Why we should dump “casual” from our vocabulary.
- Thread starter JJEH
- Start date
Dressing well attracts some of the nicest people.... 
CAJUNLAWYER
Member
When I first took the bench, I chastised a person appearing before me for not wearing a shirt with a collar. He sheepishly told me that he owned no shirts with a collar. That hit me like a slap in the face. I value dignity over clothes. I have met far more ******** wearing suits than wearing workingmans clothing. Carry yourself with dignity and I don't care WHAT you are wearing.
And if you decide to do a glamor shot holding a cigar, at least use one with a coal on the end
And if you decide to do a glamor shot holding a cigar, at least use one with a coal on the end
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I have read that it might be impossible to find a tie in 5 years. It is a French fashion statement from the 1800's rebelling against the then fashion of wearing a full scarf that has long outlived it's time, IMP.
I was a lowly blue collar worker.
You are in "uniform". Heck look at some of the pictures of USA auto assembly lines versus those in Europe or Japan. They are usually in uniform. Who would you want building your car?. Some factory workers look like slobs!
As to pictures of car salespersons. no comment!!
I am in the witless (no that is not a misspelling) protection program. Here is my picture:
I think for most of us it makes sense to dress for the occasion within the norms of the society and environment in which we expect to find ourselves.
E.g. a funeral/wedding vs poolside BBQ party/beach picnic, or appearance in court vs working in the garden.
E.g. a funeral/wedding vs poolside BBQ party/beach picnic, or appearance in court vs working in the garden.
RobertJ.
Member
I agree with this, but I own several suits (never throw anything away) and dress shirts for the Sabbath and for funerals. For funerals I even wear a tie.
Much of my LE career was spent in uniform, so that eliminated a lot of wardrobe decisions. But I was a fanatic about looking sharp and proper in that uniform. I could iron creases that would put razor blades to shame. As one advances in rank, one has to set the standard, and I did. I expected the same from my troops. LE is supposed to look professional. My department paid a uniform allowance to make sure we looked professional.
When I did move into detectives my bride, who is far above my league in the looks department, took over. She always dressed very professionally for work. When we would go to formal balls, when she entered she rocked the room. All this without being gaudy. She has the ability to groom herself and dress with class. As the detective division commander, I became her project. It worked well.
We are retired now, living in a remote western mountain community that is valued for its outdoor lifestyle. The preferred trousers here are Wranglers. New ones for 'formal' (as much as it gets here) events, the older ones for town and every day use. Now, as then, I maintain a short haircut, am well groomed, clean shaven, and dress well but comfortably when going out. My bride still shops for me. Good clothes, even (gasp!) casual, are expensive.
We very frequently encounter people whose grooming and dress are far less than what we would allow for ourselves. For us though, the old habits live on.
When I did move into detectives my bride, who is far above my league in the looks department, took over. She always dressed very professionally for work. When we would go to formal balls, when she entered she rocked the room. All this without being gaudy. She has the ability to groom herself and dress with class. As the detective division commander, I became her project. It worked well.
We are retired now, living in a remote western mountain community that is valued for its outdoor lifestyle. The preferred trousers here are Wranglers. New ones for 'formal' (as much as it gets here) events, the older ones for town and every day use. Now, as then, I maintain a short haircut, am well groomed, clean shaven, and dress well but comfortably when going out. My bride still shops for me. Good clothes, even (gasp!) casual, are expensive.
We very frequently encounter people whose grooming and dress are far less than what we would allow for ourselves. For us though, the old habits live on.
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1970 -- Graduated from high school, worked in a nice Western men's store and dressed the part, even wore a suit when I flew on airlines.
1972 -- Joined the Air Force. Worked part time in a men's store in Laurel, Maryland, and dressed the part. Still wore a suit when I flew.
1980 -- I was stationed in Vegas and worked in a shop called "Black and White" (we attired most of the casino dealers and pit bosses, and I looked the part). Attended my 10-year high school reunion. Most of the gals looked like they were going to the prom. Most of the guys did not. I wore a three-piece suit. My friends said, "You look like you live in Vegas." Guess they'd forgotten that's the way I dressed before the Air Force.
My favorite uniform was our dark blue wool, long-sleeved shirt and tie. I bloused my pants in spit-shined jump boots. Sharp, sharp, sharp. (Think: poster-child for a recruiting poster.)
1981 -- Went with a gal who managed a Gap store. Suddenly all I wore off duty was blue jeans but still long-sleeved shirts. Haven't owned a suit since.
1983 -- Stationed in Germany. Shopped in the German stores to "fit in." Didn't really work because my G.I. haircut gave me away.
Later -- When the Air Force switched from fatigues to BDU's mine were still starched with razor-like creases, and I maintained the spit-shined jump boots, but off duty it was jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Still is.
Times change so people change, but I still don't own a semi-auto handgun.
1972 -- Joined the Air Force. Worked part time in a men's store in Laurel, Maryland, and dressed the part. Still wore a suit when I flew.
1980 -- I was stationed in Vegas and worked in a shop called "Black and White" (we attired most of the casino dealers and pit bosses, and I looked the part). Attended my 10-year high school reunion. Most of the gals looked like they were going to the prom. Most of the guys did not. I wore a three-piece suit. My friends said, "You look like you live in Vegas." Guess they'd forgotten that's the way I dressed before the Air Force.
My favorite uniform was our dark blue wool, long-sleeved shirt and tie. I bloused my pants in spit-shined jump boots. Sharp, sharp, sharp. (Think: poster-child for a recruiting poster.)
1981 -- Went with a gal who managed a Gap store. Suddenly all I wore off duty was blue jeans but still long-sleeved shirts. Haven't owned a suit since.
1983 -- Stationed in Germany. Shopped in the German stores to "fit in." Didn't really work because my G.I. haircut gave me away.
Later -- When the Air Force switched from fatigues to BDU's mine were still starched with razor-like creases, and I maintained the spit-shined jump boots, but off duty it was jeans and a long-sleeved shirt. Still is.
Times change so people change, but I still don't own a semi-auto handgun.
JJEH, I respect your opinions on all this. It may be right for you but not necessarily for everyone.
The truth is that fashion, moral attitudes, social/cultural trends are a "pendulum swing". The saying, "what's old is new again." is a clue. Some things change back and forth more slowly than others. Eg. the Victorian era and the "free love" , shabby hair and clothes of the '70s. Everything comes back around eventually.
What ever the current situation may be people get bored or outraged, new generations come along and want things their own way.
Save your bell bottom pants and love beads.
The truth is that fashion, moral attitudes, social/cultural trends are a "pendulum swing". The saying, "what's old is new again." is a clue. Some things change back and forth more slowly than others. Eg. the Victorian era and the "free love" , shabby hair and clothes of the '70s. Everything comes back around eventually.
What ever the current situation may be people get bored or outraged, new generations come along and want things their own way.
Save your bell bottom pants and love beads.
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I worked in a manufacturing / blue collar setting. As such formal dress was not common, and even considered unsafe around rotating equipment.
We got bought out by a group that was buying up companies in our industry. All of a sudden we had a bunch of suits walking around. This made my guys nervous, and the suits picked up on it and they asked me about it.
I told the suits that my guys were not like them. At times bad things had happened to them, and quite often it was somebody in a suit doing it to them. The suits were making them nervous about the future. These were good men, hard workers, but sometimes made bad decisions in their personal lives.
No matter how you dress, different people will react differently to it.
We got bought out by a group that was buying up companies in our industry. All of a sudden we had a bunch of suits walking around. This made my guys nervous, and the suits picked up on it and they asked me about it.
I told the suits that my guys were not like them. At times bad things had happened to them, and quite often it was somebody in a suit doing it to them. The suits were making them nervous about the future. These were good men, hard workers, but sometimes made bad decisions in their personal lives.
No matter how you dress, different people will react differently to it.
OP
JJEH
Member
No offense taken, I love vintage and your comment makes me feel good about it.
Of course I can't tell people how to dress. That's not the point. The point is to be dressed for a purpose and that it doesn't have to be expensive.
Thank you!
I understand that. What I'm trying to say is that we should dress for the occasion and that dressing right doesn't have to be expensive.
So many people wear uniforms. I too wore one of those once upon a time, in two different countries, under two different flags. The one thing I hated the most was grooming standards. In the military I shaved for 4 years, every day. Every day my facial skin was red, and it hurt like hell. No exceptions, no excuses. Even on the weekends. After those 4yrs I never completely shaved again. I change it regularly, but never go full nude.
Well yes, that's a no go. Back in 90s, when Wendelin Wiedeking was asking Toyota to help him they declined several times. After a long time of trying to get them to help Porsche in their manufacturing process they agreed and traveled to Germany. Once they got there, of course they all wore formal business attire, they all put on a coverall, went into the factory and got to work. Wiedeking said it was quite impressive.
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Delta Expatriate
Member
When I first started practicing law, wore a coat and tie every day. It made no sense to me to be dressed up when running a title in a record room and pulling old dirty books, and going through old dirty files - but a coat and tie was expected of a lawyer. Now it is a lot more sensible. When I last practiced law in a traditional sense (in the 90s), we kept a blazer and a tie hanging in the office for court appeareances, but otherwise dressed in nice slacks and a shirt suitable for business.
When I first started working as petroleum landman we usually wore nice slacks with a nice shirt. Now thankfully, that has evolved into jeans or shorts, with a nice shirt.
I grew up wearing a coat and tie to church - either a sportcoat or a suit. Now, I usually wear a sportcoat with some casual pants. About the only time I wear a suit and tie is for a wedding or a funeral. Some still dress up, and some are dressed pretty slopily, in my opinion.
It gets hot and humid down here, and sometimes being "dressed up" can get pretty uncomfortable. I believe dressing neatly, appropriately, and comfortably, is more important than "dressing up".
I welcome casual business dress, but not sloppy business dress.
When I first started working as petroleum landman we usually wore nice slacks with a nice shirt. Now thankfully, that has evolved into jeans or shorts, with a nice shirt.
I grew up wearing a coat and tie to church - either a sportcoat or a suit. Now, I usually wear a sportcoat with some casual pants. About the only time I wear a suit and tie is for a wedding or a funeral. Some still dress up, and some are dressed pretty slopily, in my opinion.
It gets hot and humid down here, and sometimes being "dressed up" can get pretty uncomfortable. I believe dressing neatly, appropriately, and comfortably, is more important than "dressing up".
I welcome casual business dress, but not sloppy business dress.
smoothshooter
Member
Never cared for the urban hipster look myself.
And reasonably nice or better looking leather shoes with no socks just looks nasty to me.
Men wearing flip-flops or slides or pajamas ( unless there is a health problem ) in public drive me up the wall. NOBODY wants to see knarly Man Toes.
Is it really that much trouble to make oneself at least a little presentable before going out in public?
Women’s open-toed shoes usually okay.
The next time I go out I will log on here and get a consensus of my planned ensemble.
