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So there was a brief discussion about why I dislike wearing suits. The long short of it is, I had to wear suits for a while due to circumstances which I disliked, so I get no pleasure from the wearing of a suit itself. Coupled with this, I spent six years in a society where people read a lot into how you appear and how you choose to present yourself. Dressing as I dress, I am clearly eccentric. But for a few reasons, I didn't want to be perceived as a) someone who didn't have a choice in what he wore or b) someone who is wearing suits to signal or play at importance (which bugs me as in Korea, I had been questioned on this point several times...which is damned vexing when you're sitting there, having a beer, mulling over the fact that you aren't even allowed to wear a blue shirt).
So now, if I have to, I'll wear suits, and I don't mind, because I have to. But if I don't have to, I do mind, and that's that. (and of course, I'll happily wear suits that aren't very city).
Now, this brought up several interesting points, some of which I think are settled (though others might disagree) while others are fertile ground for conversation.
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I do think that people recognize the difference in formality between a standard city suit and a odd jacket or blazer rig. They might not be able to explain it--they might even name both a suit--but I'd bet they'd point to the suit 19 times out of 20.
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Should people care how clothes cause them to be perceived? Well, that's personal preference, and I think there are probably pros and cons to both sides. Like in most things, there is probably an optimum range representing a balance between the two. But I don't think it would be wise to operate at either extreme. Don't care too much. Don't care too little. Provided a level of professional awareness, I'd argue it's the happier path to care too little.
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And do people judge others by what they wear? And how much to they read into what other people wear? And by what standard do they do this?
Well, to say that everyone does is probably as foolish as saying that nobody does. Culture matters. As does society. The circumstances matter. The wearer matters. The observer matters.
@in stitches
@patrickBOOTH
@Academic2
@heldentenor
@The Noodles
So now, if I have to, I'll wear suits, and I don't mind, because I have to. But if I don't have to, I do mind, and that's that. (and of course, I'll happily wear suits that aren't very city).
Now, this brought up several interesting points, some of which I think are settled (though others might disagree) while others are fertile ground for conversation.
-----
I do think that people recognize the difference in formality between a standard city suit and a odd jacket or blazer rig. They might not be able to explain it--they might even name both a suit--but I'd bet they'd point to the suit 19 times out of 20.
-----
Should people care how clothes cause them to be perceived? Well, that's personal preference, and I think there are probably pros and cons to both sides. Like in most things, there is probably an optimum range representing a balance between the two. But I don't think it would be wise to operate at either extreme. Don't care too much. Don't care too little. Provided a level of professional awareness, I'd argue it's the happier path to care too little.
-----
And do people judge others by what they wear? And how much to they read into what other people wear? And by what standard do they do this?
Well, to say that everyone does is probably as foolish as saying that nobody does. Culture matters. As does society. The circumstances matter. The wearer matters. The observer matters.
@in stitches
@patrickBOOTH
@Academic2
@heldentenor
@The Noodles