Unfortunately, even back home, I see more people spending money on expensive branded (and torn) jeans than on a good set of custom-tailored outfits.

what??????? math????? I need my Kumon-challenged son for this (came here through the witty comments on Rads site )

Yes, Georgia Tech. No, the International Relations thing is not at Emory, it’s elsewhere, I’m afraid!

And why wouldn’t you go to Alabama? I mean, Georgia, Alabama… if you keep at it, you’ll even reach Kansas.

And I hate Math. Is that your way of testing intelligence or something? I won’t pass always!

Of course – didn’t you know, politically I’m a Meritocrat!

And GATECH? Or, since you say International Relations – Emory?

Yes, Florida is the only good thing. Otherwise, there is only Alabama that one can hop into

And I hate Math. Is that your way of testing intelligence or something? I won’t pass always!

Thanks. Hey, at least I remember seeing you in a jacket.

I’m not denying the effect of the US and the fact that the culture of casual clothing emerged here.

However, I’m afraid that it’s been bastardized beyond its intent — just because one chooses to dress casual does not mean one needs to look like a slob, or wear ill fitting clothes.

Worse yet is the fact that people pay rather large sums of money to buy expensive, branded items that are far from flattering.

No one is saying that everyone has to be in a suit and in the fabric money can buy. I’m merely lamenting the place quantity has taken over quality.

For the price people pay for some branded jeans, you can quite easily get a fantastic couple of slacks and dress shirts tailored. Even in the US, bespoke or MTM isn’t that expensive.

A decent t-shirt costs about $15-$20; branded t-shirts go for much higher. A website like Modern Tailor can make you a measured shirt for about $40.

Even with a warmer weather, one could still dress well — unfortunately, I’m afraid that even in India, propriety and what little dress sense that remained is slowly getting eroded for worse.

Formality is a state of mind, and it depends on the person wearing the outfit. You can appear quite casual wearing a suit (Barack Obama or Woody Allen are rather good at this), and you can be absolutely stiff in khakis and a polo shirt.

Re: casual, I suppose it is a matter of perspective — in my mind, casual need not mean poorly dressed, or poor quality.

Your argument on cotton is facetious. There are perfectly good cotton and cotton blends that make fabulous pieces of clothing, and they are not too expensive either. In fact, it is about the mass nature of things, in that rather than buy 20 cheap cotton t-shirts, you get handful of good, well fitted cotton shirts.

And by harping on expenses and the difficulty in dressing well, you are merely arguing to not look good — which is fine, as long as you realize that you can make any number of excuses to not look good, but all it takes is a certain effort to not look like you walked out of bed.

I’m sadly well acquainted with the negative connotations of being well dressed. I’m obviously not advocating suits and ties everywhere, but the truth is that folks aren’t even wearing formals where necessary, leave alone dressing up outside of necessity.

If someone were to dress like a slob at my wedding, I’m obviously not going to tell them to leave — however, I’d be lying if the thought didn’t cross my head that the person didn’t even make the effort.

And yes, I’m well aware of the origin of ties and cuff links and assorted items — the point is, the tie is no longer used to that end, and in today’s context, they are artifacts with decorative purposes and little else. Any utility therefrom is incidental, not purposeful.

Lastly, didn’t mention it the first time but good post!

Thank you. I’m certainly glad you enjoyed it!

Cheers.

“One can be quite casual and yet be well dressed.” – I did not get that impression at all your from your post.

“Ill-fitting t-shirts and baggy, uncomfortable jeans” – For most, t-shirts will be of 100% cotton or a small blend of a synthetic. Invariably, after a wash or two, they lose their original shape. Sometimes people’s shape itself changes. Most don’t have the money to go and update their wardrobe to make sure the t-shirt suits their shapes perfectly that day. Tweed jacket and knit ties can be considered casuals but then you also need to know how to pull off that look in a way that it suits you. Most people can’t do this, not now, not back in the day either.

That bit out the cold-hearted and elitism of suits, go back and read my comment again. Not my view but from dealing with clients and people from different socio-economic status over time, thats been my takeaway for first impressions. There are some that appreciate it, but for most it gives of a negative vibe and makes you appear distant and unapproachable.

“Dressing like a slob” – completely agree with you but then its a person’s choice to present him/herself as they choose. And ultimately, the disrespect issue is only between the “slob” and the person whose event they are attending.

About the purpose of a tie – aesthetics is not the reason why a tie was created. The other examples you give had a great functional reason to exist. Cuff links existed before buttons. Jewelry exists because of numerous reasons such as superstitions or beliefs, and because originally they were used to hold clothing together. Upon further research, the tie comes from the Croatian military dress of the 1600s: http://www.croatians.com/tie.htm

Why the military dress had scarves being worn around the neck in that fashion remains a mystery.

Lastly, didn’t mention it the first time but good post!

Nowhere is my post did I mention formality. One can be quite casual and yet be well dressed. The fact that you attempt to tie the two together is an unfortunate logical fallacy.

You do not have to wear ill fitting t-shirts and baggy, uncomfortable jeans to look casual. I live in New England, and the academia here is known for its casual attire. However, they wear casual with style and poise. A tweed jacket is casual, and so is a knit tie or corduroy slacks.

If you’d look back to what I’d said, you’d realize that sprezzatura is the ability to pull of looking like you belong in what you’re wearing, effortlessly. And if you get the impression that someone is elitist and cold hearted because of what they wear, you’ve got bigger problems in life.

Casual need not mean poorly dressed, and casual certainly need not mean ill fitting or poor quality. Dressing like a slob to someone’s wedding shows disrespect to the person, and there’s no excuse if you can’t be bothered to look halfway decent.

As for the purpose of the tie, it’s the same reason we’ve wingtips on shoes that we wouldn’t dream of getting wet, and wear cuff links when there are buttons, or why women wear jewelry or accessories. It’s called aesthetics.