AA Gill spouting a load of old nonsense as usual.
The way he gets exciting about droll details expose him as a wannabe aristo reminiscent of many of our friends at SF.
A lot of questionable assertions in that piece: In actuality, Brummell left a lot of valuables behind when he fled to France, among them were three Joe Manton shotguns. In my early days in Forumland, I thought that forum heavyweight "Manton" had taken his user name from the famous old-time gunmaker.
I think it can hardly be said that the modern suit was the invention of Brummell. While certainly Brummell had an immense influence in stressing simplicity and fit, isn't the modern suit, as we recognize it, a creation of the latter decades of the 19th century?
Perhaps I missing something or simply being a Cruiser-esque philistine, but I still think Brummell's apparel of tailcoat, skintight pants, Hessian boots, linen neck wrap, etc., would not impress most observers as having a close kinship to the modern suit. Take a lounge suit from the late 19th century, and while the gorge, button stance, etc., might be different, the kinship to today's suits would be readily apparent.
We would do well to remember at this point, one of the reasons Miliband lost the election because he was deemed as representing an out-of-touch metropolitan intelligentsia. When the tie goes, the suit will soon follow and what will be left: a number of work situations, weddings and funerals.
The survival of the suit is by no means assured!
As long as those in power continue to wear the suit, it's here to stay.
When those who are in power abandon it, then we may see its demise...
I don't see that happening any time soon.
For certain kinds of work, suits can be useful. While I know our host has little time for the conservative look, it has its purposes. I don’t have to wear one as often as I used to, but I am mindful of its effects on certain audiences, and use it accordingly.
How do you avoid mediocrity but then also avoid bad taste?
Last edited by Bop (2015-07-01 10:01:43)
There's also laziness. Which isn't to say that it' bad. If it suits (haha) your needs, then all the better. I only get annoyed by those who use it as a moral platform.