[StylePurgatory]

It would be even better if you inspired him to at least avoid the "f"word in the cathedral.

We were walking to a coffee shop. He was merely in the same block.

 

[Earl of Ormonde]

It's used quite a lot on AAAC.

What I wrote, surely makes it clear that your reply is redundant: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

However, no, it is not used quite a lot on AAAC at all. It is rarely used: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

Show me where it is used "quite a lot"?

 

[Tiger]

When I first read "SC" it seemed strange. Wasn't sure initially what it referred to...then the context made it clear.

 

[JLibourel]

To me a sportcoat or suit without a tie says "I'm wearing a jacket because I'm being forced to, and I'm too clueless to know how to coordinate a tie/shirt/jacket." Or even worse, "I don't own a tie".

Oh nonsense! Wearing a suit (preferably a casual one) or sportcoat sans tie is just one level on the formality continuum. It may be appropriate, or it may not. As for owning (or not owning) neckwear, for the record, I have approximately 115 neckties, 36 ascots and eight bowties. However, when I am wearing a suit or sportcoat, I will always "rock the square" (of which I have about 95).

As to the abbreviation "SC," I thought it was commonly used, and the OP's meaning in the title was immediately apparent to me.

 

[Matt S]

What I wrote, surely makes it clear that your reply is redundant: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

However, no, it is not used quite a lot on AAAC at all. It is rarely used: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

Show me where it is used "quite a lot"?

Maybe the other forum is where I've seen it used.

 

[Starting Late]

I'm from New York, and one of the best things about New York is that I can dress any way that pleases me. I went to an afternoon show at Carnegie Hall last Fall wearing a navy suit, black cap-toes, and an outrageous Stephano Ricci tie. I think I was also wearing a Burberry trench. My girlfriend wore a beautiful dress, heels and some of her favorite jewelry. We had lunch before the show in a nice Italian place in mid-town. At both places, people were dressed up and dressed down. For example, the couple who sat next to us at Carnegie Hall appeared to be dressed for a Sunday morning at Starbucks. The point is - we felt like getting dressed up and we did and we had a great time. No one cared about our dress, one way or the other. New York is a big town. Enjoy it.

 

[Odradek]

To me a sportcoat or suit without a tie says "I'm wearing a jacket because I'm being forced to, and I'm too clueless to know how to coordinate a tie/shirt/jacket." Or even worse, "I don't own a tie".

I wear a sport coat or tweed jacket on a regular basis, but although my collection of ties has jumped from two to about forty over the past three years, I rarely get wear one. Wearing a jacket is accepted as normal, but wearing a tie when you're not headed off to work in an office, is regarded as bizarre behaviour. Elicits all sorts of funny looks and comments from people, not least from my wife.

 

[justonemore]

I'm from New York, and one of the best things about New York is that I can dress any way that pleases me. I went to an afternoon show at Carnegie Hall last Fall wearing a navy suit, black cap-toes, and an outrageous Stephano Ricci tie. I think I was also wearing a Burberry trench. My girlfriend wore a beautiful dress, heels and some of her favorite jewelry. We had lunch before the show in a nice Italian place in mid-town. At both places, people were dressed up and dressed down. For example, the couple who sat next to us at Carnegie Hall appeared to be dressed for a Sunday morning at Starbucks. The point is - we felt like getting dressed up and we did and we had a great time. No one cared about our dress, one way or the other. New York is a big town. Enjoy it.

While I agree with most of what you stated, the problem here isn't public opinion versus the opinion of the OP's wife.

It is indeed true that there is a general anonymity in larger cities at public events. I take advanatge of this all the time. Most people don't know me & most people don't care as to why I'm dressed the way I'm dressed. If anything is mentioned, it is a compliment. I have never experienced someone coming up and teling me that "Hats are out of fashion" or "Tassel Loafers don't go with suits".

My wife on the other hand does not hesitate to state what she thinks. Should she so desire, I will hear the same thing repeated several times... over and over and over and over again. While strangers come and go, my wife is by my side the entire night.

While my wife is quite happy with my clothing choices, the OP's wife is not. I'd wear a suit and my wife would tell me that I look good. The OP wears a SC (less formal than a suit) and his wife states that he's "over dressed".

 

[Spex]

What I wrote, surely makes it clear that your reply is redundant: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

However, no, it is not used quite a lot on AAAC at all. It is rarely used: I've never seen that abbreviation before.

Show me where it is used "quite a lot"?

Maybe the other forum is where I've seen it used.

Nope...it was probably around these parts... (although it appears that it may be a acronym coined by none other than momsdoc!)

https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?178581-Opions-on-this-CT-SC
https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?179713-Opinion-on-this-HSM-SC
https://askandyaboutclothes.com/com...om/community/showthread.php?164729-Buttoning-only-the-last-of-3-buttons-on-a-SC
https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?185056-silk-wool-SC-anything-I-should-know
https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?186154-Need-help-with-GTH-SC
https://askandyaboutclothes.com/community/showthread.php?160835-Camel-hair-SC-vs-tweed-SC

 

[Liberty Ship]

We're off to see Beautiful in NYC. We're having a pre-show dinner at an upscale midtown restaurant.

I'm in pressed black Khakis with Burgundy Patriots, grey herringbone slubby SC, dark grey knit slubby silk tie, burgundy paisly raw silk PS and a white sports shirt with black butcher stripes.

My wife thinks it's ridiculous to wear into the city for a Broadway show about a rock star. If not wearing a tie nd SC to a nice restaurant and B'dway show, when does one wear them?

Your wife is a victim of low self esteem. Constant fear of "looking too good." "Not fitting in." Would always prefer to be underdressed because it generally lowers expectations. What does she expect to wear? I bet she is trying to dumb down your look to match hers so you can blend in with the great unwashed.

Who on this board has the great tag line along the lines of, "You dress how you expect to be treated"? That sums it up. People who constantly underdress and try to rein in those who try to dress properly simply don't think they are worth it.

Personally, though, I would skip the striped shirt and go with simple white.

 

[FLMike]

Yikes. Hang on while I grab my popcorn.

 

[orange fury]

While I agree with most of what you stated, the problem here isn't public opinion versus the opinion of the OP's wife.

It is indeed true that there is a general anonymity in larger cities at public events. I take advanatge of this all the time. Most people don't know me & most people don't care as to why I'm dressed the way I'm dressed. If anything is mentioned, it is a compliment. I have never experienced someone coming up and teling me that "Hats are out of fashion" or "Tassel Loafers don't go with suits".

While my wife is quite happy with my clothing choices, the OP's wife is not. I'd wear a suit and my wife would tell me that I look good. The OP wears a SC (less formal than a suit) and his wife states that he's "over dressed".

This is why I love living in a major city, no one ever notices/comments/thinks twice when I wear a tie or "dress up" in any way. When I was in college, I would occasionally get crap off campus for wearing something as simple as a sportcoat and chinos, but that's what happens in a small rural town. One of many reasons I wanted to get back into a city lol.

My wife is also very supportive of my clothing choices, her stock response any time someone makes a comment about me "dressing up" (ie, tucking an open collar OCBD into chinos) is "at least my husband knows how to dress like an adult".

i picked a good'un :biggrin:

 

[bobelmore]

We're off to see Beautiful in NYC. We're having a pre-show dinner at an upscale midtown restaurant.

I'm in pressed black Khakis with Burgundy Patriots, grey herringbone slubby SC, dark grey knit slubby silk tie, burgundy paisly raw silk PS and a white sports shirt with black butcher stripes.

My wife thinks it's ridiculous to wear into the city for a Broadway show about a rock star. If not wearing a tie nd SC to a nice restaurant and B'dway show, when does one wear them?

I just went to the Minnesota Orchestra here last weekend. I wore a light grey suit and tie (summery look). I took my daughter and she wore a nice dress. We sat next to a guy wearing a Hawaiian shirt.

Which one of us looked more appropriate?

So, if everybody else is casual, don't you look better than everybody else?

 

[bobelmore]

I have also found this to be true.

While I have not studied this to the point of being able to make a definitive statement, I believe people treat you better when you are wearing a suit or SC (or even just a tie, though that is more common). I think you get more respect and people are more likely to listen to you.

 

[orange fury]

While I have not studied this to the point of being able to make a definitive statement, I believe people treat you better when you are wearing a suit or SC (or even just a tie, though that is more common). I think you get more respect and people are more likely to listen to you.

I have found this to be true as well.

case in point: my wife and I went to a high end part of town after church one Sunday, still dressed from church (me in a sportcoat and chinos, her in a dress). We wandered into a high end jewelry store just to look around, and when we looked like we knew what we were doing, the staff offered us mimosas and wine. That didn't happen for the couple that walked in a bit later wearing flip flops and cargo shorts. I'm not saying differential treatment is right or wrong, it was just something that happened.

 

[Natty Beau]

This is why I love living in a major city, no one ever notices/comments/thinks twice when I wear a tie or "dress up" in any way. When I was in college, I would occasionally get crap off campus for wearing something as simple as a sportcoat and chinos, but that's what happens in a small rural town. One of many reasons I wanted to get back into a city lol.

Such a good point.

I live in the far, green suburbs but spend six days a week in the city. I think this arrangement is the best of both worlds but it's lead to an extreme dichotomy in my wardrobe i.e. city vs. country. I'll wear loud tweed on Saturdays but I don't feel comfortable walking around the city in chinos anymore. Even a navy blazer, tie and wool slacks worn downtown feels like slumming it now. Going to the city feels like an occasion to be dressed up for, in an of itself.

This is probably what I get for learning how to dress from A Suitable Wardrobe, haha.

 

[dwebber18]

My wife and I also run in to this situation on a frequent basis. We are on the younger side and typically dress better than most people. She appreciates when I put on a tie and a jacket because she likes to wear a dress and heels. We went to the opening night of our local symphony and I thought it appropriate to wear black tie so we did. There was another older couple in black tie and only a few in coats, most everyone else were in polos and chinos or jeans. Had it not been opening night I would have worn a coat and tie but I felt that opening night called for something special. I have respect for musicians and actors and like to dress appropriately to show that respect. The last time we were in NYC we went to see Spider-Man and I assume most of the patrons were tourists because I didn't see so much as another sport coat. I like to dress nice and look good so I do and my wife appreciates that as well so it's a win win. I do tend to get comments when I dress up for work. I've been wearing a coat and tie more often on purpose and the comments have slowed down for sure. Most of my colleagues feel overdressed in chinos and close toed shoes.

 

[orange fury]

My wife and I also run in to this situation on a frequent basis. We are on the younger side and typically dress better than most people. She appreciates when I put on a tie and a jacket because she likes to wear a dress and heels. We went to the opening night of our local symphony and I thought it appropriate to wear black tie so we did. There was another older couple in black tie and only a few in coats, most everyone else were in polos and chinos or jeans. Had it not been opening night I would have worn a coat and tie but I felt that opening night called for something special. I have respect for musicians and actors and like to dress appropriately to show that respect. The last time we were in NYC we went to see Spider-Man and I assume most of the patrons were tourists because I didn't see so much as another sport coat. I like to dress nice and look good so I do and my wife appreciates that as well so it's a win win. I do tend to get comments when I dress up for work. I've been wearing a coat and tie more often on purpose and the comments have slowed down for sure. Most of my colleagues feel overdressed in chinos and close toed shoes.

Agree with all of this. My wife and workplace are the same way- she likes when I dress up and it gives her an excuse to, and my workplace stopped commenting on the tie and jacket once it became a regular thing.

My wife also tends to comment (privately) about other couples when we're out, where the woman is dressed up but her significant other is in shorts and flip flops or jeans and a t shirt. Gents, if your significant other is getting dressed up, you dress up too. /soapbox

 

[SG_67]

My wife and I will typically dress commensurate with the occasion and commensurate with one another's level of formality. She's not a dress wearer. She prefers slacks, a top and a blazer or jacket and she's not really a big high heel wearer, so she opts for flats and oxfords or boots depending on the weather. She will occasionally wear nice denim.

If I wear slacks and a sport coat I don't feel as though I look out of place with her and she and I are quite comfortable together, but then after 20 years of marriage should one expect anything less?

 

[arkirshner]

Over time I have visited New York every few years. When I was younger everyone dressed up for shows. I can still vividly remember the evening, perhaps 30 years ago, when a couple sitting near me were in sweat suits. I jumped to the conclusion that they intentionally dressed down to minimize the chance of being mugged. How naive.