# What Not to Wear -- The Grim Reaper Edition **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 25, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040 "2008-02-25T03:18:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 3:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/1 "2008-02-25T03:18:52Z")
MilliCal is writing this one. I only contributed the title ( **Cal** ) I got this idea from my mom (Pepper Mill) who watches **What Not to Wear**. As far as I know, it’s her favorite Show on TLC. So I’ve been wndering – why does the Grim Reaper wear a black cloak and a scythe? (okay,I know that the Grim Reaper doesn’t actually WEAR the sythe, but it’s kind of like an accsessory and comes in handy when reaping people) Why can’t he get a wig or something? Get Something more menacing to reap with, like a machete :eek:? Go to the Caribbean and get a tan? 🆒 And then he could get a black truck with a license plate that said ''IREAP U" Then he could wear a black sweatshirt that said Reaper (like the TV show), and grey jeans or khakis. I can picture Stacy and Clinton (hosts of **What Not to Wear** ) throwing out the black cloaks 😃 . ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/2 "2008-02-25T03:57:07Z")
**MilliCal** has obviously never seen the the frightening efficiency of a [properly-wielded scythe](http://youtube.com/watch?v=dVv597m848s). It’s really the implement of choice when you want to mow stuff down by the hundreds, rather than hacking them one by one. ---
**Author:** ![TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/51bf81/32.png) [@TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/3 "2008-02-25T03:57:50Z")
Wait, I don’t understand - who are all of these other names? You’re not allowed to have multiple screen names here. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 4:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/4 "2008-02-25T04:01:38Z")
[QUOTE=TLDRIDKJKLOLFTW] Wait, I don’t understand - who are all of these other names? You’re not allowed to have multiple screen names here. [/QUOTE] **MilliCal** is Cal’s daughter. She doesn’t have her own account (I don’t THINK she’s 13 (the minimum age) yet). ---
**Author:** ![Savannah](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Savannah](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Savannah)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/5 "2008-02-25T04:10:15Z")
Here’s one answer. > [@](#): > > According to William Bramley, author of The Gods of Eden: in 1559 in Brandenburg, Germany, there appeared fifteen men with “fearful faces and long scythes, with which they cut the oats, so that the swish could be heard at great distance, but the oats remained standing. The visit of these men was followed immediately by a severe outbreak of plague in Brandenburg. Were the ‘scythes’ long instruments designed to spray poison or germ-laden gases? > > “Strange men in black, demons, and other terrifying figures were observed in other European communities carrying ‘brooms’ or ‘scythes’ or ‘swords’ that were used to sweep or knock at people’s doors. The inhabitants of these houses fell ill with plague afterwards. It is from these reports that people created the popular image of death as a skeleton, a demon, a man in a black robe carrying a scythe.” > > So there you have it, the origin of the grim reaper. –[http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/the-origin-of-the-grim-reaper/](http://ptbertram.wordpress.com/2007/11/09/the-origin-of-the-grim-reaper/) Some imagery is just good, memorably and affecting, there’s no reason to change. The Grim Reaper’s got a great iconic image–why update it? ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2008, 4:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/6 "2008-02-25T04:13:52Z")
Sorry, **MilliCal** , but it’s back to fashion kindergarten for you! Gray jeans? A sweatshirt? Are we talking about the same Stacy and Clinton here? They’d sooner dye their hair themselves than suggest that anybody wear a _sweatshirt_. Ol’ Grimmy could definitely use a fashion update, but he’s basically on the right track with the cloaks. Remember–the goal is to lengthen, lengthen, lengthen!! I suspect they’d put him in a much more tailored cloak, one that shows off his enviably slender figure, instead of the shapeless ones that he’s been wearing. They’d try and get him to brighten and lighten his color palette, too, but they might have to accept that black is necessary workwear for him. But that doesn’t mean that his cloaks can’t have fabulous details!! I’m not sure what they’d do with the scythe, but given that it doesn’t make him look frumpy or anything, they’d probably let him keep it. But they’d send it out to be detailed or something. As far as the suggestion that he get a tan…well, as we know, everybody looks better with a little rosy color on their cheeks. The problem is that he doesn’t have cheeks. Perhaps he could get BriteSmile done on his entire head? Top it off with a nice coat of Turtle Wax, and he’d positively glow! I just saw **Savannah** ’s post on preview: Why update his image? With a question like that, I can only assume that you’re still wearing stirrup pants. ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/7 "2008-02-26T02:08:01Z")
Don’t forget that under the cloaks they’d put fabulous dress pants that complimented his bum, (Er, bone structure?) and a very elegant dress shirt, probably detailed with onyx skull cufflinks knowing them. He’d have the very best, most comfortable dress shoes and socks with no moth holes too. (That is, if his skeletal feet could wear them.) Perhaps a glint or two of silver here and there also, to complement his scythe? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/8 "2008-02-26T02:11:35Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Perhaps a glint or two of silver here and there also, to complement his scythe? 😃 [/QUOTE] Silver scythe? That’s SO blingwhore. A proper reaper scythe is black. Black, black iron. A silver scythe is a sign that a reaper has been corrupted by…ugh…fashion! ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/9 "2008-02-26T02:13:11Z")
[QUOTE=jayjay] Silver scythe? That’s SO blingwhore. A proper reaper scythe is black. Black, black iron. A silver scythe is a sign that a reaper has been corrupted by…ugh…fashion! [/QUOTE] Even on black weapons the edge is silver and keen. 😉 ETA: Unless you mean his scythe is obsidian and blackwood? ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/10 "2008-02-26T02:26:12Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Even on black weapons the edge is silver and keen. 😉 ETA: Unless you mean his scythe is obsidian and blackwood? [/QUOTE] It’s the congealed blackness of primeval chaos. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Green\_Bean](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/green_bean/32/1760_2.png) [@Green\_Bean](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Green_Bean)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/11 "2008-02-26T02:26:26Z")
[QUOTE=Zabali\_Clawbane] Don’t forget that under the cloaks they’d put fabulous dress pants that complimented his bum, (Er, bone structure?) and a very elegant dress shirt, probably detailed with onyx skull cufflinks knowing them. He’d have the very best, most comfortable dress shoes and socks with no moth holes too. (That is, if his skeletal feet could wear them.) Perhaps a glint or two of silver here and there also, to complement his scythe? 😃 [/QUOTE] Oh, absolutely. Silver and onyx are de rigeur for the Reaper of distinction. And while he has a natural gothic style, it’s important for him to avoid incorporating too many goth cliches into his look. A glint of silver–good. A vial of blood around his neck? Not so much. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Some\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ad7895/32.png) [@Just\_Some\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Some_Guy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/12 "2008-02-26T02:48:42Z")
May I recommend accessorizing with an hourglass? It’s a simple addition that fits with his personal style and offers flexibility for today’s fashionable incarnation of the ultimate end of all things. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 2:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/13 "2008-02-26T02:59:53Z")
[QUOTE=Just Some Guy] May I recommend accessorizing with an hourglass? It’s a simple addition that fits with his personal style and offers flexibility for today’s fashionable incarnation of the ultimate end of all things. [/QUOTE] Somehow, an hourglass is too trendy. We need something more _timeless_. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![chocolatefrog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/41988e/32.png) [@chocolatefrog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chocolatefrog)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/14 "2008-02-26T03:11:54Z")
Wait, you mean you haven’t seen what [Tilda Swinton](http://gofugyourself.typepad.com/go_fug_yourself/2008/02/oscar-fug-carpe.html) wore to the Oscars? There’s your modern Grim Reaper right there for you . ---
**Author:** ![as\_u\_wish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6f9a4e/32.png) [@as\_u\_wish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/as_u_wish)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/15 "2008-02-26T03:25:04Z")
I don’t think the Grim Reaper has the requisite 3 \*\*different \*\* outfits to wear in the 360 degree mirror. ---
**Author:** ![shamrock227](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@shamrock227](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shamrock227)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/16 "2008-02-26T03:48:25Z")
[QUOTE=samclem] Somehow, an hourglass is too trendy. We need something more _timeless_. 🙂 [/QUOTE] What? Like a Rolex? ---
**Author:** ![mobo85](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mobo85](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mobo85)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 3:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/17 "2008-02-26T03:56:25Z")
[QUOTE=CalMeacham] Go to the Caribbean and get a tan? [/QUOTE] Well, the tan part might be a little impossible, but I do know he tends to speak with a Caribbean accent. Wait, what do you mean _The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy_ isn’t a documentary? ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/18 "2008-02-26T16:10:45Z")
He wears black for the slimming effect, then again he is just bones so maybe he has ‘weight issues’. ---
**Author:** ![Death\_of\_Rats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a6a055/32.png) [@Death\_of\_Rats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Death_of_Rats)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/19 "2008-02-26T16:16:13Z")
HEY! WE LOOK JUST FINE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH! SQUEAK! ---
**Author:** ![Ferret\_Herder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e47774/32.png) [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2008, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040/20 "2008-02-26T17:48:01Z")
It’s not the exact same concept as “The Grim Reaper”, but Neil Gaiman in the _Sandman_ comic not only thought of [Death](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_%28DC_Comics%29) as dressed somewhat more stylishly, but also as a woman. She’s kind of a perky, kind goth - dark wavy hair, pale skin, often wearing a black tank top or bustier and black jeans, maybe with a black jacket, and a silver ankh around her neck. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-not-to-wear-the-grim-reaper-edition/439040.md?page=2)