Interesting NY Times article

[Pennyfeather]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/05/business/05uniform.html

Not sure what to make of this.

The fuddy-dud part of me takes it as yet more evidence of the general decline in Western Civilization. On the other hand, when I practiced law for a very brief spasm of time (years and years ago, before the advent of office casual), we all turned up in suits, but not many us looked significantly better than Steve Jobs in his Levis and mock turtleneck, and most of us probably looked worse than Serge Marchionne in his checked shirt and black sweater.

Anyway, thought some of you might find the article interesting, and no one else seems to have posted a link...

 

[JesseJB]

I don't see how any of the people in there are breaking the chains of conformity. Wouldn't wearing a suit be a better way to do that?

 

[taxgenius]

Originally Posted by JesseJB

I don't see how any of the people in there are breaking the chains of conformity. Wouldn't wearing a suit be a better way to do that?

Well said.

 

[bringusingoodale]

The rise of technocratic totalitarian regimes feigning democracy under the guise of neo-Liberalism is our enemy.

 

[saiyar1]

Originally Posted by Pennyfeather

Not sure what to make of this.

The fuddy-dud part of me takes it as yet more evidence of the general decline in Western Civilization.

Not to be purposely insulting, but how exactly is Western civilization declining? It's elitist and ridiculous; there's also an insulting connotation that the West is somehow declining into the dregs that is the East (or any other culture).

Styles change and that's all. 70 years ago were they saying society was on a decline because people weren't wearing the stockings and frock-like "dresses" the kings of the previous 300 years wore?

 

[idfnl]

Brother Muammar understands this better than most

 

[bringusingoodale]

^He is the leader of a nation-state and a Colonel. I would expect nothing less from him.

 

[idfnl]

Originally Posted by bringusingoodale

^He is the leader of a nation-state and a Colonel. I would expect nothing less from him.
Yup yup. Just look at the coordination between that pocket flap embroidery and the sleeve. And the color inversion of a white stripe tying in the shirt color layered with the same embroidered pattern? Telling you.

 

[J. Cogburn]

Originally Posted by saiyar1

70 years ago were they saying society was on a decline because people weren't wearing the stockings and frock-like "dresses" the kings of the previous 300 years wore?

No one was saying that in 1940 bud. Don't get carried away.

 

[Dewey]

Something about egalitarianism in dress.

 

[cptjeff]

Originally Posted by J. Cogburn

No one was saying that in 1940 bud. Don't get carried away.

1940? They had other things to worry about. But they were sure as hell saying stuff like that in the '20s. Those loose women, with short dresses where you could see CALVES! and those goddamned low necklines and those evil long necklaces which only draw more attention to that, ahem, area. And what do they think they're doing, going out and drinking those manly cocktail things? This world is going to hell in a handbasket, I tell you!

People have always yelled about how the youth are lazy, worthless slobs. Hell, check out the quote in my signature. The world hasn't ended yet.

 

[Pennyfeather]

Originally Posted by saiyar1

Not to be purposely insulting, but how exactly is Western civilization declining? It's elitist and ridiculous; there's also an insulting connotation that the West is somehow declining into the dregs that is the East (or any other culture).

Styles change and that's all. 70 years ago were they saying society was on a decline because people weren't wearing the stockings and frock-like "dresses" the kings of the previous 300 years wore?

Sorry about the reference to Western Civilization in decline. I wrote it mostly tongue in cheek. Hence the "on the other hand" part of my post, which more accurately reflects the non "fuddy-dud" part of my conflicted personality and basically agrees with you. Styles change and there's no point worrying about it.

 

[mic]

Originally Posted by bringusingoodale

The rise of technocratic totalitarian regimes feigning democracy under the guise of neo-Liberalism is our enemy.

This.

Remember that dressing respectably is (or was once) a sign of respect toward one's audience as much as it is a display of one's wealth and/or style.

Think of the ultra-conservative dress of lawyers and bankers... many would prefer to dress down (at least a bit) but their workplace demands absolute formality. Think of how the staff of finer establishments dress. Different from the former, but still formal.

These people are all just displaying their power. They're saying: "I'm so important, I don't need to dress nicely: you people can all suck it."

 

[TheButler]

Originally Posted by bringusingoodale

^He is the leader of a nation-state and a Colonel. I would expect nothing less from him.
WTH, if I was leader of a nation-state I'd give myself a rank a damned sight more impressive than a Colonel. Like "High Poobah" or if I was unimaginative at the very least "General" or something.

 

[Harold falcon]

I wear a suit to work every day because I don't operate a fryolator. I will always do this. YMMV.