[DaveS]

This is probably a well-worn subject by now, but I'd be most interested in hearing the ways in which men dress well in this age of casual rule.

I would happily dress as our esteemed member Upr_Crust does each day! Sadly, a button-down shirt, khakis, and a blazer now elicits comments such as, "Why so dressed up?" Dressed up? My late father would never be caught in public in anything less!

I got to thinking about this topic (yet again), after reviewing an interview with Roycru. As part of this, he said:
" It seems as if, for the first time in history, there is a universal world wide style for all sexes and ages consisting of tennis shoes, jeans (or short pants), back packs, ball caps (worn indoors and outdoors), and tee shirts, which almost all people wear wherever they go and whatever they do. Any other style seems to be a relic of a time that has gone and will never come back." (italics my own)

The interview concluded with:
"Finally, what can readers learn from traditional American dress?

RP: Probably the same things that they can learn from looking at dinosaur bones, seeing what's left of a time that has passed forever. When I was young, everyone looked like me. Now, very few people still look like me. Eventually, probably no one will look like me. Some time in the future traditional American prep-ivy-trad style will be as rare as knee breeches, tricorn hats, and powdered hair are now."

So I ask anyone interested in commenting, how do you dress these days, and not look as a relic?

Or do you just say (as I often do) that if people can put steel in their faces, and wear pajamas in public, how can anything that is classic style (or anything else these days for that matter) be considered weird?

 

[DaveS]

Thanks all for your replies!

My wife and I made our holiday trip to the Mall of America yesterday. Fun, but dispiriting to see so many, and so many our age, in sloppy casual; Vikings sweatshirts, big white canoe tennis shoes, and on and on. Saw one gentleman only at Crave restaurant (other then me) wearing a sport coat.

I could almost bear the uber casual if it at least fit.

 

[DaveS]

Well, a number of you have inspired me to think perhaps, just perhaps, all is not lost; thank you all for your thoughtful comments!

For the record, I almost 62, and was raised (and dressed) in NY by Ivy-league parents. Once I got over the influences of the late 60's, I began to come back to dressing as I was raised. As I get older, I seem to be coming more and more "full circle." I realize, of course, this is/was not everyone's situation...

 

[DaveS]

I completely understand the argument that God doesn't care what you wear, etc. And I agree with it, but I also think it's off point.

Dressing up for certain occasions is not (or should not be) about pride or - even worse - showing up others, but it is a way for a culture to say "this is an important event / this we respect."

So, IMHO, dressing for church is not some philosophical incongruity with Jesus' poverty (I've heard that one), but it is a way for a society to mark the specialness of going to church.

It signals to the younger members that this institution is important and it - even when we are (grumbling sometimes) putting on a suit - reminds the adults that there's a significance to going to church.

This holds - maybe with less theological meaning - for school and work and fine restaurants, etc. When we (used to) dress up for these places we were saying - as a culture / a society, "these are important institutions and activities and we reflect that by dressing in a serious and appropriate way."

And - in a nice restaurant, for example - we are saying to each other that we respect you (the other diners) and are dressing to keep the environment attractive for all. It used be thought disrespectful to dress sloppily in places where nice dress was expected.

Of course, any kind and well-intentioned society would never look down on anyone unable to afford - or not knowledgable in how - to dress for, say, church. A kind society welcomes them with open arms and, hopefully and respectfully, has practices and institutions to help those in need.

To be sure, we can live fine the way were are today where we have said, effectively, "dress how you want / your individual taste and comfort are paramount." But it is, IMHO, a sign of selfishness or, at least, self-centeredness where we don't want to voluntarily conform to a set of social norms that helps signal to all the importance of certain culture institutions and practices and that shows respect to all who attend.

I'm not a scold. This is our society today - the do-what-you-want society - and, my guess, if we take other things seriously, we'll be fine. But the societal norm around dress that proceeded ours wasn't simply for fussiness; it was a standard to acknowledge and reinforce our commitment and respect for certain institutions and practices - and for each other. It also served to educate the young and those who wanted to stray that these things mattered to the larger community.

Today, we've, essentially, said "this isn't necessary anymore." We've said - by dropping almost all standards for dress - that "we don't need these cultural signposts and guardrails." We've said that "arrant individual expression is more important than the social signaling of culturally accepted dress codes." We'll see over time how this all works out.

Superb commentary, thank you, Fading Fast!

 

[DaveS]

I should have known better than to start this; social media...