BruceB
10-14-2007, 11:55 PM
After some cogitation, I have concluded that I am a lucky ol' soul as far as "dressing the part" is concerned.
Growing up in several isolated Canadian mining towns across the North, there was never much emphasis placed on "dressing up" or conforming to some fool's idea of what constituted "style". Informality and INDIVIDUALITY were largely the order of the day.
From high school, I entered the Canadian Army, which pretty much decided what was "style" for all involved. Following my Army hitch, I went directly back into the Northern mining camps, where I stayed for forty years until we moved to Nevada in '97. Rural Nevada has a lot in common with my earlier places of residence.
In the circles which I have inhabited, all the big-city hoo-hah about style and "dress for success" and other such bromides and catchphrases are subjects of derision and amusement. If you aren't a real person, someone worthy of being part of the community, all the fancy duds in the world won't gain you any traction at all.
In almost any social situation, including weddings and funerals, blue jeans, shirt, and boots will pass, as long as they're reasonably neat and clean. Naturally, some folks do like to put on the dawg once in a while, but it's not required.
On seriously making an effort at total recall, I find that I have NEVER owned or worn a suit, barring a couple of tuxes which "HAD" to be rented to conform with some big-city requirements. I consider this an accomplishment! Once in a long while, I indulged myself with some custom-tailored shirts and sport coats, but I can assure everyone that the wearing of a (retch!) TIE was rare indeed.
If I had to wear a monkey-suit and tie to work, it would be a very short career in that job.
Low-key...that's my style. I need enough pockets and belt-room for my guns, knives, spare ammo, keys, wallet, etc. etc.......and those locations are found in my jeans, worn everyday just like everyone else's in the area.
THANK HEAVEN I don't have a dress code imposed by some damned employer. I do feel sorry for the ladies, because theirs is a much more difficult situation, even in small-town USA.
Dunno what brought all this on, but ....?
Growing up in several isolated Canadian mining towns across the North, there was never much emphasis placed on "dressing up" or conforming to some fool's idea of what constituted "style". Informality and INDIVIDUALITY were largely the order of the day.
From high school, I entered the Canadian Army, which pretty much decided what was "style" for all involved. Following my Army hitch, I went directly back into the Northern mining camps, where I stayed for forty years until we moved to Nevada in '97. Rural Nevada has a lot in common with my earlier places of residence.
In the circles which I have inhabited, all the big-city hoo-hah about style and "dress for success" and other such bromides and catchphrases are subjects of derision and amusement. If you aren't a real person, someone worthy of being part of the community, all the fancy duds in the world won't gain you any traction at all.
In almost any social situation, including weddings and funerals, blue jeans, shirt, and boots will pass, as long as they're reasonably neat and clean. Naturally, some folks do like to put on the dawg once in a while, but it's not required.
On seriously making an effort at total recall, I find that I have NEVER owned or worn a suit, barring a couple of tuxes which "HAD" to be rented to conform with some big-city requirements. I consider this an accomplishment! Once in a long while, I indulged myself with some custom-tailored shirts and sport coats, but I can assure everyone that the wearing of a (retch!) TIE was rare indeed.
If I had to wear a monkey-suit and tie to work, it would be a very short career in that job.
Low-key...that's my style. I need enough pockets and belt-room for my guns, knives, spare ammo, keys, wallet, etc. etc.......and those locations are found in my jeans, worn everyday just like everyone else's in the area.
THANK HEAVEN I don't have a dress code imposed by some damned employer. I do feel sorry for the ladies, because theirs is a much more difficult situation, even in small-town USA.
Dunno what brought all this on, but ....?