Those notorious Swoveralls

or, How I became the hit of the Slawburger Festival and the fashion plate of the bowling alley

Let’s be clear up front: I have a gut. Too much of a gut. I am obese. There, I’ve said it. Because of the gut, belts are sometimes uncomfortable for me. If I sit for a long time, a belt buckle or a too-wide, too-stiff belt can cut into me and make me uncomfortable.

Years ago, I thought it would be fun to have a pair of ordinary denim overalls to wear on weekends. I bought a pair, but they weren’t roomy enough. They were the right length, but they did not have enough room for my gut and were thus uncomfortably snug around my midsection. (I was a few pounds heavier at the time than I am now, but not much.)

I am not a fashion plate. I generally buy the cheapest clothing I can find in my size, more often than not at Walmart, although lately I sometimes shop at KingSize, a mail order house specializing in big-and-tall sizes. I’ve never been stylish, and am sometimes slovenly. Lately, though, in my doddering old age (I will turn 62 next month), I have started making the occasional nod to style. I have a straw hat that I think looks good on me. I sometimes buy fun socks. I recently spent money on a new suit, my first in years, and I am proud that it looks better than the old suit.

Anyway, at some point I saw an online ad for something called Swoveralls. This is one of those companies that was featured, at some point in its history, asking for funding on the TV show “Shark Tank.” (They did not get a deal.)

The product is simple: It’s designed like bib overalls, but made out of the same type of fleece fabric as sweatpants. SWeatpants + OVERALLS = Swoveralls.

I adored the concept — they looked like they would be both comfortable and fun. But, as I said, I’m pretty parsimonious when it comes to clothing, and the most basic, solid-color Swoveralls list for about $100. However, it’s pretty easy to get a new-customer discount if you pay attention. I…