[thepassenger]

I've been working remotely since 3/11/2020. I never had to dress in any particular way at the office; common sense guided the dress code. In the first months of working from home I wore flannel shirts and jeans every day (what I typically wear on weekends in cooler months). In summer I wore (and still wear) shorts and t-shirts, and a long-sleeve shirt and a straw hat for sun protection when I go outside. (I had a warm-weather wardrobe for the office, but if I'm at home there's no point.)

That fall I realized that I had a large amount of clothing that was going unworn, and I resolved to dress as though I was going to the office. In this way I get use from my long-sleeve shirts, sweaters, corduroys and heaver-weight chinos, etc. (One difference: I don't wear shoes in the house.) Anytime I have weekend plans, a doctor appointment, or other events, I use the opportunity to put a bit more effort into what I'm wearing.

I still have clothing that doesn't get worn or gets less use than it should, but that would be true even if I was still going to a workplace daily, and I do periodic culling and donation. At the moment I have roughly two dozen pairs of sneakers and other casual shoes that need to go away; many of these are things I probably should have thought twice about buying. I am trying to add fewer new items, but things still tempt me, as always.

 

[thepassenger]

I confess to a weakness for a few select items I long admired but never acquired: An end on end blue button down, a navy tape stripe button down, challis bowties in olive and in maize, a navy duffel, a grey seersucker suit. It is possible one or more of these will pop up at a decent price. I will noodle over whether to expand my wardrobe, and invariably I'll miss out. Sometimes I take years to make what is, at heart, an impulse purchase. The recent marathon ruminations over Harrington jackets made me search for a navy blue, size 42, made in USA London Fog jacket in that style. I found one, and the price, as I recall, was ok, about $30. So I still wonder, thinking to myself that I have one already, in butter yellow. My father's Scottish voice echoes in my head. "Thank you. No." Ironically, thinking back over clearing out his closet and dresser many years ago, he handed out that advice pretty freely but did not really follow it himself. Still, it shapes me to this day.

I would love a gray seersucker suit. I have eyed J. Press's offering for at least three summers, but I wouldn't get any use out of it.