- Joined
- Sep 22, 2007
- Messages
- 9,659
- Reaction score
- 7,364
I like your philosophy of dressing and don't begrudge your wearing blue oxfords w/ chinos. But I don't think anyone has tried to devise universal laws. As @jaaz16 reminded us, DWW points out in his first post in the thread that it's his opinion:...It only becomes laughable when someone tries to apply their own preferences to devise universal laws...
It is, however, a relatively informed opinion. As breakaway01 has said, dressing is a skill that can be improved. That's a key point imo.Oxfords are only for suits, IMO.
Some here have made the case that some very specific oxfords (e.g. brown suede ones with broguing) can be worn with very formal sport coat outfits (e.g. navy sport coats with grey trousers, white shirt, black grenadine, etc). I disagree, but that combo is less bad to me than oxfords with chinos.
We tend to think of life/ethics in two extremes, either:
(1) it's a matter of following universal, necessary rules
("Do this always and everywhere...") or
(2) it's totally relative
("Everyone's different, so no one can tell anyone what to do.").
The first extreme rests its thought on logical proofs. The second extreme says everything purely based on personal opinion.
But there's a third, middle/moderate option, which acknowledges not universal rules so much as general principles, since particular situations are different, but not totally different. And it has room for personal opinion, but opinions grounded in part on knowledge of both traditional wisdom and new circumstances.
In this middle position, ethical behavior is not a matter of universal control, nor total randomness, but shifting probabilities. Looking both ways, wearing a seatbelt, or getting vaccinated won't ensure one's safety, but it does increase the probability.
Dress, I think, is mostly in this middle position. It's not about universal, necessary laws, proven logically, nor is it entirely subjective. It isn't a universal law that oxfords + chinos is bad, nor is it simply personal preference. One shouldn't be a slave to tradition, nor to fashion. And what helps with this is knowledge and respect of both tradition and fashion.