# Is It Possible To Carry Off The "Cosmo Kramer" Look Today? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 7, 2013, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755 "2013-12-07T16:02:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/21 "2013-12-08T09:33:59Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Kramer is the part of that show I never understood. If I lived in that building, the first time he slid into my apartment I’d put about 5 locks on the door, and a wide angle peephole in the door so I could make sure he wasn’t in the hall. Did that guy have _any_ redeeming qualities? Me too, but I don’t think you appreciate Jerry Seinfeld’s deep masochistic streak. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 9:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/22 "2013-12-08T09:39:18Z")
if he did put 5 locks on the door then the show would _really_ be about nothing. ---
**Author:** ![don\_t\_ask](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e68b1a/32.png) [@don\_t\_ask](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/don_t_ask)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/23 "2013-12-08T10:09:48Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Kramer was classy-he lived life the way he wanted to…wasn’t hung up on fads…a bit of a mooch, but classy! As Bob Dylan puts it: \* “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” \* ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/24 "2013-12-08T11:47:27Z")
Let me introduce you to Russell Brand. [http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;\_ylt=A0PDoYAGXKRSHDMAv1eJzbkF;\_ylu=X3oDMTI0aW11cGlnBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANhNjI0NTY4NGVjZWNmYzcyNzk1ODMzZWNiZTQzOGYwOARncG9zAzExMgRpdANiaW5n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Drussell%2Bbrand%26\_adv\_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Drussell%2Bbrand%26fr%3Dyfp-t-900%26ac%3D2%26spos%3D12%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D112&w=400&h=600&imgurl=www.lahiguera.net%2Fcinemania%2Factores%2Frussell\_brand%2Ffotos%2F11996%2Frussell\_brand.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lahiguera.net%2Fcinemania%2Factores%2Frussell\_brand%2Ffotos%2F11996%2F&size=21.4KB&name=\Russell+Brand+\<%2Fb\>foto+Todo+sobre+mi+desmadre%2C+imagen%2C+fotografía+cine&p=russell+brand&oid=a6245684ececfc72795833ecbe438f08&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-900&tt=\Russell+Brand+\<%2Fb\>foto+Todo+sobre+mi+desmadre%2C+imagen%2C+fotografía+cine&b=61&ni=128&no=112&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=1259s01o2&sigb=14hdttbv1&sigi=12f4u5cio&.crumb=frEx3CMUclP&fr=yfp-t-900](http://images.search.yahoo.com/images/view;_ylt=A0PDoYAGXKRSHDMAv1eJzbkF;_ylu=X3oDMTI0aW11cGlnBHNlYwNzcgRzbGsDaW1nBG9pZANhNjI0NTY4NGVjZWNmYzcyNzk1ODMzZWNiZTQzOGYwOARncG9zAzExMgRpdANiaW5n?back=http%3A%2F%2Fimages.search.yahoo.com%2Fsearch%2Fimages%3Fp%3Drussell%2Bbrand%26_adv_prop%3Dimage%26va%3Drussell%2Bbrand%26fr%3Dyfp-t-900%26ac%3D2%26spos%3D12%26nost%3D1%26tab%3Dorganic%26ri%3D112&w=400&h=600&imgurl=www.lahiguera.net%2Fcinemania%2Factores%2Frussell_brand%2Ffotos%2F11996%2Frussell_brand.jpg&rurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lahiguera.net%2Fcinemania%2Factores%2Frussell_brand%2Ffotos%2F11996%2F&size=21.4KB&name=%3Cb%3ERussell+Brand+%3C%2Fb%3Efoto+Todo+sobre+mi+desmadre%2C+imagen%2C+fotograf%C3%ADa+cine&p=russell+brand&oid=a6245684ececfc72795833ecbe438f08&fr2=&fr=yfp-t-900&tt=%3Cb%3ERussell+Brand+%3C%2Fb%3Efoto+Todo+sobre+mi+desmadre%2C+imagen%2C+fotograf%C3%ADa+cine&b=61&ni=128&no=112&ts=&tab=organic&sigr=1259s01o2&sigb=14hdttbv1&sigi=12f4u5cio&.crumb=frEx3CMUclP&fr=yfp-t-900) ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/25 "2013-12-08T12:26:14Z")
Now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure that Kramer was Jerry’s dealer. ---
**Author:** ![jovan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/0ea827/32.png) [@jovan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jovan)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/26 "2013-12-08T13:58:40Z")
> [@Son\_of\_a\_Rich](#): > > Kramer is the part of that show I never understood. If I lived in that building, the first time he slid into my apartment I’d put about 5 locks on the door, and a wide angle peephole in the door so I could make sure he wasn’t in the hall. Did that guy have _any_ redeeming qualities? I’d say he was the only character with genuine qualities. Yes, he was highly eccentric and frequently dragged other people into trouble through his oddball schemes and ideas. However, he was the only character in the show that was not thoroughly self-absorbed. There are several episodes where Kramer goes out of his way to help various people. As a matter of fact, he’s often shown as being very good at making friends (see the Soup Nazi). He’s the guy who gets along with everyone. Exactly _how_ someone as wacky as he is gets along so well is part of some of the mysteries that made him funny, such as _how_ can he afford such a nice apartment in Manhattan without a job. And what is his first name. ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 4:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/27 "2013-12-08T16:34:43Z")
Eww. Those awful old-man pants and white socks…he always looked like he smelled. Like B.O. and unwashed ass. (I do understand why he had fans, though. George Costanza in the same universe had no problem getting dates. Seems unrealistic, but of course such folk in real life do as well as Hollywood types might.) ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/28 "2013-12-08T17:01:50Z")
> [@Justin\_Bailey](#): > > Who doesn’t wear white socks? 😕 Well, they certainly don’t look “classy.” (I personally usually only wear them with exercise clothes or if I’m bumming around the house in sweats.) ---
**Author:** ![Nisslbody](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e36b37/32.png) [@Nisslbody](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nisslbody)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 5:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/29 "2013-12-08T17:06:53Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > I’d say he was the only character with genuine qualities. Yes, he was highly eccentric and frequently dragged other people into trouble through his oddball schemes and ideas. However, he was the only character in the show that was not thoroughly self-absorbed. There are several episodes where Kramer goes out of his way to help various people. As a matter of fact, he’s often shown as being very good at making friends (see the Soup Nazi). He’s the guy who gets along with everyone. Exactly _how_ someone as wacky as he is gets along so well is part of some of the mysteries that made him funny, such as _how_ can he afford such a nice apartment in Manhattan without a job. And what is his first name. It was Cosmo. My ex-boyfriend dresses exactly like that. He looks like Bob Dylan, that’s how he gets away with it. Don’t judge me. ---
**Author:** ![FordTaurusSHO94](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f07891/32.png) [@FordTaurusSHO94](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FordTaurusSHO94)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/30 "2013-12-08T22:07:37Z")
I refuse to wear white cotton socks. I don’t think they look good, but they’re also very uncomfortable compared to synthetic or wool. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/31 "2013-12-09T02:37:57Z")
> [@FordTaurusSHO94](#): > > The look is “hipster doofus” if you go by what everyone said on the show. The other characters didn’t think he was classy. Yeah I much preferred jeans with joggers and poofy pirate shirts! kramer was a hipster before they were ironic… ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/32 "2013-12-09T03:35:52Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Yes, in the late 90s. I must have great time walk abilities because that look is pretty common in SF still. ---
**Author:** ![Stringbean](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d6d6ee/32.png) [@Stringbean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stringbean)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/33 "2013-12-09T09:22:15Z")
No character in the history of television entered a room like Kramer. ---
**Author:** ![shijinn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@shijinn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shijinn)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 9:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/34 "2013-12-09T09:28:37Z")
and no character in the history of television exits a bet like Kramer. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/35 "2013-12-09T14:45:26Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > I must have great time walk abilities because that look is pretty common in SF still. Hipsters moved on from that look a long time ago. Now they either wear rolled-up skinny jeans with work boots or look like[civil war soldiers](http://thechive.com/2013/10/08/civil-war-soldiers-or-hipsters-24-photos). ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 4:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/36 "2013-12-09T16:50:01Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > Hipsters moved on from that look a long time ago. Now they either wear rolled-up skinny jeans with work boots or look like civil war soldiers. So then why am I still seeing that look everywhere I go in SF? ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/37 "2013-12-09T17:01:40Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > So then why am I still seeing that look everywhere I go in SF? That’s easy: nerds. ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/38 "2013-12-09T17:12:59Z")
> [@shijinn](#): > > and no character in the history of television exits a bet like Kramer. Kramer’s exit to “I’m out!” is 53 seconds. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/39 "2013-12-09T17:27:19Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Kramer was classy-he lived life the way he wanted to…wasn’t hung up on fads…a bit of a mooch, but classy! I must chime in with the others who are saying that you missed the point on the character. The whole point was that he was not classy. It’s like if someone said that Archie Bunker was a respected and convincing voice for restoring traditional values in America… just, no. ---
**Author:** ![Kobal2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kobal2/32/20_2.png) [@Kobal2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kobal2)\ **Post date:** [December 9, 2013, 6:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755/40 "2013-12-09T18:05:04Z")
> [@jovan](#): > > Exactly _how_ someone as wacky as he is gets along so well is part of some of the mysteries that made him funny No mystery. He’s got the Kavorka, that’s all. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-it-possible-to-carry-off-the-cosmo-kramer-look-today/675755.md?page=3)