[ what good conversation isn't both enlightening and depressing.

he'll sort of follow him around and look over his shoulder at what he's rifling through, raising an eyebrow and peeking down at his robe. ]

Well, as a matter of fact I'm wearing trousers under the robe at this very moment. [ its like a plain pair of brown trousers and a white wrap shirt under the overrobe sorta deal ] So I don't have any objections. There are colleagues that will, ah ... keep it loose, as one might say, but I've found that feeling a bit vulnerable.

I'm not overly attached to only robes, if that's what you're asking. It's simply traditional.