Why Don’t Men Dress Up Anymore?
Why don’t men “dress up” anymore? It seems that men dressing up is something that doesn’t happen much at all anymore. It’s something I thought about as I watched the Grammys the other night.
Was There A Memo?
When did it happen? Did it happen quickly, or morph organically over time? Did it start with “Casual Friday”?
All I know, is that men these days rarely “dress up”. And what’s worse is what passes for “dressing up”
To be honest, I’m as guilty as the next guy. There’s no way you would have convinced me that one day, I’d have five hoodies in my closet. NO WAY! But…
Men Dressing Up – What Does That Look Like Now?
I have a dear friend, he too likes the finer things, especially when it comes to clothes. And he is BESIDE HIMSELF when it comes to what we now wear at funerals and weddings. You can’t even put on a tie? My friend is pretty direct when it comes to some habits. No “button down” shirts after dark.
Again, my standard dress is a golf shirt and khakis. At work. At the radio station where I’m not in meetings or on many occasions meeting clients.
I DO have a couple of nice suits. A ton of expensive neckties. There are men that have no idea how to tie a necktie.
Your tie should hit your belt buckle. It can be a little longer, but NEVER shorter.
I’ve always believed that a man should own a tuxedo. And that tuxedo should have a bowtie that needs to be tied. NOT A CLIP ON. Again, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have a tuxedo, and a bowtie, but Lisa has to tie it for me.
Don’t get me started on shoes. We all now wear shoes that we don’t have to tie. Rubber soles so you never hear us in the halls when you’re rounding the corner. Good shoes are important. Good dress shoes are important. A man should have a good pair of dress shoes. Maybe more than one pair.
It is true, that dressing well is expensive. You don’t have to buy everything at once. Buy pieces. But when you do buy, buy QUALITY pieces. Get the good shirt. Get the good tie. And get the good shoes.
You Have Options
We have two wonderful men’s clothiers in our area. Lionel Smith, LTD. and The Boardroom.
But maybe more importantly, know this stuff. It’s the kind of gentlemanly things we’re not really taught. Even if some of these things are out of your budget, a gentleman KNOWS.
And there are so few gentlemen left these days.
Emmy Awards: See the Complete 2023 Winners List
