It is interesting that long after people stop wearing an item it carries a significance. It is more interesting that clothes tend to send both positive and distressing messages by both wearer and observer.

If I am somewhere in a jacket and tie, strangers are more likely to sit near me or ask me for directions. This includes people you would consider rowdies. I thought we lived in a classless society? One very radical lesbian considered me a dedicated republican because I wore tailored clothing. Often beggars will assume I have money for them even if I spent my last dime on the jacket I am wearing.
Women, not afraid of me under usual circumstances, consider sitting near me when I am wearing jacket and tie a positive. I suppose the idea is I am less likely to grope or attack them; might even protect them because everyone knows a suit wearing man is as strong as a navy seal with the heart of a dragon slaying champion. That cuts across every age, race and status of woman.

Clothing thus has traditional associations, political associations, behavioral associations, wealth and class associations.

On the flip side, why would someone who is never going to be able to compete in tailored clothing going to bother? His choices will often be wrong, colors, fit and quality off. I find that most men are completely lost for choosing ties. You wouldnt think it would be that difficult but many cannot learn unless they have a head start from their environment or have a deep seated interest. I see it on the various forums where some of the most salient personalities have spent oodles on clothing and have not learned anything or advanced a bit; more curiously they've maintained their stylistic hegemony all along. It's rather like matriculating at a college but certain that you know more than everyone else there and after 6 years learning nothing, thinking that you're better than ever. Worse than having bad taste, is the belief that spending money is a surrogate for good taste. It is why many of the people whom we find amusing still dress like airline upholstery. Studying the past can help but relying on it solely presents two problems. All tastes change, even the best tastes change over time and thus, one cannot rely on the past to always make tasteful choices today. Two, relying on the past suggests you have no feel for the current which may very well mean that you have no reference or exposure to good taste and third, reliance on the past may indicate class defensiveness and a desire to assert that you are an expert because it is hard to argue with what is past; it very much takes stamina to figure out what is currently tasteful.

One of the reasons I like the UK system for suits and country attire (They are at sea for truly casual items) is the inherent belief that taste is only tangentially to do with money. Concepts of taste are indeed class based but I daresay many of the best tailors, designers etc. can be from any background as long as the cultural dictates are followed.

Men do not like to be wrong or laughed at and tees and jeans are to a degree a greater leveler (at least conceptually) than a jacket and tie. If you had a choice of being Rob Drydek, skate board king in t-shirt and shorts or running around being someone else's lackey in a crap quality suit and tie, what would you choose?

At the same time, you have Jay-Z and P. Diddy, both street kids, wearing nothing but suits now. Is it the corporate world allure? DId suits become cool again at some point?

Tuck your shirt in mate, you look like my 13 year old nephew.

I'd suggest getting in touch with your brother or sister annadale as it sounds like your nephew may have an over active Pituitary gland. While he's at the GP they should also enquire about some kind of therapy as it is not normal for a 13 year old to wear loafers.

All in jest Annadale. No harm meant. I'm not over the pond either.

Ftitz - I typically add staining agents or zinc depending on what's needed for the outfit. (Actually, I don't need the zinc.)

Annadale - It's a very casual outfit as it was a day-off from the daily grind. As much an untucked shirt is out of place in smart,or even smart/casual attire, I'd say a untucked shirt makes a lot of sense in a relaxed day-off, let is all hang loose type of way. Well to me it does, anything to heighten the sensation of not being at work is welcomed.

Last edited by Oo Bop Sh'bam (2012-03-15 01:03:30)

OK, let's get practical here.
If it's cold enough that I need to wear a sweater I would think socks add to my comfort, keeping my feet warmer.
It's true the feet will be so cold they won't probably smell, but at the exchange of cold air going up the pants legs and chillin' the legs.
By the same token if the shirt is untucked cold air travels up the shirt skirt (which together with the sweater acts like a bellows) as you move, chilling the torso. True you may feel like you are not at work, but also a bit chillier.
If it's not THAT cold, then why the sweater?
In dressing down, as well as dressing up, the first leg upon which Elegance stands is comfort as it facilitates a certain insouciant (souci is the word for care, or worry, e.g. cold or smelly feet amongst countless others) deportement.
And yes dressing down can be elegant, indeed it can be a telling discriminator. And before anyone here takes offense, I am the first to cop to failing in this regard.

Last edited by Chévere (2012-03-16 13:45:17)

Did I really just use the word stroll? More a case of walking to the shop, for cider, at noon.

Last edited by Oo Bop Sh'bam (2012-04-01 07:05:28)

I suppose we took everything to it's immoral and most uncivilised peak, especially in the last ten years, but it started probably since the 60's. We took apart the rules, and the structure, I won't say we live in anarchy, but we had massive moral and social freedoms, and I think people ultimately feel worse for it. But that's because it seemed that the ideology of freedom in people's lives soon gave way to make them feel free to consume, express, give in to there desires. Beautiful things shouldn't be lusted for they should be wondered at, I think thanks to advertising, and the media, we missed the point in all this freedom to create and live as we want.

I have to say, I enjoy casual clothes now that I have to be smart, but then I appreciate smart clothes too. To me the essence of cut, colour and style doesn't change. But the idea of being on or off duty is kind of reenforced to me by my clothes.