A word on what's acceptable and not acceptable in the American workplace and how to determine it.

There is someone I see often and whenever he sees me if he doesn’t comment on what I am wearing I know it is perfectly acceptable. If he comments negatively then I know I have on something too bold for him to take. Also, if I get a compliment, I know I’ve really hit pay dirt for purposes of what is admired by the straight and narrow. But the ne plus ultra is if he can’t make fun of an item he doesn’t quite understand, then I know it’s bullet proof.

He comes from a background that could be cast as an outsider’s. And, I think that’s valuable because he is fascinated with remaking himself into the power elite. He certainly believes in presentation overcoming background. He always sides with big business no matter what; he dreams in “corporate”.

His taste is very reserved but he slavers after the corporate elite so much that I know he sees what's presentably powerful, desirable and part of that cherry paneled world he wants entry to badly.

If you want to know what’s acceptable in the American workplace to a critical outsider’s eye, you need to find someone like this and somehow get them accustomed to rating your clothes.