Dress to Impress

[Glaurung]

I was at a café earlier this morning and as I waited for my order I looked around and watched as my fellow citizens went about their day. It was hard not to notice that most of these people were dressed like slobs. I felt vicariously embarrassed for the worst of them, although that feeling soon gave way to a swelling contempt for them and a culture where grown men walk about in public dressed as if they were still little boys.

Grown men (many overweight) dressed in sandals, singlets/t-shirts and shorts. Women dressed in ways not much better. Preferably, I would not have to endure the sight of hairy armpits while eating breakfast but alas my standards seem to be unreasonable in 2022.

Personally, I have long banished shorts from my wardrobe and I keep t-shirts and tracksuit pants as items to be worn only inside the house. In public my attire usually consists of either trousers or jeans, a full sleeved button up shirt and either sneakers or black dress shoes depending on the formality of the occasion. Unless the situation specifically calls for otherwise (like going to the beach) appearing in public in anything less is personally unacceptable.

Heck, I was on a jury a couple of years ago and because I consider a criminal trial to be a formal occasion and I turned up for my civic duty dressed in a suit (although I omitted the tie as I did not have one on hand at the time). As for my fellow jurors however... t-shirts and (at best) jeans. I was actually offended at the utter lack of occasion displayed by these people. I wanted to ask the worst offenders if there were any occasion where they would put even a modicum of effort into their attire.

Now I get that Australia has a very laid back culture. And that is not a problem in and of itself. But I look at photos from even just a few decades ago, yet alone those taken prior to the 1950's and it is indisputable that there has been a precipitous decline in standards.

I am not advocating for a return to suits and ties for men and full length dresses for women but I would like to see a return to a standard where adults looked like adults. It is not difficult to comb your hair and button up a shirt nor is it expensive as some try to claim. If you can afford beer you can afford a pair or two of trousers. The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

 

[Spirit of Light]

I was at a café earlier this morning and as I waited for my order I looked around and watched as my fellow citizens went about their day. It was hard not to notice that most of these people were dressed like slobs. I felt vicariously embarrassed for the worst of them, although that feeling soon gave way to a swelling contempt for them and a culture where grown men walk about in public dressed as if they were still little boys.

Grown men (many overweight) dressed in sandals, singlets/t-shirts and shorts. Women dressed in ways not much better. Preferably, I would not have to endure the sight of hairy armpits while eating breakfast but alas my standards seem to be unreasonable in 2022.

Personally, I have long banished shorts from my wardrobe and I keep t-shirts and tracksuit pants as items to be worn only inside the house. In public my attire usually consists of either trousers or jeans, a full sleeved button up shirt and either sneakers or black dress shoes depending on the formality of the occasion. Unless the situation specifically calls for otherwise (like going to the beach) appearing in public in anything less is personally unacceptable.

Heck, I was on a jury a couple of years ago and because I consider a criminal trial to be a formal occasion and I turned up for my civic duty dressed in a suit (although I omitted the tie as I did not have one on hand at the time). As for my fellow jurors however... t-shirts and (at best) jeans. I was actually offended at the utter lack of occasion displayed by these people. I wanted to ask the worst offenders if there were any occasion where they would put even a modicum of effort into their attire.

Now I get that Australia is a very laid back culture. And that is not a problem in and of itself. But I look at photos from even just a few decades ago, yet alone those taken prior to the 1950's and it is indisputable that there has been a precipitous decline in standards.

I am not advocating for a return to suits and ties for men and full length dresses for women but I would like to see a return to a standard where adults looked like adults. It is not difficult to comb your hair and button up a shirt nor is it expensive as some try to claim. If you can afford beer you can afford a pair or two of trousers. The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

Ohh my hobo style ain't going to make you happy then
I may becoming as informal as possible

 

[Glaurung]

Ohh my hobo style ain't going to make you happy then
I may becoming as informal as possible

It is possible to dress casually while still being neat. I generally discourage t-shirts for adult men, but if it's clean and free from childish designs a t-shirt can work. With a pair of clean jeans and perhaps a decent watch I wouldn't consider a man in such attire to be slovenly, yet alone a hobo.

 

[Estro Felino]

Composure and demeanor are a must but I guess one cannot expect men to wear a fancy suit in the heat of Australian Summer.

 

[Glaurung]

Composure and demeanor are a must but I guess one cannot expect men to wear a fancy suit in the heat of Australian Summer.

I specifically stated in my original post that I am not advocating for a return to men wearing suits as daily wear. Although every man should have a suit on hand for formal occasions. What I would like to bring back is a culture of civic pride, where adults and those on their way to becoming adults put some thought into their appearance while in public. An adult should not wear a shirt with a cartoon character emblazoned on it. An adult should not wear literal pajamas while at the airport.

The way people speak has become increasingly crass as well, but I'll keep my forum rants to a single topic per thread.

 

[Estro Felino]

I specifically stated in my original post that I am not advocating for a return to men wearing suits as daily wear. Although every man should have a suit on hand for formal occasions. What I would like to bring back is a culture of civic pride, where adults and those on their way to becoming adults put some thought into their appearance while in public. An adult should not wear a shirt with a cartoon character emblazoned on it. An adult should not wear literal pajamas while at the airport.

The way people speak has become increasingly crass as well, but I'll keep my forums rants to a single topic per thread.

The opposite of here. Here people are obsessed with wearing the right outfit even in the most informal occasions. Not to mention the formal ones!
I would like them to be more relaxed...sometimes. I dare not imagine the pressure of people visiting Milan..

 

[JustGeorge]

I wouldn't judge a person until you've been in their clothes.

Perhaps the person doesn't have the cash to dress as you wish. Perhaps the person performs a lot of tasks that makes them dirty, and they don't wish to soil their good clothes, but don't necessarily have time to change(I fall into that category when I'm at home dealing with muddy dogs, messy kids, and all their messy projects, yet want to go to the gas station, buy a Pepsi, and go back home). Perhaps, in that person's culture, being overdressed will get them teased and ridiculed. You just don't know.

And, perhaps they're sitting there wondering why you're overdressed(in their mind), and ponder on what your reasons are, too. Maybe they make a post on their own forums about folks that dress to the nines for no reason, and how it makes them uncomfortable. What was common in one generation is inappropriate in another. What's common in one group of people is strange in another.

I encourage you to look more at the person inside the clothes.

And as for the shorts thing... I can't think of any man that doesn't wear shorts around here(here being Midwestern US), from my teenaged son to my 71 year old father. Its not a big deal here. At all. That must be something specific to your generation or location. I'd much rather see Dad's knobby knees than have him sweat buckets in the heat.

 

[Heyo]

I was at a café earlier this morning and as I waited for my order I looked around and watched as my fellow citizens went about their day. It was hard not to notice that most of these people were dressed like slobs. I felt vicariously embarrassed for the worst of them, although that feeling soon gave way to a swelling contempt for them and a culture where grown men walk about in public dressed as if they were still little boys.

Grown men (many overweight) dressed in sandals, singlets/t-shirts and shorts. Women dressed in ways not much better. Preferably, I would not have to endure the sight of hairy armpits while eating breakfast but alas my standards seem to be unreasonable in 2022.

Personally, I have long banished shorts from my wardrobe and I keep t-shirts and tracksuit pants as items to be worn only inside the house. In public my attire usually consists of either trousers or jeans, a full sleeved button up shirt and either sneakers or black dress shoes depending on the formality of the occasion. Unless the situation specifically calls for otherwise (like going to the beach) appearing in public in anything less is personally unacceptable.

Heck, I was on a jury a couple of years ago and because I consider a criminal trial to be a formal occasion and I turned up for my civic duty dressed in a suit (although I omitted the tie as I did not have one on hand at the time). As for my fellow jurors however... t-shirts and (at best) jeans. I was actually offended at the utter lack of occasion displayed by these people. I wanted to ask the worst offenders if there were any occasion where they would put even a modicum of effort into their attire.

Now I get that Australia has a very laid back culture. And that is not a problem in and of itself. But I look at photos from even just a few decades ago, yet alone those taken prior to the 1950's and it is indisputable that there has been a precipitous decline in standards.

I am not advocating for a return to suits and ties for men and full length dresses for women but I would like to see a return to a standard where adults looked like adults. It is not difficult to comb your hair and button up a shirt nor is it expensive as some try to claim. If you can afford beer you can afford a pair or two of trousers. The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

I don't judge people by superficialities like clothes.

 

[Glaurung]

Perhaps the person doesn't have the cash to dress as you wish.

Yeah, nonsense. The idea that a button up shirt, a pair of trousers and a pair of shoes is just beyond the average Australian's/American's price range is a ludicrous assertion. No, the issue is laziness not money.

Perhaps the person performs a lot of tasks that makes them dirty, and they don't wish to soil their good clothes, but don't necessarily have time to change

I would hardly judge someone for turning up to the petrol station in work clothes. Look here, I work a blue collar job myself! But when I go to the shops and I see adults dressed like their children then I do reserve the right to judge them. I do reserve the right to judge people who turn up to court in a (insert heavy metal band) t-shirt and who smell like they haven't had a shower in days. I judge what I see as a culture that has lost basic public standards. And that goes beyond attire. I mean when did it become acceptable to curse in public and or have obscenities emblazoned on one's car? When did it become acceptable for couples to engage in borderline foreplay in public? No, the issue isn't poverty or a lack of time. It's that the distinction between the public and the private has collapsed and I think that is a bad thing.

Perhaps, in that person's culture, being overdressed will get them teased and ridiculed. You just don't know.

I am not asking men to don three piece suits to go to the grocery store.

And, perhaps they're sitting there wondering why you're overdressed(in their mind), and ponder on what your reasons are, too.

I got tired of feeling like a child. I decided some years ago that being an adult necessitated an observance of some basic standards in terms of not only appearance but in my general conduct.

I encourage you to look more at the person inside the clothes.

I encourage people to make an effort to reflect their dignity as civilized human beings. Look at old photos, even of only a few decades ago. Everyone was positively sharp compared to today.

Spoiler: Look at the difference of only a few decades

 

[stvdv]

The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed

then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

 

[amorphous_constellation]

One of the only times I dressed up, was when a band want me to play bass in a ballroom on memorial day. I didn't rebel against what they wanted. Normally though, I do look pretty crusty. All my shirts are covered in black streaks of oil, from working in the presses. I doubt I will ever have occasion to dress formally again.

 

[Secret Chief]

the issue is laziness

the issue is you believing your subjective opinion on matters sartorial should be held by others.

 

[Secret Chief]

Where's @SalixIncendium when we need him?

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I was at a café earlier this morning and as I waited for my order I looked around and watched as my fellow citizens went about their day. It was hard not to notice that most of these people were dressed like slobs. I felt vicariously embarrassed for the worst of them, although that feeling soon gave way to a swelling contempt for them and a culture where grown men walk about in public dressed as if they were still little boys.

Grown men (many overweight) dressed in sandals, singlets/t-shirts and shorts. Women dressed in ways not much better. Preferably, I would not have to endure the sight of hairy armpits while eating breakfast but alas my standards seem to be unreasonable in 2022.

Personally, I have long banished shorts from my wardrobe and I keep t-shirts and tracksuit pants as items to be worn only inside the house. In public my attire usually consists of either trousers or jeans, a full sleeved button up shirt and either sneakers or black dress shoes depending on the formality of the occasion. Unless the situation specifically calls for otherwise (like going to the beach) appearing in public in anything less is personally unacceptable.

Heck, I was on a jury a couple of years ago and because I consider a criminal trial to be a formal occasion and I turned up for my civic duty dressed in a suit (although I omitted the tie as I did not have one on hand at the time). As for my fellow jurors however... t-shirts and (at best) jeans. I was actually offended at the utter lack of occasion displayed by these people. I wanted to ask the worst offenders if there were any occasion where they would put even a modicum of effort into their attire.

Now I get that Australia has a very laid back culture. And that is not a problem in and of itself. But I look at photos from even just a few decades ago, yet alone those taken prior to the 1950's and it is indisputable that there has been a precipitous decline in standards.

I am not advocating for a return to suits and ties for men and full length dresses for women but I would like to see a return to a standard where adults looked like adults. It is not difficult to comb your hair and button up a shirt nor is it expensive as some try to claim. If you can afford beer you can afford a pair or two of trousers. The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

Why do you care so much? Especially t-shirts? One of those and blue jeans is pretty much the uniform of the proletariat

An adult should not wear a shirt with a cartoon character emblazoned on it. An adult should not wear literal pajamas while at the airport.

I wonder why they do this, but it's just not important enough to fume over. It's really none of my business. All it does it save you the time from getting to know someone (and even then, If I have to run to store when I'm not feeling well I'm probably not going to bother with trying much with appearances. I don't feel well so do bugger off because I fell bad enough already that I'm dressed that way).
.

 

[danieldemol]

@Musing Bassist with an attitude like that most Australians would simply tell you to F off.

Everything you criticised with the exception of public pyjamas is part of Australian culture.

In my opinion.

 

[Glaurung]

Why do you care so much? Especially t-shirts? One of those and blue jeans is pretty much the uniform of the proletariat

It's a symptom of my growing contempt for a culture I perceive as fundamentally adolescent. It's a contempt that has been growing within me for a long time.

@Musing Bassist with an attitude like that most Australians would simply tell you to F off.

I know. But I don't care what most Australians think. Especially those for whom the F-word consists of about 33% of their active vocabulary.

 

[Glaurung]

I sometimes wonder if perhaps I had lived a past life sometime in the late 19th to the early 20th century, as I've always had a nostalgia for men's clothing of that period. It would explain why I find modern fashions to be slovenly if not repulsive.

 

[SalixIncendium]

I was at a café earlier this morning and as I waited for my order I looked around and watched as my fellow citizens went about their day. It was hard not to notice that most of these people were dressed like slobs. I felt vicariously embarrassed for the worst of them, although that feeling soon gave way to a swelling contempt for them and a culture where grown men walk about in public dressed as if they were still little boys.

Grown men (many overweight) dressed in sandals, singlets/t-shirts and shorts. Women dressed in ways not much better. Preferably, I would not have to endure the sight of hairy armpits while eating breakfast but alas my standards seem to be unreasonable in 2022.

Personally, I have long banished shorts from my wardrobe and I keep t-shirts and tracksuit pants as items to be worn only inside the house. In public my attire usually consists of either trousers or jeans, a full sleeved button up shirt and either sneakers or black dress shoes depending on the formality of the occasion. Unless the situation specifically calls for otherwise (like going to the beach) appearing in public in anything less is personally unacceptable.

Heck, I was on a jury a couple of years ago and because I consider a criminal trial to be a formal occasion and I turned up for my civic duty dressed in a suit (although I omitted the tie as I did not have one on hand at the time). As for my fellow jurors however... t-shirts and (at best) jeans. I was actually offended at the utter lack of occasion displayed by these people. I wanted to ask the worst offenders if there were any occasion where they would put even a modicum of effort into their attire.

Now I get that Australia has a very laid back culture. And that is not a problem in and of itself. But I look at photos from even just a few decades ago, yet alone those taken prior to the 1950's and it is indisputable that there has been a precipitous decline in standards.

I am not advocating for a return to suits and ties for men and full length dresses for women but I would like to see a return to a standard where adults looked like adults. It is not difficult to comb your hair and button up a shirt nor is it expensive as some try to claim. If you can afford beer you can afford a pair or two of trousers. The issue is entirely one of laziness and an endemic lack of pride. Frankly, if you are one of those people who claim to be uncomfortable unless dressed in clothes that could be worn in bed then I have little to say to you but to grow up.

What is your opinion on dining at a cafe or attending jury duty in paisley Speedos and argyle socks? I mean, I can don a necktie or bow tie if that would make you feel better.

 

[Glaurung]

What is your opinion on dining at a cafe or attending jury duty in paisley Speedos and argyle socks? I mean, I can don a necktie or bow tie if that would make you feel better.

Jury duty, you get charged with contempt. But as for the café I honestly would not be that surprised if you still got service. The more swanky places may require you to wear a shirt. But give it a few years and even that minimum may disappear. After all you do see the occasional shirtless bogan at the shops every so often.

 

[Hermit Philosopher]

It's that the distinction between the public and the private has collapsed and I think that is a bad thing.

Dear Musing Bassist,

Tell us why this worries you so. It may be interesting and sounds less trivial than your concerns about what others wear.


Humbly
Hermit