Striped Suits--Business Only?

Manton · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by RJman

sorry bra, ho nomo.

Surely you must have learned something of this at Brown, no? Didn't you recently make a post about the Allegory of the Cave?

Concordia · May 4, 2008

I'm always a little self-conscious about stripes, and prefer to be without them in a purely social setting.

And yet, there are complications. Very dark colors and self-stripes, or multi-stripes don't look at all bad in the evening. Especially the ones that are variants of herringbone. Flannel chalk stripes seem well-suited (heh) for city lunches. Or meetings where I'm the one writing the checks, not collecting them. Another conundrum-- I have a length of midnight blue fresco with 1-inch chalk stripes. In warmer weather, that color really only works at night. I still haven't figured out its highest, best use.

eg1 · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by Dewey

The biggest difference among posters when we talk rules or guidelines is the extent to which they have warm feelings for tradition. Some do, others don't. There is tradition and there is the individual talent, and there are a variety of attitudes that very good dressers have toward tradition. Some guys love tradition like a father; others have a disinterested curiosity about it; others work to subvert it.

If you are going to gloss Eliot, at least have the decency to throw him a bone by way of reference

Originally Posted by aportnoy

Can't I be elite, please?

Isn't this like the old joke about inquiring as to the gas mileage of a Rolls Royce? Besides, shouldn't you be busy polishing something?

As to the OP, I can't say that I would rule out my sole striped suit for non-business circumstances, but neither would it be my first choice.

JayJay · May 4, 2008

I enjoy having clothing for different occasions. My business suits include both stripes and solids but I do not wear them for social or non-business occasions. My suits for social occasions do include stripes but they are fancy stripes that I wouldn't wear for business.

Orsini · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by JLibourel

I note that in Suitcoat vs. Sportcoat thread...
Could you please refer me to that thread? I cannot seem to find it.

Dewey · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

Dewey, maybe it's from reading too much philosophy, but that is where I derive this distinction. The Greeks spoke of the difference between "physis" (nature) and "nomos" (laws or conventions).

Some things are the way they are by nature; these things have an inherently rational core that is connected with the intelligible order of things, the cosmos.

Other things may appear natural or venerable but, upon critical analysis, prove to be merely conventional or traditional -- i.e., man made. A purely rational account of them cannot be given because their human origin necessarily introduces many inconsistencies, irrelevancies, and errors.

That humans must wear cloth in most climates and environments is physis: our nature needs protection from the elements. For the most part, the kinds and styles of clothes we wear are nomos: conventions we made up. At the rarified level of 20th century tailored clothing "rules" (e.g., stripes in the day, but not at night; no black for day, but black at night), these rules are almost 100% nomos.

Whoa. Why do you hate humanity?

Manton · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by Dewey

Whoa. Why do you hate humanity?

I don't see how that follows from what I wrote. In any event, I don't.

Dewey · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by eg1

If you are going to gloss Eliot, at least have the decency to throw him a bone by way of reference

I try not to be a pinhead in forums. And I was thinking of Arnold, to be honest, not Eliot, though it's true that Eliot is the one who came late to that party & wrote a book with that title.

Dewey · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by Manton

a purely rational account of them cannot be given because their human origin necessarily introduces many inconsistencies, irrelevancies, and errors.
I find that human nature is remarkably consistent and relevant. It's full of error, sure, but it at least it is consistently so. To me that quoted part expresses a low opinion of humanity. There's no so much randomness in human behavior. We can explain it and we can predict it with pretty good accuracy. So a rational account can be made of them. I think we are disagree only on terms. I am using the dictionary to define mine, and you are somewhere else.

raphael · May 4, 2008

I was always under the impression that striped suits are for more formal "social" occassions and that workhorse/business suits lack stripes or patterns and are solid gray, charcoal, blue.

oscarthewild · May 4, 2008

Sir,

You are a bad bad bad man! There are layoff looming, reduction in discretionary spending and you get the sartorial salivation going with this!

Originally Posted by dopey

I have a three piece 18oz John Hardy tweed suit (blue Lovat with electric blue windowpane). I wear it in the city, weekends only, but it is obviously a country suit.

..

dopey · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by oscarthewild

Sir, You are a bad bad bad man! There are layoff looming, reduction in discretionary spending and you get the sartorial salivation going with this!
I wore this one, this weekend, though not a suit. I believe it is 21oz

oscarthewild · May 4, 2008

Originally Posted by dopey

I wore this one, this weekend, though not a suit. I believe it is 21oz
So that global warming is treating you well in NY, I see. I wore linen and crocs with jibbitz this weekend. in VA.

dopey · May 5, 2008

Originally Posted by oscarthewild

So that global warming is treating you well in NY, I see.

I wore linen and crocs with jibbitz this weekend. in VA.

This weekend was surprisingly cold and damp-ish. I did a quick back and forth over the Williamsburg Bridge and didn't get hot at all until I was just about done. That was Saturday. Today was 70 and I wore tropical weight flannels and a linen sportcoat.

Concordia · May 5, 2008

50s but rainy and very humid today, so I broke out the 11.5oz fresco DB for the Symphony. Can't say I regret it-- it was a little cool walking from dinner, but there were enough warm moments inside that I was grateful not to be wearing something un-ventilated.

Striped Suits--Business Only?

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