"sartorial integrity"

[bslo]

Just thought that I'd post this (stupid) column that ponders whether the Lakers new coach, Rudy Tomjanovich, will decide to dress well for his new job. I know sports writers are to fashion as Jessica Simpson is to intelligence, but the writer seems to possess an irritating, and unfortunately common, philosophy that dressing well is somehow "phony" and not "genuine." This attitude seems to be closely related to the stereotype that "blue collar" individuals are "real people," while "white collar" individuals are soulless shells who only care about themselves. Anyway, I don't mean to go off on a rant, it's the idea that men shouldn't dress well that bothers me. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba....1838418

 

[Will]

Consider the source. Ratto's not likely to be found on this forum.

 

[faustian bargain]

Unfortunately, class-baiting is all to common, even among non-sports writers. I think it's a holdover from the days of Marxism being the vogue in intellectual circles. Some people just haven't got the memo yet.

So, a man of modest means who dresses well is considered to be a sellout or a Yuppie...and a rich man who dresses well is guilty of 'conspicuous consumption' (phrase coined by economist Thorsten Veblen, if I'm not mistaken).

But hey, bitterness and envy sell. (well, those and sex.) It's not about Sartorial Excellence; it's about Keeping It Real.

/andrew

 

[STYLESTUDENT]

If I were in a LA sportswriter, I'd be more interested in blaming the upset on Karl Malone's injury or something else relevant. The Lakers were outplayed by a "blue collar" Piston team coached by an impeccably dressed coach, Larry
Brown. They would have lost if Phil Jackson wore Vass shoes, or Picway shoes, or something in-between.