tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post996086081327595340..comments2008-04-25T12:23:26.030-07:00Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01173316804999411413noreply@blogger.comBlogger23125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-5888903077902523282008-04-25T12:09:00.000-07:002008-04-25T12:09:00.000-07:00

Let's say you work in the Silicon Valley where everyone is wearing jeans or khakis and a polo. Let's say you decide to wear a suit to work every day instead. Are you really dressing for others when you are wearing a uniform that is plainly out of the norm?No, you're dressing for yourself, just as much as the lawyer wearing shorts and flip-flops.The moral is to dress for your audience. If you're

Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03893992575447495930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-82020365260558505462008-04-24T10:05:00.000-07:002008-04-24T10:05:00.000-07:00

Gary, I disagree completely with your analysis. I worked in Silicon Valley for several years and there was not a thought of "you think you're better then everyone else" by dressing up. It was sheer laziness. Corporations did not care and dress code policies were not enforced, so people began showing up in pajamas. (On more then one occasion that I can remember.) Yes, billionaire's will do

Turlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04466952089423973036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-69835527980592091932008-04-24T08:32:00.000-07:002008-04-24T08:32:00.000-07:00

Interesting thought Gary. The idea of "having enough money to do whatever you want" (that "I don't give a fig" attitude) has been posited before. But, I wonder then, why do heads of state continue to dress in suits? Out of respect for the office? Others? A desperate need to be perceived as powerful? To emulate "the boss?" Or is it just to hide the kevlar vests?I know that I will never change the

Easy and Elegant Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09951907004091808223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-19934580432858883982008-04-23T19:20:00.000-07:002008-04-23T19:20:00.000-07:00

The old complaint. I see it on every forum and blog devoted to elegant male dress. Here's why: by wearing a jacket and tie, it is perceived you are saying you think you're better than someone in a T-shirt and jeans. Dressing nicely looks like it takes effort, and visible effort looks desperate. The goal is for clothing to appear effortless, there's a reason why "suits" are negatively

Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05979502921866583053noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-15892438891342816702008-04-23T10:43:00.000-07:002008-04-23T10:43:00.000-07:00

Well written, Will.And I agree that fit is really paramount in comfort. Not to mention braces that suspend my trousers from the shoulders instead of cinching tight at the waist with a belt. Pleats expand to allow me to sit comfortably... Well-made, properly fitted clothing is as pleasurable to wear as a robe.I would say that it is an effort to not look more affluent or "lordly" than the next guy,

Easy and Elegant Lifehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09951907004091808223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-13611250358069789632008-04-23T05:36:00.000-07:002008-04-23T05:36:00.000-07:00

Will,I humbly propose a gentleman's contest on the wittiest, cutting, yet non-threatening comeback to the smug question put to turling and some many of us "Who are You interviewing with today" I wore a cream linen suit with a pocket square to a faculty meeting with a plain white polo and was the subjected to this question and the attitude that comes with it for a good part of the meeting - I

CGDWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01126955626435769540noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-61971650868847281302008-04-23T01:19:00.000-07:002008-04-23T01:19:00.000-07:00

The "captains of industry" in Silicon Valley and the Bay Area are also partly to blame (sorry, Will)...Even before the dot com craze in the late 90's, most CEO's and venture capitalists who were over 40 adopted the casual GAP khaki trousers and blue denim shirts. With the internet boom, the new "captains of industry" were much younger, and the new look included piercings and tattoos. And this

initials CGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16676097755038091712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-69953369593994916562008-04-22T18:16:00.000-07:002008-04-22T18:16:00.000-07:00

I agree, but I don't think it's just comfort that drives the masses to wear cloths that wouldn't seem out of place on a homeless child. I believe it has a lot to do with the obsession with youth. Everyone wants to stay as young as possible (perhaps forgetting how awkward being a teenager was) and as part of this, emulate teenage fashion... which more often than not lacks any sort of style.Perhaps

Nimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01316421587328088691noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-62354579887591219872008-04-22T16:08:00.000-07:002008-04-22T16:08:00.000-07:00

Turling, you make me laugh because I totally agree. I imagine that many of those underdressed at the meeting were of a younger generation? I suppose the ieal these days is a sort of 'glamorized working-class,' with perfectly distressed jeans and other such paradoxical creations. I teach high school and do my best to dress well every day, though in company like this I undoubtedly have room for

Danielhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06528653783425665623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-52055922685484035232008-04-22T07:43:00.000-07:002008-04-22T07:43:00.000-07:00

I think you are overreacting. If you hate comfort wouldn't you be wearing stiff starched collars and thick cloth year round. I don't think anyone does that every day. Now, you don't take comfort very far, but you have embraced it.However, very nice post.

Stephenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17361573928022080177noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-81437105718593019062008-04-21T23:11:00.000-07:002008-04-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

In response to John's comment about the t-shirt in church that read "Old Guys Rule" - isn't God an 'old guy'?;-)

Scott Montyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17710406470860389078noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-78387823046632898572008-04-21T19:54:00.000-07:002008-04-21T19:54:00.000-07:00

From "Barefoot in the Park" (1967):Jane Fonda: "Before we were married, I thought you slept with a tie."Robert Redford: "Just for formal sleeps."

OldWorldGenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144953018591590369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-82398053044748510532008-04-21T19:33:00.000-07:002008-04-21T19:33:00.000-07:00

I take this quote from the article 'Why Beards?' by Meir Soloveichik in the February 2008 issue of 'Commentary': Writing in a similar vein of our culture of "perpetual adolescence," Joseph Epstein observes on the basis of old newsreel films that even baseball games used to be attended by adults dressed "in a suit and a fedora or other serious adult hat." Now, "informality has been

P. V. Pattyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00869201165335670379noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-15590475148420658952008-04-21T19:11:00.000-07:002008-04-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Dressing for comfort versus dressing for elegance? Are they not two sides of the same coin? Where I might dress to please myself (comfort) you may prefer to please yourself by dressing to please others (elegance). Just different ways of seeking pleasure I'd say. Whether one is superior over the other is like saying blondes are 2superior to brunettes or visa-versa. Don't forget too Ayn Rand's

Richardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17307459482584524687noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-31344842525879910742008-04-21T18:31:00.000-07:002008-04-21T18:31:00.000-07:00

Another winner post, and ditto the comments.Over the weekend I watched some episodes from the old series "the saint" with Roger Moore. His clothing is a study in elegance and he wears it with the at-ease most people associate with tracksuits. He shows that comfort and elegance can be achieved with the same clothes, if some work and thought is put into their choice.On a sidenote, some of his odd

Josehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10016440405836313244noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-7164547096676717052008-04-21T17:48:00.000-07:002008-04-21T17:48:00.000-07:00

While I understand the views expressed, I think it should be remembered that the uncomfortable or impractical can never truly be considered 'elegant'.

Angushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04414568029733618137noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-55142627527244946882008-04-21T17:04:00.000-07:002008-04-21T17:04:00.000-07:00

A great post that needs to be reiterated.A little old man down the street died this winter. He did all his yard work in a shirt and tie because "somebody might see him out." The last of a gentlemanly breed!My parents ( 80 yrs old) are of a generation that changed clothes before they went into town. We dressed up for doctor's appointments. My mother would wear shorts to wash the car, but never

Pollyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11397566905693730324noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-56429721873571377962008-04-21T12:12:00.000-07:002008-04-21T12:12:00.000-07:00

Once you get used to it, I bet you can clean the house in a good suit.I like wearing my tie even after I return home at the end of the day. Not going out, not seeing anyone and the tie remains. Don't know why I take great pleasure in cooking a complicated meal without removing my tie and without soiling anything. Has anyone noticed the first few scenes of "To Catch a Thief"? He was gardening and

initials CGhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16676097755038091712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-47726532141385195462008-04-21T10:15:00.000-07:002008-04-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

Truer words were ne'er spoken, Will.This posting was a masterpiece.

OldWorldGenthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11144953018591590369noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-87906742008318054472008-04-21T09:58:00.000-07:002008-04-21T09:58:00.000-07:00

Wonderful post, Will. I would love to see it expanded into essay or even book form. Modern people think like children, for whom personal comfort is the main objective. They even dress like babies, with their sweats, sneakers, and baggy tops. And like kids, moderns complain that wool is 'too scratchy.' Coincidentally, the most comfortable trousers I own are worsted and flannel. In warmer

Laguna Beach Tradhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08027025872132699493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-71766311156096976922008-04-21T08:13:00.000-07:002008-04-21T08:13:00.000-07:00

This weekend, I journeyed to Baltimore to visit with some friends and take in a Yankees/Orioloes game at Camden Yards.One of my friends has an ecumenical bent and so we went to 4o'clock mass at his church where he was reading. He looked good in a navy blazer, loafers and striped tie. But it went downhill from there. Most of the people were wearing shorts, sandals, t-shirts, jeans, sneakers,

Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03961930732125748800noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-33852055019859542762008-04-21T07:13:00.000-07:002008-04-21T07:13:00.000-07:00

I had a situation arise several months back at one of our semi-annual sales gatherings. Of course, most people there (men and women) broke out their "dress" jeans for the occasion and, if we were lucky, a shirt with a collar. Although, there was one Angels jersey, I remember. I, of course, was wearing wool trousers, a dress shirt, v-neck sweater and an odd jacket (pocket square included). I,

Turlinghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04466952089423973036noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4593388140454867428.post-26312305804779577072008-04-21T07:07:00.000-07:002008-04-21T07:07:00.000-07:00

Will, I totally agree with what you say here, and it has always puzzled me that so many people equate comfort with slovenliness. The most comfortable clothes I own are not my sweatpants; they're my perfect dress trousers, my fitted shirts, my good shoes, etc. And it's no surprise: these things were made to be comfortable.And in fact, I find that much of the mass-produced clothing around here a)

Antonyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05342118212166061075noreply@blogger.com