academe
Distinguished Member
- Joined
- Feb 14, 2008
- Messages
- 1,872
- Reaction score
- 234
I don't see anything wrong with this look if it is done with well fitted trousers and a well fitted shirt. I think the problem is that most people who do the shirt and tie without a jacket disregard fit and wear poor quality, poorly chosen clothing and this is an absolute disaster. So, it can be done, but do it right.
+1 Although I personally do not like the shirt+tie sans coat look, I do not think that this look in and of itself is a bad one. In my mind, there are really two issues here: one issue is that of aesthetics, i.e., whether you like the look of the shirt+tie sans coat. The other is one of dress as a social signifier of class, occupation, status, etc. For a group as fine-tuned to sartorial details as this one, I feel that Manton et al are missing some of the subtleties, while snobs like Mr Meursault are conflating aesthetics with class signifiers. In terms of aesthetics, there really isn't any point arguing this any further. For various reasons some find shirt+tie alone as distasteful. Others think it is a pragmatic choice, depending on climate (e.g., John Ellis' comments), or circumstance (e.g., stepping out for a bite to eat during a warm period of the day; no practical reason to bring a coat, unless you like to sweat & swelter). This should not be confused with class signifiers. For example, if I see a gentleman at lunch time wearing a well-cut pair of trousers, finely-made tie, Glashutte watch and C&J shoes wearing only a shirt+tie, I'm likely to think "well-heeled professional, out for lunch/running errands." If I saw the same fellow wearing loose polyester trousers, cheaply-made tie, and square-toed gunboats on his feet, I'm more likely to think "lower level employee or clerk." I'm not going to automatically jump to the conclusion that said individual, just because they are wearing a shirt+tie is a clerk. There are many reasons why they might not throw on a coat, ranging from temperature/climate, aesthetic choice, etc. etc. I suspect that any one of us on the forum would be able to spot the difference if we met this individual in person, whether or not we approved of the aesthetics of their choice. On a more personal note, it also seems like a bit of waste of energy to me to bring a non-functional coat along, just to make a point about social status or class. If that is your aesthetic choice, fair enough, but if you really feel so insecure about your social status that you really need to rub it in other peoples' faces, then that is IMO more than a little pathetic.