P.E. teacher becomes wholesome legend after wearing the same Picture Day outfit for 40 years

Dale Irby is the perfect example of how a sense of humor can turn a moment of embarrassment into a source of pure joy.

Back in 1973, when Irby first began his career as an elementary school P.E. teacher, he chose a simple brown V-neck vest atop a large lapeled white button down shirt (something he nabbed from the mall only a day prior) for his school photo.

Thing is…the following year, he unknowingly chose the exact same outfit—and he was subsequently mortified.

It was then that Irby’s wife dared him to wear the same outfit for a third year in a row. And thus, it became a fun tradition that lasted for forty years until Irby retired, even if the ensemble was “pretty snug” by the end.

The result is a multiverse of Irbys all in one groovy collection.

Irby’s legendary photo collage recently resurfaced again, thanks to a viral X post by Historic Vids. In the comments, people were filled to the brim with appreciation.

“There’s something beautifully human about quiet traditions like this…you can almost feel the seasons shift through the backgrounds while he stays steady at the center. Students came and went. Trends rose and faded. Yet he remained himself, year after year. This simple idea turned into a time capsule.”

“This story reminds us that traditions can be born from mistakes, and sometimes those traditions last far longer than intended.”

“That's a fantastic example of a simple, yet brilliant, commitment! Forty years in the same outfit for Picture Day turned a small wardrobe mix-up into an iconic and memorable tradition for generations of students.”

“What a quietly brilliant and consistent sense of humor. That kind of long-term inside joke takes real dedication. A small act that surely became iconic to his students.”

“I love this so much!! As a retired teacher of 29 years, I can promise you - we hated picture day as much as the students!!”

Aside from his clothing choice, Irby left behind a legacy of fairness that he taught to all his students. In an interview with NPR in 2013, Irby shared, “I only had four rules in the gym and the last one was, you know, be a good sport and enjoy the rules of the game and, you know, sometimes life doesn't seem fair, but I told them…in some fables, the tortoise actually wins the race.”

Irby might have worn the same outfit for four decades, but clearly, he never phoned it in. Really, his tradition was less about clothes and more about consistency, playfulness , and heart. With these components, even something as mundane as school picture day, or as embarrassing as a fashion faux pas, has room for joy and meaning. Hopefully we can take that wisdom into our own day.