is “Nerd playboy.” ---
**Author:** ![puddleglum](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/puddleglum/32/137_2.png) [@puddleglum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/puddleglum)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/9 "2013-04-11T14:19:45Z")
Howard is a nerd but pre-Bernadette he was always trying to hit on every woman he met. His clothes are what someone with horrible taste would think girls would like. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/10 "2013-04-11T14:25:52Z")
He’s the Herb Tarlek of the 2000s. ---
**Author:** ![standingwave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9de0a6/32.png) [@standingwave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/standingwave)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 2:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/11 "2013-04-11T14:26:07Z")
> [@MrDibble](#): > > Initially, Howard was shown as very into [PUA](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seduction_community) bullshit - his clothes reflected this as a Nerd-filtered form of [peacocking](http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/peacocking) - especially his buckles. This. Howard thinks of himself as some kind of ladies man and believes that he’s dressing to impress:Simon Helberg, who portrays the MIT-trained scientist and one of the hilarious nerds, describes Howard as " **Jewish mod**. Maybe a combination of **Mick Jagger** and **Mr. Furley** (Don Knotts’ character from _Three’s Company_). It aggressively makes a statement - it might be abstract. It’s ‘I am here. Here’s what I got!’ " He wears pants so tight it’s a wonder he can inhale, never mind sit. It’s a good thing Helberg is so thin. “I have no choice,” he says. “For somebody who is very sexual in the character, he sort of highlights the important parts. The belts are always **drawing attention to the crotch** , which I think is where his heart is.” Mary T. Quigley, co-producer and costume designer, has a great deal of fun with Howard’s outrageous clothes, and buys the belts at **FluffyCo**., **Hot Topic** and **Urban Outfitters**. \ “The delightful thing about Howard is that **he does believe he is cool** ,” Helberg says. “He’s a little delusional, but they all live in their own world. He takes a lot of pride in how he presents himself.” More at link: [http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/12/howard-wolowitz-from-the-big-bang-theory.html](http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/12/howard-wolowitz-from-the-big-bang-theory.html) ---
**Author:** ![Soylent\_Juicy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/82dd89/32.png) [@Soylent\_Juicy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Soylent_Juicy)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/12 "2013-04-11T15:24:34Z")
One of the first things I noticed when I started watching The Big Bang Theory was that it must be pretty freakin’ cold in their neighbourhood of Los Angeles. I’d be sweating my arse off with all those layers. And why don’t Leonard and Raj ever take off their jackets indoors? ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/13 "2013-04-11T15:37:56Z")
Raj usually has on four layers- three shirts and a jacket. I couldn’t stand it. Who really wears all those shirts IRL? ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/14 "2013-04-11T16:13:46Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > Who really wears all those shirts IRL? Nerds. ---
**Author:** ![Tully\_Mars](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7ab992/32.png) [@Tully\_Mars](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tully_Mars)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/15 "2013-04-11T16:31:13Z")
> [@Lemur866](#): > > Nerds. But, they live in Southern California. Is it every really cool enough for an undershirt + collared shirt + sweater + jacket there? I have the same question regarding Leonard and his field jacket. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 4:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/16 "2013-04-11T16:36:43Z")
Pasadena in the summer? They’d melt. That building they live in doesn’t look all that well air-conditioned, either. ---
**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/17 "2013-04-11T17:05:27Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > One of the first things I noticed when I started watching The Big Bang Theory was that it must be pretty freakin’ cold in their neighbourhood of Los Angeles. I’d be sweating my arse off with all those layers. And why don’t Leonard and Raj ever take off their jackets indoors? I have noticed that, as well. Raj routinely wears four layers of clothing. It seems a bit bizarre to me. ---
**Author:** ![Lemur866](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lemur866/32/434_2.png) [@Lemur866](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lemur866)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/18 "2013-04-11T17:08:33Z")
I guess I live in Seattle where layers upon layers are common. ---
**Author:** ![control-z](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/eada6e/32.png) [@control-z](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/control-z)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/19 "2013-04-11T18:27:22Z")
You can tell it’s often cold on the set though, as evidenced by Penny’s nipples. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/74df32/32.png) [@The\_Devil\_s\_Grandmother](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Devil_s_Grandmother)\ **Post date:** [April 11, 2013, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393/20 "2013-04-11T21:53:01Z")
> [@Soylent\_Juicy](#): > > One of the first things I noticed when I started watching The Big Bang Theory was that it must be pretty freakin’ cold in their neighbourhood of Los Angeles. I’d be sweating my arse off with all those layers. And why don’t Leonard and Raj ever take off their jackets indoors? That pulls me out of the show as well. I think someone mentioned here that the show was supposed to be set at MIT, which is colder, at least in winter. Sheldon’s roommate agreement does mention the temperature the apartment is supposed to be kept at, but I don’t think it’s cold enough for the way the boys are dressed. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/big-bang-theory-howards-outfits-ever-explained/655393.md?page=2)