I'm of the opinion that a man should remain dressed during the day, and that means keeping his jacket on at all times. Not only does the line of the jacket cover what may be a less than perfect waistline, but a coat also serves as the professional man's equivalent of a utility belt, providing storage for accessories that would otherwise have no proper place to roost. For being well dressed precludes those nasty plastic belt holders for cell phones and similar electronics.
Now when I make this argument the first thing I hear is that so and so's office is too warm for a jacket. To which I say, wear lighter suits. Personally, I prefer to wear heavier cloth without an overcoat until the temperature falls below freezing but there's nothing wrong with the combination of a topcoat and a lighter suit. Trousers of 11 ounce wool will (barely) suffice for anything short of a February day in Moscow when they are partnered with a below the knee overcoat, and that weight is still comfortable in an over-heated work space. During warmer months, ten ounce cloth is perfectly comfortable in air conditioned rooms.
Like the young man in the Esquire illustration, there's no good reason not to remain dressed during the work day.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Remaining Dressed
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15 comments:
If my job was sitting around getting shoe shines and gabbing on the phone, then I would. Wait a minute! I do sit in the office talking on the phone most of the day. I will put my jacket back on. Thanks, Will.
I totally agree. I was quite impressed with my date while attending a wedding in October. It was easily 85 in the church, 75 outside. He never took off his jacket. He said his mother taught him better.
Indeed! And I hate to say it, but it needs to be said, as Lisa points out. Please stay jacketed at weddings and the parties, dinners, etc. .
However, I will say that the three piece suit fills a nice niche here, allowing one to remove one's jacket with the door to the office closed and still have room for the paraphernalia of modern life.
Will,
If it weren't for the fact that my jacket would get wrinkled from sitting all day, I would leave it on. To make up for it, I have started wearing Thurston braces which adds some visual interest to the jacketless upper body. I do however put my jacket back on for trips to the cafeteria or internal meetings.
Having said that, there is one person in my office who puts his jacket on every time he leaves his desk, whether it be for a glass of water in the pantry or just an informal meeting. I kind of like that but don't do it myself.
I agree. But i get ridiculed for wearing my 10 year old beatup corduroy coat to work everyday. I once wore a pocket square, that raised quite a bit of eyebrows. On a second note, could you let me know if hemrajani@mytailor.com is accomodating in correcting the shirts he makes? Have you had incidences where you would send shirts back for correction? I asked for Non-fused collar and he made me a fused collar shirt.
Leaving the jacket on makes sense! Why invest in one, assuming that it fits well and is comfortable...if you aren't going to wear it. I do have a Polo double breasted cashmere cardigan sweater...with gold buttons...that lives permanently in my office. On cold drafty days, or when I'm a bit more casual, I'll swap my coat for the cozy sweater. It's nattier than many of my coats actually. It has a breast pocket to accomodate a square...so I don't look too much like I'm slumming.
A proper shirt and trousers (and tie) means one is DRESSED! As for light weight jackets ... you obviously do not live in the South.
Save your wardrobe attitude for your climate.
I must respectively disagree. Not even yet a full lawyer, this past summer I spent my days as a Summer Associate for hours (average 12 a day at the desk alone) simply at my desk slaving away over documents and briefs.
This isn't to say I didn't put my coat on to meet with other attorneys in the office, it just means that while at my desk, I sure as hell had my jacket off and sleeves rolled up. People paid a great deal of money for my work, I wanted to make sure I was completely distration-free doing the same.
Wow Johnny ...no need to get too energetic about this topic.
I think we can all weigh in on ideas/proclivities/opinions and not risk offending the sensibilities of anyone. Certainly we all have specific contexts for all of these opinions...opinions grounded in where we live, the type of atmosphere within which we toil everyday, climate, personal style, corporate culture etc....the list is endless. Surely one's wardrobe attitude to a great degree, will be grounded in the climate within which they must function.
Regarding your comment about people posting on the topic " not living in the South" ...I can't speak for others but I currently live in DC and we have distinct changes in seasons but we do also have the stereotypical hot,hunid southern summers. Additionally, I was born and raised in South Carolina so I'm fully aware of the Southern context to which you refer. Spending two years in New Orleans also engaged me fully into the climate as context for dressing reality! Poplin suits and seersucker were my mainstays.
I to would like to disagree. I can not see a Doctor wearing their lab coat cover their suit coat.
Grouchyman, I've always found them happy to do what's right.
And James, a lab coat is a jacket.
A cardigan also suffices.
If you watch old movies, you might notice that men not only keep their jackets on at all times, but that they are buttoned while standing. They get up from their desk to shake hands with a client and, before the hand is offered, they button their jacket. It takes a bit of dexterity but one can learn to do it just as casually as smiling.
Late nights at the office or all nighters under deadline may consent the removal of the jacket. I believe the general rule is you are permitted to take off your jacket only if the senior man (read that "the gray haired boss")takes his off. You don't ever ask. You just follow suit. Even if you just know he's trying to see how long you'll tolerate the pain. Those are the breaks...you're younger, he's older, and he's not happy about this fact, so suffer and just wait your turn. You have the time, he feels he doesn't.
You never take off your jacket in the presence of a lady, unless you're laying it on the ground to help protect her feet across a puddle.
Otherwise, you just ask, "Would you mind if I take off my jacket?" (even if you're dating her), or "Would you mind if I take off my jacket, Dear?" (even if you've been married for more than 5 years).
Most clinically sane women will be impressed, especially the married ones...maybe deciding to keep you around longer.
Just before reading this, Will, I was invited at a business meeting to take off my jacket and sit down in shirtsleeves. I declined the offer, to quizzical glances, and just gave them my topcoat. Lo, I was vindicated upon return to my blogroll. A Suitable Wardrobe was surely made for moments like this!
I kind of hate when people refer to movies for any sort historical reference. A movie is an hour and a half long, you can do anything for an hour and a half. Nor were any of you there to watch our beloved stars be pampered between every shot, and attended to by a staff of servants.
I'm not of the proper age to comment authoritatively on the "standard" dress of the 30's, 40's and 50's. But of the people I know of those generations, the movies about those "better days" is just as much exaggeration as the movies about today.
I'm of the opinion that you may dress how you want, whether its to look like an extra out of Casablanca or to take off the coat and roll up the sleeves. Proper manners notwithstanding.
Well, he IS in the presence of a shoe shine person - can't let them see you in shirtsleeves as it undermines your natural authority...
;-)
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